THE JUMPGATE DEFINITIVE GUIDE - Tripod

Buzzard
Classification: Heavy Shuttle
Power plant: Centerfuge MK3 (size 2)
Engines: Adventa x 1 (size 4)
Radar: Chime (24000 meter range) (size 1)
Shield: Haven (15400mm equivalent), Canopy (12240mm equivalent, the only
reason to use the Canopy is that it is available at level 8 rather then 13)
(size 2)
Armor: 9000mm
Capacitor: Jug (size 1)
Laser Config: Heavy Laser, Spitfire Ion Cannon
Ammo Config: Hammer or Cobra
Missiles (# x size): 2x1
MODx: 3
ECM: 1
Speed (nor/ab/ff): 343/392/678 MPS
Acceleration: 85.0 (laser), 83.3 (Spitfire), 82.6 (Hammer), 81.0 (Cobra) kN/kg
Yaw/Pitch/Roll: 60/21/68 DPS
Cargo: 8 m³
Notes:
The Buzzard is an odd bird to say the least. Many pilots have a love-hate relationship with it and
skip it in favor of the Raven class Light Fighter. The engine upgrade to the Adventa gives it
decent speed and acceleration (mounting a Rush or Burn engine will leave no juice for other
systems). The 8 units of cargo space give traders their first real cargo hauler (and one that
actually mounts a weapon, as opposed to the Albatross) or miner. The addition of the Haven
class shield and 3 modx slots round out its defensive systems quite nicely. The major problem it
has, however, is the way the designers added the size 4 engine mount – it is a lateral extension
coming straight off of the elongated chassis. This design, however, does not allow for vertical
thrust vectoring. In short, it pitches like a freighter. Thankfully its yaw and roll rates are fairly
nimble, but this odd handling quirk can make it the single most annoying ship in the five systems
to operate. Despite this, it is still a manageable cargo/mining vessel. Pilots are urged to get a
Hawk as soon as possible, however. As per weaponry, the Shark Heavy Laser and Spitfire Ion
Cannon work well, but the vessel may have trouble utilizing it in combat. It also lacks in the
missile department in comparison to the Apteryx (although its mountings are standard for
shuttles.)
S-4
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