Missions & Complexes

I've been out of the game for a while and would like your opinions on which would make a good combo for running level 4's.

Both the chars are highly spec'd (spec 5 large guns, spec 5 HAM and HML + all 5 support skills including subsystems). With that in mind, here is what I'm thinking given one of the chars has a limit on what he can fly (no minnie) and one has no Marauder skill. I don't have the desire to cross train them any further, just working on further spec skills.

Machariel + Paladin

Machariel + Tengu

Machariel + Nightmare

Rattlesnake + Paladin

Rattlesnake + Tengu

Rattlesnake + Nightmare

Is looting and salvaging even worth while anymore? I'm not looking to speed through lvl 4's. As a matter of fact I like low maintenance mission running. I used to fly a Golem + Nightmare, which worked pretty well, though the Golem is too much work (range and TP).

I guess I could pose the question another way, other than 2 Macharials , which would you choose?

I don’t know if it’s ‘good’ per say, but here’s what I do and it seems to work out fairly well.

I run 2 accounts. First is a Raven and second is an Apocalypse. The Apoc carries medium shield rep drones and the Raven carries medium armor rep drones with light drones in each for frigates/cruiser

In terms of efficiency it’s okay, but what I really like is the ability to cross tank. I use to run Raven/Harbinger which worked really well, but whenever the Harby was targeted, it had to run. Now I just take it in the Apoc. And with a target painter and keeping an eye on angular velocity, my Apoc helps blap the cruisers and sometimes even the frigates.

I’m also thinking of switching to an Abbadon, since the range of the Apoc is less than stellar compared to my Raven (60 km vs 93 km).

I have so far found a tengu plus BS to be the best option. I do it differently to boz though. I use the tengu for cruiser first, then frigs that slip pat my BS guns then BS. With good skills an implant and 1 rigor on the tengu you can use fury's on cruiser's. Currently in amarr, so with the NM I split the guns, pop as many frigs as I can before they get under my guns, 1 volley from 1 beam will insta pop them, then set to work on BS. Sadly I don't have a mach or T2 AC skills, but I use a maelstrom for anything that is not EM weak. I have tried most T1 BS( Rokh, Raven(navy and SNI), dominix, but they do seem kinda meh. Have tried 2 NM's and that works pretty good too, except you need to pay close attention when agro full rooms as they are not cap stable and then also need to start using drones when ships slip through. I am a lazy missioner so maybe that is why I prefer the tengu BS combo. I have tried doing 2 separate missions at once, but I play on a laptop in window mode.. so was too busy for me.

Thanks for everyone's replies, it sounds like Tengu + Mach is the way to go. I probably could do 2 missions at once, but it's probably too busy. I want to relax, not give myself carpel tunnel :)

I built both these chars for PVP (150 and 115m sp) so the nice thing is they transfer over to PVE well. I don't have the time for the commitment to PVP anymore. I guess I'm getting old :) I just don't want to leave the game completely.

I think I'll pickup one of each, just to play with them all and use the marauder skill I trained to 5

Mach + Tengu would be the easiest to manage I imagine. If you ever felt too lazy you could also always just load up the tengu with FoF and set orbit around your Mach and call it a day. Not the most effecient but it is lazy.

If you use tengu as main tank who take whole agros why not better tengu + bc tier3? naga with t2 rails antymater t1 with 2x imp +3 % to damage max skills 760dps (60km optimal) lower dps depend range but this ship can deal good damage to npc even they 120+km away while other bs like machariel or pulse nightmare need to be closer to full efficienty, Oracle pulse 1180+dps with t2 crystal good for mision like pirate invasion etc, you can bulid full dps (zero tank tier 3 bc) as dps support with items like full of mag stabs, gyro, heatsinks, target painters, sensors boosters, tracing computers, ab, and while tengu got full agro who care if zero tank on bc tier 3, while in most cases every expensive faction bs need some tank to avoid potential lose in critical situation, this mean 50% of finting slots are fited with tank modules while lack of dps, tracing comps, tatget painters modules.

Personaly i run mission with tengu as tank + naga, or depend mission oracle + tengu, bc tier 3 are awesome, they fast, agile, dps is same like other BS, even better depend fit.

In most cases i dont have time for loot-salvage i prefer bounty + lp but if people need full profit they need focus maybe on tengu + one marauder, or good faction bs + marauder, other way, do x mission save every location, after x mission swich to noctis...

Ps. For 100 +- 20mil isk people can bulid oracle with dps efficienty compered or better than nightmare, of course is paper tank and works only while main tank got full agro.

Rattle + Rattle?

OP all that you have listed will work fine, in fact 2 drakes would do the job for less then the mods in one of your fancy ships. and with alot less buttons to push.

Rattlesnake and Machariel is a nice combo. The Rattler can agro the entire room and not worry about its shields, once it agroed the Mach can come in and kill very fast. That combo takes little effort as the Rattler needs no attention once the room is agroed on it.

Well Rattlesnake and any high dps ship is great.