Elite: Game talk

25 Aug 2021, 10:44am
Hello all, I am looking for some advice relating to Fleet Carriers. I am approaching a point where I can afford one myself but uncertain if the purchase is worthwhile. I understand the running costs etc. but do the advantages outweigh the cons? I am particularly interested in opinions from CMDRs who have recently bought a carrier and how they use it. Many thanks.
25 Aug 2021, 11:19am
for me there are more advantages than cons.. you can use it as a mobile base for team activities, module storage, ship storage, cargo vessel for trading (25000 t capacity), outpost base for long yourney travels or even exploration, and it´s also good for mining.. the good hotspots are not so close there are many options.. depents on what you prefer..

the costs are minimal if you compare with what you get att all
25 Aug 2021, 11:23am
HoughtkjHello all, I am looking for some advice relating to Fleet Carriers. I am approaching a point where I can afford one myself but uncertain if the purchase is worthwhile. I understand the running costs etc. but do the advantages outweigh the cons? I am particularly interested in opinions from CMDRs who have recently bought a carrier and how they use it. Many thanks.


I have mine for several months. Honestly, I can get without it.
Here is a link to FC calculator https://cmdrs-toolbox.com/fleet-carrier-calculator

Plan your services and see what is your total + maintenance cost. Buy it only if you can afford all, given that you will have maintenance covered for at least a year and you are still comfortable with whatever credits you are left with.

I think this will be at least 7bil to dump for the FC and x10 rebuys of your most expensive ship.

Do it worth it?
Henestly, I do not know. I left 4bil at the carrier account and I forgot about it. I do not actively farm credits but I am back to what I had before buying it with just casual play. But then I do not use it a lot. If you consider traveling remember to add cost for tritium. It was around 50-60k per ton in the bubble last time I loaded some. You want to mine tritium only as last resort. In remote location - including Colonia tritium exist only in small quantities in station and the market is mainly driven by CMDRs and FC owners.

I will rephrase a joke about Java reflection:

"Fleet carrier is like a special course in a five star restaurant. If you have to ask for the price, you cannot afford it."
25 Aug 2021, 11:30am
HoughtkjHello all, I am looking for some advice relating to Fleet Carriers. I am approaching a point where I can afford one myself but uncertain if the purchase is worthwhile. I understand the running costs etc. but do the advantages outweigh the cons? I am particularly interested in opinions from CMDRs who have recently bought a carrier and how they use it. Many thanks.


From a strictly 'expense vs. return' standpoint it isn't worth it unless you take extraordinary measures to become some sort of trading hub or something along those lines. Other than that it is worth it. It acts as a time saver and major convenience for many aspects of gameplay. It is a homebase that can carry all your ships almost anywhere (including systems out of reach of ship FSDs) and it acts as an in system jump for things like travelling to Hutton orbital for your free Anaconda.

;tldr it changes the game which can make it more interesting and convenient but is a constant credit drain

Word of warning: equipping your FC can increase its base cost by another 1.5 billion, and you should have at least half a billion above that for safety margins to avoid credit issues until you get the hang of it.
25 Aug 2021, 11:30am
HoughtkjI am particularly interested in opinions from CMDRs who have recently bought a carrier and how they use it. Many thanks.

When I played more actively (kind of 'on a pause' now), my Carrier served as a mobile base for CZs, and I'll continue using it for that role when I return. Actually, it was bought for it. I'm searching for ongoing conflicts that I wish to participate in, jumping between systems on my own, and upon finding one, I give a command to jump in and enter the orbit that contains a conflict zone marker. So it makes everything very nice and convenient - I have my rearming/recharging base just one or two minutes away and can go back and forth. Also it's a good storage to keep your stuff in one place.

And, yeah, that 'place to call home' moments too.

So, I'm glad that I have one. Yeah, it's expensive, but then upkeep costs aren't that annoying.


Last edit: 25 Aug 2021, 11:40am
25 Aug 2021, 12:03pm
Many thanks to all who replied - The idea of having all my fleet, modules and storage at hand appeals to me - I am even thinking using it mining to save endless trips to sell stuff. Has anyone got any big disadvantages that I should consider?
25 Aug 2021, 12:06pm
I too have one and it's like having a trophy in my garage. It has given me another excuse to keep playing the game. My carrier excuse is building yet another fleet of most of the, *good ships to have, and station them on it. Just incase some day the game gets a decent plot/storyline and it would benefit having a mobile platform at outlandish location.

