The reigning champion of medium shipping, the Asp Explorer.
With The horizons and 1.5 ships now revealed. The question is now answered. What ship will continue to be the true every-man hero ship for any mission, any time any place?
None of the medium ships revealed can compete with the Asp explorer. All have fallen by the wayside, and left the classic ship in pole position.
For me and many Commanders, it all started with the Mercenary release of the game. Think back ladies and gentlemen, to a time when the progression for all of us, had to include the Asp. There was no vulture, no Diamond Backs. The Dropship was more expensive and required a higher rank than it does now.
Only one ship stood in the line-up, when commanders moved up from the Cobra price range. The Asp stood alone in the 5-10 million category. It was the only stepping stone if you wanted to aim higher towards a Type-7 or Python (I’m ignoring the Clipper, sorry, as I personally never went there, or even into Imperial space).
The Asp then was the one that had to fill every role, where you had to module swap to maintain any role or task. It could explore like nothing else. Could shift cargo better than a Type 6. It was a medium combat ship with the right set-up. I even remember a post on this forum, probably 11 months ago, moaning that combat will soon be an “Asp fest” with no other ships being used for PvP or PvE.
So let’s jump back to the here and now, and consider what’s changed. Some of these roles, mainly the combat roles have been surpassed by newer ships. The Vulture, Courier and the Assault-ship took over the combat role. The Diamond backs to an extent have taken over the smuggling role.
But look harder and closer. For the price range of the Asp, I believe no ship has surpassed it yet in a multi role environment. It still has a role in combat. Yes it’s not as effective, ship to ship as a vulture. But that ship is limited with its hard-points. The Asp has six good hard-points, where a commander can place many different types of weapons. Missiles, cannons and lasers can be mixed and matched all over these hard-points for any variety of tasks.
If you do A rate it for long range combat, predominately smuggling. Where you are having to make many 20+ Ly jumps, with 30+ tons of cargo, a fuel scoop, large shield, heat sinks, chaff and shield boosters, and have to fight multiple NPC interdictions, this ship still shines. That is what I am currently doing in my Asp anyway.
I can get back and to from Robigo, in 12 + jumps, with 36 tons of cargo. With size 6 shields and size 5 fuel scoop. And weapons to take down any NPC pirate. No ship can quite do what the Asp can do. Python has Fer De lance jump range with a combat fit. So do the Federal Dropships. And we are still looking upwards, into the 20 million price range, where the Clipper can’t get onto medium pads.
But that’s a rich man’s Asp. What about a new players Asp D rated trade Asp, with maybe a bit of bounty hunting. Well you can trade better than a Type 6, with guns better than a Cobra, DBE, Keelback and courier, at what are now cheap prices in the game. Most players can get into the 10 million price range with a community goal and a long range smuggling mission under their belt.
Unfortunately the missed opportunity with the Asp scout has prevented the "new Asp" being the Asp on steroids some Asp lovers wanted. The Combat Asp that is described in the Asp Explorers shipyard is still to be gifted to us. And yes the Asp Scout is no way near as competent adaptable as the Explorer.
Way back at Mercenary edition it was harder, missions paid less. No CG’s. RES’s paid less. And the game was very new for most of us. We didn’t have the community helping spread the word about profitable trades back then. It was every man for himself.
Mining is also very easy in an Asp. Those six hard-points mean you can carry two mining lasers, and still have 4 weapons for defence. The large internals mean you can get a real mining set up, multiple collectors, big refinery, plenty of cargo space and a decent shield.
So the reflection is over. I still run an Asp. Have done since day one. I have an Anaconda, Fer De lance and money for a Corvette, and even some to spare for any ship I fancy. But none are getting my attention. I will probably kit out an Explorer Asp, so I can keep my smuggling one intact. I can’t imagine a time in the game when I won’t need an Asp.
All praise the jack of all trades; any size fits all, everyman’s hero of Medium shipping, The Asp explorer.
Three cheers!
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) the Asp was way out of reach but I used one as a cargo hauler before I bought a Python and I missed the Merlin engine in the back