Outfits Advice for Bactrian/Shield Beetle Fleet

[space0pilot]

So I have just bought my first Bactrian and I already have a Shield Beetle (I guess that does not count as spoiler territory as it's all over the forums!) I equipped the Bactrian with A865 steering and it's like a ballet dancer - along with A520 thrusters - jumps systems even faster than the standard equipped SB (Bondir Thruster/Bufaer Steering).

I was running 6 mules and a sole SB - rather fond of the dear old Mules but I think it's time for them to go to pasture and early retirement ... and I'm thinking Bactrian plus a few SBs.

Main Question is re. steering and thrust:

Should I downgrade the Bactrian steering to A525, to maybe save heat and slow it down a bit so SBs can keep up? Or should I upgrade SB steering, and if so to what? (Only Hai and Human tech available at the mo.) I'm not keen on scram drives for fleets as they don't keep together well on multiple jumps and they reduce range.

Secondary question on weapons:

I like hunting and boarding pirates to sell their ships and gain the bounty. I've equipped my first Beetle with:

4 x Heavy Laser
2 x Ion Cannon
2 x Chameleon Anti-Missile Turret
2 x Heavy Laser Turret
2 x Hai Tracker Pod

The Bactrian currently has:

2 x Heavy Anti-Missile Turret
4 x Heavy Laser Turret
2 x Sidewinder Missile Turret
2 x Torpedo Launcher

Any suggestions on better weapon configurations for my purpose of pirate hunting (and survival to jump out of fierce battles)?

Third question on shields and etc.

Shield Beetle has single Hai Diamond Regenerator
Bactrian has single D94-YV

Are there good upgrades for these for survivability?

And any other outfit tips, e.g. additional cooling, battery, power, etc.? (Sometimes in a pirate battle one or two Mules would get disabled with shield to 0.)

Hope this isn't too long a post - but any guidance gratefully received!!!

[space0pilot]

Correction - now I've sold the Mules, and bought two more SB, they are turning about same as Bactrian with A865. Unless that's just in Hai space???!!! Off to see the Q shortly!!!

[Ker]

This really depends on what you are going for, you did say that you are mostly into hunting pirates, and since you are using a baccy i assume you are capturing hostile ships for fun and profit.
Suggestions:
- movement
Personally I focus on steering rather than top speed in my escorts. This allows them to better be able to keep up with my flagship outside of combat, and forces them to tank when in combat. In using the RTS style controls, i find that fatter ships offer better control.

- weapons
Heavy lasers are good for now - until you get through the FW story and unlock some better laser-based weapons. This is if you are focusing on disabling rather than killing. Personally, however, I prefer plasma and ion cannon combos. However, that takes a lot more practice to be able to win without killing the target accidentally.

- shields
If you are sitting in a pirate heavy system, then shield regen matters. Otherwise, you can scrap them completely. It really does depend on exactly what you are using these ships for. One or two diamonds are ideal for survivability at your stage in the game. However, if you do so I would highly advise you get some human active-cooling systems, like liquid helium.

[Belteguesian]

First, double the shields on everything, second I so agree with Kiko on getting the best possible turning rate, even saccrifising speed, third finish the FW campaign so you can "replace" the Heavy Lasers with Electron beams.
Fourth (and most important) explore outside human-hai space, youu'll be amazed at the possibillitites

[Belteguesian]

Also you can try particle Beams to be shooting from range. See my post "A discussion to end all discussion about middle warships" where I have a configuration of a Mule that kills Falcons for sport (It does not have enough bunk space to capture them of course). Shooting them from where they can not touch you is a power multiplier.

[space0pilot]

Thanks for the advice. I've got dual Diamond regen with Helium coolers on all my fleet (Bactrian + 6 SBs). Heavy Lasers and Turrets. With the weight I've had to add to the SBs in Outfit expansions they now turn slightly slower than the Bactrian! Maybe I can upgrade their steering?

[Belteguesian]

Originally posted by space0pilot:

Thanks for the advice. I've got dual Diamond regen with Helium coolers on all my fleet (Bactrian + 6 SBs). Heavy Lasers and Turrets. With the weight I've had to add to the SBs in Outfit expansions they now turn slightly slower than the Bactrian! Maybe I can upgrade their steering?

You can (I have never tried it) replace their Hai Atomic Steering and Thrusters with Human ones, in general Human Atomics are more efficient . It will also give you some (very small indeed) outfit space.

[thorndeux]

Originally posted by Belteguesian:

You can (I have never tried it) replace their Hai Atomic Steering and Thrusters with Human ones, in general Human Atomics are more efficient . It will also give you some (very small indeed) outfit space.

