Padawan Pilot

Shadow Reaper

Space Marshal
Jun 3, 2016
5,413
15,020
2,975
RSI Handle
Shadow Reaper
So I have a friend looking at the game and we sat down to talk about the kinds of styles, roles and capabilities people can choose in their starter ship. She is mostly interested in combat, both pilot and FPS, but wants some small ability to carry cargo. She wants an endurance package with a bed, head and kitchen. She wants something that will give her an edge over the baseline starter ships (Aurora, Mustang, Avenger and Reliant) and is willing to pay a little more to start with some advantages. She wants something that she can learn about dog fighting, missile combat, and stealth dynamics. Sounds like a Mustang but she wants something a step above the standard starter packages that will make learning easier since it's rewarded more often with success, and lets face it, the guns and hull on the Mustang are uninspiring. The Avenger is nice, and what I would recommend save no bed, and is the kind of ship she wants an edge over. So I looked and was surprised to find what I think we could call a Padawan Pilot ship--the Origin 325i.

I seldom take Origin seriously since I'm not a luxury kinda guy, but let me note some significant advantages here. She hasn't bought yet, so this is still a work in progress and if someone here has a suggestion given her criteria, please do share.

Piloting

The 325 is fast and maneuverable, so it offers a serious edge over many other ships, including the Avenger (which is a decent baseline to compare against despite it does not have a bed). It's nice to know you can outrun your opponents, especially for a starting pilot.

Dog Fighting

3 S3 guns is good. I suggested a Mantis on the gimbal and one in each wing, since the very fast projectile speed will help hit more often, and the gimbaled mount can be used to steer the wing mounts onto the same target. Learning to use the gimbal to steer the fixed is a valuable combat skill, IMHO. Additionally, she learns trigger control from the start so won't be schooled into shooting when you should not, and will learn better fighter skills. Additionally, she gets more hull than the starter ships.

Missile Combat


The 325 is able to carry the best of both worlds--a spamload of S1 and a few S3 for long distance engagements. Learn it all from the start.

Stealth

This was a huge surprise for me as I researched. I'm astonished how stealthy this ship is. Especially when equipped with the Slipstream/Snowblind combo I use as a baseline for comparing all small ships in full stealth, this critter is quiet as can be. That means she can learn about sneaking with the best chance of success. For an idea of how stealthy the ship is, you can run it with the Q drive on for security, always ready to jump; and it is still 40% quieter than a Ghost or Tracker with the Q drive off. This is amazing to me.

FPS

The 325 has a gun rack, and room to store guns, grenades, oxy pens, med pens and such in the cargo hold, and empty containers to fill with loot on missions, like guns, ammo and armor picked up along the way. This appears to me an efficient looting machine. The gun rack means she can store things like sniper rifles, rail guns, etc., one would not normally carry, but could find useful on unusual missions.

So what do you think? What would you recommend for a student soldier, who wants to learn how to channel her aggression rather than haul cargo, mine, etc.? What's best ship to learn how to kill things and take their treasure?
 

Cugino83

Space Marshal
Apr 25, 2019
1,588
5,115
2,250
RSI Handle
Cugino
Err... just for your notice: all the Avenger series have a bed sice they first came out.
And compared to the 325i it could be possible that the Avenger will be able to carry a Thumbril renegade (the wheeled bike) in the future, since CIG state that "every ship that can carry a Greycat will be able to carry one of those (referred to the thumbirl bike)... and sicnce the graycat can fit inside....
 

Shadow Reaper

Space Marshal
Jun 3, 2016
5,413
15,020
2,975
RSI Handle
Shadow Reaper
Are there any owners here who can explain in detail exactly what you can do from the control panel by the bed, and whether there is an advantage here for two players? Can you for instance, toggle components on and off, do power management, set Q Drive coordinates, and fire the Q drive?
 

BUTUZ

Space Marshal
Donor
Apr 8, 2016
3,601
12,196
2,850
RSI Handle
BUTUZ
She’s married and her husband is a recently retired US Navy SEAL. He may join too. Did you want me to forward your offer?
I'm not a homebreaker, that's why I asked!

That said, if they want a ride in my freelancer then theres room for two more!!!
 

