I'm working on improving the range of my two Mandalays, both are now a little over 50Ly, but are built quite different. I find this strange. Makes me wonder how much engineering is enough. Obviously what the ship is used for determines the module selection.
One has 6 engineered modules, the other just one. Both have the Guardian FSD Booster.
Do you want speed? Improved jump range? Better heat management? Stronger shields? Looking for more power?
What I'm finding when trying different things in Coriolis is that there are a bunch of things that can be done, but you can't have it all. It really helps to know what I want and don't want and that is easier with two ships.
The MAJOR downside is that I'm finding out just how...INVOLVED engineering is.
It starts with access to the engineers needed for a given improvement, then having to go gather all those materials. One thing leads to another, and another, and another!
The V1 Pre-Engineered FSD (SCO) Class 5 can be obtained without having to go through all the steps to engineer it yourself. Getting the materials together has been an education, especially the Titan Dive Component and Propulsion Element. I've never done any Thargoid-type stuff since I got back into ED just as the last Titan was taken out. So I then find out about special cargo racks and caustic clouds! All for what? One Titan Drive Component and 7 Propulsion Elements?
That got me to thinking about engineering, the process of being able to engineer a module and it's requirements. I have zero interest in messing with Thargoids or anything combat-related.
Is it really worth it? The road to doing the engineering myself is LONNNG. Just discovering the needed engineers seems excessively involved. Seriously, I need to have gone at least 5000Ly from start point before accessing an engineer? The most I've gone so far is less than 700Ly from start! I'm building a ship for explorations stuff, but I don't feel like having to jump nearly 100 times (because my ship needs, you guessed it, engineering to jump farther!) just to access some engineer.
Engineering is making me second-guess the process. If I keep finding that I'm asking if it's worth it, then maybe it isn't.
A Mandalay with a jump range over 80Ly? It's possible, but it takes A LOT of engineering, Grade 4 and 5, AND the correct modules focused on making it lightweight. Which modules you select is critical.
Both of my Mandalays have the 5A FSD Booster, but that only adds a max 10.5Ly. Nice, but you need much more to reach at least 80. To get the range, the foundation is to have the correct FSD (SCO). Off the showroom floor new, it's range is less than 30Ly. There is a LONG involved process to get 80Ly out of a Mandalay.
You cannot just run over to the nearest module store and buy what you need. Oh no, that would be too easy!
The best seems to be the V1 Pre-Engineered, but man, to get it is a real pain for anybody who hasn't been collecting materials or discovering engineers. You are in for an adventure whether you want it or not!
s.orbis.zone
