Newcomer / Intro Upgrading my Adder

[Oddible]

Just got an adder, I like to use it as an all-arounder, some cargo some combat some exploration. I've expanded my cargo up to 14 for now but am wondering what my first upgrades should be? In terms of Hardpoints I just have the 2 pulse lasers it came with, nothing in the medium or util slots. My internals are all Class E except for my C3 Fuel Tank (8).

Where should I go from here? What are some of the essential upgrades? I feel like I should get those hardpoints worked out soon. I also think that the Power is probably a good early upgrade so it can support my other upgrades. Looking for recommendations.

 

[Rude Tune]

I put a turreted weapon in the class 2 slot. It really increased my survivability and as long as the target is above you it continually engages it. A worthy investment.

 

[adoredtv]

Always the power distributor, go for the A if you can afford it. D's everywhere else is a big and cheap upgrade on E everywhere.

 

[SpydersByte]

I don't see why you'd upgrade the power distributor before you're having energy problems. Its not going to increase your speed or your jump range or the power of your weapons so unless you -need- it why would you upgrade it?
EDIT: Don't get me wrong, I upgraded mine and it's definitely needed, but I got everything I could power first, then I got the distributor once it was needed.

 

[Oddible]

Are Cargo Racks always Class E or are these just the only ones in my area?

I don't see why you'd upgrade the power distributor before you're having energy problems. Its not going to increase your speed or your jump range or the power of your weapons so unless you -need- it why would you upgrade it?
EDIT: Don't get me wrong, I upgraded mine and it's definitely needed, but I got everything I could power first, then I got the distributor once it was needed.

Because I'd rather not have energy problems period. Particularly after getting interdicted. It seems rather foolhardy to put yourself in a situation where don't have the power you need because you spent all your money on something that draws the power first.

 

[SpydersByte]

Because I'd rather not have energy problems period. Particularly after getting interdicted. It seems rather foolhardy to put yourself in a situation where don't have the power you need because you spent all your money on something that draws the power first.

Just don't put yourself in the red. If you have empty slots fill them up first. As long as your not above your power limit that distributor isn't going to have any effect.

EDIT: Or maybe I'm wrong and it's the best thing in the world, I'm still a lowly noob myself. It just seems to me that if you already have enough power to fly and jump and fight then why would you enhance that power before adding an actual new function to your ship through a new module (as long as doing so wouldn't put you in the red, which it shouldn't for your first upgrade)?

 

[Skip Intro]

http://www.edshipyard.com/ is your friend.

 

[adoredtv]

I don't see why you'd upgrade the power distributor before you're having energy problems. Its not going to increase your speed or your jump range or the power of your weapons so unless you -need- it why would you upgrade it?
EDIT: Don't get me wrong, I upgraded mine and it's definitely needed, but I got everything I could power first, then I got the distributor once it was needed.

The distributor is just free everything. More shield power, more engine boosts, more weapons fire.

It's normally one of the cheapest upgrades to "A". This means it's lighter than most other components as well, helping stuff like top speed, jump distance etc too as a freebie.

If you don't need the WEP power that means you can run with more pips in ENG more often, or in SYS. There is literally no drawback to getting it asap, just pure bonuses everywhere.

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Just don't put yourself in the red. If you have empty slots fill them up first. As long as your not above your power limit that distributor isn't going to have any effect.

EDIT: Or maybe I'm wrong and it's the best thing in the world, I'm still a lowly noob myself. It just seems to me that if you already have enough power to fly and jump and fight then why would you enhance that power before adding an actual new function to your ship through a new module (as long as doing so wouldn't put you in the red, which it shouldn't for your first upgrade)?

You're thinking about the power plant

You are right in that case - you only need as much power as you need. The power distributor (power couplings) is a different module, which basically just makes EVERYTHING better on your ship.

