Ships & Modules

Hello there,

I am simply starting playing with pyfa & fittings, and since I am sure there are tons of people much more experienced than me I would like to request some feedback on the fit below.

The goal is to use a blockade runner through Low/Nullsec

Any opinion ? I am extremely curious about the align time. Is it worth stacking modules so I go below 3seconds ?

Thanks !

[Viator, Fit 1]

Inertial Stabilizers II
Inertial Stabilizers II
Power Diagnostic System II

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Medium Shield Extender II

Core Probe Launcher I
Covert Ops Cloaking Device II

Medium Low Friction Nozzle Joints II
Medium Low Friction Nozzle Joints II

Thank you for your input. I have some troubles quantifying values such as alignment and signature radius. I have no idea what is a "good" alignment time and what is a "good" signature radius

I tried a fit similar to this one :

[Viator, Phyllaly Nano]

Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Power Diagnostic System II

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Medium Shield Extender II

Core Probe Launcher I
Covert Ops Cloaking Device II

Medium Cargohold Optimization II
Medium Cargohold Optimization II

I am aligning in one more second (4sec), I can kinda haul the same amount, but using a MWD the speed goes up from 1533m/s to 2216m/s.

The signature radius is 141 for the one with the Istab and 127 for the one with the nano fiber. Does loosing 2k EHP worth saving 11% signature radius ?

Losing tank is basically never a concern unless you get smartbombed (highly unlikely for ships that can warp cloaked unless you pass through Rancer which sometimes has multiple perma running smartbombers). If you get caught in your cloaky transport and the EHP comes into play, an extra 2k is not going to save you. That split second less it takes an inty to lock you from having a smaller sig if you do get decloaked however, can save you. Also the extra speed is very useful for aligning out of a bubble or toward the gate if you pass through a bubbled gate.

Well...

- the cloaking device is pretty much your primary defense. If caught...
--- you need to have a substantial tank to fly back to the gate... which Blockade Runners generally can't achieve.
--- you need to be able to "jam" or "counter" the person locking you down... which can be achieved through ECM modules and/or Warp Core Stabilizers

- agility and speed are your only other forms of direct defense... especially in Null-sec and Wormholes.
You want to be able to burn out of any Warp Disruption Bubble that you encounter... while avoiding any small ships that are trying to decloak you (they have to be within 2000m).
If caught... refer back to the first point.


All that that said... the best form of defense (in my opinion) is to choose the route you take carefully and, if you are a "regular" in certain places, spend some time setting up "precautions." Things like...

- taking the "back way" that sees little traffic (almost never take the "short route"... it is probably camped).
- insta-undock bookmarks if you are coming and going from specific stations
- "perch" bookmarks above specific gates that are known to be camped.

Because of the above points (and sub-points) I feel comfortable using a Blockade Runner in low-sec loaded with nothing but Cargohold Expanders, a MWD, ECM, and Cloak.
Now... this is a daft fit and I would not recommend someone new to BRs to do this... but because I know what I am doing I have only lost one BR over the years.


tldr;
- Practice with agility and evasion-centric fits.
- Practice activating the cloak as soon as you initiate warp.
- Practice in Covert-Ops frigates FIRST before venturing out into null-sec.
- When you get comfortable with the above, you can start fitting more for extra cargo.

If you intend to excessivily use that viator to haul to certain low stations, just make sure you make a roundtrip to those stations and create insta-undocks beforehand. Viators tend to get blapped by nados on the undock.

Heed this man's advice. Your route is your best defense, your cloak a close second and agility third. If someone manages to lock you, ever, you've pretty much already lost. The only time I'd ever worry about tank is if you're going through a smartbombing pipe and absolutely cannot avoid it, and even then you'd likely be much better served bouncing celestials instead of tanking.

I fly a Prorator on my alt and I typically run with 2x align rigs, an iStab, and 3x cargo expanders. I've only ever lost one in several years of play, and that was due to a bad warpin on Jita 4-4 station and got Tornado'd (which was in clear violation of defense #1).

That for sure. But I didn't have one in some obscure lowsec staging system where my CEO told me to put my dread. Now got semicondusctors and a new viator.