One of the problems with saying an Armored Transport is in the same league as a gunboat is the turrets. You're limited to class 7 turrets, the best of which you are able to buy on any base is the Transport Turret Level 4 (Class 7). These do not compare to gunboat turrets in any way.
True it does have the 2 gun mounts too, but now take a good look at the power output of only 40,000 and you realize that you don't really have enough power to put anything very useful for weaponry on this ship. This, in my opinion, is this ship's biggest flaw.
The class 7 shields are nice for protecting you from NPC pirates but codes are becoming more and more commonplace all the time and even making the 100,000 shielding you get from the Adv. Transport Shield obsolete. I've seen my shields wink out in one shot more often than should happen, but some of those code guns are made for that. (Did I mention that most pirates have these guns?)
I did use this ship, and I did like it very much. My experience, however, does say that this ship is to a gunboat what a Starflier is to a bomber.
Mount a pair of ARCHANGELS and some deb turrets. Then wtfpwn everything smaller than a GB, and give GBs that don't have really good aim a run for their money; you have a hitbox marginally larger than a bomber but really flat and if you dodge right (mainly up and down) you can keep those massive shields from every going down.
Well, after spending some more time in my Starflier, I think I'll stick with it for a while. I might make another char for the ArmTrans, but for now I'm enjoying Freelancer's finest ship.
Thanks again to you all for the replies.
P.S. Remember to say 'Hi' to Skye when you see him! >.<
' Wrote:Under 5 mil sounds good. Never suggest the X-shuttle to anyone, Kambei. Ever.
Armored transport sounds interesting.
I'd suggest trading. A LOT. Then buying a Luxury Liner.
THOSE THINGS ARE BEASTLY.
A way a lone a last a loved a long the riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay,
brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs.