Ships Returning player PVE catch up

[Ydiss]

I've returned to play again after quite some time and, as I usually do when (re)joining a game later in the party, I try my best to read up before asking questions.

I spent the last couple days doing that and I'm back into the swing of things mostly, my ships were engineered old school without being god rolls and I'm already getting my main combat ship updated on that front. What I'm missing is a sort of bigger picture on combat build comparisons.

The last time I properly played was before the engineers re-design. I own a few ships but my goto PVE combat ship was the FAS (second the Vulture) due to speed, manoeuvrability, hull strength (grew to dislike shield tank builds due to excessive down time) and decent weapons options but I'm fully aware that several new ships have been released.

I'm getting the impression not a whole lot has changed since then despite this but any "filling in the gaps" would be appreciated.

So, in short... Is the FAS still competent at what it's always been good for or are there other options that fit a similar roll but offer more fire power?

I have seen the Mamba and it caught my eye but if it's just a faster FDL, I'm not sure it's worth investing in. Speed is one element I like about the FAS but I love the agility of the Vulture (I just find the hard points a touch limiting) and the FAS always filled the niche between that and the more sluggish fighter types. I'm not sure I'd be willing to invest time in a higher dps option if it's just "fast in a straight line".

So any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Dillon Fallon]

If you like the FAS, and 'quite some time' means pre-2018 you might want to give the Alliance Chieftain/Challenger a look (not the Crusader- the SLF is nice but there's too many compromises IMO). These are both hull tanks, but with more hardpoints than the FAS and both are very manouverable and capable of making a real mess of NPCs.

The FAS is still a good ship, but I find the Chieftain better- even if the 4 very exposed drives can cause issues with being relatively easily shot out.

I like the Mamba, it's actually a very different ship from the FdL in how you fly it, much more 'boom and zoom' instead of the more precise way I'd fly the FdL. Having all the hardpoints above your head does help with keeping a bead on things. You might like it, you might not, but I'd definitely recommend trying the Alliance ships.

 

[Ydiss]

If you like the FAS, and 'quite some time' means pre-2018 you might want to give the Alliance Chieftain/Challenger a look (not the Crusader- the SLF is nice but there's too many compromises IMO). These are both hull tanks, but with more hardpoints than the FAS and both are very manouverable and capable of making a real mess of NPCs.

The FAS is still a good ship, but I find the Chieftain better- even if the 4 very exposed drives can cause issues with being relatively easily shot out.

I like the Mamba, it's actually a very different ship from the FdL in how you fly it, much more 'boom and zoom' instead of the more precise way I'd fly the FdL. Having all the hardpoints above your head does help with keeping a bead on things. You might like it, you might not, but I'd definitely recommend trying the Alliance ships.

Thanks!

I'm not too worried about exposed modules as I suppose I can optionally mitigate that with module reinforcements (I had to do this with the FAS as without them I frequently had module failures long before my hull integrity got close to critical). For me, the concern was always that, generally, more hard points = more boaty on a relatively linear scale.

So long as they're still pretty nippy then it'll be worth a try. Sadly, I'm fully aware that module sales now incur a cost so it's not like it used to be where you could build a ship to try it out and only lose the hull percentage when selling if it didn't work out.

Maybe I'll watch some videos of the Chieftan in action.

Ps I really do like the look of the Mamba. Just... Yeh. Not really into boom and zoom style. Appreciate the heads up.

In a nutshell, what's the difference between chieftain and challenger? I only saw the former release notes/fanfare.

 

[Dillon Fallon]

In a nutshell, what's the difference between chieftain and challenger? I only saw the former release notes/fanfare.

There's not a massive amount between them. The Chief is slightly more manouverable and the extra size 3 hardpoint might give you more kick against bigger ships, but the Chally is tankier, only has 2 exposed drives and an extra hardpoint means you've got more choice when it comes to secondaries.

If you can't decide, try both. The loadouts use pretty similar modules. Just a couple of optional internals and the one large hardpoint swapped for two mediums. Core modules are identical (apart from armour of course).

 

[Ydiss]

Looking at them, I'm drawn to the Chieftan. My planned build looks like I'll be able to swap almost all modules from my fas across, so minimal cost to try.

Jump range is another nice bonus.

Thanks again.

 

[Sir Ganksalot]

The FAS is still amazing and my personal PvP ship of choice but the Chieftain is a very close second. I'm not a fan of the Challenger but I know a lot of people that use it for pve and do great with it. The Krait II and Krait Phantom are also great ships that work really well as either hull tanks or shields tanks.

Lemme know if you need a build for anything. Hull tanks are my specialty.

 

[Sir Ganksalot]

The Chief is slightly more manouverable

It's more maneuverable in terms of lats and verts but the FAS still has better pitch and yaw.

 

[Dillon Fallon]

It's more maneuverable in terms of lats and verts but the FAS still has better pitch and yaw.

Ah, I might not have been clear here. I meant compared with the Chally, not the FAS.

 

[Ydiss]

The FAS is still amazing and my personal PvP ship of choice but the Chieftain is a very close second. I'm not a fan of the Challenger but I know a lot of people that use it for pve and do great with it. The Krait II and Krait Phantom are also great ships that work really well as either hull tanks or shields tanks.

Lemme know if you need a build for anything. Hull tanks are my specialty.

Thanks.

I think the jump range sold it to me but I really like the convergence and I really do need a build with more base biweave strength than the FAS. I'm finding it drops shields just a little too easily (though I've not yet applied new engineering to shields and boosters yet so the experimental effects might help there anyway) and I'm not a pure hull tank specialist, I like to have decent shields too.

I'll keep the FAS regardless. It's always been the most fun (Vulture was more fun to fight in, just too restrictive). And if the Chieftan agility isn't quite up to scratch then I'll go back to the FAS.

Comparing my builds on coriolis tells me I'm getting a straight upgrade on everything except a couple areas so it'll really just come down to how it feels to fight with.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Sir Ganksalot]

Thanks.

I think the jump range sold it to me but I really like the convergence and I really do need a build with more base biweave strength than the FAS. I'm finding it drops shields just a little too easily (though I've not yet applied new engineering to shields and boosters yet so the experimental effects might help there anyway) and I'm not a pure hull tank specialist, I like to have decent shields too.

I'll keep the FAS regardless. It's always been the most fun (Vulture was more fun to fight in, just too restrictive). And if the Chieftan agility isn't quite up to scratch then I'll go back to the FAS.

Comparing my builds on coriolis tells me I'm getting a straight upgrade on everything except a couple areas so it'll really just come down to how it feels to fight with.

Thanks for the help.

Yeah, they're pretty close in terms of builds
These are PvP builds but still a good comparison of what they're like maxed out.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

 

[Ydiss]

Yeah, they're pretty close in terms of builds
These are PvP builds but still a good comparison of what they're like maxed out.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

I just finished and tested my Chieftan build (PVE only). This is what I went for.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

I switch the fuel scoop out for a fuel tank to extend the ammo for the PAs.

First up, the whole process of engineering is so much better now... Day and night compared to when I last did it (back when you still had to get commodities for some blueprints lol). Using Edengineer really, really helped as well.

The end result is way better than my old FAS build. Destroys hazres without losing shields. Really, really agile (more so than my FAS) and looks like it can go for a very long time without needing to stop.

Love the iced up canopy too lol. Really makes me feel like some cold assassin.

This is my new favourite ship.

Edit: I should say that I'm sure my FAS would be a lot better than my old build if I'd re-engineered that instead. But I'd doubt it'd be nearly as fun as four efficient vent beams and 2 efficient slug PAs

 

[Sir Ganksalot]

I just finished and tested my Chieftan build (PVE only). This is what I went for.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

I switch the fuel scoop out for a fuel tank to extend the ammo for the PAs.

First up, the whole process of engineering is so much better now... Day and night compared to when I last did it (back when you still had to get commodities for some blueprints lol). Using Edengineer really, really helped as well.

The end result is way better than my old FAS build. Destroys hazres without losing shields. Really, really agile (more so than my FAS) and looks like it can go for a very long time without needing to stop.

Love the iced up canopy too lol. Really makes me feel like some cold assassin.

This is my new favourite ship.

Edit: I should say that I'm sure my FAS would be a lot better than my old build if I'd re-engineered that instead. But I'd doubt it'd be nearly as fun as four efficient vent beams and 2 efficient slug PAs

Just a few things
First of all, you have way too many module reinforcements. I use one 5D and it's plenty for PvP.
Second, I don't know if you don't have the money for military grade but you definitely need to switch to that instead of reinforced.
Third, it's not completely necessary but I would go with an armored powerplant instead of low emissions.
And finally, switch the experimental on your shield to low draw instead of fast charge. The 6A distro isn't enough to keep up.
Also your booster situation is a bit of a mess. You should switch out on of them with chaff and use 2 res aug and 1 HD. You'll have a little less shields but much faster shield regen, which is the Chiefs strong point.

Here's how I would build it.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

 

[Ydiss]

So, I persuaded my mate to return too. Once he's engineered again we'll be going wing hunting again