A ship guide

[Some Strange Man]

Ok, cuz a lot of people ask very similar questions about the various types of ship, I'm putting this together so people can see what my experiences with the various ships are (feel free to add your own experiences.) as well as some of my thoughts on them.

I'll Start with the smaller ships first.

M5's

Argon Discoverer (AKA Disco)

Fast, maneouverable, low cargo hold, minimal shielding (3Mw Max) and only capable of holding 2x IRE's.

Its the ship you start with, so you should already have some thoughts on it, but anyway, its a scout ship that can engage and defeat some scout ships, taking anything bigger on is a major risk as everything bigger can usually kill you in about 6 hits (provided they are rapid fire.)

Its OK, but nothing truly spectacular.

The Boron Octopus

Faster than the disco, more maneouverable than everything else, weaker shields by a 1/3, weaker, but more guns 3x BIRE max and a smaller hold.

Could be OK for some scout missions, I'd never recommend this one though.

Paranid Pegasus

More than double the speed of the disco, as well as being the 3rd most maneouverable ship in the game. Cargo hold? What cargo hold? Guns? 2xBIRE and 3Mw shields.

Just max the speed, the rudder optimisation, and feel free to stick on whatever bonuses you want, SETA, docking comp, maybe shields (just in case you bump something), and whatever software (maybe scanners?).

Its the best scoutship in the game. End of story.

NOTHING can catch it. It can outrun any missile, it can dodge pretty much anything, hell it can dock at roughly triple the speed that other ships can dock with.

Just don't even think about fighting in it.

Split Jaguar:

Basically similar to the octopus, but less shields, one less gun turret , lower maneouverability (still more than enough though) in exchange for a higher cargo hold, and more powerful guns. 2 X APAC

Think of this as a weakened cheaper and faster M4.

Probably the best M5 for combat, but M5's arent really combat ships.

Teladi Harrier:

Its the real transport of the M5's. The biggest cargo hold of them all, more shielding (5Mw) AND more guns.... only problem is that its also the second slowest of all the M5s and it is also the second least maneouverable of them.

Its a good beginner tradeship/weak fighter, although its likely that when you can get these you can also get bigger ships.

Mandalay

Very similar to the Harrier, it has lower stats in all categories except guns, this thing can mount BHEPTs or even APSG's

Its a good beginner tradeship/weak fighter.

M4's

I don't really like M4's, as they are stuck in the middle (I went straight to the Nova)

but anyway

Argon Buster:

GPACs + mass drivers, 15Mw shield, 176 speed, 74 steering and 108 cargo

I don't rate this at all, its slow, its sluggish for an M4, its got the lowest cargo for an M4, ok, so it is affordable. - Only buy if you have a specific requirement this ship meets. (Not likely to be the best)

Boron Mako

Practically identical to the argon buster, it uses ion disrupters instead of mass drivers , its faster, more agile, cheaper, but it is more weakly armoured (10Mw).

I might recommend this for small trade runs. - Depending on what you are shipping.

Paranid Pericles

Is slower than the bako, is less agile, has a tiny bit more cargo space, which will be filled by the extra 5Mw shield (15Mw) and can use APSG's

I don't see it justifying the extra 100,000 credits though.

Split Scorpion.

This is like a slow M5 with uberguns. - Basically thats what it is.

Its fast and agile. It can use AHEPTs and MD's

Its the cheapest buyable M4, and is understandably many people's favourite. (I've never used one)

Teladi Buzzard:

Slow but agile. What I'd call standard shielding and weapons for an M4, 2xGPAC and 15Mw. Although it cant use Silkworm missiles, it does have a much larger cargo space.

You could use this for small cargo runs, not much else in this though.

Pirate Bayamon:

Average speed, agile, biggest cargo space of all the M4's, weak shields (10Mw), but ridiculous weaponry, DOUBLE all the other M4's. 4x BPACs, 4x APSG or 4x Ion D or any combination thereof.

This can knock out bases. Use the 4x ID's to knock out shields, then switch to PSG or PAC to attack the hull.

Its also potentially the best M4 trader.

The major problem with these, is getting them.

M3's

Argon Nova,

This is the beginner ship of the M3 class, it has good weapons, BHEPTS, PACs, IDs, MD's. It has one rear turret (no worrying about missiles, the guns here will take care of most of them.) It has high cargo space, and 75MW shields (7 times that of most M4's).

Many people despise this ship because it is so unbalanced, especially when the AI decides to ram you with it.

The drawback of this ship is the cost. 2Million.

Its a fighter, but it has sufficient cargo space to do some good trading.

Boron Barracuda,

This is fast and less agile than the nova, has no rear turret, has only 50MW shields, and has upto 2xBHEPTS and ID's

My current fave M3 for fighting; its actually more difficult in this to fight, but the nova kills the game!

Paranid Perseus

Fast, not agile, carries BPSG's (three of them!) low cargo hold, 75Mw shields.

This ship is good for high impact fighting; Khaak cluster? Blast it with the BPSG's and they'll melt away, its also handy for capping, but for gods sake, change to BHEPTs when near friendlies.

This thing is a stationkiller. Its definetely not a tradeship.

