Type 9 Heavy that doesn't run from pirates possible?

As much as I like the T9, in the end i switched to the T10 for any big jobs but short distance hauling. It retains the style of the T9 but isn't mass locked by ships half its size. If the T9 had a decent MFL i'd be using it more.
 
Why T9 specifically? If you want flying fortress with cargo that can fight, just pick T10. It's almost same thing but with sexy spoiler and lots more hardpoints for weapons + SLF hangar. If you're into roleplay, minmaxing cargo capacity shouldn't be №1 priority for you anyway.
He does have a point . . . T10 is faster as well.
Had a T10 once. Used it to run cargo in multiplayer single ship. Had a blast. One guest got a fighter and the other got most of the weapons. Enjoyed many interdictions in PvE.
 
I posted this in a previous thread:
I don't use a fighter, but my Type-9 is armed. I don't fly my Type-9 on missions, so pirates are weakly shielded and fly nothing larger than an Imperial Clipper.
My weapons:

  • Seeker Missiles (high ammo capacity) on the two roof hardpoints
  • Rail Guns (G1 long range super penetrator) for small hardpoints
  • Gimballed Beam Laser (efficient) on the bottom.
Medium seekers offer good ammo capacity, while the small hardpoints have good convergence with the bottom hardpoint.

In a fight, I boost and turn around to get my laser and rail guns on target. Enemies often fly away after getting close, giving me more time to hit them with rails.
Once the shields are down I blow up the enemy's weapons and drives with missiles. Without weapons my enemy will begin to escape. Taking out their drives just means they can drift away from my slow ship. A fighter might be able to catch up and finish them off.
I'm not playing much these days, but I changed to using 2 gimbal beams and 1 seeker with 2 rails. Flying FA-Off helps with getting on target.

Fighting in a Type-9 is rough. The canopy is an easy target, and I've had to flee from ships who had more missiles than me. I've taken down an Anaconda or two with the help of authorities, but they always managed to deal serious damage.

I have an ECM to stop hatchbreakers, but you might find a shield booster more useful.
 
I'll have to look carefully at the requirements to obtain prismatic shields.

Prismatics are not hard to get. IT only takes 4 weeks and you need to be in the Bubble, hauling merits before the 3rd week finishes.

But the problem with prismatics (and normal A-rated shields) is the slow recharge.
If you get multiple interdictions, for example if you stack supply/delivery missions, the bi-weaves will be way better.
If you get only rare fights, like one per run, they will be ok.

Anyway, if you are in simple bulk trading (no missions), you will not get interdicted that often so prismatics might do it (i use size 4 prismatics on my mining conda and mining clipper, also i used to run size 3 prismatics on my sightseeing python)
 
Fighting in T9 will be absolutely miserable. Even if you stick in fighter hangar, SLF doesn't really help in a fight, like at all. And 3 med + 2 small hardpoints with ship that literally can't turn will be crappiest DPS you can get. Even if you stick some missiles, you'll be running out of ammo constantly, plus keeping sights, even on NPCs that can't fly to get locks will be total pain.

When someone picks T9, they know what they get. Best way to outfit is running it with lowest shield class and most optionals being cargo racks, or completely shieldless to max out capacity, because it can't do anything else than haul, or mine if you're maniac like me. I mean, if you stick some turrets and engineer shield, while sacrificing a lot of cargo space, you can shoo off some Cobras or Sideys, but when 3+ engineered Vettes, Annies or Cutters will be jumping you, not many options other than run...
 
One already exists in the game, although they call it the Type 10 for some reason ;)
Not enough cargo space and jump range together in one ship to do more than be equal to the profitability of the Anaconda I already have that I'm trying to beat - especially when accounting for T10 purchase price.
It's make a T9 work somehow or save up for a Cutter.
 
Not enough cargo space and jump range together in one ship to do more than be equal to the profitability of the Anaconda I already have that I'm trying to beat - especially when accounting for T10 purchase price.
It's make a T9 work somehow or save up for a Cutter.
1 word. Robigo.
 
Good point on combat rank - only Novice so pirate encounters are simple to deal with in the Anaconda or Krait II. By the time I'm on higher combat rank and back in the bubble I can purchase the Cutter and revisit the Guardian site for more modules and I keep a DBX with a point defence on top for this purpose and materials gathering in general.
I'm not sure how much scope for profit there is straight trading in Colonia. As far as I can tell using online tools 14K per ton profit is the best you can get. 22K to 25K is typical in the bubble with some one way routes giving 27K.
It looks like I need T9 capacity in Colonia just to make the same as you can in the bubble with Anaconda cargo capacity.

