Greetings,
Based on a scale from 1-10 what are your combat skills, experience with many types of weapons and flying your Clipper where you want it to go? This doesn't even include power management, effective use of SYS/ENG/WEP pips, shield and defensive module design and a HOTAS controller with many hours of muscle memory dialing it all in.
Speed is your friend and even a non-engineered Clipper can boost well over 400 m/s. It also maneuvers pretty good for it's size. Weapon convergence isn't the best getting on target but OK with the right weapons. In NPC combat per speed you may have to dance with a Fer de Lance and with larger ships that can mass lock you but otherwise you're good to go.
But if you rate yourself low then protect your ship and go with basic gimbaled lasers and multi-cannons. Maybe install some mines as you run away. Take the time to work you skills so when you get better and eventually rate yourself high then you have so many other options and a totally different build with more powerful options including fixed weapons. As you get good "We don't need no stinkin' SCBs ot Heat Sinks!".
NPCs like to joust. Take advantage of that and many say learn Flight Assist off/on and I agree. But first get up close and personal with your six available thruster directions, throttle fwd/rev and percentage settings, all available at the same time.
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Now you can take out every NPC and the game is easy. Got a big head and decide let's go for PvP. That is a totally different ballgame and at a much higher bar. It was designed that way for players wanting the ultimate challenge. You are going to need engineering and picking the special effects for your weapons depending upon what PvP player you are going up against large, small ships or in wings. Speed, maneuverability and getting on their "six" will be even more important. You will need to join a group to train you in PvP combat. You will need working in wings as a support ship. Get a voice headset. You will need the dedication to become perfect with PvP combat analyzing the situation and still you will meet those much better than you. If your combat skills are not quite there welcome to the rebuy screen. Bring lots of credits.
Without talent, persistence and total dedication you may never get there. Not every Navy pilot in the USA gets to fly the F-35 Lightning.
Every request I have seen for years on the Forum wants to know what is the best ship for whatever. It is so much about the player and his abilities and much so less about the ship that they fly. That is why an awesome pilot in a Vulture with only two beams can take out an average pilot in a combat build Anaconda whose goal was more about getting the big ship an less about knowing how to use it. Even my silly Space Lobster could make a bad day for many. Do you want that rebuy loss and more worse for your Ego? Welcome to ED.
Regards
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