Best PVE ship for easy-mode rank and money

[Poltergeist]

I've mostly been exploring/trading -- elite in both, but I'm now ready to tackle combat ranks. I have one of those "shotgun" Python MK2s, basically fully engineered, 1800 DPS. It's fun to fly and fight with, but it's also ... very basic and one dimensional, and I don't like having to get so close.

Is it worth investing into a large ship to grind up combat rank to elite/make money fighting? If so, could y'all toss me some builds? I have most/all engineers unlocked. I'm looking for a lazy man's option here. Think -- the "Apple/iPhone" of PVE ships :D

Thanks!

[Un1k0rn]

I mean if you want lazy, then you'd be best served with an AFK build.

I'm sure you'll find some builds rather quickly with a quick search of "elite dangerous afk build"

Exactly what it says on the tin.

[Poltergeist]

Originally posted by Un1k0rn:

I mean if you want lazy, then you'd be best served with an AFK build.

I'm sure you'll find some builds rather quickly with a quick search of "elite dangerous afk build"

Exactly what it says on the tin.

Ok. Folks here tend to know the meta and it can change, so I wanted to be sure. If that's still the gold standard of laziness, then off I go! Thank you.

[Agony_Aunt]

For PvE killing one good option is a Krait Mk2 with frags.

[YummyBubbles]

if ya wanna go super lazy, grab a type 10, throw big turreted weapons on all the mounts, hire a crew, grab a hanger on the optional internals, and turn into a floating station.

it's big and bulky and can't move well, but with a crew operating everything gun related with a huge firing radius, alongside tiny boys flying in a wing operated by NPCs as well, you don't really have to.

[spam]

I am a fan of the Type 10 laser turret build, it's not a panacea.

To make decent money you have to fill up on stacked pirate massacre missions which can require an hour or two looking at mission boards. Also, the hired pilots get pretty expensive as they level up and they take a percentage of everything you earn, mine has taken well over 3 billion from me so far.

It's also not really wise to go totally AFK because every now and then you will get dog-piled, even in a low res area, or worse yet, the ship will accidentally clip a system defense ship. And then you need to run.

Basically, you can watch a video and glance at the screen occasionally, safely get up to get a cup of coffee, etc. Try leaving it overnight and you will frequently find your self at the rebuy screen in the morning.

However, it can be fun to let your pilot take over the big ship, while you scoot around in a little fighter practicing your fixed weapon targeting while drawing them into the T-10s line of fire. You can also set up collector drones to gather engineering materials and escape pods from the debris field.

[EverySingleTime]

Combat takes the longest to rank up of any trade, by light years, and relatively speaking is generally not lucrative. The only way you'll get to Elite without several hundreds of hours of concentrated Combat is an AFK boat and, then, who cares what "rank" you have. It's fraudulent.

I recommend working on ships you enjoy taking into combat. I have all the ships and Chieftain is easy mode for me. That being said, I spend 90% of my combat time in my Courier or shieldless DBS because they're so fun.

If you just want to win with no effort, get a Corvette and gimbal it up. Just hold the trigger and point in their general direction, you can't lose.

[Blackrust]

Originally posted by Poltergeist:

I've mostly been exploring/trading -- elite in both, but I'm now ready to tackle combat ranks. I have one of those "shotgun" Python MK2s, basically fully engineered, 1800 DPS. It's fun to fly and fight with, but it's also ... very basic and one dimensional, and I don't like having to get so close.

Is it worth investing into a large ship to grind up combat rank to elite/make money fighting? If so, could y'all toss me some builds? I have most/all engineers unlocked. I'm looking for a lazy man's option here. Think -- the "Apple/iPhone" of PVE ships :D

Thanks!

For "easy mode rank + money" for Combat, AFK/semi-AFK T10 meta is prob simplest but imho a bit cheesy and boring (guides and builds on YouTube). Other options would be bounty hunting in Haz RES, medium/high CZs, or Thargoid hunting. Even if you go the T10 route, it's probably still worth also owning a separate large combat ship for Bounty Hunting/CZs.

[Poltergeist]

Originally posted by EverySingleTime:

Combat takes the longest to rank up of any trade, by light years, and relatively speaking is generally not lucrative. The only way you'll get to Elite without several hundreds of hours of concentrated Combat is an AFK boat and, then, who cares what "rank" you have. It's fraudulent.

I recommend working on ships you enjoy taking into combat. I have all the ships and Chieftain is easy mode for me. That being said, I spend 90% of my combat time in my Courier or shieldless DBS because they're so fun.

If you just want to win with no effort, get a Corvette and gimbal it up. Just hold the trigger and point in their general direction, you can't lose.

Is this a similar way to win with no effort on Federal rank? :) It's the only rank I don't have.

*EDIT*

I had a lot of rep, and I am blasting through the ranks so far. Doesn't seem hard.

[EverySingleTime]

T10 and Anacondas are easy buttons too. With the T10 you can turn of FA and just play space turret, then boost after when they try to flee.

Large ships are easy with no effort.
Mediums are easy with some effort.
Smalls provide any challenge one wants, with effort.

[Veetus]

Originally posted by YummyBubbles:

if ya wanna go super lazy, grab a type 10, throw big turreted weapons on all the mounts, hire a crew, grab a hanger on the optional internals, and turn into a floating station.

it's big and bulky and can't move well, but with a crew operating everything gun related with a huge firing radius, alongside tiny boys flying in a wing operated by NPCs as well, you don't really have to.

This sounds kinda amazing.

[Veetus]

Originally posted by spam:

I am a fan of the Type 10 laser turret build, it's not a panacea.

To make decent money you have to fill up on stacked pirate massacre missions which can require an hour or two looking at mission boards. Also, the hired pilots get pretty expensive as they level up and they take a percentage of everything you earn, mine has taken well over 3 billion from me so far.

It's also not really wise to go totally AFK because every now and then you will get dog-piled, even in a low res area, or worse yet, the ship will accidentally clip a system defense ship. And then you need to run.

Basically, you can watch a video and glance at the screen occasionally, safely get up to get a cup of coffee, etc. Try leaving it overnight and you will frequently find your self at the rebuy screen in the morning.

However, it can be fun to let your pilot take over the big ship, while you scoot around in a little fighter practicing your fixed weapon targeting while drawing them into the T-10s line of fire. You can also set up collector drones to gather engineering materials and escape pods from the debris field.

What is needed to utilize the collector drones you speak of? Is it the limpets?

[Veetus]

Originally posted by EverySingleTime:

T10 and Anacondas are easy buttons too. With the T10 you can turn of FA and just play space turret, then boost after when they try to flee.

Large ships are easy with no effort.
Mediums are easy with some effort.
Smalls provide any challenge one wants, with effort.

What’s FA? Flight Assist?

What’s the major differences between Anaconda and Type 10 for the AFK gameplay?

[Poltergeist]

Would love to see "tried and true" builds if anyone has a Type-10 for the AFK or Cutter/Anaconda for more active combat play!

[The Dweller]

AFK builds are a ploy designed by the ganker cabal to make unsuspecting players turn away from the screen and stop paying attention to the game, so that the ganker that has provided them with an AFK build could secure the gank safely and not worry about the victim combat-logging out of the game like a gutless solo-only mobius carebear coward.

[EverySingleTime]

Originally posted by Veetus:

What’s FA? Flight Assist?

Yes.

Originally posted by Veetus:

What’s the major differences between Anaconda and Type 10 for the AFK gameplay?

Couldn't say. Have never touched AFK and never will. My rank was earned.