Ships & Modules

Training for Golem will finish soon but I am waiting for L5 marauders before using it. I have really only used rattlesnake so I'm not sure how to fit Golem. This will be used in Caldari space.

The highs and lows are pretty straight forward but need some help with the mid slots. What is the best combination of damage application and defense? I put an example of what kind of fit I think would work please feel free to provide criticism.

High slots: 4x cruise missle launchers II, bastion module, drone link augmentor

Med slots: MJD, 2 shield hardeners, XL shield booster, 2 TP, ?

Low slots: 4x BCS

Rigs: ?

I don't even...a cloak? Partial drone bay usage? A cap injector? A web on a cruise Golem? For PVE, right? Well, to each their own, I suppose. I guess it would do the trick by making potential gankers go WTF. And 2-3 slot tanks on a Golem are hardly skinny considering they often hit 1000 DPS omni in Bastion, and still can get 300+ out of. A 2-3 slot is more like 5-6 on a CNR.

As far as the unused mid, another TP or MCG might do the trick for you. 3 TP's are not really necessary to make cruises hit better, but adds module redundancy outside 45km and makes it next to impossible to see less than 2 of them land. An MCG on the other hand would add a little flexibility while reducing the micro-management workload for you. A scripted SeBo can be useful for getting faster locks on smaller rats, like elite frigs, for getting those quick snapshot kills, and can be helpful in not loosing locks with the MJD. Hell, the MJD alone will likely make the need to go into Bastion for tank pretty irreverent half the time, unless you're are in fact up against Gurristas who could give a flying **** what range you're at. You may run into them quite a bit in Cladari space, but other rats do laughable damage at around the 100Km MJD range. Either way, tank should hold well enough, and the MJD with the cool-down buff means it lines up perfectly with the Bastion's 1 minute cycle time. Counting salvos at that range is a bit of a ***** though.

Rigs can be either the tried and true dual Rigor II setup or a Rigor II / Flair II comb if stacking penalties bother you. Personally, the dual Rigor is still pretty good despite stacking, even though my Golem still has the Rigor/Flair setup. I just haven't taken the time to swap it back to the dual Riggers yet. Or, should you prefer it, a pair of Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer II's can help cut down on travel time, making the 2.2AU warp speed a bit more bearable.

Your hardeners can be invulns, tech II is fine, and the booster can be a simple Pith-C. Faction TP's or tech II's, Republic Fleet TP's are cheap enough that it doesn't really matter. Looks pretty solid everywhere else.

Some specific (and general) advice.

1st. You do not need need marauder 5. If you train marauder 5 it should be the very last thing you train if there is anything, anything at all that will improve your ship that isn't marauder 5. The training time vs benefit is just too out of whack compared to 99% of any other skill.

2nd. If you are afraid of getting ganked just don't fit faction stuff. Best part is the Golem can get away with all T2 and still be horrendously over tanked for any and all lv4 content. If you do fit faction, keep the total cost of the fit below 500mill, not including the hull obviously but accept that you *could* still be targeted.

3rd. Torpedos almost, kinda, maybe work sometimes but sometimes it's doesn't quite have enough range for a lot of missions. This is exasperated by a lot of Gurista and some Sansha tending to love to sit just outside torp range. There are also far better RHML platforms so don't even bother. Yea Javelin torps but see below.

4th. The dps is so anemic. I mean even on Javelins. My GILA out dpses this thing and I bet applies that dps better.

5th. Junk the whole idea, get a Machariel or hell even a Vargur would be better and come mission in Minmatar space.

6th. We have cookies.

Wait that worked 0.o

On a serious note give my guide a poke if you're interested in that kind of thing (not everyone is but burner missions is a fun addition). If not I used to run a Vargur for a long time. Best advice for Marauders is to get into the whole salvage/loot thing while shooting. Not everyone likes doing it but it adds some extra isk to the pocket and *might* become relevant again with the proposed Citadel Rigs salvage costs.

I hang around Lanngisi so if I'm still playing this game feel free to poke me.

For Pete's sake,

As I said, I like my set up it works very well. I'm not even going to explain what and why.

The OP asked for advice, he didn't ask for criticism.

No need for preaching from a soap box, but that's what is actually the norm for these forums. Just like a** holes, every one's got one.

How about getting back to answering the OP. This could go both ways, but I'm not going to play that game.

Armor, good luck with your new Golem.

-Kirst

Fair enough though a decently fit cruise rattlesnake has near enough double the DPS of a Cruise Golem so um, good luck on the clear times

Also 3 rig slots for Hypervelocities over only 2 on the Golem.

Who knows maybe Marauders will become usefull again if salvage raises in price, that would be...

nice.

And this is important why? I thought we are supposed to have fun..