Teladi Kea a keeper?

mistercat · Post by **mistercat** » Wed, 15. Nov 17, 03:57

I capped a Teladi Kea and was about to sell it, but then saw that the repaired Kea was worth more than the Nova Raider (190 speed version) purchase price I paid. Is this worth keeping? It only has 110 speed and 100 shields. I don't know if giving up so much speed is worth the 25 extra shielding. Why is this ship being bought for so much $$?

RAVEN.myst · Post by **RAVEN.myst** » Wed, 15. Nov 17, 04:24

As with many such things in this game, it's up to you. You're already asking the key question: is the speed trade-off worth it? You're getting not only the extra shield, but also an extra frontal turret, and a larger cargo-bay - it's a tanky little ship that isn't so much about dodging and dogfighting, as it is about toughing out situations while dishing out damage, helped by two turrets offering good coverage. A good way to use it is with EBCs, which give good damage with good accuracy at good range, with minimal energy drain - they use ammo which takes up cargo space, which the Kea has in spades. Also, given the large cargobay, it would be good to use missiles. Both ammo and missiles are, however, an ongoing cost of doing war.

All that being said, could you get more bang for your buck if you were to sell it? Probably. You could either get a cheaper but faster fighter and get back change, or you could invest in a couple of well outfitted freighters and get some trading on the go, or build a factory and start producing something. (The two latter options are quite strong, by the way. I don't know how new you are to the game, how familiar, so if the following is old hat to you I apologize, but: one of the best things you can do for yourself is to set up a "hands-off" continuous revenue stream, so that you don't have to personally go out and scratch for every single credit that you need. To put this in some perspective: in my current game, which is a couple of days old, I am getting a couple of million credits per hour in the background from my fledgling trade network, while I get on with whatever it is I'm busy doing - plot missions, pursuing the story, mostly; I keep reinvesting in the trade network, thus constantly growing it and thereby constantly increasing this income, and whenever I need something specific, all I have to do is buy it, or just carry on with whatever until I have enough to buy it.)

So, it's back to the original answer: it's up to you, depending on what it is you want to accomplish. If you are in the discovery stage, then either option has validity: selling it can get you other, possibly more cost-effective, options; keeping it can let you experience a different sort of ship, giving you another point of reference/comparison for the future. If you really can't decide, then maybe patch it up and use it for a while, see how you like it. You can still always sell it if/when you get tired of it (this approach tends to apply to a lot of things in the Xs: basically, it's taking the least committal route at first, until the pros and cons become clearer.)

Happy hunting

Timsup2nothin · Post by **Timsup2nothin** » Wed, 15. Nov 17, 04:26

In TC the Kea is a very formidable ship for out of sector use. I can't say if this is true in AP.

I find it too slow to fly personally.

mistercat · Post by **mistercat** » Wed, 15. Nov 17, 04:47

RAVEN.myst wrote:As with many such things in this game, it's up to you. You're already asking the key question: is the speed trade-off worth it? You're getting not only the extra shield, but also an extra frontal turret, and a larger cargo-bay - it's a tanky little ship that isn't so much about dodging and dogfighting, as it is about toughing out situations while dishing out damage, helped by two turrets offering good coverage. A good way to use it is with EBCs, which give good damage with good accuracy at good range, with minimal energy drain - they use ammo which takes up cargo space, which the Kea has in spades. Also, given the large cargobay, it would be good to use missiles. Both ammo and missiles are, however, an ongoing cost of doing war.

All that being said, could you get more bang for your buck if you were to sell it? Probably. You could either get a cheaper but faster fighter and get back change, or you could invest in a couple of well outfitted freighters and get some trading on the go, or build a factory and start producing something. (The two latter options are quite strong, by the way. I don't know how new you are to the game, how familiar, so if the following is old hat to you I apologize, but: one of the best things you can do for yourself is to set up a "hands-off" continuous revenue stream, so that you don't have to personally go out and scratch for every single credit that you need. To put this in some perspective: in my current game, which is a couple of days old, I am getting a couple of million credits per hour in the background from my fledgling trade network, while I get on with whatever it is I'm busy doing - plot missions, pursuing the story, mostly; I keep reinvesting in the trade network, thus constantly growing it and thereby constantly increasing this income, and whenever I need something specific, all I have to do is buy it, or just carry on with whatever until I have enough to buy it.)

