Ships & Modules

I know this has probably been asked to death (and yes I checked the Commonly Proposed thread, not on there... yet) but what the heck are Smartbombs really good for?

I know the description basically says that they are suicidally useless in a fleet "as they damage both hostile and otherwise" (Smartbomb Description Info) and it says something about being good against drones. I have also heard they can do a number as an anti-missile screen but from what I have read and I understand, they can only be used anywhere other than Hog Sec, and with a very low DPS, no boosts from the ship itself, the CAP they absolutely suck up and their abysmal maximum range of only 6KM on even a BattleShip class one...

... what the F are they good for???

And can CCP do some reworking of them so they get some actual use? Maybe make them so you can use them in a fleet somehow or something? I have like 30 or 40 of them sitting in various stations around New Eden collecting dust.

Seriously, can these things get some good hard lovin'?

Take your meds, sweetie.

Smartbombs are mis-named. That might be why you seem so confused. They're omni-directional pulses originating from your ship that do not require target locking and deliver instant damage to anything in range of the pulse. They're one of the few true AOE's in EvE.

They are pods' worst nighmares. They can be used to screen from missiles to a degree. The can keep messing with the enemy even when you're fully ECM'ed. Thier purpose is to hit everything within range of the pulse, regardless of anything else. Yes they have serious drawbacks, but just how powerful would you want these things?

Hope this clears some of your confusion...

--Gadget

Admittedly smaller smart bombs need a buff as their range is pathetic. Really only large and sometimes medium SBs prove useful at all and only in a handful of situations. small and micro are just kind of entirely useless.

Ok... duly noted.

I stand corrected and educated.

Thanks guys... think I'll go apply over at RnK now.

If you get accepted let me know, in the case of event I owe someone a plex.

The most common use for them outside of fleet use (like firewalling and pipe bombing) is clearing drones, especially ECM drones, off you and catching pods after a fight. They're pretty cool. Just sometimes a hard decision to forgo a neut for a smart bomb if you've only got one or two utility highs.

They are used for ratting aswell

If you like Clarion Call 4 you have to check Clarion Call 3 out. Just as good if not better imo.