Ships The Reliant

[Viscera]

Hello fellow commanders. I read the few posts regarding the Diamondback Explorer, and found it lacking a bit of love.

To cheap and yet too expensive was the vibe I got from most impressions for exploration. Not good enough in most roles leading to the most common "a Cobra does it better" remark.

Well I like it.

I use mine for tooling around slowly making money to upgrade it from stock. I have a multi role in my mind, covering light exploration/mining/courier duties.

It has enough fixtures of appropriate sizes to do all these roles rather well, without specializing in any, so I can go off and do what I wish.

Why not a Cobra - I just do not like the seating position being off centre. I find it quite disturbing to be honest. I love the DB Explorers window view so much more.

One other useful thing I found it quite good for doing a few less legitimate ventures occasionally, and being a marvellous shade of yellow, this is how my ship got named "The Reliant".

I have been blown up in most of the ships I have tried so far, so combat seems not to be my thing, so I can not comment on how well I will survive getting attacked. I have managed to avoid that grief so far in the DBE, but I have a minimum stock of insurance cash set by ready for that occurrence.

So far so good though, small scale mining is pretty simple, and is turning a nice profit, while I wait to find a few well paying jobs. Once I make enough for the Full Scanner it will be back to a few exploration runs for some easy cash (I worked my money up for the DBE in "The Regal", a Hauler with a penchance for exploration of local systems, and a habit of being blown out of space whenever I had a cargo on board.....)

Cheers, John

 

[Cdr Voorheez]

Just don't ever take one in a fight. They handle like a brick.
Good exploring ships though.

 

[CMDR Curl]

Good exploring ships though.

That. An "ASP light", easily outfitted at less than 10mil (such as this).
For trading, internals are too limited. Even with an A4 generator, shields are not spectacular.
But that's alright, exploration easily "justifies" the DBE being in the game. And the more variety, the better anyway.

 

[newman1702]

I don't get people who complain about off-center multiple seat cockpits. Unless you all drive McLaren F1's, you should be used to it, and it has no impact on your gameplay (unless in an FDL with that canopy strut right in your face)

 

[Viscera]

Well for me it may stem from the fact I do not drive a car, and only ride a Motorbike. The cursor dot in the center, appears to be off center when i fly the Cobra and it makes me feel a little off and uncomfortable. I certainly found it much harder to steer into the trickier docks, as my repair costs and fines would attest lol.

Perhaps if I could have a left hand drive ship I may feel better as I am more used to being a passenger, and thus on that side when I am in a car.

Still, it is just a personal quirk, and I certainly won't be forcing the opinion on anyone to fly a ship on where the seat is located.

Is any one else using the DBE for anything other than exploring?

 

[Cdr Voorheez]

Is any one else using the DBE for anything other than exploring?

If you read the explorer forums I'd say no. It's a good explorer, with flaws in my opinion, and I have explored in one before I upgraded to an Asp.
I have heard they can be used to smuggle with but I personally would go DBS: faster, and more manoeuvrability and firepower.
I really wanted the DBE to be great, it looks so lovely, like a fat hornet, but alas it's a one trick pony and that trick is sadly always going to be seen by some as the 'cheap Asp substitute'.
They do have a 33LY range though which is pretty damn good

 

[Viscera]

well the Reliant was sadly retired to the scrap yard after I got interdicted and blown out of my seat in a matter of seconds again last night....I did not mind that so much but the loss of the mined cargo was the straw that broke me. I have gone back to a DBS. It looks a little scruffier inside, but its cheaper to set up and I can fight back in it at least, or escape with a huge boost speed...
I shall return to the DBE once I can afford to equip it better, I think it is too vulnerable (especially with me at the helm) without a fair wodge of cash to upgrade it before I take one to the stars again.

A shame as I did like the way it flew, the multi role set up I had, and the lovely yellow paint and ride view it had. I just cant afford to get blown up every time i set foot in space with some cargo on board.

This time I have gone for a DBS with a role of fighting light transport. Well gunned, armoured and yet with a fast turn of speed, handling and 20 tons of cargo space. It also jumps 20+ when fully loaded. Nice for a few well paid runs so far. I am waiting to get interdicted and the opportunity to fight back now.