Split Mamba

25Mw shields, BHEPTs/MDs. Very fast and agile. It can't handle silkworm missiles.

Some people like it, but the stats make it look overrated as a fighter IMO, it is a passable transport ship however.

Teladi Falcon:

This is more like a badly designed TS, its slow, ok it is agile, but it doesn't have much it can answer with, 2xAPSG are only useful away from friendlies and all the other M3's have bigger guns. ok, its got 75Mw shields, but they dont last long unless you are piloting it personally.

Good cargo hold though. It can be useful as a tradeship.

Orinoco:

As the falcon, but bigger guns, lower shields, higher cargo hold, faster and less agile.

Can you say tradeship?

TS

Only 3 things matter for a TS you arent going to personally fly; speed, shields and cargo hold.

Argon Merc:
130 speed, 75Mw shields, and 1500

Boron dolphin
102, 75Mw and 3000

Paranid Demeter
117, 75 and 1500

Split Caiman
159, 50Mw and 1300

Teladi Vulture
124, 50Mw and 2000

Pirate ship,
169, 25Mw and 800

When choosing a TS bear in mind that they often only start selling things from your factories once they have a full load so small cargo holds can be a blessing.

If you are going to go mining, then you need to use either, a demeter, caiman or a vulture.


I'll finish the rest tomorrow.

TP's

Argon Express

The argon express is big, heavily armoured, but fairly slow.

Its an Ok choice provided you don't want to make the most money. This ship can easily double as a trader or supply ship of some kind as it does have significant cargo space and good speed, in fact, in certain circumstances I'd recommend using TP's instead of TS's.

Boron Manta,

Essentially the same as the argon, but less agile, a bigger hold and less shields, as well as costing more.

This is probably worse overall to the express, but on the odd occasion that you need extra TP space, this is the one ship that can provide it.

Paranid Hermes,

Less armour, more speed, more agile and a lower cargo hold than the express.

Like all TP's this can double as a TS. This does the job of a tourship more effectively than an express.

Split Iguana,

Less armour, mucho speed, big guns (errr why?)

Its apparently too small to do many of the BBS tour missions, so what use does this ship have? Well, I'll tell you. None, except for some trade runs, or even battle supply (which is a push in and of itself.)

If it did have, say, a higher cargo hold and 1/3 of the guns, it would be the best ship in the class for actual TP missions, as it stands, its an ok fighter, or possibly bomber, and you can get better for TP missions.

Teladi Toucan,

Slow, sluggish, heavily armoured and high cargo space.

Its an ideal trader/TS, but its too slow to be a good tourship.

Capital Ships.

M6 Corvettes.

These things are designed for OOS defence, and they fly horribly.

Argon Centaur,

250Mw shields and four guns, 207 Speed.

Its ideal for OOS defence. Load it up with a jumpdrive and fill it full of ECells and you have Mobile Defender #1. You might want to load up a M5 for emergency supply runs.


Boron Hydra,

Same shields, 2 guns.

Nobody seems to rate it for OOS defence. Not really much other use to this ship. Although it could be useful for supply jumps, I'd recommend the much cheaper Dolphin for that though.

Paranid Nemesis,

Same shields, 3 guns.
This is a ship many people sometimes recommend for OOS defence.
This ship is also suited at station destruction as it can take GPSG's on front.

There is some use for this as a ship you can personally pilot as it can destroy stations very easily.

OOS defence and station destruction are its main plusses, its not a long range one though, the cargo hold is small, and would require an M5 to do supply runs on a regular basis.


Split Dragon,

Fast, more weapons than all but one of the other corvettes, good cargo space.

Many people love this ship, I haven't used it. I havent seen anyone recommend it for OOS defence, so I surmise that its lower shields let it down.

Teladi Osprey,

This is one of the major OOS defence ships that people use. Its got the most guns, its got shields, 375Mw worth.

Its also the most expensive and slowest M6 there is.

M2

I don't think that going through each of these is the best option here, so I will discuss the objectives and rate each of them in the order that they fit it.

Shielding,
1. Phoenix (750Mw)
2. Titan (625Mw)
2. Ray
2. Odysseus
5. Python (500Mw)

Armament
1. Paranid Odysseus. due to PSG availability
2. Boron Ray, due to all round ID possibility (potentially impregnable by missiles)
2. Argon titan due to minor psg/ID
4. Teladi Phoenix, due to some PSG availability
5. Split Python, due to all round MD's, so it may completely bypass the enemies shields.... if ammo limited and otherwise basic.

Speed (Is this really a major concern for anyone?)
1. Python
2. Ray
3. Odysseus
4. Titan
5. Phoenix

Cargo hold (spare guns, shields and ECells for jumps)
1. Phoenix
2. Titan
2. Python
4. Odysseus
5. Ray


Hangar
1. Ray (5)
1. Phoenix (5)
3. Odysseus (4)
3. Titan (4)
5. Python (1)

For OOS defence, they all work.
If you are personally flying, then the Phoenix may be best due to it being more agile than the others.

The ray is probably the best value for money though.

M1's - Carriers

These things have some uses, the major one in the unmodded game being a storehouse for components.

