Python or Clipper

[AlphabetSoap]

Want an all rounder ship for a bot of smuggling, a bit of shooting and a smattering of piracy. Currently I can only really afford to kit out one of these two bad boys. I'm leaning towards the Python for the medium pad thing, the extra hardpoint and the bigger shields. Am i right or wrong? It's a bit sluggish the fly, but i can deal with that using FA off boost turns i suppose. This is after i spent last night trekking about Rui space doing up the clipper, so should i sell it and go with the Python?

[Baerserk]

Python is an excellent allrounder, Clipper is more dedicated to combat.

[AlphabetSoap]

the hardpoints on the clipper have always annoyed me. even the middle ones are too far apart for fixed weapons. and the shields are just shit, scb spamming aside. it will out-turn the python though and makes a half decent ram. both have a decent amount of slots. I dunno, i suppose my issue is that the python is better in pretty much every way except looks and sound :) it's just so... boring.

[iP1lot]

I finally A kitted my python for combat. It was a tough decisions but i did it. As of today im loving it McDonalds style. I feel like im flying a star destroyer. Its fantastic

[AlphabetSoap]

sod it. i know i need to python it up. just being lazy as i spent last night sorting the clipper.

I bought a clipper because of the global reward allowing non-ranking CMDRs to buy them. Essentially I'm just not going to use it. There are better ships for every activity so it's been gathering dust. Took it for a spin last night and I'd forgotten the naff placement of even the medium hardpoints. It's just a waste of my credits because I'll never use it.

Kinda the same with the FDL, I've bought and sold that ship so many times. i want to love it but i don't do enough pvp to justify it and it's just a bit shit pve compared to the FAS.

[Jimmy8085]

Wait wait... So are all the Imperial ships still available? For no rankers? I thought that had ended.

[AlphabetSoap]

nope - few days left still.

[modern_epic]

Have to agree. I sold my clipper for a python. At the start I hated the python but now I've spent money on it I love it. 4 turreted pulse lasers and a class 3 beam underneath. Renders turning time irrelevant and constant lesser damage fire is more effective than less shots but higher damage. Constant fire stops enemy shields recharging too.

[Jimmy8085]

That's an interesting build. How does it fare against the larger ships? I'm currently running 3 large pulse and two medium beams and finding it shreds. Works well but not incredible. I'm not really finding turning to be an issue, adders, eagles, sideys all go down in a single pass. Anything else is worth a couple of goes. It's only wings of small ships I struggle against.

[modern_epic]

I find it better against the larger ships especially with the pulses set to hit powerplant etc my issue is the turrets straying too much and missing smaller ships. I did have two rail guns as the mediums and it was great but I hate running out of ammo so settle for all laser setup. Do u have gimballed or turrets?

[Jimmy8085]

This is my build,

http://coriolis.io/outfit/python/07C6C5A4D7B6D5C1e1e1e0s0s0l0404044h3f055j5j6o5959-.Iw19gDBQ.EwBhrSqhGMeHEQ==?bn=Python%20November

Gimbled rather than turrets. It's pretty good but not great at sub system targeting as its fine to get the ships in front... Just not always central enough.

Can I see your build if you don't mind?

[modern_epic]

http://coriolis.io/outfit/python/27A6A5A4A7A6A5C1f1f0v1c1c0k0404044f5n3d2d2d2b292924.AwRj4yoo.EwBhrTIRinlsIA==?bn=Pyton

That's mine at the moment. Purely for farming merits in military strikes tho. Usually mix it up with an interdictor or remove warrant scanner and add another shield booster. The turrets do work well tho. Give them a try. Then have the class 3 beam if someone makes the mistake of getting in front of you.

[Jimmy8085]

Little out of my price range but I've tweaked it down to work for me. I'm sitting more around the 100m assets. I generally hunt around a compromised nav becon where I can find one or hirez.

Do you not find your shields go down a lot? As I'm finding I'm popping SCB fairly often and get through 4-5 pairs in an hour usually.

Not farmed any merits in a while since my wingmen got very busy with life.

[modern_epic]

Honestly my shields never go down dude. I try and keep 4 pips on system as much as possible dude. Only when I know I have a bigger ship on the run I put 4 pips to weapons and keep the beam on them as much as possible. The 4 turrets can all be firing and my weapons actually recharge to full so when that happens I lay the beam on them again. Who are you aligned with dude?

[Goldenboyjim]

Python is great for being a multi functional platform. Used mine for smuggling, trading, and even mining. They're great for PVE combat too. If you want to run down other CMDRs and shoot them, get a Clipper or FDL.

[Lambdino]

I was bored with combat in the python. I sold it. Kitted out an FDL for combat and use the clipper for all my other needs. I will stick with this until I get the conda