What role remains for the Anaconda when you have a Cutter?

CMDR Ellegon

CMDR Ellegon
So I have added the Cutter to my fleet shortly before 2.2. So far, I am more than happy with that ship. I ran it through a variety of roles with the following basic outfit: https://coriolis.io/outfit/imperial_cutter/0putxFplxdusCf67o1f1f282828280002030l04040404074p------24.Iw18ZZA=.Aw18ZZA=

Shield Generator, Shield Boosters, Frameshift Drive are level 5 engineered, weaponry level 4 to 5 on the multi cannons, rest of the ship at slightly lower level. Boost currently at 380 m/s, shields at 2,360 GJ, jump range about 30 ly empty.

The "empty" internal slots see various outfitting for long range trading, bulk trading, mining, RES farming etc, but the above always stays the same. I found this an excellent setup for almost anything:

  • RES farming: loaded with shield cell batteries, I can stay in combat until ammo runs dry. The Cutter has survived attacks by up to eight NPCs and was able to take them all down (with fighter support)
  • as an armed trader, I can carry 496 tonnes* and still defeat any single NPC
  • long range, I run 432 tonnes* (6A fuel scoop) of cargo
  • miner with 9 collector drones, 4 prospectors and fighter support, I still have 256t cargo capacity

* -32 tonnes with fighter bay

In all these roles, the Cutter surpasses my beloved Anaconda - which is now gathering dust in the hangar. The Cutter has larger internals, way stronger shields and is much faster.

What role, except as an explorer (where I have been using the Asp for ages), remains for the Conda (honest and serious question)?

And please, no answers based on coolness factors, looks or Imperial affiliation of the Cutter. ;)
 

Threeofseven

Threeofseven
Higher jump range when stripped down. I still prefer my cutter and clipper though for exploration, I get 40ly vs 50ly with my conda.
 

CATPAIN KIRK

CATPAIN KIRK
Interesting question.

I use the Corvette for combat purposes so I have less options to worry about when it comes to deciding between the two.

I originally was very inclined to use the Anaconda for mining and freight as its bridge just adds the proper vibe to it (makeshift wirings, utilitarian plastic floor). That's very important to me as I never played the game outside VR and I mostly play for the experience.

I still ended up with using my Cutter as my miner/armed trader and the Anaconda as the passenger ship after doing the maths.
 

ShadowWolf Kell

ShadowWolf Kell
I've converted mine into a long range exploration ship. I'd thought about combat, but big ship combat just doesn't interest me. Hard not to like the spacious internals and the massive range the Anaconda has though. Still looks good too.
 

ChubbyBunneh

ChubbyBunneh
I'm refitting mine to be a tour bus for passengers. Longer jump range when laden and better fighting ability than the Beluga. My Cutter will remain as the mass cargo hauler.
 

Divine Cerinian

Divine Cerinian
If looks have no place in your world op, then you can have that world. I'll stay in mine thanks. the Annie is a ship that's better suited for some people. I've fought alongside and against cutters in my conda, without turrets, they can't hit as hard as I can, as long as I can. plus when I can keep an eagle in my sights with minimal effort that kinda speaks for itself. To answer your question, if you simply number crunch, then no you have no use for it now. But when it comes to flying, well some would prefer the Annie. God knows I do.
 
Last edited:

bubbabenali

B
CMDR Ellegon said:
What role, except as an explorer (where I have been using the Asp for ages), remains for the Conda (honest and serious question)?
Click to expand...

Well, it's FSD range is the Condas most glaring feature (it's hull\ armor ratio aside)
Of course that makes it the perfect ship for exploring, long range transportation and sightseeing tours.
Maybe VIP missions with > 1000ly tours, as most VIP hate hulldamage, but a Anaconda has even D rated no problems to get more than 1000mj of shielding and has great defences.
 

Ziljan

Ziljan
In 90% of cases the Imperial ship will have superior stats. That is a design choice by Frontier, and possibly an indication that the Empire is being controlled by the Thargoids.
 

Ian Skippy

Ian Skippy
Not the answer you're looking for, but exploration. The Asp simply doesnt have enough internals for what I need (two scanners, fuel scoop, SRV, SLF, AFMS, Cabin bay, cargo bay, fuel tank).
 

roryclague

roryclague
Well there should be a performance premium on the Cutter since it's a rank-locked ship and more expensive. The Anaconda has the advantage of range. It's my end-of-game ship since I'm an explorer. If anything, the Annie is more useful in 2.2 since it can fit ship-launched fighters, which are useful as scout craft for explorers (feels like the snowspeeders over Hoth, imo). The Asp Explorer retains the advantage of a much better experience in supercruise, though.
 

Chris Rosenkreutz

Chris Rosenkreutz
The anaconda has better firepower as well as better range. More large hardpoints and a better power distributor make a difference. Sure the Cutter has more shields (at the cost of a class 8 slot) and is faster in a straight line but that's not nearly enough to compensate most of the time.

I would need more serious engineering before I could PvP with my Cutter. So right now I only use it for trade and the Anaconda for everything else.
 

Riverside

Riverside
The Conda is still an excellent combat ship & with it's potential high jump range it already has more going for it than many of the other ships.

I use a Corvette a lot & find the Conda's SC handling to be at odds with it's decent normal space manoeuvrability, it's one of the resaons I prefer to explore in the Corvette. The Cutter has a great deal going for it but uses enormous quantities of fuel and the Class 8 Fuel scoop is hugely expensive.

I have a lightly armed Conda kitted out for exploration but jump range aside I find the Corvette is easier to live with so my Conda is currently gathering dust.

I think I'll try kitting it out for Combat Zones, see how it fares compared to my FAS & Vulture dedicated fighters.
 

Ozram

Ozram
It's a faster traveler within the bubble in a combat fit. I like that the Conda can get around to places well even when armed to the teeth. If that's of no concern to you then yes, the Cutter is a far better choice. I suppose the rank lock also keeps the Conda in usewhere you would otherwise see only cutters.
 

Ericlas

Ericlas
Had the same problem as OP until today.

Cutter for trading.
Corvette for combat.
Conda as passenger shuttle. (it has more space for solely economy shuttling 1 jump).
 

CATPAIN KIRK

CATPAIN KIRK
ChubbyBunneh said:
I'm refitting mine to be a tour bus for passengers. Longer jump range when laden and better fighting ability than the Beluga. My Cutter will remain as the mass cargo hauler.
Click to expand...

Pretty much what I concluded.

14 mill in 35 minutes wasn't all that bad for driving a bus. Never did Sothis, so from my perspective, that's pretty good.
 

Vandaahl

Vandaahl
Lol, I have both, but the Cutter is the one catching dust. What role remains for the Cutter when you have 2 billion credits?
 

Denneb

D
The first ship I've fully modded was the cutter and I liked it. Then I moved to the corvette and, when finished modding it, I liked even more. The only drawback it had was the lesser jump range (21LY on a combat/MP setup), but I could live with it. Then, I thought of buying back a conda, since it has the same modules as the vette, and just transfer them over just for the giggles. That moment was a revelation for me. I never touched the vette or the cutter again. Fully modded, it flies exactly as the vette, has now better sound, dishes out its dps much better, has more diverse internals and has 31LYs jump range on a combat setup and 53LYs on a planetary exploration one with good shields, some guns, srvs and a fighter bay.
What Im trying to say here is that you will hear all kinds of contrdicting opinions, including mine, and that is what amazes me with this game. It has stuff to suit various needs and preferences.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom