The Fer-De-Lance loadout thread: Sluggish or nimble?

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

In my experience, the FdL fills the same sort of niche as the Vulture, just in a slightly different way. What I mean by that is, flying one requires certain sacrifices. If you want to specialize, the FdL has -much- better shields than the Python (855Mj to the Python's 725) And that's not even the highest a FdL shields can get. You could get them even sturdier if you sacrificed even more (the build I'm thinking of still has two empty utility slots.

► Show Spoiler

[Fer-de-Lance]
H: 4B/G Cannon
M: 2F/G Pulse Laser
M: 2F/G Pulse Laser
M: 2F/G Pulse Laser
M: 2F/G Pulse Laser
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster

BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 5A Power Plant
TM: 5A Thrusters
FH: 4A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 4D Life Support
PC: 6A Power Distributor
SS: 4A Sensors
FS: 3C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 8)

5: 5A Shield Generator
4: 4A Shield Cell Bank
4: 4A Shield Cell Bank
2: 2D Hull Reinforcement Package
1: 1A Fuel Scoop
---
Shield: 855.18 MJ
Power : 16.96 MW retracted (83%)
20.39 MW deployed (100%)
20.40 MW available
Cargo : 0 T
Fuel : 8 T
Mass : 434.0 T empty
442.0 T full
Range : 13.10 LY unladen
13.10 LY laden
Price : 79,780,747 CR
Re-Buy: 3,989,037 CR @ 95% insurance

I think that perhaps the major issue that most commanders have with the FdL is what you have to give up in order to get what you want. Want great shields? Alright, sacrifice maneuverability and weapons. Want great maneuverability? Alright, your shields will be weaker. Etc...etc...

But the main sticking point, for me, is that it's a ship that is almost the same size as a Python, yet its power plant is two classes smaller. (The Python fits a class 7, the FdL a class 5.)

For my play style, and to echo the words of previous posts, this is a big deal. There just isn't enough power on a FdL for me to do what I'd like to do, which is precisely the reason I fly an all-purpose ship, instead of this nifty little sports car

That...and Red might get jealous... you know how it is.

[Skipp]

You also need to take into consideration that a VERY good FDL fit costs roughly around 80mil, while a DECENT Python fit goes above 100mil. The FDL is much cheaper to outfit.

I myself will be getting one as soon as I scoop up another 60-70mil

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

You also need to take into consideration that a VERY good FDL fit costs roughly around 80mil, while a DECENT Python fit goes above 100mil. The FDL is much cheaper to outfit.

Very true.

[Octopoid]

It's cheaper for the same reason a Kia is cheaper than a Bentley

[Skipp]

It's cheaper for the same reason a Kia is cheaper than a Bentley

Kias come in red with sexy looking engines?

[Grifs]

Really couldn't stop ignoring the FDL. Thinking of using this kind of build for PvE, although I'm not sure I know what I'm doing atm.

http://coriolis.io/outfit/fer_de_lance/ ... et%20build

Thinking that 3 chaff launchers might be a little overkill, but putting something else (like boosters) would take up more than what the power cap can manage.

Edit: Might try Boxcar's build. I got no proper experience managing power on the fly though.

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

The major downside of my build posted up there is that in order to fire your Shield Cell Banks, you need to either be REALLY creative with power on the fly (sometimes I'll disable a few things in modules) or you just need to retract hardpoints... which takes time.

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

Though, if you're alright with retracting to fire SCB, everything else runs fine. Just the standard making sure things like FSD, Cargo hatch, and Fuel Scoop are on a lower priority than everything else.

[SquareBunny]

My FDL shields are over 800MJ, utility slots filled with Class A SBs and 1 D KWS. I also have 2 Class 4 A SCBs that give a decent boost when needed. Also, the fixed huge hard points are not that hard to use. The gimbal cannon does make things easier but I've used the class 4 PA on this ship and it worked very well.

Can you please share your loadout on coriolis.io? My shields are 748 and I can't get more than that. How did you do it? Especially with 4 PA.

Here is mine : http://coriolis.io/outfit/fer_de_lance/ ... ris%20Farm

UPDATE: Just notice previous post. Yeah.. If set SCB to lower priority it can work.

[MrGuarnere]

Having read this thread about FdL pirate builds I actually started toying with the thought to try the FdL at last. Some seem to see her not as worthless as many, though I mostly hear of people changing back to Python ...
What are your experiences with FdL builds, and how are they working compared to the Python (or other craft)?
Thanks for sharing!

Did you end up making an FDL? What build did you go for?

Im planning on making a combat FDL and would be interested in comparing more builds.