Out of curiousty, does anyone stick with some of "lower level" ships?

[Rankaze]

I do agree with the point Valkyrie makes, its not that I find ED boring but rather, why would I do X or Y activity only to get to a ship I like less, but does the same activity more efficiently?

I am willing to live with the lower efficiency of the small ship, really. If it were only about kill rate, I'd stay in the Eagle until I got a Courier, and skip the Viper entirely.

The real reason to upgrade to the bigger fighters is survivability. The Viper is MUCH tougher than the Eagle (partly due to shields and partly due to the extra utility mount), and the Courier and Vulture are much tougher than the Viper. This becomes important when huntimg big game like Elite Anacondas.

 

[Rankaze]

The Eagle is the most maneuverable ship in the game, but it is made out of paper and it is slow. It's a mosquito.

The Viper is a bit tricky to fly, but it is very maneuverable once all 6 axises are used - "sliding" with the Viper is cool.

The next fun ship is the Diamondback Scout. The firepower of the Viper almost, as agile as the Eagle, is fast and more than enough power to use all the fun stuff. That thing is my preferred combat ship in Elite Dangerous, it's just silly fun to fly it.

The Cobra is a fast trading ship with good pitch, but that's it.

The Vulture is something special, some call it boring, but it is a big Eagle. Pure fun to fly with really nice acceleration.

The reason I consider the Vulture to be boring is that combat in it is effortless. You can cruise in HIRES forever, and you won't run out of chaff or SCB's becauae you almost never need them. You don't need clever maneuvering, either; keeping your guns on target is easy.

The Courier is much more fun to me because, while it can be extremely nimble, you really have to know what you are doing to make it dance.

The Vulture is soulless perfection, mechanical efficiency. The Courier, like the Viper and the FdL, is art.

 

[ComradeFresco]

You all make good points, and the perspectives are very useful. I guess for me I wish there were more high-end options that were dog-fighting ships, though I suppose we've got more of those coming out. The Vulture seems to be the main contender for that role, and I am curious to try it. The Imperial Eagle seems interesting, alas though I don't play Imperial.

I also must admit, I wish the Vulture kept the same bird-style design as the eagle. I know ED ships are more "blocky" then other Sci-Fi worlds, but I kind of like having... wings.

 

[Krezan]

WAs hoping the Imperial Eagle was going to re-ignite my Eagle love, but no. Anyway, get a Vulture and tell me you love the Eagle.

 

[ComradeFresco]

WAs hoping the Imperial Eagle was going to re-ignite my Eagle love, but no. Anyway, get a Vulture and tell me you love the Eagle.

I'll have to check back once I've taken the Vulture for a good spin, but it still won't ever be as pretty!

 

[Cliffson]

I have a Conda, it's fun for the hilarity of popping small ships and Trading for huge profit at a time, but it's no fun to fly. I regularly find myself back in the cobra for, well everything because it does everything so well and is great to fly why you do it.

You all make good points, and the perspectives are very useful. I guess for me I wish there were more high-end options that were dog-fighting ships, though I suppose we've got more of those coming out. The Vulture seems to be the main contender for that role, and I am curious to try it. The Imperial Eagle seems interesting, alas though I don't play Imperial.

I also must admit, I wish the Vulture kept the same bird-style design as the eagle. I know ED ships are more "blocky" then other Sci-Fi worlds, but I kind of like having... wings.

I've been discovering the joys of the vulture recently, it really is fun to dog fight in, the lateral thrusters have great acceleration and you can just orbit the bigger ships chipping away at them while dodging all their fire.

 

[ValkyrieUK]

Would it be a bit too off-topic to bring up the difference between a vacuum and an atmosphere when dogfighting, or should I start a new thread for that?

 

[ComradeFresco]

Would it be a bit too off-topic to bring up the difference between a vacuum and an atmosphere when dogfighting, or should I start a new thread for that?

I don't think so, I'd be curious if there's a discussion about different types/sizes of ships being better at one over the other. That said it may get more attention in a new thread.

 

[ValkyrieUK]

I think I'll start a new thread tomorrow.

(That is if I don't forget...)

 

[Marra Morgan]

Biggest thing I fly is a T6!

Not much appeal in anything bigger for me, ♡ small ships

 

[Darkfyre99]

I really, really, can't fly anything other then the eagle. I just can't man. I hop in my viper and its just, ugh, I feel like a fat kid in a swimming pool with those arm-floaters on. Also no ship looks half as cool as the eagle, not even close.

However it feels like to "progress" I need to set my precious eagle aside, otherwise I'll never be a real big boy in space. So I'm just wondering, are there any of you that feel the same way? I haven't tried the vulture and FDL again, do people find that those ships recreate the magic of the more nippy/small starter ships?

Don't concentrate on "keeping up with the Jones." Concentrate on doing what you love, and if you love flying small ships, do that. The money will come naturally, and it won't feel like a grind getting it.

I've been playing since Alpha, and I only just recently upgraded to an Asp Explorer as my main ship, with my old Cobra being put into storage. I had a Hauler for exploring, though I sold it when I moved back into Imperial space, and I have yet to remake it. At one time I also had a Viper for combat, but I really don't enjoy combat all that much, so I sold it after a while.

 

[Cowboy Bats]

I really, really, can't fly anything other then the eagle. I just can't man. I hop in my viper and its just, ugh, I feel like a fat kid in a swimming pool with those arm-floaters on. Also no ship looks half as cool as the eagle, not even close.

