Out of curiousty, does anyone stick with some of "lower level" ships?
- Thread starter ComradeFresco
- Start date
I have a Cobra MKIII and Diamondback Scout and Explorer. Three ships total. Cobra for multi use stuff, Explorer to do as the name implies, and Scout for cheap combat in RES sites with friends. Though the Scout has been used for short range exploration within or close to the bubble.
I spent a long time in my Sidewinder before getting anything bigger, it was well specced and I still miss it lol.
I do, but I didn't always.
I've gradually come around to appreciating the smaller ships much more than the larger more expensive ships, there's only really one exception to this; Anaconda. I own one and use it for exploration, currently it's built around the idea of long range jumps and sits at 40.5-ish LY per jump, it can only do two maximum range jumps but for getting across those vast distances below the plane or outside it; nothing can beat it.
For everything else I use smaller ships and I think I can distill why into a few concise points and requirements, that make me enjoy a ship.
Right now, I'm using two of my favorites: The Cobra Mk.III and the Diamondback Scout.
Because I'm a terrible pilot I'm giving myself training in the Scout, trying to think of the shield as just a first buffer and not sweating it when it drops; mirrored hull armor works wonders. To further up the challenge and try to teach myself to keep my hands steady, they tend to shake a little and I have trouble controlling them on some days; I've picked up four Railguns. I have Lifesupport on low priority so it turns off when hardpoints are deployed; I find the silence soothing.
Of course, it also helps that the cockpit for the Diamondbacks look like something out of Mechwarrior 3.
I've gradually come around to appreciating the smaller ships much more than the larger more expensive ships, there's only really one exception to this; Anaconda. I own one and use it for exploration, currently it's built around the idea of long range jumps and sits at 40.5-ish LY per jump, it can only do two maximum range jumps but for getting across those vast distances below the plane or outside it; nothing can beat it.
For everything else I use smaller ships and I think I can distill why into a few concise points and requirements, that make me enjoy a ship.
- Jumprange. Anything close to 15LY is a no go for me. This means no FdL, I absolutely loathe it.
- Canopy. If it looks pleasing and provides a good view, I'm in my environment.
- Agility. I can work with anything at or above 5, generally. Some of that is misleading, the Imperial Clipper's rating of 2 is a little undeserved; I will admit its lateral RCS thrusters leave a lot for me to yearn for.
- Utility. The Core Dynamics Vulture for example, leaves too much out in terms of utility. I get it, it's a combat ship, it's just a personal thing.
Right now, I'm using two of my favorites: The Cobra Mk.III and the Diamondback Scout.
Because I'm a terrible pilot I'm giving myself training in the Scout, trying to think of the shield as just a first buffer and not sweating it when it drops; mirrored hull armor works wonders. To further up the challenge and try to teach myself to keep my hands steady, they tend to shake a little and I have trouble controlling them on some days; I've picked up four Railguns. I have Lifesupport on low priority so it turns off when hardpoints are deployed; I find the silence soothing.
Of course, it also helps that the cockpit for the Diamondbacks look like something out of Mechwarrior 3.
Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaang that cockpit is nice af. Diamondback deserves trying just to experience that.
Whilst I am currently Exploring in a Type 7, my main ship back home is a Sidewinder
I am curious as to what else I can achieve with her once Crafting becomes a thing
I am curious as to what else I can achieve with her once Crafting becomes a thing
This. I've been flying my Cobra exclusively since I got it. I might get a Python for trading, then sell it for a 'conda to do the same thing, but that's all in due course. My Mk. IV is going to be my main ship once I get it kitted out. I'm even going to take a few months faction hopping to do so, and I won't be flying back and forth to equip all my ships along the way, too much effort. I've got my priorities sorted in my head and I'm sticking to them!
My main idea is to only have DeLacy and Kruger ships, so I might end up w/ an FDL eventually for fighting, but the barger part of me thinks I might skip it due to my faction hopping idea not linking with it, and I'd rather not have to re-grind that later, as I'd prefer to stick to one power afterwards....[redacted spiel about player-owned cult powers]
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i also prefer flying smaller ships over my python, and i love the eagle... i use it as an taxi, to clear my bounty claims tab going to cz, and i have some put in systems where i need to run missions from outposts, where i go with my trading clipper once a while.
but for what i want to do ingame the eagle is to limited, the smallest ship i still find usefull is a lightweight courier - as close to 50% optimal thrusters mass it gets a little bit like an eagle, and it has some cargo space, a fsi...
from the flymodel the vulture is very much not like an eagle, but it's a crazy tool... also the dbs (which i use for racing and short range exploration) is not flying eagle-like, it's more like a helicopter.
but my everyday ship is a cobra.
but for what i want to do ingame the eagle is to limited, the smallest ship i still find usefull is a lightweight courier - as close to 50% optimal thrusters mass it gets a little bit like an eagle, and it has some cargo space, a fsi...
from the flymodel the vulture is very much not like an eagle, but it's a crazy tool... also the dbs (which i use for racing and short range exploration) is not flying eagle-like, it's more like a helicopter.
but my everyday ship is a cobra.
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You know what? Screw it. Y'all have inspired me. I'ma do my thing in my eagle and when I have the cash I'll try a vulture or the FDL. I'll learn to use my viper better, but I'm not going to just keep jumping up ships because its the norm.
