At a crossroad

[Xariann]

Sooo I have picked Elite back up recently and I am actually having a lot of fun doing smuggling missions. So much so that I got rid of my T6 brick and swapped back to a Cobra MK III, so I can deal with those pesky interdictions.

Serenity (my Cobra) is fitted so she can haul 44 tons of cargo and she works really well for smuggling and dodging scans.

I also own a Vulture, and while she is murderous, the two lame lasers I put on her are getting old and I want something with more omph. They do the job, but it's just not exciting anymore.

Federal Assault Ship seems perfect at the moment. I watched a couple of videos, basically comparable to Cobra in maneuverability, more firepower than Vulture (FOUR BIG GUNS, YUM), lots of armour, less shields, fairly fast. That seems like the next step up. On a starter build I can also have it carry 20 more tons of cargo compared to the Cobra.

In order for me to get an acceptable build with the money and assets I have, I'd have to sell both the Cobra and the Vulture. I was quite ready to do so until I realised the jump range of the Federal Assault Ship was going to make me want to murder kittens, and I love kittens. I am also not quite sure how well it would fare with smuggling through authority vessels.

When Horizon hits, the Cobra will also serve me well as an explorer (I owned the Asp twice, I know it's better for exploration but the Cobra is just that sort-of cheap ship I can use to do more or less anything in a casual way, and that works for me).

Ideally, I eventually would like to own a Python for multi-purpose and combat capabilities. Don't know how well you can smuggle with that.

I don't know if I care about the Anaconda. I can do exploring with Cobra/Asp/DBX. Trading wise I guess nothing beats it but... Let's leave the Anaconda out of the equation right now. I definitely want to get a Python first. I guess the point is how do I achieve that without killing myself with boredom?

I could get a Clipper and do some trading and fighting, forget the Assault Ship, but I have had the Clipper before and I think after having been spoiled by the Vulture I felt a bit cheated by the Clipper and sold it back. However the Clipper is pretty decent for trading, better than the T7 overall and damn sexy. It might help me make money faster through trading, but I will give up the smuggling, which is just too much fun (P.S. I don't use the login/logout exploit). I could get the Clipper without selling the Cobra. It will be a stripped down Clipper, but since I use it for trading it will be okay and trading should allow me to upgrade it fairly fast. Point of the Clipper: leverage money through trading, shoot the random pirate down. Then... Python?

If I go for the Assault Ship... then I will be screwed with the trading, the jump range will be absolutely abysmal. Then I guess I could re-pledge with a warring power and get my money with bounties... how fast will that get me a Python? Will I wind up getting a trade ship anyhow?

What would you guys/gals do if you had my situation as starting point?

[Cmdr Kharma]

I'd go for the ASP.......But then again I'm a *BIG* ASP fan.....It's the only ship I fly and has been for a long time.....

I find I can do anything I want in it.....Which is mainly Bounty hunting, trading and exploring....I switch between roles as I get bored quickly...

The jump range is handy with the new long haul(ish) missions......and 2 x beams + 2 x pulses + 2 x Multi-Cannons make it quite a fighter....

It does wallow a bit, but once you learn it's limits and learn to use the thrusters in combat it becomes quite effective....Well for me it does....Still gotta know when to invoke code 39 though (GTFO)......

The trouble with the ASP is it really is a Jack of trades and master of none.....It can do anything well.....but obviously not as good as a dedicated fighter or trader......

The only other ship I would consider at the moment would be a Python.....But they are bloody expensive to kit out the way I would want....

I flew a Fed gunship in beta.....They have awesome firepower but fly like a pig......

[Xariann]

Hey, thanks for the response.

As I said I already owned the Asp twice, I am not really wanting to own one again until I do some exploring. I already experienced it, I'd like to do something else.

The Federal Gunship and the Federal Assault Ship are not the same thing, you won't see me anywhere NEAR a Gunship

I was more wondering about the choice between the Clipper and the Assault Ship, being two ships with different focus.

[clivewil]

Federal Assault Ship seems perfect at the moment.

i love my Assault Ship, it's essentially a Vulture with a bit more room. 4x A0 shield boosters will fix the weak shield problem, and the entire thing can be A-graded for about 60 mil in total (i think that also includes buying the ship itself, iirc) - that's only slightly more than a stock E-grade Python would cost

[Xariann]

Is it worth running a stock E Python and building up the money with the Python itself?

[Xariann]

I've decided. Since my CPO promotion mission is taking ages, I now can buy me an Assault Ship and keep my Cobra.

I can always sell the Assault Ship when I swap to Python.

[Dree]

I'm an ASP as well as a Python fan, I think the Python is much like an ASP, only stronger, faster and bigger.
I started the Python as stock and was broke, along the way trading I graded it up to the A status.

Dree

[WolfRaven]

I reckon a multi-role ASP would suit your play-style Xariann.

A few weeks ago I kitted out my ASP as a Miner/Exploration/Fighter and it has basically financed my brand new Python;
http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=70g,0-80- ... 65Sc2jw2UI
That's an almost A-rated loadout but with the 1.4 changes it would be worth adding a prospector done controller on there.

What I was doing was picking up multiple Mining Missions at a High-Tech station and locating a Pristine Metallic Ring nearby.
After fulfilling the missions I'd do some local missions/NAV/RES sites (with my unsold cargo onboard) and return to pick up/auto-fulfill new missions until the cargo was gone.

Definately more profitable that just selling to the Commodities Market, plus extra income from Exploration data & Bounties.

[Xariann]

Ok you Asp ganking bunch. I yield. I'll buy back my Asp

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Xariann]

Here she is, fully A rated and with paint job.