I'm heading back to the bubble to do some engineering before 2.3 lands. With the new blueprints I was gonna try to push the Conda to the 63LY range with a fighter and SRV. Right now I'm sitting at 53 with a fighter. Then I got to thinking it's more fun scanning and exploring the world's rather than jump honking which you tend to do when you have such a large jump range. But if I want to scan and explore planets I kind of want a more manoeuvrable ship. I know I would probably have to sacrifice the fighter for a more limble ship. So I was thinking the Python. Some reason I just love my Python and was thinking on kitting it out for exploration I can get it close to a 45ly jump range. But I'm not quite set on taking that ship out for a long exploring expidition. What are your thoughts or which ship would you take out for a long expidition scanning and exploring?
Swapping the Anaconda for?
- Thread starter HazardousMatt
- Start date
Quite a few ships use class 5 FSD. You could go for one of these and modifiy it until you have a perfect roll. You then had a class 5 FSD that you could use for all the other class 5 ships.
The most prominent members of this class of ships would be the Asp Explorer, the Python, the Clipper and the Diamondback Explorer.
The most prominent members of this class of ships would be the Asp Explorer, the Python, the Clipper and the Diamondback Explorer.
Last edited:
How about the Orca? The wiki says it's a very nimble ship with one of the best cockpit views.
https://eddp.co/u/JcCB2axJ
https://eddp.co/u/JcCB2axJ
To be honest, I took a Python on Distant Worlds and would do it again - I love the beast -, but she isn't the best ship if you're looking for nimble, especially stripped down for range. (Nimbler than an Anaconda, sure, but even my grandma was nimbler than that.) Waiting for a Dolphin - very nimble and responsive even on downgraded D-thrusters - or the Orca's mass reduction might be a better idea if you plan to do a lot of planetary exploration.
I know it's common but there's a reason the AspX is so popular.
Nearly as good a jump range, much better SC and real space maneuverability, good speed and easy landings.
And, enough internals to carry everything an explorer needs. Not two of everything like the 'conda, but the essentials.
The Keelback is another option if you want to carry a fighter and don't need 50Ly jump range.
https://eddp.co/u/EyHmW6Mk 35Ly is good enough if you're not going anywhere in particular and I find the Keelback fly's about the same as the Asp.
Nearly as good a jump range, much better SC and real space maneuverability, good speed and easy landings.
And, enough internals to carry everything an explorer needs. Not two of everything like the 'conda, but the essentials.
The Keelback is another option if you want to carry a fighter and don't need 50Ly jump range.
https://eddp.co/u/EyHmW6Mk 35Ly is good enough if you're not going anywhere in particular and I find the Keelback fly's about the same as the Asp.
This is what I got for the Dolphin https://eddp.co/u/TBKv5ZE4
If it's as nimble as you say it is, it might be worth it. How's the cockpit view?
Last edited:
I'd say take what you feel most comfortable in. That means the cockpit view, the supercruise handling, and if you want to go planetside, then the flight characteristics. The most important thing for a long expedition is that you take the ship you're the most comfortable with, as you'll be stuck with it for a long time.
With Engineers, pretty much anything can be made into a decent exploration ship. Although FSD size might be important, as others have mentioned before, due to how many other ships you might be able to transfer it to.
Quick listing:
Class 2 FSD: Sidewinder, Hauler
Class 3 FSD: Adder, Eagle, Imp. Courier, Imp. Eagle, Viper
Class 4 FSD: Asp Scout, Cobra Mk III / IV, Diamondback Scout, Dolphin, Fer-de-Lance, Keelback, Type 6, Viper Mk IV, Vulture
Class 5 FSD: Asp Explorer, Diamondback Explorer, Fed. . Ship, Fed. Dropship, Fed. Gunship, Imp. Clipper, Orca, Python, Type 7
Class 6 FSD: Anaconda, Fed. Corvette, Type 9
Class 7 FSD: Beluga, Imp. Cutter
I'd recommend tooling up a ship for exploration, but before you go out on a long expedition, take it out for a shorter test run. Then you'll see if you really are comfortable with the ship, if everything works well, or if there's room for improvement.
