What to do with a Cobra?

[OlFart]

So I'm trying to get a Cobra running, but outfitting it is proving difficult.

I cannot for the life of me get C3(G) pulse lasers to actually gimbal (yes, ticketed, etc... they are broke. If anyone knows a fix...?) so those are apparently out, and I'm at a loss for what to do with the darned ship.

On my old viper I ran with 2*C2 burst lasers and 2xC3(G) multi cannons and that was simply delightful. Blast the shields with lasers while closing the distance and then open up with the gimbal MCs at point blank: boom. Such a thing doesn't work on the cobra of course, as the C2 mounts are so far apart that you never get both guns on target with fixed weaponry.

So it would seem that the C2 hardpoints have to be fitting gimballed weapons, which are a little bit... weak. My plan was to go for 2 c1 gimbal pulses and 1 c3 gimbal pulse - and combine it all with a single c4 beam for range, but the darned c3(g) pulses don't work...

I tried with double fixed pulses in the large mounts, and double gimbal beams in the small mounts. I figured maybe the small beams would offer enough point-blank slugger-power to make it useful. I guess they do in a way: the damage output isn't bad, but even c1 beams overheat the ship so darned fast it's unpleasant to fly it.

I guess next I'll try that 1xC4 beam combines with 1xC3(G) and 2xC1(G) multi cannons. Main issue I guess is how much damage the beam can put on the shield before the ship overheats too much. I'd prefer a c4 burst for the heat and power issues, but apparently they don't build bursts in C4 models...

What on earth am I to do with this cobra? (Besides selling it and buying a viper, that is.)

 

[Treyshon]

Besides selling it and buying a viper, that is.

That is what I would suggest.

But rather than state the obvious... I'd personally fit C4 cannons and C2 Missiles. The tighter grouping of the cannons on the C4 hardpoints will help them hit the target and not go either side. The missiles should be fired after you have the targets shields down for maximum effect.

 

[OlFart]

That is what I would suggest.

But rather than state the obvious... I'd personally fit C4 cannons and C2 Missiles. The tighter grouping of the cannons on the C4 hardpoints will help them hit the target and not go either side. The missiles should be fired after you have the targets shields down for maximum effect.

Too expensive. I intend to use the ship for bounty hunting, military work and for looting heavy cargo ships in signal sites. Things of that nature. Can't spend thousands of credits in missiles just to collect a 400cr voucher. Missiles are great for defending a valuable cargo, but too expensive for anything else.

 

[Jackie Silver]

I'd probably go with 2 C3 gimballed multicannons and 2 C1 gimballed pulse lasers. Something like that. In PB I was using 2 C2 railguns and 2 C1 gimballed multicannons to great effect but railguns ain't wot they used t'be.

 

[Katkon]

I outfit my MkIII exactly like you did your old Viper and find it great providing you're willing to get up close. Very close.

If you like to hang back, and you're a good shot, you could try 2xC4 cannons out front. Harder to hit faster moving targets, but very satisfying once you do. And with those you can shred larger ships very efficiently.

 

[OlFart]

I'd probably go with 2 C3 gimballed multicannons and 2 C1 gimballed pulse lasers. Something like that. In PB I was using 2 C2 railguns and 2 C1 gimballed multicannons to great effect but railguns ain't wot they used t'be.

I've considered this, but with an all-gimbal ship it's close combat or nothing, which is a big drawback. It's nice to be able to start taking their shields down before you close the distance, or whack a few bursts into a ship when it boosts away from you.

 

[OlFart]

I outfit my MkIII exactly like you did your old Viper and find it great providing you're willing to get up close. Very close.

If you like to hang back, and you're a good shot, you could try 2xC4 cannons out front. Harder to hit faster moving targets, but very satisfying once you do. And with those you can shred larger ships very efficiently.

Can you actually get both fixed c2 lasers to hit a small target at the same time though? Up close it's not going to work, but I guess at range it will... How far out does something like a sidewinder need to be in order to get both C2 lasers to lock on the ship?

