What is the MAX Cargo Capacity of the Imperial Clipper? (With and without Shield Generator)

GG7

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I've got a stock Clipper stored down at Kamito as I do some volume trading with my T9. Planning to start outfitting this new ship later today and have been trying to find some trading specific info about the ship, but I have not been able to nail down the MAX Cargo Capacity of the ship with or without the Shield Generator installed as well as MAX Jump Range using these maxed out cargo container load outs.

Would love to hear some feedback from veteran Clipper pilots on their experiences using their ship for volume trading. I've also got a new Python setup currently as kind of an "All-Rounder" ship with just under 200t of cargo capacity. My T9 is running without shields and I am getting 550 tons capacity with that at the moment. Was hoping that the Clipper might edge out the Python for cargo hauling? Can it get close to 300 tons with some module sacrifices?

Reason I am considering a trader config for my new Clipper is because of the current Interdiction BUGs! While I have always found the freak-out/flashing/going full RED while solidly pointed into the BLUE CIRCLE behavior annoying when flying my Asp, when this happens to you in a T9 it can mean the difference between life and death! This is why I am starting to look for possible alternative volume trading options utilizing other ships I have in my current collection.

With the Clipper being the latest arrival to my stable, and still 100% stock, I thought this would be the best time I ask about cargo capacity and of course, optimizing for maximum jump range at the same time.

Thanks in advance for your hands of experience opinions, Veteran Clipper pilots! :D

[] Goldengoose7
 
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Tempestfox3

Tempestfox3
240t with the smallest shield (Class 3) 248t without a shield. 8t cargo isn't worth not carrying a shield IMO. and the best defence of a trade Clipper is it's boost speed.
 
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GG7

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Tempestfox3 said:
240t with the smallest shield (Class 3) 248t without a shield. 8t cargo isn't worth not carrying a shield IMO. and the best defence of a trade Clipper is it's boost speed.
Click to expand...

Thanks as always Tempest! Figures you've got this one nailed down too! lol! :D

@Driver... I typoed the T9 capacity mine has. Sorry about that... Mine is at 520t right now, running without a Shield Generator since I have found the T9's shields basically useless with the current build of the game.

I have been finding it nearly impossible to evade an Interdiction with the T9 due to a combination of its incredibly SLOW maneuvering capability coupled with the current BUG with the Interdiction mini-game where the evasion fails even when you are dead centered on the BLUE Reticle for periods of time that in the previous build would have easily pushed the Blue Bar level to the top and the resulting successful evasion.

@Andy B... I did have a quick look on Coriolis before posting this thread, but I wanted to make sure what I was seeing listed for that ship was truly the MAX carrying capacity possible.

Would you guys say that the Clipper's shields being as weak as they apparently are can be removed without much of a change in Hull damage during an escape attempt? When I fought one last week, I took the shields down three times with my Asp very easily, but was never able to damage the hull enough to gain the upper hand in the engagement. In the end, I decided to jump out and away from the conflict when I started taking hull damage from the Clipper.

Last but not least... What is the MAX jump range possible with a fully laden load of 240t?

Thanks again Tempest and Co.! :D
 

GG7

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Cheese Helmet said:
Edshipyard.com
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How does one interpret the jump range listed on the above page? Changing the tonnage from 1 to 240 and the 50% to 100% makes no difference in the posted range values. This was another reason I posted these questions here.

Not getting the info I need at the above site. Obviously pilot error on my part, but I also find the nomenclature used on Edshipyard to be counterintuitive and confusing. At least for me. ;)

I much prefer Coriolis for logging and sharing ED Ship builds, but there too I was unable to confirm if I was seeing the MAX Cargo and Jump Ranges presented to me.

Fortunately, TempestFox was up and about and saw my thread! :D I was hoping that he would since he always has the "right" answers! :D (Andy B and Driver as well in this case!)
 
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777Driver

777Driver
GG7 said:
How does one interpret the jump range listed on the above page? Changing the tonnage from 1 to 240 and the 50% to 100% makes no difference in the posted range values. This was another reason I posted these questions here.

Not getting the info I need at the above site. Obviously pilot error on my part, but I also find the nomenclature used on Edshipyard to be counterintuitive and confusing. At least for me. ;)

I much prefer Coriolis for logging and sharing ED Ship builds, but there too I was unable to confirm if I was seeing the MAX Cargo and Jump Ranges presented to me.
Click to expand...