 

[TwoWheeledToad]

well the Reliant was sadly retired to the scrap yard after I got interdicted and blown out of my seat in a matter of seconds again last night....I did not mind that so much but the loss of the mined cargo was the straw that broke me. I have gone back to a DBS. It looks a little scruffier inside, but its cheaper to set up and I can fight back in it at least, or escape with a huge boost speed...
I shall return to the DBE once I can afford to equip it better, I think it is too vulnerable (especially with me at the helm) without a fair wodge of cash to upgrade it before I take one to the stars again.

A shame as I did like the way it flew, the multi role set up I had, and the lovely yellow paint and ride view it had. I just cant afford to get blown up every time i set foot in space with some cargo on board.

This time I have gone for a DBS with a role of fighting light transport. Well gunned, armoured and yet with a fast turn of speed, handling and 20 tons of cargo space. It also jumps 20+ when fully loaded. Nice for a few well paid runs so far. I am waiting to get interdicted and the opportunity to fight back now.

Hi, nice to meet a fellow biker and DBE pilot!

Personally, I think that they are a great little ship but combat is really best avoided, especially against anything more dangerous than a Viper. I've spent more time in my DBE (and still do) than any of my other ships and I'm lucky enough to have all but three of them (Fed drop/assault/guship) parked up somewhere. I guess I just like the 'feel' of it, it looks great too.

I know that pretty much every other ship out there can out perform it in many ways but as a package it just seems to work for me. Always puts a smile on my face and that, I reckon, is far more important than being technically 'better'

I mostly use it for Bulletin Board smuggling missions, Rares trading and to just generally kick around space in (thanks to its jump range) but I have another one set up just for exploring.

Glad to see that your thinking of trying the DBE again at some point. I'd say your best off to build it to do a specific job as it doesn't make a good all rounder or jack-of-all-trades but what it can do, it does really well!

Best of luck with the BDS aswell, its a brilliant ship and its got me out of many a hairy dogfight intact!

 

[Klajorne]

I've been running Driftwood with the following configuration, and I think I'm about ready to send it to the boneyard. I thought it would be everything I wanted (long jump ranges, a large hardpoint), but it just doesn't quite have the teeth needed for how fragile it is. I've been all over with the hardpoints, and I think part of my issue is the lack of kinetic class 3 (which is an overall game problem and not specific to the DBX), and the ship doesn't quite have the turn speed to take advantage of fixed guns (like rails) or close range weapons (like frags).

I'll miss it, though. I ran it for light bounty hunting and smuggling games. Particularly for doing PowerPlay shenanigans, which is what I mostly use it for. But I might just have to suck it up and accept a few more jumps going forward.

 

[Dregory The Crow]

I love DBE. Call me crazy, but I just sell my exploration Asp and bought DBE. I can't think about long journey in Asp. I just don't "feel" this ship.

Spoiler

Isn't it looks lovely?

 

[TwoWheeledToad]

I love DBE. Call me crazy, but I just sell my exploration Asp and bought DBE. I can't think about long journey in Asp. I just don't "feel" this ship.

Spoiler

Isn't it looks lovely?
View attachment 68849

I know what mean. There's something about the Asp that just doesn't work for me. I really don't like the way it handles and the engine noise is odd aswell. It's not exactly easy on the eye either.

But I could live with these things as it is a versatile ship at a reasonable cost but the nail in the coffin for me, is those damned cockpit lights! Those two on either side of the instrument panel and, to a lesser extent, that big one overhead. I really, really find them distracting!

That said, it is a good ship, its just me being a very picky Cmdr!

 

[Dregory The Crow]

Yes, those lights are really annoying.

 

[TwoWheeledToad]

Yes, those lights are really annoying.

Haha! Glad its not just me then!

 

[Cdr Voorheez]

I totally agree with the love for the DBE but I can understand the angst as well.
My first explorer vessel was the DBE. Got to cats paw and back and had enough credits for an Asp. Spent two months exploring core wards, neutron farming and great Annihilator/Sag A tagging and came back to the bubble.
As great as the Asp is as an explorer, it is undoubtedly awesome, it doesn't have the same "feel" that I had in my DBE.
Now this may be sentiment talking here, I am just getting sentimental over my first explorer ship. But the cost is also a big contributory factor here, with a discount (15%) I can get a fully exploration ready ship with a 33LY range for just over 11mil cr. That's a lot cheaper than an Asp.
Now you could also talk about the better module configuration in the Asp compared to the DBE. Yes Asp is great for stacks of module adaptability, but after my last long trip out in an Asp I found I was filling those module spaces with AFMU that I didn't use.
I think DBE has got a good price, adequate modules and more importantly it feels and looks just right.
Ship choice is very personal sadly, and at the minute if you want a ship with > 30 LY range then it's either Anaconda Asp or DBE. For me after spending a lot of exploration time in an Asp I can honestly say I'm looking forward to exploring in a DBE again.
I trade in a Python I fight in a DBS and I will be exploring in a DBE. I think its only fitting to start exploring in a DBE and get to Elite explorer in a DBE as well.

