Ships The Keelback Club

Ser_Optimus

Ser_Optimus
Mohenjo said:
My Keelback is kitted out for exploration, but also for some salvaging (since we invariably find hundreds of crashed ships and distress beacons in every system...).

I'd named her Discovery, but I'm considering renaming her something else because Star Trek Discovery has so soured the name for me.
Click to expand...
What's your loadout? I plan to get a Keelback for exploration too, but I feel like the ship's missing a slot for cargo.
Here's what I plan for the beginning:
Fat Curious Duck
I know the fighter is considered a stupid waste of jump range for most explorers but I find it makes the Keelback stand out amongst medium ships. Also I'm not sure yet about weapons. I know I won't run into much trouble out there but I think I'd feel safeer with some extra boom on my side (I got the fighter though).
Finally, I don't really care about jump range, since exploring is abut the journey, not about getting somewhere as fast as possible. Later I still can engineer the FSD for some extra range to get to the more remote systems.
 

Kryxix

Kryxix
Ser_Optimus said:
What's your loadout? I plan to get a Keelback for exploration too, but I feel like the ship's missing a slot for cargo.
Here's what I plan for the beginning:
Fat Curious Duck
I know the fighter is considered a stupid waste of jump range for most explorers but I find it makes the Keelback stand out amongst medium ships. Also I'm not sure yet about weapons. I know I won't run into much trouble out there but I think I'd feel safeer with some extra boom on my side (I got the fighter though).
Finally, I don't really care about jump range, since exploring is abut the journey, not about getting somewhere as fast as possible. Later I still can engineer the FSD for some extra range to get to the more remote systems.
Click to expand...
I used my Keelback in various exploration trips in the past. It had 50 ly jump range, with SLF and SRV hangars, Class 4 Fuel scoop, a 3D shield (with the standard DSS), and an AFMU. 2A PP to dont have to turn off anything, and 3D PD with 0:06 boost timer to made landings easier on high grav. Speed 296/444. The only thing I missed is the Supercruise Assist, but sometimes I changed it to the AFMU slot. I had the coriolis link somewhere, I can search for it if you need more info about the build.
 

Torrigwynt174

Torrigwynt174
Here's my keelback I took to beagle point, before it got it's extra class 1 slot.
Von Humboldt
I tried the SLF but didn't get on with it when out exploring. There's a few changes I'd make if going now; dropping the fuel scoop size, adding in a small cargo track etc.
 
Last edited:

Mohenjo

Mohenjo
My Keelback is set up for exploring in the bubble right now, so is doubling as a salvager.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous
coriolis.io coriolis.io

I always maintain decent armament. Just a personal bias.
 

Torrigwynt174

Torrigwynt174
This is my usual bubble runaround, flies around doing missions that she can handle, which is most except cargo hauling and wing assassination missions.
March Harrier
k5z8NHP.jpg
 

Kryxix

Kryxix
S0rkvild said:
I'm building a new explorer for a new trip into unknown regions and I'm torn between Viper Mk 4 and Keelback :/
Click to expand...
V4 is slower and has no SLF onboard, with almost the same jump range (51ly vs KB's 50). Altough it has space for more modules, and a full build is cost 5M cheaper.
But then you cant enjoy the special KB boost sound.
 

Madrax573

Madrax573
Kryxix said:
V4 is slower and has no SLF onboard, with almost the same jump range (51ly vs KB's 50). Altough it has space for more modules, and a full build is cost 5M cheaper.
But then you cant enjoy the special KB boost sound.
Click to expand...
Erm V4 runs rings around Keelback...
 

Kryxix

Kryxix
Yes, you are right, with the standard explo build (4D thrusters + 3D PD with 0:06 boost time) the V4 is way faster, I just checked it. With Dirty Drag it can fly over 500.
However I will stay with my Keelback, because of the SLF hangar :)
 

Kryxix

Kryxix
Mohenjo said:
When exploring I never use a fighter... not sure why you would need one.
Click to expand...
I used them only for a few things: 1. faster reconing on planetary surfaces 2. for making special videos (filming) 3. its fun on a multiplayer exploration trip on meetings
Otherwise they are useless, mostly for fun.
Its the same thing when I was on a tour with a Mamba - nonsense, but doing things a bit off from the usual.
Or others did DW2 in Federal Gunships...
On paper all Lakon ships are crappy outperformed by other manufacturers products (except the Chieftain!), but look how much cmdrs are in love for their AspX or DiaX.
 

Mohenjo

Mohenjo
Fun is the whole point of the game, after all.

Ya, I did a lot of exploring (3 years in the black) in my Federal Dropship. I've "refitted" her into an Assault ship now, but she's still intended to explore. In my mind, that's as close as I'll get to being a Starfleet vessel, out exploring. However, the Keelback/Asp/etc. are good for exploring because you can see DOWN, which is even more critical now, where we need to see the surface to spot things like bacteria or some plant life.

I do wish there was something more interesting to do with geological phenomena. We can go down and scan plants, making them kind of fun to discover... but fumaroles, geysers and spouts...? I find myself unexcited when I see them.
 

Madrax573

Madrax573
Kryxix said:
Yes, you are right, with the standard explo build (4D thrusters + 3D PD with 0:06 boost time) the V4 is way faster, I just checked it. With Dirty Drag it can fly over 500.
However I will stay with my Keelback, because of the SLF hangar :)
Click to expand...

Oh the Keelie is my go to ship for 99% of my activities in game tbh... just such a fun ship to fly and live in. :)

I like the V4 etc (most agile ship in the game if you know how to fly it) and some other small ships for hooning around (well until the kill off horizons then that's dead) But I'll always come back to the Keelie. The 'Hunk O Junk' has served me well for way too long :)
 

Dushess74

Dushess74
Okay, welcome me to the club.
I had this ship as my first miner, it was pretty fun, but 4 slots total and 2of them are small... Okay, the flying brick with VTOL brickies still did the job good. ;)
Those things also is good addition, why we don't have more usage of it?
And now my KB is serving SAR role as the roleplay adds an immersion. Probably with some changes in 2 tier bay it can become a fuel rat's ship... maybe someday...
I had already saved some peoples in Didio, when there was an invasion and the bugs broke few stations again. Maybe not the best heat-resisting vessel, but okay...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom