Newcomer / Intro Weapons upgrade for Sidewinder?

[UnicycleBloke]

So I've started to make a little more cash, and want to upgrade the weapons to improve my chances when interdicted. I've terminated a few pirates, but it can be a near thing, and it's usually better to run. The last one took an age for me to wear down, even though he had no shields, as the shiny new beam lasers I'd bought didn't seem to do much. It was death by a thousand cuts for him. I tried a gimbal-mounted multi-cannon earlier, but it didn't seem to aim very well. I haven't really worked out the trade offs for the different classes of weapons. And I guess having two small hardpoints is quite limiting...

Any advice appreciated.


UB

 

[YoBuck]

Once past the shields you want cannons to deal with the hull.
Learn to use FA off, just for turning your opponent etc. will help a lot

Bucko

 

[Jank]

I think the only thing I'd put on a sidewinder is two gimbaled pulse lasers at 6600 each.

 

[Carl02]

I'm in the same situation: noob w/ Sidewinder wants more bang from the rig.

What is the advantage of two gimbaled pulse lasers over the alternatives ?

Are there other weapons set-ups people would recommend to make the Sidewinder a competent combat rig ?

 

[Psycho Fox]

Been playing Elite since Beta and although I have a vulture and other ships, I keep returning to my sidewinder because I just like the way it flies. Currently have one rail gun and one beam laser set-up so power supply is maxed out with cargo hatch off all of the time but I managed to earn around 300, 000 credits at RES the other day. Just choose your targets wisely and get some back up. Unless you have kinetic weapons shield cells are pretty much out of the question but as it is a smaller ship the shields charge back up pretty quick.

 

[Suicidal Tendencies]

in my opinion, the sidewinder is a training ship and should be treated as such. Try out different loadouts and weapons. Get in to fights, get blown up (a lot) but use it to learn what works for you, what not to do and have fun whilst its cheap enough to die (lots)

 

[InMemoriamSirocco]

I had best experiences with two gimballed burst lasers. Managed everything up to a Cobra with them, always targeting the power plant.

 

[Carl02]

Thanks for the helpful reply. I'll try it .

 

[Jank]

What is the advantage of two gimbaled pulse lasers over the alternatives ?

IMO the advantage is that you can fire them non-stop, as long as you have a decent power distributor and have 4 pips in weapon. You just nickel and dime their shields and hull away, keeping your speed in the blue so you can turn fast enough to keep them in sight.

 

[Brieus]

I had best experiences with two gimballed burst lasers. Managed everything up to a Cobra with them, always targeting the power plant.

Yeah, that's what I'm running too. Seems to work fine. Especially after I noticed that I had 1 gimballed and 1 fixed. "Why isn't one of them tracking??"

 

[KillingTime]

...Unless you have kinetic weapons shield cells are pretty much out of the question but as it is a smaller ship the shields charge back up pretty quick.

Don't forget you can set your shield cell banks on a lower priority than your weapons so they're disabled with your hardpoints out but become active again when they're retracted. Of course if you use them this way then you need to retract hardpoints before being able to fire your SCB's which can take 10-20 seconds so might not be worth it on a Sidey... can't remember how quickly the shields get drained... quite fast I guess!

Also make sure things like cargo hatch, frame shift drive, Interdictor, fuel scoop and other things you don't need active are lower priority than weapons if your deployed power is above your max available power. Obviously you don't need to bother if it's below!

 

[Thoris]

The Incursion training mission uses a beam laser (fixed) and a multicannon (gimballed) if I remember correctly. This is a pretty strong setup...use the laser to remove the target's shield, then hit through its hull with the multicannon.

 

[InMemoriamSirocco]

The Incursion training mission uses a beam laser (fixed) and a multicannon (gimballed) if I remember correctly. This is a pretty strong setup...use the laser to remove the target's shield, then hit through its hull with the multicannon.

This loadout is the reason why I never managed to beat the Incursion tutorial mission. 90 % of the time the beam laser is just wasting energy while firing into empty space, instead of hitting the target. The only time I got the "dangerous" enemy Sidewinder's shields down was when I fired an excess of bullets on it and stopped using the laser altogether.

Xbox Controllers just aren't precise enough for fixed weapons, IMHO... The only training scenarios I managed with fixed weapons were those with pulse lasers (Basic Combat, Sidewinder Face-Off) and the one where you carry fixed multicannons (and have help from two Eagles against a Cobra): Wolf Pack Tactics.

If I could choose my loadout in the tutorials, I would always go with twin gimballed burst lasers. Best compromise between power consumption and damage output against shields and hull that I ever had on a Sidey.

 

[Elan]

I would probably not upgrade the Sidewinder at all and go straight for an Eagle.

If you're dead set on staying in the Sidey then get the best power distributor you can afford as this will improve weapon, shields and engine regen. I usually stick with fixed pulse, but like I said above, I usually race straight to an Eagle.

 

[retslag1]

90 % of the time the beam laser is just wasting energy while firing into empty space, instead of hitting the target. The only time I got the "dangerous" enemy Sidewinder's shields down was when I fired an excess of bullets on it and stopped using the laser altogether.

Xbox Controllers just aren't precise enough for fixed weapons, IMHO... .

I have this same issue with keyboard and mouse! I have the hardest time keeping the enemy directly in front of the fixed curser. Tend to do better with semi-tracking while I focus on keeping him infront of me. Although if the enemy gets behind me, I can't ever seem to shake him and get behind him again.

 

[Ancipital]

I think the only thing I'd put on a sidewinder is two gimbaled pulse lasers at 6600 each.

Dunno, I'd suggest a "for sale" tag. Easier to mount better weapons on a better craft. The main purpose of a Sidewinder is to be a ship that you use to learn the ropes and upgrade from. Once you are trying to do anything meaningful, you should be able to afford something more useful.

 

[Carl02]

What are the advantages of an Eagle over a Sidewinder ?
If the two were in a fight, with equally skilled pilots, who would win ?

 

[travisdh1]

What are the advantages of an Eagle over a Sidewinder ?
If the two were in a fight, with equally skilled pilots, who would win ?

The Eagle every time. 3 weapon mounts vs 2 weapon mounts and a little bit more maneuverability. That assumes they have the same class thrusters, power plant, etc as well. Some of the better NPC pilots have tricked out Sidewinders that can be a real pain to line up.

 

[Lepton Malik]

Keyboard and Mouse works ok, I'm sure having a HOTAS stick is better, but I feel like I'm really playing if I have to hit a few keys too.
Just a tip (as a n00b I might be wrong but this is what I have found) make good use of shifting speed, you will turn fast if you're moving slower, this will help you keep targets in your sights

 

[Lepton Malik]

*Sorry, previous post was a reply to reslag*

My opinion about the OP is this.

I have had no experience of anything other than a Sidewinder and feel that it is a perfectly serviceable ship. A few weapon upgrades and system upgrade give it a good jump distance and make it a little more nimble (an Eagle might have 3 hardpoints but what use if the Sidey's behind you, with Gimbled Auto-cannon and laser?).

...But saying that I am looking forward to progressing through the various ships, that is, after all, part of the point of the game