They all have near identical guns and shields. So I believe that any comparison based on this to be futile and pointless, so I'm just not gonna bother with it.

As a storehouse, cargo bay storage is the worst way of judging (in terms of carriers) as each ship docked in a carrier has its own storage.

Number of ships:
1. Split Raptor (156)
2. Argon Colossus (130)
3. Boron Shark (100)
4. Paranid Zeus (81)
5. Teladi Condor (60)

Each has a maximum storage space of AT LEAST 186900 - More than you could ever need.

Cost (not including all the other associated ships):
1. Shark (Lowest)
2. Condor
3. Colossus
4. Zeus
5. Raptor (Highest)

I went for the condor, as it, when fully equipped, has more than enough cargo space, and just in case it comes into battle, it has enough shields (the most) to last it until I get there.

I don't believe what you choose here is at all important, unless you are going to test it rigorously by putting it into heavy battle.

TL's

Its another big ship with relatively few guns. So its not a battleship, do not treat it as such. They are all passable at OOS defence, I don't recommend it though, M6's are designed for it. TL's are designed for moving stations.

The major differences in the TL's are: speed, cargo space, and hangar space.

Cargo Space (straight up)
1. Mammoth
2. Orca
3. Albatross
4. Hercules
5. Elephant

Hangar
1. Elephant
2. Hercules
3. Mammoth
4.Orca
4. Albatross

Speed

1. Elephant
2. Orca
3. Albatross
4. Hercules.
5. Mammoth

Some people swear by the elephant, others love the mammoth and some others sing the praises of the Hercules.

I'd suggest that for setting up factories that speed makes little difference if you use a jumpdrive. I'd also suggest that factories take a while to get running, so if you are setting up a chains, that it makes little difference how many runs you need (provided no long flights are necessary.) - I don't see it making a huge difference.

As for cargo space, its almost exactly the opposite of hangar space, and since we can use dolphins to increase cargo space, this too, matters little, as it them gets immediately reflected in price.

The only thing that might change what you do buy might be so you can get a mining laser,

Others

Xenon, all ships.

Nothing spectacular anywhere in these. Good staple ships.

Goner ship

An uneventul, small TS with 75Mw shield and no guns.

[Constipated_Vigilante]

Good, but you have some misinformation in there. It's Boron Mako, not Bako. Also, the Mako uses ID's instead of Mass drivers, opposite of what you posted. Also, I think you have some of the reactor strengths wrong for the TS's.

[Some Strange Man]

Its finished now.

I double checked the shield strengths at argonopedia, some errors might have crept in though.

[combato]

i sid not checked yet, but afaik the jaguar can take apac not ahept and the phoenix cant take any psg weaponry.

also i would not refer this ship in any case. sure it has one shild more... BUT it's too slow for following a xenon m2 for exampel.
best m2 is the paranid model, but this could change when egosoft applys balancing on V1.4

[junj.chan]

i cant believ u left out xenon ships!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
how about xenon N?? good m5, possibly a bit slow for an m5 but still a good 1.
and xenon M?? good m4, fast, agile, good shields (4 x 5mW), large cargo hold.
and all xenon ships are amazingly agile, cos u dont have any human pilot so there isnt any g-force i guess, but there isnt any gravity in space...
and xenon K beats python in every aspect...
and xenon ships dont deserve to be put under 'other,' they arer good ships, but u can out khaak ships under 'other'

[Some Strange Man]

[Some Strange Man]

[x2newbie1]

[junj.chan]

any m5 would die with 2 g.bHEPT shot...
snf gforce would matter, if u turn too fard the gforces would be too high and kncok a human/biological person out, xenon are robots, geforce doesnt matter for them...
and xenon K's are found in large numbers, and u might even be able to buy them if u hack a xenon shipyeard .
neway, i like xenon ships, and i know not ever1 does. he only thing i dont like about xenon ships is how hard they are to get... and the fighters look worse than paranid ships...

[pjknibbs]

Just a quick note: as far as I know the docking speed limit for ALL ships is 36 m/s, so the Pegasus can't dock any faster than any other ship. In fact, you pretty much have to have a docking computer to use one, because it's near impossible to get the throttle low enough to get the thing to fly at 36 m/s!

[Doringo]

You forgot an extra advantage for the Goner ship; it can dock on M2s!It's counted as a GO(a class of it's own) so it can latch onto them like an M3 would.

[Jasperodus]

[Brianetta]

[junj.chan]

i think i will go and *aquire* a few goner ships for my brand new ray. and might have to *aquire* more than i could use. bought and fully eqiped my ray but still got enough money to buy and equip another 1...
and some ships can dock faster than 36m/s but the AI will only dock at 26. u can manually dock one of the ships at 120m/s, or smthing stupid like that when ur just going to crash it...

[Jasperodus]

Which was the case in XT and it was and remains scary when you dock with a maxed M5. I always assumed (and still do) that the dock speed is a proportion of the max speed of a given ship.

What can be said, is that it would make more sense from a docking authority's point of view to have an absolute maximum dock speed. (...and, indeed, they appear to enforce a standard absolute max inside stations.)

Jasp