This is the loadout for my rare goods/smuggler Clipper. Jump range is not the clippers strongpoint, always remember to keep the fuel load down, only carry what you need, just like with the T9.

You are looking at just under 17LY fully loaded, slightly above 25LY empty. I have chaff and heatsinks on mine when smuggling

http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=703,,2-A0A07_8SA08S6k,0Bk0AA07207205U05U03w03w

Edit - T9, forget about fighting the interdiction. Submit, dump chaff and high wake out of there.. Works everytime
 
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GG7

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777Driver said:
This is the loadout for my rare goods/smuggler Clipper. Jump range is not the clippers strongpoint, always remember to keep the fuel load down, only carry what you need, just like with the T9.

You are looking at just under 17LY fully loaded, slightly above 25LY empty. I have chaff and heatsinks on mine when smuggling

http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=703,,2-A0A07_8SA08S6k,0Bk0AA07207205U05U03w03w
Click to expand...

THANK YOU for this Driver! Much appreciated, and REPS to you "again"! :D

I think you guys can probably see where I am trying to go with this ship. Looking for a hauler that can get as close as possible to the T9's carrying capacity, but without all the downside risks specifically due to the T9's awful handling and pathetically ineffective defensive capabilities. :( Its a shame they chose to hamstring that poor ship as badly as they did cause I love the looks of the thing, and of course its unmatched volume trading ability!

If only it handled a wee bit better in SuperCruise and normal space! Just enough that the ship stood a chance during an Interdiction event, or maintaining its shields long enough to charge the FSD and jump away from the conflict. Hopefully it will fair better when the Interdiction bugs are dealt with, as well as the WEP power management bugs that also play havoc with all the ED ship's weapons and shield integrity.

Thanks again for that build Driver! :) Can't tell you how useful it is to have an "in-game tested" load out to refer to with a brand new ship that I didn't even know existed until last week! lol! ;)
 

Tempestfox3

Tempestfox3
GG7 said:
Thanks as always Tempest! Figures you've got this one nailed down too! lol! :D

@Driver... I typoed the T9 capacity mine has. Sorry about that... Mine is at 520t right now, running without a Shield Generator since I have found the T9's shields basically useless with the current build of the game.

I have been finding it nearly impossible to evade an Interdiction with the T9 due to a combination of its incredibly SLOW maneuvering capability coupled with the current BUG with the Interdiction mini-game where the evasion fails even when you are dead centered on the BLUE Reticle for periods of time that in the previous build would have easily pushed the Blue Bar level to the top and the resulting successful evasion.

@Andy B... I did have a quick look on Coriolis before posting this thread, but I wanted to make sure what I was seeing listed for that ship was truly the MAX carrying capacity possible.

Would you guys say that the Clipper's shields being as weak as they apparently are can be removed without much of a change in Hull damage during an escape attempt? When I fought one last week, I took the shields down three times with my Asp very easily, but was never able to damage the hull enough to gain the upper hand in the engagement. In the end, I decided to jump out and away from the conflict when I started taking hull damage from the Clipper.

Last but not least... What is the MAX jump range possible with a fully laden load of 240t?

Thanks again Tempest and Co.! :D
Click to expand...

Sure the clippers shields aren't very tough. But if you've never flown one before I guarantee you you'll get those engine nacells stuck on something at some point whether it be a part of the station or another ship while trying to dock. They stick out farther than you think and the ship drifts a fair bit as the vertical and lateral thrusters are not that strong the majority of the ships engines are pointing backwards hence the speed. And when you do you'll be glad you had shields.

Personally, 8t cargo doesn't make enough of a difference to your overall profits to make running no shield worthwhile enough. Considering you'd have to pay a repair bill every time you got interdicted or scraped yourself on the station. Instead of only having to pay a repair bill when someone takes out your shield. Against most targets your shields will last long enough to escape their weapons range. The only player pirate you might have to worry about is another clipper. and AI pirates are never really an issue. The only things you can't outrun are Cobra's and other clippers. Cobra's while being a good ship. Are a massive threat to larger ships.

In trading terms though (Looking at your original post) the Python is a better ship. It can carry more cargo than the Clipper and can land at Outposts (you can often get more profitable trades from outposts) The clipper has 42t less cargo capacity than the python and because of those huge wings it needs a large landing pad.
 
