Warfare & Tactics

Large Engagement Envelope: MWD
Gimmick Fits/Limited Engagement Envelope: AB

Like all fitting advise, it depends on three variables:

1. What ship you're flying
2. What ship(s) you're fighting
3. What the environment/grid looks like

With just Moa I can't really help you. Plan on fighting kiting ships that engage at over 10km and you're close range fitted? MWD absolutely. Gate camping? Probably AB. Camping beacons or crashing into plexes? Depends on what you plan to hit I guess. Too many variables to give a solid answer tbh.

unless it's a 100mn, and AB has no place on a cruiser unless it's a logi boat.

Pretty much this.

Actually when you think about it No not really.......


And AB cruiser has the same ability to engage someone as a mwd cruiser if they have the weapon range/damage projection.

What it should read is ability to chase/catch/hold target and prevent them from escaping.

After all I can engage anyone within long point range in my standard fit Omen. Now if I was to swap the MWD for an AB I can still engage anyone who is within long point range, I just won't be able to keep a hold of them as they will be able to leave me behind. Engaging is not tackling.

Using an AB is certain circumstance may actually be preferable. Just because something is 'generally accepted' doesn't mean it's the best.

They are both viable and there is no 'right answer' tbh, but on saying that outside of 'oddball' fits and certain cloaky shenanigans I will always fit a MWD on a ship if I'm heading out to roam 0.0. An overheated MWD gives you the inertia to close distance back to gate or to a target much quicker even if it's turned off mid-journey than AB'ing all the way.
Also burning through bubbles is bloody annoying with an AB
In lowsec my fits are probably 50/50.

the problem you have when you are trying to brawl is that the battle is usually won or lost on how quickly you can close range to your target and start applying you dps.

because of this MWD is preferable in almost all situations., the only time where it might not be is when you camping a gate or similar, because in this situation, the only deciding factor is weather you can tackle before they escape. at this point the AB is preferable because you can dictate the range of the fight, and you do not have all of the drawbacks of MWD.

Dual prop is viable in some ships, but generally speaking you need to make a decision about what situations you plan to engage in, and from that decide if you will the speed to close range, or the ability to dictate once your target is caught.

MWDs do increase your sig radius but if you are outside their optimal+falloff or just outside the optimal then it doesn't matter if you are an AB or MWD since they can't hit you anyway. So if you can stay outside that range easier with an MWD then do that as long as your optimal is longer than theirs. If you are a brawling and you are all in the same optimal do what X Gal said.

In considering dualprop vs MWD and web,

An AB will give you about the same relative speed advantage over your opponent as a web will. If he has a web and you have an AB, you'll both be moving at about base speed (Assuming he's scrammed). If you both have webs, you'll both be moving at relatively about the same near-zero speed.

I'd say an AB is better if
a) You have the PG and
b) You are faster than your opponent, and thus the fact that both of you are moving faster works to your advantage.