GmanharmonModules are classified by size and grade as follows:

1-8 (Dolphin can fit a max size FSD of Class 4)

A-E, descending. A-rated modules are the statistical best modules, B-rated have the most integrity and mass, D-rated have the lightest mass and integrity. E-class modules should be upgraded as soon as you are able; C-class are simply middle-of-the-road and can serve as a stepping stone until you can B- or A-rate a module.

TL;DR buy the 4A FSD if you can, engineer for increased jump range and Deep Charge experimental effect. Then watch the light-years disappear behind you as your galaxy grows a bit smaller.

RoguePilot
[...] I really need the auto-dock. [...]

Draxxa KirethIt's balance, there is no better... even 4e thrusters would have its uses, as it generates less heat (uses less power) for cool running fights...

Biliskner

Draxxa KirethIt's balance, there is no better... even 4e thrusters would have its uses, as it generates less heat (uses less power) for cool running fights...

4E are useless,4d are lighter but go for4a engineered ti lvl 5 and stripped down option

Draxxa Kireth

Biliskner

Draxxa KirethIt's balance, there is no better... even 4e thrusters would have its uses, as it generates less heat (uses less power) for cool running fights...

4E are useless,4d are lighter but go for4a engineered ti lvl 5 and stripped down option

not if your aim is to build one with lowest heat-signature, for battle, smuggling or sneaking in.......you can fight even without shields, with the luxury of not being targeted, without silent-running......in that case D would be to flimsy....

Biliskner

Draxxa Kireth

Biliskner

Draxxa KirethIt's balance, there is no better... even 4e thrusters would have its uses, as it generates less heat (uses less power) for cool running fights...

4E are useless,4d are lighter but go for4a engineered ti lvl 5 and stripped down option

not if your aim is to build one with lowest heat-signature, for battle, smuggling or sneaking in.......you can fight even without shields, with the luxury of not being targeted, without silent-running......in that case D would be to flimsy....

Oh i thought he was kitting out a Dolphin(never tryed one of them for combat)

Draxxa Kireth

Biliskner

Draxxa Kireth

Biliskner

Draxxa KirethIt's balance, there is no better... even 4e thrusters would have its uses, as it generates less heat (uses less power) for cool running fights...

4E are useless,4d are lighter but go for4a engineered ti lvl 5 and stripped down option

2x pack hounds on an Asp x A class engineered lvl 5 The dolphin is dead and a PD is useless against packhounds

not if your aim is to build one with lowest heat-signature, for battle, smuggling or sneaking in.......you can fight even without shields, with the luxury of not being targeted, without silent-running......in that case D would be to flimsy....

Oh i thought he was kitting out a Dolphin(never tryed one of them for combat)

haha, you're right...i was more thinking it on an FDL, but even for that matter, a dolphin could be interesting, after being interdicted to go cool-running/silent-running,...

Draxxa Kireth

Biliskner

Draxxa Kireth

Biliskner

Draxxa KirethIt's balance, there is no better... even 4e thrusters would have its uses, as it generates less heat (uses less power) for cool running fights...

4E are useless,4d are lighter but go for4a engineered ti lvl 5 and stripped down option

not if your aim is to build one with lowest heat-signature, for battle, smuggling or sneaking in.......you can fight even without shields, with the luxury of not being targeted, without silent-running......in that case D would be to flimsy....

Oh i thought he was kitting out a Dolphin(never tryed one of them for combat)

haha, you're right...i was more thinking it on an FDL, but even for that matter, a dolphin could be interesting, after being interdicted to go cool-running/silent-running,...

RoguePilot

Hey guys. First, I want to thank everyone for the feedback.

One thing I'm confused about . . .

The first thing I did when I bought the Dolphin was to move my auto-dock cpu into the new ship. I put it in the only free slot I saw, under "optional internal".
I really need the auto-dock. Ever since i first got it 2 days ago, quality of in-game life has rose a lot and I seem to actually be making more money.

Moving on . . .