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GG7

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Tempestfox3 said:
Sure the clippers shields aren't very tough. But if you've never flown one before I guarantee you you'll get those engine nacells stuck on something at some point whether it be a part of the station or another ship while trying to dock. They stick out farther than you think and the ship drifts a fair bit as the vertical and lateral thrusters are not that strong the majority of the ships engines are pointing backwards hence the speed. And when you do you'll be glad you had shields.

Personally, 8t cargo doesn't make enough of a difference to your overall profits to make running no shield worthwhile enough. Considering you'd have to pay a repair bill every time you got interdicted or scraped yourself on the station. Instead of only having to pay a repair bill when someone takes out your shield. Against most targets your shields will last long enough to escape their weapons range. The only player pirate you might have to worry about is another clipper. and AI pirates are never really an issue. The only things you can't outrun are Cobra's and other clippers. Cobra's while being a good ship. Are a massive threat to larger ships.

In trading terms though (Looking at your original post) the Python is a better ship. It can carry more cargo than the Clipper and can land at Outposts (you can often get more profitable trades from outposts) The clipper has 42t less cargo capacity than the python and because of those huge wings it needs a large landing pad.
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Ahhh! I forgot about the whole "Collision" issue thing with this ship and its unusually WIDE wingspan! That does make a convincing case for keeping the shield generator. Besides that, I didn't realize that losing it would only buy you a measly (8) more tones of space! The shield generator stays! ;)

As for the Clipper vs the Python... I wanted a ship with decent jump range and at least half the cargo space as the T9, plus something can could easily deal with the constant Interdictions one usually encounters with a full load of valuable metals and other high value bulk cargo. I kind of wanted to keep my Python outfitted more towards the CZ and USS light combat session ship, with only about 100 to 150 tons of cargo space. When I get the Clipper outfitted as the smaller, faster answer to the T9 for doing volume routes, I might reduce the Python's capacity even more.

I am running my Asp now with just over 80t of space and that seems to be plenty for doing a 8 stop Rare loop along with taking on as many BB missions as I care to accept at each stop along the way.

I do like the idea of having specific ships in my collection that are outfitted for a specific set of tasks in the game, so that on any given session I can figure out what I feel like doing this time around and call up the ship I have configured to handle that particular set of tasks the best. Since the Clipper appears to have the Python beat with Jump Range (Let me know if I am totally wrong in that assumption), I figured it would be the better choice over the Python for this T7 - T9 type application.

I don't see a problem with the Outpost landing restrictions for the Clipper since I would basically be running the same volume trade routes I am currently running with the T9, and all of those of course only utilize full size stations.
 

Eclipse1024

E
Stick with Coriolis as it's still be actively worked on.

I just picked up the Clipper earlier today and am running it with 244t and went with computer, no shields, no weapons, downgraded thrusters, downgraded distributor. My jump range is just over 17ly.

My Clipper

I can go with A-graded thrusters and a beefier distributor for some impressive speed boosts if I'm ok with reducing the range to mid-16ls. However as it is, escaping back into SC from an interdiction is comically easy in this speedster considering it would take nothing short of a Cobra to catch up with you.

I like using the docking computer since I can set-and-forget it at 7.5kms and go do something else while it docks, and no repair bills to boot. Worth the lost 4 tonnes of cargo space.
 

Cmdr K19 Jupiter

C
"I like using the docking computer since I can set-and-forget it at 7.5kms and go do something else while it docks, and no repair bills to boot. Worth the lost 4 tonnes of cargo space"
You are going to get a nasty supprise one of these days never trust machines
 

GG7

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Beans 1709 said:
I have tried two Ship Building sites.

One is www.edshipyard.com
the other is www.coriolis.io

I prefer Coriolis as you can save the builds and compare them side by side. Makes finding out what ships can take an easy task!! Am working towards a Clipper Myself :)
Click to expand...

I TOTALLY agree with you on your preference for Coriolis as opposed to that ED Shipyard site. In addition to the layout just being so much easier on the eyes and a less cluttered and more logical UI, I LOVE that ability to compare all of my various ships against each other to determine the optimal choice for various sessions/goals for any given day in the game.

