Ships Shootout of the small combat ships

[Cmdr. Numa]

Yes, another of those things I come up with while exploring: Let's compare the Viper, DB Scout and Imp Courier, which all sit in the same bracket.

The Viper: http://coriolis.io/outfit/viper/33A...0n406g542f.Iw1+kA==.CwBhEYy60kg=?bn=Snakebite
Fastest of the lot. Biggest energy issues, but still can squeeze in an active SCB while weapons are out. Also the cheapest.

The DB Scout: http://coriolis.io/outfit/diamondba...04406g592f.Iw1-kA==.CwBhEYy6bI==?bn=Spearhead
Weakest shield of the three, but most agile. Can run a stronger SCB than the Viper, has best armor. Best jumprange.

The Courier: http://coriolis.io/outfit/imperial_...5353532f.Iw18UA==.CwBhEYy6sqg=?bn=Vanity Fair
Most expensive, by far superior shields. Has plenty of power so can power 3 SCBs at once. Sligthly less DPS than the other two.

 

[Psycho Romeo]

Great comparison, solid analysis. Move up a class to medium/heavy combat and you get the vulture, clipper, and FDL in a very similar place.

Why the courier is multipurpose is beyond me. It can't really do much else other than take punishment and smile.

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

Not really. The Vulture sits sort of alone where it is: http://coriolis.io/outfit/vulture/3...6l534v2f.Iw19kA==.CwBhEYy6wZgJliIA?bn=Stinger
48 million for the most desperately powerstarved ship.

The Lance costs quite a bit more: http://coriolis.io/outfit/fer_de_la...5e2o2f.Iw18aQ==.IwBhrSrD2Ug=?bn=Hunting Lance
About the same power issues as the Vulture., but packs a far greater punch.

Now the Clipper: http://coriolis.io/outfit/imperial_...n034k5n6l5e5959542h.Iw18aQ==.CwBhEYy6YZnATAyQ
Hasn't the greatest shields anyway, so boosters do comparably little, plus it lacks 2 of the utility slots of the Lance. So the build is set up to be able to run the 6A SCB, then switch to 4B+2B, then to 2x3B. The ship pretty much dictates the battle due to speed, and the turrets can hit from practically every angle.

As for the Clipper being classified as multirole: It is the best middle ground trader with the possibility of 240t cargo. No pure combat ship has any significant cargo capacity. Weight optimized it also makes an explorer equal to the Cobra in range.

 

[Psycho Romeo]

Not really.

I don't really agree with you. It's not analogous and wild enough in their own areas to make them hard to call equivalent, but vulture, clipper, and FDL have a pretty interesting relationship in much their same way that the courier, scout, and viper do. You are right in that among the six ships mentioned, the clipper stands out a bit as being the most multi-purpose, but the same thing would happen if you brought the CIII to the table instead of the viper. I love the viper and would never fly a CII instead of one, but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a lot (a lot) of overlap there.
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I can't view coriolis links at work, but I'm going to assume you're putting boosters on things like the vulture and then wondering why you're running out of power.

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

The Lance has two boosters, the Vulture has none. And the Cobra is a much worse fighter than the others. Regular 4A shields are paperthin on the ship, though it can carry SCBs along with it. Even the 4A prismatic is weaker than the shields on the combat ships, while eating up all power.

 

[Nerdicus]

Not really. The Vulture sits sort of alone where it is: http://coriolis.io/outfit/vulture/3...6l534v2f.Iw19kA==.CwBhEYy6wZgJliIA?bn=Stinger
48 million for the most desperately powerstarved ship.

The Lance costs quite a bit more: http://coriolis.io/outfit/fer_de_la...5e2o2f.Iw18aQ==.IwBhrSrD2Ug=?bn=Hunting Lance
About the same power issues as the Vulture., but packs a far greater punch.

Now the Clipper: http://coriolis.io/outfit/imperial_...n034k5n6l5e5959542h.Iw18aQ==.CwBhEYy6YZnATAyQ
Hasn't the greatest shields anyway, so boosters do comparably little, plus it lacks 2 of the utility slots of the Lance. So the build is set up to be able to run the 6A SCB, then switch to 4B+2B, then to 2x3B. The ship pretty much dictates the battle due to speed, and the turrets can hit from practically every angle.

As for the Clipper being classified as multirole: It is the best middle ground trader with the possibility of 240t cargo. No pure combat ship has any significant cargo capacity. Weight optimized it also makes an explorer equal to the Cobra in range.

Not sure why consider the Vulture in such low regard, as I consider it the finest pure fighter in the game. Looking at your build, you'll need to make a few adjustments to better battle the other two contenders. First, you won't need the Advanced Discovery Scanner for a fight, nor am I sure why you have a $21 million credit 4A interdictor and a $10 million mirrored hull in your build. Honestly, with my $17 million credit Vulture, I've never lost in PvP to an FDL (a lot of draws) and I flat out owned a Clipper with Turrets (but that was one long fight). The only ship to give me real trouble PvP was a fully tanked Asp.

Fact is, in a one on one fight, it's going to take at least a $75 million credit FDL to go toe to toe with my $17 million credit Vulture, and at least $100 million in a Clipper to do the same.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

The builds are fully maxed. I am well aware that they don't need to be. Also I don't hold the Vulture in low regard. It just doesn't fit into the same group as Lance and Clipper which cost way more, while the small combat ships are more or less in the same price/performance region. Undisputedly the Vulture is the best bang for the buck, able to go toe to toe with much bigger foes. That's the objective side. Personally I find it butt ugly, and I resent cookie cutter ships. That's why I'll probably never fly one

 

[Psycho Romeo]

The builds are fully maxed. I am well aware that they don't need to be. Also I don't hold the Vulture in low regard. It just doesn't fit into the same group as Lance and Clipper which cost way more, while the small combat ships are more or less in the same price/performance region. Undisputedly the Vulture is the best bang for the buck, able to go toe to toe with much bigger foes. That's the objective side. Personally I find it butt ugly, and I resent cookie cutter ships. That's why I'll probably never fly one

At the vulture's original hull price of 20m (which I believe is its actual worth), it fits a bit better within the price bracket.
As far as capabilities go, I feel the three are rather equivalent - and this is worth considering when comparing it to other ships. An FDL isn't an 'upgrade' from the vulture just because it's more expensive. Personally I don't think it's an upgrade at all, they're completely different ships.

 

[SYSOPKC]

So what is your conclusion? Is the scout a better ship than the courier? Or do you believe the viper is the best choice?

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

There is no conclusion. Check the strengths and weaknesses listed and decide which fits you best.