I am actually puzzled as to why you would use a T9 at all if you have access to a Cutter.

I'll have to look carefully at the requirements to obtain prismatic shields. The extra weight has put me off looking into them so far, and a recent encounter with cascading reverb torpedoes makes me not want to be over reliant on shields. I tend to go for hull and module reinforcement modules rather than more shield strength via SCBs or Guardian shield reinforcements.

I don't have an objection to having system authority ships help me kill off pirates. I just want them destroyed and then I'll salvage the engineering materials.

Well the Cutter is better than the Type 9 in just about any aspect, except one. and that is cargo capacity with shields. I tend to bang into stuff so having a shield is always nice, plus they give more time to figure out what todo.
I enjoy more flying the Type 9 over the Cutter. and the Type 9 have another slight advantage, it has a bigger fuel tank, to you can travel further without having to refuel, which can make some trader routes better when you can have more options to choose from.


We cannot really build a shield tank with the Type 9, if we still want to haul plenty of cargo, so the my thought is that as long as the shields lasts, we will do just fine and have our options open if we can keep on fighting or have to make a strategic withdrawal from the current fight, and the reactive hull with the modded hull reinforcements, gives us good boost to our hull points, so we do not have to flee as soon as the shields drops.
Also, on the Type 9, that is already pretty slow, to begin with, what difference does the extra weight from Prismatics do in the end? you are not going to run away from anything, as you are the slowest thing on the block. even Dirty Drives thrusters... also I like testing out putting the smallest prismatics shield I can on my explorations ships, often the extra shield for accidental rough landings on planets do not affect jump range that much.



And where is the fun if you can remove all the challenges? so I pick the ship that fits my mood. can I take 4 elite ranked mission to deliver stuff and do it in my Type 9, where all missions updates with that they will spawn mission pirates... or am I to lazy and just swaps to my Cutter for easy mode when the pirates shows up? I like to have options.


I wish you the best of luck figuring out how to outfit your Type 9, and how to tweak it to suit your play style.
 
1 word. Robigo.
Done that route so many times I was literally doing it in my sleep. If I just want credits and/or the materials offered as a reward I can go back to Robigo anytime already allied with all factions there. I actually sold off my stealth shield-less Python to remove the temptation to do it more after I got an Anaconda. Then I did it with the Anaconda a few times out of the space station in Robigo which barely matches the profitability of the Python from the Robigo Mines outpost - which I knew before doing it. At least doing the run in an Anaconda changed things a little. You never get scanned at the station once you're allied with all the factions there.
Robigo passenger missions do not build trader rank which is one of my goals and the reason I'm trying to match 80 million per hour trading is because that's what I can make out of Robigo. Also killing pirates while trading adds to my combat rank which also does not happen with Robigo.
 
Done that route so many times I was literally doing it in my sleep. If I just want credits and/or the materials offered as a reward I can go back to Robigo anytime already allied with all factions there. I actually sold off my stealth shield-less Python to remove the temptation to do it more after I got an Anaconda. Then I did it with the Anaconda a few times out of the space station in Robigo which barely matches the profitability of the Python from the Robigo Mines outpost - which I knew before doing it. At least doing the run in an Anaconda changed things a little. You never get scanned at the station once you're allied with all the factions there.
Robigo passenger missions do not build trader rank which is one of my goals and the reason I'm trying to match 80 million per hour trading is because that's what I can make out of Robigo. Also killing pirates while trading adds to my combat rank which also does not happen with Robigo.
It happens with Sothis mining. Or Titan's Daugter in Taygeta, which can still be done in a Conda.
 
A note on using a SLF

The level of your NPC pilot is vital they truly start to earn the pay once they get to Dangerous.
Now here is part, you want to hire the lowest ranked pilot you can, as they only take one extra %1 in pay for each rank they go up. but if you hire a higher ranked pilot from the start, they cost 2% rank they have when you hire them and then as they earn ranks, it only costs 1% per rank...


So that means, that if you level up a lowest rank pilot, Harmless, they start at 2%, and there is 8 ranks to get to Elite, so they in as Elite cost you 10% of your profits.

Now, if you start of by hiring the highest ranked Pilot that you can, an Expert, they start out with 12%, and there 4 ranks to Elite, so ranking one of these to Elite, takes 16% if your profits!!


