Ships Touring Dolphin Build. Improve Or Change Ships?

[Harrier_1961]

Hi all,

I'm currently doing passenger runs using my Dolphin to help out my faction but as my reputation with my faction is growing, the Dolphin doesn't have the required level/number/capacity of cabins to fulfill the requirements of most of the available missions. Keeping the fuel scoop p, the shield gen and the Guardian FSD Booster leaves me little option when it comes to outfitting the rest of the ship. I'm really enjoying flying the Dolphin and am contemplating rigging it out as a long distance explorer to replace my ASPX and then buying something better for the passenger trips. Am I correct in assuming that if I keep the shield gen, the scoop and FSD Booster in the Dolphin, that I've more or less hit the limit for the ship's capabilities or am I missing something?

Assuming that a better ship is in order .. Could anyone suggest a ship/build which would be a good option just for doing passenger runs please? I'm quite happy to do the long sightseeing trips well out into the black as well as the shorter runs o something which can do these too would be good. i have over 683M credits so the financial side shouldn't be a problem.

Here's my current build.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

coriolis.io

Thanks very much.

 

[CMDR Deano The Imperial]

Get a Python, plenty of space for cabins and everything else you need.

 

[sinisalo]

I run my Interstellar Transportation Company using two ships. One, a Krait II, is my rumble bus used for bulk transport. The second is an Orca, which is used for sightseeing and rescue missions.

The Krait II

Parabellum Krait II -- Armed Merchant Cruiser / Rumble Bus

It's shown in that link in merchant cruiser trim, with cargo racks. I use this ship for mutliple roles, and swap cargo racks and cabins as needed. I call it a rumble bus because it's armed and fully prepared to turn on any interdictor or malcontent. It does the bulk hauling, those missions that say 54 businessmen need transport, or the VIP transport with different missions stacked in the various cabins.

The other ship is an Orca

Sunburst Orca -- Interstellar Style Magnet

This ship is used primarily for sightseeing, criminal transport and when available, rescue missions in burning stations. It is engineered to run very cool, idles around 14% heat and that makes it well-suited for the high temps encountered and to avoid scans on smuggling runs. Sightseeing though is the primary role, and the good jump and glorious view make it well suited to the task. It is unarmed and very fast. Cabins are swapped in and out as needed. What I do is go to outfitting and equip a number of cabins, first-class and business-class. Then go to the passenger lounge and look over the missions on offer. Unused cabins are then removed to maximize jump and performance. High-tier sightseeing missions have a good payout, and often G5 mats rewards. Most need just a single cabin. This fact means that just about any ship can do these. But when you get in to bulk hauling, or mission stacking, then cabin numbers and capacity become important.

 

[Northpin]

Based on your Dolphin build, maintaining the same engineering:
Phantom - slightly improved range, increased passenger capacity: Economy: (Size 3 + Size 5), Business (Size 3 + Size 5)
Python - lower range (44ly insead of 53+), but increased passenger capacity and one more cabin over previous builds : Economy (Size 3+4+6), Business (size 5+6)

 

[sinisalo]

Just before I built Parabellum, my plan was to use a Phantom for the rumble bus role. It's a great ship, but I found it was not ideally suited to the task. I started a thread at the time about my growing collection of Kraits and in it this is what I said about this issue

"
A few days ago I bought a Krait Phantom, with the idea of outfitting it to be a fast express and armed merchant cruiser, to replace the venerable Python I had just sold. To run VIP and bulk transport missions and boom time deliveries. High speed, good jump, nice view. I bought and built it but it soon became apparent the optional slot arrangement is less than ideal. Bigger is better as it puts more butts in seats or carries more cargo. My ships need to have good shields, high speed and jump. The Phantom is perfect in those respects, but the optional slots don't allow a good cabin arrangement, while still having good shields. In the Phantom, you either need to go class 3 shields, which are too weak in my view, or class 5, which eats one of the valuable cabin/cargo slots.

So I bought a third Krait II. There are a lot of great ships in Elite, but for me the Krait II is the best of the bunch. It is just such a perfect blend of interior space, speed, agility, visibility, shields and firepower. It uses the same core slots as the Phantom, so I could have swapped them and sold the Phantom, but I'm going to hold on to it for a while and maybe turn it in to an explorer. I still want to get first-discovery on the rarest star types, and am motivated to head back out there. I could just use the DBX again, but it might be fun to build a more scientific exploration vessel and that's what I have in mind now for the Phantom, taking advantage of it's good jump and generous optional slots.

