The Python is annoyingly good for its price. Its the answer for every question in the mid-game.

[Suvi Anwar]

Python (as well as the Clipper) is not good as an explorer. In my experience, the best ships suited to exploration are Anaconda, Diamondback Explorer, and Asp Explorer, in that order. Yes, I have all three, and they are all set up for exploration. They have the largest jump range in the game, but vary greatly in utility.

The Anaconda has the most modules, which allow an explorer to carry just about everything and have room for some cargo, and the largest range possible. But set up this way, they are a slow lumbering cow with wafer thin shields and hull. This ship is also the most stable while White Dwarf or Neutron surfing to charge the FSD. Overall best ship for deep exploration.

The DBX has just enough slots to carry basics for exploration and has the next largest jump range possible. It's relatively fast and agile, but it really doesn't have room for a AFMU if one plans to carry an SRV. This is the ship I normally use to get around the bubble and just outside of it. This ship can get really thrown around while WD/Neutron charging, and is the only ship of the three that I have lost because of this.

The Asp Explorer Has the lower range of the three, but has extra room over the DBX, allowing it to easily carry an AFMU on top of everything else needed . This ship is relatively fast and handles well, but again, its jump range is a bit lower than the DBX. I have taken this ship on multiple 12kLY trips out to explore nebula, its a tough ship that can withstand a lot of neutron hopping. The AspX is also a bit more stable while WD/Neutron charging to boost FSD range.

The Python doesn't even come close to competing in this arena, nor does the Clipper.

 

[HazardousMatt]

I have to disagree about the Python or Clipper not coming close to competing.

I took my Anaconda out to the Rift and other places as well and yeah it has the best jump range but I cannot get over it's SC handling, it's a chore if you want to explore planets.

AspX I've taken to the Core and back and overall great ship but I want something different now. And if I'm being picky the engine sound is silly.

DBX don't have so can't comment, however I'll probably never own it due to like you said it's lacking on the internal space.

Clipper I've tested it out on 1k ly trip and guess what. Pre 3.0 I compared it to my 55ly Anaconda and this 30ly jump range ship could go 1k ly as fast as my Anaconda due to it's superior ultra fast SC handling and HUGE fuel scoop. Also super fast while exploring planet surfaces. That's pretty good and well worth a look at for competing.

Python I could squeeze out nearly 40ly jump range plus all the internals I want to be a "support" ship on the DW2 Expedition. Decent SC handling where I could do just about 45 seconds to 50 seconds per jump where the Anaconda your looking at minimum a minute per jump with it's sluggish SC handling. This includes charging FSD, hyperspace, refuelling, aligning up and then hitting J. And pretty fast and nimble while exploring planet surfaces.

So to be fair I think these 2 are a good alternatives to exploring rather than the common 3.

 

[wrmiller]

Python (as well as the Clipper) is not good as an explorer. In my experience, the best ships suited to exploration are Anaconda, Diamondback Explorer, and Asp Explorer, in that order. Yes, I have all three, and they are all set up for exploration. They have the largest jump range in the game, but vary greatly in utility.

The Anaconda has the most modules, which allow an explorer to carry just about everything and have room for some cargo, and the largest range possible. But set up this way, they are a slow lumbering cow with wafer thin shields and hull. This ship is also the most stable while White Dwarf or Neutron surfing to charge the FSD. Overall best ship for deep exploration.

The DBX has just enough slots to carry basics for exploration and has the next largest jump range possible. It's relatively fast and agile, but it really doesn't have room for a AFMU if one plans to carry an SRV. This is the ship I normally use to get around the bubble and just outside of it. This ship can get really thrown around while WD/Neutron charging, and is the only ship of the three that I have lost because of this.

The Asp Explorer Has the lower range of the three, but has extra room over the DBX, allowing it to easily carry an AFMU on top of everything else needed . This ship is relatively fast and handles well, but again, its jump range is a bit lower than the DBX. I have taken this ship on multiple 12kLY trips out to explore nebula, its a tough ship that can withstand a lot of neutron hopping. The AspX is also a bit more stable while WD/Neutron charging to boost FSD range.

