Newcomer / Intro Why can I not kill NPC Pythons with my A-rated Anaconda?

TopCat160

T
Strictly I'm not a newcomer, but I'm a newcomer to the forum, and I've learned so much from here recently that I might just as well be one, so I'm posting here in full knowledge that I have a lot to learn.

FDS, FAS, I can despatch with relative ease if they interdict me, but despite big gimballed beams on the three biggest hardpoints, NPC pythons still kick my as5 and I usually end up running away to pay off a big bill for hull repair.

Ok, hands up, I do suck at combat, and I'm only just starting to learn to fly with FA off (and not for much more than spinning myself round after a pass), but any ideas what obvious things I might be missing?
 

krysohmyz

K
This is really hard to answer. (well, of course, except the obligatory "Don't suck at combat, then." :D)

Without seeing you fly, and being able to point out the mistakes, "How do I get better in combat" is probably the hardest question around here.
The thing I suggest would probably be - spec your Conda out for trading/missions/whatever you use to earn money and just avoid attackers, and stick with smaller ships for combat. Federal Gunship is quite close to Conda in the fighting style, so you could try her.

Also - fighters. For a not-entirely-combat-focused ship they are a blessing. If you train an NPC pilot up to a Master or dangerous, they will be able to kill that Python themselves. :D
 

Chris Simon

Chris Simon
TopCat160 said:
Strictly I'm not a newcomer, but I'm a newcomer to the forum, and I've learned so much from here recently that I might just as well be one, so I'm posting here in full knowledge that I have a lot to learn.

FDS, FAS, I can despatch with relative ease if they interdict me, but despite big gimballed beams on the three biggest hardpoints, NPC pythons still kick my as5 and I usually end up running away to pay off a big bill for hull repair.

Ok, hands up, I do suck at combat, and I'm only just starting to learn to fly with FA off (and not for much more than spinning myself round after a pass), but any ideas what obvious things I might be missing?
Click to expand...

I agree with Krys that the fighter might make all the difference, both in extra DPS and more importantly, drawing aggro away from you.
What shield class are you using? Have you tried turrets? Shield cell banks? Boosters?

In big ships, piloting skills really matter. You're a big, slow target and if you can't dish out a decent amount of damage quickly, you'll end up with a huge repair bill.
 

Para Handy

Para Handy
Depends on the "rank" of the AI in the Python - Deadly and Elite can be a real pita. Meantime (and I am not a pew-pew player) look at:

1. Pip management - when not actually firing, swap pips into sys, get used to swapping pips on the fly as quickly as you can manage.

2. Vertical and lateral thrusters - if you can use controls to allow you to utilize vertical and lateral thrusters you can keep on-target more and also make their fixed weaponry miss more, especially PAs and rails.
 

metatheurgist

metatheurgist
krysohmyz said:
Also - fighters. For a not-entirely-combat-focused ship they are a blessing. If you train an NPC pilot up to a Master or dangerous, they will be able to kill that Python themselves. :D
Click to expand...

Hate fighters. I used to eat Anacondas in my FAS but now those annoying mosquitoes guarantee I will always take some damage.
 

JetsonRING

JetsonRING
TopCat160 said:
Strictly I'm not a newcomer, but I'm a newcomer to the forum, and I've learned so much from here recently that I might just as well be one, so I'm posting here in full knowledge that I have a lot to learn.
FDS, FAS, I can despatch with relative ease if they interdict me, but despite big gimballed beams on the three biggest hardpoints, NPC pythons still kick my as5 and I usually end up running away to pay off a big bill for hull repair.
Ok, hands up, I do suck at combat, and I'm only just starting to learn to fly with FA off (and not for much more than spinning myself round after a pass), but any ideas what obvious things I might be missing?
Click to expand...

Going to agree with the herd and say "It ain't the arrow, it's the Indian." o7
 

StiTch

StiTch
Python has disgusting firepower for its size. C7 distributor. 3x C3 hardpoint, 2x C2 hardpoint. That is WAY above the paygrade of anything else in its league, putting it in competition with even the FGS. This means against a Python, do not get into face tanking matches unless your ship can handle it. Your ship clearly can't.

It's susceptible to module damage so use agility to keep out its fire arc and melt its PP when you can. Practice your evasive manoeuvring if you need to.

Also, make sure you're engineering your ship right. 'conda should not be squishy.
 
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Codger

Codger
For me, it's all about loadout, engineering and tactics. I've set up my ship to account for my rubbish flying :)

I might not be a great pilot, but I still win the battles, so I figure that's good enough.

Here's a recent video of me using my Anaconda in a bounty-hunting CG, doing a HAZ Res.

Jump to 45:25 to just see how the ship handles a wing of a Master ASP plus a Dangerous FDL.

You'll see that my flying is nothing special. I don't use FAOff. I don't move my pips much. I just float around attempting to face the enemy, and try to make sure most of my turrets can hit them.

I show the loadout, earlier in the video (14:20), if you get interested enough to look for it :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVWhRyyjVVk

Good luck, and fly safe!
 
