Elite: Game talk

Indy
yesterday, 6:56pm
RawnuAfter extensive (!) testing and mulling over, this here is now my final AX Mandalay build: https://edsy.org/s/vEb7mcY

I've decided to stick with the charge enhanced super conduit distro, becase WEP focused didn't make such a big difference in the end but sacrificed recharge speed of SYS and ENG too much (and I'm a lazy ass with pip management). In order to deal better with heat, I went for clean drive tuning which really helped a lot without sacrificing agility, just a bit of top speed.

I also took a step back from the Shardalay approach and put in a good old medium thermal vent beam laser, which gets rid of excess heat rather quick. All in all, this is my bird! And one guy joked today "Did you see the Mandalay going up against the Hydra?!"


I like it! Looks like a fun build. It looks like there are some ways my -- and other common -- AX Chieftain(s) outperforms your AX MD, but I know you're actually testing it, so how do YOU think they compare? Any remarks about how you had to do this or that differently (or the same) between AX builds and scenarios?
Jawohl Duffal
yesterday, 7:08pm
Rawnu In order to deal better with heat, I went for clean drive tuning which really helped a lot without sacrificing agility, just a bit of top speed.

504 boost? Hope Goids will spare more Basilisks to reduce the number of blue-printers in game...

Last edit: 14 Nov 2024, 10:13pm
Rawnu
yesterday, 7:16pm
Indy
I like it! Looks like a fun build. It looks like there are some ways my -- and other common -- AX Chieftain(s) outperforms your AX MD, but I know you're actually testing it, so how do YOU think they compare? Any remarks about how you had to do this or that differently (or the same) between AX builds and scenarios?


I would have to take a look at your build. If I change the Meta build of the Chieftain from AXI to a mostly modShards build (with one small thermal vent beam), the thermal values of the Mandalay are actually better, both from thrusters and from weapons. DPS of the Mandalay is slightly higher, top speed is better from the Chieftain (if dirty drag drives, if clean drag drives the Mandalay is better). The armor values are better for the Chieftain, the agility is similar but the yaw of the Mandalay is unmatched (and if you combine pitch and yaw in flight manoeuvrers, you get fantastic corkscrew effects when flying FA on). The Mandalay is a fun ship, it's not the best for this kind of job. But it is surprisingly good given its constraints (mostly the class 5 power plant and distributor). Taken those constraints into account, it surprises me even more how she can hold it in a comparison withe the Chieftain, that has both class 6.
Rawnu
yesterday, 7:18pm
Jawohl Duffal
Rawnu In order to deal better with heat, I went for clean drive tuning which really helped a lot without sacrificing agility, just a bit of top speed.


504 boost, hope Goids will spare more Basilisks for you...


Killing basilisks with that is not a problem. Medusa and Hydras on the other hand... boost around them and charge the FSD (unless you have friends along the way!).
Rayman.
yesterday, 7:28pm
I'm thinking about making logbooks, I know what the rules are. The only thing that bothers me is whether I have to play roleplay? It's not my strong point and I've almost never played it. It's enough that I can write in my own thoughts what I've been doing lately? Sharing screenshoots in the gallery I have enough experience that I get a lot of stars from players. I have a few with over +30.
Artie
yesterday, 7:35pm
Rayman.I'm thinking about making logbooks, I know what the rules are. The only thing that bothers me is whether I have to play roleplay? It's not my strong point and I've almost never played it. It's enough that I can write in my own thoughts what I've been doing lately? Sharing screenshoots in the gallery I have enough experience that I get a lot of stars from players. I have a few with over +30.

No roleplay is required for the logbooks.
Rayman.
yesterday, 7:39pm
Artie
Rayman.I'm thinking about making logbooks, I know what the rules are. The only thing that bothers me is whether I have to play roleplay? It's not my strong point and I've almost never played it. It's enough that I can write in my own thoughts what I've been doing lately? Sharing screenshoots in the gallery I have enough experience that I get a lot of stars from players. I have a few with over +30.


No roleplay is required for the logbooks.


Ty ty, also do logbooks gets removed just like screenshoots if they dont get enough stars? Like 3 stars minimum from gallery for example.
Artie
yesterday, 9:25pm
Rayman.
Ty ty, also do logbooks gets removed just like screenshoots if they dont get enough stars? Like 3 stars minimum from gallery for example.

Nope, they stay indefinitely.
Indy
yesterday, 9:58pm
Rawnu Killing basilisks with that is not a problem. Medusa and Hydras on the other hand... boost around them and charge the FSD (unless you have friends along the way!).


