Finally got my Conda!

[AJH]

Finally got to the 145 million credits I needed for my starter anaconda last night. 3 days of grinding trade runs in a Type 9 finally paid off. I actually did enjoy the Type 9, but don't think I'll see the inside of one again for a very long time now.

I did the not good thing and played it dangerous for a couple of runs to get my insurance covered after realizing that mine launchers aren't particularly effective on the anaconda (seemed like only the two small pads in the back can reliably launch mines without them hitting the hull unless you are flying dead straight ahead). Opted for 1 huge and 1 large pulse laser, 2 large and 2 medium multicannons (all gimbaled) and two small turreted pulse lasers on the back. Ran a couple million more than expected, so lived dangerously for 3 uneventful trade runs.

After getting back in the green, decided to fight a python that interdicted me only to find out my power priorities were out of whack when my sensors shut off. Fixed that, but for some reason even though the 2 was visible on my power bar, all my systems shut down and I found myself shieldless. Got everything back online and ran just fine.

Finally got around to actually doing a little bit of combat at a nav point just as a trial of the fire power. Oh my word, such a difference. Might be a bit harder to line up, but even in the super basic configuration, it hits like a truck and takes a beating. Nothing I fought the entire night managed to even drop one ring of shields and most targets were dying in 10 seconds or less of weapons on target.

The bad parts, it was certainly jarring moving to a bridge on the rear of the ship. Docking took a few tries to get comfortable, despite coming from the bulkier and less maneuverable T9. Now that I'm used to it, it is far, far easier, but it was nerve wracking at first. It is also kind of annoying having such a limited field of view. (I'm a VR player, so I look around a LOT.) The VR does let me compensate a little bit by leaning forward, but mostly I have had to move to a more instrument based approach, especially for landing when there is no visibility after I turn level to land. (I fly in sideways so that I can see the pad in the side windows visually and rotate at the end.) The last thing is just a minor frustration. The bridge is too brightly lit and too empty. It feels unnecessarily large and sterile compared to other ships. It's still nice, I'm glad I have it, but it's less fun to look around than many of the other ships, though seeing the guns on the ship itself is pretty cool.

Best part so far has been how much faster trading goes. The extra jump distance, better maneuverability and faster speeds, coupled with not having to fear every interdiction (due to substantially better offensive and defensive capabilities) and even being able to fight some of them makes trading substantially more fun and profitable, even with the loss of 40 some cargo capacity.

Current Build

Planning on upgrading power plant to 8D next, followed by upgrading frame shift to B and shields to 4A. Then upgrading the rest of the non-D components to D. Next after that is switching the rear turrets back to burst lasers or maybe the shotguns. Something to make a stronger deterrent than my current pea shooting turrets. A rated FSD after that and then I'm not sure what next. I'm open to suggestions.

[JustSomeGuy]

Congrats
To me 'Conda is the Cobra mk III of the large sized ships. For me it works as a multipurpose ship and I do like it a lot.

[TorTorden]

Congrats, the conda is a fine trading ship, and for many other things.

however, is that 6c FSD a typo ?

I would get that sorted long before upgrading the power plant, in fact I ran my trade conda with a 6a plant for most of the time.
A class power plants has the best heat management, regardless of class, and a lower class A is at least on par with the D rated model in the class above and just barely more weight, so downgrading the PP class can make you cooler, gives more power and weighs less.

This is my old trade conda fit: https://coriolis.io/outfit/anaconda/06A ... ng%20conda
Also remember you can get everything 15% off in Li-Yong controlled space.
Particularly in Diaguandri and Lembava.

And docking the conda.

If you feel like ducking when going through you are doing it right

[AJH]

however, is that 6c FSD a typo ?

Not a typo. In my actual full plan, I'm going to a B rated FSD at the same time as the power plant increase. I'm not exclusively trading and I'm doing mostly short hop stuff so I wanted to get my maneuvering and offensive capabilities up a bit by getting into D rated stuff quickly to get my weight down and my power distribution improved (better gun time and more boosting). That led to power problems that needed additional power to be able to support the B FSD. I've actually got an A upgrade in the very next batch that I've planned out after the B FSD/D everything else upgrade. I was trying to break it up into 12 to 20 million credit stepping stones until I get into the things that are single level upgrades of more than that (though several of those are for non-trade builds since they start getting unnecessarily heavy). I've got a 12 step upgrade plan now.

Going from an 8D to a 6A sounds interesting. It is a bit less power for a lot less weight, but it also costs 10 million credits more. I'll have to play with that option a bit though.

Update: After playing around a bit, I do like the A power plants. I switched to using a 6A right after I switch to using an A FSD and then added a 6A upgrade to 7A when needed. It's a bit of an expensive upgrade fairly early on at 35 million for a single point, but the weight and heat savings look like they are worth it. Thanks for the tip.

If curious, the full upgrade plan is currently:
1) 8E->8D Power Dist, 8E->8D Sensors, 4B->4A shield, 6C->6B FSD, 7D->8D powerplant - 11.7 million
2) 8D->6A Power Plant - 11 million
3) 1G pulse lasers/T (2x) -> 1F Beam Laser/T, 6B FSD->6A FSD - 12.6 million
4) 6A->7A power plant - 37.6 million
5) Point defense to OA shield booster (1x), 2F multi-cannon/G->2D Beam Laser/G (x2), 3E pulse laser/G->3C Beam laser/g (1x), 8D->*C power dist, 4A pulse laser->4A plasma accelerator - 19.4 million
6) 8D->8C sensors, 6D->6C Thruster - 8.1 million
7) 7A->8B power plant - 10.6 million
8) 8C->8A distributor - 23.5 million
9) 7C->7A thrusters - 46.4 million
(At this point it starts getting into things less trade oriented and more balance oriented)
10) 8C->8A sensors - 23.5 million
11) Reinforced Alloy - 58.8 million
12) 8B->8A power plant - 116.5 million
13) Military grade composite - 82.3 million

Prices are primarily without discounts applied. I may switch 2 and 3, depending on trade route availability. I may also rework the weapon systems depending on how the distributor holds up, probably by changing beam to burst. The power plants would end up delayed until necessary if I do that.

Thought process behind weapon selection is that the smalls are purely rear defense turrets on fire at will. The single large and two medium beams are intended to quickly drop shields when I get a strafing run in or in a rapid backup run. After that, I've got two large MCs for smaller ships and a plasma accelerator for larger ships and/or lucky shots against smaller. It also makes a nice opener on NPCs that will stupidly not attack until hit.

[Arithon]

Congratulations. Can't beat the feeling when you have your own bridge.

[KLED]

I think an Anaconda is going to be my next goal, I grabbed the gold paintjob when it was on sale so now I kind of have to use it - you can never have too much gaudy shit. I've got a Vulture for combat at the moment, and didn't particularly like the FDL in the short time I had one while saving up for my Cutter, so it'll be nice to have a new toy. Not that my Courier has let me down in combat yet, mind, I'm surprised at how much I like the thing considering I originally thought it was the ugliest of the Empire ships and didn't plan to fly one for very long (250 hours later...).