Ships & Modules

I agree 100%

Look at it this way as example: (numbers are examples and vary greatly depending on fit)

A. -A large shield booster is Cap stable and tanks 500 DPS. That is simple

B. -A X-Large shield booster is not cap stable but it will tank 1100 DPS while running and can sustain 600 DPS.


At this rate, the X-large needs to be managed but offers more tank than the Large. The key factor is that it tanks a whole lot more than the large in shorter burst when you need it the most. For instance, when you warp into an area (mission, 10/10 room, etc) and you have frigates webbing you. You need a stronger tank to maintain until you kill off some of the incoming DPS.

The DPS that you can sustain will be dropping as you activate other cap using modules such as the Afterburner. As you can see in my fit above, I use a cap flux coil instead of Damage Control. Having more Cap to run the Deadspace booster gives more tank than having slightly higher resist of the DC.

What makes the mach is it's ability to do large amounts of DPS at the most common ranges against NPC's. I also use a clone full of crystals and hardwires for Autocannons which will give anouther 10% +/- to DPS and the +3 hardwires are cheap.

With the Mach being all about DPS, the tank on the other hand is far from impressive. This is the reason that the Gist tank is common. I would not suggest A-type invulns for the purpose of running empire missions though. Simply not enough return investment in my opinion.

Well most people in this thread are saying the same thing.. so it must be pretty good advice. Jump on the test server and try for yourself.. that's what I do. Everybody has their own way of doing things.. you might prefer the MJD arty method..

I'm guessing you're not willing to spend ISK for a low grade Crystal set?

You don't need cap boosters on a Machariel for level 4 missions.
It's completely useless.

I used this without a problem. As implants: Cap implants and Turret damage implants. You only need light drones...for frigates.
Hardeneres modified according to mission. Or, if you're up to it, you could use 2x Invuls.

Ok so onto rigs, i see a few setups here with all CCC rigs do you think that that is best considering the capacitor only lasts around 1 min 20 currently?

atm im using

1 x auxillary thrusters
1x large projectile metastais adjuster
1 x large ccc II

im thinking of dropping the metastasis adjuster for another ccc because according to pyfa at least i will then be stable when the ab on and the sb off. This should allow me to get the range i require stop the ab cycling and pulse my xl booster?

Also seeing as ill only pulse the booster the extra recharge rate will help keep my cap up.

any thoughts?

a large works fine for lv4 missions. the main reason to prefer an xl is that large and extra large both have the same boost:cap ratio, just an XL will give you that boost much faster.

personally I use a cap booster, as if I **** up well it will keep me alive for long enough to get out of the mess (well at least it has every time so far) . Different mission pools will have different risks for machs. okay there are plenty of missions where it is a waste of a slot.

why a damage control on a pve ship?

In general I agree, actually in this case DEFINITELY. But pre-recent changes I ran an XLASB CNR to great effect because it allowed an extra painter. I'd swapped the cap booster and XL-SB for a single ASB thus freeing the mid. People scoffed but it wrecked stuff left, right and centre. If you care enough (I concede, unlikely) you can search: I have a thread about it. Knackered in the recent patch though, the new CNR doesnt have the CPU for it

Anyway, old patch versions etc etc....point was never say never - I dont think I'm the only one creative enough to find a non-ridiculous use for an XL-ASB on a mission bird.

Sentries reduce the amount of volleys required to kill ships over the course of the mission. You only need light drones but why slow yourself down intentionally?

Whats your optimal, falloff, and tracking? And why no drones? 300 less DPS than mine?