Oolite Bulletins

Time to plan my next ship purchase...

So... what do you guys think?

Personally, I would choose the boa, mainly because of the extra missile slot.

Let the Ship-bashing begin!!

(Data from RS spreadsheet)
Python Class Cruiser:
* Faster (0,350 vs 0,312)
* Higher Charge Rate (3,5 vs 3,2)

Boa Class Cruiser:
* More Cargo Space (175 vs 160)
* Better manouverability (2.5/1.0 vs 2.0/0.8)
* More energy banks (8 vs 7)
* More missile slots (5 vs 4)

PCC: cool paintjob, bucket seats

BCC: beige, wooden beaded seat-covers

govert wrote:

* Better manouverability (2.5/1.0 vs 2.0/0.

FYI, this actually means ( ... 2.0/zero point eight )

“Disable smilies in this post” is useful. As is the Preview button. :-)

Which one to go for is dependant on where you want to go and how you are making money. Since you can't hire escorts in the standard game* it's up to your piloting ability and what you want to do.

There's a reason why Pythons are part of a lot of pirates fleets. Sure they are cheap, but that agility makes dangerous. With ECMs, extra energy bank and shield boosters fitted it's a has a higher combat percentage than the Boa II. If you want to run cargo to dictatorships or worse systems, or turn pirate for a while, then go for the Python. If shifting big amounts of cargo between safe systems (milk-runs) is your thing, then go for the Boa. The increased cargo space will make you very rich very quickly, even if it's boring and does nothing for your combat ratting. You can always sell it off when you have more money than god and buy something vicious with all the extras.

Don't let the missile pylons skeu your choice. At least half the ships out there have ECMs fitted, making it kind of moot. Unless you want a bunch of extra q-bombs or fuel tanks, you'll find that after a while you'll ever only use missiles as a last chance weapon meaning that 4 vrs 5 don't mean much.

*Seriously having a Escorts options would be brilliant IMOHO. Hit [f9] and hire a few fighters to protect you and your cargo, or bid your services as fighter to protect someone else's cargo. So any ideas from the brilliant code jox's out there?

govert wrote:

Time to plan my next ship purchase...

So... what do you guys think?

Personally, I would choose the boa, mainly because of the extra missile slot.

Let the Ship-bashing begin!!

(Data from RS spreadsheet)
Python Class Cruiser:
* Faster (0,350 vs 0,312)
* Higher Charge Rate (3,5 vs 3,2)

Boa Class Cruiser:
* More Cargo Space (175 vs 160)
* Better manouverability (2.5/1.0 vs 2.0/0.
* More energy banks (8 vs 7)
* More missile slots (5 vs 4)

I'm flying a Boa Class Cruiser.

I've read in the past that the Python Class Cruiser cannot install Military Shield Enhancements, while the Boa Class Cruiser can install them.

The B.C.C.'s additional energy capacity is most welcome. The recharge rate is less of a problem when you start with more energy.

The B.C.C.'s extra missile pylon allows a greater quantity of Q-Bombs. So, two or three hardhead missiles and the remainder of the racks loaded with Q-Bombs makes for a nicely equipped ship. On longer missions the Captain has greater flexibility when selecting ordnance or additional fuel options available via OXP's.

The top speeds of each ship and their manuverability may give an edge to better pilots. Game A.I. pilot programming doesn't fully utilize the benefits. Witchfuel injectors negate some of the speed advantage. And if an opponent does run away enough to get outside scanner range, a few seconds of Torus Drive usage closes the gap again.

The Boa Class Cruiser's extra cargo capacity is great for trading, and offers additional capacity for scooping cargo. With such opportunity for profit, you can afford to purchase expensive equipment.

A good graphics artist can paint the ship any color scheme they want. So the "stock" color scheme isn't a deciding factor.

Either way, they're both fun to fly and play with.

Disembodied wrote:

PCC: cool paintjob, bucket seats

BCC: beige, wooden beaded seat-covers

Not true if you install neolite oxp! Then the BCC is a beauty! It's also small enough to fly into a fuel station through the bars on the side instead of using the open entrance!

