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Rockets or Drone-brawlers for FW?
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Valus Jurarde
Brilliant Void
#1 - 2014-11-24 01:05:13 UTC
Hi, topic pretty much says it all. I'm a returning player and starting fresh on a new account, but I've always been kind of a carebear and my PVP knowledge is limited. I've been derping around in FW and having loads of fun so far, but I'm trying to decide on a skill plan and I'm a bit torn between missiles and drones for my main focus - so far, I like both of them for different reasons.

Basically, I'm planning on being in t1 ships for quite some time, probably nothing bigger than dessies with the odd cruiser thrown in. Also, I'm on an awkward play-time schedule so I'm probably going to be solo a lot. I'm mainly torn between drones and missiles because they seem to offer different benefits to soloers: drone brawlers have nasty DPS, enabling you to get kills quickly in the right circumstances, but missiles offer the greatest ability to control the engagement and the Minmatar missile ships in particular make it possible to GTFO if it looks like you're about to get dogpiled. Also, both weapons systems allow for, say, a brawling dessie to have some way to chase off kiters (Algos has warriors, Talwar & Corax have javelins).

Basically, I've tried both styles and am still torn. When I'm in an incursus or tristan, I wish I had the ability to zip around the field spewing missiles. When I go rockets, the DPS makes me wish I had antimatter and drones. Not to mention, the Talwar seems to be the only dessie that's anyone would really want for a pick-up fleet. Also, I know drones can be destroyed, but I have no idea how much of a liability that actually is - do people bother, or is it a rare occurrence?

So, I'd like to hear an opinion or two from more experienced PVP-ers about their preference for missiles over drones, or vice versa. In actual play and with decent skills, which has worked better for you? What aspects of the system make it your favorite/unfavorite? I'd appreciate any advice you can offer.
ShahFluffers
Ice Fire Warriors
#2 - 2014-11-24 02:10:26 UTC  |  Edited by: ShahFluffers
Different weapon systems have different places on the battlefield. Just as you wouldn't use a hammer to chisel wood or a drill to cut it... the trick behind all PvP ships is to know what they can and cannot do.

Drone ships make for nasty brawlers and mid-range support for meatgrinder battles... but are generally poor skirmishers because drones require a high degree of micromanagement, sometimes can't keep up with certain fast ships, and require time to deploy and return.
Exceptions do apply though.

Missiles are very good when range control is the primary goal. They don't care about tracking (though their applied damage does care about the size of their target) giving you the flexibility to move where you need to go.
NOTE: rockets are still considered "short range" weapons. Light missiles are the "long range" launcher.


The strengths of the ships using these weapon systems should also be noted. Tristans are born brawlers. Talwars are designed to be skirmishers.
Depending on the type of people you run with, you want to use a ship that follows their preferred style (or the style they need at that moment).

Bringing a brawler ship to a skirmish gang/fleet will make you an easy target because you will be slower than everyone else. Bringing a skirmish ship to a brawler gang/fleet will mean that you are only providing limited DPS support (because range weapons generally have lower damage) and are one less body soaking up damage on the front.

edit:

Bottom line: choose the style you feel most comfortable with and specialize in it. Eventually you max out in the relevant skills and then you can branch out to other styles. And if you stay at the frigate and destroyer level... this happens quite fast.

How did you Veterans start?
Mike Whiite
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#3 - 2014-11-24 15:13:41 UTC
just go safe bring a Worm en bring both Drones and rockets Big smile

just don't expect to find someone willing to engage you
Valus Jurarde
Brilliant Void
#4 - 2014-11-25 18:27:57 UTC
Shah, thanks a lot for the write-up! It was a great help putting things in perspective...I'm thinking missiles now, I believe. Thanks again, and fly safe o7