I tried the buffed FDL (A rated, no armor) and then took my old FAS (A rated, no armour).
Quick note on the loadout - the FAS has 2x burst lasers (I usually run with pulse, but took burst for testing) and 2x multi-cannons
The FDL has 4x pulse lasers and 1x PA. Both ships use best possible bi-weave shields with A boosters and HRPs (plus chaff + KW scanner).
I think the FAS is still better. In terms of agility I think both ships are quite similar, but the weaponry on my FAS made really short work of any enemy in PvE. The multi-cannons shred power plants in seconds.
The FDLs smaller pulse lasers seem to be doing less damage vs hull, and the PA is difficult to use (I admit, I lack experience with it). Needless to say blowing up powerplants took way more time (quite often I'd destroy the target before I destroyed the PP). Perhaps if I used a huge gimballed cannon instead of a PA?
Also, it seems the canopy on the FDL is weaker. I know the FAS has better armour in general, but in my test run the FDL lost hull notably faster and in the end I had to bail cos I lost the canopy. That said, I wasn't ever in any danger (I deliberately engaged enemies to test the capabilities) and both ships are pretty safe to fly with a high top-speed, and while the hull dropped faster on the FDL it provided plenty of time to make a run for it once things got hot.
I'll try the FDL again with a gimballed cannon to see if I can kill things faster. Albeit I'd prefer a C4 multi-cannon the most if those existed...
Quick note on the loadout - the FAS has 2x burst lasers (I usually run with pulse, but took burst for testing) and 2x multi-cannons
The FDL has 4x pulse lasers and 1x PA. Both ships use best possible bi-weave shields with A boosters and HRPs (plus chaff + KW scanner).
I think the FAS is still better. In terms of agility I think both ships are quite similar, but the weaponry on my FAS made really short work of any enemy in PvE. The multi-cannons shred power plants in seconds.
The FDLs smaller pulse lasers seem to be doing less damage vs hull, and the PA is difficult to use (I admit, I lack experience with it). Needless to say blowing up powerplants took way more time (quite often I'd destroy the target before I destroyed the PP). Perhaps if I used a huge gimballed cannon instead of a PA?
Also, it seems the canopy on the FDL is weaker. I know the FAS has better armour in general, but in my test run the FDL lost hull notably faster and in the end I had to bail cos I lost the canopy. That said, I wasn't ever in any danger (I deliberately engaged enemies to test the capabilities) and both ships are pretty safe to fly with a high top-speed, and while the hull dropped faster on the FDL it provided plenty of time to make a run for it once things got hot.
I'll try the FDL again with a gimballed cannon to see if I can kill things faster. Albeit I'd prefer a C4 multi-cannon the most if those existed...
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