Will you ditch the Python for the Chieftain

[ATrifleMiffed]

Does cargo magically shrink when loaded into a Python compared to a Type-7?

Again, it makes absolutely zero sense how a Python can land with MORE cargo on a SMALLER pad than a ship specialized and designed to carry cargo. You would think a transport ship like Type-7 was designed so it can carry the maximum amount of cargo while using a minimum amount of space to do so (e.g. stacking cargo extremely efficiently like a modern containership does).

Well, we don't know anything about their internal layouts, do we? It's possible that the T7 is designed to haul higher-volume, low-density breakbulk, rather than fit tightly packed technological components (that Elite doesn't take volume into account, so a tonne of gold takes up the same amount of space as a tonne of compressed, not-metallic hydrogen, is a different matter entirely). Or perhaps it has a spacious pressure hull to accommodate extra crew on longer voyages (its cockpit is certainly absurdly oversized for a ship that only requires a single pilot). Or maybe there are other engineering constraints, like Lakon having used cheaper thrusters that cannot survive the power output needed to haul a higher mass of cargo with acceptable accelerations, whereas the Python was originally a military patrol cruiser designed to be capable of accelerating rapidly and taking a beating, which requires a sturdier and comparatively more mass-tolerant design.

And from a game design perspective, the T7 is intended to be an entry-level large ship designed to ease players into the experience of flying something large, unwieldy and heavy without breaking the bank, whereas the Python is <i>the</i> end-game medium ship, where a decent multi-role or combat, or even pure haulage fit can buy you several fully fitted T7s. Their intended roles and usage are completely different.

 

[Aashenfox]

To outdo the python as a multi role, it needs to be able to have 360t (2x180t missions) of cargo capacity, while simultaneously carrying an SRV, a disco scanner, a fuel scoop, full weaponry, full shielding and boosters, still boost over 450, and still be agile enough to take out small ships. Never gonna happen, any ship better than that would be ridiculously OP, and then everyone would be in Chieftains instead of Pythons.

 

[Old Duck]

(that Elite doesn't take volume into account, so a tonne of gold takes up the same amount of space as a tonne of compressed, not-metallic hydrogen, is a different matter entirely).

I've always found this very problematic. I used to work in the shipping industry, and volume and mass are two different things entirely, and both had to be taken into account. It makes me chuckle in light of David Braben's videos stating his love of hard science, yet ED gets simple grade school science wrong. But like you said, that's a different matter (and thread) entirely..

 

[PiLhEaD]

Not for the first time I'm wishing for a real alternative to the Python.

It's not that it's too good, it's just that it has no competition. Rather than nerfing the Python, we really need another ship or two that is every bit as capable.

For example the T7 should fit on a medium pad and carry more cargo than the Python.

It's a bit like having only Volkswagen producing a Golf-class car, whilst every other car manufacturer sticks to super minis, SUVs and wheelbarrows. So, come on FDEV, get your finger out!

 

[Iskariot]

Will you ditch the Python for the Chieftain
As the title states, will the new Chieftain be the Python for 2018?

At this stage... how would I know?
I am very curious about this ship though.

One thing is for sure I will never sell my Python.

 

[Gimi]

Its not going to have a fighter bay

I know. But I mentioned it since it's one of the main things I miss flying medium ships.
The Gunship is in no way an all-rounder, and the Gunship and Keelback both lacks cargo space, optional slots and jump range.

I'm not too concerned about combat capabilities, but a medium ship with capabilities like the Python, but maybe only one large hard point and a fighter hangar would be great.
You could also go one down on both power and distributor making it essentially a non combat mission runner which is mainly what I use my python for now anyway.
I wouldn't even mind if they limited it to an unarmed fighter type that I could use for flying around planet surfaces, stations and megaships.

But this is just my personal opinion

 

[ozrix84]

It's not that it's too good, it's just that it has no competition. Rather than nerfing the Python, we really need another ship or two that is every bit as capable.

+1 xactly

 

[Ranualf]

SPIED!

Sneak peak of the the Chieftain in action!

Spoiler

[video=youtube;kdEYVy6BF0w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdEYVy6BF0w[/video]

Amazing stuff as always!