With Engineers, pretty much anything can be made into a decent exploration ship. Although FSD size might be important, as others have mentioned before, due to how many other ships you might be able to transfer it to.
Quick listing:
Class 2 FSD: Sidewinder, Hauler
Class 3 FSD: Adder, Eagle, Imp. Courier, Imp. Eagle, Viper
Class 4 FSD: Asp Scout, Cobra Mk III / IV, Diamondback Scout, Dolphin, Fer-de-Lance, Keelback, Type 6, Viper Mk IV, Vulture
Class 5 FSD: Asp Explorer, Diamondback Explorer, Fed. . Ship, Fed. Dropship, Fed. Gunship, Imp. Clipper, Orca, Python, Type 7
Class 6 FSD: Anaconda, Fed. Corvette, Type 9
Class 7 FSD: Beluga, Imp. Cutter
I'd recommend tooling up a ship for exploration, but before you go out on a long expedition, take it out for a shorter test run. Then you'll see if you really are comfortable with the ship, if everything works well, or if there's room for improvement.
That's close to mine in Beta. Nimbleness is, of course, more subjective than the numbers can tell, but it feels very responsive and doesn't drift much with 4D thrusters, and it's quite fast.
The view is enjoyable.
Not as good as a Lakon, better than a Python.
If you want a ship that's nimble in supercruise yet still has plenty of space, try a Clipper. You can hit silly speeds in normal flight too if you tune up some big engines.
I have to second this one. I think the Asp Explorer is great. Has probably the best view of any ship, can land on all stations since it's medium size, good/great jump range easy to land and maneuver, cost efficient, and has enought modules for an explorer.
It can get into places the Anaconda can't
Hm, reading this, I think I should clarify what I meant earlier: by cockpit view, I meant how the cockpit looks in generality, not visibility as ThomasWJames just did. Of course, this makes it more subjective. The Asp Explorer (and Scout) has great visibility, but otherwise a very empty cockpit. The Clipper also has great visibility, although not as much as the Asp, but in my opinion, it has a much better-looking cockpit.
This is subjective, of course. There are people who actually like how the Asp looks, both inside and outside, then there are those that don't. Same goes for the Python, the Anaconda, and any other ship. As such, you'll have to find out for yourself whether you like a particular ship or not. Visibility is more objective, but is in my opinion much less important than cockpit view, which is more subjective.
python is a very nice explorer.
but i'm currently using a cobra mkIV instead of a python - an even better lander, easier to park. less jumprange, though, and even slower.
courier would be another option for me. it's closest to flying a fighter as an exploration ship. alternative maybe a clipper - as it is so very manouverable in SC, but fast, and more internals.
my next longer trip will be again in a DBE, though. love that ship.
but i'm currently using a cobra mkIV instead of a python - an even better lander, easier to park. less jumprange, though, and even slower.
courier would be another option for me. it's closest to flying a fighter as an exploration ship. alternative maybe a clipper - as it is so very manouverable in SC, but fast, and more internals.
my next longer trip will be again in a DBE, though. love that ship.
Delacy and Gutamaya ships have great interiors, if you want to look at the inside of your ship, but after you've seen the interior and want to look outside, you need good glass.
I fly with head tracking always and often in VR and having a wide view to the sides and straight up is very useful.
Not just for combat but for overall visibility when maneuvering.
When I look up in the Anaconda, all I can see is the ceiling. Looking forward, half the view is blocked by the nose and the side views are very narrow.
In the Asp, or most any Lakon, you can see all around you and even a bit below. Better situational awareness, and better able to spot geysers or other surface features at a distance.
The Imperial Gutamaya ships have decent views also. Not as wide as a Lakon but still good.
