Missions & Complexes

Hi all,

Few questions:

1. Is this maelstrom fit still viable for L4s? It was posted on BC in 2009 and last change was in April of 2010 so I'm not sure how all patches/nerfs/buffs affected it, from comments ppl seem to be positive about it.

[Maelstrom, AC Maelstrom: L4 Baby Varg: Dominion Ready.]
Tracking Enhancer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer

Tracking Computer II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Explosive Deflection Field II
Heavy Capacitor Booster II
X-Large Shield Booster II

800mm Repeating Artillery II
800mm Repeating Artillery II
800mm Repeating Artillery II
800mm Repeating Artillery II
800mm Repeating Artillery II
800mm Repeating Artillery II
800mm Repeating Artillery II
800mm Repeating Artillery II

Large Core Defense Capacitor Safeguard I
Large Core Defense Capacitor Safeguard I
Large Projectile Burst Aerator II

Berserker II
Valkyrie II

To be honest I would rather like typhoon since it's like 1/2 of mael's price but I've read phoon is pretty skill intensive and not exactly suited for PVE so I think I'm kinda without alternative because tempest is probably not superior in damage or tank to mael (or maybe I should go back to WoW/do more research)...

2. I see a lot LP/ISK exchange rate talk in mission threads and what does it mean exactly? Is it about buying items in LP stores and selling on market and that ratio is simly LP invested / ISK got from selling? Or there is some other way of exchanging LP into ISK that I'm missing?

3. L3s don't seem to be worth of looting/salvaging, how is it really with L4s nowadays? Kinda different opinions on forumz so maybe it just a matter of taste and I should bookmark wrecks just in case I will have time or a will to take my salvager out after finishing mission? Or maybe I should just salvage rats BS wrecks? I know I have to make my own decision but I'd like to get some pointers what to take into consideration.

4. I read that some ppl ask a newbie in salvager thrasher to clear up wrecks for them. I wonder is it only to help said newbie to get nice starting money or they somehow get a part of a ISK from it? If latter is true how do you handle financial side of it? Just agree on let's say 50/50 split of ISK after newbie sells loot or there is some way of more "safe" (I know, nothing is safe in Eve) way like contract or sth? Or maybe I would be better just running next mission and leave everything to salvager and if he thinks he wants to share it's nice if not at least space will be cleaner when he sweeps everything up :)

1. Yes, I can confirm that fit is still viable. I flew it for a while. The range is a little short (especially vs. Guristas), but it can deal out a lot of damage and has pretty good tank. And as the name suggests, the fit transfers pretty well to a Vargur, where you'll get more range (but will have to drop the cap booster to a medium, I think).

2. Yes, LP to ISK is via buying things in the LP store and selling them on market. FW corps tend to set the prices on a lot of the items, since they can get LP easier and buy things for cheaper, but at a minimum, faction ammo should get you consistent cash.

3. Yeah, matter of taste. If you use a Marauder, you'll probably lean toward salvaging since you have 3 utility highs. If you have a Noctis, you can bookmark wrecks and return in that after the mission to do the salvaging, but if the mission is a few jumps away from your home station, that can be annoying. Another option is to fit up some cheap salvage destroyers and leave one in every system you get missions in.

4. No idea, never worked with a salvager like that. Good way to do it if you feel like you can trust the salvager. Of course, if you decide not to do salvaging yourself anyway, you don't necessarily have to trust them so much. Go for it if you want to help out a newb. (Just beware of ninja salvagers that may be trying to work out a way to shoot you.)

Not quite clear from your response, apologies if you already knew this, but the Noctis is a dedicated salvager ship. It's significantly cheaper than a Marauder, but has the same bonuses to tractor beam range and velocity. It can chew up salvage from sites real fast. It *is* still significantly more expensive than a dessy, though, so you won't want to hold one in every system. Might still be faster to use one over a dessy, though, even if it means making a couple of extra jumps. Couldn't say for sure, as I've never actually bothered to get a Noctis. Lots of people swear by them, though.

that fitting looks good, I'd just keep a set of 1200 artys around for any missions where you will need to mostly fight at long range. Zor'katar covered the rest pretty well

I don't really loot/salvage (except on enemies abound and then I mostly just loot) when I work with a newbie salvager tbh I just let them have everything. you can charge them per mission, or ask for some loot/salvage split but that just feels cheap to me...