The Krait II is much better suited to the fast express role because of two tiny optional slot differences. The Krait II replaces one of the Phantom's class 5 slots with class 6. And one class 3 slot with class 4. Such a small difference, but the effect on the suitability for these roles is huge. I can now use class 4 shields, which gives me proper shields, which in turn frees one class 5 slot for the role, and another is raised from 5 to 6. In this trim, it carries 192t of cargo, putting it in the Python's class. The Python can carry more, but boom time deliveries are never 200t+ so this build can run the best ones. I can then swap all racks for business class cabins and it seats 52 passengers. There are a lot of transport missions requiring 45 business class seats, and these pay well. So in the end I think it is ideally suited for the intended roles. "

Krait - Krait II, or Three

A few days ago I bought a Krait Phantom, with the idea of outfitting it to be a fast express and armed merchant cruiser, to replace the venerable Python I had just sold. To run VIP and bulk transport missions and boom time deliveries. High speed, good jump, nice view. I bought and built it but...

forums.frontier.co.uk

The Phantom's optional slot arrangement was poorly-suited for what I wanted to do (merchant cuiser/ express transport), and what I want out of my ships (high speed, jump and shields). But those are my expectations, not another player's, and I'm sure the Phantom can handle the role. For me though, I could not get both the cabin capacity and shield protection I wanted, so I bought another Krait II and made that my rumble bus. If I did not have the Orca I think the Phantom would have made a great sightseer though. But for bulk hauling I found it wanting.

 

[Northpin]

Could anyone suggest a ship/build which would be a good option just for doing passenger runs please?

The best passenger ship, in terms of capacity / jump range is Anaconda by far
The build above has 7 cabins in that build (you an customize as will), 55 ly jump range and you can get even bigger range if you can lightweight the sensors and the life support
And also, base on the missions you get, you can use size 5 economy cabins instead of size 6 (i never seen VIP sightseeing missions requiring more than 16 seats)

Anaconda is plagued by crappy SuperCruise maneuverability and a rather bad cockpit view - but one can usually get used to it

 

[Space Hollow]

I can now use class 4 shields

Have you considered class 3 prismatics? That's what I use on my multi-role Kraits.
You could have a little more scooping comfort or that class 4 corrosion resistant cargo rack or whatever.

 

[sinisalo]

Have you considered class 3 prismatics?

No, indeed, but good shout. I don't have access frankly. But I did just run Parabellum through Coriolis with prismatics and it's a fair one. By installing class 3 prismatics I get similar numbers to the reinforced 4A, slightly less mj, mass is the same at 10t and there's a minor increase to power draw. But what it does do is free up the class 4 slot for a bigger scoop. If Parabellum has a weakness it's the compromise on the scoop size. Switching to prismatics would allow me to raise that one class and gulp star juice faster. Good call mate.

About the Anaconda.... this ship was once part of my Interstellar Transportation Company, and served it well. But I just can't get on with this ship. it's awesome, don't get me wrong, but it's too big, too slow, steers like a truck and has poor cockpit vis. For sheer capacity it cannot be beat, but all of the aesthetic and soft factors I value are missing. It's a great tool for the job but the vibe is all wrong. Totally subjective and for bulk hauling especially the Anaconda is a star. But I'm a small and medium ship commander and the Anaconda was sold long ago. The Orca is my only large ship, and it's really a medium at heart

 

[Northpin]

The Orca is my only large ship, and it's really a medium at heart

It is medium everywhere not only at heart... only the damn ATC won't let her touchdown on medium pads.

 

[Harrier_1961]

Thanks for all of the info everyone. I've ended up buying the Python as per Northpin's post. Just got to outfit it now but the hard work is done regarding the Guardian and Engineer stuff

 

[Maymo]

You can always keep the Dolphin going for sightseeing tours as a Python doesn’t do as well in that department.

I’m actually using a Dropship for passenger transport missions at the moment working out of Wolf 562 for ranking up, the ship has been excellent and surprisingly effective at the task...

...a beam laser and 4 overcharged cannons has been more than enough to dissuade anything from bothering my passengers.

I even managed to squeeze in some time to go undermining in my FAS to get rank 5 with Hudson this week. When the Corvette comes I should be well funded...

 

[Kyle Stryker]

If you keep your Dolphin, I’d recommend downgrading your fuel scoop to a 4A. I bet one trip by a sun will replenish the fuel you used from the previous Jump with a 4A scoop. That should free up your size 5 slot for a bigger passenger cabin.

Second, I’d swap your FSD’s experimental effect to Mass Manager. Yeah, I know everyone says Deep Charge is better for class 4 FSDs and below; those people are wrong. Swapping to Mass Manger will cost you 0.1 LY for each individual jump, but the improved fuel efficiency will give you 40 more LY in total range before refueling. Plug it into Coriolis and see for yourself.