Hai engines are more efficient (and smaller) then human ones, while the latter are more effective, i.e. give you more absolute thrust/steering.

[Belteguesian]

Originally posted by thorndeux:

Originally posted by Belteguesian:

You can (I have never tried it) replace their Hai Atomic Steering and Thrusters with Human ones, in general Human Atomics are more efficient . It will also give you some (very small indeed) outfit space.

Hai engines are more efficient (and smaller) then human ones, while the latter are more effective, i.e. give you more absolute thrust/steering.

If you compare the size you'll see that they give less in the same outfit space, not to mention that all Hai equipment generate a lot of heat.

[Ker]

Not all that much heat, actually. I can fully most ships with pure hai gear and still keep it at negative cooling with only t1 human/hai outfits, and usually have space to spare.

Hai gear is slightly less effective but far more efficient human gear with few exceptions.

[thorndeux]

Originally posted by Belteguesian:

If you compare the size you'll see that they give less in the same outfit space, not to mention that all Hai equipment generate a lot of heat.

I find this document[drive.google.com] by Sir_Stig really useful. He converts energy used and heat generated by outfits into outfit space to make it easier to compare. You'll find that the Hai engines come out ahead in this metric.

Even if you compare thrust/outfit space only:
Bufaer Atomic Thruster: 432360 / 104 = 4158 thrust/outfit space
A860 Atomic Thruster: 502920 / 127 = 3960 thrust/outfit space

Edit: Seems the document is not by Sir_Stig, but by StirStir

[space0pilot]

On engines, the Hai engines are better than human unless you fit the huge ones!

So what I've got now (and works OK at the mo) is:

Bactrian w/

2 Heavy Laser Guns
2 Heavy Anti-Missile Turrets and 4 Heavy Laser Turrets
2 Sidewinder Missile Launchers
3 Hai Diamond Regen, Hyperdrive, Large Radar Jammer, Liquid Helium, Ramscoop
Fusion Reactor and LP144a Battery
A520 Thruster, A865 Steering, AR120 Reverse Thruster

7 x Shield Beetles w/

4 Heavy Laser and 2 Ion Cannmon Guns
1 Chameleon Anti-Missile Turret and 3 Heavy Laser Turrets
Fuel Pod, 2 Hai Diamond Regen, Hyperdrive, Liquid Helium Cooler, Quantum Keystone
Boulder Reactor, Geode Reactor, Hai Gorge Batteries, Hai Ravine Batteries
Bondir Thruster, Bufaer Steering, AR120 Reverse Thruster

And 267.92M credits in the bank.

[thorndeux]

Originally posted by space0pilot:

On engines, the Hai engines are better than human unless you fit the huge ones!

So what I've got now (and works OK at the mo) is:

Bactrian w/

2 Heavy Laser Guns
2 Heavy Anti-Missile Turrets and 4 Heavy Laser Turrets
2 Sidewinder Missile Launchers
3 Hai Diamond Regen, Hyperdrive, Large Radar Jammer, Liquid Helium, Ramscoop
Fusion Reactor and LP144a Battery
A520 Thruster, A865 Steering, AR120 Reverse Thruster

7 x Shield Beetles w/

4 Heavy Laser and 2 Ion Cannmon Guns
1 Chameleon Anti-Missile Turret and 3 Heavy Laser Turrets
Fuel Pod, 2 Hai Diamond Regen, Hyperdrive, Liquid Helium Cooler, Quantum Keystone
Boulder Reactor, Geode Reactor, Hai Gorge Batteries, Hai Ravine Batteries
Bondir Thruster, Bufaer Steering, AR120 Reverse Thruster

And 267.92M credits in the bank.

Looks pretty good. I don't use reverse thrusters anymore. I find them not worth the outfit space, especially if you have a good turn rate.

Also, I don't really put weapons on my flagship once I have a couple of escorts. Let them do the killing and I just swoop in an plunder :D. But that certainly is a matter of taste.

[thorndeux]

@Belteguesian: That's very nice, but contains massive spoilers, especially considering where OP is at in the story...

[Ker]

Too many spoilers

also use [code][/code] tags for stuff like that

[Belteguesian]

Originally posted by thorndeux:

@Belteguesian: That's very nice, but contains massive spoilers, especially considering where OP is at in the story...

If you have Shield Bettles (plural indeed) then you don't know about the Remnant?
Sounds preposterous to me.
I'm prety sure he has a Jump drive in there somewhere...