Ships & Modules

golem?

Get sentry skills and rattle?

Either of those are missile using ships that outclass the tengu

there are some missions where a HAMgu is just hands down the best ship. for long range missions the HML tengu though will get beaten by a navy issue raven.
the golem is ok as long as you use javelin torps and target painters. but compared to a HAM tengu, you are getting a minor improvement in mission times for substantially more clicking (especially if you want to salvage).

I regularly fly a Tengu, SNI, CNR, and Rattler. I do find the Tengu more fun, but generally in L4s my CNR clears the room faster (not true for all, but most). Note that I have as high Cruise skills as Heavy, but it does give you a direction to train.

If you wanted to try something other than missiles then it is often mentioned that the Nightmare is the best gank against Sanshas & Bloods, so if you are in Amarr space this is an option. And, of course, there is the Machariel which many swear is the best PVE ship in all of EVE. I never tried the Machariel, but I have the Nightmare and lets just say that there is a large skill gap between missiles and turrets and a bit of a learning curve to say the least.

A Rattlesnake is OK, but the drone AI changes mean you will get missions where you are constantly scooping drones to avoid losing them, all the while losing DPS. I used one for a few weeks with T2 Sentries and it just got boring. I tried using a MJD and that was OK, but didn't really help. Pure missile hulls are just better IMHO.

Either a CNR or a SNI (with 3 TPs) is what I use for Lvl 4s now.

i once saw a machariel and a tengu doing L4 the macha can clear the room faster than tengu

I did fly a lot tengu too ( bot HAM and HML versions ) coming from a Nighthawk
Going away from miissile improves expecially the GANK on frigates/cruisers insta-popping
Machariel with meta 4 800AC if yuo want a fast effective alternative ( buy t1 short range ammo BPOs... )
Nightmare with tachyons imo is the most beauty way to go but start to be skill intensive
Rattlesnake with sentry is the easy game ( and boring too ... )
After Nightmare and Machariel , Vargur and Paladin are 2 great variant ( even if no 100% fast as pirate BSs on missioning )

Hula

+1 for SNI

Even as a 3 month old newb w/ mediocre skills, I can solo any L4 except Angel Extravaganza in this ship. Anyone with decent training should be a boss in this thing. I chose the SNI over the CNR because of the Scorpion's tremendous tank. My missile skills aren't up to par yet, so the extra staying power means I can remain in pockets while my launchers fire the extra reps needed instead of wasting time by warping out.

Below is the fit I use. Swap out hardeners and ammo for mission-specific ones of course:


[Scorpion Navy Issue]

6x 'Arbalest' Cruise Launcher I (Scourge Cruise Missile)
Drone Link Augmentor I

X-Large C5-L Emergency Shield Overload I
Heavy Electrochemical Capacitor Booster I
Phased Weapon Navigation Array Generation Extron
2x Limited Adaptive Invulnerability Field I
Limited Thermic Dissipation Field I
Limited Kinetic Deflection Field I
Shield Boost Amplifier I

Damage Control II
3x Ballistic Control System II

Large Warhead Rigor Catalyst I
2x Large Core Defense Capacitor Safeguard I

5x Hammerhead I
5x Hobgoblin I

12x Cap Booster 800
600x Scourge Cruise Missile

^^^ this if you looking for a one ship for all races. I used to love my tengu till I took the plunge.. its a really efficient mission ship.
get each race BS to 4, gunnery support to 4 and with t1 meta 4 guns you will be outperforming your Tengu. Then the long haul to T2 800AC's.

TP management has been improved, one TP for battleships and two for elite cruisers. The biggest issue with the Golem is mainly range, but the MJD helps a little with that.

As for the OP, try a CNR. The Golem still requires having a lot of skills at level V in order to function efficiently.

/obligatory Mach/Vargur is teh uber.