The mandatory "Buff the Chieftain" / "Nerf the Chieftain" thread

[BDelacroix]

Buff the nerftain? Chief the bufftain?

Really, it seems fine, but if I had to have one complaint, it is that you can't fit all the essentials for exploration on it. One more internal slot for a SRV would make it golden.

 

[Lightspeed]

Looking at the version of the Chieftain as shown on today's live stream, we seem to be getting a ship that has

• 430T hull, unless my math was wrong
• FAS core internals
• FAS optional internals with an extra size 4 mil slot instead of a regular size 3
• Slightly less raw firepower (~72 DPS with fixed pulses) than the FDL (~75), Python (~78), and Gunship (~82) but more than the FAS/Clipper (~60) and FDS (~66)
• Good (if unusual) hard point placement for using fixed weapons, with the larges being very close together
• 4 utility mounts (pretty standard)
• 504 hull (same as beluga) compared to the FDL (405), Python (468), Clipper (486), FDS/FAS (540) and Gunship (630)
• FAS Shields (but better, because lighter hull). Incidentally the Gunship gets similar shields when using a size 5 generator [noob]
• Excellent maneuverability (Max 44.08 pitch, 104.40 roll, 18.56 yaw, unengineered), outperforming the Python (34/104/12), FDS (35/93/16) and FDL (44/104/14), but looses out to the Gunship (29/93/21) and FAS (44/104/22) in yaw, and the Clipper (46/93/21) in both yaw and pitch
• Python speed (267 m/s) with better boost (Max 383 m/s unengineered), better than the Gunship and FDS, but looses out to the FAS in boost and is left choking on the dust from the FDL and Clipper

Overall, I would say that the Chieftain is comparable to the FAS. It has the same core internals (great for swapping between ships) can get the exact same hull with HRPs (unengineered), but has better DPS and hard point placement, better speed (23 m/s while not boosting), and due to the lighter hull has [slightly] better shields and jump range, all without the rank grind. However, it does lose out on yaw speed (~4 deg/s less) and some boost (23 m/s less) which are arguably the FAS's greatest advantages. It is worth noting that a combat fitted FAS is ~70T heavier than a Chieftain with the same build, and will not achieve its maximum performance since it is over 70T above its thruster's minimum mass, while the Chieftain is barely affected.

*Note that the stats I used are the maximum achievable without engineering, and will change based on loadout and engineering, and (in the case of the Chieftain) are subject to change by FDev*

Edit: Ninja'd by Alexander the Grape.

Amazing that both of you came up with mostly similar information at exactly the same time! Thanks commanders, at least you are confirming one another and not contradictive.

 

[Starender]

It's a FAS clone...

I suggest (as i did in another post) to add another utility mount (make it 5), it won't make it OP in every way but at least it would have something over the FAS who seem better if nothing is changed...

 

[Kaocraft]

Nerf the FDL.

 

[Ophion]

I vote for buff

Seriously, I'm disappointed with the number of internals. And not only for this ship but many other. I know it's a dedicated combat ship but 5 internals is really low for it's size. Medium ships shouldn't have less than 6-7 internals, not counting military slots. So much stuff to be used in game but not enough room. Several small ships have more internals than this.

 

[Julio Montega]

Buff the nerftain? Chief the bufftain?

Really, it seems fine, but if I had to have one complaint, it is that you can't fit all the essentials for exploration on it. One more internal slot for a SRV would make it golden.

I really hope for the Krait to become the fastest ship in the game,
good offense, bad defense, but nimble and fast, with a suitable internal
count to be expected from Faulcon deLacy for piracy.

 

[Rubbernuke]

I really hope for the Krait to become the fastest ship in the game,
good offense, bad defense, but nimble and fast, with a suitable internal
count to be expected from Faulcon deLacy for piracy.

My opinion has shifted on the Krait. I think it will be a lightly armed explorer vessel. x 2 mediums, SLF capable which is fast and has a really nice jump range.

 

[CMDR Percivus Keenblade]

I really hope for the Krait to become the fastest ship in the game,
good offense, bad defense, but nimble and fast, with a suitable internal
count to be expected from Faulcon deLacy for piracy.

From wiki;
The Krait once led the field in small scale fighter craft - faster, more agile, and more heavily armed than most of its rivals, the design sold in the millions. Now the Krait is largely obsolete. It remains a heavily armed fighter for its size, but its sluggish speed and sub-standard manoeuvrability make it vulnerable to escort fighters and modern police ships. Kraits are still found in the poorer and more anarchic parts of the galaxy - most are a hodgepodge of old and new technology cobbled together. In combat, the Krait is often paired off against larger ships, such as the Cobra and Asp, who match the tiny ship in manoeuvrability, but who remain vulnerable to the Krait's impressive weaponry.