 

[Jackie Silver]

You could try cannons? They're finicky but can be very effective.

 

[HeavyGroovez]

I have tried to love the Cobra but those C2 hardpoints drive me nuts. I always go back to the Viper...

 

[ArcAngelSlayer]

I've just ditched my Viper for a Cobra. The only reason is jump range, the viper feels better in every other way though.

 

[OlFart]

So I just tried the following, just for the sake of not trusting everything you read online:

2x C2 Burst Lasers (Fixed)
2x C3 Multi Cannons (Gimballed)

It's the old load out for my Viper... and it's horrible. The fixed lasers do have a small amount of gimbal built in, but it's not nearly enough. Even at ranges of over 1km, you simply can't hit small target like a sidewinder with both weapons. The internet was in fact right. But it's worse yet - a perfectly aimed shot make both weapons miss. The target sits untouched right between the two lines of fire. Ouch. Design flaw. So that's out... back to the drawing board.

The hard point locations on the Cobra really makes this ship inherently awkward. This does not at all feel like the cobra should. Fond memories of the Cobra of old: trader, smuggler, pirate, warship... the jack of all trades. Now it's just awkward. Sniffles.

 

[Gédéon_Lecanard]

As it has been suggested already, 2xC4 cannons and 2xC2 missile racks will make you a very dangerous target, even for a PC viper. But if you want to use your Cobra on, say, navigation beacons zones to bounty-hunt AND take some cargo in the process (wich is not something you'd do as well with a Viper, btw), then 2xC1 gimballed burst lasers and 2xC4 cannons is a very good, powerful, energy savy and inexpensive choice. The burst lasers will eat your target shield in no time without taking too much toll on your energy reserve. The cannons will smash the hull like a baseball bat swinged through a cake.

 

[John Hand]

The Cobra has a better weapon setup over the silly viper.

Yes the viper is faster (only by 100 tho) however that is the only advantage its got, might be a little more maneuverable, but that is mostly Pilot skill based (how well can you handle your ship).

The Cobra has the better gun setup, its T4 is under the cockpit, meaning its better for fixed guns. I have used C4 guns to some very devastating effect. Rails/Cannons/Burst Lasers are all the best choices for those 2 HP's. The ones under the wing (the Class 2) are good as either Gimball or C2 missiles (heat seekers). Issue with the Gim or Turret is the wing gets in the way, so unless your looking straight at the target, it wont work.

The problem I have had with the Viper, is those two hardpoint classes are swapped, and the good hard hitting guns are under the wing and spread out, making it harder to hit things up close. Its a decent ship, but by no means the better one, the Cobra has the better HP layout. As running Twin C4 Burst Lasers with a pair of missiles will tear up any ship in PvP. If your so inclined to have a little more skill involved, you can use 2 C4 railguns instead, for some nice instant shield blaping. Rails do not heat that ship up as fast as it does on other ships. Firing both at once, you can get 4-7 shots off before heat starts becoming an issue, and that is if your shooting them right away without a heatsink launcher.


Overall I suggest 2 C4 Burst and 2 Gimbal multi or Turret Multicannons (set to target only) for PvE for when trading gets a little boring. PvP it should be Missiles under the wings, with whatever big guns you like in the C4 spot. Running a pure ballistic loadout (2C4 Cannon and 2C2 Missiles) will allow you to put 4 pips into eng and 1 into wep and sys.

 

[OlFart]

The Cobra has a better weapon setup over the silly viper.

Yes the viper is faster (only by 100 tho) however that is the only advantage its got, might be a little more maneuverable, but that is mostly Pilot skill based (how well can you handle your ship).

The Cobra has the better gun setup, its T4 is under the cockpit, meaning its better for fixed guns. I have used C4 guns to some very devastating effect. Rails/Cannons/Burst Lasers are all the best choices for those 2 HP's. The ones under the wing (the Class 2) are good as either Gimball or C2 missiles (heat seekers). Issue with the Gim or Turret is the wing gets in the way, so unless your looking straight at the target, it wont work.

