Hull B or Freelancer MAX?

[felyxsnow]

My main focus for money making is exploration (and the selling of discoveries) with the occasional bit of mining. I grabbed a Prospector for solo mining, and ill be using my trusty DUR for solo exploring. Since the DUR has less cargo space, I figured I would probably need a proper cargo hauler, especially if I'm going to be selling discoveries. Now I purchased a BMM, but that's just not reasonable for a soloable cargo transport.

The Hull series has a synergy with the Prospector so that could work really well.

The Freelancer MAX has some "getup and go" and slightly more storage than other lancers, but waaaay less than a Hull B

My main concern with the Hull B is that it has no teeth. With no escort, I'd be dead if I were picked off. That would suck.

The MAX doesn't really wow me with cargo size, and thus feels redundant (aka useless in my hangar)

I do have a Tali that I could throw in Cargo modules....

What do you think?

 

[Amon Morell]

I voted for the MAX it will be a far better ship to fly through unsecure space.

 

[Grimbli]

I love the MAX as you can fit a Dragonfly in it without too much trouble. (A DUR is a very tight fit). But synergy of Prospector would tell me to use a B. But then you'd need someone on the Prospector, someone on the B, and someone in a Sabre to run escort.

 

[Likewise]

I went with the MAX. If your plan with the ship was to only haul goods for sale between ports I would go with the Hull, but with what you described the Max sounds like the way to go.

 

[maynard]

...My main concern with the Hull B is that it has no teeth. With no escort, I'd be dead if I were picked off. That would suck.
The MAX doesn't really wow me with cargo size, and thus feels redundant (aka useless in my hangar)...

The Freelancer could probably hold its own against a single ship, but would be just as vulnerable to a gang as the Hull B

I expect the nasty piwates to roam in gangs

 

[BUTUZ]

Get the Hull B for general cargo work and use the tali with cargo modules for armed cargo runs.

 

[Carlos Spicyweiner]

I do have a Tali that I could throw in Cargo modules....

This:point_up_2:. If you can put 2 cargo modules in the 'tali, you'll probably come close to the cargo cap. of a lancer. Grind for spacebucks with that rig, then MELT it and buy a HULL C! It might take awhile, but that's going to be have the fun IMO

 

[Beerjerker]

I like the idea of the telescopic Hull series, and if you're going for MISC brand loyalty, I'd say go with the Hull B.

But I'm voting with @Carlos Spicyweiner on this one. The torpedo bomber retrofitted to be a hauler will be a unique choice, and with every turret manned (provided turrets get more effective), the Retaliator will have a nice toothy grin smiling at potential ne'er-do-wells.

 

[Printimus]

MAX is more versatile in case you want to do something with it other than hauling cargo.

 

[Han Burgundy]

Have you considered the Constellation Taurus? It has a great deal of cargo space and should be pretty handily up-gradable in the future. It is also within the same $$ ballpark as the Max. I just went from the Max to the Taurus myself recently.

 

[Blind Owl]

I voted both because I'm sick.
Then I voted MAX because the Lancer's are versatile
Then I voted Tali + Modules, because @Carlos Spicyweiner and @Beerjerker make sense, and I like that idea.

But I agree with @Han Burgundy I think. Why not the Taurus?

Decision making when it comes to pixel ships isn't my strength. Not even close. So yeah, enjoy a little piece of my insanity.

 

[Grimbli]

I like the idea of the telescopic Hull series, and if you're going for MISC brand loyalty, I'd say go with the Hull B.

But I'm voting with @Carlos Spicyweiner on this one. The torpedo bomber retrofitted to be a hauler will be a unique choice, and with every turret manned (provided turrets get more effective), the Retaliator will have a nice toothy grin smiling at potential ne'er-do-wells.

At that point why not use a Star G with cargo mods in place of fuel tanks? It's got lots of dakka as well as missles. Plus the added ability of getting fuel. It could protect itself much better than a Tali.

 

[Kaz]

I voted for the MAX. It was my first pledge ship, and im hoping to use it for a crazy fast blockade-runnerish ship with valuable goods onboard. If those 4 engines perform well when lightly loaded that is.

 

[Mich Angel]

Definitely the MAX

 

[Stevetank]

I would not pick the tali cargo modules since that is not solo-able and Felyx already has a BMM for those non-solo missions. The only 2 solo-able ships would be the B and the MAX. The B is $50 cheaper and holds more cargo. Just from that standpoint, I'd go with the B. Felyx wants to sell his discoveries, so I'm not sure he'd ever need to go into a sector that isn't protected. Pirates probably aren't looking for archaeological findings, but scientists are. For any time Felyx wants to go into a harder area, he can always grab some friends and take the BMM there.

With the Hull B, Felyx will get more cargo, more cash left over, and add another unique ship to his lineup. I vote for the B.

 

[Dragonslaya54]

Pirates probably aren't looking for archaeological findings, but scientists are.

Pirates would do this if it gives them a good profit, it all depends on what your searching for!

 

[Crymsan]

Blind owl covered it to be honest, but it really is do you want the specialist ship Hull B or the more versatile option. For just cargo runs the hull B should be more profitable but fight hell no. Personally I choose by looks and the Hull B wins everytime over the Van but then nearly all ships win over the Van!

 

[felyxsnow]

You all have been SUPER helpful! Thanks! I ended up staying with the MAX, as I don't think I wanted to make cargo hauling a focus. They said the Hull series should be the some of the most common ships in the 'verse, so If push comes to shove, I can earn one in game if hauling is THAT lucrative. Although I love diversity in my hangar, I think keeping the MAX (and its weaponry) acts as a warm blanket when picking up general smaller cargo shipments.

Some of my memories in EVE are if you were in null and had nothing for defenses, you could expect to be space dust. So, I like guns.

Feel free to keep chatting about the pro's and con's. I'm sure this thread is helpful for others!

Sidebar: I still have the Tali in Bomber config, but I think grabbing a cargo unit or two would make the fleet (as a whole) significantly more flexible to varying situations.

 

[Black Sunder]

Max for more general purpose flying. Enemies also can't visually see how much cargo you are carrying and will need to get close and scan you.

 

[Shadow Reaper]

My main concern with the Hull B is that it has no teeth. With no escort, I'd be dead if I were picked off. That would suck.

No ship without escort is safe. The guns and turrets on Lancers only make you feel safe, but Lancers are
flying targets, and IMHO you should never fly one without escort outside UEE space, or even in UEE space where there are pirates.

If what you want is a mix between exploration and freight, I would look carefully at the Aquilla. It can do real exploration and the Max cannot. It carries more cargo than the Max. It will have far more flexibility to equip it the way you want. Has much better weapons than the Max. The only problems I see are that it cannot run away as easily, and you have to pay for gunners. Truly though, the thing to keep in mind is that CIG has designed the game such that loners who do not work in teams cannot obtain the highest rewards. Anyone off on their own will necessarily be at great risk and the best places to mine, trade etc., will likely be unavailable to you unless you want to risk losing your ship to pirates.

The Base Tally is a step up from the Aquilla, but there is no guarantee it will mount an exploration sensor suite, no stats on range, and requires more crew. For most purposes the Aquilla will probably be better. If you can't afford a Carrack and want to explore, the Aquilla is a great ship, but no matter what you explore with, I would plan some sort of escort and right now the Vanguard is the only long-range fighter.

The other option is to use different ships for exploration and freight. The Space Turtle might keep you safe exploring alone just because it can be so stealthy, and it looks like it will mount the necessary sensors.