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#4214412 - 01/08/16 12:55 AM Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer?  
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Dunno why I feel a need to preface this post with the statement that I have been very happy with my multi-role Cobra Mk III.
Great ship, fits out well, and is fast, fast, fast which I like. But (Sorry baby) there are long term issues with our relationship.
Maxed out she only carries 44 tons of cargo and the lower hardpoints have, to me, a somewhat limited field of fire.

I had forgotten how much fun a "multi-role" is as you are ready, at the drop of a hat, for any new mission and adventure.

My goal, for as far in the future as I wish to look, will probably be a Python.
This may be quite a long haul using just the Cobra Mk III to make money so I was thinking of another multi-role interim ship down the road a ways.
The closest one that seems to fit my ideas of play is the Asp Explorer. Fitted out right she is reasonably fast (391 Boost), good manuverabilty, and can carry almost 100 tons of cargo. Has two medium hardpoints (I'll use multi-cannons) and four small hardpoints (probably pulse lasers).

Anyone have a lot of experience with the type for trading, missions, and bounty hunting? Tough opponent in the hands of the AI.
How is the weapon placement?

#4214426 - 01/08/16 01:41 AM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: DukeIronHand]  
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For me personally, (ships that don't require ranking), the order of swiss army knives goes like this.

cobra 3
Asp
python
conda.

Last edited by bogusheadbox; 01/08/16 01:43 AM.

Fighterops...

The only TRUE Stealth crowd funded game.

Devs said there was stuff there, but you just couldn't see it.
#4214427 - 01/08/16 01:42 AM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: DukeIronHand]  
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Asp

#4214428 - 01/08/16 01:47 AM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: DukeIronHand]  
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Weapon placement on the asp is great. Personally I run railguns in the Cat 2 department. Its a great smuggler as well.

if you want to blow stuff up quickly, fit it with 6 railguns and it will chew a very big hole in the side of anything.


Fighterops...

The only TRUE Stealth crowd funded game.

Devs said there was stuff there, but you just couldn't see it.
#4214431 - 01/08/16 02:01 AM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: DukeIronHand]  
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The Asp Explorer is indeed fantastic.


WARNING: This post contains opinions produced in a facility which also occasionally processes fact products.
#4214434 - 01/08/16 02:23 AM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: DukeIronHand]  
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Well it looks like we have a unanimous winner here.
Thank you gentlemen.

#4214448 - 01/08/16 03:28 AM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: DukeIronHand]  
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Not sure if you'd count it as a multirole but the Imperial Clipper can do trade and combat very well. In some ways she's quite similar to a Cobra. Fast, reasonably manoeuvrable and well armed with 'ok' shields. smile

Of course you need some decent funds to outfit her properly... Not sure how much cash you'd have since all the career resets.


This is Bobby Rahal, thanks for playing the trial version of Microsoft's CART Precision Racing
#4214452 - 01/08/16 04:02 AM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: DukeIronHand]  
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Unfortunately, the Clipper requires Imperial ranking as well.

The Asp is a really good ship. When I got it way back when, I even considered the idea of using it as a combat ship. I'm not sure how it'll fare on PvP but as bogus will tell you, it's quite good for PvE. The Asp is also the recommended ship for the Shadow Deliveries activity so it combines good jump range and good cargo capacity.

The Asp is awful for turreted weapons but the placement of the hardpoints means it is the best one for gimballed weapons. All of the smaller hardpoints are below the cockpit but are forward-facing so should have no trouble tracking targets even higher up in the HUD. The two bigger hardpoints are just behind the cockpit and might have trouble tracking targets slightly under the HUD but should not have problems with targets "above the waterline." The question is how fast you can turn the ship and how strong can you make the shields. With the recent changes, I feel like the shields have been weakened somewhat. That, or my memory of shield strength in my pew-pew Python is fuzzy.


- Ice
#4214454 - 01/08/16 04:02 AM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: DukeIronHand]  
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What is most spoiling about the Asp Explorer for me, the massive jump range and huge fuel tank. The bubble of human space starts to seem tiny. Back before my reset, there were times in the Asp I'd head off 250LY-300LY to a CG, and then go back "home" after my contribution for the day, to take care of a few missions for my local faction. Do it again next session I played. Everywhere seemed close enough.

And unlike the Anaconda, which can jump just a bit farther... The Asp is nimble in Super Cruise, turning away from the sun toward the next star in the route quickly.

FYI, most of my Asp builds ran $20 to $30 million at peak.


WARNING: This post contains opinions produced in a facility which also occasionally processes fact products.
#4214457 - 01/08/16 04:08 AM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: - Ice]  
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Originally Posted By: - Ice
Unfortunately, the Clipper requires Imperial ranking as well.


That's true. I've become so used to being a Duke I sort of forgot about the need to gain rank. Now where'd I put my monocle?


This is Bobby Rahal, thanks for playing the trial version of Microsoft's CART Precision Racing
#4214460 - 01/08/16 04:23 AM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: DukeIronHand]  
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Would be nice if we could sell ships to other players.... I've got one that's sitting unused.


- Ice
#4214495 - 01/08/16 07:31 AM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: DukeIronHand]  
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Good to know the Asp Ex is a decent ship. Was contemplating switching to one minutes before my restart the other day LOL. Gives me a decent goal.


Currently dabbling in;
WOTR/BoF, Naval Action! also Run 8,
IL2BOS/BOM smile

"Once again we have failed to die."-- old naval toast
#4214531 - 01/08/16 12:49 PM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: - Ice]  
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Originally Posted By: - Ice
Would be nice if we could sell ships to other players.... I've got one that's sitting unused.


Too bad indeed.
That, a mechanism to transfer money, a way to sell cargo, Rares, modules, trade and exploration data, whatever to other Cmdr's would seem like some obvious steps in a game that promotes (or tries too) player interaction.

#4214594 - 01/08/16 03:21 PM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: DukeIronHand]  
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The Asp is probably my ideal ship. Some cargo space, sensible internal layout, good view from cockpit and great range.

I could afford one now with a reasonable layout but am putting off buying one. I still want to practice on cheaper ships and don't want to be stuck in one ship by buying it too soon.

I am now back in my T6 just starting a trade route. It did occur to me how much use weapons would be to me in responding to interdictions. I did get interdicted a couple of times by small ships when I was in my dbs or cobra and I could kill them instead of running away but the times that caused me real problems were by bigger ships like federal gunships that I couldn't have taken on anyway. With an always run away approach the T6 does most of what the Asp does at much lower cost.

#4214615 - 01/08/16 04:03 PM Re: Good multi-role ship post Cobra: Asp Explorer? [Re: DukeIronHand]  
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When I am strictly on a trade or mission job I always try to run.
Stopped and fought a couple of times and, unless things have changed or I was unlucky, the 400 credit bounty was hardly worth the time, effort, and possible ammo and repair costs.


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