What's good with FSD B-C-D classes?

[VR SenseiMatty]

I think I've never bought anything but A-class FSD's.
In the old days, when low credit balance was a thing I guess I once bought a class-B but I probably insta-regret it.
Do the other classes have any benefit?

 

[Ian Skippy]

D is light weight, it matters massively for ships running at the peak of enhanced thruster capabilities. B is most sturdy: a fine choice for trade ships running cargo between systems where there is no difference in number of jumps needed between A and B rated. C currently seems a bit underwhelming.

 

[M00ka]

Seriously, you have never read anything about the different classes of modules here in the forums? Nothing at all? After all this time?

Copy and paste from the Elite Wiki:

"E" is the lowest rated variant, but also the cheapest. "D" rated modules typically have the lowest mass. "C" rated modules usually have the best price/performance ratio. "B" rated modules seem to have the highest mass, but also higher integrity. "A" is the highest rated variant, but is much more expensive than the other variants (sometimes costing millions of credits more).

 

[Elpapo]

There is some benefits for other classes.. For B and D ones thats it. Mainly for PVP.

If you making an dedicated lightweight bulid for ya ship, there where D rated FSD are usefull, as they can save bit of tonnes. U dont need jump range on them, as u move these ships around by transfer and since you only need FSD to supercruise, eventually low-wake.

B ones are for dedicated rammers. Since any extra mass equals for more dmg while ramming. They are more durable as well, so they aint get shot out as easy, if someone tries to snipe ur FSD if you takin brave robin manuver if things aint goes as u planned.

 

[VR SenseiMatty]

Seriously, you have never read anything about the different classes of modules here in the forums? Nothing at all? After all this time?

Copy and paste from the Elite Wiki:

"E" is the lowest rated variant, but also the cheapest. "D" rated modules typically have the lowest mass. "C" rated modules usually have the best price/performance ratio. "B" rated modules seem to have the highest mass, but also higher integrity. "A" is the highest rated variant, but is much more expensive than the other variants (sometimes costing millions of credits more).

Are you sure you read the OP? That is the difference between ALL module classes. I'm asking specific advantages for FSD's only

 

[VR SenseiMatty]

There is some benefits for other classes.. For B and D ones thats it. Mainly for PVP.

If you making an dedicated lightweight bulid for ya ship, there where D rated FSD are usefull, as they can save bit of tonnes. U dont need jump range on them, as u move these ships around by transfer and since you only need FSD to supercruise, eventually low-wake.

B ones are for dedicated rammers. Since any extra mass equals for more dmg while ramming. They are more durable as well, so they aint get shot out as easy, if someone tries to snipe ur FSD if you takin brave robin manuver if things aint goes as u planned.

Ok, so there's no benefit in for example having a shorter range but faster charge from the basic FSD or things like this?

 

[M00ka]

Are you sure you read the OP?

Are you sure you read my reply, because the answer to your question is right there. If you want light weight modules, you select "D", if you want sturdy, "B" is the option you are after. If you want the best, "A" is the answer.

I honestly don't know how clearer it can be made

 

[VR SenseiMatty]

Are you sure you read my reply, because the answer to your question is right there. If you want light weight modules, you select "D", if you want sturdy, "B" is the option you are after. If you want the best, "A" is the answer.

I honestly don't know how clearer it can be made

Your answer is generic to all modules, here I'm specific to FSDs

 

[M00ka]

I give up ….

 

[Elpapo]

Ok, so there's no benefit in for example having a shorter range but faster charge from the basic FSD or things like this?

You probly mean faster FSD boot thing mod... nope, it just makes reboot faster... currently no upgrade or mod makes jump "charge" faster, and said mod makes just boot times shorter... In other words, if u get hit by FSD rocket, FSD will get faster online, and thats it(or when u manually on/off it)... its not neccecary, as cooldown for missile effect is greater than unmodded boot time. Still usefull for big ships for sure IF they cant afford to evade FSD reset missiles.

But If ur making D rated FSD, you might wanna consider this mod or extra HP mod. Same for B ones.

 

[M00ka]

Whereas price/performance is totally irrelevant for anyone but very new players. Mainly thanks to the massive casualisation this game has undergone, especially when it comes to credits. The times where this was a noticeable consideration are long gone.

True, and with Engineers the only consideration now is whether to select a 'D' rated one for the weight saving or stick with the 'A'.

 

[DNA-Decay]

There is a use case for B Rated Fast Boot FSD, which is PvP survivabilty.

