The Imperial Courier loadout Thread: Beam, MC, Burst, Shield Boosters ...

[uvelius]

Similar to the Vulture Loadout thread, I would like to start one on the Imperial Courier.
I experience it as not as nimble but almost as tough as the Vulture. Fun to fly.
But how to equip?

Please mention whether you are a trying a Luxury (=most expensive), Efficient (=best efficiency, but not more expensive than required) or Savers (=minimum costs) build.
---
I will post my stats at edshipyard soon.

DEFENSIVE:

OFFENSIVE:
All C2.

3x Plasma Acc:
Meaningless. See INARA log or here:

► Show Spoiler

Tried a three Plasma Accelerator setting in the Imperial Courier.
And it was completely unuseable. Got nearly all shields down by a sidewinder ...
When close, the three aiming dots gain so much distance to each other that not all three bolts can hit the same target under maybe a Python.
When at a distance where the dots are closer together, the plasma bolts need to much time to get to the targets to hit.
While Power Management is no issue at all, overheating is a pain; two volleys and you are at 80-90% heat (with an A grade PP).
And lastly, the three Accs do not fire at the same time.

So if you want to shoot rocks, suns or a broken T9, this might be exactly what you are looking for.

2x Burst, MC:
Even with 2 Bursts, the capacitor empties very quickly. Although it is really great to have no power issues at all regarding the PP. What a difference to Vulture and Eagle!

Beam, Pulse, MC:
Good configuration, though the Beam has to pause soon even with 4 Pips in weapons. The MC can take over when the capacitors are depleted (or you switch to Pulse-only when the capacitor is nearly empty).

Triple Beam:
Too much power consumption AND overheating. Fun but very messy.

Dual beam + MC:
I found the ship overheating is the most crucial point of not using beams. My freagle regularly sizzles when I fly it shooting the beams, but with the Courier it just doesn't feel right to fry it on a regularly basis. Even the MC starts to stutter. Shame, the beams are very nice otherwise ...

[Loriath]

How about this Build.
Coriolis Link: http://coriolis.io/outfit/imperial_cour ... BhEYy6ao==
ED Shipyard Link: http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=707,5Rr5R ... w03w7dg2Uc

Code: Select all

[Imperial Courier]
M: 2F/G Pulse Laser
M: 2F/G Pulse Laser
M: 2C/F Plasma Accelerator
U: 0I Chaff Launcher
U: 0D Kill Warrant Scanner
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0A Shield Booster

BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 4A Power Plant
TM: 3A Thrusters
FH: 3A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 1D Life Support
PC: 3A Power Distributor
SS: 2D Sensors
FS: 3C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 8)

3: 3A Shield Generator
3: 3A Fuel Scoop
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
2: 2A Shield Cell Bank
1: 1E Basic Discovery Scanner
---
Shield: 468.86 MJ
Power : 12.72 MW retracted (82%)
        15.75 MW deployed (101%)
        15.60 MW available
Cargo : 8 T
Fuel  : 8 T
Mass  : 87.6 T empty
        103.6 T full
Range : 16.13 LY unladen
        14.89 LY laden
Price : 8,268,808 CR
Re-Buy: 413,440 CR @ 95% insurance


It's a Courier. Be a Courier.
Your small important cargo NEEDS to get there. It's not cheap, but if you need the Tankiest Courier there is, without sacrificing, then this is it.

A rated, and made to get Interdicted, Kick them in the teeth and then get out. This is how mine is set-up, and I love it. I can kick teeth and then take a BIG alpha strike point blank and laugh it off. I switched the Shields from Class 2 to Class 3, and with 2 boosters, you are looking at 468.68mj shields.

2 Gimbal Pulse to deal with some of those pesky smaller ships that can out manoeuvre you, and a PA to take them out. Chaff and a KWS to help you out. And a Shield Cell just in case. Cargo at 8t to do its job. It's a Courier. And the range stays decent for what it is.

If you really want to play it as a tank, drop the Chaff and KWS and put in 2 more A rated Boosters. You will have to play with the power more, but in my build, Hatch off allows everything to run. 2 More Shield Boosters means 602.82kj shields. Tank? Hell Yeah!

[uvelius]

Do you feel a C2 PA is worth it? I found it tears down just 1 shield ring of a sidey with one shot.

[Loriath]

Do you feel a C2 PA is worth it? I found it tears down just 1 shield ring of a sidey with one shot.

It's a blast. And I use it more when shields are down. It hits harder in my opinion, on hull than the cannon. Since its ammo limited like all kinetics, I save it for where you can do the most damage.

[uvelius]

Great, I will try it.
I experienced that even with 2 Bursts, the capacitor empties very quickly. Although it is really great to have no power issues at all regarding the PP. What a difference to Vulture and Eagle!
But any hints for the immense capacitor power drain with lasers? Or greally only go for 2x Pulses (plus a PA/Cannon/MC) to avoid it?

[MrMagus]

http://coriolis.io/outfit/imperial_cour ... 20ScB%20bL


costly but does pretty good in pve, I've managed a lot of missions using this setup, its intense to use with having to multi managing shield cells and can get hot quick but if you keep your head cool and stay moving I found you can take on missions where you eliminate a python while tanking its +2 wing rather well and soloing anacondas quite nicely. also its funner to use than my vulture also does pretty decent in conflict zones

[Falcon_D]

I've pretty much have a A rated Courier. Class 3A shields. 2 A rated shield boosters. 2 gimbaled bursts on the wings and 1 gimbaled MC on the nose.

Gone toe to toe with Condas and Pythons. One on one, no problem. 2 Condas or 2 Pythons, problems.

Takes a bit longer to take smaller ships down with bursts as compared to beams. But with bursts I have longer pounding time on the big ships' shields before I need my capcitors to recharge. Haven't tried cannons. Wanted to mount a PA but power went over max.

[blazingmaniac]

I've pretty much have a A rated Courier. Class 3A shields. 2 A rated shield boosters. 2 gimbaled bursts on the wings and 1 gimbaled MC on the nose.

Gone toe to toe with Condas and Pythons. One on one, no problem. 2 Condas or 2 Pythons, problems.

Takes a bit longer to take smaller ships down with bursts as compared to beams. But with bursts I have longer pounding time on the big ships' shields before I need my capacitors to recharge. Haven't tried cannons. Wanted to mount a PA but power went over max.

en

Same setup and same results, single bigger ships it can cut it well, you have to dance about them a bit to keep your shield intact but it is a very capable set up.
Lately I have been getting wings of 3 ships, 1 x Dropship and 2 x Pythons or 1 x Python and 2 x Vultures, that kind of opposition is too much unless security services come in and offer a bit of a targeting distraction, then you can pick targets off one at a time.

[IridiumSkies]

http://coriolis.io/outfit/imperial_cour ... parrowhawk

This is my assassination/salvage Courier. I tried more lasers but the capacitor and heat management annoyed me. Dual cannons are more satisfying anyway.

[IronDuke]

Using this build. I find it's better than my Vulture.

http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=707,5Rr5R ... g12G12G10i