What are good combat-cargo ships?

[no one]

I'm predominantly a trader/courier. I've gotten my hide handed to me by NPCs and I want a ship that is good for self-defense without sacrificing cargo capacity. I'm currently running a Type-6 and just run whenever I'm interdicted, hoping the pirate doesn't have weaponry strong enough to overcome my shield-boosted shields.

Am I better off just running and hoping for the best, or is there a ship that trades off between cargo capacity and combat prowess reasonably well?

Currently have ~3mil in the bank with 1mil that can be made by selling my Type-6. Future ship recommendations are great as well.

Thanks!

[Edelweiss ✿]

Running should always fool an NPC, no matter your ship. All pips to engines, chaff, point defense, A rated thrusters, you'll outrun everything until your FSD charges. That said, being able to fight back without making bad sacrifices to cargo or signing your own death warrent I guess you could say starts at the Asp. Going from there, the Python is perfect for this. Anaconda and Cutter are the kings, and even the corvette could do this but the jump range sucks.

[Goose]

Tbh if your cargo running its best to have no hardpoints and focus on a strong shield, FSD and engine all that jazz. But if you really want hardpoints your gonna have to save up for an ASP explorer as that has what I believe the best balance between combat and cargo

Heres the best make of an ASP Explorer I could keeping it under 15 mil.

http://coriolis.io/outfit/asp/04B4B5A4D4A5E5C27271818181805---0546022t020001.Iw18WQ==.Aw18WQ==?bn=ASP%20Cheap

[PopoQc]

ASP Explorer 104T cargo and reasonable ofensive weapons. 4 smal points an2 medium

[Wolf]

python would be the next combat/trade ship on the list. :)

[TiberiuS]

Imerpial Clipper is a great Combat/Cargo ship (on your way to Python as a medium ship with a bit more capacity). And the biggest advantage of it: It is fast as hell. (mine boosts 440 m/s) Noone can catch you, and those who can cannot mass lock you. Flee chance 100%.

Honestly it's in the same price range as the T7 (both large ships) and it is sooo much better! So if you have the imperial rank, get one!

[N8TM8T]

I agree with Wolf. The python. It has a huge amount of carge space compared to everything beneath it, and it has a considerable number of hardpoints. Plus it is very upgradable and able to be used for all kinds of missions and tasks. (though seeing as you only have 3million....the python is a little out of reach...)

[TiberiuS]

Originally posted by =EC=N8TM8T:

I agree with Wolf. The python. It has a huge amount of carge space compared to everything beneath it, and it has a considerable number of hardpoints. Plus it is very upgradable and able to be used for all kinds of missions and tasks.

I find it a pity that it is such a flying brick. But it's the one medium ship with the largest cargo space. So it has definitely its uses there.

I was very disappointed about its performence as a combat ship and speed and agility after flying the clipper for some time. I have mine fitted as cargo ship but I won't use it for combat really. Doesn't fit my combat style.

[Lywelyn]

combat + cargo... did anyone said Python ?

[wren]

Originally posted by Colonel Nerd:

I'm predominantly a trader/courier. I've gotten my hide handed to me by NPCs and I want a ship that is good for self-defense without sacrificing cargo capacity. I'm currently running a Type-6 and just run whenever I'm interdicted, hoping the pirate doesn't have weaponry strong enough to overcome my shield-boosted shields.

Am I better off just running and hoping for the best, or is there a ship that trades off between cargo capacity and combat prowess reasonably well?

Currently have ~3mil in the bank with 1mil that can be made by selling my Type-6. Future ship recommendations are great as well.

Thanks!

The Asp can do everything a T6 can with either more jump range or more firepower, but yeah, just run; you won't be able to take anything down that you couldn't run from.

[WRONGTURN]

I liked the type 6 but no matter what outfitting i tried, the weapons simply would NOT fire half the time even with a full capasiter charge and 4 pips.Even turning off modules didn't help. So very frustrating, I just bought another asp explorer and set it up for cargo runs.The asp is a great ship but very expensive to upgrade AND operate and repair.. I own another asp set up for combat and have about 28 million invested but it certainly does the job.To me, there is no point even buying a ship until you have the funds to upgrade it since they always come with sub-par components, class one modile in a class two slot ect.. If anyone has any fix for the weapons not working properly on the type six please let me know because that was the only thing that made me get away from that ship.. I hope this helps someone and I need heed help as well. have a nice day everyone.

[DragonIV]

I used to use the Type 6 eons ago. It was the ideal rare trader--it's the fastest trader in the game, and horrible at combat. So just learn to run--no AI will really be able to track you down.

Do not take smuggle missions with it, however--for that, the asp and vulture are far superior.

[no one]

Originally posted by Select This:

Originally posted by DragonIV:

I used to use the Type 6 eons ago. It was the ideal rare trader--it's the fastest trader in the game, and horrible at combat. So just learn to run--no AI will really be able to track you down.

Do not take smuggle missions with it, however--for that, the asp and vulture are far superior.

I've done both Robigo runs & Maia runs in a T6, and I never got anything but profit from it.
It's a fabulous smuggler boat if you ask me. I guess it depends on tactics & prolly luck too...

2xchaff and a point defence, and then simply boost with 4 dots engine and 2 dots to the system.

No weapons, that's a waste of time :))

Sounds like I'll be dumping my weapon hardpoints then and put the extra power to better thrusters.

Originally posted by Select This:

Originally posted by nicemoreoften:

The Asp can do everything a T6 can with either more jump range or more firepower, but yeah, just run; you won't be able to take anything down that you couldn't run from.

Agree, it all comes down to the ship you enjoy... For instance, I've had great fun with the Federal Dropship; it's a cross between a Type-7 (heavy to swing around) and an ASP Explorer (great internal slots and decent firepower). Whenever I met NPC's I would simply chaff and then fly backwards; that way I could gun down almost any opponent without having to do all the 360* circles loops in a dogfight, just back & fire and they were history.

I'm already ranking up with the Federation (I do all my business in Fed space) so this sounds like a good goal to work towards - thanks!

[no one]

Originally posted by Select This:

Yeah well, stick to yer T6 for now, it has got way more potential than its reputation :)

If you wanna get rid of NPC's when jumping into a system then just fly a few Ls from the main star, then do 180* turn once the police/thug is on your back, and then fly back into the star (not into but circling), this will 90% remove your monkey and you can move on with your Maia/Robigo smuggle mission.

Oh and if you're interdicted, slow down to a speed just above 'submission', this will allow you to turn faster in the T6, then just throttle up & down while turning untill the interdiction fails

Thanks for the tips! I'll try them next time I'm interdicted!

[funkynutz]

Originally posted by wolf:

python would be the next combat/trade ship on the list. :)

This gets my vote. 240T cargo capacity with decent shields, and plenty of firepower. Jump range is a bit crappy fully laden, but there's plenty of decent trade routes which are still just a single jump in each direction if you know where to look ;)

Originally posted by Select This:

Yeah well, stick to yer T6 for now, it has got way more potential than its reputation :)

If you wanna get rid of NPC's when jumping into a system then just fly a few Ls from the main star, then do 180* turn once the police/thug is on your back, and then fly back into the star (not into but circling), this will 90% remove your monkey and you can move on with your Maia/Robigo smuggle mission.

Oh and if you're interdicted, slow down to a speed just above 'submission', this will allow you to turn faster in the T6, then just throttle up & down while turning untill the interdiction fails

That last bit has to be the worst advice I've ever seen with regards to interdictions... Get the timing wrong and you'll loose the interdiction, leaving you in a coffin with the full penalty of fsd recharge time and an already slightly damaged hull...