Skill Discussions

In a caracal, training your cruiser skill will increase your missile range, as well. With tech 2 launchers, you can use Javelin hams that will do less damage, but go further.

In general, however, understand that HAMs are a comparatively short range missile. They are the cruiser version of rockets. Heavy missiles are the cruiser version of light missiles, and if range is primarily what you need, those are your best bet.

Always "show info" on your ships to see what bonuses they offer. On the front page.

I did but fitted HAMs and rather foolishly didn't check range before heading out. I quickly headed back station.

But I can see now I need to look at Heavy Missiles rather than Heavy Assault Missiles.

Cheers

Was at work when reading these two comments and they didn't make sense. At home and looking at EVE they do. I never noticed that before! That's two great tips from one thread. Thanks all.

Traits
Caldari Cruiser skill bonus per level:
5% bonus Rapid Light, Heavy Assault and Heavy Missile Launcher rate of fire
10% bonus to Light, Heavy Assault and Heavy Missile Velocity

OK... so the missile damage formula is pretty complicated. You can google "EVE Missile formula" and get teh technical details of how the thing works. Here are the very basic concepts to understand:

1) Smaller ships suffer less damage from larger missiles. There is a complicated equation detailing this involivng the explosion radius of a missile compared to the signature radius of a target ship, but it essentially says that large missiles can't apply their full force to ships that are relatively smaller than the explosion the missile creates. That's part one of what you're seeing, as you're shooting medium missiles at a small ship.

2) In a similar vein, faster ships generally take less damage from missiles. Missile explosions expand at a certain rate. If your ship moves fast enough, it can avoid a lot of the damage by outrunning the explosion (think of the Millenum Falcon flying out of the Death Star II in Return of The Jedi). You may also see that in your situation if the frigate is reasonably fast.

The way to address these issues can be done in a number of ways:
Warhead Rigor Catalyst Rigs (reduces the relative size of the explosion)
Warhead Flare Catalyst Rigs (increases the speed of expansion fo the explosion)
Target Painter Modules (increases signature size of whatever you paint)
Stasis Webifier Module (Reduces target's speed)
Guided Missile Precision Skill (reduces the relative size of the explosion)
Target Navigation Prediction Skill (reduces the impact target velocity has in comparing to rate of expansion of explosion)

Best bet is to train the skills and put some Warhead Rigor Catalyst rigs on your drake if you can't kill the frigates with your drones.

Here's a very detailed article from EVE UNI: http://wiki.eveuniversity.org/Missile_Damage

Ok that explains it pretty clearly though I will google the missile formula to see if it adds any details for me. But your describing exactly what I was seeing and your comments make absolute sense. Thank you.



Not considered that but seems a decent tactic. Maybe I've just got so used to flying the Caracal I'm struggling to adapt. Thanks

Missiles do not have accuracy. If the target is in range they always hit, but damage is dependant on many factors and it's complex to calculate but here is the basic idea.

Every missile as an 'explosion velocity', this means that when the missile impacts the target, how fast the explosion from the missile moves outward. If the ship is moving faster than the speed of the explosion, they take reduced damage.

Every missile has an 'explosion radius', this means that when the missile explodes, the explosion is a certain size. If the target is smaller than the radius of the explosion, the target takes reduced damage.

This means your damage will be dictated by how fast the target is moving and how big the target is. You can reduce the target speed with a webber and effectively increase a target's size with a target painter.

The following skills will increase your missile damage (Other than the skill itself for that missile type, of course):

Guided Missile Precision skill will help with the explosion radius issue.

Target Navigation Prediction will reduce the effect of the speed of the ship.

Rapid Launch will increase your rate of fire.

Warhead Upgrades gives a flat damage bonus.

True the Drake does have an additional slot over the Cyclone and the shield capacity is greater. That said with the skills I have after 3 months I'm going to take a look at the Cyclone as the addition of a turret and greater drone capacity/bandwidth could swing it in it's favour.

I do Lvl 3s in a Hookbill with Light Missiles. A Caracal with heavy Missiles is overkill for lvl 3s. No need for a Drake at all.

Is it better to equip Heavy Missiles on a Drake instead of Heavy Assault?

Guided Missile Precision doesn't do anything for HAMs, as they are unguided (or so it says in the description).