Small Ships are often overlooked
- Thread starter Noddie
- Start date
Small ships can still be good for such content as:
I mean larger ships can still do it all, faster and better, but smalls are viable at least at ^ that. They truly do get overlooked often because they aren't nearly as convenient and powerful as Medium/Large vessels, but they are much more fun to fly. Although that's very subjective, since some people genuinely enjoy to fly Type-10s for example. The problem is that in most regular content, you spend very little time actually flying, and a lot more time cruising or jumping, which makes very little difference in what ship you are, aside from interior aesthetics, that is...
- Planetary missions
- Courier missions
- Small cargo missions
- Assassinations (but ammo will run dry super quick and DPS is quite low)
- Grinding mats
- Exploration (Mediums can still be considered better, since more module space for stuff like extra SRV, more AMFUs, SLF, Heatsinks, etc)
- Some other things I forgot...
I mean larger ships can still do it all, faster and better, but smalls are viable at least at ^ that. They truly do get overlooked often because they aren't nearly as convenient and powerful as Medium/Large vessels, but they are much more fun to fly. Although that's very subjective, since some people genuinely enjoy to fly Type-10s for example. The problem is that in most regular content, you spend very little time actually flying, and a lot more time cruising or jumping, which makes very little difference in what ship you are, aside from interior aesthetics, that is...
Last edited:
I have three small combat ships, 1 medium combat ship, 1 large combat ship.
I've lost over 90 ships biting off more than I could chew.
It's grand being slagged in space.
I've lost over 90 ships biting off more than I could chew.
It's grand being slagged in space.
Well most small ships are seriously lacking in many areas without offering any useful benefit to make up for it...
They don't have enough firepower to bounty hunt efficiently
They don't have enough cargo space to trade or mine efficiently
They don't have enough jump range and internals to explore efficiently, well most of them anyway.
And they are not even particularly fast, unless you fit them explicitely for racing, making them useless for everything else.
So, why exactly should anyone use them, when they don't have a reasonable advantage in anything?
They don't have enough firepower to bounty hunt efficiently
They don't have enough cargo space to trade or mine efficiently
They don't have enough jump range and internals to explore efficiently, well most of them anyway.
And they are not even particularly fast, unless you fit them explicitely for racing, making them useless for everything else.
So, why exactly should anyone use them, when they don't have a reasonable advantage in anything?
Ideal for courier missions, since you can fit them out like for racing, since courier missions require no space.
They have their pluses for combat since you can usually stick on an enemy's tail, denying them the ability to hit you. You're also small, so harder to hit. In addition, NPCs generally go for the highest threat, and being in a small ship, if there are authority or allied ships around, the enemy will focus on them. Main weakness is firepower as you note, so i don't use them in CZ due to the insane HP inflation that happened to CZ ships. I used to though.
Firepower is fine for non-CZ bounty hunting if you kit them out well and are a decent pilot. Generally a lot more fun to fly as well than bigger ships (in my opinion of course).
Some small ships have plenty of internals for exploration and they can be very good for landing in very bumpy terrain. Can also be useful as well for landing near guardian or thargoid sites.
Some can have enough cargo space to run certain types of missions where you don't need massive amounts. Rares trading is also an option with them. A CM4 fitted for trade can have 84t of cargo space. That's not bad at all.
The Cobra Mk4 makes a decent mining ship. Enough internals and weapon slots to mine efficiently. Unless by efficiently you mean max CR/HR, but in that case, you might as well say a majority of ships are not worth using due to not being efficient. Small ships also generally better for flying around rocks as they tend to be more manouverable.
Small ships tend to have better SC manouverability, making them better at interdicting and avoiding interdictions, even player interdictions.
A lot of people have asked for missions specifically designed for small ships and I think there is a ready made solution that won't be too arduous for FD to accomplish. Why not just utilise all these mega ships we now have populating the space ways. All FD have to do is place a couple of small landing pads on them and either the same functionality as the current outposts or even use the Fleet Carrier interface. I would guess most of the generated missions would be courier or the like, minimal cargo but at least it would be a start.
Sure, but what's the benefit? Since racing gear doesn't improve SC-speed, I can do them almost as fast in a medium ship. Also, why even to courier missions in the first place? They are usually not paying too well, to put it dimplomatic
Sure, but again what's the benefit over just face-to-face melting them away with a Python or Krait Mk2? It definetely takes more time, thus decreasing the bounty payouts per any given amount of time.
Yes, that's true... point for the small ships
Sure, but what's the benefit? Since racing gear doesn't improve SC-speed, I can do them almost as fast in a medium ship. Also, why even to courier missions in the first place? They are usually not paying too well, to put it dimplomatic
Docking and undocking speed and ease. Slipping into the slot past other ships. As i also mentioned, interdictions, if you are getting interdicted its easier in a small ship, you evade quicker, therefore waste less time. Also easier to do the intentional loop of shame (the loop of speed) when you have an otherwise slow approach, by intentionally going too fast and swinging around. Same SC speed, better SC manouverability.
Because sometimes its about doing what you enjoy rather than just steamrolling everything. Fighting in my Anaconda is booooring. Even the Krait is a bit meh. But i love combat in my CM4. Especially against challenging opponents. People often cry "game is too easy, make NPCs harder!" Yet we see what FD consider making NPCs harder results in. CZ bullet sponges, which are no fun. Doesn't add to the challenge, just takes more time. But with skill and a small ship, you can get a more challenging fight where you actually have some risk.
Yes, that's true... point for the small ships
Yay.
Yes, they have less and smaller gun mounts and less internal slots. That makes them obsolete. It's the way ships are set up.
You can always engi..... oh wait, forgot who I was replying to ...
Yep, my little Viper IV is useless....You can always engi..... oh wait, forgot who I was replying to ...
Coriolis EDCD Edition
A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous
s.orbis.zone
Deleted member 182079
D
Small ships are great because they can go fast. I like speed.
Last night I spent some time engineering an Adder for lightweight (largely for smuggling). Now I'm seriously eyeing up the shipkit!
Last night I spent some time engineering an Adder for lightweight (largely for smuggling). Now I'm seriously eyeing up the shipkit!
I don't fly big ships, can't stand that every single manoeuvre takes ages.
I fly small ships a lot, have quite a few of them and use them on regular basis.
But I don't think it's a good idea to force Cmdrs to use small ships. Let everyone fly whatever they want. Even if it's a flying brick.
I fly small ships a lot, have quite a few of them and use them on regular basis.
But I don't think it's a good idea to force Cmdrs to use small ships. Let everyone fly whatever they want. Even if it's a flying brick.
Yes...finally someone with true taste.
The DBS is the best 2s + 2m fighter, fast, very agile, great weapon placement, great jump range, 4 utility slots means good defence. 2 fixed pulse and 2 rails = much fun and pack a real wallop.