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d8veh

d8veh
Pips is the key. unfortunately an Anaconda is a slow ship and a big target. The python will face tank-you. He doesn't care if he dies, so he has nothing to lose. He'll keep pointing at you giving you everything he's got, until he dies. You must keep 4 pips to shields all the time he does that, which means your lasers will soon run out of power. You therefore have to change them to something that doesn't need so much power, like multi-cannons, or use all pulse lasers and get them engineered to efficient weapons. A Fighter with multi-cannons will help. They can do a lot of damage, which will make the Python turn to it if you stop firing for a bit, then you can get your capacitor charged up and shoot him from behind until he turns back. As soon as he turns away, put 4 pips to weapons to get as much power to them while you can.

You've got virtually no chance of getting the Python's power plant with an Anaconda because it faces you all the time. That only works in a fast ship.

Anything from the engineers will help. Grade 5 dirty drives for speed and agility, shields and shield boosters for protection, distributor for faster charging. Get at least two SCBs as big as you can and an engineered heatsink launcher with 4 heatsinks will help. Work out how to fire two SCBs with one heatsink.
 

Bunkerkind Anni

Bunkerkind Anni
i have no conda yet,
but i fight py's often (in my py)

NPC Py's almost everytime come with plasma accelerators - which deal absolute damage

keep that in mind when you fit and mod your ship.
- thermal resist mod on the shield (against the lasers it eventually has)
- heavy duty modded shield booster (against the plasma accelerators)
- resist modded shield booster (to "cap" out resists)

npc Py's often use heatsinks - if you have at least one weapon modded with emissive munitions, you wont lose target lock when they use SCB+heatsink.

you say you are using three large beams.
IMHO you should replace those with three large long range pulse - and those with scramble spectrum and thermal shock.
 

Winterwalker

Winterwalker
MalcYorks said:
I hate engineers


........... just sayin'
Click to expand...

I LOVE engineers .. just saying (too) :D

I'm flying a (sometimes mining, sometimes trading) Python myself but it's amazing how noticeable it is taking out my 4T collector controller (or something like that) and replaced it with 16T of cargo .. you can guess the result. So if you're trading/ being interdicted, I think not all that surprising if a Python (only one class below Anaconda) fitted out as a pirate-combat ship, gives a heavier trading ship only one class above it something to think about. If you read the ship info about the Python 'some navies use it as a patrol vessel' and if it is tanked up, can handle itself pretty well. I list it with Anaconda, as a genuine threat.
 

wrmiller

W
Never tried to fight in a conda, but I have a 'armed trader' Python that seems to have no trouble with pretty much any NPC I run across. OK, OK... I'll run from a wing of three condas, but one-on-one I'll tackle anything. :D

A engineered Python (Dangerous or Elite) can be quite a hand full to any A-rated ship. I am moderately engineered, having resigned myself to dealing with some of these types, with pretty much everything G5 except for thrusters and shield boosters (G3). I don't fight other CMDRs, and I mean no disrespect but when I come across a Master (A-rated?) conda I start drooling. In very short order I am picking through the wreckage looking for rares. My point of all this is that you need to at least engineer her a bit. This coming from a guy who HATES engineers... ;)

Good luck Sir!
 
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bookmite

bookmite
wrmiller said:
Never tried to fight in a conda, but I have a 'armed trader' Python that seems to have no trouble with pretty much any NPC I run across. OK, OK... I'll run from a wing of three condas, but one-on-one I'll tackle anything. :D

A engineered Python (Dangerous or Elite) can be quite a hand full to any A-rated ship. I am moderately engineered, having resigned myself to dealing with some of these types, with pretty much everything G5 except for thrusters and shield boosters (G3). I don't fight other CMDRs, and I mean no disrespect but when I come across a Master (A-rated?) conda I start drooling. In very short order I am picking through the wreckage looking for rares. My point of all this is that you need to at least engineer her a bit. This coming from a guy who HATES engineers... ;)

Good luck Sir!
Click to expand...

Agree Cmdr Miller, the big ships especially are like flying a dead cow without engineering. The Python in particular comes alive with dirty drive tuning and other tweaks, mines A rated, and even with G5 fsd have never been able to get it over 29ly when fully beefed up for combat....I've reduced the cargo capacity to 128tons which is ample for smuggling runs, and added the module and hull re-enforcements . Engineered the shields , and SCB's and shield boosters and efficient weapons all in all it's a ship to do multi role and feel safe in...it's not a pure insta death ship by any means but as you say can hold its own against any NPC..
 

Gully Foyle

Gully Foyle
MalcYorks said:
I hate engineers


........... just sayin'
Click to expand...

Me too. No time for them really.

- - - Updated - - -

Bunkerkind Anni said:
i have no conda yet,
but i fight py's often (in my py)

NPC Py's almost everytime come with plasma accelerators - which deal absolute damage

keep that in mind when you fit and mod your ship.
- thermal resist mod on the shield (against the lasers it eventually has)
- heavy duty modded shield booster (against the plasma accelerators)
- resist modded shield booster (to "cap" out resists)

npc Py's often use heatsinks - if you have at least one weapon modded with emissive munitions, you wont lose target lock when they use SCB+heatsink.

you say you are using three large beams.
IMHO you should replace those with three large long range pulse - and those with scramble spectrum and thermal shock.
Click to expand...

I use 3 large MCs and some PAs on the Conda when I'm in one.
 

StiTch

StiTch
d8veh said:
You've got virtually no chance of getting the Python's power plant with an Anaconda because it faces you all the time. That only works in a fast ship.
Click to expand...

A grilled salmon floating space with a pistol attached could hit the Python's PP.

I do it in a cutter - am sure OP can do it in a conda with a little work.
 
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