Top Gear

[H-sie]

Hi, Jonex Skai here. I've saved up a few credits and am going to show you an overview on some of the best (and worst) ships around Sirius today! Each week, I (and maybe more people) will show you a ship of our choice and will tell you a bit about it!



(ooc: Please do not post here, this is for ships only. Any suggestion's or if I have put anything wrong, please PM me on the forum. If you wish to join the "Top Gear Team", please PM me. You must be able to get ahold of ships easily and be able to do screenshots.)

Top Gear Team:
Jonex Skai
Dutchy Lunar

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Freelancer Independant Ship Journalist

[H-sie]

Nomad Fighter

Ship Type: Light Fighter
Gun/Turret Mounts: 3/0
Armor: 11800
Cargo Space: 60
Max Class: 10
Additional Equipment: CD/T



As a treat for the first ship, I'm going to talk about the Nomad Fighter.
The first thing you notice about this amazing ship, is the fact that it only has 3 gun mounts. Sure, they are all class 10, but 3 isn't nearly enough to take out a Gunboat, let alone a Battleship. Yes, I'll admit, it isn't the fighter to use if your planning on taking on Liberty, but what it lacks in the amount of gun department, it more than makes up for elsewhere!

First, I would like to point out how amazing the ship looks. Agreed, the guns on it do look a little goofy, but the rest of the ship is beautiful. The colour is a mix of blue's and purple's and the ship it's self is actually see-through. Because of this, it makes it perfect in any alien climate. Cruising around the Omicrons and Unknown systems has never been cooler! You feel right at home in the Nomad Fighter!


Another great thing is the engine. It looks amazing! The ship shoots out this sort of purple haze and ties in very well with the rest of the ship! The noise the Nomad Fighter makes when it is charging up to cruise is... well... I can only discribe it as something out of the unknown! It sort of screaches, like a thousand pigeons on New London all at once!


Great, so far all you know is this: it isn't great at the whole, "Take on the galaxy!" thing, and that it looks great and sounds eerie. Your probably thinking this is just a ship that you would use to impress your mates, screeching up to their front door and covering the streets in purple smoke before screeching off again. Well, yes, you could do that, but it is a great ship if you were planning on running.

The fighter has an armor rating of 11800. That basicly means without a shield, in the hands of a good pilot you could survive a fair few attacks. Not only that, but it handle's like a tamed gazelle. The turning is phenominal! In the ship, I actually went to Omicron Alpha, flew to planet Malta and attacked the local Outcasts. Oh, I also had the worst shield avaliable in Sirius. Right, so I was pritty much screwed. My only protection was a crappy shield that was no good to anyone and three Adv. Rippers. Not good. After about half an hour of dodging lazers, I decided I was bored. I cruised away, dodging all the atempts of disrupting my getaway.


So the Nomads really do know how to make good ships. Again, don't use this ship if you want to attack things, only if you want to go from one side of the galaxy to the other and you're enemies to everything you meet, and your not the sort to attack, but flee. It's those sort of people I would recommend it too. Or if you have a girl-friend who is from Cambridge and interested in aliens.

My Rating: 54%

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Freelancer Independant Ship Journalist

[H-sie]

CLI-11000 "Arrow" Civillian Light Interceptor

Ship Type: Light Fighter
Gun/Turret Mounts: 2/0
Armor: 5000
Cargo Space: 20
Max Class: 9
Additional Equipment: M, CM, CD



As an added bonus to the first special treat, for my first week, I will supply TWO ships for your viewing!

To be honist, I can't completely see the use of this ship. As many Light Fighters are, the Arrow has an amazing turn rate, but that can't really be enough to pay a fair bit of money for this ship.

We'll start with my favourite part to any ship; the weapons. This is where I tell you how amazing this ship is, due to just it's amount of guns and/or turrets. Well, this is completely the opposite. With just two gun slots, your not going to be doing any life saving in this. More likely, you'll run into trouble and be destroyed by a Very Heavy Fighter with loads of slots. Ok, to be fair, the gun slots are level 9; but really, two slots can't save you when you up against a tough opposition.



"Ok, so the guns aren't much, but it has amazing handling... maybe it's a smuggling vessel!"
If that's what you're thinking, you are so wrong. True, you could use it to smuggle in cardamine or artifacts from far off planets in unknown systems, just as you could any other ship. But I am pritty sure that whoever owns this ship does not use it for smuggling. Or at least, if they do, they don't count on making a hugh profit. Why do I think this? Well, it only has a cargo hold of 20, and to make any good profit on that, you would have to do a high risk run and with only 5000 armor, you would be putting just a little too much trust in your shield, two gun slots and turning abillity.



Right, we've worked out that the ship is almost completely useless, but it does look amazing! The name "Arrow" is well earned, as it looks just as if it has been shot from a bow. Although it looks very sleek, it doesn't look particually imposing. If I met this ship in the Badlands of New York, I wouldn't be too frightened.



So that leads me back to my first question; what is the point of this ship?

