Python or Fer de Lance

[Morbad]

Though it is kind of funny considering that the FDL is a dedicated combat ship. You'd think visibility would be a priority.

Visibility from the FDL's cockpit is pretty good.

People complain about the bar, but in reality it only covers a tiny portion of the view.

 

[Zphinx]

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=140240

These guys figured out the actual DPS for all the various weapons against shields, though haven't figured out hull damage yet. In my experience it would be hard to figure out anyway, as different parts of the hull seem to take damage more easily than others.

The Python has the better power distributor, and unless you can actually make use of that huge hard point, it has better weapon capability. the Fer de Lance has slightly better maneuverability, but once you get a large target's shields down, it feels like it takes forever to chew through its hull with medium weapons unless you use medium cannons.

if all you want is combat, I think a Vulture is far superior.

And the Vulture is cheaper too.

 

[HeavyGroovez]

Often this is the case, which is why we concentrate on one target at a time...need to overwhelm their ability to absorb damage and whichever side can engineer such a defeat in detail wins.

Sometimes it does turn into a battle of attrition, where small mistakes accumulate overtime, and the one who racks up the most finds him or herself without any SCBs, or chaff, or railgun ammo, or whatever, left.

Indeed. Cells and boosters just prolong the brawl (chances are its not a brawl but a toe to toe alpha scrap) and the win comes from good pip assignnment and manoeuvering (forgive my poor english - beer)

 

[Rupert Hound]

Hi just getting ready soon to purchase my next ship & was not sure what the crew complement was on a Python ? Fyi I did try to look this up but no dice.
Also am aware Fer de Lance is a man ship. Thanks for any info or advice.

Shadowma

FDL seems like a beast on paper for combat havent flown one though although i was wondering the same thing last night. Problem for me would be its very limited cargo and seriously limited range. It only has 8t fuel and around 14ly range so your not going to get very far very quickly. If your going to use it for PP and stick around the same systems then id get the FDL the strength of shields wins it for me and its alot cheaper to fit it out.

Python on the other hand is still very good in combat and if your like me and fly around alot and tend to use the same ship most of the time then its very useful cos you can swap to cargo fit and haul like 284t of cargo. Range is about 21ly empty and can do long distances without having to refuel.

Damage is about the same but price wise you can throw a good 100mil at the python to have a good combat fit where as something similar in the FDL will only cost you around 70mil

 

[HeavyGroovez]

FDL seems like a beast on paper for combat havent flown one though although i was wondering the same thing. Problem for me would be its very limited cargo and seriously limited range. It only has 8t fuel and around 14ly range so your not going to get very far very quickly. If your going to use it for PP and stick around the same systems then id get the FDL the strength of shields wins it for me and its alot cheaper to fit it out.

Python on the other hand is still very good in combat and if your like me and fly around alot and tend to use the same ship most of the time then its very useful cos you can swap to cargo fit and haul like 284t of cargo. Range is about 21ly empty and can do long distances without having to refuel.

Damage is about the same but price wise you can throw a good 100mil at the python to have a good combat fit where as something similar in the FDL will only cost you around 70mil

You have answered your own question. Python is a multirole boss. FdL is a combat boss.

 

[Rupert Hound]

You have answered your own question. Python is a multirole boss. FdL is a combat boss.

My bad i missed the part about it being last night

 

[Starender]

Fer-de-Lance:
The most important advantage is speed and the FdL is fast (around 410), it can run away or catch like 80% of all existing ships, a FdL is a serious threat to every ship, but you sacrifice so much for that: no cargo, power is limited, bad jump range (13-14,5), and the Huge hardpoint is not always useful

but i always recommend the same for anyone who plays in open, "speed", it's your best friend, it will keep you safe, it will let you dictate the fight, and thats why after all i like this ship, it's very good for combat, good fire power (choose wisely your weapons), good acceleration, good agility, incredibly tanky as hell even without shield >< so yea as a final note i'd say that if you are a violent pilot who only wants to kill and destroy, this ship might be what you want