From wiki;
The Krait, also known as the Krait Lightspeeder, is a fighter ship known for its distinctive shape.

From Elite: The Dark Wheel book;
"He also saw a single Krait, the so-called StarStriker, a small, one-man ship much favoured by pathfinders and mercenaries."

Feels like it could be a heavy-puncher version of an Eagle. Can't wait to fly one around regardless what it comes out!

My opinion has shifted on the Krait. I think it will be a lightly armed explorer vessel. x 2 mediums, SLF capable which is fast and has a really nice jump range.

Well it seems you can't find a place a Krait is mentioned without also taking note of its heavy armaments. And SLF on a supposedly small 1 man fighter ship? I'm not so sure.

 

[Schlack]

A second medium weapon slot would make this my combat ship for definite. Deffo going to buy one to see if I can buff my fixie weapon skills.

It looks like a whole lot of fun to dogfight in.

 

[Martian Successor]

It has the same jump range as the FAS (same 5A FSD and similar combat ready mass), but fewer optional internals and the C3 downgraded to a C1. The range shown in game was ~ 18.6 LY. It had a bunch of empty slots too. So fully loaded before engineering, it will be more like 16LY. If you strip it down to explorer with no combat parts, yeah it will get up to 30 LY with engineering. But so will the FDL/Corvette.

It has less mass than the FAS (420t vs 480t) so will probably have around 2 LY more jump range.

 

[Jack Schitt]

I suggest (as i did in another post) to add another utility mount (make it 5), it won't make it OP in every way but at least it would have something over the FAS who seem better if nothing is changed...

I'm guessing Frontier are of the opinion that its primary benefit over the Federal ships is the lack of rank requirement. They may have underestimated just how many players are prepared to grind away for those unlocks, although they have the telemetry so they really have no excuse if that's the case.

Ignoring the rank requirement, the FAS still has the edge in boost speed and maybe in manoeuvrability (if you like yaw) but the Chieftain has better weapons and convergence. Otherwise they're more or less neck and neck. An extra utility mount on the Chieftain risks making the FAS redundant, although there's no denying it would be a nice addition.

This is the problem with balancing for a videogame. If these were "real" manufacturers producing "real" spacecraft there would either be large hardpoints and utility mounts a-go-go, or they would specialise their marques more and you'd end up with the space equivalent of supercars; insanely expensive, amazing at what they do, rare as hen's teeth. But because balance is king in videogames, and everyone becomes a billionaire given enough time, everything's a compromise.

I like the Chieftain precisely because it's a FAS alternative (at least as far as we can tell pre-beta), and I love my FAS but fancy something new. But for those who aren't huge fans of the FAS (or are such a huge fans that they'll never want to swap) then the Chieftain becomes "just" another clone of a ship we already have.

 

[GG7]

2 More Class 5 Slots and an extra 8-10 Ly of jump range to the base spec, and you would have a bonafide HIT!

This ship should be able to out jump a Python without breaking a sweat.

 

[ErichZann]

A ship with a good base shield (like the FDL) instead of military slots for HRPs would be nice, as that could have a good jump range and be combat ready... but no... We get another ships that looks like its forced to be a heavy hull tank.

 

[operant]

I was wondering why 3 small hardpoints is better than 2 or, come to think of it, none.
(I know you can fit stuff for specific situations - mines, rockets etc, but....).

 

[ErichZann]

I was wondering why 3 small hardpoints is better than 2 or, come to think of it, none.
(I know you can fit stuff for specific situations - mines, rockets etc, but....).

Small lasers and railguns are good.

 

[Rubbernuke]

Well it seems you can't find a place a Krait is mentioned without also taking note of its heavy armaments. And SLF on a supposedly small 1 man fighter ship? I'm not so sure.

The old Krait is no more, this is a totally new ship. From the pictures anyway you can see 2 medium (?) MCs, 3 seats and an SLF bay on a ship that is slightly smaller than an Asp.

 

[IcyScope]

I for one loved the ship demo. The sound of that thing was awesome and just looked a joy to fly. I haven’t seen a comment yet but what they showed was un-engineered, I can’t even fathom what it will be like flying with Dirty Drives installed. I can just see it being almost twitchy in how it handles. I also thought that for most common explorers it will be a fun ship.
30 ish jump range, 5A fuel scoop, 5 AFMU, ? Shield (can’t remember size, 3 maybe), and 2 slots for Advanced / Surface scanners.
I’m sold.