Well, it's no trader, smuggler or station destroyer, but I belive I can think of two reasons why you would get this ship. One is exploring. If your not looking for a fight, but simply just to find out about Sirius, then I think this would be a good ship. As long as you don't get cruise disrupted by anything with more than 3 guns, you should be safe. And if you do get rudely disrupted, you can always show them what your ship is made of and run away.

Another situation where you would kill for this ship is in a hugh battle situation. With it's turning capabillities, you can dodge your allies, whilst still keeping an eye out for the enemy. With only two guns, you are in no fear of accidently getting rid of your friends shield.

I'm afraid to say that I think the negatives completely outweigh the positives, and I would strongly recommend wasting your money on another Light Fighter (if your into that kind of thing). Just turn away from California Minor, and think about how great it is having weapons. Ahhh.... bliss.

My Rating: 19%

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Freelancer Independant Ship Journalist

[Exile]

Colonial Starhound mk I "Viper"

Ship type: VHF
Gun/Turrets mount:6/1
Armor: 8400
Cargo space :65
Max class : 10
Aditional equipment :M, CM CD/T.

New top-gear ship treat!
today, we talk about the "colonial starhound mk 1" better know as, our good old viper!
With an IMG engine and a zoner kit, this little baby can outmanouver most of all those dangerous heavy figthers out there! it is true, that it does not have the same agility as the zoner "Eagle". But true lovers of a ship as powerfull and gracefull as this wont mind that!

On my way trough kusari, i ran into a little brawl at the bar. some bloat bumbed my drink off the table, Pure zoner rum! can you belive that! And as you can see, this ship proved its worth when i got chased by a little crowd of angry miners...



a little tip to all of those passing trough sigma 19, best you dont pass trough it at all!.



As we continue our way trough kusari, i thought it was a good idea to launch a drone, and let it fly the ship while i hang back, and enjoy my cup of thee.
annother beatyfull shot my drone took of the viper passing trough the new tokyo system.



And after a long day, i arrive back at the place i was born, new berlin.
forgetting the way to the nearest trade lanes, these kind bounty hunters showed me the way to it. letting my drone take annother picture of the ship from above.





to take it all together, this ship is one for the figther lovers, the combat ready, and the occasional pirate..
my rating, : 79%


Dutchy Lunar, sulaweisi station, Tau 44.

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[Exile]

Top gear Top-date:
Top gear Top Team now exists out of : Jonex Skai & Dutchy Lunar!

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[H-sie]

X85 "Stinger" Civilian Very Heavy Fighter

Ship type: Very Heavy Fighter
Gun/Turrets Mounts: 6/1
Armor: 10400
Cargo Space: 80
Max Class: 10
Aditional Equipment: M, CM, CD/T



Todays topic is the Stinger.

The Stinger is a Very Heavy Fighter, and as with most Very Heavy's, it have 6 guns and 1 turret. So far, fairly average, but if you think about it, that's great! There are four slots for Class 10 guns, two for Class 9 and one Class 5 turret space.

The ship itself looks as if it has been chucked together by Junkers. It's like the Junkers said, "I know! Lets destroy our rubbish CSV's and make something beautiful!" And I completely agree. It looks rough around the edges, but thats what gives it it's beauty. The actual shape of the ship is loverly! Ok, look at a picture of the Stinger. Now squint and imagine your looking at an Eagle. Doesn't it look just like it? (Note: Do this to just about any ship and it works).



For a Very Heavy Fighter, it's got great turning. Anyone ever been in a Sabre? Well, if you have, you will know that going against Light Fighters who know what their doing is difficult. They'll just hide behind you, wait 'till you've turned (which takes a good bit of an hour), then fly off behind you again and attack.
Not going to happen with the Stinger! It's turning abillity is great! Maybe not as good as an Eagles, but I think this ship looks better, so that makes up for it.

This ship is a great all-rounder. It's cargo hold is very good for any fighter. 80. You could hold a fair amount of enemy pilots in there. And yes, I would deffinatly use this ship. True, I am a Sabre guy, but this ship just embarasses it. Good turning, good weapons, good cargo hold, good looks... Only thing it's not as good as the Sabre is, is armor. Just a mear 10400. Not as good, but still, not bad.



Another downside, I'm afraid, is the turret. Although, yes, there is a turret; it's at the back of the ship. On of the main reasons why I love the Sabre, is because it's all weapons. No stratigic turret placing, but just shear power. The Stinger's turret is on the back of the ship, so when firing normally, the turrets don't fire. I'm a simple fighter and I don't like to use Turret Mode. If anyone goes behind me, I'd rather turn and face them other than showing off that I have a secret at the back of my ship.



So this ship is a good fighting ship. It could get you out of difficult situations. I have to hand it to the GMG and IMG, they have done a great thing here. This is one of the best Very Heavy Fighters out there, and if you get the chance, I would advise using it.

My Rating: 82%

(For an added bonus, there is an attachment of me flying around a Zoner's base, showing off the turning abillity of the Stinger)

Here's another added bonus!

I managed to ask around a bit, and look what I go ahold of! The Stinger's blue prints!

http://discoverygc.com/forums/index.php?ac...msg&id=2386

I have a contact who may be able to get their hands on more blue-prints, so stay tuned!

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Freelancer Independant Ship Journalist