Here is why I like the Kestrel more than the Corvette (parts are quoted from the EV (url="http://"http://www.evula.com/survival_guide/")Survival Guide(/url), and you can compare the stats (url="http://"http://www.evula.com/survival_guide/ev-ships/warships.html")here(/url)).

1. Weapons Space: The Corvette has 50, the Kestrel has 120. With twice as much room for weaponry, the Kestrel can whip some serious tail. You could even, if you wanted to, sell some stuff and install a Hawk bay, giving you 4 fighters. Damn.

2. Cargo: Lets face it, cargo missions are helpful, no matter how powerful you are. A rush mission here or there can help boost your income better than just happening across an innocent trader, loaded with cash.

3. Crew: 'Vette's 37 to the Kestrel's 196. 'Nuff said.

4. Fighters: The Kestrel has fighters, the Corvette doesn't. Like I mention in the Survival Guide (second link above), the Corvette can have a Hawk bay. However, as I mentioned in point 1, you can also toss a Hawk bay on a Kestrel. 2 Lightnings, 2 Hawks, and a well-armed Kestrel is a very nice little fleet, and can certainly take on a fleet consisting of 1 Corvette and 2 Hawks.

5. Shields/Armor: Kestrel has slightly higher shields and armor, but due to the weapons capacity of the Kestrel, it can support MANY more shield/armor additions than the Corvette.

6. Close Range Combat: With the HRs and Javelines, a stock Corvette could cause a lot of damage to a stock Kestrel (without it's fighters for backup). However, with the Kestrel being able to have up to 6 Guns (compared to 5) and 3 Turrets (compared to 2), with it's backup of fighters, it would end up in the Kestrel's favor.

Ways that the Corvette is better:

1. Speed: Speed is important, and the Corvette has that going for it.

2. Price: At 2.5 million, it is a LOT cheaper.

Where the two are even:

1. Stock Weaponry: Let's face it, the AI can use Heavy Rockets very well. The Corvette has a few, but I should point out that Lightnings have HRs too, so these negate.

2. Looks: I like them both.

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Well, thats all I can think of right now.

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This debate all boils down to your pilot style. I used to prefer the kestrel, but now I tend to fly the corvette more often. I prefer it's speed (with upgrades) to avoid waves of guided missiles, and firepower to make swift hit-and-run raids. The kestrel is more of a fast capital warship, while the corvette is like an extremely light warship / very heavy fighter.

Also, that kestrel is expensive... Realistically, it should be around six or seven million credits.

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Quote

Originally posted by Captain Skyblade:
**This debate all boils down to your pilot style. I used to prefer the kestrel, but now I tend to fly the corvette more often. I prefer it's speed (with upgrades) to avoid waves of guided missiles, and firepower to make swift hit-and-run raids. The kestrel is more of a fast capital warship, while the corvette is like an extremely light warship / very heavy fighter.

Also, that kestrel is expensive... Realistically, it should be around six or seven million credits.
**

I like speed as much as most, but I have to say, if a ship has the necessary speed, you don't really need too much more.

And cost? C'mon, once you have a reasonably good ship (say, Argosy) cost is irrevelant.

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Word.

Quote

Originally posted by SilverDragon:
**
And cost? C'mon, once you have a reasonably good ship (say, Argosy) cost is irrevelant.
**

Ah, so if you have a lot of money, you shouldn't learn to spend wisely?

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Rebel cruiser vs/ destroyer is close. cruiser hols more turrets and lasers, so if you can get in close range to where they don't shoot missles and torps, you can take it out quicker. This is irrelivent, as they will never sttack eachother...

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Quote

Originally posted by Captain Skyblade:
**Ah, so if you have a lot of money, you shouldn't learn to spend wisely?;)

**

'zactly.

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Word.

Quote

Originally posted by EVula:
1. Weapons Space: The Corvette has 50, the Kestrel has 120. With twice as much room for weaponry, the Kestrel can whip some serious tail. You could even, if you wanted to, sell some stuff and install a Hawk bay, giving you 4 fighters. Damn.

However, even with the extra space, the Kestrel is in some ways less flexible than the Corvette. To make it effective, you have to get a a second torp launcher and a third Proton Turret. That takes a huge chunk out of its space advantage. At the same time, the Corvette has a large chunk of space that can be freed by selling the Rockets. Little real difference here.

Quote

Originally posted by EVula:
2. Cargo: Lets face it, cargo missions are helpful, no matter how powerful you are. A rush mission here or there can help boost your income better than just happening across an innocent trader, loaded with cash.

