What can I do with Imperial Clipper?

[chieflevine]

I just had a sudden crush on the appearance of Imperial Clipper and done nothing but charity missions for Empire the last two days, and I started from nothing to lord. The ranking up progress is a lot faster than I expected and with one more navy mission I can buy the ship, which I think wouldn't take me more than a couple of days. The point is, I have a python for bounty hunting in haz res and a fdl for powerplay now, and I don't know what I can do with the clipper, cargo ship? another bounty hunting ship? I don't think it would be good at missions since it requires a large pad. What do you think the clipper's best role is?
Thank you CMDRS!

[TiberiuS]

Clipper is a perfect multi role (trader / combat) ship. It's fast (almost as fast as the cobra!), it's actually quite cheap (better trader than T7 and only 3MCr more!), it's maneuverable and can pack a decent punch. It tends to drift a lot in cuves though, but you get used to it. ;)

I used it first as trader and later when I had the money for the more advanced equipment I used it as a bounty hunter for RES (and still do!)

[-OrLoK- Слава Україн]

Hello there

it allows you do do things in *style*

I trade and do RES hunting in it.

Rgds

LoK

[chieflevine]

What kind of weapon load-out do you use on it? I do think it can do great in haz res since it is quite maneuverable and fast.

Originally posted by TiberiuS:

Clipper is a perfect multi role (trader / combat) ship. It's fast (almost as fast as the cobra!), it's actually quite cheap (better trader than T7 and only 3MCr more!), it's maneuverable and can pack a decent punch. It tends to drift a lot in cuves though, but you get used to it. ;)

I used it first as trader and later when I had the money for the more advanced equipment I used it as a bounty hunter for RES (and still do!)

[TiberiuS]

Originally posted by chieflevine:

What kind of weapon load-out do you use on it? I do think it can do great in haz res since it is quite maneuverable and fast.

I prefer High Intensity. The support from the cops makes you kill ships faster and I feel I get more money there acutally.

My loadout is mostly 2x large gimballed (you have to) burst lasers and 2x med cannons (also gimballed), 2x a rated shield boosters, 7C shields atm and 2x shield cells... something like that.

Ah yes: I wouldn't recommend to buy the heavy armor, this spoils the maneuverability for bounty hunting in RES. Rely on your medicore shields.

[chieflevine]

Thanks! I think I will enjoy flying it

Originally posted by TiberiuS:

Originally posted by chieflevine:

What kind of weapon load-out do you use on it? I do think it can do great in haz res since it is quite maneuverable and fast.

I prefer High Intensity. The support from the cops makes you kill ships faster and I feel I get more money there acutally.

My loadout is mostly 2x large gimballed (you have to) burst lasers and 2x med cannons (also gimballed), 2x a rated shield boosters, 7C shields atm and 2x shield cells... something like that.

Ah yes: I wouldn't recommend to buy the heavy armor, this spoils the maneuverability for bounty hunting in RES. Rely on your medicore shields.

[The Mobian]

2x class 3 gimball pulse lasers
2x class 2 gimball beam lasers
2x shield boosters
1 kill warrant
1 chaff
1 class 7 shield cell bank
1 class 6 shield generator
top power plant, thrusters, power distributor

disable your cargo hatch and place your Frame Shift Drive on priority 4 or 5

with those weapons you can stay out there for as long as your ship is healthy. no need for reloading.

class 6 cell bank will never fully recharge class 7 shields especially with the boosters and they are expensive for nothing.

[chieflevine]

http://coriolis.io/outfit/imperial_clipper/06A6A5A5B6A5A4C0v0v272700000m044l5o5e2b58292724.AwRhrSu82I==.Aw18aQ==
this is what I have in mind right now but I'll test out the placement of scb and shield generator.

Originally posted by Jay_in_GPK:

2x class 3 gimball pulse lasers
2x class 2 gimball beam lasers
2x shield boosters
1 kill warrant
1 chaff
1 class 7 shield cell bank
1 class 6 shield generator
top power plant, thrusters, power distributor

disable your cargo hatch and place your Frame Shift Drive on priority 4 or 5

with those weapons you can stay out there for as long as your ship is healthy. no need for reloading.

class 6 cell bank will never fully recharge class 7 shields especially with the boosters and they are expensive for nothing.

[TiberiuS]

Originally posted by Jay_in_GPK:

class 6 cell bank will never fully recharge class 7 shields especially with the boosters and they are expensive for nothing.

It doesn't need to. It just need to keep the shields up until you're out of danger.
Never try to tank with the Clipper... you will fail.
Use it's speed to bring you out of range or the maneuverability to stay out of primary weapons arc.

In 1.5/2.0 shields cells will function completely different anyway. They will heat you up greatly and have a charge time when they are powered. So SCBs will be more of a "last line of defense" tactics.
That's basically what I do with the Clipper anyway. I don't rely on them. I just have 2 insalled to be able to stay longer in the RES.

[DragonIV]

I hate to admit it, but it makes an EXCELLENT mining ship, albeit an expensive one.

[Caramel_Clown]

Since you have better combat ships already you can reserve Clipper to trading/smuggling/mining. It will be perfect for these roles really. And unlike most dedicated trading vessels in Clipper you will be able to run away from virtually anything. Or even give them a fight and win :D

[Ottomic]

Best mining ship in the game, bang per buck. Python will offer very slight improvement for like 5x the credits. Only ships that really supercede it on its category are Lakon haulers, but they're hardly defensible in case of attack.

[meh]

Did you really have to rank up to get it? I got mine a couple of weeks ago without ranking.. I thoght they had made it freely available

[Ottomic]

You usually need Master rank on Empire for it, but there's been a number of weeks when you can get it without the need for those.

I commend it as a great transport and miner, but as a fighter it will just never stop eating laser. Even with a big shield generator, not my choice for a hunting ship as it just offers too big of a target imo.

[Wolf]

if you try flying a clipper like a vulture in combat, you will be rebuying shortly lol
just requires a flight style adjustment and it can be quite effective

[Ottomic]

Originally posted by wolf:

if you try flying a clipper like a vulture in combat, you will be rebuying shortly lol
just requires a flight style adjustment and it can be quite effective

It *can* be effective, but the truth of the matter is that you'll offer a bigger signature and size on standard conditions than other ships at a given distance. Combat wise it's kind of in the middle of the way, with attributes good for the two main styles of combat without specializing on neither.

The upside is that while it doesn't excel at any role in particular, it can be used for standoff or high mobility combat depending on the situation, which gives it ample defensive opportunities if attacked. Still, not my choice if I went out hunting wings or something.