M3 Fighter Guide

Constipated_Vigilante · Post by **Constipated_Vigilante** » Tue, 29. Mar 05, 23:33

I'm one of the proud, the few, who seems to think of the Orinoco as a good ship. It's really a fantastic ship for BBS missions. It has a very generous cargo bay for an M3, has average shields, decent weapons (BPSGs, AHEPTs), and although it's ugly, it's quite reliable. The others might be better for straight-up combat, but I think the Orinoco is the best for a jack-of-all-trades person who's not very rich yet. It's even free!

Post by **Nanook** » Tue, 29. Mar 05, 23:47

Constipated_Vigilante wrote:I'm one of the proud, the few, who seems to think of the Orinoco as a good ship. It's really a fantastic ship for BBS missions. It has a very generous cargo bay for an M3, has average shields, decent weapons (BPSGs, AHEPTs), and although it's ugly, it's quite reliable. The others might be better for straight-up combat, but I think the Orinoco is the best for a jack-of-all-trades person who's not very rich yet. It's even free!

Proud maybe, but not so few.

The Orinoco is by far my favorite M3, despite it's looks. But for a lot of different reasons. Once you learn how to fly well, the Ori can hold its own against any ship in the game except perhaps a Khaak M2. With its very versatile weapons loadout of AHEPT's, Ion D's, and BPSG's, it has more options than any other M3. I've wiped out pirate bases, capturing most of the fighters. I've cleared Xenon sectors, including X472, with it. Its huge cargo bay, for an M3, allows it to carry plenty of e-cells both for jumping and for its added Engine Tuning Kit, while still having plenty of room to pick up loot after a battle. But the best part is the ability to capture an overtuned one in mission 2. My super Ori has a top speed of 319 m/s!

The OP's dissing of the Orinoco just shows he hasn't really used it.

Atrium · Post by **Atrium** » Tue, 29. Mar 05, 23:54

The others better at combat, erm no. The orinoco can take bpsgs, two of them. So it has almost as much firepower as the persius. Which was clearly designed to... kill things.

Some Strange Man · Post by **Some Strange Man** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 00:49

The 'noco?

Its slow and got below average shields for an M3.

Its a watered down version of the Perseus that just so happens to be able to jump.

@Java, you really should include the Iguana! All but one of its specs is better than that of your M3's, and theyre maneouverability and lack of psg capability (lets just ignore the 4 x Ion D capability).

Logaan · Post by **Logaan** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 01:11

Im using the Orinoco at the moment in my latest games. Equipped with 2 GPACs as I find the AHEPTs a bit weak sometimes.

Its the kind of halfway ship, one on hand youve got a perfectly servicable fighter, which as long as you dont go after anything else bigger than an M3 and take on more than several M3s, you can cope.

On the other hand, youve got the Cargobay to do the odd trade runs and its just as fast as any TS.

So yes, its speed lets it down, but if it was any faster, everyone would be using it.

MY favourite ship is the Baracuda which is what I voted for btw.

Java Jawa · Post by **Java Jawa** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 09:35

Well, due to public outcry, I just had a review of the Orinoco, seems I was a little harsh on it! I'll update its score in light of some of the facts that you have stated.

and which I have tested and found to be at least partially true. Logaans judgement of 'a halfwawy ship' I think makes more sense, so I've tried to incorporate some of the features he mentioned.

The_Seeker · Post by **The_Seeker** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 10:02

Khaak M3 Rulezz! I got 14!

I WANT 50! *slobber*

No need to guess my vote, huh?

Cheers!

Java Jawa · Post by **Java Jawa** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 10:04

nope hehehe . . .

*chitters*

Java Jawa · Post by **Java Jawa** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 10:06

And i can't include the Iguana! It's a TP! I mean, alright it is a good TP . . . a VERY good TP and I wish i could include it, but imagine their faces s they're scrolling down the list . . .

nova . . .

barra . . .

perseus . . .

