Missions & Complexes

So since the addition of the new smarter AI I was wondering which ships are actually viable for solo/small gang doing lvl5. I understand the older setups would be done relatively simply, bring someone to take all the aggro, bring another ship to do the damage with or without remote reps.

So I'm just wondering what ships/fits are best to do level 5s with these days. Does the whole passive Ishtar thing still work or?

Thanks in advance folks.

You seem to have a problem with the concept of 'solo' :)

Well any ship that could solo it before can solo it now . . .
Rattlesnake, Nighthawk, Carrier will still work just like they did before the aggro changes

The change only affected fleets.

I admit that it has gotten a bit more tricky after the change. You can no longer tank every L5 with an Assault Frigate + Exequror, but CCP has given us some new tools.

The new concept is built around the Auguror and Energy boosting.

Basically the Auguror will give you unlimited CAP, You then use the cap to run Remote Repairs or Ancillary Shield Boosters.

So . . . you fleet looks like.
1) Auguror
2) Brick Battleship (Overtanked AND Energy Transfer + Remote Repair Back to the Auguror)
3,4) - Dominix(Remote Repair + Drone Damage) OR Turret Ship(XL Shield Boosted)

I tend to run full armor fleet (for the better resist profile against L5 missions)
With 1 Auguror, 1 Brick Abaddon (very little DPS), 2 Dominix (T2 Sentries, with remote armor repair)

Why I like this fleet

1) The Abaddon gives you lots of room for error on warp in. You can use a Domi, but have to be really on your toes to get the reps on before it pops.
2) Total DPS from 4 man gang, 1600 from the T2 Sentries, plus 9 Light drones to deal with scram frigates. This will allow you to complete any of the "blitzable" missions in under 7 minutes
3) Fit all the ships with MWD and Cloak so that you can escape low sec gate camps if you get unlucky. Gate camps are rare but a BS has zero chance without a MWD and Cloak.
4) Free mids to fit ECCM to keep your sig below 4. Pirates won't be able to scan you down before you complete the mission unless you deploy your light drones
5) The fleet costs a little less than 700 Mil fully fit. Much cheaper than any of the T3 / Faction BS options. It will not attract a lot of attention from pirates.
6) The Auguror was a free mid slot for a scram - Trust me, you want this. Pirate tears are solid gold.

Here is the Auguror Fit - Switch out hardeners per Rat Specific. The rest of the fits are easy.
It is Cap stable with 2 Large 'Regard's coming back

[Augoror, L5 Energy Armor]

Prototype Armor Thermic Hardener I
Prototype Armor Thermic Hardener I
Prototype Armor Kinetic Hardener I
Prototype Armor Kinetic Hardener I
Damage Control II

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I /OFFLINE
Prototype ECCM Radar Sensor Cluster
J5b Phased Prototype Warp Scrambler I

Large 'Regard' Power Projector
Large 'Regard' Power Projector
Medium 'Regard' Power Projector
Medium 'Regard' Power Projector
Improved Cloaking Device II /OFFLINE

Medium Anti-Thermic Pump I
Medium Egress Port Maximizer I
Medium Egress Port Maximizer I

Hobgoblin II x4

How do you keep your fighters alive?

I don't use them until I need to structure bash at end. I use a ceptor to get warp in (for those horrible ones that warp in at 40k).
Then warp carrier in at bouncer range, take out all the small stuff, then start on the bs's.

I have also used since the update a Dram to sit at 60k orbiting a can to get the "torpedo" aggro. Useful as the torp can't actually catch the dram. Carrier is then at leisure to blow up everything else.

I have't used fighters for about 6 months apart from the odd blowup the structure missions.