Drake Clipper & RSI Perseus: IAE 2955 Ship Reviews

Drake Clipper Review

The Pitch

Drake’s latest offering is a solo multi-role ship aimed at independent operators who want flexibility without a massive price tag. The Clipper promises to do a bit of everything — combat, cargo, and exploration — in Drake’s signature no-frills package.

Design

Classic Drake. Exposed conduits, industrial materials, and function over form. The cockpit is spacious with good forward visibility, and the interior layout is practical if not pretty. Everything you need, nothing you don’t.

Performance

Combat: The Clipper carries a respectable weapon loadout for its size. It won’t win against dedicated fighters, but it can hold its own against pirates and PvE threats. The ship handles well enough for combat maneuvering without being twitchy.

Cargo: Small but usable cargo capacity. Enough for trade runs, delivery missions, and personal storage. Not a hauler, but you can make money moving goods.

Exploration: Basic scanning capability with reasonable fuel range. Won’t compete with dedicated explorers, but serviceable for casual exploration.

Verdict

The Clipper is the new best starter-to-midrange ship. It does everything adequately and nothing poorly. For players who can only afford one ship, the Clipper is hard to beat.

Pros:

• Excellent value for money
• Genuinely versatile — not just marketing
• Solo-friendly
• Drake’s industrial charm

Cons:

• Master of nothing
• Exposed components are vulnerable
• Interior is spartan (it’s a Drake, what did you expect?)

Rating: 8/10 — The best all-around solo ship at its price point.

RSI Perseus Review

The Pitch

A heavy gunship designed to kill things bigger than itself. The Perseus is a multi-crew combat platform that slots between light corvettes and dedicated capital ships.

Design

RSI’s modern design language at its best. The Perseus is imposing — long, angular, and clearly built for war. The interior is purpose-driven with clear crew stations and efficient layout. This is a warship, and it looks like one.

Performance

Firepower: Enormous. The forward-facing size 7 weapons can threaten capital-class ships. Multiple manned turrets provide coverage from virtually every angle. In a fleet engagement, the Perseus brings overwhelming firepower to the fight.

Durability: Heavy armor and strong shield coverage. The Perseus can take hits that would destroy smaller ships. It’s not invincible, but it’s genuinely tanky for its class.

Mobility: This is where you pay the price. The Perseus is slow, turns poorly, and accelerates like a freight train. It relies on escorts to handle fast-moving threats while it focuses on priority targets.

Crew Requirements: You need people. Pilot, gunners for the turrets, and ideally an engineer for component management. Solo operation wastes the ship’s potential.

Verdict

The Perseus is a fleet weapon. It’s not a personal ship — it’s an org asset. For organizations that run fleet operations, the Perseus is a force multiplier. For solo players, look elsewhere.

Pros:

• Devastating firepower
• Excellent durability
• Clear role identity
• Impressive visual design

Cons:

• Requires multi-crew
• Very slow
• Expensive to purchase and operate
• Useless without escorts

Rating: 8.5/10 — The best heavy gunship in the game, with the caveat that you need a crew and a fleet to use it properly.

CDYN Verdict

The Clipper is a fantastic recommendation for new members who need a versatile first ship. The Perseus is a long-term fleet goal for our Security division — when we run Tactical Strike Groups, this is the ship we want in the formation.