Ships How do you actually fight in a Python?

Kayvan

Kayvan
Alright, I thought I'd just open a thread to get that question out of my system. So often and from so many people I keep hearing how awesome the Python is, and best ship in the game for virtually anything, etc etc.
My problem with this is, I'm not seeing it. Sure, the Python is a great Medium Trader/Miner, but I don't see how it can perform in a fight. The few times I tried it I got my arx thoroughly handed to me. In one case, an iCourier literally ran circles around me without me ever even getting him on the bloody screen. And I struggle to see how it could ever be different against anything but the most harmless enemies.

I reckon you can sink engineering into it til the space-cows come home, but combat-wise, that feels to me like putting lipstick on a pig. Sure you can do it, but you could achieve so much more with the same effort applied to a more suitable base.

Of course this is just a 2nd-week-newbie's opinion, so please enlighten me. :)
 

Morbad

Morbad
The Python is extremely blue zone dependent, so thrust/throttle management is key.

It's not a particularly good combatant, but it should still be able to drop most NPCs quite quickly, if you keep it's limitations in mind.
 

clivewil

clivewil
Kayvan said:
Sure you can do it, but you could achieve so much more with the same effort applied to a more suitable base.
Click to expand...
definitely. BUT if you're hauling cargo for missions then the python is great for that if you need to land on a medium pad - and sooner or later some NPC is going to interdict you over and over and over ad nauseum (see yesterday's thread for details on that lovely little game mechanic)

you can keep outrunning the guy but after the 20th interdiction by the same whacker (usually in an anaconda) it gets a little stale, so there's a temptation to fight him and be done with it.

my pythons are all quite engineered, dirty drives and efficient turrets etc. which hopefully means i can keep shooting him and stay in his blind spot while still keeping good power to sys for shield longevity - but it's a 50-50 thing and often i'll have to bug out because he's mangling me more than i'm mangling him - and when he interdicts me almost immediately after, he'll have full shields while mine probably haven't even turned back on yet...

...so, yeah. you can fight in a python, and sometimes win - but its advantage is its cargo load for a medium ship, not combat. it's a lugger not a fighter.
 

CMDR Cknarf

CMDR Cknarf
Pythons have the ability to tank pretty hard when build right. They can equip a size 6 shield, and two size 6 shield banks and be pretty sturdy.

They’ve got a big size 7 plant that gives you plenty of power to play with, and the size 7 distributor will keep up with a fat stack of plasma accelerators.

Plenty of non-shield related internals to use for armor.

It’s kind of a pig, but with FA off and proper pip management, you can do some pretty amazing things with it still.

Engineer your drives as much as you can, it’ll make it easier to manage, and keep practicing.
 

JetsonRING

JetsonRING
Kayvan said:
Alright, I thought I'd just open a thread to get that question out of my system. So often and from so many people I keep hearing how awesome the Python is, and best ship in the game for virtually anything, etc etc.
My problem with this is, I'm not seeing it. Sure, the Python is a great Medium Trader/Miner, but I don't see how it can perform in a fight. The few times I tried it I got my arx thoroughly handed to me. In one case, an iCourier literally ran circles around me without me ever even getting him on the bloody screen. And I struggle to see how it could ever be different against anything but the most harmless enemies.
I reckon you can sink engineering into it til the space-cows come home, but combat-wise, that feels to me like putting lipstick on a pig. Sure you can do it, but you could achieve so much more with the same effort applied to a more suitable base.
Of course this is just a 2nd-week-newbie's opinion, so please enlighten me. :)
Click to expand...

"Best" is a generalization that is thrown around way too freely. What, exactly, constitutes "best" in any single case?
IMO the Python is not such a great dedicated combat ship, more like a well-armed trading ship or, a decent medium-sized mining ship. It is a medium-sized ship with big ship X/Y/Z performance, unfortunately hampered by medium-ship firepower. It is however, possibly the most role-flexible medium-sized ship in the game, capable of taking on almost any role and while maybe not the "best" at anything, it can usually do almost any job very well, sort of like a smaller version of an Anaconda in that respect. o7
 

Zannry

Zannry
Flying and fighting in it takes work and practice. Once you've gotten past the learning curve which is a lot more steep than an FDL or a Chieftain, the Python is a beast in combat. Its a ship that is more rewarding as you gain experience but maybe not something you should try fighting in until you have more combat experience under your belt.
 

Hooplah

Hooplah
Greetings,

Trading, passengers, mining, smuggling, rescue and exploration (if you're not too picky on jump range) the Python does it all. I'd even go with base assaults using missiles often done by many players with an Asp Explorer. For intense combat it lacks maneuvering and more importantly shield strength even after you have figured out the best gosh darn weapons to use. That is why a Corvette or Cutter with awesome shields and weapons with even less maneuverability can take on most anything PvE even if your pilot skills need some work.

