Which ships still have a unique purpose in the ”end game”?

Greetings Commanders,

As we all know, currently there are the three "end game" (I'm being a little facetious here, I know) ships which excel in their field. Anaconda, Corvette & Cutter.
However, surely, at the end of the game, there will be more than just these three flying around for whatever reason,
be it mining, outpost capability, jump range, cool running, general purpose, exploring, rares trading, etc.

I really want to think that many ships designed by Elite have a purpose for existing for reasons other than just being a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

I want to propose a thread which highlights ALL of the exceptional ships in the game using a format thus:

NAME
Ship's model name here (obvious)

SUMMARY
A one line description here (Best ○○○, Excellent △△△ etc.)

BUILD
Ship suggested loadout (Coriolis, shipyard, Inara link, or plaintext).

NOTES/ANECDOTES
Anything else (tell us why you think so or an intersting anecdote about it).
Why this ship over another, perhaps more obvious choice.


May your weapons capacitors never run dry, Commanders!

Grax.
 
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The Thargoids haven't arrived yet? What end game. I'll never fly ships that have less than 6 maneuverability so I'll never have an end game. YAY
Well, maybe a panther clipper just for trade.
 
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Fer De Lance

Best RES Bounty Hunter

It is very fast, can get from kill to kill to kill in quickly time. ミニ☆
It can land on medium pad and outpost.
It is beautiful ship.
Is that ok?

Hello Grax. It's me ありさ... thank you for telling me this game.
初期は難しかったがけっこうおもしろくなった。ありがとね. I reach to Dangerous.
v(≧∀≦)v
 
I can only think of one..

NAME

Sidewinder

SUMMARY
Starting ship, and also best ship to die fast and cheap.

BUILD
Kill me gently in coriolis.io

NOTES/ANECDOTES
This is the ship that we all used to trade with ONCE, then we only used again to get rid of a bounty. I remember trying not to die in the sidewinder at the beginning.. the irony..
 
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The Thargoids haven't arrived yet? What end game. I'll never fly ships that have less than 6 maneuverability so I'll never have an end game. YAY
Well, maybe a panther clipper just for trade.

That is why I quoted end game... I meant "ultimate" ships. As in, are there still niches or reasons for "lesser" ships to still exist (obviously there are) if big ships are around, any why?
The panther is not even here yet.

Ill let you know when ships become "unique".

What do you mean by "unique" in quotes?

Fer De Lance

Best RES Bounty Hunter

It is very fast, can get from kill to kill to kill in quickly time. ミニ☆
It can land on medium pad and outpost.
It is beautiful ship.
Is that ok?

Hello Grax. It's me ありさ... thank you for telling me this game.
初期は難しかったがけっこうおもしろくなった。ありがとね. I reach to Dangerous.
v(≧∀≦)v

こんにちはArisa!!! You started Elite then!?!?.. (obviously)... Thank you for your friend request. Yes, this game can be a bit difficult to get started but you're already Dangerous? Nice going!
頑張ってね。
Are you flying a fer de lance now?

I can only think of one..

NAME

Sidewinder

SUMMARY
Starting ship, and also best ship to die fast and cheap.

BUILD
Kill me gently in coriolis.io

NOTES/ANECDOTES
This is the ship that we all used to trade with ONCE, then we only used again to get rid of a bounty. I remember trying not to die in the sidewinder at the beginning.. the irony..

Ah, the "Bounty-be-gone" a quintessential classic which I have had the (mis)fortune to fly myself.
 
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Cobra Mk. III

It's nearly invulnerable... but even has a cheap re-buy. ;) Great for a "Brave Sir Robin" build, as a rum runner, and rares trader, or just general smugly mucking about (if that's a thing).

Disclaimer: I only occasionally use one though, as I'm generally out exploring in my combat loaded Vulture these days.
 
There is no end game ship for me. I fly the best ship for the job I'm doing. Sometimes it's a Hauler, sometimes it's a Ferdelance, sometimes it's a Python.
 
Well when you are Elite in your specialist field have more money and sense so even trading in your cutter seems like a grind, or if you kill one more pirate your going to go made and you look of other things to do - I expect in your fleet will be a Python and an Asp Explorer. One to be multi-role but allow you use Outposts. One as an explorer - although if you have the spare billion or so you probably equip an exploration Annie out of your spare change.

Simon
 
Python for long-range smuggling of larger-than-Asp quantities, being able to land on outposts (huge advantage compared the aforementioned "end game ships") while packing a wicked punch against anything that you choose to fight.

http://coriolis.io/outfit/python/05...2f.AwRj4yoo.EwBhEYy6dsg=?bn=Smuggler wif teef

I was amazed how swiftly 5 class 2 multis eat through shields ^^ and if you only kill what gets in your way of getting somewhere you want to go, you can rely on your ammo supply.
 
When i wanna have fun on planets: Eagle or Cobra. (something fast xD)

When i wanna shoot stuff: Corvette, Fdl, Vulture or Courier.