 

[Viscera]

I shall certainly be returning to the DBE but I want to be able to buy it and put some reasonable kit in it before I head out.

This is the biggest trap with this ship I feel, is that it must have some upgrades to become survivable as soon as you buy it, rather than heading out straight from the dock like some other ships (cobra is good example here) can.

At the moment my pretty much A grade DBS is fulfilling my needs as utility vessel with good defence capability that can earn me cash. I actually look forward to getting interdicted in this for a dust up to break the lucrative small trade/document runs.

But for now I am trying to think of how I actually want to run my DBE, and then I can start saving for my DBE and how I need to equip it right from the get go.

 

[nathdixon92]

<snip> Spent two months exploring core wards, neutron farming and great Annihilator/Sag A tagging and came back to the bubble. <snip>

So that's why every frigging Neutron Star and Black Hole I've come across has been discovered already despite the tonnes of systems next door teeming with valuable Planets lol.

I took Debbie (my DBX) out Tuesday just gone and I've racked up approx 10 million worth if discoveries so far (I'm about 6000 ly out) with the intention of making it fairly quickly to the core and then reach the other side of the galaxy before returning in time for 1.5

My A rated Combat Python with 128 tonnes of cargo space is safely tucked up at Amphisatsu.

 

[Cdr Voorheez]

Good luck Cdr, oh and if you see my name on any Neutron stars give them a wave

 

[Nerdicus]

Just don't ever take one in a fight. They handle like a brick.
Good exploring ships though.

Agree on both. One thing she is the best at in-game is the new long haul smuggling missions. Can't carry as much as an Asp, but the Asp REALLY suffers delivering to platforms (half the missions), and especially military outposts, as she takes a medium platform, and you'd be surprised how long you have to hang around until one opens up. It can become incredibly tricky if there is Security zooming around (like the aforementioned Military Outpost).

 

[Cdr Voorheez]

I shall certainly be returning to the DBE but I want to be able to buy it and put some reasonable kit in it before I head out.

This is the biggest trap with this ship I feel, is that it must have some upgrades to become survivable as soon as you buy it, rather than heading out straight from the dock like some other ships (cobra is good example here) can.

At the moment my pretty much A grade DBS is fulfilling my needs as utility vessel with good defence capability that can earn me cash. I actually look forward to getting interdicted in this for a dust up to break the lucrative small trade/document runs.

But for now I am trying to think of how I actually want to run my DBE, and then I can start saving for my DBE and how I need to equip it right from the get go.

To be honest Cdr you would be better saving for both DBS and DBE. I have both and love them for the roles they can adapt to. DBE can't fight, fights like a pig on a stick over an open fire. The DBS properly configured can own, really excellent. Check my signature for my DBS "Cerebus". My DBE is a standard explorer fit.

 

[Viscera]

To be honest Cdr you would be better saving for both DBS and DBE. The DBS properly configured can own, really excellent. Check my signature for my DBS "Cerebus".

Your DBS looks very similar to mine, with just an advanced discovery scanner instead of the fuel scoop on mine as it gives a nice steady income in the background atm for me. I then have two 8T cargo racks.

Weapons are a little different, but I am having a play to see what fits I like atm to go with the two pulse in the smalls...

I shall certainly be keeping my DBS, I am really enjoying it for various jaunts around the system and learning the lay of the land.

I really am interested in trying some mining out, but I suspect I am going to have to consider a bigger vessel to get the fit I want....

I also keep looking at turrets for the DBX and wondering if that may be a more interesting use of the medium side pods, with some big turret thing on the large for big damage if they show themselves? so just "sit" (at that slower speed/agility it is like sitting) there, tanking with turrets annoying opponent until I can jump away? Also then I can just worry about trying to fly the thing rather than having to fire too. Max armour instead of shields so I run cooler? Basically a mobile pill box for when I do get indicted.