But TBH I've never used anything except A rated, as low range kinda sucks even on a dedicated hull tank combat ship.

 

[M00ka]

Exactly. And I guess that's why SenseiMatty asked in the first place, to learn if there's probably more to it. The B choice for instance, that is outside PvP totally pointless. But that's pretty much is it. A-rate FSD is in most cases a no brainer, unfortunately.

If there was anything more to it, the forums would be full of comments about it - simple as that. If there was any boost that anything other that an A FSD would provide people would be talking about it in damn near every discussion.

 

[Elpapo]

There is a use case for B Rated Fast Boot FSD, which is PvP survivabilty.

But TBH I've never used anything except A rated, as low range kinda sucks even on a dedicated hull tank combat ship.

Best is to have multiple FSD's for some ships, especially if there is PVP.

A rated mass manager g5 for moving around or general PVE.
D rated fast boot if youre already in "hotspot" place, while not needing jump range but more speed. Any bulid benefits from it, always some extra m/s never hurt.
B rated shielded double braced for max durability & extra ram dmg if you aint care about speed anymore and when u wanna make sure if u ram them, it hurts badly.

 

[Vasious]

Are you sure you read the OP? That is the difference between ALL module classes. I'm asking specific advantages for FSD's only

it is still true for FSDs, since you read they are modules right?

Got a ship you are only using in system, fit the smallest D rated FSD for super cruise and get the most out of your drives or a standard size D if you still need to be able to jump

Need the most mass or integrity for ramming or a tanky trader, can use the B

C gives the best range AND Power Usage per Credits

 

[Aashenfox]

B rated is sometimes chosen for its additional HP, since shielded mod is multiplicative, the more base hp the module has the more you get on top from mods. The truth is though, this is rarely so significantly different than A rated after factoring in MRPs and resistances, as to warrant using B over A.

Using D however, is something I do when I can get away with it, in cases where I know I'll not fight shields down, or it's an organised duel and I will have no need of escape. A 2D in place of a 5A is a big mass difference.

 

[VR SenseiMatty]

B rated is sometimes chosen for its additional HP, since shielded mod is multiplicative, the more base hp the module has the more you get on top from mods. The truth is though, this is rarely so significantly different than A rated after factoring in MRPs and resistances, as to warrant using B over A.

Using D however, is something I do when I can get away with it, in cases where I know I'll not fight shields down, or it's an organised duel and I will have no need of escape. A 2D in place of a 5A is a big mass difference.

How is this reduced mass affecting combat? I can't see differences in Coriolis.io between a Fer-de-Lance with FSD 4A or 2D

 

[Shiro Akai]

If you're not a hardcore min/maxer (or build very specific outfit, which in the end fall under min/,axing) then there is no point comparing various classes of FSD. When you buy ship you get E, which is crap. Then you buy A. Then add G5 engineering. Then slap Guardian module. And now you're optimal range wise. Anything lower means pure loss, range wise.

At least this is what I do. The only time when I bought anything lower than A-rated was back then when I started playing ED and been progressing toward bigger and better ships than Adder. With very limited credits upgrading from E to D was a massive jump in performance. When you pass 100M Cr mark then FSD rating stops to mean anything since the only one you should be after is A.

Other FSD ratings I treat as a curiosity - they exist for the sake of existing.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

How is this reduced mass affecting combat? I can't see differences in Coriolis.io between a Fer-de-Lance with FSD 4A or 2D

With DD5+Drag Drives on class A thrusters, I get a 2m/s difference in both cruise and boost for an FDL.

A Cutter goes from 317/508 (7A) to 320/512 (2D)

For a Viper III with the same mods on Enhanced thrusters, the difference between 3A (533/666) and 2D (541/676) is a bit more noticeable, and gets considerably more noticeable as you lightweight the rest of the ship as well.

 

[Nadreck]

I have one ship with a B-rated FSD (engineered for Fast Boot), a Crusader that I built in the Bubble for transfer to Colonia (to unlock Mel Brandon, while continuing to improve my NPC copilot's rank), it's since become one of a set of cheap ships that I transfer in to any new system I'm going to be in for awhile.

It doesn't need jumprange (as it gets transferred everywhere), and needs to be both tough and cheap (as transfer costs are based on ship price). You can save a lot of money by dropping a grade, and over multiple ship transfers that saving can add up. It has rather unusual armour for the same reason: Reinforced Alloy engineered for Heavy Duty. Also B-rated thrusters etc.