If you could only have ONE ship.......
- Thread starter Rock Hermit
- Start date
Python definitely, though the Cobra MK IV runs it a close second 
verminstar
Banned
Everybody has their own taste obviously and I have to say you won't be seeing it at its best (handling in particular) because I know you won't engineer it. Even without that though, it's the most ridiculously versatile ship in the game, I practically live in mine in the bubble. It's not so much that it's the best at anything, more that you can take off and do virtually anything you want without having to change a single piece of gear.
The last day I played in the bubble with my my general purpose Python I ran 208 tons of cargo (Ok, slaves) 10 jumps to a station including ADS scans in every system and detailed surface scanning a couple of planets to discover the ring types for future mining possibilities, undocked and went to fight in a high intensity combat zone around the nearby planet for 30 minutes, landed on the planet and got the SRV out to pick up some jumponium for my upcoming trip, then picked up a smuggling mission from the planetary base and delivered that to an outpost. All in exactly the same ship, not one piece of gear changed. Granted you can do exactly the same range of stuff in an Anaconda, but you can't land on medium pads which means you're not able to visit at least a quarter of the bases in the game and it handles like a pig in supercruise.
The internals in the Python are pretty much a perfect blend; 3 x class 6, 2 x class 5, 1 x class 4, 2 x class 3 and a class 2. It's things like having 3 x class 6 slots rather than a class 7 and a class 6 that make the difference for build versatility - I'd fly my Clipper a lot more if it had 3 x class 6 slots instead of a 7 and a 6, although I know players who are more combat focused would hate to lose that big slot.
Hardpoints are sufficient that you can pack some real wallop, 3 x class 3 and 2 x class 2 - I have a full set of multi cannons on mine (engineered obviously...) and it shreds anything. Four utility mounts is enough to stick at least one shield booster on it along with chaff and PD and have an option for the final one.
The core internals are all suitably high classes that none of them are really a bottleneck for overall performance; class 7 powerplant, class 6 thrusters, class 5 FSD, class 7 (!) power distributor and a decent sized stock fuel tank with 32 tons. With a 7A power plant in it you have to get really creative to manage to use all that juice. Then you need to factor in that in the configuration I used for that series of activities above (again, with engineering) it jumps a shade under 30LY empty and about 23LY carrying 208tons of cargo, all whilst boosting at 450
I own two, that one and a second one which is permanently built as a miner. I fully intend to build a third one up as a fully lightweight engineered explorer at some point. I can't stress enough that it's not as awesome without at least some engineering work (the jump range in particular is bang average without an enhanced FSD) but it's still a fantastically capable ship, I fell in love with them long before engineers were a thing, they just made what was already good into something amazing.
Oh and they're gorgeous:
http://i.imgur.com/pL2QA5p.jpg
Note - that's not the camera blur effect, it's the distortion field that the UA pumps out...
Especially in white:
Not sure whether a bubble-hater such as yourself will get as much use out of one but if you intend running missions and so on out in Colonia I really can't think of a better ship to do it in. I think longer-term I will also ship a clone of my general purpose one out there and just keep it garaged for when I need it.
Nah, no engineering at all...no engineers here anyway, would have to go to ganktown fer those and thats not gonna be happening anytime soon. Sat and thought about this last night while contemplating me next move and decided it can wait till I get back. It really is utterly pointless trying to build a non slf exploration ship in an area that sells only mediocre modules...while I already have an asp and keelback at jaques which are perfectly fitted fer what I do.
I suppose if I could strip the asp and use all the same parts and modules on the python, then thats a different scenario entirely, but as it is, buying a python simply isnt practical.
Mores the pity...even with the bodykit, the asp isnt exactly inspirational or even remotely pleasing to the eye...it just wins the multi purpose argument when its not possible to get any decent stuff er the alternative.
And then theres the lack of slf...thats why Im in a keelback and thats even less fun to use. But the slf...too much fun to give that up and fun is in short supply lately in this game. So no python...not yet anyway.
