Ships Is the Diamondback Explorer a good mid-priced exploration vessel?

dudio83

D
I've only logged about 70 hours into this game but so far I'm enjoying it very much. Currently I've been exploring lots in an Adder, around 250-500LY away from Sol. I'm going deeper by each run but also I'm trying to take it a little slow and enjoy the game.

In my mind I've already started to plan for my next ship however and I obviously wont be able to afford the behemoth vessels like Python or Anaconda anytime soon. I'm looking for a decent vessel which I can use for exploration (I have a hauler for trading and a sidewinder for combat but I enjoy exploring the most).

I've been playing around on the E:D Shipyard and I've come up with this mid-priced Diamondback Explorer: http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=70i,mpV01Q0Wg,2-5K6u885K5K5K6k,mpT7hG4z_2jw2US
I'd love to hear your opinions on it. If there's a better ship in similar price range or if I've made a bad build somehow...

What I like about the build:
  • 27LY jump range on a B-rated FSD (A rated too expensive at the moment)
  • All relatively big compartments.
  • 1 large and 2 medium hardpoints if I want to add some weapons at one point.
  • I love the 3E fuel scoop - it's not too heavy but also has a great scooping rate.
  • Size 4 shield generator might be useful for me as I'm really bad at combat so the defense could save my ship (and charts)!
  • The possibility to upgrade to from size 4 to 5 fuel store if I require more fuel (so far I find 16T sufficient).
 

GammaZ

G
IMO a waste of money.
If everything you need are scanners you can get 27LY out of your adder if you configure it properly.
Then there is Type-6, which will also perform better at such low price point.
And when you will be ready to spend 10-12M needed to make something reasonable out of DBE there will be ASP, which is, again, better.
Also in terms of fuel scoop, if you use 3E on adder and find it good enough, it will be AWFULL on DBE. Because of FSD class and fuel tank size. You will need ~2.5 times more fuel per jump, which means you will spend ~2.5x more time scooping with the same scoop.
 
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SushiCW

SushiCW
I bought one to take to Sag-A* and back. I was happy with how it did. (Of course, that was before Horizons, so I didn't need to try to squeeze a vehicle bay into it...)
 

Ddraig

Ddraig
I have never used repair modules on my explorer ships neither heat sinks. So, when I went to explore in the DBE, I was pretty happy with the result to be honest.
As always, the best is to try by yourself. There is no guaranteed method but your own, even if its flawed is still fun. So, yeah.

The current build of my stored DBE...

http://coriolis.io/outfit/diamondba...32v6432i2f.Iw1-kA==.IwBj4yKA?bn=explo diamond

Yes, no cargo space. Don't need it. Materials for synthesis do not require cargo room. No repairs module because I do not fly sleepy so I do not make mistakes with stars or scooping. Same with heat sinks.
Only down side is that it is a bit expensive, 10m cr with discounts and all. And yes, scooping slot is small so you take some time to fill the tank, it does not bother me much though.

Of course this is all my opinion.
 

Viscera

Viscera
There are many ships you can use as a cheap explorer, with great performance for low end gear.

some useful/important things to note for explorers (and others)-

Usually a lower rated A grade power plant is better than a D grade of a higher rating. So a 2A rather than a 3D for example. The reason is the power output is much the same for a comparable weight, but the Heat generation is much lower and so making your fuel scooping, and other heat generating activitys much better.

A cargo rack in an empty slot allows you to plot jumps with less fuel in tanks etc. some players use this to help their route plotting (I am not that advanced :))

Buy your ship and its fittings at a Li Yong Rui station as you get a nice discount on all costs.

Fly whatever ship you want. You are the one that will be sat in it for quite a while so there is no point taking something that annoys you for what ever reason. If you like it, and it does the task you require of it, it can not be "wrong".

For example, the ship I use for exploration, The Valiant, is not set up like other people would, but I like it and it works for me -

http://coriolis.io/outfit/viper_mk_...2f2i.AwRj4zTI.CwBj5BGbKyGYBMsRA===?bn=V4L14NT

Your DBX looks like it will work quite nicely for what you are asking. You do need a shield rather than a shield cell bank though ;)

For the same cost though, I certainly would say take a look at the T6 Transporter. This is a seriously good ship for its price and may allow you to improve certain areas of your build for much the same cost.

here is an example: add a reduction to the price at the right stations when buying and you could probably get an Advanced Discovery Scanner too

http://coriolis.io/outfit/type_6_transporter/02A4D4A2D3A2D4C--0002-4d3a---2g2i.Iw1-kA==.Aw1-kA==
 

DHMeyer

D
I used both Diamondbacks on some occasions in fairly stock configurations and in general I liked them. Probably they would handle better when A-speced. But... I don't see them as exploration vessels. For sure DME has a nice jump range, and then there is that large hardpoint (not sure there is enough power for that, but I didn't test this ship in combat), but internal compartments don't allow for much. In my opinion buying Scout is entirely pointless (Adder will be just as good and way cheaper). As for DME, I see it more as a ship to scout inhabited space in, but then you don't need the jump range and Cobra will be much better (better internal compartments, faster, more nimble, reasonably good in combat situations - better than DME, and much cheaper).
When the jump range is needed, I would recommend Type 6. Stock version is cheaper than DME and upgrades are not expensive. You get more internal compartments than in DME or Cobra (2 and 1 more, respectively) and this will allow you to fit in everything you need when out in the black and long way from home. No, it's not a ship to fight in (but would you really want to risk days or weeks worth of exploration data in combat? Plus, getting rid of weapons gives you more jump range.), but with upgraded thrusters you're pretty safe. When flying my A-speced, unarmed Type 6 I never had a slightest problem escaping after being interdicted by pirates. View from the cockpit is also very good. And it's surprisingly fun to fly (after adding better thrusters, which also makes it quite manoeuvrable). The only advantage of Asp Explorer is slightly higher maximum jump range, but when you consider cost of the upgrades, it doesn't look that good anymore. To have a Type 6 with the A-rated modules and fully ready for exploration will cost you in the ballpark of 10mil. And you're ready to go to infinity and beyond. To have similarly equipped Asp Explorer will cost you in the ballpark of 50mil. You can as well earn that money whilst exploring in a ship that's much cheaper yet not really worse when it comes to exploration.
 

Siobhan

Siobhan
One thing to add is that the DBE runs cold enough that you'll never need heat sinks... but it is only a stepping stone to the Asp... On the other hand, it's a really nice spacefaring helicopter gunship...
 

Deleted member 110222

D
I think Size 3 Multi Cannons will change this ship largely... Pun intended.
 

Deleted member 110222

D
Siobhan said:
Space-Apache!
Click to expand...

That's what I'm hoping. For looks on the exterior, nothing beats the DBX.

Might just try ground attack missions with it.

One large Multi Cannon, and two dumb-fire missile racks on the sides. Think I'll buy myself a paint pack later this week in lieu...
 

Deleted member 110222

D
OP, in the current state of the game, the Diamondback Explorer is a fine space-only exploration platform. If you fly space-only, you won't need an SRV, obviously, and so you'll have that vital AFMU. If it's re-fills you're worried about, you can just gather the mats prior to the expedition. A load-out change won't touch your mats-bag.
 
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