Ships I cant get over the Glass Jaw of the Chieftain... Help me love this ship!

[Crystles]

I desperately want to love this ship, but I cant seem to deal with this ships glass jaw, the canopy...

The milisecond the, admittedly improved shields (though not enough imho) go down, my canopy cracks almost instantly. This is pretty much a fight ender for me as a bounty hunter. I'll sometimes stick around to finish off my target, but I have to immediately retreat.

How do you guys deal with this, if at all? I dont see nearly as many as I'd hope complaining about this quirk to hope it'll be changed... But I adore the way this ship looks and handles and want to figure it out.

Another side question to this, what do you guys do with the small hardpoints? IMHO they dont even really have a place on a medium combat hull, but looks like were stuck with them... I tried using cannons as I believe they ignore the size penalties. I've also considered just using energy weapons in their place, as I dont think shields are subject to size penalties.

Thanks for all your time!

 

[m0rl0ck]

Had the same thing happen and i only flew it around for a couple of hours. A step below the FAS imo.
Has neither the DPS or shields to be a good combat ship and lacks the space to be a good mission runner, and seriously does the boost sound like a toilet flushing to you?

 

[Madrax573]

Just stick a rate life support and a couple of hull reinforcements and you are good to go. Heck I BH in an ASP-E and thats fine.

From what i've read about the chief it agile as heck so unless you are unloading into your target shift side on so your canopy isn't in the firing line, same as when flying an asp-s.

 

[rOmiLaYu]

Funny. I mothballed my FAS in favor of the Cheiftan. I've never had a canopy blow out in it. Maybe less facetanking?

 

[Lucius-Darcia]

MRP

Module reinforcement package D rated. This will give you 60% protection for your mofules (canopy counts as module here). If you take 2 it will be (diminishing returns) at around +80% protection as long as they're online.

This will protect your canopy for a looooong time

Edit:
Don't face tank....okay?

 

[Whipley]

+1 for module reinforcement and maybe a afmu.

 

[Crystles]

So!

The take away here is...

A) Stop face tanking things
B)Module Reinforcement packages x2
C)Auto Field Maintenance Unit

Lol, I'm rather used to being as aggressive as possible, turning and facing my opponent until I burn them down and staying at close range. I'm used to flying a Vulture which I primarily maneuver into blind spots and hammer on them until they go pop. I'll try shifting up my flying style to see if that helps.

Maybe I'll even play around with the notion of long range beams. Less fire time, but full damage even with just a level 1 engineer.

 

[Spandexxx]

How sure are we that MRP's protect the canopy? Cos mine appeared to do sweet FA. I took a volley to the face from a FGS (Yeah, it was my mistake... It happens) and it dropped my canopy to around 20%. My hull and MRP barely registered the hit however.

 

[Lucius-Darcia]

So!

The take away here is...

A) Stop face tanking things
B)Module Reinforcement packages x2
C)Auto Field Maintenance Unit

Lol, I'm rather used to being as aggressive as possible, turning and facing my opponent until I burn them down and staying at close range. I'm used to flying a Vulture which I primarily maneuver into blind spots and hammer on them until they go pop. I'll try shifting up my flying style to see if that helps.

Maybe I'll even play around with the notion of long range beams. Less fire time, but full damage even with just a level 1 engineer.

The Afmu isn't really necessary. In my experience one MRP should do it, at max 2 will protect your canopy longer than your hull will sustain
I wouldn't recommand the Afmu in regular PvE because she needs a lot of power and uses also one slot that could be better placed with a HRP.
In PvP of course i would recommand the afmu.

 

[YinYin]

How MRPs help. Why they occasionally don't help. Maybe even why the Chieftain has trouble: https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/82eafz/psa_how_to_protect_your_canopy

 

[Gamsir]

How MRPs help. Why they occasionally don't help. Maybe even why the Chieftain has trouble: https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/82eafz/psa_how_to_protect_your_canopy

Great link!

I’ve never had my canopy break on my chieftain. I run a single MRP and two medium engineered hull reinforcement modules.
As the above thread suggests the canopy of the chieftain isn’t weaker than other ships, but direct hits will of course damage it.
The premise of the chieftain is agressive manouverability. Even unengineered it performs with the best of them and while it does fly differently (like loosing momentum when turning tightly) than the FAS, it out performs almost anything the game will throw at you. The canopy is bigger on the chief compared to the federal brick ships and are thus more likely to get hit directly. Weapons like railguns and missiles are your enemy here as well.