Bambooza

Space Marshal
Donor
Sep 25, 2017
5,778
18,296
2,875
RSI Handle
MrBambooza
Are there any owners here who can explain in detail exactly what you can do from the control panel by the bed, and whether there is an advantage here for two players? Can you for instance, toggle components on and off, do power management, set Q Drive coordinates, and fire the Q drive?
What control panel by the bed. I brought mine up from mothballs to see what it can do. it has a bed, a sink/mini fridge with wine glasses and a toilet behind a wall. Its very much a single pilot ship and I do not see any place for weapon storage racks or armor rack. While it does say it can carry 4 cargo units I do not know where. It's still a beautiful looking ship but I would still recommend going with Avenger if you want a step up from the starter ships and still want to do some dogfighting. The other option would be the freelancer MIS and Cutlass Black which pack a punch. For me, Origin still is all about style over function which is why I have the 100 and 600.
 

Phil

Space Marshal
Donor
Nov 22, 2015
1,132
3,028
2,150
RSI Handle
Bacraut
Hands down if she wants a multipurpose ship under 100$ that can do combat you cant beat the titan, it has 8 scu of cargo, a bed and the 300i series right now the cargo section wont hold a box, it falls out, you have to glitch the damn thing up the ladder and into the stupid cockpit area lol. I think if you are strictly talking combat either ship works, both are great ships with a few modifications.
 

Mich Angel

Space Marshal
Donor
Sep 19, 2016
3,632
13,764
2,910
RSI Handle
ARCHANGEL_666
325 have Cargo in the belly can be accessed from outside and lowered by a small red button on left back side of ship..
Or you can chose from pilot seat inner thought, to open all doors then walk out side and access it, I prefer the red button.

I say 325 hit the sweet spot for most stuff for a small to medium ship it really got it all.
Even tho the Titan might have a bit more cargo room it lack some of the other comfort like toilet more kitchen like counter, but it got a bed and a small food unit but that's about it for comfort.

I have flown the 325 and 315 a lot and they are in my top list of favorite most useful ship in smaller - medium class and Titan (Renegade) is close behind it.
Both 325(315) and Titan strongest feature is their speed and using that to your advantage in a fight compensate the lack of armor they have.
But both can take a pretty good beating and you still make it home for repairs.

In the end you can't go wrong with either 325 or Titan they are both great fighters and got a bed with some cargo space...
IMO any of them are the most useful starter ship we got now in that price range.
But I would pick the 325.

CHEERS! 🍻
 
Last edited:

Shadow Reaper

Space Marshal
Jun 3, 2016
5,413
15,020
2,975
RSI Handle
Shadow Reaper
What control panel by the bed?
There is a control panel accessible from in bed, that shows up in several of the vids, at the rear end of the bed. Both times a reviewer mentioned it and said how useful it was, and then didn't explain in what way it was useful, but they did access it briefly in the vids, so it's there.

See time index 10:30 here:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ub59Dntmkg&t=654s

Anyone know if this works and what it can be used for? Can a second player toggle components one and off and do power management?

The weapons rack is on the aft bulkhead, with a vertical locker for clothes to its left and wine glass storage to its right. The 4 SCU cargo storage accesses from outside only.

And yeah, I'd forgotten the Avenger has a bed, but they have less hull, half the missile loadout, and about 10% less speed, so the two are certainly not equal.
 
Last edited:

Phil

Space Marshal
Donor
Nov 22, 2015
1,132
3,028
2,150
RSI Handle
Bacraut
"325 have Cargo in the belly can be accessed from outside and lowered by a small red button on left back side of ship..
Or you can chose from pilot seat inner thought, to open all doors then walk out side and access it, I prefer the red button."

Ya but last time I checked, this cargo area was bugged as all hell, every time I put a box in there it fell out, that is why people have to glitch the box into the cockpit area.
 

Talonsbane

Space Marshal
Donor
Jul 29, 2017
5,869
20,123
3,025
RSI Handle
Talonsbane
Personally, I say that the 325 & Titan are effectively equal with each holding slight advantages over the other in various areas. So since she's your friend, I'd advise introducing her to both ships to let her make her own informed opinions & decision as she'll be in good hands with either. Another thing that nobody has mentioned that she might be interested in is that she can currently customize the Origin 300 series ships in both looks & to a degree its loadout options that will act as permanent gear upgrades when she has to file the insurance claims on it.
 

