Passenger Python.

[Squaw]

Okay guys, I've been having a right blast with Horizons and it's about time I stop the grind and start actually taking in some of the content I was asking for a year ago. As the title says, it's passenger mission time for me!

Now I'm not looking to micro manage every little aspect for the most mind blowing and amazing build, I'm not done with engineer missions and upgrading to get the better grades, it took me about 5hours to get components in my Clipper because I can't use it as a fighter to save my life (I'm bad at flying it in combat), but I digress. I have come up with a build for my Python when I get it today. Purely for passenger runs for now because I wanna try them out.

https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/pyt...-04040202mememimkmk32402i2f.Iw18eQ==.Aw18eQ==.
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This is what I came up with (for PvE) and I'll explain:

Core Internals - I've downgraded to D to maximise jump range. I know I said I don't wanna micro manage everything but I don't wanna take double the time to get to places just to use internals I won't fully utilise.
Weapons - Well, lack of, because I won't be fighting people. In fact, I'll be trying to win every interdiction so I don't get pulled out of space. I know you can't be certain and say "Ohh I'm so good I will never lose an interdiction to an NPC #MLGm8" but I've still not lost an interdiction tug of war since coming back unless I throttle down to get rid of the pesky pirates. So I'm confident that more often than not I won't be pulled out of super cruise. Although I'm thinking interdictions will be tougher so that's the reason for this post.
Utility Mounts - 2 Heat Sinks for if I jump into a Binary System and sandwiched between 2 stars (It's happened a couple times before and without Heat Sinks.. It's not very pretty). Only 2 because it's rare that I'll overheat to the point of taking damage. 2 Shield Boosters for the moments where if/when I lose and interdiction and it's just a buffer so I don't take hull damage. Better to be safe than sorry!
Optional Internals - This is the part I'm not too sure about. 6E Economy x2, 5D Business x1, 4C First Class x2. I've gone for these because I've outfitted how a plane/train/cruise ship would be loaded out. More economy because., well that's the cheapest and most widely used. Business because yeah, a lot of business people travel and need a little extra. First Class on the lower end because, not many people tend to travel First Class. Fuel Scoop for obvious reasons. 3A Shield because I don't wanna be without some sort of buffer if I do get interdicted. The 2 Scanners because I've browsed the missions and I've seen some are like 1,000ly away and I know I haven't been there so will be nice to gather some data on my travels. Now I would swaps out the Detailed Surface Scanner for a Docking Computer but as long as I'm careful, I won't be crashing my Python unless I do something stupid like boost by accident or fly straight into the ground.

Is this a good build for my first run of passenger missions? I've took inspiration from how real life travelling is.. Just want an opinion from ED vets who know what I'm in for if I choose to run this build! Also I'm not gonna be taking stupidly long or super tough Passenger missions, not til I finally get my Anaconda. It's more for some nice chilled money making with a few podcasts, maybe have a couple beers and not have too much going on.

Thanks for taking the time to read and help me out! You guys rock as always![heart]

 

[tafkabb]

How does the jump range compare between your Python and Clipper? I know they're, let's be kind, not the best. I'd take the Clipper for the screenshots because I'm a poser. I've been flying the Python exclusively for a few weeks now and it's fantastic. I sold my Clipper because the Python is so good.

But for your purposes though? I'd go Clipper. Because shiny.

 

[JetsonRING]

How does the jump range compare between your Python and Clipper? I know they're, let's be kind, not the best. I'd take the Clipper for the screenshots because I'm a poser. I've been flying the Python exclusively for a few weeks now and it's fantastic. I sold my Clipper because the Python is so good. But for your purposes though? I'd go Clipper. Because shiny.

I have been working on fitting my Clipper for passenger runs but am having difficulty, with the fuel-scoop and shield-generator, finding enough room for passenger cabins. Seems like I pretty much have to strip out just about everything (scanner, tiny cargo-rack) to make any $$ on passengers.

 

[Squaw]

I was thinking Clipper, especially because it's shiny and it's Fuel Scoop capabilities is probably the best in the game but I'm getting a Python regardless. The Clipper is very pretty, amazing cockpit, sounds really nice and is by far my favourite I've flown but I'm getting a Python anyway for Engineer and mission grinding later down the line. I'll throw together the same build and see the differences but I was just wondering if my thought process and the build is okay/good for passenger missions or if I'm completely wrong xD

- - - Updated - - -

I have been working on fitting my Clipper for passenger runs but am having difficulty, with the fuel-scoop and shield-generator, finding enough room for passenger cabins. Seems like I pretty much have to strip out just about everything (scanner, tiny cargo-rack) to make any $$ on passengers.

This is also another reason why I'm choosing the Python. The Clipper just can't fit the cabins I want. It's so pretty but such a shame with it's limited Optional modules.

 

[goemon]

This is also another reason why I'm choosing the Python. The Clipper just can't fit the cabins I want. It's so pretty but such a shame with it's limited Optional modules.

passenger-sightseeing missions don't stack well, as you gonna find out soon, as you have to fly to the destinations in fixed succession. 2 cabins maybe ... but 5? you'll have 15+ waypoints with usually 200-300 ly between them. maybe on a conda or beluga for deep space exploration misions to the same sector...

generally you want to have 1 first class class 6 cabin. which is why an AspE is currently the most effecient passenger ship - closely followed by a t6 with 2 cabins. clipper with its nice supercruise handling and good speed would be good with class 7 fuelscoop, class 6 first class cabin, and a class 4 businness class. python? class 6 first class, class 5 businness, nd a ton of internals without any use.

python has a better jumprange, if stripped down massively, but in usual fittings clipper and python are much the same - beside the speed (and luxury) of a clipper and its ability to boost through the slot (nice for illegal passengers), and outpost access for a python.