So, it's back to the original answer: it's up to you, depending on what it is you want to accomplish. If you are in the discovery stage, then either option has validity: selling it can get you other, possibly more cost-effective, options; keeping it can let you experience a different sort of ship, giving you another point of reference/comparison for the future. If you really can't decide, then maybe patch it up and use it for a while, see how you like it. You can still always sell it if/when you get tired of it (this approach tends to apply to a lot of things in the Xs: basically, it's taking the least committal route at first, until the pros and cons become clearer.)

Happy hunting

I haven't played the recent versions. Mostly I was playing TC, but AP is quite different as far as ship balance is concerned. I don't want to use ammo and missiles. I'm using this ship for capping/traveling and it seems to me like I can take out pretty much any M3+ or smaller ships with ease. Larger ships don't bail so they are not my targets. I'm not sure the Kea is even fast enough to evade such ships.

I was just wondering why it cost so much since it was pretty much inferior to the Nova Raider I have. Inferior to the point of being unbalanced. I guess it's just a crappy ship. 25MJ of shielding is very easy to strip so I think I'll stick to speed over the slight shield difference. Thanks.

Timsup2nothin · Post by **Timsup2nothin** » Wed, 15. Nov 17, 05:30

By the way, two words. Nova Prototype. Unfortunately, not available for sale...but if you can find one it is a keeper.

ajime · Post by **ajime** » Wed, 15. Nov 17, 07:17

mistercat wrote:
RAVEN.myst wrote:As with many such things in this game, it's up to you. You're already asking the key question: is the speed trade-off worth it? You're getting not only the extra shield, but also an extra frontal turret, and a larger cargo-bay - it's a tanky little ship that isn't so much about dodging and dogfighting, as it is about toughing out situations while dishing out damage, helped by two turrets offering good coverage. A good way to use it is with EBCs, which give good damage with good accuracy at good range, with minimal energy drain - they use ammo which takes up cargo space, which the Kea has in spades. Also, given the large cargobay, it would be good to use missiles. Both ammo and missiles are, however, an ongoing cost of doing war.

All that being said, could you get more bang for your buck if you were to sell it? Probably. You could either get a cheaper but faster fighter and get back change, or you could invest in a couple of well outfitted freighters and get some trading on the go, or build a factory and start producing something. (The two latter options are quite strong, by the way. I don't know how new you are to the game, how familiar, so if the following is old hat to you I apologize, but: one of the best things you can do for yourself is to set up a "hands-off" continuous revenue stream, so that you don't have to personally go out and scratch for every single credit that you need. To put this in some perspective: in my current game, which is a couple of days old, I am getting a couple of million credits per hour in the background from my fledgling trade network, while I get on with whatever it is I'm busy doing - plot missions, pursuing the story, mostly; I keep reinvesting in the trade network, thus constantly growing it and thereby constantly increasing this income, and whenever I need something specific, all I have to do is buy it, or just carry on with whatever until I have enough to buy it.)

So, it's back to the original answer: it's up to you, depending on what it is you want to accomplish. If you are in the discovery stage, then either option has validity: selling it can get you other, possibly more cost-effective, options; keeping it can let you experience a different sort of ship, giving you another point of reference/comparison for the future. If you really can't decide, then maybe patch it up and use it for a while, see how you like it. You can still always sell it if/when you get tired of it (this approach tends to apply to a lot of things in the Xs: basically, it's taking the least committal route at first, until the pros and cons become clearer.)

Happy hunting
I haven't played the recent versions. Mostly I was playing TC, but AP is quite different as far as ship balance is concerned. I don't want to use ammo and missiles. I'm using this ship for capping/traveling and it seems to me like I can take out pretty much any M3+ or smaller ships with ease. Larger ships don't bail so they are not my targets. I'm not sure the Kea is even fast enough to evade such ships.

