Vulture retirement

[Saool]

I never got on with the Vulture. It looks like a slightly crumpled shoe box, and I failed to see what what so fantastic about it's flight characteristics. It was, fortuitously, a brief stepping stone to better things.

Having flown the FDL and Python extensively, I have settled on the Python. The FDL is the better pure combat ship, now that we have these newfangled military slots, but against npcs the difference it negligible. However the Python can do all the NPC killing the FDL can do and whole lot more. It is the ideal all rounder. I currently have three, highly engineered ones at strategic locations amd use my exploration AspX to shuttle between them.

 

[DocPossible]

I love my FDL, but I do take my old Vulture out rez hunting pretty regularly. It feels more satisfying somehow. I've just put Fixed Rapid Fire Pulses (no idea why I've used caps there ) on it, mainly because I don't need to fly it for money anymore, I can just fly it the way I want to.

 

[Spacecat]

Mine was parked for a long time, but I recently took it out of retirement to do CZ's to unlock What's Her Face.

 

[Willa Allason]

I used to use it until I got an FAS. Then I used it as the cheapest ship to store large modules on. Now that there's module storage its just for fun I suspect!

 

[mp4x]

Yep, as above, I still use mine. I didn't for a while, once I got to the big ships, but I use it again. It's a fun combat ship

 

[khaos526]

I just use my FDL. Tried using my Vulture and couldn't quite get it the way I wanted it and always ran into overheating issues and gave up on it and left it in some star port somewhere. Python I was using for transportation and rep grinding missions and it too is sitting somewhere collecting dust. Think I like the FDL because of the shield, and the weapon choices. Plus it's the one I have more engineered mods on as well so I'm probably biased in that sense since I never really used the Vulture or the Python much for combat (I have just not as much as the FDL)...

 

[CMDR Cknarf]

I've owned an FDL, and still own an FAS.

Pulled my Vulture back out, and engineered it some. It's even more awesome than I remember it.

 

[Devari]

I have been using my trusted fully loaded Vulture to Bounty Hunt for a long time.
I am about to upgrade to either a Fer or Python.
Do any of you Bounty Hunters go back to the Vulture after owning a Fer or Python or does the Vulture become obsolete after these two ships?

The Vulture isn't exactly obsolete when you get a Python or FDL but it is definitely less powerful than either of those ships for extended combat. I can face-tank high-rank NPC Anacondas in either my FDL or Python and their sustained dps and damage-tanking abilities are considerably better than the Vulture for prolonged CZ or RES combat.

With that said, the Vulture does still have some advantages, specifically the exceptional maneuverability and smaller size making it easier to evade fire. The other major advantage of the Vulture is the lower reuby compared to larger ships. My Python has a reuby of 8.0 mil and my FDL has a rebuy of 8.8 mil compared to a rebuy of only 1 mil for my Vulture.

I had recently been flying my FDL doing some bounty hunting at the Lidpar CG and was destroyed twice by other CMDRs who interdicted me while returning to Carlisle station for repair and reaming from bounty hunting. My FDL is designed as a stealth build to help me escape from other CMDRs but on both occasions when I was interdicted I was out of ammo for most of my weapons, my shields were almost depleted and I had used all of my shield cells and heat sinks and wasn't able to escape under those conditions. With a rebuy of 8.8 mil I didn't consider it cost-effective to continue flying my FDL for a CG reward that was only going to cover my rebuys at that point so I went back to my Vulture instead. So far I've found that it is definitely less powerful but in a CG system where there is a considerable risk of being interdicted by other CMDRs who are specifically looking for vulnerable ships to engage it does make more sense to have a less expensive combat ship to fly.

For combat in a High-intensity CZ or for High/Haz-RES combat that is occurring outside of CG systems where the risk of interdiction by other CMDRs is minimal I would want to maximize my dps and survivability and would go with my FDL or Python in those cases.