A fuel scoop does sound extremely useful, but I don't see an empty slot to put it in, so where should it go?

and,

When looking at other potential upgrades (like a better FSD), the FS-drives listed appear to have stats with lower performance.
For example: My current FSD is the 4E. I assume I need a 3E or 2E or 1E? or is it the other way around? Maybe i need a 4D or 4C or 4B?
But when I look at the 3E, it says the "optimised mass" is -71% (in bright red letters/numbers), and the "max fuel per jump" (also in threatening red letters/numbers), says -39%.
Some of the other drives appear to have even more stats in the red. So red is a bad thing right?
Shouldn't I be seeing better/more expensive drives with with positive/blue stats instead?

HELP!

BilisknerThe dolphin will be dead if the other Cmdr uses packhounds as a PD cannot shoot them all also ans Asp x A class lvl 5 is fast

Marra Morgan

BilisknerThe dolphin will be dead if the other Cmdr uses packhounds as a PD cannot shoot them all also ans Asp x A class lvl 5 is fast

I Packhounds.

I hate ECM.

Just a hint

Biliskner

Draxxa Kireth

Biliskner

Draxxa KirethIt's balance, there is no better... even 4e thrusters would have its uses, as it generates less heat (uses less power) for cool running fights...

4E are useless,4d are lighter but go for4a engineered ti lvl 5 and stripped down option

not if your aim is to build one with lowest heat-signature, for battle, smuggling or sneaking in.......you can fight even without shields, with the luxury of not being targeted, without silent-running......in that case D would be to flimsy....

I'll be avoiding combat related missions as much as possible for now.

Oh i thought he was kitting out a Dolphin(never tryed one of them for combat)

Marra Morgan

BilisknerThe dolphin will be dead if the other Cmdr uses packhounds as a PD cannot shoot them all also ans Asp x A class lvl 5 is fast

I Packhounds.

I hate ECM.

Just a hint

Worlock77

RoguePilot

Hey guys. First, I want to thank everyone for the feedback.

One thing I'm confused about . . .

The first thing I did when I bought the Dolphin was to move my auto-dock cpu into the new ship. I put it in the only free slot I saw, under "optional internal".
I really need the auto-dock. Ever since i first got it 2 days ago, quality of in-game life has rose a lot and I seem to actually be making more money.

Moving on . . .

A fuel scoop does sound extremely useful, but I don't see an empty slot to put it in, so where should it go?

and,

When looking at other potential upgrades (like a better FSD), the FS-drives listed appear to have stats with lower performance.
For example: My current FSD is the 4E. I assume I need a 3E or 2E or 1E? or is it the other way around? Maybe i need a 4D or 4C or 4B?
But when I look at the 3E, it says the "optimised mass" is -71% (in bright red letters/numbers), and the "max fuel per jump" (also in threatening red letters/numbers), says -39%.
Some of the other drives appear to have even more stats in the red. So red is a bad thing right?
Shouldn't I be seeing better/more expensive drives with with positive/blue stats instead?

HELP!

You don't need to have an empty slot to add a fuel scoop, you simply replace an module that's occupying a slot. There are trade-offs to everything you put in your ship, so you've got to weigh the trade-offs for each module and decide if it's worth it for what you plan on doing. If you're staying within the Bubble the fuel scoop is convenient, but not really necessary. You may find that slot is better used for some other module. Do you have a specific idea in mind for what you want to do (fighting, exploration, cargo runs, passenger, etc), or are you still trying to figure it out?

Also, when looking for modules (I see others have already elaborated on the size-grade scale) bear in mind that not every station is going to have what you're looking for. Different markets carry different stuff. This site has a useful tool for finding the the nearest market to you that carries a specific module. It's near the top of the page under "outfitting".

Finally, I second Stryker Aune's suggestion about docking. A docking computer is fine for convenience, but you should learn how to dock on your own as well. It's frustrating at first, but once you get the hang of it it's a snap. Practice, practice, practice until you get it down. I generally keep a docking computer fitted on my ships, but turn it off about a quarter of the time and dock manually.