*** The Official Elite: Dangerous Thread ***

[mid_gen]

Finally cracked and ordered a DK2. Ostensibly for development purposes but also should give me the excuse I need to actually play ED (backer but not played since beta).

 

[JHeaton]

Forgot all about this!!!

Must try find some time this weekend.

From fighting these things in RESes, they seem quite maneuverable. Struggle to keep behind them in a Vulture.

Not sure I would have quite enough dosh once I traded in my Vulture in it's current state. Will have to grind a bit more I guess. But having been getting sued to the Vulture more and more, I think I might miss it.

And need to rank up in that system? That's a pain.....

The Clipper is fast and pitches very well. She can outrun anything bigger, chase down almost anything smaller (boosting Cobra will be faster than you), can turn better than a lot of things and packs quite a punch. With a class 7 shield and some boosters, she can also take quite the beating. It's also one of the most flexible ships as you can more or less use it for anything. Carries more than a Type 7, fights well, can chase down prey as a pirate and isn't terrible for exploring (but also not really recommended because of the small fuel tank and terrible range). I wish it was a better exploration ship because the unobscured cockpit view is simply amazing.



Hardpoint placement may be an issue for you, and I'm still not used to having gimballed everything, but certainly for PvE it's more than enough. I think it's one of the most stylish ships available, getting away from the boxy and triangular designs that a lot of the other ships seem to have. It's sleek and sexy, in my opinion. The only other ships that come close are the Eagle and the Orca, for me, although I'm warming to the new Fer-de-Lance, too.









Simply amazing. Makes me sad that I'm about to abandon her for a while for this:





In terms of getting the rank, it's not too difficult but you are at the mercy of the RNG, sometimes. Fly down to Imperial space and pick a location to start with. I started near to Achenar; Aymifa, Eotensies, Cemiess etc. and just start running missions for Empire-aligned minor factions. Completing these will build your reputation with the minor factions, which in turn will build rep with the Empire. Some missions are pure rep gain (generally things like finding food, running courier jobs, donations - donations yield the highest amount of rep, but obviously the 4mil ones aren't really viable for many) and others offer payments. Turning in bounties can help to build rep, but I'm not sure what affects whether it goes up or down with this, so I avoided it.

You'll then start to get rank progression missions. Completing them builds rank, some give permits etc. After a while, you need to move and start doing work for different minor factions (still aligned with the Empire) in another region, as eventually rep gain stalls out. Becoming allied with as many appropriate minor factions as possible is the key to gaining rank quickly.

Yeah, I found it great to start with, but pretty boring quite quickly. I hate how there's no gimballed Class 3 Multicannon, especially since C3 Cannon projectiles are too slow unless you're right in their face and all class of Turrets seem to like 'accidentally' auto-shooting cops when they stray too close...

I found that, with the Vulture, just sticking with C3 pulse lasers is the way to go. It's a bit of a shame how boring the ship is, though. There's hardly any variation in loadout - very much a one-trick pony. The way it moves is great, but after a while I got bored and ended up grinding for the Clipper.

 

[ttaskmaster]

I found that, with the Vulture, just sticking with C3 pulse lasers is the way to go. It's a bit of a shame how boring the ship is, though. There's hardly any variation in loadout - very much a one-trick pony. The way it moves is great, but after a while I got bored and ended up grinding for the Clipper.

Don't lasers take ages against hulls, though?

 

[JHeaton]

Don't lasers take ages against hulls, though?

At class 3, it's really not so bad. They still do a fair amount of damage; I'm sure a kinetic weapon would do more, but not enough to really justify the need to reload, in my opinion. You can destroy Vipers and Cobras very quickly just by hitting their hull; for anything of Asp size and above, target their powerplant and they pop quickly, especially if you have gimballed weapons. The only thing that will really take time is a Python because the hitbox on its powerplant is wonky and seems almost impossible to hit correctly.

This shows dual pulse on a Vulture. I don't think that's too bad for lasers on hulls, to be honest, but I guess there isn't a class 3 MC to really compare to anyway. If there was one, it would probably be worth going with one of each weapon, but I would take a second pulse laser over any of the other options for most things right now. I guess if I was a pirate (in a Vulture?!), I'd have one pulse laser and one plasma accelerator (one of these stripped my shields on a Type 7 in two shots), though.

The damage output would be slightly higher with fixed rather than gimballed lasers.

 

[ttaskmaster]

I'm sure a kinetic weapon would do more, but not enough to really justify the need to reload, in my opinion.