 

[NCFCpaul]

The FDL is the only combat ship that's ever really worked for me. I've always loved the huge PA, it's excellent. Combined with the manoeuvrability of the FDL NPC's, at least, will obligingly give up bounties

 

[CMDR Harada]

I just recently re-bought my Vulture. I went Sidey-Cobra-AspX-Vulture-Python-Cutter-Billionaire < buy whatever you want >..

I always loved the Vulture. It might not have the firepower of my Corvette, or the tankiness of my Python.. but it's really fun to fly. with RNGineering to fix the power issues, G3 DDs, and some tweaked weapons ( G5 Efficient beam and G5 MC w/corrosive )... it's FUN. I out turn sidewinders.. out race cobras.. outgun vipers.. I love this ship. Cheap, too. Fully outfitted and A-spec'd it's less the 30 million. That's less then the re-buy on my Corvette.

It's like an FDL without the heat issues.

 

[Blasphemous One]

I own Overengineered vette and cutter but still occasionally enjoy flying Vulture and my trusted Cobra Mk3,
Nostalgia ;]

Do not sell your old ships

 

[clivewil]

Do any of you Bounty Hunters go back to the Vulture after owning a Fer or Python or does the Vulture become obsolete after these two ships?

obsolete? never. the Vulture is still the best choice for bounty hunts for me, in line with my particular play style. my Python would never get used as a bounty hunter, but it can fight and win when it needs to. Anacondas? flying them makes me nervous these days, even with dirty drive 5 they're still painfully slow. my mining 'Condas still get a bit of use, but the trade and war Condas tend to stay home and i favour Cutters more now for their superior speed

but for bounty hunting i still love my Vultures. and for materials gathering too, now that i have a mil slot for an SCB, i can carry an SRV and 2t extra fuel, and being small she can land almost anywhere.

bird beats snakes

 

[GammaZ]

Vulture is one of the most fun ships IMO.
Own all the ships and still fly one regularly, engineered one and have few different weapon loadouts store for it.

 

[Rulyam Van Houten]

Never tried Vulture, I reckon I'll give it a go after reading this thread - sounds like a funship.

But I do have fully engineered FdL and Python. And I play PvE - bear that in mind.

FdL is the sledgehammer. CZ, Haz Res, whatever. You don't have to pick and choose targets - whatever is closest will do. Targets are only time sinks. Very No-skill-N00b friendly and thus just the right thing for me. The fun factor is well... meh.

Python is the Leatherman. The one and true multirole ship. In Haz Res I'm forced to use a little bit of brain, pick targets, don't take that wing of three all alone and engage that elite Annie only after she is already in combat with someone else. All in all, I like combat in Python way more than in FdL.

 

[mp4x]

To sum up; While you will enjoy your new larger ships and what they can bring to the party, you'll also learn to appreciate smaller, cheaper ships for their own abilities. If you're sticking around in Elite, you'll probably keep a fleet

 

[Craith]

i still have my vulture, and it's one of my favourite ships ... its main flaw is that i like the eagle more.

 

[Duane Dibbley]

Yes.
Absolutely yes.
When I'm war profiteering, I take my Python.
When on contract to assassinate someone, I take my FdL.
When I'm just GP Bounty Hunting, I fly my Vulture.

And when I don't know what I want to do, I pull out my Anaconda.

Just one question...why do you hate doctors so much?

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Just one question...why do you hate doctors so much?

What do doctors have to do with this?

Unless you're referencing "GP Bounty Hunting", in which case, this isn't General Practice, but General Purpose.
Though I can say, at least from a Network Admin prospective, that doctors are definitely some of the dumbest smart people I know.. I mean, how can someone perform neurosurgery but not know you have to put a CD in a CD drive with the label side up?

 

[Conch]

i still have my vulture, and it's one of my favourite ships ... its main flaw is that i like the eagle more.

kinda hard to be better than the eagle tho..