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Author Topic: Newbie fleet composition  (Read 1742 times)

VotableTuna

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Newbie fleet composition
« on: September 20, 2020, 03:46:50 PM »

I was wondering if someone can tell me what are some good early game fleet compositions? I have grasped the basics of the game but I have no idea what ships and weapons should I buy to have an usable fleet to deal with pirates and do some bounties and maybe babysit a new colony. I currently have around 700k credits and I found out that its quite easy to make money even without an usable fleet so money is not really an issue for me.
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SaberCherry

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Re: Newbie fleet composition
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2020, 07:09:18 PM »

Eagles, Drovers, and Hammerheads are nice.  With Hypervelocity Drivers and Heavy Maulers.

Personally, though, I think it's more fun to play without buying ships, just salvaging everything (aside from a handful of ships you really want and can't find in salvage).  Then you end up with a lot of Pirate Falcons and Enforcers, and Luddic Path Lashers armed with LMGs.  Just go to some system that placed a system-wide bounty due to pirates or Luddites and start hauling in the loot.  If your fleet is weak you can join battles in progress (particularly with a battlestation).
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Serenitis

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Re: Newbie fleet composition
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2020, 05:12:36 AM »

Complete the tutorial.
The fleet you have at the end of that makes for a decently balanced early game stepping stone.

play without buying ships, just salvaging everything
Doing this will possibly make for a more interesting game, as you will get exposure to a wider variety of things you may (or may not) like than if you just follow some curated list of 'the best' things.
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ubuntufreakdragon

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Re: Newbie fleet composition
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2020, 05:54:09 AM »

I like Hightech ships for their reliable shields.
early you need a decent Freighter and a decent Tanker, or any new valuable ship find will be to much for your logistics.
A Colossus and a Phaeton are solid early choices.
Sheppards are nice explorer assets, in battle they are distraction targets.
If you have Sheppards have at least one Salvage Rig, too, as this increases their salvage bonus. (salvage bonus depends on the largest salvage ship and the total bonus)
For early combat use the ships you find only discard those that slow your fleet or cost you too much upkeep in relation to their Combat strength.
If you have large missile launchers on one ship a locust is mostly the best choice to fit here.
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VotableTuna

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Re: Newbie fleet composition
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2020, 07:47:40 AM »

Thanks for all the answers I will definitelly try those (I dont use the tutorial fleet since I like to start with nothing)
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shrek_luigi

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Re: Newbie fleet composition
« Reply #5 on: September 22, 2020, 01:38:34 PM »

up until you get to the point where you're pitted up against multiple cruisers/BCs or big fighter swarms, Shepherds can put in a lot of work & are dirt-cheap to field. excellent support ship for a rookie fleet, especially against pirates

sheppys have a mining drone wing which tends to trip up the AI a lot, and does a good job supplementing other PD lasers to take down missiles & the like. they've also give a boost to salvaging & a surveying supply-cost discount. two or three of them set to escort your bigger ships is a serious boost to your PD screen--a swarmer SRM in each of their front mounts will trip em up even more

i'm a big fan of centurions too--sheperds and centurions, man. they're some great ships :^)
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@Shrek_luigi: While I applaud your choice of flagship, please don't circumvent the profanity filter.

VotableTuna

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Re: Newbie fleet composition
« Reply #6 on: September 22, 2020, 04:09:36 PM »

Thanks, I will throw in a couple of those in my fleet and try them out
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