Ships & Modules

Im aware that the navy/pirate frigates have yet to go through a balance pass, but as it stands, the Firetail is far and below the worst Navy Frigate.

This isn't a question of 'can you get kills with a Firetail', im sure many can and im sure umpteen KMs exist that demonstrate that the ship still can be combat effective.

However, RELATIVELY speaking, the Firetail has nothing going for it.

- Hookbill, with rockets is by far the best brawler, especially with so much EWAR potential, whether MSE or 400mm tanked. Ensures engagement happens at 9km scram edge and DPS output is ~200 at that range with Scourge Rage/Double Webs.

- Slicers, is a bit of a one trick pony, but excellent at that trick

- Comets, to me, the most versatile, can Blaster brawl, Rail kite (both at scram and point edges), mostly armor, but can shield fit in gangs for superb blaster+drone dps

- Firetail: Much like the Rifter and Jaguar, RELATIVELY speaking, its been left behind. Was never a overwhelming frigate, but post the T1 buff, its just far behind the above lot AND many T1 frigs.

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My personal suggestion, given the recent addition of launcher based hulls to the Minmatar, to me it makes sense, that when the balance of Faction Frigs happens, they switch the Firetail to a Launcher based hull.

Matari Launcher Hulls updated in the past 12 months, sub-BS

[Frigate T1] Breacher: Launcher RoF, Shield Boost and has 2 Light drones
[Destroyer] Talwar: Explosive bonus to Rockets and LML
[Cruiser T1] Bellicose: Launcher RoF and TP, expanded drone bay
[Combat BC] Cyclone: Launcher RoF, Shield Boost and expanded drone bay

I think, its very much in the theme of above changes to give the Republic Firetail a Launcher RoF and 2/3 Drones OR Shield Boost bonus. Keeps it unique from the Hookbill, while balancing out the Navy Frigs and extending the alternative Matari doctrine of Launchers-Shield-Drones.

Frankly, I think even the Jaguar would benefit from a similar change, given the useless of an Optimal bonus to ACs, but I guess that's for another thread.

I don't know what everyone is whineing about tbh

The faction frigs are fine. They generally beat T1 nicely is a fight with comparable pilots etc.

The firetail is fine. If you buff it then it will probably become like the rifter was pre-rebalances tbh.
It's a varsitile ships with lots of options. Those who hate on it generally haven't flown the thing for any decent length of time.

I'm pretty sure CCP will rebalance faction and navy ships soon

There is basically nothing you can do with a firetail you cannot do with a slasher really..


Worst faction frig by a wide margin.

I have been trying to find a way to use ASB and AAR together. I believe this has a good chance to survive the ASB reload if not its still a good deal of ehp. Gimicky, maybe. Although I wont be trying this untill the AAR comes down in price.

Firetail has a lot of speed. This fit should allow you to keep range or get in close. Good projection with barrage + rigs. Meta out the DC to fit a tracking enhancer at a higher cost. Capacitor is pretty weak, enemy vamp alone would cut into the AAR use. Maybe drop the CCC rig for nano pump. Some flexability.

1490/1946m/s
126/145 faction dps .8+7.8
103/119 barrage dps 1.5+12

[Republic Fleet Firetail, New Setup 1]
Small Ancillary Armor Repairer, Nanite Repair Paste
Damage Control II
Overdrive Injector System II

Faint Epsilon Warp Scrambler I
Medium Ancillary Shield Booster, Cap Booster 50
Fleeting Propulsion Inhibitor I
1MN Afterburner II

200mm AutoCannon II, Barrage S
'Malkuth' Rocket Launcher I, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Rocket
200mm AutoCannon II, Barrage S

Small Projectile Ambit Extension I
Small Projectile Ambit Extension I
Small Capacitor Control Circuit I

the firetail being relatively bad is a good thing for solo PvP: it makes people want to engage you and as a result you can get many fun engagements! this happened earlier today for example: http://rvbeve.com/blue/?a=kill_detail&kll_id=442508 (yes, it is an RvB kill and i'm very sorry about it). i say you stop whining about how bad it is and enjoy the beautiful, versatile and able ship that is the firetail.

By the time you fit a web, youre only marginally faster than an AB fit comet or hookbill, and if you dual prop it and run a plate, mandatory in this age of kiting TD/RSD missile frigates, youre now slower.

Its damage projection, much like the Jaguar, is utterly awful. Its DPS is uninspiring, its tank laughable at best.

Firetail? Falloff bonus please. Fixed.