Also, the FdL sounds better, smells better, has a low cost when compared to similar ships without being Navy rank locked, has many hardpoint possible combinations (compared to the monotonous 2 large on the Vulture), and can sport a monster shield when engineered. Besides, that canopy is thin glass (you know which).
Have I been duped?
- Thread starter Mrat13
- Start date
I'm asking what does an FDL do that I can't do in a vulture (which is cheaper). Maybe a haz rez? That's what I feel like the response is. And even then, if I want the best ship for a haz rez, without rank grind, I need a conda.
My point is I'm not paying more unless I get more, and the consensus is there's that 1% gap where I might want an FDL over a vulture, then again I might just want a battleconda instead.
It's not about credits per hour, it's about bang for buck, and the vulture does that better.
If it was about credits per hour, the FDL doesn't even win there, so I'd best save up for something else anyway.
Why shouldn't I sell the FDL when looking at the numbers? Heck, the vulture is even just as fun.
You're comparing a ship that you can fully combat fit for less than 90 million credits to another one hat you'll need at least 250 million to do the same, but faster… so, have a nice grind. Otherwise, your comment is right, stick to the Vulture, it is fun indeed. Apart from the canopy
You're getting into personal play style territory there. At some point it's about how you use it
For example, I think the Python is one of the worst ships in the game; it can't do any one task better than my other ships do. For many others it's the Holy Grail of ships.
FDL isn't much different, from my point of view, in terms of usefulness
Stealthie's comment explains the first point. From what they say, the FDL isn't actually that good for a haz rez. Now, if you think it is, that's where the fun begins....
A few thoughts:
1) AI has a 'threat awareness'. FDL is higher threat than Vulture, meaning more enemies will be attracted to you sooner in CZs.
2) The FDls has 4xc2 + 1xc4, the vulture has 2xc3. This means the FDL is somewhat better at large targets (the vulture punches WAY above its weight here!) but the FDL rips through smaller ships compared with the Vulture due to the absent class/target differential penalty.
Personally I wouldnt use a FDL as first choice for high-intensity CZ. They are ideal for BH, assassinations and beat the vulture at low intensity CZ. High intensity IMHO works best for, paradoxically, either low-threat ships like the Vulture (even my hull-tanked Eagle does great, most enemies simply ignore you!), or high-end heavy duty ships (big three). Finally, a FDL is infinitely better at anti-thargoid combat than a vulture, as it can sport four AX weapons + a flak, versus only two weapons with the vulture!
Just to point out I don't touch the thargoids, I'm hoping one day to make friends with them, and I've heard its best to not shoot friends
Well the answer to that is easy, if you've ever looked into the numbers at coriolis.edcd.io or edshipyard.com (I prefer the latter myself).
The amount of shielding and DPS a FDL can get is significantly higher than what the Vulture can do, and the FDL is still quite maneuverable as well (though its lateral thrust profile is a bit unique; have a hint: use sideways thrust rather than up/down thrust).
With 2.4, the medium and above pirate ships are now using hatchbreaker limpets to loose your cargo. In a swarm it may take longer to off the offending pirate before the limpets attach to your hull or in the few seconds before the cargo hatch is broken. I guess it was previously too easy to just slum RES in a big 3 and wait for pirates to come and be more or less a stationary war wagon. Now I stuff my ship with tons of extra throwaway "bait" cargo or limpets.
Last edited:
I've found that most of the time in my PVE experience there are two speeds: Cruising comfortable and handling things with little trouble... and fighting for your life because somehow things suddenly got crazy. Most of the time you end up doing the first, and when you are it's easy to wonder "Do I really need such an awesome ship?" When you hit that second one though and are scraping by by the skin of your teeth, then you really notice all the extra that you put out the time and money and effort for.
Low cz is more challenging
The FdL does everything a Vulture can do, only quicker.
It's more expensive, bt it has a higher sustained DPS and much deeper shields, meaning that it can make money more quickly.
OP asked why not sell the FdL and run with a Vulture. By the same token, why not forgo the Vulture and use a Viper Mk.III?
It's more expensive, bt it has a higher sustained DPS and much deeper shields, meaning that it can make money more quickly.
OP asked why not sell the FdL and run with a Vulture. By the same token, why not forgo the Vulture and use a Viper Mk.III?
You could just get both and use them when you feel like it, keep the fdl and save for the vulture which isn't too time consuming as its only 20m to outfit
I went from a vulture to a python. Loved facetanking with the python, moved to an FDL because it was a dedicated combat vessel, hated it, went back to the python.
FDL is a good fighter, apparently, but not for the way I play. If you prefer the Vulture, go back to the Vulture. That's the advice I got about the python
FDL is a good fighter, apparently, but not for the way I play. If you prefer the Vulture, go back to the Vulture. That's the advice I got about the python
OP complains that everything is too easy in his FDL but then wonders why he shouldn't just get an Anaconda for hazres so he doesn't have to deal with any degree of difficulty. I mean, I don't tend to give advice, but I'd recommend finding out exactly what it is you want to do before making any decisions. Big ships aren't terribly fun to fly and there is no difficulty. If you want to just make money, then go for it, but if you want challenge and fun as you implied then stay away from them (or run with base modules lol).
Last edited:
Not saying it's the only way but, get yourself to Obsidian Orbital in an AspX with an AFMU fitted.
And then find out where the crashed Thargoid scout ship is.
Anaconda in one evening. Credits for outfitting it the following day.
Last edited:
From what I've been TOLD, from some players, is that the FDL competes the same as or similar to a vulture in most situations, and that a real upgrade would be a bigger ship (than the FDL).
Look if an experienced player can tell me the FDL is fine for haz rez, I'll try it out, if not, well plan b it is.
You can take an FDL into a haz res with little problems IF you don't get cocky. Find the biggest, baddest NPC miner there (ideally a python, but I have seen some pretty tough t-7s and t-9s), and be his impromptu wingman. Pirates will scan him, attack him, and then you blast em. A few things to watch out for: SCB spammers, Dangerous+ rated Condas FDS, FAS, FGS, and other FDLs and of course wings. Not saying you can't engage them, just that you may not want to. Picking your fights is key. Your load out will also be important. My current load out probably isn't ideal (huge pulse, 2 med pulse, 2 med rails) for this task, going 4 pulse and 1 huge MC is probably the way to go, use the pulses on the smaller stuff, save your MC for everything larger than an asp X. My loadout performs a bit better on assassination mission, which is another area where the FDL is certainly better than the vulture.
The vulture and the FDL do accomplish many of the same tasks, especially since the vulture punches well above it's weight. The key differences are that the FDL is faster, has a bigger punch, and has 6 utility slots (those are very important things to consider). The Vulture is going to turn better and be less costly to replace. The FDL also doesn't have the power issues that a stock vulture tends to have.
And engineering causes another wrinkle.
FDL is fine for a Haz res, just be smart about it. I would say it and the python are the lowest cost ships I would consider taking into a haz res (a python would have to be superbly engineered for the task).