Right now I am trying to determine through actual in-game hauling missions how the Clipper ultimately stacks up against the ships I already have in my collection. I am totally LOVING the Clipper's crazy speed and boost performance, but not at all digging the truly pathetic shield strength and overall durability. Based on my little encounter with a Clipper last week which left me almost out of ammo and just not able to break down that thing's hull, I was really disappointed when a recent brief encounter with a Viper found my Clipper with a cracking cockpit glass, shields totally offline and hull integrity dropping rapidly!

I was like.... "WTH???" I thought this ship made up for its wimpy shields with a stronger than normal hull integrity? I wasn't seeing that during the Viper encounter. Perhaps it was whatever that thing was shooting at me. Was not your run of the mill Viper weapon loadout I am so use to seeing coming at me after hundreds of encounters with that specific ship. This was some kind of quick fire BURST type weapon that made a loud ZAPPING noise when it fired, and each time it struck my Clipper it did considerable damage to my shields and ultimately to my unprotected hull!

I managed to use the Clipper's impressive boost and thruster speed to blast away from the Viper and engage my FSD before my ship exploded, which was only a few more seconds away from happening had I stayed and tried to fight any more.

This typical encounter with this Viper has left me doubting the practicality of keeping the Clipper in my collection. :( The plan was to use it as a well armed T7 basically, allowing me to run some mid-volume trade routes and not have to worry about defending myself when the inevitable failed interdiction evasion comes my way. The way I am feeling right now is basically this...

If I can't confidently engage Viper class ships and basically have to react the way I would if I was flying a T7, then why not just use a T7 and save all the $$? Not planning to sell mine just yet, but so far, the ship is a disappointment. Not at all because of how it looks, or how it handles, which are both fantastic! But because of two major downsides that I do not see any workaround for.

They are...

1) 16 Ton Fuel Tank MAX for main tank module position! (Words do not even begin to describe how lame that is! - You will be on a first name basis with your Fuel Scoop after owning this ship!)

2) Shield strength is the worst I have seen in any ship I have used in the game so far. (as it relates to the ship's size and other traits)

Here is the current build I am running for my Clipper. I am trying to maximize the jump range against cargo capacity against defensive capability.

http://coriolis.io/outfit/imperial_...24.Iw18aQ==.Aw18aQ==?bn=GG7 • CLIPPER BUILD 1

The original plan was to nab one of these in case the no need for an Imperial Rank to buy from Kamito was a bug, since I have yet to do any ranking with The Empire. That and also having a ship kind of like my Python, but something faster, with more jump range that I could use as an armed hauler and not have to worry about interdictions from small ships like the Viper and others you often meet up with during typical volume cargo haul loops.
 
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GG7

G
Eclipse1024 said:
Stick with Coriolis as it's still be actively worked on.

I just picked up the Clipper earlier today and am running it with 244t and went with computer, no shields, no weapons, downgraded thrusters, downgraded distributor. My jump range is just over 17ly.

My Clipper

I can go with A-graded thrusters and a beefier distributor for some impressive speed boosts if I'm ok with reducing the range to mid-16ls. However as it is, escaping back into SC from an interdiction is comically easy in this speedster considering it would take nothing short of a Cobra to catch up with you.

I like using the docking computer since I can set-and-forget it at 7.5kms and go do something else while it docks, and no repair bills to boot. Worth the lost 4 tonnes of cargo space.
Click to expand...

Glad to know that the Coriolis site is still being worked on and maintained! Its a GREAT resource, and now that I have reached the point where saving and comparing various ED Ship builds is starting to really matter in my daily ED sessions, I am immensely grateful to whomever is responsible for creating such a nicely designed and functioning site!

As for that Clipper build... All I can say after reviewing it is.... "Have you actually flown a trade route with that build yet?"

8 ton Fuel Tank and NO Fuel Scoop? Really curious to hear how that works for a typical volume trade run with your 244t capacity all used up for a 100% laden run.

I was struggling with the 16t fuel tank and a big mouthed fuel scoop if I attempted any 6-8 jump long runs to reposition or to consider any Rare Item runs. Obviously not a problem for short local, point to point Slave hauling jobs, but what is the point of a 17+ laden jump rage when your fuel capacity is going to be so limited, and basically "Ball and Chain" you to station stops every other jump. ??

I must be missing something here.
 
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