Tell me (us) more about how it went flying it in AX combat? Did you take it into CZs? Solo? Team (obviously, based on that hilarious observation you mentioned)?
So, not Hydras -- whereas a Chieftain in the right hands could. What else? Is it better for one type of thing than another? Maybe the MD could be a good Scout hunter?
Rawnu
yesterday, 11:00pm
Indy
Tell me (us) more about how it went flying it in AX combat? Did you take it into CZs? Solo? Team (obviously, based on that hilarious observation you mentioned)?
So, not Hydras -- whereas a Chieftain in the right hands could. What else? Is it better for one type of thing than another? Maybe the MD could be a good Scout hunter?


This particular build I tested in open and mainly around stations and ground ports that were still in operation, thus not needing repair limpets and AFMU. Around stations, speed and agility were imperative to manage distance and avoid Thargon swarms. Single cyclops were easy, basilisks a bit more challenging but doable. Medusas and Hydras needed team-up, otherwise I would've needed to change the loadout to Gauss and adapted to a more sniping hearts kind of playstyle (and I'm more shotgun to your face – disclaimer: CMDR Mechan shot down a Hydra solo in a Mandalay with Gauss, so you can do it, just not me). Around ground ports, things relaxed significantly. Everything other than a Hydra was doable in solo, although the Medusas were a bit of a pain. Hydras required team-up but then the Mandalay was a great teamplayer insofar as it could close distances fast when hearts were exerted, position itself well and shoot them. Also, you could always turn around and kill scouts and cyclopses to keep your team's back free. What I only tested a handful of times were AXCZ. Those required the other loadout with repair limpets and AFMU. And while still ok with Scouts and Cyclops, everything else was a royal pain in the back for me. (I was also doing this without a team). Re your question as Scout hunter: with 4 enhanced AXMC it might be well suited for that. And of course you can shoot them also with the modShards. But the best use is against Cyclops (and against Basilisks). At least that's my feeling after flying it for a while.
Indy
today, 5:14am
Rawnu This particular build I tested in open and mainly around stations and ground ports that were still in operation, thus not needing repair limpets and AFMU. Around stations, speed and agility were imperative to manage distance and avoid Thargon swarms. Single cyclops were easy, basilisks a bit more challenging but doable. Medusas and Hydras needed team-up, otherwise I would've needed to change the loadout to Gauss and adapted to a more sniping hearts kind of playstyle (and I'm more shotgun to your face – disclaimer: CMDR Mechan shot down a Hydra solo in a Mandalay with Gauss, so you can do it, just not me). Around ground ports, things relaxed significantly. Everything other than a Hydra was doable in solo, although the Medusas were a bit of a pain. Hydras required team-up but then the Mandalay was a great teamplayer insofar as it could close distances fast when hearts were exerted, position itself well and shoot them. Also, you could always turn around and kill scouts and cyclopses to keep your team's back free. What I only tested a handful of times were AXCZ. Those required the other loadout with repair limpets and AFMU. And while still ok with Scouts and Cyclops, everything else was a royal pain in the back for me. (I was also doing this without a team). Re your question as Scout hunter: with 4 enhanced AXMC it might be well suited for that. And of course you can shoot them also with the modShards. But the best use is against Cyclops (and against Basilisks). At least that's my feeling after flying it for a while.


Noted. Thanks for the summary. That's exactly what I was curious about. Sounds like an impressive build to fly and I'm glad you did that.
I was considering doing the same/similar type of AX MD, but based on what you're saying I'll instead stick with my next AX build being a Conda one-shot build.
Rawnu
today, 8:43am
Indy
Noted. Thanks for the summary. That's exactly what I was curious about. Sounds like an impressive build to fly and I'm glad you did that.
I was considering doing the same/similar type of AX MD, but based on what you're saying I'll instead stick with my next AX build being a Conda one-shot build.


I have a Shardconda but I find a bit... uninteresting. It's mostly good to one-shot Cyclopses but other than that it's a bit useless (ok that's a harsh word, let's say: sub-optimal). It is just a horribly slow and sluggish ship, even in FA off. Coming of medium-vessels like the PM2, the Krait or the Mandalay is just like getting a brick thrown at your face. I value Cmdrs in AXCZ or around station/ports that bring a Shardconda, they can tank damage and exert hearts fast. But I'm not sure how a solo run in a Shardconda against, let's say, a Hydra will turn out.
Meowers
today, 9:03am
Rawnuthey can tank damage and exert hearts fast
Did you want to say "be improved NPCs"?
Rawnu
today, 9:47am
Meowers
Rawnuthey can tank damage and exert hearts fast

Did you want to say "be improved NPCs"?


Hehehe, you said the word, not me!

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