These forums have been archived and are now read-only.

The new forums are live and can be found at https://forums.eveonline.com/

Skill Discussions

 
  • Topic is locked indefinitely.
 

Drone Question(s)
Author
Previous Topic Next Topic
Major 'Revolver' Ocelot
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#1 - 2013-05-11 21:07:01 UTC  |  Edited by: Major 'Revolver' Ocelot
Hello!

So I've been training this characters drone skills up since I started him as an alt. Currently around 4.5 million SP in drones.

This character is going to be flying mainly Caldari and Guristas ships. I have Caldari Drone Spec at level 4, which I'm going to park there for ever until I have nothing else to train. 2% increase for 17 days training doesn't seem worth it.


  • I was wondering if you think its worth training Gallente/Minnie drone spec whilst I still have a memory plan. Or if Caldari will do, as I'd prefer to just stick with Caldari drones from a roleplay perspective.


  • Also, I have trained repair drones to 4 and am now contemplating if it's worth taking to 5 for the sake of Tech 2 rapair drones. Is it worth it?


  • Is training EWAR drone interfacing worth the extra control range and how effective are EWAR drones?
Zhilia Mann
Tide Way Out Productions
#2 - 2013-05-11 21:19:22 UTC
Major 'Revolver' Ocelot wrote:
I was wondering if you think its worth training Gallente/Minnie drone spec whilst I still have a memory plan. Or if Caldari will do, as I'd prefer to just stick with Caldari drones from a roleplay perspective.


Yes. Do it. By all means. Caldari drones are awful against a large chunk of targets in the game.

Major 'Revolver' Ocelot wrote:
Also, I have trained repair drones to 4 and am now contemplating if it's worth taking to 5 for the sake of Tech 2 rapair drones. Is it worth it?


That's pretty niche. Unless you plan on using rep drones quite a bit it's probably not worth the investment.

Major 'Revolver' Ocelot wrote:
Is training EWAR drone interfacing worth the extra control range and how effective are EWAR drones?


I like the flat 60km control range. It's obviously more of a deal if you're using sentry drones -- and you are planning on training T2 sentries, right?

As for the EWAR drones themselves. Well, there are two types really: ECM drones and bad, worthless drones that just might have a niche PvE use but probably not even that. It's all tied up in stacking mechanics. Make of that what you will.

Oh, and train DI 5 if you haven't yet.
Major 'Revolver' Ocelot
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#3 - 2013-05-11 21:28:10 UTC  |  Edited by: Major 'Revolver' Ocelot
Hey Zhil thanks for the fast reply!

Roger that then, I might as well do the Amarr spec too if I'm doing everything else. I already have Sentry Drone Interfacing 5 and plan on using T2 Sentries a fair amount. I'm just not that bothered with EWAR to be honest and didn't want to train electronic warfare skills at all. It's just that bonus range that tickles my fancy... relaly wish it was part of a different skill. DI 5 is done too.

Here's my sheet for reference.

http://eveboard.com/pilot/Major_'Revolver'_Ocelot
Zhilia Mann
Tide Way Out Productions
#4 - 2013-05-11 21:39:53 UTC
Honestly, non-sentry Amarr drones are all but worthless. I trained spec to 4 something like five years ago in the hope that they'd become useful sometime. It never happened; Gallente drones are just plain better under almost all circumstances. But you never know....

I'd go ahead and take CDO to 5 as well while you're at it. Every last bit helps and you won't have to touch the category again for a long, long time.
Major 'Revolver' Ocelot
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#5 - 2013-05-11 21:50:32 UTC
Zhilia Mann wrote:
Honestly, non-sentry Amarr drones are all but worthless. I trained spec to 4 something like five years ago in the hope that they'd become useful sometime. It never happened; Gallente drones are just plain better under almost all circumstances. But you never know....

I'd go ahead and take CDO to 5 as well while you're at it. Every last bit helps and you won't have to touch the category again for a long, long time.


I know a lot of people complain about Amarr drones which is why I think that they will eventually receive a buff and I'd prefer to train them now before missing the opportunity. Though saying that you have waited 5 years for the same thing haha.

CDO is planned after Heavy Drone Op 5. I will wait towards the end of training before injecting Amarr drone spec in the hopes that some good news from CCP arises.

Thanks for the help!
DeLindsay
Galaxies Fall
#6 - 2013-05-11 22:52:53 UTC
Quote:
I'm just not that bothered with EWAR to be honest and didn't want to train electronic warfare skills at all. It's just that bonus range that tickles my fancy... relaly wish it was part of a different skill


Basically the ONLY thing that skill has anything to do with EWar Drones is the ability to use them, that's it. You WANT to train this skill for your Drone control range, even if you never ever plan to use EWar Drones. And yes, it's a stupid oversight on CCP's part to have the skill for two different applications. Instead Drone control Range should be just that as a skill and then the EWDI could instead give a bonus of say 5% per LvL or even 2% to the effectiveness of EWar Drones, giving them some possibility of use outside of ECM Drones in the hope to gtfo before you die.

Also, at current Amarr Drones are the worst of all 4, Caldari are ok (I like Warden IIs and Vespa IIs) but the 2 most used are Gallente & Minmatar so get those specs to 4, 5 if you want and maybe only LvL 1/2/3 with Amarr/Caldari specs. T2 Sentries freaking OWN LvL 4 Missions. Put a Centum A-Type Medium Remote Repair (~67 mil) in a Highslot on a ship with Drone HP bonus and your Sentries can tank the ENTIRE room (sometimes).

The Operative: "There are a lot of innocent people being killed in the air right now".

Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: "You have no idea how true that is".
Kitty Bear
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#7 - 2013-05-12 11:20:26 UTC  |  Edited by: Kitty Bear
Gallente Drones have the highest Damage Modifier
Minmatar Drones are the Fastest

Amarr Drones are generally just pathetic



the Ship Bonus per level to drone damage is applied to the Damage Mod (not base damage rating), which is why Hob's etc receive the most benefit from [ship skill] L5

With E-war drone L5 and 2x T2 Drone Link's you can control Bouncer/Warden targets at 100km (ish), so yes it is a useful skill to train even if you don't plan on using ewar drones




[edit]
EWAR Drones themselves are pretty pointless outside of PvP, if you don't pvp you only need the skill for the extra +15km control range
Repair Drones are only useful if you fly with other people, you can only repair the targeted item, and as you cant target yourself .......

Train Gallente & Minmatar Spec's to 4 or 5, train caldari spec to 3 or 4 .. put the amar spec skillbook in the bin and then burn it, then pour acid on the ashes.

Depending on what you plan to use aim for the following

Sentries - Train for Drone Damage Amps, Drone Aug Links & Omni Tracking Links
Heavy Drones - Train for Drone Damage Amps, Drone Aug Links & Nav Comps
Light/Medium Drones - Train for Drone Damage Amps & Drone Aug Links
AlphaOperative Altren
Alternative Rendition
#8 - 2013-05-12 11:58:57 UTC
Personally i have all racial drone skills up to 4. I do this because i like T2 drones & i switch them in/out according to missions for max damage.

Drones for the sake of drones probably isnt worth your while but if you're doing whatever eve moves you to do and you feel you'd like a little extra punch then have at it!

As a piece of advice i would say that you should let your game decide what to train. I've trained up EWAR because if im running missions i dont want to take up an extra slot for WS/Web but if a mission gank arises i want to give them something to think about so i hold 5 drone spots open for emergency.

Its all up to you, best question you can ask is - "When did i last die, why?" train accordingly :-)

Hope this helps bro

Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn't matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough. ― Richard P. Feynman
Tsukino Stareine
Garoun Investment Bank
Gallente Federation
#9 - 2013-05-12 16:35:41 UTC
Caldari drones will be fine for all types of rats apart from the amarr based ones, amarr drones will be better for those but gallente will still be better.

Art of Explosions
Nagnor
The Happy Shooters
#10 - 2013-05-15 22:07:19 UTC  |  Edited by: Nagnor
As a missile slinger the Caldari usually are, you probably only ready have it, but don't forget
Target Painting I
(and to fit one on your ship)

In almost all of the major the patches of last half year CCP has been tweaking NPC hatred against drones, but currently they seem to hate different forms of ewar, including Target Painting even more. Stuff like that beats Drone Durability V by miles when keeping your drones alive.
Tbh it is ridiculous how well that works. Once jumped in a swarm of frigs with big tank and only large weps. TP-ed, didn't fire a shot, got full aggro that stuck and ordered my Hobs to clean up the lot without losing or having to recall even one of them
Jack Miton
School of Applied Knowledge
Caldari State
#11 - 2013-05-15 23:20:28 UTC
the only drone specs you should train are gal and min.
the other 2 are useless.

There is no Bob.

Stuck In Here With Me:  http://sihwm.blogspot.com.au/

Down the Pipe:  http://feeds.feedburner.com/CloakyScout
Barbelo Valentinian
Federal Navy Academy
Gallente Federation
#12 - 2013-05-17 12:57:51 UTC
The extra drone control range from the EWAR skill thingy is absolutely essential for T2 Sentry use.
Ireland VonVicious
Vicious Trading Company
#13 - 2013-05-18 00:22:18 UTC
Caldari drones are the best.

You heard me.

Here is why:

If you look at the speed v.s. dps ratio between drones caldari are always the highest!

Caldari have the highest shield pool. This means they have the most def in space.
It also means that when you pull drones in and out to get shields back up you get longer deployment time.

Caldari have great tracking! You can use a drone bigger for smaller targets.
If your skills are high you will see T2 vespas do wonders v.s. frigates.

They have the best damage type on average across all the non-empire missions!
They really kick but v.s. those damn ECM ships.

If you were to train only one kind of drone Caldari is the drone of choice.



Now if you are willing to train more then one kind of drone caldari might not be the choice.
If you are only willing to train 2 types you may prefer gallente and minmitar.
This is really best when using ships like the arbitrator where you can keep stacks of both types.


If you are going to train all three that are worth training I'd do it in the order of: Gallente, Minmitar, Caldari or Caldari, Gallente, Minmitar.

Best of luck with your training.
DeLindsay
Galaxies Fall
#14 - 2013-05-18 06:43:39 UTC
Quote:
Caldari have great tracking! You can use a drone bigger for smaller targets.
If your skills are high you will see T2 vespas do wonders v.s. frigates.

Your point about Caldari Drones is moot. ALL Scout Drones have ridiculously high tracking, better than even small blasters (except 2 Heavies vs Electrons). You can use ANY Heavy Drone against ANY target including Frigates as long as said Frigate is flying at a speed slower than the orbit velocity of said Drone, though Light Drones would do it faster if only for the travel time between ships. Also, Kinetic isn't the universal best dmg type to deal, EM would be a little better overall but Amarr Drones suck.

The best way is to swap Drones to Mission/Plex/Rat type (it's really not that hard) even if you only have LvL 1 Spec of say Caldari, then LvL 3+ Spec for Gallente/Minmatar. For PvP it's pretty much Warriors (Minmatar) for Frigs and Hammerheads/Ogres (Gallente) for anything bigger and if your Drone Bay is large enough might as well have a set of ECM Drones.

The Operative: "There are a lot of innocent people being killed in the air right now".

Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: "You have no idea how true that is".