Python:
The very badass Python is a monster, you have lots of everything, cargo, fire power, shield, jump range, medium pad, everything except... speed sadly, in open 80% of all existing ships can run away from you, and if one day you ever loose a fight you likely won't be able to boost away (but should have the time to jump in most cases), if you can pay the bill and don't mind to be a bit slower than the average, this ship is for you


All in all, they will both make you feel like the Terminator, not many people will be able to fight back, no matter which you choose, but if i had to , i'd say the safest and best for combat is the FdL again especially for the speed combined with its natural power so for full time open hardcore pvp it's the best, on the other hand the Python while still powerful for combat is also one of the most balanced ship overall which is a serious advantage if you like to diversify your activities without being forced to change your ship.

 

[persephonius]

Boosters aren't very useful if you have to turn them off to use SCBs, almost completely defeats the purpose of equipping one or the other.

Not that anyone actually flies an FDL with six boosters.



I've defeated many a CMDR who still had SCB charges remaining when his or her ship exploded.

Total shield strength as a function of shields + SCBs can be an important metric, but it's not universally applicable. SCBs take time to use, and if you have crap loads of SCBs, you typically cannot power them all simultaneously, which can introduce further delays.

There is a balancing act between shield strength and SCBs. Sacrifice too much of the former and you leave your shields vulnerable to collapse if your opponent can deliver sufficient damage in the five second window SCBs take to activate. Sacrifice too much of the later and total usable shield strength is needlessly low.



I didn't bend your words and I apologize if it appeared this way. I made as much sense of them as I was able to given the context they were in.

The fact that your argument makes even less sense after your correction/elaboration is on you, however.



Not the relevant ones.



No one challenged your arithmetic, just your logic, your tactics, and your presumptions.

Numbers don't mean a thing if you lack the experience and talent to leverage them.



If I know a Python has SCBs, I always attempt a ram early in a 1v1 engagement (no need if I out number the python, and too risky if I am outnumbered myself), preferably when I have cause to believe my opponent has moved pips away from SYS. I'll make like I'm retreating, give it opportunity to fire at me a bit, then flip around and boost into the Python, moving 4 pips to sys and timing my own SCB charge to go off a moment before I hit, while emptying my entire WEP cap at point blank range. If it works well, my opponent has lost shields while mine are still almost full and I have SCBs remaining. If it doesn't work well, I burn another SCB charge, drop chaff, heatsinks, take evasive action and disengage.



Ramming is kinetic damage, anything that reduces kinetic damage reduces ramming damage.

However, this only applies to hull, and all that needs to happen to make your entire loadout of SCB nothing but dead weight for a significant period of time is for you to lose shields before you can use them.

You just bended my words again
.
With the 6 shield boosters, I was replying to the OP who stated what the total shield strength was with 6 of them, and I replied why this was not a great idea. You cut in on my post without coosidering the OP's comments, and you have done this twice now.
.
You did indeed challenge my arithmetic the moment you suggested that it is possible for a Fer De Lance to have higher shield potential then the Python. This suggestion has nothing to do with experience, it is purely arithmetic. I can understand if English is not a first language, but please read comments and the context before yammering.

 

[Fire70]

Once my Vulture was fully upgraded my next plan was to get a FDL. So with the help of RES zones I managed to scrape up enough to get one but I did a CG which mean't the Python was the same price as a FDL cheaper so I brought that.

I will just grind up some more credits and get both (I don't usually sell ships) of I go grinding away again. So since then I have purchase a ASP (went rares trading with Diso Corn) and the other night I brought a T9 (RES is crap now)..

Promise the next ship I buy will be the FDL. Maybe, but I still want to...

 

[Morbad]

You did indeed challenge my arithmetic the moment you suggested that it is possible for a Fer De Lance to have higher shield potential then the Python.

And you accuse me of bending your words?

The FDL does have greater shield potential than the Python and I was quite obviously not referring to SCBs.

This suggestion has nothing to do with experience, it is purely arithmetic.

I vehemently disagree. The implication that shield strength stored in SCBs is perfectly equivalent to shield strength in your active shields is a fallacy. Had you experience, you would recognize this.