I’m no expert pilot, I can’t claim to be even near the lvl of cmdrs like Vindicator jones (check out his youtube on positioning) or obsidian ant or any of the brilliant cmdrs out there - flying fa/off is even still difficult for me, but I’ve leaned to fly with intent.

Just remember in the chief you don’t need to get hit in the canopy by the time your shields eventually breaks! Fly the the six oclock position of your enemy and stay there. If it’s hard then practise in threat lvl 1-2 uss’s. I use beams with a few multies. This gives good burst damage.
In combat I try the following
- pips: sys/eng/wea 1½ / 1½ / 3. Shoot like mad while trying to get on the six on the target
- when wea is depleted focus on improving your placement, don’t focus on dps/firering. When you’re in a good position your wea should be ready again - fire away
- rinse and reapeat

Basically capitalize on the flying characteristics on the ship. You’ll do great burst damage, use the charge time to get better placement and avoid damage.
Anytime I focus on constantly firering/having the target in sights I end up face tanking. Try to focus on positioning instead and do burst damage. The chieftain is built for this.

I’ve never had my canopy break on my chieftain this way (because my opponent don’t get the chance to face tank me). I was jumped by to anacondas (one master one dangerous), they of course shredded my shields, but a little intent flying and I could walk away from that fight with 84% hull and no broken canopy (I did have that rare epic feeling from surviving that encounter) - that fight convinced me of the chieftain. Comparebly My FAS was taken apart by 2 dbx’s some time ago when trying to face tank.

 

[Crystles]

How MRPs help. Why they occasionally don't help. Maybe even why the Chieftain has trouble: https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/82eafz/psa_how_to_protect_your_canopy

This is excellent info, I was curious about the EHP of stacked MRP's. I wasnt surprised to find that the canopy isnt any weaker, it's just that it's such a huge target that makes it so vulnerable. I didnt however know that direct hull damage could inflict damage on modules at random though, so that's something to keep in mind for sure!

Great link!

I’ve never had my canopy break on my chieftain. I run a single MRP and two medium engineered hull reinforcement modules.
As the above thread suggests the canopy of the chieftain isn’t weaker than other ships, but direct hits will of course damage it.
The premise of the chieftain is agressive manouverability. Even unengineered it performs with the best of them and while it does fly differently (like loosing momentum when turning tightly) than the FAS, it out performs almost anything the game will throw at you. The canopy is bigger on the chief compared to the federal brick ships and are thus more likely to get hit directly. Weapons like railguns and missiles are your enemy here as well.

I’m no expert pilot, I can’t claim to be even near the lvl of cmdrs like Vindicator jones (check out his youtube on positioning) or obsidian ant or any of the brilliant cmdrs out there - flying fa/off is even still difficult for me, but I’ve leaned to fly with intent.

Just remember in the chief you don’t need to get hit in the canopy by the time your shields eventually breaks! Fly the the six oclock position of your enemy and stay there. If it’s hard then practise in threat lvl 1-2 uss’s. I use beams with a few multies. This gives good burst damage.
In combat I try the following
- pips: sys/eng/wea 1½ / 1½ / 3. Shoot like mad while trying to get on the six on the target
- when wea is depleted focus on improving your placement, don’t focus on dps/firering. When you’re in a good position your wea should be ready again - fire away
- rinse and reapeat

Basically capitalize on the flying characteristics on the ship. You’ll do great burst damage, use the charge time to get better placement and avoid damage.
Anytime I focus on constantly firering/having the target in sights I end up face tanking. Try to focus on positioning instead and do burst damage. The chieftain is built for this.

I’ve never had my canopy break on my chieftain this way (because my opponent don’t get the chance to face tank me). I was jumped by to anacondas (one master one dangerous), they of course shredded my shields, but a little intent flying and I could walk away from that fight with 84% hull and no broken canopy (I did have that rare epic feeling from surviving that encounter) - that fight convinced me of the chieftain. Comparebly My FAS was taken apart by 2 dbx’s some time ago when trying to face tank.

I have no problems admitting that It's been far too long since I last played. I havnt done any real combat since about horizons was still a new thing, so I'm obviously rusty. I'll certainly practice these tips, and hopefully I'll be back in my element again sooner or later!

 

[YinYin]

I didnt however know that direct hull damage could inflict damage on modules at random though, so that's something to keep in mind for sure!

