Ships & Modules

Yes.

My setup:
[Maelstrom, PvE Mael]
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Power Diagnostic System II

Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
X-Large Shield Booster II
Explosive Deflection Field II (Mission specific)
Kinetic Deflection Field II (Mission specific)
EM Ward Field II (Mission specific)
Heavy Capacitor Booster II, Cap Booster 800

800mm Repeating Artillery II, Phased Plasma L (Change ammo for different rats)
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Phased Plasma L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Phased Plasma L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Phased Plasma L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Phased Plasma L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Phased Plasma L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Phased Plasma L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Phased Plasma L

Large Core Defense Operational Solidifier I
Large Core Defense Field Extender I
Large Projectile Burst Aerator I

Works well enough. A pig on cap sometimes in heavier missions, but heavy on tank and gank, and VERY cost-effective. No deadspace or faction mods here.
If you're struggling with lv4s, bring a friend.

Another vote here for equipping a cap booster.

You probably wont need it using arties however it is nice to have while you learn how to run the lvl 4's. Keep in mind many missions will drop you right in the middle of or close to the rats. This can escalate from bad to downright scary while being scrammed/webbed. This is where the cap booster shines.. saving you from your early mistakes.

*I still throw on the cap booster when I do the faction epic questline. It's saved my ship many times.

This leads to drones. Do be able to fly t2 lights so you can kill the scramblers and gtfo asap.

Once you learn the missions (or read the mission-reports before starting them), and get a bit more skillpoints into it you can refit your Mael in a way that better suits your needs.

I was actually referring to the price of all those faction and deadspace things in Your fit.^^

I haven't checked market prices for a long time now, but as far as I remember a Golem with T2 equipment should cost about the same and is better.

1400s lead to wasted volleys and being incredibly tight on powergrid. And fitting meta4 arty means you miss the damage bonuses for T2 stuff from the specialisation skills.

Almost like what I used to run with, except I had three hardeners and no Tracking Computer. I used meta guns as my gunnery skills wasn't there at the time, but T2 should fit fine. The Republic Fleet Afterburner costs around 70m on market/contract and is definately worth it over a named/T2.

While this fit is somewhat pimped you can downgrade the booster to a T2 with proper fitting skills. Heck, you can downgrade about everything on it and it will still run well, but this is somewhat what I would aim the skilling for. Put the T2 guns last in your skillqueue, as getting T2 tank is more important in my opinion.

Tank + Gank should generally be over 1000, so you should be good Brazys. Might want to move on to a Machariel once you get the isk for it.

If you want to stick to projectiles you can get a Vargur instead. Neither Machariel nor Vargur are drone boats though, they just use them to pick off frigs like any BS when they get too close. Missiles have problems hitting smaller targets for good damage if you're using cruise/torps, so you actually need to rely more on drones to take out frigs with missiles in my experience.

I don't have any experience with T3 as I don't think they were implemented in a good way and avoid them, but for missiles you can get a HAM/Heavy Missile Tengu, or for AC the Loki should work well. I can't help you with any fittings or advice on how to fly it though.

Machariel is generally the fastest subcap mission ship most of the time, with a few exceptions. Loki is very good for scanning and wormhole operations because it's small and can enter just about any site you come across. For normal missioning the Machariel outperforms it though.

I would recommend finding something you enjoy flying at least, even if it isn't the super elite ship that is "best" at something. The 'progression' in EVE is unlike other MMO's as you're not constantly grinding towards those legendary items for the best gear. Sure you can bling out your ship with faction/deadspace/officer modules if you want, but people will want to gank you either for profit from drops or just for fun.

what about doing 3/10 4/10 ? i heard tengu is king, but loki? maybe artilery fit? with tc's te's for orbit tracking and stuff?