I'm finding full reloads on a quad-m/c outfit costs just over 8,000 Cr. I make about half a mil Cr each trip to a RES, so it's a pittance to me.

You can destroy Vipers and Cobras very quickly just by hitting their hull

Sideys and Eagles are pretty much one-pass-BOOM, if I line them up right!

The only thing that will really take time is a Python because the hitbox on its powerplant is wonky and seems almost impossible to hit correctly.

I'm all about the time-on-target, mainly as I'm usually heavy-hitting support for the two smaller ships in my wing.

I'll probably play around when I have more cash to burn. I'm supposed to be saving for a Python, but I keep messing around with my Asp and Vulture outfits. Currently running with full hull reinforcements and dropped the shield boosters so I can chuck more power to weapons!

 

[eyetrip]

Quite like the gimballed beam laser i currently have mounted on my vulture. Combined with the power distributor I have, I can just keep firing and the power doesn't drain, and that's with balanced distribution. Never need to wait for it to recharge.

I forget the rating, but I think it cost like 1.35 Million. Though it may be the cannon that cost that...

And as mentioned, I then have the cannon, which I only need to use on larger ships such as Python, Clipper, Anaconda. Everything else goes down easily with just the single beam constantly running.

Don't have shield cells, but use shield boosters, and unless I am under attack by multiple targets, it takes ages for them to go down - though takes ages for them to charge too. Having said that,I did upgrade my shields last night, and not tested them out yet.

Plan on doing a few rounds in the RES I am currently using. It is right next to a high tech station, so going in/out, etc, takes no time.

Will look to try and earn enough that I would be able to buy the Clipper, then am off to Empire space and see if I can get my rank up. I have sucked at that so far in federation, so hopefully have better luck.

Thanks for all the info JHeaton. Most useful.

 

[NeverWinter]

I'm finding full reloads on a quad-m/c outfit costs just over 8,000 Cr. I make about half a mil Cr each trip to a RES, so it's a pittance to me.

For me it's not so much about the cost of reloading but the time spent travelling to reload. In a Vulture with only two hardpoints it's a no brainer to go dual lasers.

 

[Devrij]

I do miss my clipper a bit, having gone to a Python.

It's made up for my being able to land at outposts, carry more cargo, and that extra large hardpoint is great. It does feel very sluggish in combat so I'm not sure how I'd feel in a 1vs1 against a good player in a vulture, and I hate how slow it is. I'm also not exactly blown away by its aesthetic, whereas the Clipper was just amazing inside and out.

I think next up is a type 9 once I get the cash together (have enough to buy it, but not kit it out and be able to buy cargo yet), then a wonderful grindfest of trading that I'm dreading. Hopefully then I'll see the Imperial courier, which looks sexy as hell, or I could potentially just go to a Fed Corvette when that shows up.

 

[dirtybeatfreak]

Had another awesome evening! Made over 2 million in bounty hunting then managed to get my Empire rep to friendly. Nice productive night and again, so much fun!

This game is making me even more geeky than usual!

 

[bradUK]

The Vulture has been forgiven!

Chucked some serious credits at it and I'm impressed. Coming from a fully specced Cobra to the standard ship left me a bit "meh" but it's superb. I mostly PVE and PVP RES farm and bounty hunt with a bit of piracy and it's perfect for me

 

[eyetrip]

Oh my word...

Started off so well today. Was in a res where made 2.5M in about an hour. No problems at all.

Now am dealing with hardly ever finding more than a couple of small ships, invisible asteroids ( saw one disappearing and reappearing right in front of me), security forces turning on me for now reason (at first I though I may have clipped a friendly, but this last time I am sure I didn't, and its happened a fair few times in a row now), game crashing...

Really ****ing me off right now.

 

[doofer]

I bought a Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS X which came today and the joystick is far too small/stubby for my big hands. I've only been using it for 30 or so minutes and my hand has cramped up really badly so I can't see me being able to use it .

 

[ShiWarrior]

I realise this has been out 2 or more years now

But, I just bought an old Amstrad 464 and it came with Elite, and It got me thinking, I had elite plus on the PC, Elite 2 and First Encounters, what came next ?
I no we was waiting or Elite 3 ? for many many years, is Dangerous the one we have been waiting for ?

thanks

 

[melchy]

I realise this has been out 2 or more years now

But, I just bought an old Amstrad 464 and it came with Elite, and It got me thinking, I had elite plus on the PC, Elite 2 and First Encounters, what came next ?
I no we was waiting or Elite 3 ? for many many years, is Dangerous the one we have been waiting for ?

thanks

Elite : Dangerous has only been out since December 2014 and its very much evolving (released for the 30th anniversary of Elite). There is an awful lot of content to come. As far as the series goes its number 4. There was Elite 1984 (and Elite+), Frontier : Elite 2 1993 and Frontier : First Encounters 1995. Elite : Dangerous in its current state is quite like Frontier but with the Elite flight mechanics and multiplayer.

