Ship Builds & Load Outs It was too squishy

[blitzfreigabe]

I built what I thought would be a good FDL. The theorycrafting seemed solid but it didn't pan out. I got popped way too fast and couldn't stay on targets. My Vulture was really tanky and I could almost sit in an enemy's exhaust trail. I know the FDL isn't as maneuverable, but it also wasn't as survivable.

I loved the idea of the FDL, but the reality has me doubting my lifechoices at this point.

Any tips on where I can improve it?

https://eddp.co/u/dqt9ld2f

 

[Madrax573]

Buy a dropship?

 

[Ceekay]

Never mind him

Have you engineered your FDL?

The FDL relies on it's shield a lot as the hull isn't that tough so I'd suggest maximising that first with at least 4 x A0 boosters (engineer the shield G5 thermal and the boosters G5 resist aug if possible).

The other aspect is the FDL flight model it's way different to the Vultures as it drifts in turns a lot more (like the Dropship funnily enough) so you need to try a use that rather than fight against it also when pitching up fire the down thruster as this will slow the ship and open up the target distance so you can track it without having to turn so much.

I use a fixed MC in the huge slot as I find two sets of gimballed sights one with lead and one without distracting and the hull will block the MC firing anyway, use a second fire button with a fixed MC and just fire when you have a clear shot.

If you can't get on with it's handling check out the FAS as it flies like the Vulture but has no power issues and huge armour (but average shields)

 

[ThriveInDark]

Never mind him

Have you engineered your FDL?

The FDL relies on it's shield a lot as the hull isn't that tough so I'd suggest maximising that first with at least 4 x A0 boosters (engineer the shield G5 thermal and the boosters G5 resist aug if possible).

The other aspect is the FDL flight model it's way different to the Vultures as it drifts in turns a lot more (like the Dropship funnily enough) so you need to try a use that rather than fight against it also when pitching up fire the down thruster as this will slow the ship and open up the target distance so you can track it without having to turn so much.

I use a fixed MC in the huge slot as I find two sets of gimballed sights one with lead and one without distracting and the hull will block the MC firing anyway, use a second fire button with a fixed MC and just fire when you have a clear shot.

If you can't get on with it's handling check out the FAS as it flies like the Vulture but has no power issues and huge armour (but average shields)

You can generally take anything this dude says as absolute truth. To add my own experiences to the conversation, I'd call the ECM + PD redundant, and in fact I'd probably drop both for more shield boosters. That would give you 4 like Ceekay suggested. Something else to consider is that having even lvl 1 resistance mods from the most basic engineers for your shield and boosters can exponentially increase your survivability. You are also wasting quite a bit of your MJ power cap on scanners and utilities, 4A FSD Interdictor, A rank KWS, neither really matter. Just fly a bit closer so you can afford more shields/weapons for when you get there, ya dig? So here is a bit of a rework for your ship, I would personally ditch the hull reinforcement for a 4A fuel scoop, but that's just me.

https://eddp.co/u/p8iQYGBw

According to Coriolis its shields with 4 pips in Sys would hold for approx 1 and a half minutes against my modded anaconda which is pretty good for an unmodded ship.

Personally, I love the FDL on paper but it just isn't for me. It is a larger target, with worse handling and survivability (average shields and below average hull) than most other ships of its class and purpose. No matter how I split my pips at any given second something is totally awful, whether its my handling/shields/weapons I found you need to pick the most important 2 at any given second, and lets be real only the primary one is really gonna hold.

My point is not to bash the FDL, its more to illustrate that whatever the panache or wow factor is that has so many people flying it is just lost on me and that is ok. I'd say if you're still not loving it after a round of tweaks and another try in the RES you can safely get rid of it, because you have to LOVE a ship to put up with an 11LY jump range. Personally really love the Vulture and FAS, the FAS is kind of another odd duck like FDL, just a different species of weird but one that's more suited to my taste. And my favorite combat ship (or just to fly at all) is probably the Imperial Courier. If you're a gimbal MC guy, the FAS or Imperial Courier would be high on my recommendation list.