I did fly the BCC and in my eyes, it's the best built-in ship. It's also not hit so often in combat (talking about the original looking ship, as neolite came later). I made huge profit and I even got those Merlins and Hatchling Boy Racers down with it! OK, I admit, I typically ran them over >:-) Asteroid mining is as easy as that...install an ore processor and ram the asteroids (at not too high speed)!

Screet

DOES the PCC have access to all equipment?

The RS datasheet says it does, but the wiki http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Python_Class_Cruiser says it lacks shield boosters.

Got the BoaCC!
Full iron ass , except the cloaking device.

Turns a bit too fast for my keyboard controls though. I hope I'll get used to it.

govert wrote:

I hope I'll get used to it.

You will.

govert wrote:

Got the BoaCC!
Full iron ass , except the cloaking device.

Turns a bit too fast for my keyboard controls though. I hope I'll get used to it.

I was in the same situation recently and I also picked the BCC and I couldn't be happier. The Python was such a pig the the BoaCC seems like a racer in comparison. If you want to save some money, and don't mind risking weaker shields until you can afford military shields, then the PCC should be a good choice also. I wanted the extra cargo capacity of the BCC, but I didn't realise I could't add extra cargo capacity. Still, 175 is just about right and having the larger capacity does come in handy.

PS. do yourself a favor and get a joystick. I picked up a Saitek ST290 for $20 and it makes all the difference. Not only is it so much smoother and responsive compared to the keyboard, but having the extra buttons at your finger tips for ID, arming & selecting missles, ECM, views, and not to forget the trigger, is so much better than hunting for the right key.

("get a joystick")

Xenoox wrote:

having the extra buttons at your finger tips for ID, arming & selecting missles, ECM, views, and not to forget the trigger, is so much better than hunting for the right key.

Ha. Hunting for the right button. Some of us are used to the keyboard and don't have to hunt for the right key

govert wrote:

Got the BoaCC!
Full iron ass , except the cloaking device.

Turns a bit too fast for my keyboard controls though. I hope I'll get used to it.

I recently bought a BCC as a stepping stone to Anaconda heaven . To be honest I’m a bit disappointed.

Firstly I didn’t like the handling. Not meaty enough for a fair size ship in my opinion.

Secondly, its performance in combat. I hadn’t lost a ship in quite a while until I got the BCC. This is probably down to me. My previous craft was a Python mk1 which I didn’t expect much from. So when on trade runs I made sure I was tooled up with energy bomb and hardened missiles(and a big yellow streak down my back ). This, along with fuel injectors made me almost immune to pirate ambushes. With the BCC I think I over estimated its capabilities. I’ve got most of the important combat upgrades except for the military shields and thought I could go toe-to-toe with swarms of pirates without the need to run or use heavy weapons like the energy bomb.

Lastly, the view of the BCC’s arse is not a pleasing one to spend an hour looking at. Even worse than the Python. Now, if anyone makes a Lara Croft rear view OXP for the Boa, I may forget about the first two quibbles .

Big ships can take more punishment, but they're also a hell of a lot easier to hit. With a pirate swarm you might have three or four or five small ships all bouncing beam lasers off your big end ... it all adds up!

_ds_ wrote:

Ha. Hunting for the right button. Some of us are used to the keyboard and don't have to hunt for the right key

Hey, I'm a touch typist, but with one hand on the joystick, I can't jump from the I key to the T key to the ~ key to the M key etc. without looking. Otherwise I'd accidentally hit the ESC key, which I have alrealy done twice even with looking! Afterall, you're not flying the Enterprise.

Disembodied wrote:

Big ships can take more punishment, but they're also a hell of a lot easier to hit. With a pirate swarm you might have three or four or five small ships all bouncing beam lasers off your big end ... it all adds up!

Good point - I didn't think about that. You also seem to attract a lot more pirates. I assume you are a jucier target with the larger cargo hold. Anyway, you can earn enough for military shields in about an hour or two doing milk runs.