 

[JHeaton]

So, on the second day of my exploration journey, but the whole thing almost ended before it began. I made it to the last inhabited system I could find. My destination is VY Canis Majoris, to begin with. Just getting ready to jump to the next system when I'm interdicted. I figure I'll submit-boost-jump, as I'm used to doing. Except...

I recall that I have only fitted a 3A powerplant to my Asp. Not enough energy to boost, even with four pips in engines. My top speed is 255. I'm being chased by a Cobra. I only have a 3D shield. I escape this encounter with 72% hull, but in my panic I jumped to SC instead of the next system. Immediately I'm interdicted again and it's one of those where you're instantly caught, don't even have time to react. Another Cobra. 42% hull. Limp back to a starport.

I've since upgraded to a 4A powerplant, so I can boost. Seems to be working out better.

Can't remember the name of the system in (it's in one of the various places suffixed with Dark Region), but the starfield is definitely a bit different out here:



Was playing about with the debug cam as I left populated space, too.





Need to get a bit better at that when I find the interesting stuff, though.

I didn't realise how quickly things would drop off, however. It is really lonely out here, I'm not used to not really having to watch the radar as much. For the first time ever, I have shut down my weapons and shield generator in order to keep my ship running nice and cool.

 

[tbh]

I didn't realise how quickly things would drop off, however. It is really lonely out here, I'm not used to not really having to watch the radar as much.

You used to have to run a gauntlet of psychos which inhabited the region a few hundred lightyears out from human space, but they've apparently removed them now (which is a good thing).

Good luck on your trip to VY Canis Majoris! I went to Betelgeuse on my first practice exploration run, and would like to visit a few other famous systems such as Eta Carinae and Cygnus X-1 on my next trip out into the void (hopefully in an Imperial Courier, if the jump range is half decent ).

Godspeed Commander! o7

 

[JHeaton]

You used to have to run a gauntlet of psychos which inhabited the region a few hundred lightyears out from human space, but they've apparently removed them now (which is a good thing).

Good luck on your trip to VY Canis Majoris! I went to Betelgeuse on my first practice exploration run, and would like to visit a few other famous systems such as Eta Carinae and Cygnus X-1 on my next trip out into the void (hopefully in an Imperial Courier, if the jump range is half decent ).

Godspeed Commander! o7

Ah, I see. I haven't seen another ship - NPC or PC - for ages now. It's so strange! Betelgeuse is another of the things I would like to see, and like you, I'm really hoping the Courier has good jump range (I suspect it will - everyone seems to think it's going to be a fighter, but personally to me the name suggests it will be fast and have good jump range, but be lightly armed and armoured).

I got the DK2 out to have a play and exploring is definitely more fun than combat using it, however I do have one gripe; both the galaxy and system maps are basically unusable with it, so I'm going to have to plan out my route on a monitor in advance.

 

[ShiWarrior]

Elite : Dangerous has only been out since December 2014 and its very much evolving (released for the 30th anniversary of Elite). There is an awful lot of content to come. As far as the series goes its number 4. There was Elite 1984 (and Elite+), Frontier : Elite 2 1993 and Frontier : First Encounters 1995. Elite : Dangerous in its current state is quite like Frontier but with the Elite flight mechanics and multiplayer.

thanks, I did have (and still do) have all those Elites

so, can I take it then Dangerous is the one that David Braben kept on putting back year after year?

 

[Nate--IRL--]

thanks, I did have (and still do) have all those Elites

so, can I take it then Dangerous is the one that David Braben kept on putting back year after year?

Yep, that's the one.

Nate

 

[tbh]

Ah, I see. I haven't seen another ship - NPC or PC - for ages now. It's so strange!

On my 3 week trip to the core and back I developed a few bad habits such as leaving my ship in supercruise, going to make a sandwich and then coming back 15 minutes later and picking up where I left off; nothing bad ever came of it, but on reflection I probably should have clicked "save and exit" rather than risked leaving my ship unattended

'mirin your DK2, it's definitely on my list of future upgrades!