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Best Freighter

This is a free discussion forum on Freelancer. This is the place to discuss Freelancer issues NOT covered by the other boards!

Post Mon May 05, 2003 11:11 pm

Check out my Humpback post on Spoiler Forum.


"Got anything for me?" - Trent, A.K.A. 'Mr. Eloquent'

Post Mon May 05, 2003 11:58 pm


On my opinion the Humpback is not the best freighter. The freighter's priority is the cargo space. Humpback has 250 units, the Dromedary 275. Altough Dromedary has lesser armor and carry weaker weapons, with the dromedary you can turn swifter can at least shoot to ships and that's a huge advantage. With the Humpback you wait a long time till it's turned.


Are we still talking about freighters? For a second there I almost thought we were talking fighters?

Did anyone mention a player flown class four fighter can blow away a Dromedary with relative ease? If you're on a multiplayer server, especially a popular one, you want armor more than a small amount of extra cargo space. You don't want to make sacrifices for maneuverability in a freighter, not against players.

Post Tue May 06, 2003 4:53 am

I agree that you can get wacked in a freighter much faster than a fighter but the rewards are worth the risk. I work the heck out of my ship to keep her from being so much space dust. I agree a much easier task in SP than MP, besides the idea of multiplayer is to hook up with other players right? Well then somone to cover my butt is the first order of business.

I would no more go on a trade mission without some "help" than a policeman would leave his house without his gun. I think a lot of the discussion so far has revolved around SP, but I may be wrong.

The idea of flying in a straight line would work, but most of the time on certain trade missions of those less than how would you say legit runs, you are flying ouside the lines. Trying to let her rip straight ahead would have me hit everything but the lottery. Better to use the technique I described earlier but I will give the run and gun a shot next time I get a chance in open space.

I tend to hug the rocks and such as it is harder to get hit with cover around than just sitting in the open and waiting for it to happen to you.

I haven't played in MP a lot (don't like the Modders and planet perchers waiting for newb prey to prove their prowess) but the few times I have ventured toward that side I try to hook up with someone with a good heavy class ship to fly cover and then work out the payment program to make it worth their while.
I don't die as often and if they are really interested in space combat having a load of cargo everyone wants is a sure fire way to bring in a whole bunch of targets for them to shoot at!

Just some thoughts from the edge of space!

all the news that no one reads

Post Tue May 06, 2003 9:55 am

The best shield u can use as a Freighter is LvL 9. Its a bug in the game where they put a LvL 10 Freighter Shield.

I think the Dromedary is the best Frieghter to use. cuz it got a larger Capacity (not muh but a little), its more agile making me able to do some small "dogfighting" and it got better weapons, Aiding me in my "dogfights".

Post Tue May 06, 2003 6:04 pm


I thought when you hit "GOTO" Your cruise engines engage and your weapon systems go dead?


If you are going a short distance, say to a Trade Lane, and you want to dock
but you don't want to lose your guns, just turn off the cruise if the autopilot
starts it up. I hate that, cruise for 2k or so & get shot up.

As I said, check my Humpback post over in Spoiler forum. I can't post it here.

"Got anything for me?" - Trent, A.K.A. 'Mr. Eloquent'

Post Wed May 07, 2003 1:06 am

I played around in my files a little bit for SP purposes...ooo bad boy, I know. I "augmented" the freighters a bit so they'd be more worth the time come Level 38.

Reaper: $200,000,000.
Rockets: $100,000
The look on that pilot's face when you launch a full pod of screamers up his tailpipe: priceless

Post Sat May 10, 2003 6:59 pm

Earlier in this thread, I was close to claiming that only the Dromedary freighter could be used for difficulty 36 missions. I am glad I didn't do that. I have just completed a difficulty 36 mission in a Humpback.

But I had to try many times, and I think that I have practised so much that I can do harder missions now in my Dromedary.

Post Sat May 10, 2003 11:56 pm

By yourself? I wouldn't think of doing a Mission(outside of Liberty) in a Humpy, but a group(5-6 guys) doing Missions in Humpy's would be a site to see!

================================
Bar patron: "You some kind of Nooby?"
Trent: "Uuuh, Huuuh"

Post Sun May 11, 2003 7:35 am

It'd look like a bunch of B-17s from WWII, covering each other with their turrets! That would be awesome!

Post Sun May 11, 2003 7:53 am

Yes, Sandorski. By myself.

And since that, I have completed two difficulty 39 missions. But I still think that the Humpback is a piece of junk which the developers have only let into the game to make fun of the players.

Post Mon May 12, 2003 9:15 pm

Well, I have used all the freighters extensively. Even tried the mule out for several hours. Now I am not saying by any means I am the most knowlegable freighter pilot. These are just my opinons. It really depends on several things as to which one is the best. The general consences is the Dromedary or the Humpback. If you prefer to manuver and fight your enemies straight on, the Dromedary is by far better than the Humpback. But if you prefer to set your destination on a way point, and go to turret mode, go for the Humpback. In addition to the lower shields, armor and guns, the Dromedary has a weak spot (attacking from low and behind) where you can only fire 2 guns on an enemy.

Now I have been jumped by level 10 guys before and even in the Humpback I was quickly destroyed. But I wonder how well a single humpback in turret mode could stand up to a single fighter (real player) around the same level. Let's say a Banshee. I think in the right hands, the Humpback could hold its own under similar conditions. There should be a freighter that can stand up to the top level fighters in the game.

One setup I have been wanting to try is a formation of 6 or so freighters. Pick up Niobium in Tau 37 and hull it Dreden via the boarder worlds route. With the lead formation freighter controlling the flight and everyone else on turrets, it would be interesting to see if we could make it. It would be like the WWII bomber formations over Germany. If you are interested in setting something like this up, send me an e-mail. [email protected]

Post Tue May 13, 2003 2:16 am

The best tactic is to run away..

point your brick to a direction you want to go, cut off the engine, go into turret view, press short burrst of afterburners.

This way you will be going very fast, with the enemy having hard time cathing up with you. You guns will fire very fast to, relatively, so it is easier to hit them.

coupled up your guns with stunpulse turrets, that points to the back.

drop mines and sometimes maybe counter measures.

note : this doesn't work if the game is modded heavily..

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