Ships & Modules

If you look at every race, they each have two main frigates. More importantly they all have the same number of low, medium, and high slots - 10. Gallente has the Incursus - (4 low, 3 med, 3 high) and the Tristan - (3 low, 3 med, 4 high). Minmatar has the Rifter - (3 low, 3 med, 4 high) and the Vigil which is one short as well but still better balanced than the Kestrel at - (3 low, 3 med, 3 high). Amarr has the Punisher - (4 low, 2 med, 4 high) and the Tormentor (4 low, 3 med, 3 high). And finally Caldari has the Merlin - (3 low, 4 med, 3 high) and the Kestrel at - (2 low, 3 med, 4 high). The Kestrel is hard to fit and make effective since it does not have 10 slots. It has only 9. I believe this causes it to suffer in PVP and PVE. I propose that it be given another medium slot to aid in PVP/PVE since all shield and tackling modules are medium slots.

What do you think CCP Ytterbium?

what it needs is pg/cpu

While we are at it it could use a change a few more changes. First, no one I know in their right mind uses it for cargo transport. In exchange for dropping some of the cargo space it needs extra velocity and a smaller tonnage. Second, the Kestrel is a missile platform, since the use of rockets and light missiles is common it should have bonuses to compliment that fact. A 10% RoF bonus and either a 5% generic damage bonus or 5% missile velocity bonus would be optimal.

We are, after all, talking about the Caldari missile boat lineup.

Kestrel in pvp? I think the thing holding you back there is the fact that missiles are not the best things for pvp.
As for pve, you should only be using it for level 1s, in which case it doesn't need any extra tank.

That said I've seen a couple of really good pvp fit kessie's in my time, they had this fit on, basically, they use nothing in the mids (so no problem there then!) and maybe a couple of cargo extenders in the lows, and a cyno gen in the highs! It's revolutionary!

Just sayin...

Given the changes mentioned you could use it for PvP or PvE. With the increase in speed and a decrease in tonnage it allows the pilot to better dictate distances. In the case of the Rifter the point is to get up close to use tracking to your advange. The Kestrel uses range to its advantage. There are two kinds of warp disruption units, a close range and a long range for just this reason. I am experimenting with fits now but you in theory scram a frig from 18-20km and kite them in a Kestrel...provided you can keep the distance. Should work on missions too.

Back when I flew the Kestrel, it always had problems fitting those 9 slots it already had, so it needs either a CPU or a powergrid boost. It was years ago so I don't rmember which one, only that it was a ***** to fit. Maybe both.