Skill Discussions

Aside from prerequisite considerations - some skills are really important to have at 5 for specific reasons.

Like
Logistics 5 - needed to have full potential on scimi
Recon 5 - needed to get full potential for Recons
Intradictor? etc...

What skills are out there where level 4 just won't do?

destroyers, battlecruisers, electronics, engineering, drones, weapon upgrades.... yea.

Recon 5 is a special case that primarily applies to Force Recons, as the CPU reduction for the covert cloak is really needed to make many fits possible. The ships are somewhat useless with only level 1-2 skill, which is a real oddity.

Logistics 5 is a huge win, though one can scrape by without it, but you really don't want to. I can't begin to tell you how much trouble I had with capacitor until I trained Logistics 5.

Then there are the level 5's for a few T2 modules (WDFG II, covert cyno, triage II, siege II, etc.)

All T2 ships benefit from specializing to some extent, because after all that is what they are all about, but I can't think of any other must have cases (though I can think of many "you'd be foolish to not have 5" cases).

EDIT: Just thought of one Interceptor 5. You want a small signature when you are so fragile.

I've pretty much always felt that Drone Interfacing V is a must.

It all depends on what you do. Many skills at level 5 simply make fitting easier so it depends upon what you do in Eve. Some skills at 5 open access to T2 modules, which can be a big boost over level 4 skills. T2 salvagers is one example and weapon systems are another. T2 blasters with T2 ammo >> Meta 4 blasters with faction ammo. If you use drones, that extra 20% drone boost makes drone interfacing 5 a must. Similar with fighters if you fly carriers.

Basically, train whatever you use a lot to 5. The list of "what shouldn't you train to 5" may be shorter.

Thanks everyone for writing. This is a fantastic reply - thank you. Just I was looking for.

I agree 5's on what you fly and for T2 modules. I should have clarified that I was looking for examples of ships that fit or work best when something is trained up to 5. Not just a little better, but really reach their max potential.

Although I don't know Schmata Bastanold original intent, when I first read Covert Ops it tweaked something in the back of my mind, but I couldn't remember so I let it go.

Well, I think I just remembered.

T1 probing frigates get a 5% per level scan bonus and Covert Ops get a 10% per level scan bonus. The prerequisite for Covert Ops is racial frigate 5. So unless you train Covert Ops 3 or higher, you are better off in a T1 probing frigate!

Strategic Cruisers get a 10% scan bonus for racial Electronic Subsystem (rank 1 = about 4 days for level 5), which for some people may be a better investment of time than Covert Ops (rank 4 = about 17 days for level 5).

Right now - what you use most.
Eventually - everything.

Weapons Upgrades and Advanced Weapons Upgrades V.

You might get away without it for quite some time depending on what you do but eventually you might need them at the most inappropriate times.....

real easy.

*but* you won't understand why you should have these skills until later, when you're aligning faster, shooting further, hitting for more dps than other pilots in your gang who have the same ship and fit as you. especially true with identical "fleet doctrine" fit ships. you lock faster, live longer, and you'll be able to use T2 versions of some of the most random modules...

by certificate:

Core ELITE

Defense ELITE

Turret Control ELITE

Missile Control ELITE

High-Velocity Helmsman ELITE

Elite Drone Operator ELITE <--has Elite in its name twice, self explanatory

your racial ships to V from Frigates to Battleships, (other racial ships to IV thru cruisers, and Battleship at 4)

I am Caldari, and the only elite certs I am missing from this list are the Armor certs to Elite and Drone certs.... WHO'DA THUNK

http://eveboard.com/pilot/Rain6637 <--not just talking out my sitting end