The difference between 60 tons and 80 tons is largely irrelevant at that stage of the game.

Quote

Originally posted by EVula:
3. Crew: 'Vette's 37 to the Kestrel's 196. 'Nuff said.

I never try to capture ships, so this is irrelevant.

Quote

Originally posted by EVula:
4. Fighters: The Kestrel has fighters, the Corvette doesn't. Like I mention in the Survival Guide (second link above), the Corvette can have a Hawk bay. However, as I mentioned in point 1, you can also toss a Hawk bay on a Kestrel. 2 Lightnings, 2 Hawks, and a well-armed Kestrel is a very nice little fleet, and can certainly take on a fleet consisting of 1 Corvette and 2 Hawks.

The AI Lightnings seem to be best at dying. They are useful for catching and selling, but in combat, I find them not so useful. This would be even worse against a human opponent, who would simply throw three Missiles at each and be done with them.

Quote

Originally posted by EVula:
5. Shields/Armor: Kestrel has slightly higher shields and armor, but due to the weapons capacity of the Kestrel, it can support MANY more shield/armor additions than the Corvette.

Shields, beyond a certain point, are irrelevant. In either an upgraded 'Vette or upgraded Kestrel, I can evade any weapons fire when necessary. If you don't get hit, shields are irrelevant. Note that the Corvettes speed again comes into play here, making it that much easier to escape fire.

Quote

Originally posted by EVula:
6. Close Range Combat: With the HRs and Javelines, a stock Corvette could cause a lot of damage to a stock Kestrel (without it's fighters for backup). However, with the Kestrel being able to have up to 6 Guns (compared to 5) and 3 Turrets (compared to 2), with it's backup of fighters, it would end up in the Kestrel's favor.

Perhaps a slight advantage to the Kestrel here, but not a whole lot. It depends on who carries what weapons at close range.

Quote

Originally posted by EVula:
**Ways that the Corvette is better:

1. Speed: Speed is important, and the Corvette has that going for it.

2. Price: At 2.5 million, it is a LOT cheaper.

Where the two are even:

1. Stock Weaponry: Let's face it, the AI can use Heavy Rockets very well. The Corvette has a few, but I should point out that Lightnings have HRs too, so these negate. :)**

No comment on the above three.

Quote

Originally posted by EVula:
2. Looks: I like them both.:)

I tend to like the Corvette better myself.

======

The reason the Rebel Destroyer is better than the Cruiser can be boiled down to three words: manueverability, manueverability, manueverability. This is a larger issue for dodging enemy fire than speed. The Cruiser simply cannot be upgraded to a level where it can maneuver effectively in battle; the Destroyer can. The only aspect where the Cruiser has a noted superiority is in shielding, however, the Rebel Destroyer's manuverability more than compensates. In most areas of firepower etc., they are roughly equal. The higher cargo space on the Cruiser is nice, but the Destroyer has enough for critical missions, and can make plenty of money in combat.

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- Macavenger | e-mail: (url="http://"mailto:e-gamerguy1@home.com")mailto:e-gamerguy1@home.com(/url)e-gamerguy1@home.com

I completely agree with Macavenger, thank goodness I am not alone in this debate.

Quote

Originally posted by Mr. Moose:
A modified Kestrel can take out a modified Corvette anyday of the week.

Nope. The Corvette has enough shields to make it perfect for combat and speed helps a lot more than you think. I prefer to avoid afterburners, I don't like to waste fuel.

Fighters: I hate fighters. In my opinion having a fighter bay is a tremendous waste of space. Besides fighters are meaningless since you can also get escorts.

Quote

Shielding isn't a prime factor in a good ship. It needs some, but a 'Vette has plenty. Above about that level, it just doesn't matter.

If you have skill there is only so much shielding you need.

Looks: I never liked the look of the Kestrel personally, even with MAGMA it is awkward. I much prefer the Corvette's sleek design.

Quote

Rebel Destroyer: *** Corvette: @#$! Kestrel: ***** Confed Heavy Carrier:

How on earth is the Kestrel better then the RD?

Quote

The kestrel is pretty good but the destroyer can have 4 turrets and can go faster than a corvette (I think. At leasy upgraded it can). Plus those torpedoes are handy for 'feds.

Actually, it is the same speed (upgraded) as the Vette.

Quote

It is a hair below a Rebel Destroyer as far as specs go, and looks way cooler. Not to mention is carrier fighter bays.

That is quite a large hair. The Rebel Destroyer is in a league of its own. It is definitely the best ship in the game, but let's safe that for another topic.