Interdicted one-on-one PvE there are tricks such as flying backwards then use 6km long range beams with thermal vent to minimize Python hits. Shields down on the target then go in close for the kill and recharge shields if needed before jumping. To maximize a Python's combat potential requires excellent pilot skills in the throttle blue zone and more importantly advanced combat maneuvers with Flight Assist off. It is actually a good trainer for this as rather slow to start one can see the results in preparation for much larger combat ships if that is your direction. But once learned imagine those skills in a dedicated combat ship!

On paperwork the Krait Mk II looks like a Python light but with much better maneuverability. It makes all the difference while learning the skills. The bottom line is that the Python less combat is the most versatile ship in the game. It can pay for every other ship in the game including a trader/passenger Cutter to purchase that spiffy do everything combat ship. I have an economy passenger version stored at Ceos whenever I feel the need for another billion credits Then I can play with my Krait Mk II Thargoid killer, My PA/rail gun dedicated Fer de Lance for PvP, My Corvette where the only time I get is trouble is hitting a good guy with all those frag cannons. Up close and personal makes me smile but that's just me.

Your results may vary.

Regards to All
 
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Innocentius

Innocentius
Kayvan said:
...
I reckon you can sink engineering into it til the space-cows come home, but combat-wise, that feels to me like putting lipstick on a pig. Sure you can do it, but you could achieve so much more with the same effort applied to a more suitable base.
Of course this is just a 2nd-week-newbie's opinion, so please enlighten me. :)
Click to expand...

Are you talking about pve or pvp?
 

wrmiller

W
Kayvan said:
Alright, I thought I'd just open a thread to get that question out of my system. So often and from so many people I keep hearing how awesome the Python is, and best ship in the game for virtually anything, etc etc.
My problem with this is, I'm not seeing it. Sure, the Python is a great Medium Trader/Miner, but I don't see how it can perform in a fight. The few times I tried it I got my arx thoroughly handed to me. In one case, an iCourier literally ran circles around me without me ever even getting him on the bloody screen. And I struggle to see how it could ever be different against anything but the most harmless enemies.

I reckon you can sink engineering into it til the space-cows come home, but combat-wise, that feels to me like putting lipstick on a pig. Sure you can do it, but you could achieve so much more with the same effort applied to a more suitable base.

Of course this is just a 2nd-week-newbie's opinion, so please enlighten me. :)
Click to expand...

If you're talking PvP, I can't help you. If you're talking PvE, I'd say that off-hand either your flying skills need work, you haven't flown a G5 engineered Python, or both. Given that you're a two-week noob I'd guess that both might be applicable. ;)

I've been doing fighting (CZs/Haz Res/CNBs) and armed trading in my Python for about 2.5 years. Worst case was taking on two wings of condas (4 total) while running elite cargo missions. I killed all four and survived but it was dicey. For fast-movers you need to learn how to fly it. As others have said, throttle management, pip management, boost turns and F/A off mean that I can kill anything that is stupid enough to jump me.

But the Python doesn't suffer lesser skilled pilots very well. My suggestion is to fly/fight in something more forgiving until your fighting skills get better. I'm sure that there are some here who never get the hang of fighting in a Python. But that's why there are other ships to choose from. :)
 

Kayvan

Kayvan
Well, I don't intend to force the Python in a combat role. ^^ I'm also not too keen on the Krait; going by the stats it seems to be almost just as sluggish, and I'm all for quick and nimble craft. Currently very happy with my Chieftain. ^^ Might at some point get a FDL if necessary, but I'd kinda like to avoid it just because it's so ubiquitous.

FTR, I have little to no engineering available; just a couple of G1 and one or two G2, nothing higher than that. And I think the only mods I have on the Py are Overcharged MCs.
 

wrmiller

W
Kayvan said:
Well, I don't intend to force the Python in a combat role. ^^ I'm also not too keen on the Krait; going by the stats it seems to be almost just as sluggish, and I'm all for quick and nimble craft. Currently very happy with my Chieftain. ^^ Might at some point get a FDL if necessary, but I'd kinda like to avoid it just because it's so ubiquitous.

FTR, I have little to no engineering available; just a couple of G1 and one or two G2, nothing higher than that. And I think the only mods I have on the Py are Overcharged MCs.
Click to expand...

It's all about what you prefer, as you are the only one who has to be happy with what you fly. :)

I personally can't stand the Alliance ships, but that's just me. Just to show you what's possible, here's my armed trader: https://s.orbis.zone/5pt7

EDIT: I missed the part about little to no engineering. Given that, stay away from the Python. It isn't going to work very well for you. Best of luck with the game. :)
 
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