Ships & Modules

Since you're looking for a non-ridiculously priced fit:

[Maelstrom, broadside]
Tracking Enhancer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II

Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
[Mission specific hardener]
Large Shield Booster II
Large Shield Extender II
100MN Afterburner II

800mm Repeating Artillery II, EMP L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, EMP L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, EMP L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, EMP L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, EMP L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, EMP L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, EMP L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, EMP L

Large Core Defense Field Extender I
Large Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Large Anti-Thermal Screen Reinforcer I

I've flown this fit through Level 4's for over a year, never ran into any problems. It's over-tanked, but it's omni enough that I can jump into the next mission without much refit or thought. AC's are necessary practice for the Mach. You'll be fighting in falloff most of the time, so you learn to pick your ranges. I fought mostly Angels though, and they like to be up close and personal. Pulse the booster whenever you need a top off.

I've noticed Sansha BS's like to stay way out at range, so 1200's may be a better bet if you're running them constantly.

More importantly, it's a shitfit.

50 shades of wtf is this?

Pve in general is about Rep and Resist, not buffer. The maelstrom will have plenty of buffer. If you are running out of cap with just hardners on, then you have other issues that need to be addressed first.

Depends. You need to stack enough negative cap recharge time stat to reach a critical mass depending on your peak draw. Assuming all slots are equal (they aren't) a mid gives 15%, a low gives 24%, and a CCC I rig gives 15%. So, while cap power relays provide the greatest cap recharge time reduction (without nerfing buffer like flux coils) a gyro could also use that slot, giving more value to that slot on many fits. Rig slots are good for cap recharge (or buffer) because energy grid rigs have no drawbacks. Sometimes adding raw capacity with memory cells is better depending on expected draw amounts. Just play around with eft. You have all the cap skills at least 4? Including fuel conservation and shield compensation?

I was bored enough to put together an example.

[Maelstrom, low skill derp]
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Tracking Enhancer II

100MN Afterburner II
X-Large C5-L Emergency Shield Overload I
EM Ward Field II
EM Ward Field II
Thermic Dissipation Field II
Large Capacitor Battery II

800mm Heavy Prototype Repeating Siege Cannon, EMP L
800mm Heavy Prototype Repeating Siege Cannon, EMP L
800mm Heavy Prototype Repeating Siege Cannon, EMP L
800mm Heavy Prototype Repeating Siege Cannon, EMP L
800mm Heavy Prototype Repeating Siege Cannon, EMP L
800mm Heavy Prototype Repeating Siege Cannon, EMP L
800mm Heavy Prototype Repeating Siege Cannon, EMP L
800mm Heavy Prototype Repeating Siege Cannon, EMP L

Large Semiconductor Memory Cell I
Large Semiconductor Memory Cell I
Large Semiconductor Memory Cell I


Perma runs the ab and hardeners at 67% cap. You have about 2:30 of shield boost (~540 dps vs 60/40 em/therm) if you turn it on at 67% and leave everything running. This is what you wanted to do? Lasts longer than a cap recharger and 3x ccc rigs would in those slots, but is still a terrible fit to mission in chasing around long range blood/sanshas. Final kick in the nuts would be the cap battery doesn't work on npc neuting but i've never tried. Use scout guns if you can but it sounds like you can't really afford to lose (and therefore undock) a mael yet anyway. I'd overtank my first one if I was a broke newcomer again and that means high resists and permaboosts. Later on when you are more established with high support skills and T2 turrets then dps and the fact you've run this mission/plex a hundred times becomes your best tank.

*edit* all values listed are from a "most lvl 4's" character.

Yep.

The bigger the ship, the harder it is to be cap stable.

You can either keep trying to break the wall by slamming your head into it, or you can learn new tricks. Your choice.

Grab a cyclone and go run some l3 in it.

Just pulse the booster every so often. and get used to not running the AB all the time.

Make sure you don't run your cap below around 33% and you should be fine.

Even with an AB on all the time, you'll be close to the slowest thing on the field. When you arrive in a mission, burn away from everything, until you're at a range you're comfortable with. Pop the faster stuff, then the bigger stuff.


This is Mael specific, of course.

You could go armor tank with Fleet Tempest: ab, dual lar, cap stable fleet tempest

My best advice in learning to fly an unstable shield tank: set auto-repeat for your shield booster to OFF. Alas for the poor Sleipnir that taught me that lesson; may he rest in peace.

It's seriously not that bad once you get used to it. Just don't make a habit of, say, replying to forum posts while you're flying.