How can I not suck in the Python?

[kafolarbear]

So, initially when I got the Python as an upgrade from the vulture today, I was very excited. I bought it on discount for 48m credits. When I bought it, I had 58m credits. So I put 3xC3f beam lasers and 2xC2f rail guns on it. I the equipped it with cargo slots so I could do some armed trading and also because I literally only had a few thousand credits left. Definitely not enough for insurance. So I start trading, I then get interdicted by an adder "no problem" I think. I then realize to my horror that not only can he out maneuver me even when I reverse, and my capa curator is draining fast. I then jump away, embarrassed. Since then I have bought an A rated sheild booster, A B5 distributer (which according to the game is worse than the stock module and does not seem to make much of a difference anyway) . I also have a top rated fad and 10 minutes of emergency oxygen. I plan to trade until I can hold my own in PvE and PvP. But issue is, should I change my weapons setup? Is it viable at all? What should I seek to upgrade next and what the heck did I do wrong against that adder? I actually did fight off a courier and almost took down his shield in a single capacitor charge? let me add, I am a fixed weapons purist and prefer beam lasers over burst and burst over pulses.


An eager but a little disappointed Python pilot-CMDR Kbear

 

[Hurricane Moon]

go for an even split of gimballed lasers and multicannons.....

 

[Cmdr Ultra]

Yeah C3 Gimballed Beam lasers and C2 Gimballed multi-cannons is the easiest setup for aiming. And take advantage of Flight Assist off when turning, it will make a huge difference and allow the Python to keep up with smaller nimble ships.

Focus on upgrading to a A7 Power Distributor, which will allow much better recharge on weapons and boosters; then micro-manage pips in combat. Use Boost with Flight Assist off for turning. Personally I use 3 C2 Railguns and 2 C3 Beam Gimballed lasers and aiming and turning is fine.

 

[Skyrun]

So, initially when I got the Python as an upgrade from the vulture today, I was very excited. I bought it on discount for 48m credits. When I bought it, I had 58m credits. So I put 3xC3f beam lasers and 2xC2f rail guns on it. I the equipped it with cargo slots so I could do some armed trading and also because I literally only had a few thousand credits left. Definitely not enough for insurance. So I start trading, I then get interdicted by an adder "no problem" I think. I then realize to my horror that not only can he out maneuver me even when I reverse, and my capa curator is draining fast. I then jump away, embarrassed. Since then I have bought an A rated sheild booster, A B5 distributer (which according to the game is worse than the stock module and does not seem to make much of a difference anyway) . I also have a top rated fad and 10 minutes of emergency oxygen. I plan to trade until I can hold my own in PvE and PvP. But issue is, should I change my weapons setup? Is it viable at all? What should I seek to upgrade next and what the heck did I do wrong against that adder? I actually did fight off a courier and almost took down his shield in a single capacitor charge? let me add, I am a fixed weapons purist and prefer beam lasers over burst and burst over pulses.


An eager but a little disappointed Python pilot-CMDR Kbear

I had similar problems when moving from vulture to python. Two cobras almost killed me which was never a problem in the vulture.
Currently I have in the medium slots pulse turrets and Gimbalded pulse in the class 3 slots. I have quite some Shield booster equipped. Distributer is always A needed ;-) - the better the more defense and offense power you have.
You need to get used to FA off for turning around which is not needed in the vulture against NPCs. Keep your target on top side and your turrets are helping you against the small ones. Anyway with a bit of FA off usage you get the small NPC ships in your firezone.

 

[Spanksh]

Well the switch from Vulture to Python is very drastic. Gimballed weapons will help immensely with the lower maneuverability, however I can understand if you don't want to use them. First thing you should go for is A thrusters. They make quite a difference. Then, as Ultra said, use FAOFF for turning. Also, in contrary to the Vulture, when fighting smaller ships try to stay a bit more distant. If you land enough shots you can take them down fast, however once they manage to stay behind you, you have a bigger problem than fighting a Conda.

 

[tetra]

3 x 3E/G Pulses
2 x 2F/G Multicannons

or

3 x 3E/G Pulses
2 x 2F/G Pulses

Either of those loadouts are cheap and highly effective and will keep you going until you wanna add something like cannons and beams.