I was just wondering why it cost so much since it was pretty much inferior to the Nova Raider I have. Inferior to the point of being unbalanced. I guess it's just a crappy ship. 25MJ of shielding is very easy to strip so I think I'll stick to speed over the slight shield difference. Thanks.

I personally keep them to be used as collectors for TL's. I always keep 1 for myself if i intend to do something using it. the only thing i can think of is head on pbg duel tends to favour me in a kea, that is if you don't bother using missiles.

Triaxx2 · Post by **Triaxx2** » Wed, 15. Nov 17, 18:50

What you've got is actually a Pirate Kea, rather than a proper Teladi Kea.

The Teladi original is 104m/s with 125MJ shielding while the Pirate variant is 109m/s with 100MJ shielding.

You do lose the ability to mount the Phased Repeater Gun in your front mounts for Mass Drivers in the turrets.

The best option I've found is actually station defense. Dock it somewhere that might get attacked and set it as home base. Pirates turn up, the Kea undocks and pounds them into debris.

As a personal fighter it's okay, comparable to the Advanced Eclipse for example. Sacrifices a bit of speed for cargo capacity, but that's Teladi designs for you.

ajime · Post by **ajime** » Thu, 16. Nov 17, 04:46

Triaxx2 wrote:What you've got is actually a Pirate Kea, rather than a proper Teladi Kea.

The Teladi original is 104m/s with 125MJ shielding while the Pirate variant is 109m/s with 100MJ shielding.

You do lose the ability to mount the Phased Repeater Gun in your front mounts for Mass Drivers in the turrets.

The best option I've found is actually station defense. Dock it somewhere that might get attacked and set it as home base. Pirates turn up, the Kea undocks and pounds them into debris.

As a personal fighter it's okay, comparable to the Advanced Eclipse for example. Sacrifices a bit of speed for cargo capacity, but that's Teladi designs for you.

yeah i was actually referring the teladi Kea due to its sheilds which i kind of like albeit slower. The pirates version is slightly more manueverable and esthetically pleasing. didnt really care so much for the turrets since i'd just PBG targets in a head on duel without turning and sheilds would absorb the initial blast. though the turning duel afterwards might me slightly more annoying.

Honved · Post by **Honved** » Thu, 16. Nov 17, 17:55

It's far too slow for my personal tastes. It's got use, as said previously, as an OOS (when you're "Out of Sector") defender, because OOS combat is handled differently than when you're present, and the Kea comes out pretty well in that situation.

In the earlier stages of the game, before I've got valuable factories at risk, I'd sell it in a heartbeat.

Triaxx2 · Post by **Triaxx2** » Fri, 17. Nov 17, 00:49

Personally I like them as Shrike escorts, because it's something they're quick enough to keep up with, and they have the shields and armament to actually contribute to any fight it gets into. Falcon Haulers are a bit better but Kea's are pretty common from pirates.

Post by **Nanook** » Fri, 17. Nov 17, 20:51

Timsup2nothin wrote:By the way, two words. Nova Prototype. Unfortunately, not available for sale...but if you can find one it is a keeper.

That's the starter ship if you play the Argon Peacekeeper start in AP.

mistercat · Post by **mistercat** » Sat, 18. Nov 17, 07:38

Triaxx2 wrote:What you've got is actually a Pirate Kea, rather than a proper Teladi Kea.

The Teladi original is 104m/s with 125MJ shielding while the Pirate variant is 109m/s with 100MJ shielding.

You do lose the ability to mount the Phased Repeater Gun in your front mounts for Mass Drivers in the turrets.

The best option I've found is actually station defense. Dock it somewhere that might get attacked and set it as home base. Pirates turn up, the Kea undocks and pounds them into debris.

As a personal fighter it's okay, comparable to the Advanced Eclipse for example. Sacrifices a bit of speed for cargo capacity, but that's Teladi designs for you.