When i wanna explore stuff: Asp or Anaconda.

When i wanna trade or do missions: Cutter or Python.
 
The Federal Assault Ship

Name: 不細工な暗殺者(The Fugly Assassin)
Summary: Do you really need to kill someone quickly? It's ugly. It's a stone cold killer best suited for getting in, dealing massive damage, then getting out.
Build: Here. (highllights: 1x fixed class 3 beam laser, 1x fixed class 3 frag cannon, 2x fixed class 2 frag cannon; 2,410 hit points)
Notes: Great in conflict zones. For about five minutes. Then your ammo runs out.

And yes, I know - it's severely limited, and yes, 80MCr for one job. But if this is the "end-game," money's no object. :)
 
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I really want to think that many ships designed by Elite have a purpose for existing for reasons other than just being a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

They are not. I know one or two players, upon getting the Cobra Mk 3, have no intention of flying anything bigger.

Out of the current 3 big ships, i'm not really interesting in any of them, except possibly the Anaconda for mining. I'm using an Annie for exploration at the moment, but doubt i'll do it again without good reason. The turn rate in SC is horrible.

However, the Beluga might be coming in 2.2 (if speculation is right), in which case, i'll be tempted to take one of those exploring... already did one trip in an Orca. Travel in style is what i say.

-------------------

Don't think i'll ever settle on a single "end game" ship, but based off the current roster....

NAME
Orca

SUMMARY
Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger.

Saud Kruger stands for style, elegance, and comfort. If you are not flying a Saud Kruger, then you are a nobody. I don't care about your fancy clippers, heavy fed ships, or big bulk ships. No other company provides on board facilities such as a zero-g swimming pool, a casino, and custom gold plated zero-g bidet!

BUILD
However you want, just remember, style over substance! Contact your nearest Saud Kruger representative to talk about optional extras such as disco lasers and firework missiles!

NOTES/ANECDOTES
Once another player tried to ram my Orca in an Asp. They soon discovered getting into a ramming contest against Saud Kruger's patented hull structural safety system was a bad idea.

Just remember though, its not about function, its about style!

Say it again: Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger.
 
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They are not. I know one or two players, upon getting the Cobra Mk 3, have no intention of flying anything bigger.

Out of the current 3 big ships, i'm not really interesting in any of them, except possibly the Anaconda for mining. I'm using an Annie for exploration at the moment, but doubt i'll do it again without good reason. The turn rate in SC is horrible.

However, the Beluga might be coming in 2.2 (if speculation is right), in which case, i'll be tempted to take one of those exploring... already did one trip in an Orca. Travel in style is what i say.

-------------------

Don't think i'll ever settle on a single "end game" ship, but based off the current roster....

NAME
Orca

SUMMARY
Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger.

Saud Kruger stands for style, elegance, and comfort. If you are not flying a Saud Kruger, then you are a nobody. I don't care about your fancy clippers, heavy fed ships, or big bulk ships. No other company provides on board facilities such as a zero-g swimming pool, a casino, and custom gold plated zero-g bidet!

BUILD
However you want, just remember, style over substance! Contact your nearest Saud Kruger representative to talk about optional extras such as disco lasers and firework missiles!

NOTES/ANECDOTES
Once another player tried to ram my Orca in an Asp. They soon discovered getting into a ramming contest against Saud Kruger's patented hull structural safety system was a bad idea.

Just remember though, its not about function, its about style!

Say it again: Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger. Saud Kruger.
Mine is in the midnight black paintjob. It's like a glossy black luxury      . Good for mission-running, great for running away - there are only two ships that can keep up with it.
 

dayrth

Volunteer Moderator
The ultimate ship depends on what you want to do with it. I think they have all been mentioned before, but.....

Cobra mk III - If you are making a career of smuggling then this is the ship for you. Period.
Python - The best all-rounder there is. If you like to do a bit of everything then it's the only ship you will ever need.
FDL - If bounty hunting is your thing, then the FDL is your ship.
Asp x - nothing better for exploring.
Type 9 - I know, but some people do prefer it for trade.
Even an Eagle - IF station racing is your thing.

I have an Asp that I am out exploring in at the moment. Back in the garage I have a Python and an FDL (as well as a few others, but I don't use them much). I have absolutely no desire to get a Anaconda, Corvette or Cutter. In face I did buy an Anaconda once. Even got it all A rated, but just didn't like it, so sold it again.
 
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I role equip all my ships so they all are unique and set for best role

Best bookmark - sidewinder
Best scavenger - cobra 3
Best smuggler - cobra 4
Rares trader - asp explorer
Miner - Python
Armed trader - federal gunship

And so on - I build ships to a role and make them as best I can that doesn't mean A classing everything it's a case of looking at each module and putting in what you need so my scavenger cobra 3 has a class sensors ( for the poi hunt) my federal gunship has d class to lower mass ther is no reason to change that
 
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