These forums have been archived and are now read-only.

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

Missions & Complexes

 
  • Topic is locked indefinitely.
 

Has there been any changes to how mission rats react to drones lately?
Author
Previous Topic Next Topic
Sulliva Slake
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#1 - 2014-08-21 07:04:54 UTC
So after a long break Ive dusted off my raven to run some lvl 4's..

Put my drones out and rats seem to be annialating them compared to what I remember. Before I had to pull them in every now and again, but now it seems I have to pull em every 30 secs. and if I am even a bit late, or unlucky with scrams/webs then my drones pop.

And its not like I have bad skills. I have lvl 4s across the board when it comes to the drones. (with t2 drones) And I dont send them any further then the 20-25km orbbits of the rats.

For instance. I just started the mission The Mordus Headhunters, and I had 5 meds, and 5 lite drones. By the end I had 3 light drones left. they killed all the med drones, and 2 of the light drones.

What has changed so much that they just eat drones now?

I would hate to be in a drone boat like the domi and have to deal with that.. just so much micromanagement how do people do it?
l0rd carlos
the king asked me to guard the mountain
#2 - 2014-08-21 07:21:43 UTC
Yes, NPCs now switch target that are similar to their signature radius. So Elite frig aggres Small drones, cruiser NPCs attack Medium drones, and so on.

Start by killing the frigs first, than you can use your small drones without any issues.

Flying a Domi is easy and you normaly don't lose any drones with it.

After you get the hang of it, it's super easy and you will not loose drones any more. Or rather only super rarely

Youtube Channel about Micro and Small scale PvP with commentary: Fleet Commentary by l0rd carlos
Sulliva Slake
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#3 - 2014-08-21 07:33:09 UTC
l0rd carlos wrote:
Yes, NPCs now switch target that are similar to their signature radius. So Elite frig aggres Small drones, cruiser NPCs attack Medium drones, and so on.

Start by killing the frigs first, than you can use your small drones without any issues.

Flying a Domi is easy and you normaly don't lose any drones with it.

After you get the hang of it, it's super easy and you will not loose drones any more. Or rather only super rarely



What a pain in the backside ;D:D

I use the light/med drones to kill frigs/cruisers, otherwise i would just use the cruise missiles. Might have to switch to t1 drones.. when they get scramed/web'd they just have no chance, and almost seem to get alpha'd..

It also seems they don't have as much ehp ever since the patch that re-did the drone thing. At least rats drop all the T1 drones i could need :p
Rabe Raptor
The Conference Elite
Safety.
#4 - 2014-08-21 07:53:53 UTC
Its response to people running missions afk.

Together we can make Highsec a better place! www.lawofhighsec.com

Read it, share it, learn it, quote it, memorize it,  live it, breathe it!
afkalt
Republic Military School
Minmatar Republic
#5 - 2014-08-21 09:05:19 UTC
Use precision cruise missiles and a painter for elite frigs. They are no trouble.
Lady Naween
Ministry of War
Amarr Empire
#6 - 2014-08-22 04:34:18 UTC
tbh regular frigates rarely target drones (I never had them do it) it is the elite frigates that will chew them up like they are made of candy. Kill the elite frigs first with your main weapons, then release light drones and you wont have to worry about it.

My golem keeps 5 lights and very very rarely do i lose one, and only if i missed to blap an elite frig with my missiles first.
Chainsaw Plankton
FaDoyToy
#7 - 2014-08-22 05:34:50 UTC
when it comes to missions it just seems better to ignore the fact that medium drones exist.

also fly a gun boat, pop frigs with one shot on approach. heck most of the time I forget light drone exist, I tend to use sentries or salvage drones most of the time. the only mission I tend to use scouts on lately has been Angels Extra, as I focus my guns on the battleships to get all the triggers spawned and let my light drones kill the webbing frigs.

also it helps to have aggro from every npc ship before launching drones, some groups will aggro on drones even if they won't shoot your ship.

@ChainsawPlankto on twitter
Caleidascope
Republic Military School
Minmatar Republic
#8 - 2014-08-22 06:15:55 UTC
I only use light and salvage drones on my ravens. And yes, if elite rat frigs are not triggers, kill them first, then send out the drones.

Life is short and dinner time is chancy

Eat dessert first!