Fer-de-Lance
The Fer-de-Lance (commonly abbreviated as FDL) is a heavy combat ship, featuring a hull that is a bit more resistant to smaller weapons than other ships of its class,[1] making it well suited in the role of bounty hunting. It is the only medium ship capable of mounting class 4 weaponry.
Although fast, manoeuvrable and well armed, the Fer-De-Lance suffers from a few major drawbacks, which include a poor FSD jump range, tiny fuel tank and a limited number of internal compartments for its size.
Utilizing the class 6 powerplant Fer-De-Lance has a relatively low heat signature, and is well-suited for both shielded (using a shield cell does not result in a major overheating, and the strong base shielding can be improved further with shield boosters) and shieldless builds (small heat output, durable hull and the ability to mount several heat sinks without sacrificing other utility modules allowing for prolonged silent running).
The weapon hardpoints are located as follows: two top mounted class 2 hardpoints on the nose about a quarter of the way back from the tip, two side mounted class 2 hardpoints at about the ship's midpoint, and a single bottom mounted class 4 (huge) hardpoint in the centre of the ship's frame. Four out of six utility mounts are located around the huge hardpoint on the bottom, with the other two being behind the cockpit, next to the fins on top of the vessel.
The Fer-De-Lance has different heat radiator animations for general heat dissipation and Frame-Shift Drive charge up for hyperspace. While both feature the animation of the same yellow/orange lighted radiators, the Frame-Shift Drive charging animation also features blue lighted radiators and two blue beams. The blue beams are projected from slightly behind the cockpit and are visible from the cockpit from the side windows on both sides.
The pilot's station is offset right from the centerline. The Auxiliary station is offset left from the centerline and although is it side by side with the pilot's station, is slightly farther back from the front canopy.
Purchase Locations
| System | Station | Date Seen | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| STKM 1-1118 | Dupuy De Lome | 26.12.2015 | |
| 78 Ursae Majoris | Rominger Dock | Jan 23, 2016 | |
| 44 B Ophiuchi | Feustel Gateway | Jun 12, 2015 | |
| 78 Ursae Majoris | Berners-Lee City | 23 May 2015 | |
| Asgaa | Wheeler Horizons | Apr 20, 2015 | |
| Bunuras | Noguchi Enterprise | 12 Dec 2015 | |
| Cerno | Kanwar Enterprise | 18 December
2015 |
|
| Disci | Snodgrass Orbital | March 2015 | |
| Euboa | Foreman Orbital | 21 March 2015 | |
| Facece | Simpson Depot | 04 April 2015 | |
| CD-36 1535 | Aoki | March 12, 2016 | |
| Gandui | Regiomontanus ring | 15 March 2015 | |
| LP 694-16 | Chapman Terminal | 31 December 2015 | |
| Gunnovale | Bradley Station | 17 Dec 2015 | |
| HIP 18828 | Ruppelt City | 06 April 2015 | |
| HIP 96932 | Bond Dock | August 21, 2015 | |
| HIP 102895 | Barmin Terminal | 17 May 2015 | |
| HIP 107385 | Winthrop Enterprise | May 22, 2015 | |
| HR 943 | Hildebrandt Terminal | May 30, 2015 | |
| Kamaki | Shinjo Station | 23 March 2015 | |
| Khampti | Wafa Hub | 30 March 2015 | |
| Khernidjal | West Gateway | May 06, 2015 | |
| Laifangyi | Anning Enterprise | 1 July 2015 | |
| Lakluit | Garriott Hub | July 16, 2015 | |
| Leesti | George Lucas | 27 July 2015 | |
| Lo Pegasi | Garcia Station | May 14, 2015 | |
| LP 926-40 | Lee City | Apr 23, 2015 | |
| LTT 15278 | Zholobov Enterprise | 27 April 2015 | |
| Tolians | Kuo Dock | 31 August 2016 | |
| Malloc | Julian Gateway | 13 April 2015 | |
| Mundjiga | Sagan Port | 17 March 2015 | |
| Okinura | Fisher Terminal | Feb 23, 2016 | |
| Praecipua | Denton Dock | 28 March 2015 | |
| Remines | Bobko hub | 23 August 2016 | 15% discount |
| Tolians | Kuo Dock | Aug 11, 2015 | |
| Wailladyan | Bass Port | June 16, 2015 | |
| Wolf 562 | Hopkins Port | 11 April 2015 | |
| HR 1980 | Low City | 12 jan 2016 | |
| Zavijah | Wheelock Ring | 17 March 2015 | |
| LHS 492 | Lem Port | 10 April 2016 |
Outfitting
- Main article: Outfitting
All ships are highly customizable through the Outfitting menu of Station Services. Listed below is the default load-out for the Fer-de-Lance.
| Category | Default System | Default Rating | Default Class | Max Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium Hardpoint | Pulse Laser | F | 1 | 2 |
| Pulse Laser | F | 1 | 2 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 2 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 2 | |
| Huge Hardpoint | Empty | -- | -- | 4 |
| Utility Mount | Empty | -- | -- | 0 |
| Empty | -- | -- | 0 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 0 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 0 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 0 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 0 | |
| Bulkheads | Lightweight Alloys | I | 1 | 8 |
| Reactor Bay | Power Plant | E | 6 | 6 |
| Thrusters Mounting | Thrusters | E | 5 | 5 |
| Frame Shift Drive Housing | Frame Shift Drive | E | 4 | 4 |
| Environmental Control | Life Support | E | 4 | 4 |
| Power Coupling | Power Distributor | E | 6 | 6 |
| Sensor Suite | Sensors | E | 4 | 4 |
| Fuel Store | Fuel Tank [x8] | C | 3 | 3 |
| Internal Compartments | Cargo Rack [x16] | E | 4 | 5 |
| Shield Generator | E | 4 | 4 | |
| Cargo Rack [x8] | E | 3 | 4 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 2 | |
| BDS | E | 1 | 1 |
- (L) = Loaned
- [x#] = Capacity
- BDS = Basic Discovery Scanner
Notes
- In the original Elite it was faster than the Cobra (but not playable).
- Added to game in version 1.2.
- Some weapons on the huge hardpoint clip into the bottom of the hangar when viewed in Outfitting.
- The radiators on the outside of the engine pods glow blue while FSD is charging.
- Prior to 1.5/2.0 the ship utilized a class 5 powerplant, resulting in major power issues.
Gallery
- Concept art from newsletter 57
- Showing front right mounts on the Fer-de-Lance
- A Huge Gimballed Cannon mounted on the Fer-de-Lance
- A silhouette of the Fer-de-Lance from the side, showing its left side mounted guns
- Fer-de-Lance cruising by a sun
- Fer-de-Lance charging its FSD
- Cockpit by CMDR Klepto
- View of Fer-de-Lance showing medium hardpoints
- A Fer-De-Lance preparing for a hyperspace jump. Note the blue light beams and blue lit hull sections that only appear while the frameshift drive is charging.
- Black Fer-De-Lance on an outpost
- Combat fitted Gold Fer-de Lance
- A Fer-De-Lance mining in an ice ring as seen in Newsletter #121
- Fer-De-Lance on a Landing Pad.
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