Ships Newbie - Best Python pure trader build

Just started a month or so ago and finally got enough money for my Python. Did some reading around but cant find a clear "best" outfitting for this ship for pure trading so I'm looking for advice before i spend my hard earned money.

everyone seems to agree to:
4d life support
5c fuel tank
5a FSD

Then its a mixed bag. im seeing:
6a 6d sensors
5a 7a power plant (heard its better to go lower for this due to weight?)
5d 6a 6d thrusters
6a 6d 7a power distributor

Thanks everyone. I will likely use a shield with shield boosters for when i get interceded. I dont understand the size of power plant i need very well yet as i am new, so some help with this would be good. No weapons needed, though i will likely throw in chaff to ward off missiles. want to max out cargo, jump distance, and be able to get away if i get interdicted.

Cheers

CMDR Cropwolf
 
  • 6D Sensors have less weight, so you'll have a better jump range.
  • PP, decide last and apply to your ships energy-need. As you said lower weight is better. Higher grade (A) gives you better heat signature.
  • I would go with 6A thrusters since better speed will allow you to escape enemy ships faster. But if you play in solo and you are confident that you will win every interdiction feel free to go lower for less cost/weight and better jump range.
  • PD - better distributor will charge your energy faster, so you will be able to boost more often, fire weapons for longer time etc. Again, if you think you'll be engaged in any sort of combat, better go high here. If you are confident you win every interdiction and you play in solo only, you can go lower, for less cost/weight and better jump range.
Remember, if you go cheap and low-weight, don't blame me if your Python will be killed in combat.
If you want to have any chance to flee or fight, I'd straight A-Grade, with exception of Sensors and Life Support - those are not so necessary.
 
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  • 6D Sensors have less weight, so you'll have a better jump range.
  • PP, decide last and apply to your ships energy-need. As you said lower weight is better. Higher grade (A) gives you better heat signature.
  • I would go with 6A thrusters since better speed will allow you to escape enemy ships faster. But if you play in solo and you are confident that you will win every interdiction feel free to go lower for less cost/weight and better jump range.
  • PD - better distributor will charge your energy faster, so you will be able to boost more often, fire weapons for longer time etc. Again, if you think you'll be engaged in any sort of combat, better go high here. If you are confident you win every interdiction and you play in solo only, you can go lower, for less cost/weight and better jump range.
Remember, if you go cheap and low-weight, don't blame me if your Python will be killed in combat.
If you want to have any chance to flee or fight, I'd straight A-Grade, with exception of Sensors and Life Support - those are not so necessary.
That.
Always use an A-rated powerplant, smallest you can manage with your power demands.
If you run away only and won't shoot, you can use a 6D/7D Distributor with engine focused, but one of the Python's strengths is the c7 Distributor, so why not use it to full potential with a 7A...
Again, if you run away use a 6A shield Generator (or even prismatic if possible), if you intend to fight your way through interdictions a bi-weave could make sense in certain circumstances.
 
That.
Always use an A-rated powerplant, smallest you can manage with your power demands.

I guess I don't know what powerplant to buy though until I've already bought it. In other words, if I select all the other components, how do I know which is the minimum size power plant that will be enough to supply power to my needs? Is there a calculator or something?
 
I guess I don't know what powerplant to buy though until I've already bought it. In other words, if I select all the other components, how do I know which is the minimum size power plant that will be enough to supply power to my needs? Is there a calculator or something?
I use coriolis

 
The outfitting screen gives you all the info you need. You'll find the Total Power used by your ship, with retracted weapons and with deployed weapons, in the lower center of the screen in MegaWatt (MW). You can also browse the powerplant types in your stations shop. The power plant's power capacity is also displayed in MW. It should be easy to figure out what powerplant fits your needs.

Don't worry too much. You can always sell modules back without loss. You can try different builds as much as you like without credit loss. Just be sure you don't sell engineered modules or your ship. You won't get those back. :p

Also Coriolis is a splendid tool.

I have one example build here for you:

Trading Python with Prismatics

If you don't have those prismatics I'd take a Class 6 Shield Generator. If you have the money you could also upgrade the ship alloy to reinforced or even military. You'll have to set power priorities though, if you go with this build, else your weapons will be out of energy when you deploy them. Those prismatics are energy hungry.
 
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This is what I used to run before opening any engineers for supply/delivery missions and I made a ton of credits with it, but:
  • in open you will stand no chance, so I would recommend to play in solo/pg
  • even in solo, if you stack supply/delivery missions, especially high ranked ones, you will get interdicted a lot, most of the time by deadly Anacondas - make sure you win those interdictions. Those shields are there to ease the landings.
Else you can stick some high grade shields with less cargo capacity.
And don't fly without enough credits for a rebuy :)
 
Here is my Python that I use to run delivery missions. Without a fuel scoop it has 192T cargo capacity. Since you are at stations all the time and can buy fuel you really do not need a fuel scoop, get another cargo rack instead. With this build in medium and high security systems I can take out pirates that interdict me and it has a 34 LY jump range when fully loaded.

Ghost Rider
 
Just started a month or so ago and finally got enough money for my Python. Did some reading around but cant find a clear "best" outfitting for this ship for pure trading so I'm looking for advice before i spend my hard earned money.

Pure trading means : No fight. So if npc or player try to interdict you, you have to evade, always ( of course )

This could be a python base. Not bed jump and a lot of T for trading. Putting Engineers you can do better like this.

Depending of your kind of trading ( missions / free traging ) you can put fuelscoop ( 6B or 5B, more cheaper than the A version and pretty similar to the A version ).

Enjoy ;)
 
Pure trading means : No fight. So if npc or player try to interdict you, you have to evade, always ( of course )

This could be a python base. Not bed jump and a lot of T for trading. Putting Engineers you can do better like this.

Depending of your kind of trading ( missions / free traging ) you can put fuelscoop ( 6B or 5B, more cheaper than the A version and pretty similar to the A version ).

Enjoy ;)
That's a typical "never fly in open and god help me if I somehow fumble the interdiction" build.
 
In open, a Python with 100 shields and 400 hull will be alive for exactly 3 seconds after losing an interdiction to a FDL.
Maybe less if FDL rams and shoots instead of shooting twice :)
 
I used that 109Mj shield in open doing trading for 4 months without problem avoiding interdiction. I don't belive in multirole ship and until the last month ( actually i'm not playing ) was the right way
 
I used that 109Mj shield in open doing trading for 4 months without problem avoiding interdiction. I don't belive in multirole ship and until the last month ( actually i'm not playing ) was the right way
I don't believe in you evading a player interdiction in a Python either, so I guess we're even.
 
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