Forkers, I need some advice... (selecting pledge packages)

December 19, 2014, 05:40:18 pm

I've set a budget of $350 for pledging (not including added merch, subscription or a $25-50 "reserve") and need some help with decisions.

My heavy-hitter pledge is earmarked for one of the three Constellation packages, probably an Andromeda or Aquila--can anyone offer advice about strengths and weaknesses of each?

The lightweight side I'm looking at three options: Origin 315P, Origin 325A, and Avenger--depending on finances I MAY be able to do an Avenger and one or the other if the Origins, but certainly not both. I partially lean toward the 315p because I thought I saw something about it being the stealthiest base chassis in the game, but here again I need advice--one of these is going to be a Pledge Package to get the digital map and soundtrack to go with my Connie's physicals, the other may be Pledge or addon depending on bang for buck.

I already have an Aurora LX from Twerk's drawing, but I'm not sure what use if any it'll be in Pitchfork...

Re: Forkers, I need some advice... (selecting pledge packages)

Reply #1 – December 19, 2014, 06:24:36 pm

Buy simply the cheapest package, wait for a cheap concept sale with LTI (best bet is the third starter or the bulldog)  and cross class upgrade that into any ship you want when said ships become available in Arena Commander.

Re: Forkers, I need some advice... (selecting pledge packages)

Reply #2 – December 19, 2014, 07:24:48 pm

It really depends on what you're focus for the ships are going to be on day one of the PU vs what you want them to be later down the road. The Andromeda and Aquila have different starting equipment, but some of that can be switched in to improve the firepower of the Aquila (removing the sensor array in the top turret position for a gun turret) or vice vera for the Andromeda.

However, some attributes are hull specific as well. The Aquila supposedly has the best maneuverability of the Connie line (don't take that as confirmed), while the Phoenix has the best armor. The Andromeda is most likely the middle bracket of all abilities. The Aquila does not have the size 1 missile arms that the Andromeda does, but has sensor arrays in place of that while retaining the size 2 missile banks. The Aquila also comes with a rover while the Andromeda does not.

Out of the box, the Andromeda has 1 more gun turret, ability to carry an extra 28 size 1 missiles on top of the 20 size 2's. So if you're looking for a fighting Connie launching in the first minute of the PU release, you'd probably want to go with the Andromeda (for it's $ value over the Phoenix). But the Aquila as a Recon/Explorer build also has advantages that have not been defined as of yet. Such as how fuel works, the sensor equipment that can be installed and what they do, ect.

The package price for the Connie line is higher, but includes way more stuff than the smaller ships do. And includes everything the smaller packages have, so there would not be much use in getting multiple packages for that reason alone. The price difference for package/stand-alone ships like the 315/Avenger is $10-15, while the Connie line is closer to $50. A long term consideration regarding Marcus' suggestion of using the CCU to get a ship with LTI is the cost of insurance will probably increase the larger the ship is. So applying a CCU to a larger ship will increase how effective/safe (premium savings/risk from forgetting to pay premium) that LTI is.

As for the lightweights, I think the 315P's equipment will have the lowest signatures of what you are considering. But on the flip side of that is it has less in the raw combat department than the others. Also it is rigged as an explorer, and can use jump points the Connie may not fit into. Again, it depends on what you want your ships for, both in the short and long term. I would think the 315P would be a better recon ship than the 325A or Avenger. But is that something you are looking for in the long term?

Re: Forkers, I need some advice... (selecting pledge packages)

Reply #3 – December 19, 2014, 07:40:48 pm

Part of why I'm committed to a Connie package is the physical goodies that come with it--where I need help is sorting out the stats of which ships can do what. I'm not really much of a PvP'er, but I'm thinking a mix of Vanduul-hunting and exploration with some cargo jobs to pay the bills in between. So I guess Combat first, Exploration second, Hauling third. Sounds like an Andromeda there...

Part of why I was thinking packages was... the Connie has physical map and Soundtrack CD but does not appear to include the Digital Map like the Avenger does. (Physical maps are nice, but I also like digital copies for mobile applications so I don't mess up the physicals with all the crap in my laptop case and go-bag.)