 

[Squaw]

passenger-sightseeing missions don't stack well, as you gonna find out soon, as you have to fly to the destinations in fixed succession. 2 cabins maybe ... but 5? you'll have 15+ waypoints with usually 200-300 ly between them. maybe on a conda or beluga for deep space exploration misions to the same sector...

So stacking isn't very efficient? Well it's a great job I made this post. I thought I could just stack missions and do them one by one, then heading back home to hand in but if that's the case then I'm pretty sure having one of each cabin is probably more viable.

So 2 cabins max is the most optimal? I'm not really bothered about total jump range. I know it would be far more efficient, quicker and time saving to get an Asp but I love my Clipper and am working on my Python so I'd rather not add a 3rd ship if I can avoid it. I'm mainly doing it to test it out and find a way to make these Passenger Missions work for me. Thank you so much for the advice! Back to outfitting for me and trying out some more loadouts, this time for my Clipper! Again, thanks for this info, it's saved me a lot of time!

 

[The New Number Two]

You can stack sightseers. More than three? It gets hectic but it's not impossible. One or two at once is far more fun, though. I've done three; it takes hours to carry three VIPs to nine beacons 90, 200 and 300-ish LY out, often with seven or eight jumps between each tourist's desired third stop, and a long flight back home. It's lucrative, though. Start small, get a feel for what you can handle, and work up.

You may want to consider size 5 and 6 First Class cabins instead of 4s though. You simply won't be offered many VIP missions that have less than five or six people in the travel party. A Python is a good VIP transport for this reason. I run a Class 5 shield and no weapons, and submit to Interdictors and just bounce out before they can start yelling at me. They seldom follow these days.

It's good that you dominate the Interdictor mini-game, but believe me, it will bite you one day, and being stuck in cool down for a minute with D-thrusters, an underwhelming shield, and a pirate rail Clipper nipping your heels while three scared VIPs who are terrified of hull damage prepare to tell you how miserable they are, is a hard situation to make right.

Submit and boost away, and in less than 20 seconds the offender's eating a wake salad.

Economy and Business class "bus driver" transport missions are quick, easy and best done at isolated outlier port pairs, like Wu Guinagi and HIP 10716 (Imp), or Canopus and Exphiay (Fed). That way you get a good stream of travellers coming and going as you make stops, but the route doesn't drag you across the bubble and you build rep and rank in a handful of well-paying systems. You get these missions at outposts more often than big starports. You won't have much need for First Class cabins, just the biggest Economy and Business you can muster. Smash as many travellers as you can into these runs. Again, advantage? Python.

I think passenger flights are a lot of fun, and if you don't mind setting up shop in an outlying frontier system for a few weeks, they can help you rank up to a Cutter or Corvette naturally without having to mode switch all day, and with a ton of cash for outfitting. You like the Clipper? The Cutter is a flying palace, with a full bar and a waterslide.

07 CMDR!

 

[Squaw]

Thank you so much for this info! I love the Clipper but I think I'm gonna grind Fed for the Corvette, it is the first "End game" ship I wanted. I think I'll get an Anaconda before that though! Thank you for the systems and all this info.

I don't instance hop anyway, I know it helps but it kind of ruins the fun for me. I just fly around space doing pace things, I don't like to exploit the system. I have no issues with people who do, it's part of the game but I prefer more role playing and being immersed in the story I've created x) sounds a bit lame, I know but it's how I play the game x)

I recently engineered my FSD so I get 23ly on my A rated combat loadout Python so if I D rate it an remove the things I don't use I could squeeze out a 25ly JR hopefully! Doesn't sounds like a lot but it's a massive upgrade from the 19ly you get without Engineered FSD.

Looks like I'm off to Fed space to be a space bus driver! Gotta earn an honest living sometime xD

Thanks so much CMDR O7

 

[The New Number Two]

Yep, and going out to the frontier to work isn't exploiting anything but the frontier itself, which is what it's for.

You'll eventually find the sweet spot mix of passenger cabins and cargo racks to make the most credits effectively. Canopus and Exphiay are great systems for it- Two Fed factions, offering runs to a total of four or five planets, maybe 8 stations all together. All are one jump apart. They have big money long range cargo for when you get sick of the circuit. I think I was a chief petty officer with a FAS when I got there, I worked the boards in my Python and Conda and had a Corvette and a ton of money in less than a month.

Good luck, CMDR. 07

 

[Squaw]

I will check out some Fed space. One question though, I don't wanna defect from the Aisling Duval because.. Well Blue Haired Khaleesi and I don't wanna have to deal with defect status for a day x) Is it fine to do Passenger Missions for the fed while still being Empire? I don't really care about them interdicting me because I won't be hanging around in supercruise randomly with passengers, I just wanna know if it will mess me up down the line if I start spamming Fed missions while being loyal to Aisling x)

O7

 

[tafkabb]

Yep, and going out to the frontier to work isn't exploiting anything but the frontier itself, which is what it's for.

You'll eventually find the sweet spot mix of passenger cabins and cargo racks to make the most credits effectively. Canopus and Exphiay are great systems for it- Two Fed factions, offering runs to a total of four or five planets, maybe 8 stations all together. All are one jump apart. They have big money long range cargo for when you get sick of the circuit. I think I was a chief petty officer with a FAS when I got there, I worked the boards in my Python and Conda and had a Corvette and a ton of money in less than a month.

Good luck, CMDR. 07

Nah you can be allied with both, no problem. You will be interdicted though.