The problem I have had with the Viper, is those two hardpoint classes are swapped, and the good hard hitting guns are under the wing and spread out, making it harder to hit things up close. Its a decent ship, but by no means the better one, the Cobra has the better HP layout. As running Twin C4 Burst Lasers with a pair of missiles will tear up any ship in PvP. If your so inclined to have a little more skill involved, you can use 2 C4 railguns instead, for some nice instant shield blaping. Rails do not heat that ship up as fast as it does on other ships. Firing both at once, you can get 4-7 shots off before heat starts becoming an issue, and that is if your shooting them right away without a heatsink launcher.

Overall I suggest 2 C4 Burst and 2 Gimbal multi or Turret Multicannons (set to target only) for PvE for when trading gets a little boring. PvP it should be Missiles under the wings, with whatever big guns you like in the C4 spot. Running a pure ballistic loadout (2C4 Cannon and 2C2 Missiles) will allow you to put 4 pips into eng and 1 into wep and sys.

This is a rather subjective review though, isn't it?

I agree that having the tight packed C4s are better for fixed guns. The main drawback is that you simply can't have fixed weapons on the C2 mounts and work them effectively. If your preference is fixed weapons on the C4s and gimbals/missiles on the C2s the Cobra might be better, but the Viper is at least workable. You can hit even a small target with both guns, even if it is harder.

If however you happen to want fixed C2 weapons the Viper is fantastic, where the Cobra is completely unworkable. While the Viper is far from perfect, the overall more centrally located hard points are flexible and lets you use any combination of fixed or gimbal weapons you prefer. The Cobra simply doesn't. The Cobra's C2 hardpoints are forever doomed to be carrying missiles or gimbal weapons.

You can chose your weapons for a Viper, but a Cobra will chose for you.

 

[Katkon]

So I just tried the following, just for the sake of not trusting everything you read online:

2x C2 Burst Lasers (Fixed)
2x C3 Multi Cannons (Gimballed)

It's the old load out for my Viper... and it's horrible. The fixed lasers do have a small amount of gimbal built in, but it's not nearly enough. Even at ranges of over 1km, you simply can't hit small target like a sidewinder with both weapons. The internet was in fact right. But it's worse yet - a perfectly aimed shot make both weapons miss. The target sits untouched right between the two lines of fire. Ouch. Design flaw. So that's out... back to the drawing board.

The hard point locations on the Cobra really makes this ship inherently awkward. This does not at all feel like the cobra should. Fond memories of the Cobra of old: trader, smuggler, pirate, warship... the jack of all trades. Now it's just awkward. Sniffles.

Use gimballed lasers. Problem solved. Oh - and STAY CLOSE!

 

[OlFart]

Use gimballed lasers. Problem solved. Oh - and STAY CLOSE!

Heh. Yes, that's certainly an option, but it would make the ship purely a close range slugger, which isn't what I was hoping to build.

I love having a pair of C2 bursts: I get range and can wipe out a pair of shields before I get into "gimbal range". They are also so very useful to do a bit of hull damage on a target that suddenly hits the boost and covers 800 meters before you are beginning to catch up. At least you got something while you are getting back on his tail. Also... not bad for hitting a small cargo hatch on a Lakon.

I may have more luck with a pair of c4 bursts as the bread and butter tool for every situation, and using the stupid wing mounts for nothing more than close-range bonus damage in the form of a pair of c1(g) multis. This isn't really what I'm after either but... maybe I can make it work.

 

[John Hand]

This is a rather subjective review though, isn't it?

I agree that having the tight packed C4s are better for fixed guns. The main drawback is that you simply can't have fixed weapons on the C2 mounts and work them effectively. If your preference is fixed weapons on the C4s and gimbals/missiles on the C2s the Cobra might be better, but the Viper is at least workable. You can hit even a small target with both guns, even if it is harder.