Quote

A properly outfitted Kestrel is much better than any other civilian ship and, in the proper hands, could take on any other ship in the game.

Anything can, in the right hands.

Quote

2. Cargo: Lets face it, cargo missions are helpful, no matter how powerful you are. A rush mission here or there can help boost your income better than just happening across an innocent trader, loaded with cash.

Pardon my French, Baloney! Rush missions are a waste of time as soon as you get an Argosy. 20-25 cargo space is all you really need.

<Macavenger's long post in reply to just about everyone>
I agree with everything you said. Lightings are a waste of time. And I always get rid of most of the stock secondary weapons. Some one can post their preferred Kestrel specs and I will post my preferred Vette ones, soon.

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Quote

Originally posted by Emperor Ent:
Fighters: I hate fighters. In my opinion having a fighter bay is a tremendous waste of space. Besides fighters are meaningless since you can also get escorts.

Yeah. I play with fighters occasionally, but only for fun. They really don't help a whole lot in combat.

Quote

Originally posted by Emperor Ent:
Some one can post their preferred Kestrel specs and I will post my preferred Vette ones, soon.

My preferred specs for he Kestrel: File the whole ship away in the round file and give me an RD.

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- Macavenger | e-mail: (url="http://"mailto:e-gamerguy1@home.com")mailto:e-gamerguy1@home.com(/url)e-gamerguy1@home.com

Quote

Originally posted by Macavenger:
**However, even with the extra space, the Kestrel is in some ways less flexible than the Corvette. To make it effective, you have to get a a second torp launcher and a third Proton Turret. That takes a huge chunk out of its space advantage. At the same time, the Corvette has a large chunk of space that can be freed by selling the Rockets. Little real difference here.

**

I disagree. I never buy or use torps, they are to easily avoided. I just get 3 Proton turrets, a couple of javalin launchers, all the speed/manuv/acel upgrades sold, some extra weapons room, some armor, sheild upgrades, RF decoder, missle jammer, proton cannons, armor addons, auto refuler, and ocationaly a small something or other. Then I go and take over Sol ( or change pilets (sp) and use my fleet of 7 rebel cruisers, or my clipper) and all the rest of the confed planets. Long live the Kestrel!

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Quote

Originally posted by ev123:
my fleet of 7 rebel cruisers

coughimpossiblecough

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i could cream you all in my destroyer!

Destroyers are the best ships in the game! i could bomb out all your stupid fleets at once!

i have 4 kestrals a cruisier and a Rapier.

in evm (if it ever comes out) i could cream you all in my destroyer!

Quote

Originally posted by ares1:
**So the kestrel is bad because it is not as powerful as your fleet?:rolleyes: The two lightnings on a kestrel can anhilate your pitiful mantas.

And I can take out a confed cruiser in my kestrel. So what? And how does a kestrel "suck mighty ***t"? It is a hair below a Rebel Destroyer as far as specs go, and looks way cooler. Not to mention is carrier fighter bays. It is overpriced, but it pays for itself. Do you know how much money can be made by picking up lightnings in the bay and selling them? Last I checked, your destroyer or corvette does not have any sort of fighter bay. Da Bomb? How cliché...

**

Not to start a flame war or anything, but my three Matas (one died before) took out the two Lightnings. And yes, the Lightnings could kick Matas' arse one on one, but the capital ship is what counts. I think the rebel Destroyer looks cooler than the Kestrel. If the Kestrel was larger like the Destroyer, but had the original Kestrel design, it'd look sweet.
You can capture Lightnings with the Destroyer too... but they can only be used for defense - I see where you're coming from on that. Now, using resEdit is a different matter.
But maybe some time we could go head-to-head (maybe with ExoBattle or something like that) in our ships.

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Quote

Originally posted by EVula:
coughimpossiblecough**

Nah, it can be done, EVula. Capturing Shuttles or Scoutships really isn't that hard, you see.

Quote

Originally posted by ev123:
I disagree. I never buy or use torps, they are to easily avoided.

Since the AI is too stupid to try though, I find them quite useful against it.

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- Macavenger | e-mail: (url="http://"mailto:e-gamerguy1@home.com")mailto:e-gamerguy1@home.com(/url)e-gamerguy1@home.com

Quote

Originally posted by Macavenger:
Nah, it can be done, EVula. Capturing Shuttles or Scoutships really isn't that hard, you see.

I was referring to the number; unless he is flying a Cruiser, its BS.

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Quote

Originally posted by EVula:
**I was referring to the number; unless he is flying a Cruiser, its BS.
**

I think it's safe to assume that he meant one of the Cruisers was him.

