Ships & Modules

I feel ashamed for asking this question, but does damage bonuses regarding missiles concern rockets? I know on select ships, such as the Corax and I believe Condor "rocket" is mentioned by itself, but rockets are a component of the missile skill category.

If a specific missile system is mentioned, then the bonus only impacts those missile systems. The Condor has kinetic damage bonuses to both Light Missiles and Rockets, and the Corax also has multiple bonuses that apply to both light missiles and rockets.

There are some platforms that are more launcher specific. The Khanid line of T2 Amarr ships generally prefer short range missiles, so you'll see more Rocket bonuses than Light Missile bonuses on the Malediction and Vengeance. (What the Sacrilege is doing with those Heavy Missile bonuses I'll never understand, but whatever.)

Generally speaking, ships will only get bonuses to missile systems that are roughly hull-appropriate. Then there are the Mordos Legion ships that apply damage bonuses to all missiles. Damage bonuses rapid light launchers on a battleships? While this may be of questionable utility, the Bhargest can certainly do it.

Hope this helps.

Im pretty sure that the ships which say something like "10% bonus to kinetic and thermal missile damage" (such as worm,gila,rattle) give bonuses to any launcher system as long as the damage type is correct.

So technically, I could theoretically make a Gila rocket boat?

The missile damage bonuses on a Gila would apply to rockets, yes.

Whether that choice of fit is sound tactically is another matter....

So there are five launchers you can choose to put on a Gila.

1) Heavy assault. High damage, shortish range, badish application. Not bad for puching down same class or higher.

2) Heavy. Moderate damage, good range, bad application. Good for pushing out some damage at a bit of a range. Application is a problem unless you fit around it.

3) Rapid light. Moderate range, moderate damage, good application. Good for punching down tackle while your drones work on other things. Most balanced approach.

4) Light. Moderate range, low damage, good application, low fittings. If for some reason the rest of your fit has taxed out your CPU, this is a way to go to get some damage pushed beyond your nose.

5) Rocket. Short range, low damage, good application, low fittings. Really only good for harassing tackle frigs that already have you tackled. Even then you'd want rapid lights if you could fit them.

There exist times I'd use four out of these five. Rockets, I'm afraid, are the one I've never been able to justify. But you still have options staying away from them.

Rockets belong on the Crow Interceptor as a fast tackle and anti-drone fitting while used in small gangs.

There is no surprise when its cookie cut.
I've been checking out PVP videos, and a few of them if you pay close enough attention you can catch the streamer/recorder mentioning his enemies potential fit "Oh yeah, this guy is probably running the AB/Nosferatu build" I want to avoid that with an actual surprise. I don't want someone to see me expecting a rock - paper - scissors, I want them to roll rock and myself to pull out a knife. That's why I'm against meta. I fared very well in RIFT with a Champion/paragon/AB build that NO ONE knew about cause everyone was focusing on being pyros and pally/riftblades for example.

A rookie ship pirate fleet, or a pirate rookie ship fleet?

Both are fun, but in different ways. (And with vastly different pricetags....)