WTF! IGUANA!!!!!????????

xalien · Post by **xalien** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 12:56

Java Jawa wrote:PIRATE ORINOCO . . .

Compatible missiles: *why do i bother, its the same as all the others, all of em, same goes for ALL m3's*

Hmm, IIRC neither Orinoco or Mamba can mount Hornets and I'm pretty sure that KM3 can use all non-khaak missiles. Also 3 AHEPTs on Perseus do slightly less shield but more hull damage than 2 BHEPTs so apart PSG compatibility there's nothing special about Perseus.

Java Jawa · Post by **Java Jawa** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 13:41

oops, rectified

Socio · Post by **Socio** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 16:01

Java Jawa

What about adding some third party M3's with specs to your list like the ones in the Deadly SSG mod for example ? http://www.egosoft.com/x2/forum/viewtopic.php?t=74603

This way we can see how some of those stack up against the standard M3's and it will make it the uber guide to X2 M3's!

[/url]

Some Strange Man · Post by **Some Strange Man** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 17:50

Java Jawa wrote:And i can't include the Iguana! It's a TP! I mean, alright it is a good TP . . . a VERY good TP and I wish i could include it, but imagine their faces s they're scrolling down the list . . .

nova . . .

barra . . .

perseus . . .

WTF! IGUANA!!!!!????????

Its an M3 in all but name.

You can say, Honourable mention goes to the Iguana which is an M3 by specification, but a TP by name. (if it were upto me I'd reclass the mamba into a heavy interceptor/m4)

GCU Grey Area · Post by **GCU Grey Area** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 18:12

Another vote for the Iguana - almost an M6 in terms of speed & firepower (primarily due to its 4 Ion-D's) & equivalent shielding to an M3 (but for 1/2 the price).

One of my favourite ships in the x-universe, along with the Ray & Hydra - well, I am rather fond of Ion-D's. Things just seem to go so much better if the only ship with any shields left is the one I'm flying...

JungleJim · Post by **JungleJim** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 18:16

Maximum476 wrote:I think you missed the sheild info from the ships. You should also maybe point out the friendly fire issues you can get when using psgs, and the fact that the KM3, due to the nature of its weapons, cannot easily take out ships with very strong sheilds.

As for the nova, the back turret is only useful because the thing is so slow, all other fighters can outrun the dangerous missiles.

All other M3s EXCEPT the Falcon & Orinoco.

The Orinoco has other positive qualities that make up for this short-coming. The Falcon does not.

Java Jawa · Post by **Java Jawa** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 18:18

Okey-dokey, I'll update tomorrow with

-iguana
-some ship mods

if anyone could point out ship mods other than deadly's and tell me the specs (just the details which I have got on the others) then I'd be happy to add em. Ta

Hellhound. · Post by **Hellhound.** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 18:20

@all Vote for the Split Mamba!!

Java Jawa · Post by **Java Jawa** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 18:23

It ain't gonna happen, boy

JungleJim · Post by **JungleJim** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 18:24

Java Jawa wrote:And i can't include the Iguana! It's a TP! I mean, alright it is a good TP . . . a VERY good TP and I wish i could include it, but imagine their faces s they're scrolling down the list . . .

nova . . .

barra . . .

perseus . . .

WTF! IGUANA!!!!!????????

and yet they should be evaluated against this group because they're piss-poor as a TP but they fit in very well compared to M3s.

After the ship "class" is a somewhat abstract distinction. Only the BBS missions seem to care about which ship you're flying.

The Iguana's my favorite M3 too. So much so that I refuse to vote for another. The KM3 might be my second pick but I don't have enough flight time to make a fair assessment.

If I go by time in the cockpit, the Orinoco is still my favorite.

-XAAR- · Post by **-XAAR-** » Wed, 30. Mar 05, 19:32

i know everyone seems to strangely love the nova, so im glad its becoming clearer to people the superiority of the perseus

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