However it feels like to "progress" I need to set my precious eagle aside, otherwise I'll never be a real big boy in space. So I'm just wondering, are there any of you that feel the same way? I haven't tried the vulture and FDL again, do people find that those ships recreate the magic of the more nippy/small starter ships?

Absolutely. I'm flying a Cobra because it is the definitive Elite ship in every respect. Although I do think I'm going to upgrade to the new MK4.

 

[Rankaze]

I really, really, can't fly anything other then the eagle. I just can't man. I hop in my viper and its just, ugh, I feel like a fat kid in a swimming pool with those arm-floaters on. Also no ship looks half as cool as the eagle, not even close.

However it feels like to "progress" I need to set my precious eagle aside, otherwise I'll never be a real big boy in space. So I'm just wondering, are there any of you that feel the same way? I haven't tried the vulture and FDL again, do people find that those ships recreate the magic of the more nippy/small starter ships?

One thing I do feel compelled to note: the Viper *can* dance. It's not as easy as the Eagle, which is delightfully responsive and obediently goes where you point it; the Viper isn't a turn-fighter and will never feel as sprightly.

What the Viper (and the Courier, like it) do have is thruster response, and they have it in spades. As well as the Eagle (and Vulture, too) turn, they can't slide off-axis the way the Viper and Courier can. As such, getting the Viper to dance requires a different technique. The Fer-de-Lance is cut from this same cloth, as well.

You definitely have to work harder in a Viper than in an Eagle. On the flip side, it rewards you with roughly double the firepower a lot more speed with which to dictate the terms of engagement, more durability, and an extra utility mount so you can have a chaff launcher AND a KWS.

Another thing about the Viper, though: Until you've flown it with A thrusters, you haven't flown it. They make a HUGE difference. Also, you have to be careful not to build it too heavy. An overweight, under-engined Viper becomes a sloth; a slim, trim Viper with A thrusters is more like Muhammed Ali.

 

[ComradeFresco]

One thing I do feel compelled to note: the Viper *can* dance. It's not as easy as the Eagle, which is delightfully responsive and obediently goes where you point it; the Viper isn't a turn-fighter and will never feel as sprightly.

What the Viper (and the Courier, like it) do have is thruster response, and they have it in spades. As well as the Eagle (and Vulture, too) turn, they can't slide off-axis the way the Viper and Courier can. As such, getting the Viper to dance requires a different technique. The Fer-de-Lance is cut from this same cloth, as well.

You definitely have to work harder in a Viper than in an Eagle. On the flip side, it rewards you with roughly double the firepower a lot more speed with which to dictate the terms of engagement, more durability, and an extra utility mount so you can have a chaff launcher AND a KWS.

Another thing about the Viper, though: Until you've flown it with A thrusters, you haven't flown it. They make a HUGE difference. Also, you have to be careful not to build it too heavy. An overweight, under-engined Viper becomes a sloth; a slim, trim Viper with A thrusters is more like Muhammed Ali.

That is some darn useful info. I'll have to play with my viper more and see if I can learn to use it properly. It also has one of the better looks to it, as a ship.

 

[Sergio Smegolia]

My ships are an Eagle, my trusty old Cobra, a well equipped Vulture, a trading and mining Asp and my even more trusted exploration Asp.

As you can see I'm a hoarder and I hate having to refit ships for different roles. I'll clearly never be rich but I like being able to quickly change roles.

 

[Guidebot]

I progressed neatly through to the Python, and now have a number of fully specced ships. The ship I fly the most (by far)? The Cobra.

The funny thing is, I didn't "go back" to the Cobra. I got it after A-speccing the Python. The Cobra is beast. So fast, great fun in any fight if you're canny, and it has room for everything you need.

 

[mugendo]

I have my cobra setup for bounty hunting, and my Asp as my multi purpose ship. I have been playing since open beta and still happy with these two.

 

[Rankaze]

That is some darn useful info. I'll have to play with my viper more and see if I can learn to use it properly. It also has one of the better looks to it, as a ship.

It's definitely worth taking some time and giving yourself a chance to master its flight characteristics. Even if you do end up deciding it's not for you, you'll learn some new tricks in the bargain... and just because the Eagle and the Vulture don't usually need those tricks doesn't mean they can't use them.

Also, you will learn a lot about power management in the process, which is useful in any ship you may fly. Speaking of power... another Viper note: put pips in ENG during hard maneuvering. It's not as finicky as the Fer-de-Lance in that regard, but the Viper definitely livens up with pips in ENG.

 

[MaxAcceleration]

I kept my Cobra MkIII. How could I not!? It may not match my Python for combat prowess but it's just fun to fly. I still go bounty hunting with it for kicks now and again and leave the big ships at home.

 

[CMDR Cillian Raynor]

i noticed recently, while flying a hauler to go buy my clipper, that i enjoyed small ships a lot more. There's a comforting claustrophobia about it for one. The clipper's cockpit is super open and feels wrong to me. Of all the ships i flew so far my favorite cockpits are...the sidewinder, eagle, viper and hauler. The lakon ones offer lot of view but suck in terms of immersion. The courier is too imperial...i don't relly care for the blue stuff everywhere. WHat else, the adder is also great because its still fairly small but has the extra seat. I don't remember what the cobra looks like, i only flew that for the time it took to bring it to my "home base" so like...20 mins. The vulture is ok. Also the responsiveness and lack of drifting from small ship is more fun. i rally don't think big ships are for me. Theyve never really been. Part of my issue with the x series is i didn't care to fly capital ships (or have a fleet)

id make a poll about favorite cockpits but i haven't tried anything above the clipper so...