Phil

Space Marshal
Donor
Nov 22, 2015
1,132
3,028
2,150
RSI Handle
Bacraut
I told her about the color customization, but I was not aware about custom loadouts getting insurance. I'm sure she'd like that. I just don't want to see a pink 325A.
Ya I do like the customization of the 300 series but that can run over 100$ if you add everything at that point why not just buy a lancer or a cutty.
 

Shadow Reaper

Space Marshal
Jun 3, 2016
5,413
15,020
2,975
RSI Handle
Shadow Reaper
She's not interested in cargo. She wants to be able to carry a box or two and that is it. I always suggest the Sentinel, but I think she's liking the 325A especially because of the speed.

I watched a vid on the customization and was unimpressed in that they're all packages, and you can't select specific items. I would not tdo that $2 to pick a color seems fine.

I'm curious if you can't do your own customization by stealing coffee makers on mission runs, etc. I've never seen anyone try to pick one up. Would be cool if you could stash away a compact microwave, etc. once we have backpacks.
 
Last edited:

marcsand2

Space Marshal
Staff member
Officer
Donor
Mar 15, 2016
7,007
22,018
3,025
RSI Handle
marcsand2
Anyone know if this works and what it can be used for?
It is still decoration.

325A is a nice ship to start with. Not the best dog fighter, but surely not the worst. In the end it stays personal preference, so the best advise is:
I'd advise introducing her to both ships to let her make her own informed opinions & decision as she'll be in good hands with either.
 

BUTUZ

Space Marshal
Donor
Apr 8, 2016
3,601
12,196
2,850
RSI Handle
BUTUZ
I don't think you can go wrong with a 325a or an Avenger Titan to be honest. If she wants to be funky and pretend she is tom cruise off oblivion she could try the reliant.

The pisces is also an excellent starter, not very tough in terms of fighty but a great overall ship. Imagine if someone said to you do you want one of the run-arounds from the enterprise, for your first ship? hell yaaa!!

For me ever since the first freelancer advert, that has been my starter ship. So worth the extra. You can do anything and everything in it.
 

Ayeteeone

Space Marshal
Donor
Oct 22, 2018
672
2,625
2,500
RSI Handle
Ayeteeone
She's not interested in cargo. She wants to be able to carry a box or two and that is it. I always suggest the Sentinel, but I think she's liking the 325A especially because of the speed.

I watched a vid on the customization and was unimpressed in that they're all packages, and you can't select specific items. I would not tdo that $2 to pick a color seems fine.

I'm curious if you can't do your own customization by stealing coffee makers on mission runs, etc. I've never seen anyone try to pick one up. Would be cool if you could stash away a compact microwave, etc. once we have backpacks.
It is possible to go through the entire customization process on the pledge store without spending anything to evaluate kit. The packages available are a mixed bag - generally better Grade B components but the weapons themselves often don't make sense and will probably still need changing. If you want to min/max abilities then it might be better to acquire the desired components in game. If she cares about colors then there are a few to chose.. this is a Tier 0 implementation that does not include pink lol. Also as noted, components bought in customization are covered on hull insurance - so permanent upgrades over stock at no extra effort or cost in game.

As a light fighter and flexible ship, the 325a offer a lot of gameplay options as you've already discussed. They are QUICK accelerating machines, which (generally) allows the pilot to dictate range against anything slower, as well as engage/disengage as desired much as he shows in the video you linked. I quite like the fact that the 325 and the Avengers offer a Size 4 hardpoint on the nose.. this provides for a significant amount of tailoring if you know your target, and outguns the Gladius a bit.

In Lore, the 325a is claimed to be used by Special Forces. As you noted, they can be quite stealthy - the 315p runs stealth C or B components stock depending on customization.

Perhaps a final consideration is one that Noobifier hit on.. being civilian, the 325a is more likely to retain its fuel intakes If 'n when CIG pulls them from the carrier based fighters, as they have stated several times. https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/engineering/16517-The-Shipyard-Fuel-Mechanics

IMO it is an awesome little ship for the game that 'is coming' rather than the game that we've had. My Go-To has been a Titan Renegade - with the player status mechanics slowing being expanded, that has shifted to the 315p/325a because of the support they offer.
 
Last edited:
Forgot your password?