RIP Red Herring

[Walter]

I'm not playing at the mo....

Playing would just distract you from the warm embrace of that new chair.

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

I suppose I'll get an Anaconda anyway, just without trading in my main ship this time; I'd rather just take it nice and slow at this point.

I will very likely re-buy one when I no longer need to trade in my Python to make it viable. That will be a bit of time, but I'm not too worried about it

[Flip]

Here's my take on it, from the point of view of someone interested in combat more than trading. For what it's worth.

I briefly tried the Anaconda during the last beta. I didn't upgrade it, and I didn't bring it to any combat. I wasn't too impressed by its maneuverability! But now that I've been bounty hunting and doing mercenary jobs alongside Victoria and her conda for some time, I can tell you that its maneuverability is more than good enough to kill anything! I can't believe what it can take, the way she set it up, and most of the time she destroys anything in range in less time that I need to run a KWS. So if you want a money maker that handles like a very powerful truck, go for that. But plan for 25m in insurance or more!

I've been using a Python, recently, and even though I really like the way it looks, I don't like flying it. It's a truck too, but not a very powerful one. I've seen suggested that you have to learn how to fly it, but the problem is that it's already the way I fly my Vulture, with extensive use of thrusters, boost and FA off. This is so much fun, in the Vulture! In the Python, that makes it just maneuverable enough for my taste. Or more exactly the problem is not its maneuverability, it's the time it takes. Combined with its poor visibility (there's that structural beam across your field of view and if you look up you look at the ceiling), it makes it hard to keep agile ships in check. And finally it cannot take as much of a pounding as the Conda! So you're fine in front of any big ship, but if 5 small ships gang on you, you'd better be very careful! And I'm not talking about the default Python, mine is a A/B class whose insurance is more than 4.5m. So yeah, not much fun IMO, but it has a good punch and some cargo.

But really my favorite at the moment is the Vulture. The only problem is taking it from one place to the next. Oh yeah, and it's ugly—but who cares? Other than that, I find it perfect. It doesn't kill as fast as the Conda, but does it as fast and possibly faster than the Python. I use similar weapons on the Python and the Vulture (beams for the shields and pulse for the hull and subsystems, all gimbaled), so it's easy to compare. It's not the greatest money maker, but it's so much fun to fly... Using thrusters and playing with the boost and the FA, you can literally dance around big ships and dodge their cannons while shooting at them. IMO this is much more fun than sitting in a big ship, counting on your shields to win the fight.

But then I use a HOTAS and I wouldn't even consider flying with keyboard and mouse, so your setup definitely determines your flying style and therefore the ship that suits you better. Again, "to each their own".

[Loriath]

Flip, I get what your saying, and I agree for the most part. The Vulture is like a Big Brother to the Eagle. Where the Eagle is a pest as it buzzes you and kills you with a thousand cuts, the Vulture is the Big Brother that the Eagle calls when it gets in trouble. That Big Brother is Bigger, Stronger, can take a punch, and can move almost as fast. FA off, thrust turns, and its maneuverability makes it killer.

But I am sort of concerned about your comments on the Python. I thought it would have more punch than what you seem to say it does. I know what Victoria did to my vulture with her Python before she got the Conda. I have seen it in action, and I know that a Piloted Anaconda is head and shoulders above the NPC's, so that is a given. But since I want a Python I am now starting to get concerned.

I know you cant fly the Python like a Vulture, it doesn't have the moves. But Shouldn't it pack more power to put on Target and take things down faster? Is it a difference in the way you are using it because you are so use to the Vulture?

Using a Boxer style analogy, the Eagle stays on the outside goes for the win on points avoiding the clench and damage where the Vulture gets in close and pounds hard in the clench. Would the Python not be better a little more outside the Vulture range and rain down bombs? Or can it work inside the clench as well, but needs to clench, flury and then back out and repeat?

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

Flip, I get what your saying, and I agree for the most part. The Vulture is like a Big Brother to the Eagle. Where the Eagle is a pest as it buzzes you and kills you with a thousand cuts, the Vulture is the Big Brother that the Eagle calls when it gets in trouble. That Big Brother is Bigger, Stronger, can take a punch, and can move almost as fast. FA off, thrust turns, and its maneuverability makes it killer.

But I am sort of concerned about your comments on the Python. I thought it would have more punch than what you seem to say it does. I know what Victoria did to my vulture with her Python before she got the Conda. I have seen it in action, and I know that a Piloted Anaconda is head and shoulders above the NPC's, so that is a given. But since I want a Python I am now starting to get concerned.

I know you cant fly the Python like a Vulture, it doesn't have the moves. But Shouldn't it pack more power to put on Target and take things down faster? Is it a difference in the way you are using it because you are so use to the Vulture?

Using a Boxer style analogy, the Eagle stays on the outside goes for the win on points avoiding the clench and damage where the Vulture gets in close and pounds hard in the clench. Would the Python not be better a little more outside the Vulture range and rain down bombs? Or can it work inside the clench as well, but needs to clench, flury and then back out and repeat?