The Courier has a great bubble cockpit, plenty of internals and can boost to 600M/s with an engineered range of ~33Ly. Or 35Ly of you don't want that speed.
I fly with head tracking always and often in VR and having a wide view to the sides and straight up is very useful.
Not just for combat but for overall visibility when maneuvering.
When I look up in the Anaconda, all I can see is the ceiling. Looking forward, half the view is blocked by the nose and the side views are very narrow.
In the Asp, or most any Lakon, you can see all around you and even a bit below. Better situational awareness, and better able to spot geysers or other surface features at a distance.
The Imperial Gutamaya ships have decent views also. Not as wide as a Lakon but still good.
The Courier has a great bubble cockpit, plenty of internals and can boost to 600M/s with an engineered range of ~33Ly. Or 35Ly of you don't want that speed.
Last edited:
Interesting point on VR and views to the sides and straight up. Especially on planets. I wonder about planetary exploration: which do you think would be better, the Asp with its better visibility, or the Courier with its superior speed? (Can cover more ground in the same time.)
Speaking of which,
Once that's out though, this can do 40 ly with an SRV bay. Although for planetside stuff, I'd go with enhanced thrusters instead.
Also, the advantage of the Courier is that with those enhanced thrusters, surviving an interdiction is dead simple: press boost.
Like Jackie noted, the Clipper can also reach impressive speeds (though I wouldn't say silly), but that's a much bigger target to hit. Not to mention that since the Clipper can be a quite capable combat ship, you might encounter hostile players flying it: while a combat Clipper still wouldn't catch up to an explorer Courier with similar thrusters (due to the difference in weight), it could still stay in firing range long enough to do serious damage, possibly even lethal. For its size, the Clipper has rather weak shields. (Contrast with the Courier, which has very powerful shields for its size.)
Speaking of which,
Alternatively, if you don't want an SRV bay, that can go up to 44 ly. Here's mine, although it does 43.76 ly; 44 ly will be with the upcoming lightweight sensors in 2.3.
Once that's out though, this can do 40 ly with an SRV bay. Although for planetside stuff, I'd go with enhanced thrusters instead.
Also, the advantage of the Courier is that with those enhanced thrusters, surviving an interdiction is dead simple: press boost.
Like Jackie noted, the Clipper can also reach impressive speeds (though I wouldn't say silly), but that's a much bigger target to hit. Not to mention that since the Clipper can be a quite capable combat ship, you might encounter hostile players flying it: while a combat Clipper still wouldn't catch up to an explorer Courier with similar thrusters (due to the difference in weight), it could still stay in firing range long enough to do serious damage, possibly even lethal. For its size, the Clipper has rather weak shields. (Contrast with the Courier, which has very powerful shields for its size.)
Good question. The Courier still has a nose that sticks out a bit and partially obscures your downward view, but you can see downward to the sides and you would certainly be able to cover much more ground.
That said, the Courier has a tiny fuel tank which means it can't jump through more than a couple of non scoopable stars and if you're in normal space flying around on a planet, you could run out of fuel in just a few hours.
Last edited:
You got me curious on the Courier now, this is what I came up with https://eddp.co/u/mYVyHNge not bad with 39ly range with an SRV but a small fuel tank. However what I'm confused about is according to that site the Dolphin https://eddp.co/u/hDtPzNa7 has better movement than the Courier.
What do you mean by movement? It's not as fast with 3A Enhanced thrusters.
I haven't flown a Dolphin, but I can say the Courier is very agile in terms of maneuverability.
The Clipper can't match the Courier's speed either.
Last edited:
There is a Movement Summary on that site where it shows Speed, Pitch, Roll, and Yaw.
a courier has a class 3 FSD and 8T of fuel. a class 3 FSD needs 1,8 tons of fuel per jump. the courier can make 4,5 jumps on a full tank. a conda with its standard 32 T of fuel can make precisely 4 jumps. not sure what's tiny about that.
as its moduls are also much smaller, it also needs less fuel per hour running idle.