More RES-effective: Vulture or Python?

[uvelius]

Now that I have made some cash during the last Community Goals I consider to brush off the dust from my old Python, fit it to full luxury combat specs and and give it a nice vacuuming.
I wonder whether it is still more effective in RESses than the basic Vulture? The Vulture is more agile, therefore might be much better for RES hunting due to evading those big Class 4 guns of NPC Anacondas and others. And it feels as if one is quicker to get to the next NPC after one has popped.

What do you think?

[de Carabas]

It's a good question and one I was thinking about last night.
I've currently got a Vulture and was doing some combat over the last couple of days to find needed components in order to get upgrades on my Cutter. I find the Vulture is more fun. It's not as powerfull but you can fling it around and hide behind most of the bigger ships to get your kills. The downside I find is that once the shields have gone the canopy appears to melt in seconds. Pretty cheap to replace when it goes pop. Power capacity is always a balancing issue with the Vulture - there's never enough.

The Python always felt vulnerable until you got a really tough shield on it and of course that means having the cash to splash on those upgrades.

So - quick fix of combat fun I would go Vulture. Taking a career change and focussing on combat for a bit and for me it's a maxed out Python.

[uvelius]

Thanks de Carabras! I racked up over 5 million in bounties for the CG in one single Hi-RES Vulture session, two nights before. Boosting behind icy rocks when getting in real in danger or on shield drop. Which is nice, yet I somehow have more love for the Python still. It feels ... bigger. And is more resilient with those shield cells and all that.

But since a Python is a floating barn door compared with a Vulture, I fear that it could be easy prey for some Elite Anaconda or other ships with PAs or spitting those lilac thermal drops (what are they, actually?). How's your experience with that?
I would slap A-grade shielding with Grade 3 engineer upgrade, Boosters, Military hull on it, and someday might even be able to afford dirty drives.

[de Carabas]

In the past I had no issues facing Elite 'condas in a Python but I've got to admit I've not tried much of that since Engineers hit and the chances are they run enhanced weapons now. You've got me thinking about swapping the Vulture for a Python and giving it a go

Also, Military Hull - I'm assuming it doesn't make the canopy any tougher on a ship does it? It wouldn't make any snse but......

[TorTorden]

Cockpit takes damage on a curve based on the hull strength total (and some direct damage taken I think) but yeah even bulkheads and military spec armor toughens the ship up including canopy.

If you are super worried about that put an afm in one of the smaller slots to repair between bouts.

[Mercath]

You can A spec a Vulture for 15 million.

An A spec Python costs around 250 million.

Also, you can solve all of the Vulture's power issues with engineer upgrades. Increase power plant output and decrease weapon power draw.

Engineers have made the Vulture's initial drawback (Power issues) non-existent.

The Python is still my favourite ship in the game - a great balance between speed, firepower, cargo space and trading capabilities (hello medium landing pads).

But flying a Vulture after flying a Python/Anaconda is just pure bliss. That thing is so quick and nimble. And being so small, you're not very often a major target.

I find when I bring my Anaconda to a RES, I'm focus-fired by a lot of NPC's.

I'd say Vulture, due to how cheap it is (and how cheap the re-buy cost is).

[de Carabas]

It's a good point. Must take mine to the Engineer tuing for the Power Plant.

[uvelius]

I find when I bring my Anaconda to a RES, I'm focus-fired by a lot of NPC's.

I'd say Vulture, due to how cheap it is (and how cheap the re-buy cost is).

Thanks for the considerations. My questions focus on the combat behaviour and RES effectiveness in that respect, not ship/insurance cost.
When I fought in the Python, I loved the weapons/shield management and it's agility was okay. Yet I was under the impression that you would rack up considerably(!) more credits/kills in a Vulture due to it's maneuverability. And then there is the Class 4 weapons barn door aspect ...
As for Engineers, it is too much rep hunting for me with them. I am happy to have Martuuks attention, and will have to get another one it with the Dirty Drives ...

[Mercath]

I find when I bring my Anaconda to a RES, I'm focus-fired by a lot of NPC's.

I'd say Vulture, due to how cheap it is (and how cheap the re-buy cost is).

Thanks for the considerations. My questions focus on the combat behaviour and RES effectiveness in that respect, not ship/insurance cost.

Well, I find the Vulture does better in Combat Zones/HazRES, due to its size and agility.

The Python does well in HighRES/Nav Beacons, due to its firepower.

[Flip]

I haven’t flown either in a long time, but given the choice between a Vulture and a Python, i’ll go for the Vulture in a heartbeat. It’s great fun to fly and quite lethal. The Python is great for some things, but IMO RES hunting is not one of them, mainly because it steers like a tanker.

That being said, that was pre-engineers. I guess with a level 5 dirty drive tuning, the Python might be tolerable.

The Vulture would still have a fantastic cockpit that allows you to see all around you, tho. In the Python, you look kinda through the slot of a letter box.