Already on my way into the core...gankers at colonia anyway so pointless hanging around to taste a rebuy. Cya in the black m8 ^
My T-9 has 500 Cargo, in bubble I put Shields on it and sacrifice Fuel scoop, when on CG I sacrifice shields to put Fuel Scoop, when laided it gives me 19Ly descent jump with 1680 hull integrity. it gives me around 1.8m in 10 minutes and two jumps. In future I will try it as mining ship but I'm still concern with outfit him for mining, I can't find desirable for me layout. I have 2 Condas, one for exploration, second for Mining, and mining version cost around 420M, and it's great and do the mining job great but, except of price tag and insurance costs. And here comes the saddest part of ED, you'll have to do tonnes of mining to just recoup costs of the ship and outfits. Only my Python was able to give me 24-32M in 45min, and priceless experience of not been scanned while boosting into the letterbox.
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I have done loads of mining in my Cutter, even the 3 NPCs that always seem to be near the rings wherever, think twice before engaging.
CMIV
The T9 can be an absolute monster for mining.
At the end of the day, mining is just about fitting as many collector controllers as possible and having as much storage space as possible.
The more of this stuff a ship can fit, the better it is at mining.
Theoretically.
In practical terms, however, there's more to it.
It's useful to have an agile ship so you can easily move from one rock to another.
You're going to need a LOT of patience to go mining for long enough to fill up the hold of a big ship.
Spending 3 hours collecting 300t of Painite isn't going to be much use if you get spaced by pirates on your way back to the station.
All that being the case, a more modest mining ship, such as the Python, can be far more effective because it allows you to get in, grab a nice chunk of stuff and get out again safely, before you're bored to tears.
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Python definitely, though the Cobra MK IV runs it a close second
The CM4 is a mini python.
Is there such a place? How far out of the bubble would you have to go? Mining has frustrated me after 6+ hours I only had 140t refined. Clearly i am doing something wrong.
in Regards to the OP if I had time and cash to outfit it/ engineer it I woutld go my cutter. Otherwise my Cobra mk3.
While I don't have one yet, I would go for python as it can do pretty much anything.
I rarely mine but I try to get everything I want in a single instance, so events go as follows:
Leave port empty (except limpets of course), travel trouble free to the mining location & drop down. I usually avoid a RES & choose a random location in the appropriate type of ring.
When I drop into the ring a couple of NPC ships spawn. Sometimes Police, usually pirates. Let them scan me to see I'm empty/not wanted or if I have the speed (not in my Cobra MkIV) just boost away.
Travel several Km in normal space away from the NPCs & start prospecting/mining.
Once full or bored, return to port & transfer useful mined cargo to a travelling ship, sell the rest.
If I run out of limpets & need to return to the ring again whilst carrying cargo I get interdicted by magic pirates that know I have something on board, or have trouble getting away from the ones that spawn in the ring instance. The Python (or Corvette) can handle this pretty easily, the Cobra MkIV & T9 struggle, at least with me at the helm
Getting better stuff is a matter of location & experience. If you aren't already using them, prospector limpets will increase an asteroid's yield.
id have to choose my conda..... i see it as my great fox in the elite universe.
Ah, so nice to see another CM4 supporter!
In fairness it's only a great ship with an overcharged power plant. Otherwise you have to choose between weapons or engines.
It's a bit like a Gee Wiz in the rain in that respect
The Anaconda is the only ship that can do everything I want, and do it well. There are very few compromises I have to make with that ship. All the others shine in certain circumstances, but the 'Conda shines in all of them (with the right fitting, of course). So that would have to be the one, if I could only have one.
That said, I would not like just having one ship! I like to fly different ships for different reasons. Don't take my fleet away!
That said, I would not like just having one ship! I like to fly different ships for different reasons. Don't take my fleet away!
Darth Crispy
Banned
Python for all rounder. Viper mk3 for bounty hunting