Imperial Eagle Potential?

[iBR0WNY]

After the FSS mini game has completely killed exploration for me, I've decided to go for combat elite. I'm only at 29% dangerous so I've got a ways to go but I figured I'd try to "get gud" as well.

I think the iEagle is the best looking ship in the game and I'm curious how effective it can be in combat. With an ace pilot, would it be able to take on an Anaconda or FDL for example? Or is that overly ambitious? I'm guessing it probably is.

I'm just looking for opinions on the ships limits so I can set a realistic long term goal and know whether it's my piloting skills failing me, or the ship.

 

[Vardaugas]

With a pair of Cytoscramblers and a corrosive frag cannon, you should be able to take down big fish. Just don't expect to get there fast. An iEagle ain't no Chieftain.

 

[evoelise]

You can but you may find it frustrating. It'll take a while to grind down a big ship (Anaconda's and the like) and their gimballed turrets will still hit you, so you'll be popping back for repairs often. It'll take you a while to rank up.

 

[Stealthie]

I've killed Annie's in my iCourier so I guess it's possible.

The problem is, small ships are really, really, easy to kill so if something goes wrong, it's probably going to be fatal.
If you're okay with that, give it a go.

If not, go for something a bit less ambitious instead.

A Krait or Python can absolutely go toe-to-toe with any NPC ship in the game without breaking a sweat.

For me, the biggest problem is shields.
As you reach higher ranks you're more likely to meet NPCs that spam SCBs.
It's all very well attacking a big ship in a "death of a thousand cuts" but if they're just going to pop an SCB, you're back to square 1.

There are weapons which can bring down shields, and which'll then allow you to use a little ship to kill a big ship by attrition, but it's all a bit of a faff for me.
I'd rather just give another ship a face full of lasers, which means I need enough laser-power to achieve that.
Most small ships can't provide that.

 

[Mugur]

You can kill Scouts if you just want to be Combat Elite. Any weapon is good, but the best are Guardian or heavy engineered ones (even better than the AX MCs).

 

[Simon Templar]

After the FSS mini game has completely killed exploration for me, I've decided to go for combat elite. I'm only at 29% dangerous so I've got a ways to go but I figured I'd try to "get gud" as well.

I think the iEagle is the best looking ship in the game and I'm curious how effective it can be in combat. With an ace pilot, would it be able to take on an Anaconda or FDL for example? Or is that overly ambitious? I'm guessing it probably is.

I'm just looking for opinions on the ships limits so I can set a realistic long term goal and know whether it's my piloting skills failing me, or the ship.

Have you thought about the iCourier instead? Might get the job done more easily, with similar levels of style.

(And on your 'exploration minigame update killed my interest in exploration' point (with which I agree), I think you can still rank up in exploration by taking passenger missions. That's my plan. It isn't glamorous but means you can still hit triple Elite.)


Anyway, I found my iEagle pretty limited for the really big ships, and blowing up the small stuff will take an age, so I'd look at the Courier or even the Clipper (I love a Clipper, me).

o7

 

[galahad2069]

The problem is, small ships are really, really, easy to kill so if something goes wrong, it's probably going to be fatal.
If you're okay with that, give it a go.

If not, go for something a bit less ambitious instead.

A Krait or Python can absolutely go toe-to-toe with any NPC ship in the game without breaking a sweat.

Why such a big crap if he likes small ships?
A Vulture eats all kind of NPCs for breakfast.

 

[Sylow]

The Imperial Eagle is a great ship for learning to fight. It teaches a lot at a low rebuy. For the declared goal, I wouldn't use it, though. The main reason for that is the lack of utility slots.
.
The courier can be turned into a great machine. Three medium hardpoints are still not exactly the hardest punch out there, but it can be fast and agile while still having good shields. Much of this is credit to having more utility slots available. I'd still pick the FAS, Chieftain or Challenger over it by now. While being somewhat slower and a bit less agile, these machines more than make up for that in terms of firepower and survivability.
.

 

[Bortas]

I've killed Annie's in my iCourier so I guess it's possible.

The iCourier is a completely different beast... it has 3 medium hardpoints vs. 1m 2s on the iEagle plus crazy strong shields for a ship of its size.

The problem is, small ships are really, really, easy to kill so if something goes wrong, it's probably going to be fatal.

The iEagle is surprisingly sturdy if you fill it with HD HRPs and fast enough to boost out of range swiftly if necessary.

That being said... yes, it's possible to do it in a well-equipped iEagle and definetely more challenging than mass-slaughtering NPCs with a Corvette.

 

[bladebss]

I use the regular eagle in has res quite a bit. I kill anything 1v1. Condas especialy as they are so slow

1 dispersal long range cannon and 2 hi cap rails with super pen and reverb. Have a piint defence as your utility.