Top priority is upgrade to a 7A power distributor as soon as humanly possible, that will allow you to keep running the 3 large pulses for ages with 4 pips to weapons. Next get a better power plant, 7B power plant is more than sufficient for nearly everything unless you want to run multiple beams / rails / PA's. Finally getting the 6A thrusters will help a lot.

The python is not a fast-mover, it's a tank, and while with 4 pips in engines and the 6A thrusters you can manoeuvre well enough it's not meant to dance. Keep 2 pips in engines, the throttle in the blue and liberal amounts of FA off and opposite thrust will allow you to swing her around onto target fairly easily, but your main job is to soak up damage and obliterate the target when your nose gets on to it. Some people love to run turrets on the Python specifically because of this reason but I find they aren't necessary. Here is my current loadout which has been upgraded in steps over the past 2 weeks: http://coriolis.io/outfit/python/07...44f05055j5j03595924.Iw19gDM08Q==.IwBhrSuniA==

 

[GammaZ]

You need A7 power distributor and A6 thrusters, it will make things much better. At least 100M credits for combat-capable python, preferably more.
Also IMO you can leave shields D-grade for some time, just buy few shield boosters.

 

[Hurricane Moon]

great ship once you get her balanced.....it will get you up to the Annie should you want to.
the monty is a baby annie

 

[Spanksh]

You need A7 power distributor and A6 thrusters, it will make things much better. At least 100M credits for combat-capable python, preferably more.
Also IMO you can leave shields D-grade for some time, just buy few shield boosters.

This. I spent 125m on mine and only now do I feel as confident with it as I do with my fully kitted Vulture. Even now, while being better against big ships, if I get swarmed by small ones in a CZ, it's still more stressful.

 

[Klab]

As previous posters have said, learning to turn with FA off really helps with the terrible pitch rate of the Python. You don't need to keep it off, just get the nose where you want it & then turn FA on again. Pain in the butt tbh

 

[Hurricane Moon]

also i dunno how the other guys feel,but when you get to these larger combat ships,flying in reverse to catch up on the opposition is a good tactic,then switching it around.
especially if hes a nimble opponment

 

[Darshendros the Eternal]

Swap out the rails for multis and work on getting an A distributor. Railguns won't serve you much good right now. Practice turning with FA off. If you're just going to be trade-grinding for a while, that should be all you need (besides A-rate FSD, if you don't have one already).

Alternatively, 2x C2 beams and a C3 beam on the forward hardpoints ... and whatever else for the other two large ones. Forward hardpoints have a nice tight grouping for fixed firing.

 

[Yomamas Fett]

You need the A7 distrib and at least the C reactor (with a HS Launcher) to handle 3 large beams without running dry constantly or melting.

I currently run 1 large beam turret, 2 railguns and 2 large pulse (only cause I cant find the bursts yet) and even with the best kit I save the beam for Eagle squads as the drain is too much for the top distributor to use the rails freely.

My sig is slighty out of date; TBH I used to run 2 large PA, 1 Large Burst and 2 medium (gimpled) cannon, it was glorious, but since 1.3 NPC Elite condas and Pythons dodge 2/3 PA shots with instalateral thrusters like Eagles are want to do, so after 4 kill missions I started playing around with the build, still not happy with the results yet.

FAOff is essential to experiment hit boost as you close, FAOff, throttle to zero and pitch hard....all in 1 fluid movement.
Half a second later apply lateral thrust while you pitchturn. Thus translating the boost into the lateral movement.
When target appears apply opposite pitch to kill your turning.
You are now flying backwards facing the target, and thanks to the lateral thrust will not be a sitting duck if you turn FAOn while still applying lateral thrust. This is called the boost flip and is the entry level FAOff manoeuvre, when you perfect it you can keep facing any opponent in a Python.

Who says a Python can't dance?

