New Cobra Blue - tell me about my new ship

[GDMNW]

I took delivery of my new Cobra Mk3 yesterday.

I'm almost overwhelmed by the size of the thing. So many slots for upgrades and configuration. I thought I would be excited but instead I'm missing my reasonably well upgraded Sidewinder.

Can those of you with more experience of the Cobra tell me how I should adapt to my new ship.

For the rest of you, is this something you experienced when you changed ships?

 

[Zenith]

Learn about prioritising your modules in the right modules menu. The last thing you need is for your shields and engines to turn off when you deploy your hardpoints.

 

[Pon Farr]

I absolutely love my Cobra. For me it's the perfect all rounder. I've got reasonably decent weapons - two lasers for striping shields, then two gimballed multicanons underneath for taking out the hulls of my kills when bounty hunting. They need to be gimballed as the mounts are wide apart.

I've upgraded the FSD, power plant, distributor, well, everything really. Nearly all A rated though still a couple to go. I get just 17 light years jump range unladen.

Then I have the detailed surface scanner as well as the discovery scanner. Oh, and a kill warrent scanner, which paid for itself in one night.

Lastly I have 2 x 16 ton cargo holds and a fuel scoop.

So I can bounty hunt, explore or make a reasonable profit trading. I usually play for an hour or two most nights and make a few hundred thousand credits depending on what I fancy doing during each session.

Oh and if in my wandering I find a belt worth mining I swap out the surface scanner for a 4 bin refinery, one laser for a mining one and go grab some free money. Then I'll swap the stuff back and travel on.

Currently I'm shifting rarest, with some bounty hunting thrown in for a bit of variety. I can take down most ships without much damage, if any, to myself as the shields are upgraded and I have military composite armour. Not tried elite Anacondas yet, though. I think I might need to find space for a shield cell bank for them!

 

[Cradle2Grave]

You'll soon learn to love it mate! I felt the same as you at first.

 

[Feldspar]

Watch it when coming in for landings, it only just fits on the pad.

 

[Tox Laximus]

Cobra Needs a Wide Load bumper sticker.

 

[GDMNW]

Heheh. I bit the bullet and sold the Cobra. I think I'll stick with the Sidewinder for a little longer. In a way it's odd to think that just two of my components would be almost enough to buy me a stock Cobra.

I've done a little bit of rares trading and now I think I'm going to do a little exploration jaunt. A little bit of space tourism never hurt anyone and this game is nothing if not pretty!

 

[Keljian]

Why don't you get an eagle? Heaps of fun and a good fighter

 

[JuicerPrime]

I had the same thing when I first upgraded to a Cobra - it seemed too big, almost too much ship; expensive to run; expensive to fuel; why did I need it all? I felt like I had bitten off more than I could chew, that I didn't need such a large vessel. I think a bit of disorientation is pretty normal at first.

Now I have my Asp though, let me assure you that the sense of awe will pass. The Cobra is hands down one of the finest ships in Elite imo, a brilliant combination of size (can use small pads), speed, maneuverability, toughness, versatility and threat potential Compared to what you have to save for after obtaining it it's almost comically cheap to fit and run, yet will still earn good credits on trade runs and give any ship you care to name a run for its money (I used to hunt NPC Anaconda's alongside FedSec in the Xihe resource belts in mine). It also gives you a good perspective on really just how fragile smaller ships like Sidewinders and Eagles are in comparison to it when you take on NPC's.

I'd suggest sticking the course. Even in its base config the Cobra is more versatile and has better earning potential than the Sidey, and once you find a good trade route or do some USS's it won't take long to upgrade it a bit. Then you'll really start to see it shine. And don't worry about the higher fuel cost, srsly - you should see how much it costs to fill an Asp's tank

 

[FatteusTwerpage]

It does all of the above, plus it's got an AUX socket. Make of that what you will.

 

[GDMNW]

I had the same thing when I first upgraded to a Cobra - it seemed too big, almost too much ship; expensive to run; expensive to fuel; why did I need it all? I felt like I had bitten off more than I could chew, that I didn't need such a large vessel. I think a bit of disorientation is pretty normal at first.

Now I have my Asp though, let me assure you that the sense of awe will pass. The Cobra is hands down one of the finest ships in Elite imo, a brilliant combination of size (can use small pads), speed, maneuverability, toughness, versatility and threat potential Compared to what you have to save for after obtaining it it's almost comically cheap to fit and run, yet will still earn good credits on trade runs and give any ship you care to name a run for its money (I used to hunt NPC Anaconda's alongside FedSec in the Xihe resource belts in mine). It also gives you a good perspective on really just how fragile smaller ships like Sidewinders and Eagles are in comparison to it when you take on NPC's.

I'd suggest sticking the course. Even in its base config the Cobra is more versatile and has better earning potential than the Sidey, and once you find a good trade route or do some USS's it won't take long to upgrade it a bit. Then you'll really start to see it shine. And don't worry about the higher fuel cost, srsly - you should see how much it costs to fill an Asp's tank

Exactly how I felt. I've gone back to the Sidewinder. I figure I'll spend some more time there and then move up when I'm generally more confident. I'm still freaking out whenever I get interdicted. Mind you, given I'm running a Sidey with no shield or weapons that's probably not too surprising...