No shields and hevy duty hrps some enhanced drives and you are good to go.

Thogh if you realy want to get to elite fast you might want to get a bigger boat.

 

[Stealthie]

The iCourier is a completely different beast... it has 3 medium hardpoints vs. 1m 2s on the iEagle plus crazy strong shields for a ship of its size.

My iCourier, however, just has a single C2 rail fitted, cos I really, really can't stomach the idea of those clunky hardpoints in the nacelles.
It also has 2D shields too, to keep the speed up.

Honestly, dunno how that'd compare with an iEagle but I suspect it'd be possible to build an iEagle that was at least as capable - if, perhaps, not as fast.

The iEagle is surprisingly sturdy if you fill it with HD HRPs and fast enough to boost out of range swiftly if necessary.

That being said... yes, it's possible to do it in a well-equipped iEagle and definetely more challenging than mass-slaughtering NPCs with a Corvette.

Hmmm...

These things are relative, I guess.

The OP specifically mentioned Annie's and FdLs and the process of reaching combat Elite.
In that context, you can attack Deadly FdLs and Annie's in an iEagle and you will have a chance against them but if they connect with their weapons for more than a few seconds, you're going to be looking at the rebuy screen or, at least, running away rather than fighting.

If it was me, I'd start off with something like a half-decent Python and then, if that gets boring, buy a Vulture and give that a go instead.
If that's still too easy, pick an even smaller ship instead.

I recall that low-end Dangerous was a period where it seemed like all NPCs were cannon-fodder.
When you hit ~50% Dangerous NPCs take a step up again, and then another step (or 2?) before you rech Elite.
A small ship might get the ball rolling but the OP's going to find things get considerably more difficult as they progress.

 

[Morbad]

Honestly, dunno how that'd compare with an iEagle but I suspect it'd be possible to build an iEagle that was at least as capable - if, perhaps, not as fast.

An iCourier has significantly more firepower (larger distributor) and is vastly more durable. It's far and away the superior combatant.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

I like a super stripped down iEagle with dirty, Enhanced thrusters and an interdictor to pull people and run. It’s so fast you can be out of radar range before they stop spinning, and gone before they realize you’re not even there.

Works wonders to annoy people lurking around CG stations.

 

[sidereal6]

I have a lot of fun in eagles and iEagles in CZs. I'm not grinding rank or trying to be the lone hero who dominates the zone. I just want to have fun flying, and they deliver it in spades.

 

[Stealthie]

An iCourier has significantly more firepower (larger distributor) and is vastly more durable. It's far and away the superior combatant.

The firepower isn't an issue.
As I said, my iCourier just has 1xC2 rail, which you could obviously fit to an iEagle, or bung a couple of C1 rails on it with, perhaps a PA or whatever.

Just had a bit of a play in Coriolis, though, and it's pretty scary how different the shields and speed are.
My iCourier has 250MJ of shields and boosts to nearly 900m/s https://s.orbis.zone/1bed
Can't get anywhere near both of those stat's at the same time with an iEagle though. [sad]

So, yeah.
I kind of stand by what I said, insofar as an iEagle probably could kill big ships just as easily as my iCourier... as long as you don't get hit by incoming fire.
And that is probably going to be a lot easier in an iCourier than an iEagle. [where is it]

 

[tafkabb]

I was attacked by a player in an iEagle (I wasn't offended; he's a mate and kills everyone) while flying my armed-to-the-teeth Federal Gunship.
Things would have gone very badly for me if the authorities hadn't turned up. I just couldn't get him in my sights.
The only problem with trying to get combat Elite in a small ship is ammo

 

[Morbad]

I kind of stand by what I said, insofar as an iEagle probably could kill big ships just as easily as my iCourier

Mostly because your iCourier is decidedly suboptimal for this, even relative to other multi-purpose loadouts.

 

[Bortas]

Things would have gone very badly for me if the authorities hadn't turned up. I just couldn't get him in my sights.

You could just... you know... low wake If an engagement doesn't make sense for whatever reason, leaving is usually not the worst idea.

 

[Azirphaeli]

With a pair of Cytoscramblers and a corrosive frag cannon, you should be able to take down big fish. Just don't expect to get there fast. An iEagle ain't no Chieftain.

I disagree, with some performance enhanced thusters, lightweight everything, and g5 dirties the iEagle can get anywhere fast.

 

[Stealthie]

Mostly because your iCourier is decidedly suboptimal for this, even relative to other multi-purpose loadouts.

Yes, I know.
My iCourier is, basically, a racer with a gun bolted to it.

That's why I thought it was reasonable to compare it to an iEagle, in terms of firepower, at least.
If I can kill an Annie' with my iCourier, it should certainly be possible to do the same with an iEagle.... as long as you can avoid getting shot very often.