Not sure how this thing comes close to comparing to even a regular Eclipse. I just bought that and it has 130 speed and 200 shields. The Kea is much slower and has a bit more than half the shielding. Looks totally obsolete to me.

RAVEN.myst · Post by **RAVEN.myst** » Sat, 18. Nov 17, 07:48

mistercat wrote:
Triaxx2 wrote:As a personal fighter it's okay, comparable to the Advanced Eclipse for example. Sacrifices a bit of speed for cargo capacity, but that's Teladi designs for you.
Not sure how this thing comes close to comparing to even a regular Eclipse. I just bought that and it has 130 speed and 200 shields. The Kea is much slower and has a bit more than half the shielding. Looks totally obsolete to me.

Oddly, the Advanced Eclipse that was being referred to is in fact both slower (126m/s) and squishier (100MJ shields) than the "regular" one - not sure what exactly makes it "advanced"

(maybe weapon selection, but I haven't bothered to check - I've never been a fan of the Eclipse, any variant of it.) I have one of these in my current X3TC game, and I use it as an escort for the Cerberus it lives on, as it's at least fast enough to keep up with that, lol.

Triaxx2 · Post by **Triaxx2** » Sat, 18. Nov 17, 13:29

Because you're forgetting that the Pirate Eclipse is something completely separate to the Argon Eclipse.

So the Pirate Advanced Eclipse is vastly superior to the default Pirate Eclipse. While it's much worse than the Argon Eclipse. (But then again Pirate ships always are.)

RAVEN.myst · Post by **RAVEN.myst** » Sat, 18. Nov 17, 17:10

@Triaxx2: Ah yes, the one I have DOES have the pirate paintjob - but I got it from Terracorp, doing the mission chains in X3TC, so I didn't think they were giving me a pirated copy - the cheap bastards

Timsup2nothin · Post by **Timsup2nothin** » Sat, 18. Nov 17, 17:28

RAVEN.myst wrote:@Triaxx2: Ah yes, the one I have DOES have the pirate paintjob - but I got it from Terracorp, doing the mission chains in X3TC, so I didn't think they were giving me a pirated copy - the cheap bastards

I KNEW they were bad news as soon as I saw that "terra" in their name. Where's my Viper? I'm off to Home of Light for a reckoning!

Thrake · Post by **Thrake** » Mon, 20. Nov 17, 12:12

mistercat wrote:I capped a Teladi Kea and was about to sell it, but then saw that the repaired Kea was worth more than the Nova Raider (190 speed version) purchase price I paid. Is this worth keeping? It only has 110 speed and 100 shields. I don't know if giving up so much speed is worth the 25 extra shielding. Why is this ship being bought for so much $$?

Not worth keeping in the early game. 110 speed is far too slow, even M6 can be faster than that. Once you have a small fighter fleet and can afford transports for them, it's another story as you can dock them in faster transport ships.

alt3rn1ty · Post by **alt3rn1ty** » Sat, 9. Dec 17, 01:06

I like having a couple of Kea's as escort to a Hyperion (set the Hyperion as home to the Kea's).

Aswell as being good little defenders, they look good when docked from third person view with the shape of the Hyperion and those two tucked in at the sides of the Hyperion.

I just wish we could get a couple of Enhanced Kea's (the special you get for the early part of the Tormented Teladi scenario) instead of being restricted to just one.

Here's an image of a Hyperion with a couple of others docked .. Looks a lot better with Kea's ship design

http://i.imgur.com/auZk4.jpg

{Images posted directly to the forums should not be greater than 640x480 or 100kb, oversize image now linked - Terre}

zooze · Post by **zooze** » Sat, 9. Dec 17, 09:15

Ive always preferred speed over anyhing else. However my mainstay M3 is the Nova Raider. I kinda have always had a soft spot for it from X3R and its carried over to X3TC. Its just one of the best all rounders.

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Teladi Kea a keeper?

Teladi Kea a keeper?

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