 

[Bokugo]

also i dunno how the other guys feel,but when you get to these larger combat ships,flying in reverse to catch up on the opposition is a good tactic,then switching it around.
especially if hes a nimble opponment

Unfortunately SJA is making sure her minions can counter this

 

[Winecork]

So, initially when I got the Python as an upgrade from the vulture today, I was very excited. I bought it on discount for 48m credits. When I bought it, I had 58m credits. So I put 3xC3f beam lasers and 2xC2f rail guns on it. I the equipped it with cargo slots so I could do some armed trading and also because I literally only had a few thousand credits left. Definitely not enough for insurance. So I start trading, I then get interdicted by an adder "no problem" I think. I then realize to my horror that not only can he out maneuver me even when I reverse, and my capa curator is draining fast. I then jump away, embarrassed. Since then I have bought an A rated sheild booster, A B5 distributer (which according to the game is worse than the stock module and does not seem to make much of a difference anyway) . I also have a top rated fad and 10 minutes of emergency oxygen. I plan to trade until I can hold my own in PvE and PvP. But issue is, should I change my weapons setup? Is it viable at all? What should I seek to upgrade next and what the heck did I do wrong against that adder? I actually did fight off a courier and almost took down his shield in a single capacitor charge? let me add, I am a fixed weapons purist and prefer beam lasers over burst and burst over pulses.


An eager but a little disappointed Python pilot-CMDR Kbear

I did the same thing - took advantage of the discount as there is nothing in between the Asp (which I had) and the Python. So I too was restricted in the fit-out. I've tried a number of combinations and the one that works for me with NPC type interdiction's is 2 x class 3 Burst/Pulse turrets (had pulse, have recently changed to burst) and 2 x class 2 multi-cannon turrets. The hard point in the front currently has a class 3 gimbaled cannon, though I hardly use it. I have the 2 laser turrets on fire button 2 and the cannon turrets on fire button 1. When interdicted I wait till I'm fired on then target closest threat, press the fire 2 button and the lasers take down the shields in seconds, then I press fire button 1 and the multi-cannons shred the pirate along with the lasers. Haven't even tried to get the nose on the pirate, as long as the NPC stays high, the turrets keep firing. Works so far on all fighters, haven't had the opportunity to try the set-up on a larger opponent, but hopefully that will be when the class 3 cannon comes in handy.

 

[CyberGrim]

I have 2 class 3 burst turrets to deal with fast targets. Also do you use FA off when turning?

 

[kafolarbear]

To everyone who commented, thank you so much and I will definitely try out most if not all of these suggestions.

Edit: cyber grim; I try to but maneuvering with a mouse and keyboard with fa off can be a pain in the butt.

-CMDR Kbear

 

[AndiBcool]

I use my python for mining too so its not really a combat build and more a big multipupose ship. I did not use flight assis off in this game yet, for smaller ships i just use a turret burst laser on one the medium HP while the other holds the mining laser.
That way the turret will shoot the little ship all the time if you cant keep up with the turning. When i get the small one in front of me my gimpballed large Pulse will kill it in no time.
By the way A thrusters really make a big difference on the Python.

 

[Zeeman]

Well the switch from Vulture to Python is very drastic. Gimballed weapons will help immensely with the lower maneuverability, however I can understand if you don't want to use them. First thing you should go for is A thrusters. They make quite a difference. Then, as Ultra said, use FAOFF for turning. Also, in contrary to the Vulture, when fighting smaller ships try to stay a bit more distant. If you land enough shots you can take them down fast, however once they manage to stay behind you, you have a bigger problem than fighting a Conda.

This - as a long time Python pilot, it NEEDS at least 100m credits in it (including the ship) to be viable in combat.

A thrusters are a must.

The punch of the Python, and the best convergence of weapons in the game, make it very capable once you get the hang of it.

I easily double my cr/hr earnings in conflict zones in a Python VS Vulture.

And it is set up with 200T of cargo.

Z...

 

[[HJ]-RedRaven]

Agree the Python isn't anywhere near as effective as a Vulture at base or near-base level. Definitely needs the A class thrusters (C isn't bad and has lower power requirement so go with C class thrusters until you can afford the 51mil powerplant!)

I use 3 gimablled pulse, and 2 medium beams (or switch out beams for Multicannons), works great in a RES or CZ, and doesn't eat the WEP capacitor too much. Will roast Adders and lower in one pass, Cobras in two. No ammo requirement, and can use lots of shield cell banks if you get swarmed.

Python's shields are strong, even using class D - as you can use several A0 shield boosters to get the MJ rating up high for very little cost.