Next Ship - can't decide

[Sendraks]

I'm hoping in the next few weeks (mostly thanks to income from PP), to have the cash to buy my next ship. Its at the 50million price point, so my choices are the FDL or the Python.

My instinct is for the FDL, because I primarily enjoy bounty hunting and I'm hoping it'll be the ship where I can finally go and hunt elite anaconda bounties without it turning into the chore it is in a Vulture. I know I'm not going to make money fast, but I hope to have fun regardless. And the FDL is a very sexy ship, especially with the underslung huge hardpoint.

However, there is the looming spectre of at some point in the future the Federation Corvette will be released and that is a very sexy looking ship. I expect it will cost a lot and raising the revenue for that means something more utilitarian than the FDL. So at the £50mill price point the Python is the best option for raising cash, just through trading. Problem is the Python costs a lot to fit, so I'll be spending a long time just trading (betwixt maintaining my PP rank), just to be able to afford to do anything fun with the Python. The Python is also a good looking ship, arguably one I could comfortably spend a significant portion of my Elite career in.

I feel genuinely torn about which ship to buy. Which I think speaks highly of ED, in so far that the choice feels meaningful and worthwhile.

What to do? What to do?

[TorTorden]

I'd try it out, worst that could happen (unless you fly without insurance covered) is the 10% cut on hull price if you sell it back.

I have just in the last few weeks done that with both the clipper and python, didn't have the funds to fit the python so it gets outperformed by a 20mil vulture in combat, the trading side is taken over bye a t7, only difference is I run from interdictions in the t7 instead of submitting and blowing the little pirate away.

[Skipp]

Just have in mind that when you buy a 50mil ship, you need another 30mil (at least) to have a decent fit. And then there's the buyback price. Don't cash out all your credits on the ship you can't fit or buy back at least twice.

[Kiltrathi]

...

The Python is also a good looking ship, arguably one I could comfortably spend a significant portion of my Elite career in.

Didn't you already answer your own question with that line?

I had the same question when I was ready to trade up from an Asp. I settled for the Python, although not as 'mean' as the Fer-de-Lance, I'd never be able to generate the same kind of credits from flying a Fer-de-Lance. The Python is way more versatile, but it does cost you an arm and a leg.

You could also take a trading ship as a second ship besides your Vulture. A Type-7 could generate the same kind of credits as a Python set up for trading and you'd be able to keep your Vulture for all the other missions you are doing now. Or perhaps buy an Asp for trading with a cargo hold of around 90t, it could also serve as a rares runner with its formidable jump range.

[Sendraks]

I have an Asp and I've done rares running. Problem is I find trading incredibly tedious. I traded in a Mk 6 to get me the cash for an Asp with decent fittings and that was somewhat demoralising.

The problem with the vulture+T7 combo is the best of neither world. The Vulture is fine for res hunting and kill X pirate missions, but not much fun for the big bounty hunting targets. And RES hunting has been nerfed, so that's no longer a steady 1mill per hour of fun in the Vulture.

And the T7 is pure trading, so that'd be basically banging my head against the wall repeating what I did with the Type 6.

My worry with the Python is that I'd be in for a lengthy spell of where the ship was simply not much fun to fly.

[JohnLuke]

....... didn't have the funds to fit the python so it gets outperformed by a 20mil vulture in combat, the trading side is taken over bye a t7, only difference is I run from interdictions in the t7 instead of submitting and blowing the little pirate away.

I am facing the same dilemma. About a month ago, I stripped and sold my Vulture, T-7, and DB Scout to buy a Python with mostly class C modules, except for a class A FSD. Since then, I'm still using the Python mostly for trading. It's got some good weapons on board, but I only have "C" thrusters and shield generator, so it's a little tricky in the RES.... at least for me. "A" class thrusters and shield generator are around $16mil each. **OUCH** I have generated enough credit since buying the Python to have a fully kitted DBS again (and about $13M in the bank), so at least I have a fun ship for pew pew when I tire of running trades.

I am seriously considering do the same thing that TorTorden did..... sell the Python and buy another fully kitted Vulture (God that's a great little combat ship!) and a T-7 for trade runs. And.... I'd have a ton of credits in the bank instead of feeling that I *HAVE* to run trades to make consistent money so that I can save up for the next module upgrade on the Python. The process is taking too long and I'm starting to get frustrated.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Sendraks]

Also, are there any systems where the FDL or Python can be bought at a discount, outside of the Founders World which I can't access, and that's above and beyond the 10% discount you get for being allied to a faction.

[Ghworg]

Shipyards in Sirius exploited space have a 15% discount across the board, for everyone not just Sirius pledges. Lembava and Diaguandri have pretty much all modules between them I'm told.

[Ozzy81]

To add my 2 cents.

Id settle for Python. I love that ship. I flew the FDL and didnt quite like it. Python gives you way more options, you can have 650 MJ shields (which is less than FDL tbh), but you can have 5A and 3A shield cells active at the same time (which restore some 346 MJ per activation). And it has more firepower than FDL (keep in mind FDLs huge mount is at the bottom so you need to manuever to make a shot). FDL has cool engine sound but thats the only area where it IMO beats Python. That and the fact youd need some 180M to fully A equip Python.

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

My worry with the Python is that I'd be in for a lengthy spell of where the ship was simply not much fun to fly.

When I very first purchased Red she was a D-rated (I think with A-rank FSD) Python that clocked in at just over 73 mil credits. That is most definitely on the lower end of what I would recommend paying for one.

Having said that: From day one, I have loved flying this ship. I loved it then when she was D-rated and I love it now that she's A-rated. Obviously the more money you put into a ship the more comfortable you start to feel in the roles you've adopted. Can you bounty hunt in a D-rated Python? Of course you can. Quite effectively. Can you be a bit lazier of a bounty hunter in an A-rated Python? Yes. Yes you can. Can you trade in a D-rated Python? Of course you can...regardless of the rating of your internals you can still fit between 180-220 T cargo space quite easily (Red has 220)

The Python is an absolute joy to fly. Don't get me wrong, so is the FdL, but they are very, very different ships. The FdL is fun, sleek, and different. Some people don't like different as much as well rounded. And the FdL suffers from a lot of the same power problems that all of the other dedicated fighter class ships suffer from.

I suspect that this thread may be of help to you:
http://elitepve.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2010