If it helps to know, right now I have an Aurora LX Anniv and two MR Anniv's (one for possible CCU, one for later giveaway like how I received my LX)--though none of these have LTI. 2 years on th LX, 6 months each on the MR's.

For example, by the specs chart comparing the Aurora LX and LN, the LN gives me a better powerplant, a better max shield HP, 2 additional C1/S3 HP's, replacing the M3A's with Bulldogs on the two C1/S2's and replacing the Marksman HS quad with an ASIM-09c/Marksman II quad. What am I going to lose here? Part of me says keep the LX since it's hard-to-get, but another part says dump the fluff in favor of the LN for $5 more.

For my "mid" (treating the Auroras as "flyweights"), I was thinking the 315p for a scout/bushwhacker that I might be able to put some bite onto if needed, and the Avenger for the real heavy-hitting. Part of the problem is my gameplay style tends to be all over the map, if my Freelancer experience is any indication: some days I want to chart a system I haven't yet explored, some I want quiet, easy milk runs, others I want to hunt some terrorists or hostile aliens down and slag 'em.

Re: Forkers, I need some advice... (selecting pledge packages)

Reply #4 – December 20, 2014, 03:38:34 am

And, partial nevermind--Connie package canceled since they killed all the "Tangible Something to SHOW For It" packages.

$300 more to go toward that Homestead Defense upgrade...

Re: Forkers, I need some advice... (selecting pledge packages)

Reply #5 – December 20, 2014, 08:22:32 pm

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/ships/rsi-constellation/Constellation-Taurus
Cheap and upgradeable to scanner pack and jump plotting computer...and 10$ more than the Dur Freelancer...compare the cargo...alone. I personally love the Taurus...she's got some small issues over some variants however, price point and what you get. Just a suggestion.

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/Packages/Constellation-Taurus-Digital

Re: Forkers, I need some advice... (selecting pledge packages)

Reply #6 – December 20, 2014, 08:39:52 pm

Like I said, amigo... I was mainly looking at Connie packages for the physical goodies--and that's a digital-only package.

No swag, no deal. Down to MAYBE the 315p/Avenger duo I was considering... and no way is CIG getting as much out of me now as they could have.

Re: Forkers, I need some advice... (selecting pledge packages)

Reply #7 – February 18, 2015, 12:04:01 am

Apologies for the necro, but I wanted to revise and update.

Have in hand...

Packages: Con Andromeda, Aurora LX package, Aurora MR package for CCU
CCU chains whole or part: Origin 350R, Mustang Delta

Other ships in goal: Avenger (maybe), 315p
Other swag in goal: Digital SQ42 manual, digital map, digital soundtrack (have physical editions either package or standalone on all three)

Either Avenger or 315p package will give me the map and OST. So here's the math on those two options...

Avenger package $75 plus digital manual $10 = $85
Avenger CCU chain + goodies...
Manual $10 + Map $5 + OST $10 + CCU-chain from Aur-MR $60 = $85

315p package  $75 plus digital manual $10 = $85
315p CCU chain + goodies...
Manual $10 + Map $5 + OST $10 + CCU-chain from Aur-MR $55 = $80

CCU chains:
Aur-MR standalone $20
Must Alpha CCU free
Must Beta upg $10 = $30
Aur-CL CCU $5
300i CCU $10
315p upg $10

Must Beta $10
Must Gamma $25
Avenger $5

Have to finish this thought tomorrow...

Re: Forkers, I need some advice... (selecting pledge packages)

Reply #8 – July 20, 2015, 06:39:11 pm

I'm new to the game and am curious. What do you guys mean by LTI or CCU or stuff like that?

Re: Forkers, I need some advice... (selecting pledge packages)

Reply #9 – July 20, 2015, 11:17:10 pm

LTI = LifeTime Insurance, never have to buy hull insurance on that particular ship. Only available at Concept sales now.

CCU = Cross-Chassis Upgrade, a mechanism where you can buy a package with a cheaper ship and upgrade to a "better" one.