Missions & Complexes

Yet another drone thread.

So, from the devblog:

http://community.eveonline.com/devblog.asp?a=blog&nbid=73413
3. Q) Will NPC's kill my drones?
A) Yes, but they don't hate them nearly as much as sleepers. I ran 9 level 4 missions and lost 2 drones. It does mean you need to pay more attention though. We can adjust their hatred of drones though which is why we are asking for feedback when this hits a test server.


My experience, purely PvE:
- T2 drones are just to waste money. Despite watching the drone window closely and calling them back at the first sight of damage (with Shift+R, aka no time lost in right click + return) they go pop.
- The new change in which only "elite frigates" will shot light combat drones help, yet, who the heck know all the elite frigates names of all rats?

And for statistics: ONE Worlds Collide, 6 light combat drones lost. Kind of waaaaay different than what was said in the devblog. Oh wait, perhaps they were running L4s like "The Right Hand of Zaazzzz(whatever)", in which you warp in, pop everything and don't even launch your drones... riiiight...

Perhaps it is me, perhaps it is the difference in expectations, but something went really wrong along the way...

I lost....2 hob since retribution *TEARS*

Not aggroed NPC will shoot your drone like they were doing before retribution. If the whole room is aggroed, then only elite frigs will shoot down your small drone.

Use and learn to use the Type column in your overview.

You know the type column only repeats the name of the NPCs, right?

I only deploy drones if I'm tackled or can't hit fly buzzing frigs otherwise they stay put I have never lost anymore since I have done that even in a gun ship I just pop fraggets before they are under my guns.

Some interesting replies, thanks.

I've been loosing drones asking them to target frigates orbiting my BS at less than 20kms, which I can't hit anymore with large turrets of course.

I'm not sending them 40kms away, I'm recalling them as soon as I see them taking any damage, but usually the first volley put them on hull already, then it is just a sneeze to pop them.

All I do in the game is missioning, and that has been like that since day 1. Tried Incursions, ok, but I do like missioning. Never lost drones to misguiding them or sending them to do the wrong thing. Used to fly droneboats, but liked turrets more, so now drones are just for support.

Honestly? I just don't see what else could be done to avoid the problem.

You can use the micro jump drive to get range for your turrets.
You can release your drones, but don't send them. When the elites switch, recall them. You should have 2 minutes after that to launch them and take out the frigates. (Some missions, the rats switch faster, so be aware).

What are your drone skills like? Once you have T2 lights and mediums, the other should all be at lvl4, like any other weapon/defense skill. The more damage the do, the quicker the npc are dead, the faster they move.. the quicker they will return and of course drone durability helps heaps with getting them back safer..
I think a lot of people have the very minimum to use them, but they should be trained properly to be effective..

"I" have over 7 mill SP in drones. Occasionally they still get instapopped.
Drones have certainly gone down a few pegs - at least 5 for noobs / those that trained Drones to V and pre-reqs to 1 - but IMO the most important skills for drone users these days are the (player) tanking ones. Unfortunate.

Too much theorycrafting, not enough undocking. Your first set of sentries will soon be stripped of shield, then armor, then next set. Think they'll fix themselves in that dronebay?

Time to get these rr domis set up...