So if you want to keep your Pilot, then start with the Harmless one!
Also, they are all pretty bad at the lower ranks, including Experts... or in other words, they miss alot or die alot... so they a bad distraction from having pirates shooting at you...


and of course, you need to do combat with the Pilot to rank them up. And if your goal is to keep your combat rank low, then by all means, have a pilot tag along, they take your XP... and they rank up way faster than you do.
 
also I like testing out putting the smallest prismatics shield I can on my explorations ships, often the extra shield for accidental rough landings on planets do not affect jump range that much.
The catalyst for me trading seriously in the first place is, somewhere on the way to accessing the engineer that can do G5 shield engineering on my Krait Phantom exploration ship to protect it from high G planet crash landings, I had to get the number of markets I traded with up to 50 from just 14. I might as well profit from it as much as possible and have fun with trading while I do it, and so the Anaconda was purchased....

I lost the Phantom once forgetting I was landing on a planet instead of small moon and the stock 4D shields were not enough.
After a bit of luck and digging around someone showed me a shield design I would not have thought of:
5D shields G5 enhanced low power with lo draw - reduces power consumption, increases shield strength and reduces weight to 4.04T just 0.04T heavier than the old 4D shield. Then add 3 x 0E shield boosters all with Heavy Duty G5 plus super capacitors.
662MJ shields running off a 3A low emissions G1 plus thermal spread power plant.
I deliberately flew at the surface of the 6G planet in the bubble as if approaching a low G moon, hit the planet, skimmed along the ground stripping away the shields and scraping the hull down to 35% (light alloy hull G5 heavy duty + deep plate 462 strength) before pulling back up into space. On board repair limpets fixed the damage.
Full build: https://s.orbis.zone/g1-w

I'm curious about what could be done with Prismatic shields in a smaller internal slot. I'll check it out in Coriolis 😀
 
A note on using a SLF

The level of your NPC pilot is vital they truly start to earn the pay once they get to Dangerous.
Now here is part, you want to hire the lowest ranked pilot you can, as they only take one extra %1 in pay for each rank they go up. but if you hire a higher ranked pilot from the start, they cost 2% rank they have when you hire them and then as they earn ranks, it only costs 1% per rank...


So that means, that if you level up a lowest rank pilot, Harmless, they start at 2%, and there is 8 ranks to get to Elite, so they in as Elite cost you 10% of your profits.

Now, if you start of by hiring the highest ranked Pilot that you can, an Expert, they start out with 12%, and there 4 ranks to Elite, so ranking one of these to Elite, takes 16% if your profits!!


So if you want to keep your Pilot, then start with the Harmless one!
Also, they are all pretty bad at the lower ranks, including Experts... or in other words, they miss alot or die alot... so they a bad distraction from having pirates shooting at you...


and of course, you need to do combat with the Pilot to rank them up. And if your goal is to keep your combat rank low, then by all means, have a pilot tag along, they take your XP... and they rank up way faster than you do.
I remember the Down to Earth Astronomy video on this subject. It is important to figure out if you want an NPC pilot long term or not and hire at harmless and build them up if you do want them long term.
I think I'd experiment with an Expert initially to see if I want to stick with an NPC pilot on the payroll and then start off a harmless one if I do.
 
It happens with Sothis mining. Or Titan's Daugter in Taygeta, which can still be done in a Conda.
Taygeta is a new one on me and just been having a read about it. Cargo delivery missions but it seems a bit up and down on how much they are paying with 300 million an hour possible at some times in the past. Might have to fly over and see what the score is nowadays.
 
Taygeta is a new one on me and just been having a read about it. Cargo delivery missions but it seems a bit up and down on how much they are paying with 300 million an hour possible at some times in the past. Might have to fly over and see what the score is nowadays.
That's why I also mentioned Sothis mining. It's less, but more consistent.
 
Not tried them yet, no. Will look into them.
I tried frag canons once and ended up accidentally hitting system authority ships.
Right so shock cannons..

The good: crazy high DPS. A T9 fitted with all SCs can pull 444 DPS.
Its basically a multi cannon on Cra... erm... Onionhead so no spread like a frag cannon

The bad: ridiculously low ammo count. 300 rounds. Not suitable for prolonged engagements but for the occasional ambush its good.
It's an experimental module so no engineering.
That also means you have to unlock each size.
I'm currently in the process of unlocking them myself so take what I say with a grain of salt.
 
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