I guess I could add my two cents about the Python, though I think I've done it before

I think, really, it all depends on your loadout and play style. The Python handles, in my estimation, very similar to the Cobra, though not as fast. The hardpoint placement is amazing, and the size of the hardpoints is also quite awesome when it comes to pure firepower. There isn't a single NPC in the game that will give me trouble, and I only really have to pay attention and be careful when more than four things are hitting me, or if I'm in a particularly hectic Conflict Zone by myself. The shields in the Python max out at 726 MJ which is certainly nothing to shake a stick at and I've never had any power problems to speak of.

In my experience, I take things down MUCH faster in my Python than I did in my Vulture, even without the maneuverability, mostly because you have twice as many weapons, and none of the power issues that the Vulture suffers from...

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

Also:

For what it's worth, here's the loadout I'm currently running with.

Having C and B rank weapons is lots of fun I do slightly miss the Anaconda's Class 4 Hardpoint for that A class plasma accelerator... but I wasn't very good at hitting things with it anyway.

► Show Spoiler

[Python]
L: 3C/G Beam Laser
L: 3C/G Beam Laser
L: 3B/F Plasma Accelerator
M: 2F/T Multi-cannon
M: 2F/T Multi-cannon
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster

BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 7C Power Plant
TM: 6D Thrusters
FH: 5A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 4D Life Support
PC: 7A Power Distributor
SS: 6D Sensors
FS: 5C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 32)

6: 6A Shield Generator
6: 6E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 64)
6: 6E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 64)
5: 5E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 32)
5: 5E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 32)
4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
3: 3E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 8)
3: 3C Fuel Scoop
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
---
Shield: 726.27 MJ
Power : 18.25 MW retracted (73%)
24.78 MW deployed (99%)
25.00 MW available
Cargo : 220 T
Fuel : 32 T
Mass : 612.0 T empty
864.0 T full
Range : 19.13 LY unladen
14.26 LY laden
Price : 105,439,417 CR
Re-Buy: 5,271,971 CR @ 95% insurance

[Flip]

As I said, Loriath, I didn't arm the Python with anything fancy. Just 3 beams and 2 pulse lasers. I'm sure it'd kill much faster with multi-cannons in place of the pulse and a plasma Accelerator in its belly hardpoint, for example. But I've tried to avoid anything that requires ammo, so I can decide when to go back and cash in rather than having it forced on me. And you're probably right that I fly it too much like the Vulture. But again my main goal is to have fun, not to make money, and the Vulture just gives me that much more fun.

Your boxer analogy is a good one and is pretty spot on when you're talking about fighting one opponent. But when faced with a flock of small agile ships, like Vipers, it's not that hard to be overwhelmed (the Targeting Highest Threat bug certainly doesn't help).

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

Using a Boxer style analogy, the Eagle stays on the outside goes for the win on points avoiding the clench and damage where the Vulture gets in close and pounds hard in the clench. Would the Python not be better a little more outside the Vulture range and rain down bombs? Or can it work inside the clench as well, but needs to clench, flury and then back out and repeat?

Also Also (then I'll shut up, I promise : D)

I think a comfortable range for a Python depends on what type of weapons you're using, and how you like to fly. Obviously fixed weapons seem to be much more effective at longer ranges than other types, so you can do more damage and sit further away while your friends pound the enemy from up close. I like gimbals and some turrets (situational) so that I can get a little closer and feel a little bit more epic going toe to toe with those Anacondas

I dunno... I just really really really like the Python <.<

but this is Mobius! To each their own, yes? That's what's so fun about having so many ships (and more on the way!)

[highlightshadow]

Funny ... i was in same boat.... When the Zaonce event happened i wanted to get the conda at the discounted price .... which i could afford by selling off my Asp and Vulture .... i did and hated the stock outfitting .... so i ended up selling my A-Spec Python to raise 170m for outfitting the conda ..... but i still didn't enjoy it... maybe i didn't give it long enough but i found the firing arc jarring compared to, as i see, the peerless Python for weapons placement.

Bought the Python back ... stripped the 'conda to its bare bones and its sat for now in Shinrarta Dhezra awaiting the time when i can have 200m again to have both

[blazingmaniac]

I find the Python more than sufficient in fact I feel more confident in that than anything else, especially when going into combat, yes you need to adapt how you fight as it is certainly no thoroughbred fighter but when you get it on target it is serious trouble for the enemy.
I fight most things up close and personal especially Conda's and pythons. I use thrust tactics, primarily upwards and left thrust with flight adjustments to circle around the tail end of Anaconda's whilst targeting the power plant. (you can get into turn wars with smaller more nimble craft but there are ways and means around this and after all they are only NPC's so they will always boost away from you sooner or later and when they do... you have got them, game over).
I run 2 x class 3 Gimballed beams 1 x class 3 PA and 2 x class 2 Cannons for kinetic damage.
I find the ship can take a huge beating as well, I have 2xA0 shield boosters and a A6 Shield generator, and currently no Cell banks and it is very rare to lose the shields, even after being rammed by NPC's when fighting up close and personal.

I have used the Vulture a few times but not for prolonged periods of combat as I find that my play style is varied and I do a fair amount of trading so I prefer a ship with multi role capability and the Python certainly fits this role perfectly as I mentioned above it is my go to ship for anything that might involve pew pew.