Best frames for specific purposes

[Discord]

I intend for this to be mostly an informational thread presenting different opinions on the purposes of the many diverse ship frames and configurations.

I notice new pilots asking this sort of question all the time, so here's my thoughts, and please do add your own!


*Mining / Exploring for containers and materials:
Starmaster with 5 cargo bays and a good crew

*Doing military contracts (before you have unlocked all mil ships)
Ferret or Starmaster

*Soloing capital ships (no fulcrums)
Chimera, that thing can take a massive beating.

*PvP
Evoch-E
Chimera
Starmaster with 100 skill engineer and weapons guy

[Marvin]

I prefer a Mammoth for all-around flying around.

[Nubarus]

You can whipe the floor with capital ships in any ship imho.
The escort ships are more of a threat then that flying boiler with 4 missile launchers since the missiles in this game are the least effective weapons. Cannons are vastly superiour weapons in this game.
If Vice would ever build a cannon weapon system that you can install in your ship instead of missiles my missiles will be tossed out faster then you can blink.

As for a general purpose ship I personally prefer the Mammoth over the Starmaster, besides the fact it looks better it's also more agile with only a minimal sacrifice of armor.

For a military ship I prefer the Avenger over the Chimera, must be mostly because in combat I hardly get hit in the first place so I don't need a poor agility ship that can take a beating.
I much rather have speed and agility instead.

[Marvin]

I, too, use the Avenger when flying a military ship. Turns on a dime .... (Would you believe a silver dollar? An apple pie tin? A manhole cover?)

[-splosives-]

Trading/mining/exploring: starmaster/leviathan

Everything else: Shrike


A shrike is just the perfect ship for me. It has perfect shields, good armor, and just enough agility for any kind of fighting you will be doing.
Generally in pvp, the most used frames are: chimera, shrike, avenger, evoch-E.
Don't try to pvp in a starmaster, you will die a quick death.

[Sinbad]

For trading/exploring I use the Starmaster for its high assembly resources and armour. The low agility is acceptable with maximum wing system fitted.

For combat I like the Firestar. More agile than the Avenger with only a slight reduction in armour, it spins on a dime faster(!) but not so twitchy as the Evoch frames.

[-splosives-]

The problem with a firestar is that it's shields aren't good enough for heavy frame tactics, and it's acceleration isn't good enough for light frame tactics. I's somewhat of a "jack of all trades" with little purpose. It's definitely not a bad frame, but the other options are just better.
Armor isn't as important as shields and event though it isn't listed in the frame statistics, they do differ a lot from frame to frame.
I'm talking about PvP, of course, because every military frame is good for regular combat.

[sundalo]

I've made bank on the Legacy civvie frame that helped me reach legend rank for cargo runs and its a solid frame for combat contracts. For pvp, I bounce around going from the Avenger to the Lamprey and sometimes an Evoch-E. You gotta be comfortable with the ship you fly, but there are others who are well rounded with many frames when they get bored lol.:D:P

[Edited on 8-6-2012 by sundalo]

[-splosives-]

The lamprey is pretty good in atmospheric fights. I don't know if this is actually true, but it's description says the wings give it extra atmospheric agility.

[Busch]

Yep, the Lamprey is an excellent choice for atmospheric fighter frame. 'Swhut them thar variable-geometry wings 'er fer. Plus, it's pretty hot on the power/shield distribution ratio. Also does extremely well in exo-atmo. Thruster package non pareil!