Elite: Game talk

24 Sep 2021, 6:08am
SakashiroLightweight mod on lightweight armor? Its mass is already 0t. I would apply heavy duty instead.

I'll probably try this. 45% heat while FSD charging is impressive. I managed to bring it further down to 39% but had to compromise on speed, shields, etc. too much. By comparison, bringing the Courier down to even 51% totally cripples it.


I do what works for me, and I offered it more as a jump off point for you than a "what did you think?" for me. I wanted absolute max range for deep space exploration. Mines been out to the fields (got bored and came back but the intent was to map a boxel way out there on my own). Go see stuff way out where nothing would require me to have any armor whatsoever.
24 Sep 2021, 6:12am
-Knight-
August Davenport
-Knight-The Dolphin is definitely a great ship. I just wish the Baluga Liner and Orca could take the heat from a star the same as the Dolphin.




That'd be a great little brand bit, but I suppose the ability to fit luxury cabins is already one. I kinda wish the Orca had more 6 slots, or they downgrade it to a Medium pad (Or add a Saud Medium). Having to look in advance for which pad you can land on makes taking certain passenger missions unnecessarily complicated.



I've had no problems so far with my Baluga.



Huh. Maybe I'll revisit it then. What's the mall slot situation with it? Is heard you have to deploy landing gear to lower your profile enough to fit into the slot. Any truth? Is that handing with the docking computer?
24 Sep 2021, 6:28am
August DavenportGo see stuff way out where nothing would require me to have any armor whatsoever.

That's true. Although there are some pirates at Beagle Point. Better not be caught with a filled cargo hold when visiting.
24 Sep 2021, 6:50am
Sakashiro
August DavenportGo see stuff way out where nothing would require me to have any armor whatsoever.


That's true. Although there are some pirates at Beagle Point. Better not be caught with a filled cargo hold when visiting.


Dolphin is tremendously great at smuggling, again because of the heat mgmt. Stealth flight with minimal-to-no overheating is definitely a thing. I've slid into ports many times on a stealth run, avoiding scans the whole way there without taking heat damage. In fact, it's my preferred illegal passengers ship, largely to to speed, maneuver, and stealth capabilities.

Admittedly, I don't run the dolphin in open much. Seems foolish to risk 500+M credits of exploration data when you're heading into ganker territory.

NPC pirates? Never a problem beyond annoying.

(Apologies for edits. Typing from phone ATM)


Last edit: 24 Sep 2021, 7:01am
24 Sep 2021, 7:47am
SakashiroLightweight mod on lightweight armor? Its mass is already 0t. I would apply heavy duty instead.

I'll probably try this. 45% heat while FSD charging is impressive. I managed to bring it further down to 39% but had to compromise on speed, shields, etc. too much. By comparison, bringing the Courier down to even 51% totally cripples it.


No AFMU but an ADC?
24 Sep 2021, 9:35am
August Davenport I do what works for me.


Ah yes, the petulant cry of the "I didn't still don't understand the game mechanics and refuse to admit my mistake".

I too made this mistake not fully understanding the mechanic at the time, but, I at least learned from it...

You do what works of you though, so long as the rest of us see what not to do.
24 Sep 2021, 9:36am
Still use my dolphin (Ecco) for transporting naughty VIPs or small amounts of illegals I pick up from massacre missions. No heatsink needed to avoid scans and it did the Robigo run in 1 jump (in the noob days).
24 Sep 2021, 11:24am
EpisparhNo AFMU but an ADC?

Tbh, unless you use the neutron plotter, AFMUs aren't really necessary. Heat damage is easy to avoid, especially in a cold running ship like that. Recently I took an AFMU to Beagle Point and didn't use it at all.
24 Sep 2021, 11:45am
Sakashiro
EpisparhNo AFMU but an ADC?


Tbh, unless you use the neutron plotter, AFMUs aren't really necessary. Heat damage is easy to avoid, especially in a cold running ship like that. Recently I took an AFMU to Beagle Point and didn't use it at all.

Yeah, I too used to preach the gospel of 2 AFMUs but with how many random stations are out there, and with FC being everywhere, 2 AFMUs are unnecessary. If the ship has room for a second one sure, but if not no sweat.
24 Sep 2021, 1:07pm
I wonder how much more useful is ADC than AFMU or any other module. Especially in exploration oriented builds
24 Sep 2021, 1:58pm
EpisparhI wonder how much more useful is ADC than AFMU or any other module. Especially in exploration oriented builds


Well, for exobiology many flora insist on only being located on extremely rough terrain where it is very difficult to land with some ships. It is often the case there is only a sliver of allowable docking terrain for square kms and instead of trying to fidget into the exact position required you can just use an ADC. In this case as soon as your indicator flickers landable it will take over and land. Additionally, some ships have a landing gear collision box issue that prevents landing even when you're in correct orientation. The ADC will force landing in these situations every time np.

;tldr the Adv. Docking Computer is useful for Exobiology related exploration due to FDev mightiness.
24 Sep 2021, 3:23pm
Oh, that "interesting" game play? It is hard to believe that a small ship like dolphin cannot land anywhere in 5km radius.
24 Sep 2021, 3:27pm
August Davenport
-Knight-
August Davenport



That'd be a great little brand bit, but I suppose the ability to fit luxury cabins is already one. I kinda wish the Orca had more 6 slots, or they downgrade it to a Medium pad (Or add a Saud Medium). Having to look in advance for which pad you can land on makes taking certain passenger missions unnecessarily complicated.




I've had no problems so far with my Baluga.




Huh. Maybe I'll revisit it then. What's the mall slot situation with it? Is heard you have to deploy landing gear to lower your profile enough to fit into the slot. Any truth? Is that handing with the docking computer?


I always use a docking computer with the bigger ships simply because it's too much of a pain to dock manually with them. Way too easy to get stuck. Haven't had a problem yet.


Last edit: 24 Sep 2021, 3:36pm
24 Sep 2021, 3:30pm
If you do not do trade runs, docking is like once each few hours for 2 min. I cannot justify a utility slot for ADC on most of the builds.
24 Sep 2021, 3:55pm
-Knight-I always use a docking computer with the bigger ships simply because it's too much of a pain to dock manually with them. Way too easy to get stuck. Haven't had a problem yet.



That's fair. I don't run ADCs often anymore, largely because I've made it a goal to park and pilot them myself. Pulling my Cutter into damaged stations for rescue ops for the first time was a game-changer for me. But, a Beluga with its tail would give me pause. If I end up buying one, I'll be sure to keep an ADC installed, even if powered down.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

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