I really don't know why anyone likes the Astarte. It really is a slug (and the model and texturing... dang, what an illogical eyesore, it even has ships docking near the flames of the engine). It is so oversized it often has trouble docking with stations and passing through traffic. You limp around so slowly you pretty much always want to be in 8X mode or it is barely moving. Trying to line up a major caliber shot with it's pathetic turn rate is usually pointless. And for all that hassle you get a little bit better shields and armor. With shield upgrades and repair the difference will be small and you don't have to sacrifice mobility.
The ship barely matches it's description. The armor and shields on it can't last through any significant fire without major upgrades.
I restarted the game just so I could keep the Mastif. My only major complaint about it is the firing blind spots, but the ship is manueverable enough you can at least use it's concentrated turrets to an advantage.
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