4Game

Short version: How good is FDL for long-term combat in CZs/RES or just doing combat missions?

Long version:

I have been flying Corvette for years. Like that ship, it's amazing in PvE to the point it makes it boring (except Thargoid combat). However, when it comes to PvP, it quite frankly falls behind quickly. Might be me, but i couldn't make it work without dedicating myself to 100% FA off reverski with fixed MCs, which doesn't even work vs 90% that will engage you, and others can simply outrun you (hello, Cutter pilots).

So, later on I figured that medium ship would be nice to have for CGs and other PvP hotspots. My choice fell on Federal Assault Ship. See, I am amazing at making poor choices! FAS is good – fast, maneuverable, but it lacks any sort of meaningful shield, and no matter how much hull HP you have, superpen rails will melt your engines and powerplant quickly no matter what. Still, FAS works good against slower opponents, but it's difficult vs anything else. Especially since night vision and emissive munitions exist, you can't even go proper stealth build.

Now, I think of getting another medium sized ship, and of course first thing to come to mind is FDL – peerless combat ship for PvP. Fast, thicc shields, extremely maneuverable, high firepower. I just wanted to ask how sustainable is FDL in long-term combat. I am aware that FDL is king of PvP, so my question is only about the PvE side of that ship. I often stack "Massacre pirate ships" missions and go for 2-3 hour streak hunting pirates in signal sources without docking at station – my Corvette build allows that. But can FDL do so? How often you get your shields downed in PvE? If you wonder why tf i need FDL for PvE if i have Corvette, is simply curiosity. And to see how efficient is FDL at killing small ships (because Vette isn't really good at that).

Sooo, yeah, thanks for reading. Sorry for long-ass post regarding simple question, but i just wanted to make it clear what i want to know about the FDL.