Right now it might be as well in mothballs as I have made only one jump in it from purchase. About 10 Ly to a location where I have made my second home in Colinia. I have owned this for a year maybe, not sure.

DO SOME RESEARCH!
I bought mine in Colinia and as mentioned in previous posts, you can't buy Tritium here old chap. Fortunately, a squadron member shipped out a whole carrier's worth from t'booble. So I have full tanks, waiting in anticipation.

Summing up...... Basically, if you can't think of a mission where it would be useful to you? Then don't buy one.

* You know what I mean....one of everything!
25 Aug 2021, 12:26pm
@Kirky007 - You sound a bit disillusioned with the whole Carrier business - A pity we can't pick up unwanted ones second hand. However, your advice to do some research is good. I am still a few millions away from a comfortable buffer though and I am in no hurry. Thanks.
25 Aug 2021, 12:31pm
I want to try frag cannons on my new Courier. Should I use gimballed or fixed? What's a good combination of experimental FX? I'm thinking of incendiary + drag + dazzle. No corrosive because of the low ammo cap. Dazzle might be useful if I ever use it in PvP.
25 Aug 2021, 12:40pm
SakashiroI want to try frag cannons on my new Courier. Should I use gimballed or fixed? What's a good combination of experimental FX? I'm thinking of incendiary + drag + dazzle. No corrosive because of the low ammo cap. Dazzle might be useful if I ever use it in PvP.


Good choice - Overcharged on all 3 + Drag, incendiary and corrosive. Definitely fixed. Corrosive is worth the ammo capacity hit. Get in close for maximum joy.
25 Aug 2021, 1:06pm
Houghtkj
SakashiroI want to try frag cannons on my new Courier. Should I use gimballed or fixed? What's a good combination of experimental FX? I'm thinking of incendiary + drag + dazzle. No corrosive because of the low ammo cap. Dazzle might be useful if I ever use it in PvP.



Good choice - Overcharged on all 3 + Drag, incendiary and corrosive. Definitely fixed. Corrosive is worth the ammo capacity hit. Get in close for maximum joy.


^ +1

If ammo is a concern you have several options: you can put the Corrosive on your secondary fire or create 2 weapon banks, the first with just your incendiaries until the shields go down and the second with all 3 frags for hull ravaging (edit: if you are using Voice Attack or programmable Joystick setup consider designing a fire mechanism that launches teh corrosive a fraction ahead of your incendiaries for max hull damage)

Also, considering your speed in the Courier you might want to take another incendiary instead of drag drive experimental.

Also, Fixed. No reason to use gimballed when all 3 weapons are the same type with a ship that maneuverable.
25 Aug 2021, 1:19pm
SakashiroI want to try frag cannons on my new Courier. Should I use gimballed or fixed? What's a good combination of experimental FX? I'm thinking of incendiary + drag + dazzle. No corrosive because of the low ammo cap. Dazzle might be useful if I ever use it in PvP.


http://a.teall.info/edsa/?s=imperial-courier

Fixed should be fine. Overcharged / incendiary + whatever

There is no size 2 pacifier
25 Aug 2021, 1:24pm
SakashiroI want to try frag cannons on my new Courier. Should I use gimballed or fixed? What's a good combination of experimental FX? I'm thinking of incendiary + drag + dazzle. No corrosive because of the low ammo cap. Dazzle might be useful if I ever use it in PvP.


Double Shot and Screening Shell
25 Aug 2021, 1:27pm
Gryphnn

Double Shot and Screening Shell

Good option vs hull but will require 2 fire groups. One for incendiary and one for the screening shells.
25 Aug 2021, 4:37pm
For the main mod I'll go with lightweight. I've already replaced the A-rated interdictor with a D-rated one. This way I'll keep the ship's maximum speed even with all three hardpoints occupied.

Post a reply

You must be signed in to post here.
Elite:Dangerous related questions, answers, tips and help. Simply anything that is directly related to the game and its gameplay goes here.
For the discussions about the community, other stuff related to the game like astrophysics and so on please use the General talk thread.

What does belong here:
  • Questions, answers, tips and guides about ship loadouts, game activities like exploration, mining, combat and similar things that directly relate to the gameplay.
  • Game technical issues and problems, if you are looking for a help. For the bug reports please head to the official FD forum.
  • Discussion about "official" events from GalNet and community goals.
What does not belong here:
  • Discussing player actions and activities, general topics about Elite community and player events, topics related to the game but also real world (like astrophysics and similar). Please post these to the "General talk" thread instead.
  • Any off topic discussion, please post this kind of stuff to the "Offtopic" thread.