Now I just gotta convince someone to try playing wolfpack-wing style in another eagle with me.
Now I just gotta convince someone to try playing wolfpack-wing style in another eagle with me.
I used to have quite a few ships but I suddenly went round and cleared them up and sold them for some reason. The only ship I feel at home in is a Cobra Mk III. Yes Vultures are good in CZ's, Pythons are ok miners, Asps make for good explorers and rares runners, but I feel I am going to stick with the Cobra for a while. I don't grind so it's just about having fun and the Cobra has just the right blend of challenge and capability for me.
I agree, the Anaconda is a slow moving mass that pretty much melts anything and everything in its path with ease, with specific regards to any NPC. The smaller ships, even the medium size ships that are fast, are a fun departure. I am particularly fond of jumping into my FDL after a stint in the Anaconda, even though they are both fitted for combat.
True love for any combat oriented pilot is the Courier or even better, imo, the DBS. The DBS is a lot of fun to fly around and has phenomenal HP placement
Seymour The Adder: The Ugly Duckling That Does Everything.
Gladys The Cobra: The Need For Speed.
I'm using Vicky The Vulture, instead of Orson The Eagle. Pity.
Alison The Asp, for exploring.
Mootilda The T-6, for trading.
No need for anything larger.
Gladys The Cobra: The Need For Speed.
I'm using Vicky The Vulture, instead of Orson The Eagle. Pity.
Alison The Asp, for exploring.
Mootilda The T-6, for trading.
No need for anything larger.
I keep coming back to an Eagle every now and then… love the ship to bits, and a good challenge.
Now tell me you hang out around Lembava in LiYong Rui's territory and I'm your (wing)man!
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Well, as I've yet to be able to afford any big ships....
Let me see, I've had my Cobra pretty much since week one. I love it. Super fast, very flexible. Good in combat, good for trading, good for exploring. Don't have to think about it, just take it and go do what you want. I ran rares with it, bounty hunted, farmed CZ's, explored the fringes of the bubble, did some ranking up. Just get in and GO. I'm looking forward to the MkIV - could be a fantastic long-range gunship.
In the past I've tried eagles and vipers but really didn't like them. The eagle is made of paper and small hardpoints are a joke; I just didn't like the viper much.
I've recently upgraded to a t6 for trading, and have forgone popping pirates when they try to pull me down for time. She's a sturdy ship, lots of capacity. Surprisingly fast.
Even more recently, I started farming PowerPlay merits, trying to get up to rank 5 so that I might have a chance at piloting a big ship sometime this decade.
For this I blew nearly all my money on a $20Mil Vulture build.
Slow. Agile enough though, but very slow. The jump range is crap compared to what I'm used to with my Cobra and t6. Did I mention it's slow?
But god DAMN is it good at blowing s**t up. And those shields just last forever. I'm having a lot of fun with it, despite the sluggishness. (D4 thrusters).
Let me see, I've had my Cobra pretty much since week one. I love it. Super fast, very flexible. Good in combat, good for trading, good for exploring. Don't have to think about it, just take it and go do what you want. I ran rares with it, bounty hunted, farmed CZ's, explored the fringes of the bubble, did some ranking up. Just get in and GO. I'm looking forward to the MkIV - could be a fantastic long-range gunship.
In the past I've tried eagles and vipers but really didn't like them. The eagle is made of paper and small hardpoints are a joke; I just didn't like the viper much.
I've recently upgraded to a t6 for trading, and have forgone popping pirates when they try to pull me down for time. She's a sturdy ship, lots of capacity. Surprisingly fast.
Even more recently, I started farming PowerPlay merits, trying to get up to rank 5 so that I might have a chance at piloting a big ship sometime this decade.
For this I blew nearly all my money on a $20Mil Vulture build.
Slow. Agile enough though, but very slow. The jump range is crap compared to what I'm used to with my Cobra and t6. Did I mention it's slow?
But god DAMN is it good at blowing s**t up. And those shields just last forever. I'm having a lot of fun with it, despite the sluggishness. (D4 thrusters).
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As a note: you will not need A thrusters in a Vulture. C or B will get you to half optimal mass (depending on how heavy your build is), which gets you best speed and maneuvering.
This is the effect of having class 5 thrusters in a small hull.
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Yep when you first get the vulture. Wow. Upgrade it a bit and yep it feels good.
Then get a python and with the extra firepower you wont go back to the vulture.
Now with a conda. Weapon loadouts are endless. A couple of large beams last ages. Add a huge weapon and 5 others. Its a battlecruiser.
This is end game. It milks money in res. Trades well explores well. Just cannot make use of outposts and slow speed make it useless to pirate.
But love dbs over vulture. Makes undermining large distances away a dream.
Love the Viper and the Cobra. Speed is king.
I have a top spec Cobra parked at one end of my current trade run. It costs peanuts to replace if destroyed, has good jump range if I need to be somewhere else in a hurry, and looks like a rat with a gold tooth in its "Ignition" flame paint job (hehe).
Had that ship for ages. I'm unlikely to ever replace it, but I guess I should start using DBS for cheap, slap-happy, mobile fun.
Had that ship for ages. I'm unlikely to ever replace it, but I guess I should start using DBS for cheap, slap-happy, mobile fun.