 

[SpydersByte]

Yea I was thinking power plant but I did fill my slots before I upped my distributor. I'm running with an A now but I'm always a fan of adding function before efficiency in all games. In my mind I prefer having all 4 guns rather than 2 that are better powered. I guess it's a case of what you want to do and what equipment you currently have. Ie. I don't think the distributor would be a wise first upgrade for a trader who could instead increase his hold space. I'm also curious about the case I used as an example as well.... which would put out more damage... 4 normal-powered guns or 2 super-powered? I can't help but think it'd be the 4? Either way, I guess it is a bit better than I initially thought, but I still have a few doubts :/

 

[adoredtv]

Your 4 guns (or lasers) would run out of power so fast that 2 or 3 of them would be useless. In this case the 2 lasers + A distributor would win by far. 2 lasers that you can fire non stop is way better than 4 lasers that you can fire twice and then have to wait 20 seconds before firing again.

Traders would normally go with cargo slots and FSD drive first, but the distributor is still a great upgrade as it's more shields and more boosts.

 

[Oddible]

You still need to upgrade your Power Plant before you go into the red too. If I'm going to buy a component that will push me into the red I will need the Power Plant first.

 

[adoredtv]

You still need to upgrade your Power Plant before you go into the red too. If I'm going to buy a component that will push me into the red I will need the Power Plant first.

Not quite true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featu...22579428&v=Aez1lSmBy-M&x-yt-cl=85114404#t=720

This is a bit more advanced but you have ways to get around low power.

 

[SpydersByte]

Promise I'm not just being argumentative

Your 4 guns (or lasers) would run out of power so fast that 2 or 3 of them would be useless. In this case the 2 lasers + A distributor would win by far. 2 lasers that you can fire non stop is way better than 4 lasers that you can fire twice and then have to wait 20 seconds before firing again.

You think? I doubt it. The power consumption isn't quite that bad, and rather than 4 lasers I'm running with 2 lasers for shields and 2 multi-cannons for hull. Not only am I rarely firing all 4, but even when I am the multi-cannons take next to nothing to power, so they're not much an of increased load. Honestly I think the gun-heavy loadout would kill quicker than the power-heavy.

Traders would normally go with cargo slots and FSD drive first, but the distributor is still a great upgrade as it's more shields and more boosts.

Def need cargo slots and FSD, but then distributor really? I mean do you really care how much power your shields are getting? I don't even run shields on my trade ship (thought that was pretty much normal practice). And considering you're never really just aimlessly flying while trading you only have approach time to worry about and I doubt the distributor would advance this much considering it's speed-capped already. So I'm kinda missing the advantage here :/
EDIT: I'm also neglecting the fact that some simple power management in the systems panel can make even an under-powered ship fine in combat if you know what your doing.

 

[adoredtv]

You think? I doubt it. The power consumption isn't quite that bad, and rather than 4 lasers I'm running with 2 lasers for shields and 2 multi-cannons for hull. Not only am I rarely firing all 4, but even when I am the multi-cannons take next to nothing to power, so they're not much an of increased load. Honestly I think the gun-heavy loadout would kill quicker than the power-heavy.

You're still always going to get more shots and faster regen with an A distributor. Lasers draw WEP power - the better the distributor, the longer you can fire with less pips in WEP. It doesn't matter what your loadout is (except for missiles which are getting the nerfbat). If you run a full MC loadout then you'll hardly ever have power issues but you'll have issues getting through Shields.

Def need cargo slots and FSD, but then distributor really? I mean do you really care how much power your shields are getting? I don't even run shields on my trade ship (thought that was pretty much normal practice). And considering you're never really just aimlessly flying while trading you only have approach time to worry about and I doubt the distributor would advance this much considering it's speed-capped already. So I'm kinda missing the advantage here :/

There is no advantage is not having it. Even if you only used it to boost 50% more often you're saving time. That is one of the main reasons why I get it first even as a trader. There is literally no drawback to getting the A distributor asap. You don't lose anything when reselling so long as you sell it in Outfitting, so go ahead and upgrade everything when you can. Just make sure you can cover the rebuy cost of course.