If however you happen to want fixed C2 weapons the Viper is fantastic, where the Cobra is completely unworkable. While the Viper is far from perfect, the overall more centrally located hard points are flexible and lets you use any combination of fixed or gimbal weapons you prefer. The Cobra simply doesn't. The Cobra's C2 hardpoints are forever doomed to be carrying missiles or gimbal weapons.

You can chose your weapons for a Viper, but a Cobra will chose for you.

The Vipers C4 hardpoints are just about as bad for Fixed weapons as the C2's on the Cobra is, ya there a little closer, but still not good.

This is the issue with the Viper. Its harder hitting higher class guns are in the wings, so the HP's are spread out.
The Cobras High Class High Damage guns are close to each-other, and there is nothing wrong with taking Missiles in the wings, or Turret/Gimbal.

 

[OlFart]

The Vipers C4 hardpoints are just about as bad for Fixed weapons as the C2's on the Cobra is, ya there a little closer, but still not good.

This is the issue with the Viper. Its harder hitting higher class guns are in the wings, so the HP's are spread out.
The Cobras High Class High Damage guns are close to each-other, and there is nothing wrong with taking Missiles in the wings, or Turret/Gimbal.

I don't think you got my point so I'll try again:

This isn't so much the issue with the Viper, as it's your issue with the Viper - in the exact same way that the horrendous positioning of the Cobras C2 mounts are my issue with the Cobra.

Simple truth is the Viper is best with gimbals on the C4s and a Cobra is best with gimbals on the C2s. This doesn't in any way make either ship inherently good or bad. It just means they excel with very different load outs, and require very different piloting to match.

You are right, there's nothing wrong with packing gimbals on the C2s if this is what you want, but in the same way there's nothing wrong with packing gimbals on a Viper's C4s, if that's what you want. It's just a matter of which class of guns you want on gimbals. It's a matter of what you like best: a C2/C3g load out, or a C1g/C4 load out. It's a personal preference, nothing more. I understand that you like fixed C4 weaponry: that's fine. Just keep in mind this is your preference, not a universal truth.

The only point I was trying to make is that while the Viper's C4 points may be far from perfect, the C2 points on the Cobra are far, far worse - making the Cobra less flexible to alternate load outs.

 

[huwthomas]

Regardless of whether a particular preference is subjective, it's really interesting and informative for us "shoppers" to get different takes on the matter

 

[Cmdr Esteban]

The Cobra has a better weapon setup over the silly viper.

Yes the viper is faster (only by 100 tho) however that is the only advantage its got, might be a little more maneuverable, but that is mostly Pilot skill based (how well can you handle your ship).

The Cobra has the better gun setup, its T4 is under the cockpit, meaning its better for fixed guns. I have used C4 guns to some very devastating effect. Rails/Cannons/Burst Lasers are all the best choices for those 2 HP's. The ones under the wing (the Class 2) are good as either Gimball or C2 missiles (heat seekers). Issue with the Gim or Turret is the wing gets in the way, so unless your looking straight at the target, it wont work.

The problem I have had with the Viper, is those two hardpoint classes are swapped, and the good hard hitting guns are under the wing and spread out, making it harder to hit things up close. Its a decent ship, but by no means the better one, the Cobra has the better HP layout. As running Twin C4 Burst Lasers with a pair of missiles will tear up any ship in PvP. If your so inclined to have a little more skill involved, you can use 2 C4 railguns instead, for some nice instant shield blaping. Rails do not heat that ship up as fast as it does on other ships. Firing both at once, you can get 4-7 shots off before heat starts becoming an issue, and that is if your shooting them right away without a heatsink launcher.


Overall I suggest 2 C4 Burst and 2 Gimbal multi or Turret Multicannons (set to target only) for PvE for when trading gets a little boring. PvP it should be Missiles under the wings, with whatever big guns you like in the C4 spot. Running a pure ballistic loadout (2C4 Cannon and 2C2 Missiles) will allow you to put 4 pips into eng and 1 into wep and sys.

Having now tried both ships, I must agree completely with the above assessment. It's Cobra all the way for me.