The Python doesn't even come close to competing in this arena, nor does the Clipper.

It sounds like your one qualifier for a good explorer is jump range. While you are entitled to your opinion of course, not everyone will agree with it. Nor should they.

When I'm out exploring, I'm EXPLORING, not trying to jump as far as I can. I've never even bothered with neutron charging or whatever you call it. Don't need it. With ~40Ly jump range, a Python is more than capable as a explorer. The fact that it can carry everything I need, including the kitchen sink makes it a great explorer IMO. Add that it handles SO much better than that large cow the conda is just icing on the cake.

 

[Lightspeed]

It sounds like your one qualifier for a good explorer is jump range. While you are entitled to your opinion of course, not everyone will agree with it. Nor should they.

When I'm out exploring, I'm EXPLORING, not trying to jump as far as I can. I've never even bothered with neutron charging or whatever you call it. Don't need it. With ~40Ly jump range, a Python is more than capable as a explorer. The fact that it can carry everything I need, including the kitchen sink makes it a great explorer IMO. Add that it handles SO much better than that large cow the conda is just icing on the cake.

40 lyr for an explorer Python is pretty good ... I will have to (ahem) explore that setup when I return from deep space in my T-10.

As an aside, slow supercruise manoeuvering is not a problem when you get used to it, but it could always be better.

 

[Suvi Anwar]

It sounds like your one qualifier for a good explorer is jump range. While you are entitled to your opinion of course, not everyone will agree with it. Nor should they.

When I'm out exploring, I'm EXPLORING, not trying to jump as far as I can. I've never even bothered with neutron charging or whatever you call it. Don't need it. With ~40Ly jump range, a Python is more than capable as a explorer. The fact that it can carry everything I need, including the kitchen sink makes it a great explorer IMO. Add that it handles SO much better than that large cow the conda is just icing on the cake.

It is certainly not just range. However, you can get yourself stranded really easily above/below galactic plane, or far outside the core areas. Stars get few and far between, and having 50+ range with jumponium can be the difference of continuing your journey or finding yourself back at your starting point with nothing to show for all that time.

You are certainly entitled to use any ship you like, they can all go places, just some do it easier than others, and there are trade-offs between them all.

 

[SteveWithaD]

 

[SpaceScania]

The Python still needs competition for outpost haulage missions and the like (it is the only ship in the game that can do the large outpoust haulage missions!), but it isn’t the best ship for every role.

The Orca is a significantly better ship for passenger sight seeing missions. The Orca’s jump range is much higher and it is also very fast. Fast enough not to bother with weapons. Use the power from a no weapons build to put a frame shift scanner on it so you can get all the datamined wake exceptions you need when you pull up to a tourist beacon. So there is no contest there. The Orca is actually a pretty awesome ship these days used in the right way.

The Python is not a great explorer either. It’s jump range is too limited and the view out of the cockpit isn’t the best. There is a reason why the AspX is so popular with CMDR’s

 

[Viper2kUK]

Just as an addition to this thread, when I originally bought a clipper - I did think (because I didn't read the fine print) that it was a medium pad ship and I'd be able to do the grind to get a cutter in it. For all the cutter is - it really is not as versatile as the Python and in order for me to grind to get the cutter - I had to resort to a federation ship just to make sure I had the storage capacity as well as the confidence in the ship to take a beating and just keep on ticking.

The python is a good overall ship (as I've said before) but it is the volvo of the ships available - trusty, dependable, can carry a lot of junk in its trunk but it costs a fair whack to make sure its upto spec to do the deeds you need.

V2k.

 

[Saool]

It is OP. SO much so that I have 4 of them.

I am really hoping the Krate will be much bigger than the original and a viable alternative the to Python, as there needs to be more verity within each ship class bracket.

 

[Mengy]

The game sorely needs some medium ship competition for the Python. The T7 should be a medium ship, if they lowered the height of the T7 by 1m it would fit in a medium bay, then for cargo space the game would have a Python competitor.

Hopefully Frontier uses the Krait to add some competition for the Python on medium pads. It's long overdue.