Only on the canopy, since it's directly embedded into the hull structure.

 

[rOmiLaYu]

So!

The take away here is...

A) Stop face tanking things
B)Module Reinforcement packages x2
C)Auto Field Maintenance Unit

Lol, I'm rather used to being as aggressive as possible, turning and facing my opponent until I burn them down and staying at close range. I'm used to flying a Vulture which I primarily maneuver into blind spots and hammer on them until they go pop. I'll try shifting up my flying style to see if that helps.

Aside from "C," yup. An AFMU is really only neccessary if you can't be bothered to dock and patch up. But yes, face tanking in a Lakon ship will end up with a cracked canopy every time. That purty view comes at a price! And yes, two MRP's. I have two on mine and as of yet, haven't needed ship's oxygen.

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

MRP

Module reinforcement package D rated. This will give you 60% protection for your mofules (canopy counts as module here). If you take 2 it will be (diminishing returns) at around +80% protection as long as they're online.

This will protect your canopy for a looooong time

Edit:
Don't face tank....okay?

I have 3 D rated MRP's in my Chiefton and still blew out the canopy with 82% hull. Wasn't face tanking either.

 

[satakuua]

Somewhat related, I guess.

I really dislike the cockpits and canopies of most combat oriented ships. Vipers feel like fighters, Vulture and the Federals do not. The cockpit is the size of a Japanese two bedroom apartment. Makes no sense to have that much extra space there. And it seems to translate into broken canopies, hence, again, them being a poor design choice for something you fly to battle.

My dislike of said manor houses stops me from flying a Vulture. I really hope the Krait (and other fighter we might see) will be different.

 

[Crystles]

I have 3 D rated MRP's in my Chiefton and still blew out the canopy with 82% hull. Wasn't face tanking either.

I was using 2 myself, and the second my shield went down the canopy popped near instantly... From turret fire.

Somewhat related, I guess.

I really dislike the cockpits and canopies of most combat oriented ships. Vipers feel like fighters, Vulture and the Federals do not. The cockpit is the size of a Japanese two bedroom apartment. Makes no sense to have that much extra space there. And it seems to translate into broken canopies, hence, again, them being a poor design choice for something you fly to battle.

My dislike of said manor houses stops me from flying a Vulture. I really hope the Krait (and other fighter we might see) will be different.

I whole heatedly agree, though the vulture has enough shields, and the canopy is actually well protected for its size. Side note: The Vulture literally is a two bedroom apartment... It's a multi crew ship, and the dumbest choice for one on the face of the planet.

Honestly, I think canopy's in general are a pretty dumb idea in ANY space craft, let alone a combat ship... But space sims are apparently obsessed with them, and cant fathom the concept of virtual cockpits which would fix literally all these issues.

 

[satakuua]

Honestly, I think canopy's in general are a pretty dumb idea in ANY space craft, let alone a combat ship... But space sims are apparently obsessed with them, and cant fathom the concept of virtual cockpits which would fix literally all these issues.

This is true too, although that might take things too far into the realm of reality.

 

[CMDR_Vyse]

So!

The take away here is...

A) Stop face tanking things
B)Module Reinforcement packages x2
C)Auto Field Maintenance Unit

Lol, I'm rather used to being as aggressive as possible, turning and facing my opponent until I burn them down and staying at close range. I'm used to flying a Vulture which I primarily maneuver into blind spots and hammer on them until they go pop. I'll try shifting up my flying style to see if that helps.

Maybe I'll even play around with the notion of long range beams. Less fire time, but full damage even with just a level 1 engineer.

I find it immensely amusing to say that you're used to flying a Vulture and you're complaining about a fragile canopy on the Chieftain. It's actually very entertaining.

 

[satakuua]

Just goes to show the canopies on Feds' ships do not work in a combat craft. Those glass or space Plexiglas or whatever cathedrals are a stupid idea. I can understand them in explorers, and, to some extent, in mining vessels, but they are poor fit for a fighter. I'd be okay with something like the one in Bell AH-1 Cobra, for example, as that seems like a functional and purposeful design decision. I do not understand why you need all that vulnerable real estate in something you expect to get hit a lot.

And based on peoples' experience it would appear said canopies are, in fact, just that -- a fragile and dumb thing.

EDIT: This might show as double, as my previous reply got lost somewhere in Frontier space.