Alliance Challenger: Difference between revisions

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The '''Alliance Challenger''' is a [[Ships|ship]] manufactured by [[Lakon Spaceways]] for the [[Alliance]]. Like the [[Alliance Crusader]], it is a variant of the [[Alliance Chieftain]], and was designed in response to the encroaching [[Thargoid]] threat.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/429972-Elite-Dangerous-Beyond-Chapter-Two-Release-Date?p=6747248 Frontier Forums: Elite Dangerous: Beyond - Chapter Two Release Date]</ref> Capitalizing on the Chieftain's strengths, the Challenger boasts enhanced specifications in the form of additional weapon hardpoints and more durable armour without making significant alterations to manoeuvrability.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/8pt1h0/lavecon_panel_beyond_q4_sneak_peeks_qa_quick_notes/?st=ji7t4g64&sh=077c937e reddit: Lavecon Panel: Beyond Q4 Sneak Peeks + Q&A ~ Quick Notes]</ref>

For owners of the [[Alliance Chieftain]] looking for a similar ship with added firepower and durability, the Alliance Challenger delivers. The Challenger trades one Class 3 hardpoint for two additional Class 2 hardpoints, increasing its overall damage output in [[combat]]. It also retains the same manoeuvrability of the Chieftain, letting it keep its hardpoints on target and dodge fire. Its true power comes from its increased shield and armour health, which when combined with its mobility lets the Challenger become a very tricky ship to take down. Its extra Class 6 internal compartment lets it bring along a much larger Shield Cell Bank, which significantly boosts the power of its defences. This does come at a minor cost to speed, but once A-rated, the difference between challenger and Chieftain is around 15m/s, which will be even smaller with engineering. Base manoeuvrability is identical, though pitch and yaw speeds are slightly lower. The Challenger is more than capable of taking down any other medium ship, and even large ships like [[Anaconda]] are easy to defeat due to its high mobility and damage output. These traits also make it a strong choice for hunting [[Thargoid]] ships.

The Challenger has an increased cargo capacity of 154t over the Chieftain's 122t. This makes the Challenger an adequate trader and Pirate as it is only outdone by the [[Federal Gunship]], [[Krait MkII]], [[Krait Phantom]] and [[Python]] for medium ship cargo capacity. It can also make a very good miner, as it has enough hardpoints for all Mining tools and decent cargo space. Its high hull strength and military compartments means it can easily defend itself without its shield as well.

The only real downside to the ship, other than the higher cost compared to the Chieftain, is its jump range, which is just under 24 LYs before engineering. As the Challenger is best suited for hull tanking, its jump range will only drop lower when outfitting it with armor, which can make traveling to relatively distant battle sites somewhat of a slog.

Although the Challenger's upgrades come with a higher purchase price than the Chieftain, it is still substantially cheaper than a number of other medium vessels, such as the [[Federal Gunship]], [[Krait MkII]], [[Python]], and [[Fer-de-Lance]], while still being able to take on each of those ships in a firefight.

*''(M) = [[Military Compartment]] reserved for [[Hull Reinforcement Package]], [[Module Reinforcement Package]], or [[Shield Cell Bank]]''

359320 20181127171051 1.png|Alliance Challenger interior bridge showing both seats