Ships & Modules

If you're on such a budget that you can't even afford one faction mod, just how pray tell are you going to replace the ship if you lose it? (And flying a BS with only 2m skillpoints leaves no margin for error; loss is likely.)

Cardinal rule of EVE: Don't fly what you can't afford to lose

If you absolutely must fly level 4s before getting your support skills up, I recommend fitting a micro jump drive instead of MWD. It'll take about 14 seconds to spool up (with the skill only trained to level 1) but once it does you'll blink forward 100km. NPC warp scrams only have 1 point strength, and you need 2 (i.e. scrammed by capsuleer pilot) to shut off MJD so it makes a much better GTFO button when things start getting hairy.

That 100km should allow you plenty of time to warp off, or hell just rep back up with the shield booster.

Also with skills that low you will need to find room for a second falloff mod--probably in rigs. You'll never be able to apply damage to anything not right in your face otherwise. An AC mael should have 3 gyros (some fits have 4) and 3 range mods fitted somewhere; you only have 2 damage mods and 1 range mod fitted because you have to spend so much of your ship's space on fitting mods. For AC, falloff>>>>optimal when considering what range mods to fit.

But 2m skillpoints really isn't ready for level 4s, especially when you haven't yet saved enough from level 3s to replace the ship and fittings 2-3 times over.

There's another Maelstrom thread happening now that you might want to check out. One piece of advice in particular... if you can't fit T2 autocannons, you'll be better off with artillery on most missions. ACs will struggle for range on an unbonused ship like the Maelstrom without the option to use Barrage.

Also, you'll want to make sure you have Drones 5 and drone supports up to at least 3. T2 light drones are preferable. When smaller ships get under your guns, drones are your only option (excepting MJD).

I'd echo Munt's caution, though. The bigger the ship class, the more they rely on support skills to fly properly. Don't rush or you'll end up with an expensive loss.

I didn't say he needed to use faction mods. I interpreted his inability to afford faction mods as an inability to easily afford replacement of the ship and its fittings in the event of loss, and then cautioned him against violating the cardinal rule of EVE: Don't fly what you can't afford to lose.

There is a difference, and I'd appreciate it if my words did not get twisted.

I'll expound on the above mentioned common mistake you are facing. A lot of new pilots think that L4s will automatically generate more isk than L3s. On paper this is true, but once you calculate in time to complete vs payout you will (often) find that L3s make more isk/hr at low skill levels. Heck, L2s with the SOE faction can likely edge out L4s right now for a 2kk sp character.

My advice is to stick with the ship class as dictated by your support skills. That will pay out more over any length of time partix

Hello

After looking at everyones feedback and other builds. Plus a fair bit of playing around with EFT, my final fit should look something like this:

Highs:

8x 1400mm Artys (meta 4s)


Meds:

Large shield booster II
Large cap booster
Adaptive inv. field
Rat specific hardener
MJD
Sensor booster II /w range script


Lows:

3x Gyros II
2x TE II


Mods:

Large Ancillary current Router I
2x Large Capacitor Control Circuit


Drones:

Tech II lights


With this fit I should be able to use the MJD to keep the rats at a distance and minimize damage received. And the tech II drones should gobble up any frigates coming to close. Should I need more tank, I can always change the SB II for another shield hardener. Or even one of the Gyros for a DCU II, which should leave me with lots of options.
I'm going to need a bit of training to get this to fit, and to be able to use the tech II drones. So I figure it'll be a few weeks of training, which should put me closer to 3 mill SP.

I useddto have tons of fun flying an arty mael. a tip though, split your guns into four groups of two guns each. 2guns are usually enough to pop mwd frigs aad dessies coming at you and I used to pop cruisers two at a time. t2 frigs are important. might want to script that sebo for scan res to easier lock frigs before they get too close.

I've seen a less than two month old player in a Machariel. A new player can fly a BS in level 4s if he's careful. I wouldn't recommend doing so solo manly due to the low DPS missions will take painfully long.