Pros and Cons:

[Carme]

I'm going to say that the Serenity is a doomed import and if you love it for its looks,
you're going to be disappointed when they replace it...

Serenity is the name of the Ship, 'Firefly' is the name of the TV series it comes from.
It is also shown in the Film 'Serenity'.

I'm pretty sure the 'Firefly' part/name comes from it being the central character(s)' ship,
and its engine/design is like that of a 'Firefly' (Particularly the engine).

[Thexare]

So you're thinking of buying the Series DL Border Worlds Transport?

That's great! We at Azure Line Shipping are very experienced in the maintenance and use of the Series DL and its older model, the Series ST, for commerce and combat.

While the vessel is a little long, it still negotiates trade lanes far better than liners and trains, and flown well can duck through a debris field to get around those annoying pirates. Police in every house are accepting of the Border Worlds Transport, and if your trade is of a less popular nature, you'll find your ship welcome in numerous less socially-acceptable locations.


... Okay, a little more "directly", the Border Worlds Transport is accepted anywhere I've taken it. Even those who object to Border Worlds fighters let the Transport go by without a question. It has five rear turrets and four forward turrets, positioned a little awkwardly for broadside attacking, but in 4.84 I took out a Tiger Shark and a Xeno Eagle, and chased off a Corsair Praetorian, all solo. Most people have a little more trouble with it, though, and I was probably lucky enough to get relatively incompetent enemies.

I've also flown the Firefly a bit, but I don't have as much experience with it.

[sovereign]

I'm going to say that the Serenity is a doomed import and if you love it for its looks,
you're going to be disappointed when they replace it...

Serenity is the name of the Ship, 'Firefly' is the name of the TV series it comes from.
It is also shown in the Film 'Serenity'.

I'm pretty sure the 'Firefly' part/name comes from it being the central character(s)' ship,
and its engine/design is like that of a 'Firefly' (Particularly the engine).

The Serenity is a Firefly class transport, in universe from the show/movie it came from- the show being named "Firefly" and the movie (and show's pilot, as it so happens) named "Serenity".

At some point, it will probably be replaced. But given how many people who have watched Firefly then played FL and said "holy crap I'm playing 'Firefly'" or vice versa, it's pretty much on the end of the list for things that need replacement. It does need new textures, certainly... but it probably isn't going anywhere until 4.86 at least. Which gives you a good six months at minimum (depending on what happens with Languedoc for the most part). In other words, don't worry about it getting taken from you anytime soon.



As for a usability comparison... the Firefly is best described as an upgraded freighter. It handles not unlike a fat Rhino, with a very nice cargo space for its size. As for combat, it isn't great for pirating by itself, but it never runs out of energy and can hold its own against fighters and other transports until you can run away or get help. It may have only four front-facing turrets, but it can face four turrets anywhere with pretty much no swing lag. I've thrashed a few untrained gunboats in mine, as well as several pirate freighters and every fighter that's dared to cross my path. All in all, I love the ship, and despite how much I love "Firefly" and "Serenity", it's never broken Freelancer immersion for me. It just feels natural, handles wonderfully, and is quite capable of defending itself.

In that ship, I've never been killed. I've only had to pay one pirate, and never had to F1 or resort to 'ooRP' tricks. That pirate was in a Blood Dragon Gunboat when I was still learning how to use the ship properly.

WARNING, INCOMING UNDERSTATEMENT

But I might be biased considering that I've traded a billion credits in it.

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