EVE New Citizens Q&A

I've got about 2m skill points currently focused around the core skills. I was aiming for the Tengue but I hear that it might not be the best goal.

Any recommendations of a solid ship I should go for. I do like cloaking and i want to stay with Caldari ships. Tengue and Drake seem to be the tops but I'd like to hear some advice. Oh I hate drones.

I'm going to get into PvP on the darker side of the verse.

If your long-term goal is a Tengu, in the shorter term center your goals around cruisers, heavy missiles/HAMs, and shield skills.

This is kind of a bad time to ask this question if you want really definite answers, as we're sort of in the middle of a ship rebalancing that's messing with what ships work how well for what at the cruiser level. Generally speaking the Caracal has traditionally been the T1 cruiser that sits closest to the Tengu's typical role. Fly it around with all your missile support skills at V and T2 medium missiles, and you'll get an idea of whether you really want to push it any further.

Grab Caldari Battlecruisers to 4 or so while you're at it (currently just "Battlecruisers") and mess with the Drake for something with similar tank and the other end of the medium-size mobility.

Yeah, you should focus on proficiency in t1 frigates, cruiser/battlecruisers before you move on to more expensive stuff. Maybe the manticore since you said you liked cloaking, that was the first t2 ship I shot for and it's still my favorite ship. Proficiency in a Merlin, kestrel, buzzard, t2 fit drake, all advisable for the aspiring caldari pilot. Caldari love, death to Gallente.

Merlin first, and if you really want to stay true to missiles consider starting with a kestrel instead.

Also drones are important to train in any race, gallente make the most of them, but most larger ships depend on drones to be able to fend of smaller targets.

If you start training for the interceptor before or after your initial frig training, (you could hit cruiser first if you want) you'll find you're ahead of pilots that tend to ignore navigation skills and will be useful in most any fleet -- whether you actually fly the ceptor or tackle with a T1 frig. That is, if you get some experience.

The assault frigs are nice to fly too, though Caldari isn't my favorite here. I wouldn't overlook the Destroyer either -- it really depends on what kind of PvP you'll be doing.


Whatever you decide, try to become proficient in a smaller ship and don't take training shortcuts just to beeline for something BC size or above you're not ready to fly.

Of course, many" F1" pilots can survive in a Drake, (and I like the ship, not a hater) it's not a great way to learn to PvP and will ultimately becoming boring. Also, for longterm know that you may be excluded out of many DPS fleets if you don't train gunnery -- depending on what corp you join, unless you become a good tackler or perhaps ewar/logi pilot.

Other options include the stealth bomber and scouts are always in demand while training for bigger ships.

The Kestrel and Merlin are quite fun though and the Caracal can ruin someone's day.

Note that I've had a character trained in each race, prior to cross-training in most cases, and my Caldari toon is unfortunately the least often used -- even though the Tengu and Falcon are my favorite ships. I'm not saying that to discourage you, there is definitely room for Caldari in PvP but there is less overall demand for it in various fleet doctrines. With the recent ship re-balancing I'm sure that problem will increase.

Lastly, if you fly in a corp like RvB or join faction warfare or even some null corps, there should be plenty for you to do in a small hull as well as a Drake.

You can still cruise around high sec and find plenty of action if that's your thing. Plenty of corporations who will take on young pilots.

I'd recommend training both the Merlin and Kessy as that will force you into the 2 Caldari weapons systems. Take your time, go slow and perfect those two as you move toward Caracal & Moa. Honestly, I'd skip destroyers until you decide to make a run at Interdictors. The time spent skilling up the Caldari Hulls would be better spent imo for the 2 excellent Assault Frigates. Take your time working toward the Drake and Ferox, both of which are solid ships. The HAM drake right now is a very mean ship, and you can still fly the slightly gimped, PODLA Nano Drake (fit with HML) as the nerf really only brings it back toward the other Tier 1 & 2 BC. SInce the Welp Cane was also nerfed, the PODLA Drake should sill be fine and effective.

= Falcon
Still pricy but a good tool for the job when needed.

Oh edit and also Manticore but more with fleet engagements.

umm.. ECM? Cheap, can't pop if you don't get hit (my pref). Kitsune & Blackbird
Falcon + Kitsune + Blackbird = Win

Skills are part of your problem, yes, but also experience. Learn about tracking, spiraling and orbiting and you'll find with practice that you don't need as much effective health points (aka a "tough ship") as you would think to win -- except vs. more experienced players. There is both written material and some good YouTube vids on the topics as well as on techniques for various ships and engagements.

There are few PvP experiences that can compare with taking down a ship that is bigger and much more costly than you.

But field experience is a must. I had a 3m SP toon in RvB with an over 90% kill efficiency. It's not the end-all of PvP -- you'll need to learn how to think on your own, learn other tactics etc. -- but it's one of the several great ways to learn and have fun doing so. Agony Unleashed just had a Basic PvP class, but you might check them out as well.



Just don't. Dying in a faction BS or even a Gila (though you already said you hate drones) is not cool.