 

[MottiKhan]

I'll buy the Chieftain to supplement my ship collection and possibly use it as an alternative to the Asp-X, depending on its capabilities. It might be a good burner ship for those less than legal tasks.

But I'm not selling my Pythons.

 

[GG7]

As the title states, will the new Chieftain be the Python for 2018?

Nah... I've got 5.5 Billion CR in the bank, so anytime a new ship comes out I buy it and check it out. No need to sell one of my other ships to afford anything new.

Hell! I bought TWO T-10s and A rated both of them. One for Human Combat and one for Thargoid Combat. The Thargoid version sits in mothballs at Alexandria Base in Merope for now. I am still not convinced which Thargoids we should be shooting at yet.

But as far as Python vs Chieftain, I am not expecting them to be that similar as to make one obsolete the other. I think for most veteran pilots, it would take a pretty significant new design to get any of us to sell off our Pythons. Even if we don't use them as much as we did in the old days.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

sell a ship? what is this madness?......

Gotta collect em all!.
I have never sold a ship in the game I do not have another variant of, and I never strip a ship down to get cash to buy or fit out another.

(hence why over 1500 hrs in i literally *just* started flying my anaconda (without insurance no less as i am now broke, which makes thinks a little more interesting )

 

[ATrifleMiffed]

I've always found this very problematic. I used to work in the shipping industry, and volume and mass are two different things entirely, and both had to be taken into account. It makes me chuckle in light of David Braben's videos stating his love of hard science, yet ED gets simple grade school science wrong. But like you said, that's a different matter (and thread) entirely..

In-universe, we could speculate that the whole system is calibrated so that a cargo unit, including the container itself, always comes out to being exactly a tonne in total, rather than simply containing a tonne of stuff, probably as a safety mechanism to prevent idiot freighter owners from stuffing their ships full of tungsten or platinum or whatever and being unable to even reach orbit and then suing the shipyard for it (sillier things have happened it real life...). So those containers probably contain a lot less than a tonne of actual cargo, but it can be anything from a can packed full of H2 to a few bricks of gold embedded in enough packing peanuts to give Amazon warehouse employees nightmares, plus ballast, mini-thrusters, tracking beacons, rad-shielding and other essentials for the container itself.

 

[Jimbodiah]

The chieftain is sized around the Asp and FAS so it is not to be compared with the Python.

 

[NeilF]

Cargo space? Jump range?

Until then...

 

[askavir]

Not for the first time I'm wishing for a real alternative to the Python.

It's not that it's too good, it's just that it has no competition. Rather than nerfing the Python, we really need another ship or two that is every bit as capable.

For example the T7 should fit on a medium pad and carry more cargo than the Python.

It's a bit like having only Volkswagen producing a Golf-class car, whilst every other car manufacturer sticks to super minis, SUVs and wheelbarrows. So, come on FDEV, get your finger out!

I agree.

After a long time advocating more specialized ships, I ended up changing my mind.

There is a reason why the most popular ships are the multiroles like the Python and the AspX, because many people like to do different things without having to constantly change ships or loadouts.

What we need is more AspX's, Pythons and Anacondas, and less pre-crippled ships to get covered in dust in shipyards.

 

[Hooplah]

Nah... I've got 5.5 Billion CR in the bank, so anytime a new ship comes out I buy it and check it out. No need to sell one of my other ships to afford anything new...

Same with me. 3 billion on the PC and 5 billion on the PS4. Of course if we are going to play in Beta we need the PC account. Frontier doesn't test a lot with their users on consoles.

 

[ozrix84]

There is a reason why the most popular ships are the multiroles, because many people like to do different things without having to constantly change ships or loadouts.

+1 xactly

 

[JW667]

Well OP, expect the Chieftain to be patched or rebalanced at least twice so I think we can answer your question in 2019.

 

[Schlack]

I don't think Ill be ditching either of my pythons for the Chieftan.

I will likely buy one if it fits into the BGS toolkit

ASP - explo
Python - general missions
Python - P missions (med pad)
FDL - pew pew
Annaconda - P missions (large pad)
Cutter - trade/mining
Corvette - heavy duty pew pew.

Not seeing any room there at the moment.

 

[lysan]

Noooooooooo way, I own too many paint jobs to change it