[video=youtube;cn1obJlzN5g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn1obJlzN5g&index=24&list=PLNxrmUjuEWPPZZr H3GBG95wJkG4V1OqWx[/video]

That's one of my older vids but it shows the difference that ONLY a power distributor makes to a Sidewinder. The difference is unreal.

 

[carlisle]

I'd second the power distributor as the most important upgrade.

As long as you have enough power to go round there is no need to upgrade the power plant. I upgraded the pp in my Adder to D and that was sufficient, and I only upgraded it because the D is lighter, not to get more power. All a better pp will do is allow you to run more stuff at the same time, it won't have any effect on how that stuff works.

A power distributor on the other hand, recharges your capacitors faster, allowing you to boost more frequently, letting your weapons run longer without overheating, and makes your shields recharge faster. Even if you don't intend to fight, being able to boost away from your attacker more often should you get interdicted will make you flee faster.

 

[Oddible]

OK, got another question. I use Slopey's like a fiend, is there a good tool to find where to buy certain ship parts?

 

[adoredtv]

High Tech systems have most stuff, High Population has higher Class stuff I think.

 

[SpydersByte]

I'd second the power distributor as the most important upgrade.

As long as you have enough power to go round there is no need to upgrade the power plant. I upgraded the pp in my Adder to D and that was sufficient, and I only upgraded it because the D is lighter, not to get more power. All a better pp will do is allow you to run more stuff at the same time, it won't have any effect on how that stuff works.

A power distributor on the other hand, recharges your capacitors faster, allowing you to boost more frequently, letting your weapons run longer without overheating, and makes your shields recharge faster. Even if you don't intend to fight, being able to boost away from your attacker more often should you get interdicted will make you flee faster.

That's only in "normal" space though. I'm not arguing against the upgrade, or saying it isn't useful. I'm just curious about making it your first upgrade. When I'm trading... and I'm going to assume this is the first thing you do because it's probably the most common, and you obviously need the cash to buy whatever upgrade you want. Well, when I'm trading I don't spend any time in "normal" space beyond launch and land. I've yet to have an interdiction attempt actually succeed and bring me out of cruise and I don't run with shields (or weapons) so I'm not getting any benefit beyond shaving a few seconds off my race to get out of mass-lock. So therefore I go for cargo space first, FSD second, and then probably just start shaving weight for the jumprange. I guess my thinking is that the distributor doesn't help much if you're spending all your time in supercruise. That's for trading of course, for combat I agree it's a huge upgrade but I would still fill out my hardpoints before I upped the pd. It was my second upgrade after I filled the hardpoints on my viper.

OK, got another question. I use Slopey's like a fiend, is there a good tool to find where to buy certain ship parts?

I've wondered that as well.

 

[carlisle]

That's only in "normal" space though. I'm not arguing against the upgrade, or saying it isn't useful. I'm just curious about making it your first upgrade. When I'm trading... and I'm going to assume this is the first thing you do because it's probably the most common, and you obviously need the cash to buy whatever upgrade you want. Well, when I'm trading I don't spend any time in "normal" space beyond launch and land. I've yet to have an interdiction attempt actually succeed and bring me out of cruise and I don't run with shield so I'm not getting any benefit beyond shaving a few second off my race to get out of mass-lock. So therefore I go for cargo space first, FSD second, and then probably just start shaving weight for the jumprange. I guess my thinking is that the distributor doesn't help much if you're spending all your time in supercruise. That's for trading of course, for combat I agree it's a huge upgrade but I would still fill out my hardpoints before I upped the pd. It was my second upgrade after I filled the hardpoints on my viper.



I've wondered that as well.

Fair enough, but the OP did say it was multipurpose.

 

[SpydersByte]

Fair enough, but the OP did say it was multipurpose.

True enough, I was only thinking pure-combat or pure-trade because those are the only two builds I've made