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- Macavenger | e-mail: (url="http://"mailto:e-gamerguy1@home.com")mailto:e-gamerguy1@home.com(/url)e-gamerguy1@home.com

Quote

However, even with the extra space, the Kestrel is in some ways less flexible than the Corvette. To make it effective, you have to get a a second torp launcher and a third Proton Turret. That takes a huge chunk out of its space advantage. At the same time, the Corvette has a large chunk of space that can be freed by selling the Rockets. Little real difference here.

Not really. With my Kestrel, I knock out everything other than proton turrets and put some upgrades on. And don't forget you can always use some of the cargo space to carry even more.

Quote

The difference between 60 tons and 80 tons is largely irrelevant at that stage of the game.

See above, and also, what about commodity trading? I don't think you can say all these things are really "irrelevant" just because the Kestrel has it better than the Corvette.

Quote

I never try to capture ships, so this is irrelevant.

What's this got to do with the strengths of the Kestrel and Corvette? Perhaps you don't use your crew, but many other people do, and that crew advantage is major. Sometimes I just grab myself 6 Corvette escorts (using a Kestrel) before a large battle, to see how well they get themselves killed. (usually without much difficulty)

Quote

Shields, beyond a certain point, are irrelevant. In either an upgraded 'Vette or upgraded Kestrel, I can evade any weapons fire when necessary. If you don't get hit, shields are irrelevant. Note that the Corvettes speed again comes into play here, making it that much easier to escape fire.

You're doing it again. The Kestrel has something over the Corvette, so you ignore it. Shields are important. I can make do in a Lightning comfortably, but there's a huge difference between the Corvette and Kestrel, I must say. In a Kestrel, you can charge an opponent down, not having to waste time outrunning missiles, and just blow them up. If you want evasion, the Kestrel can do it. In the Corvette, you're at the mercy of the enemy's missile racks and torpedo launchers, 'cos if they hit, you're out.

Quote

Perhaps a slight advantage to the Kestrel here, but not a whole lot. It depends on who carries what weapons at close range.

If you fight against a Kestrel head on, you'll soon learn your "certain point" of shields doesn't work. Kestrels cause more damage than Corvettes, and Corvettes have less shields. That's a slaughter without the Lightnings put into th game.

Quote

The AI Lightnings seem to be best at dying. They are useful for catching and selling, but in combat, I find them not so useful. This would be even worse against a human opponent, who would simply throw three Missiles at each and be done with them.

I resent this comment. Lightnings, quite simply, rock. They can be used as close range support (send them out during a pass), in which case the human wouldn't have time to fire those missiles, as to do that he wouldn't be using his heavy rockets on the Kestrel, would he? And if this isn't against a human player and you don't want to lose them, just note Lightnings are unlimited artillery. Have them fire missiles and dock, or have them charge, fire heavy rockets while you're covering them, dock, reload...

In practice, I spend as much time and effort fighting Lightning escorts as I do the Kestrel itself. Those things rock, a lot.

And don't get me started on upgraded Lightnings.

Esponer

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Word.

Hmm... In my humble opinion; the Kestrel is the ultimate ship for sale (Ssh! Don't say all to much here, as there are newbies to EV, here).

The Kestrel can both be used as a fighter-ship with the ability of taking down everything from Corvettes to (Confederate) Cruiser. But one can also use the Kestrel as a trader-ship, for it as 60 tons of Cargo. Perhaps not a very good trader-ship - and who on Earth would buy a Kestrel and use at as a trading-ship? - but you can still use it for trading.
I did, however, use my Kestrel as a fighter-ship and I smoked every Shuttlecraft I saw!

The Kestrel is a bit slow though. But just travel to Palshife, in the Satori system, and buy all upgrades - save for Mass Expansion - and then you have a ship almost (just as?) fast as the Corvette and much fast than pretty much all ships, including Rapiers.

//KaBoomer

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(This message has been edited by KaBoomer!!! (edited 11-30-2001).)

Quote

Originally posted by Kaptain Karl:
**The ONLY good thing about the Kestrel is it's the coolest looking ship in the game....

**

Wrong.
The coolest looking ship in the game (stock EV) is the Executive Transport.
'Course you can't buy it and if you could it would be generally useless, but it does look good

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Joe Burnette
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Quote

Originally posted by Joe Burnette:
**Wrong.
The coolest looking ship in the game (stock EV) is the Executive Transport.
'Course you can't buy it and if you could it would be generally useless, but it does look good

**

He does have a point, people...

The Executive Transport is definately one of the best looking ships in EV, possibly the best looking.

Esponer

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Word.