Orca, Python, Baluga ?

[Gary]

Hi Guys, I am confused.
The question is,
I run an Orca, it's a money making machine, however, I have ranked to Tycoon, and now realise I am but a short step from Trading Elite, never ever thought this before, but I have a goal now.
Short Step = 700m or so credits........... :(

What am I better buying to help me earn more per hour than I am at the mo, Baluga, or will the Python hold roughly the same amount of cabins less the luxury cabin, I don't think I can have luxury cabin in a python.
The Baluga, is huge, unsure how I can survive a determined assault from bad guys, I am unconvinced the answer is in a small on-board fighter, not forgetting the ships defences,

Python.... can this delivery as much as the Baluga, I understand cargo holds over 200+t, replace with various class types of cabins, add the fact it's a Python, and did I mention it's a python :)
Or would the python be a better comparison with the Orca in the cabin quantity etc.
I have no military rank, so I can only access the stock ships.
I earn around 10mill an hour it has been known to go higher, but I have good and bad days with the game, some times it's tight fisted.
I can only fly the taxi for about 1 hour or so, then I must get into either the ASP X (love of my life) or the Vulture, mess around then back to the Orca, and repeat.
Your views would be very much appreciated
Many Thanx....
Watch You 6 Cmdr's

[Agony_Aunt]

Its Beluga, not Baluga.

As for what to fly, whatever floats your boat. My vote always goes for whatever you find most fun, not what gets you the most credits.

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

Publicado originalmente por Gary:

Hi Guys, I am confused.

Dear Confused,

For trade rank progression you need as much of cargo space, as possible. And you need some protection, too, as pirates will be interested in it. So I would vote for the Python - it's a delivery tank.

Also, keep in mind that the profit from running cargo missions also counts towards the trading rank. So if you see one that offers you a good payment - take it.

[Vyrex]

The python is more versatile. You can make the ship do anything, literately. But the beluga is only good for passenger and delivery missions. Python is also much more cheaper and looks better ;) so my vote is for python.

[One Eye Jack]

I started running passenger missions in my Beluga fairly recently. If you get in the right system you can make a ton of money and jump to Elite pretty fast. That is what I did this weekend.

I won’t tell you the system I am in so it doesn’t get nurfed but I am making usually better than 20 mil carrying passengers one jump to the neighboring system. Sometimes as much a 40 mil. So I jumped to Elite quickly and will have Billion credits pretty soon.

This also can help gaining rank with either the Feds or the Empire depending on the system you are in.

So my vote is for the Beluga. It’s a money making machine.

Edit: also, even though the Beluga isn’t a fighter by any means it is still pretty decent at it. The ship is well able to defend itself or avoid a fight as you choose.

I usually avoid FDL’s, Anacondas etc, but stop and fight anything smaller. Including Vultures if I am feeling like a fight.

[lnomsim]

The beluga is as its name says, a space whale, it's slow, it overheat easily and is not very maneuvrable, you can also add it has no shields (even with with prismatic shiel 6A ithey burst very quickly. An by the way you have to waste a size 6 slot if you want a sheild.

I don' know how it does in combat, I mostly evade interdiction with it. BUT, once engineered, it has a very good jump capacity, and if you modify thrusters too, it can have a boost speed sufficient enough to flee from combat.

There is one thing you won't be able to change though, those damn fins will get you stuck in the mailslot more than once (I know how to avoid it know, but I lost my first two belugas that way).

If you want to do long range passenger missions, it's the one you want, it can fit a 128L fuel tank and with a 6A fuel scoop it refills quite quickly. Mine can jump up to 45LY if I strip it to the bare minimum for long range exploration. (1Passenger cabin, fuel scoop, adv discovery scanner and detailed surface scanner) But it's quite hard to smuggle and avoid scan with it, so you'd better be carefuull with secretive and criminal passengers.


Now, the Python is the most versatile, it's agile, medium sized, it certainly can defend itself in combat. But forget long range missins. You'll be luck if you can reach the 30LY jump range.

[Gropax]

well i started today at 50% into tycoon and now i am at 86% and all i can say is fly a Python it's easier to fly doesn't get stuck in mail slots and i can make about 70-80m an hour for trade. i am doing bulk passenger missions to get myself through tycoon since it's 1% every 6 million earned.

[Al Capwned]

Python the most versatile of the three and can easily be reconfigured to whatever you'd like.

Between Orca and Beluga, I'd pick the Beluga because it can squeeze in more passengers. The Orca is fine but you can be way more profitable in a Beluga. And if you're planning on going pure passenger missions, the Beluga is the best of the three for that reason.

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

Publicado originalmente por Al Capwned:

And if you're planning on going pure passenger missions, the Beluga is the best of the three for that reason.

But forget about secretive passengers (and those pay extra) - there is nothing secretive about the Beluga. That's where the Orca shines.

[Gary]

well thanx guys you have given me allot to think about, I am drawn to the Python, for no other reason than it's stunning good looks, it's almost equal to my ASP X, not quite there but close.

[HairballHacker]

Python; it's a snake. The others are whales.

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

Publicado originalmente por HairballHacker:

Python; it's a snake. The others are whales.

A snake got you busted out of the Eden, but a whale saved Jonah. :)