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Guristas Epic Arc
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Verity Sovereign
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#1 - 2013-09-28 15:45:18 UTC
I was wondering if it was possible to do this arc in a stealth bomber.

I figure that if an interceptor can handle the missions, perhaps a stealth bomber fit with 4 light missile launchers can do a decent job.

The NPCs will be harder... but the covops cloak should make it a lot safer, because the players are the real threat.
Tarn Kugisa
Kugisa Dynamics
#2 - 2013-09-29 05:04:53 UTC  |  Edited by: Tarn Kugisa
IIRC all the pirate epic arc's are L1/L2 missions
the angel one is easily done in a AF or cheap dessies
just have to look out for pirates

SB's are paper thin, they especially don't handle frigs well

Be polite. Be efficient. Have a plan to troll everyone you meet - KuroVolt
Verity Sovereign
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#3 - 2013-09-29 06:38:43 UTC
Well, I expect that the major threat is from other players, not the missions themselves.... safest way to travel in null without a cloaky interediction nullified T3, is a cloaky ship.

But, I can't use anything bigger than a destroyer... so...

Cov ops cloaky ships:
Scanning frigs - pretty bad option for combat
A stealth bomber - when fit with torps, pretty terrible against frigs, but with those launcher slots, I can just fie light missiles instead, which are sufficient for level 1s and 2s if I recall.

My other option is to take an assault frig or ceptor that has a utility high, and slap a standard T2 cloak on it...

Are you saying I would probably lose my stealth bomber to the NPCs in this arc?
Aivo Dresden
State War Academy
Caldari State
#4 - 2013-09-29 10:02:21 UTC  |  Edited by: Aivo Dresden
Once interceptors are bubbleproof, you can probably use one of them to do the arc. And you'll pretty much just zoom past any gate camp.
Turelus
Utassi Security
#5 - 2013-09-29 10:46:51 UTC
Aivo Dresden wrote:
Once interceptors are bubbleproof, you can probably use one of them to do the arc. And you'll pretty much just zoom past any gate camp.

This TBH, Interceptors after their buffs on Nov 19th will be the best ship really.

Turelus CEO Utassi Security
Tesoni Daven
Collapsed Out
Pandemic Legion
#6 - 2013-09-29 15:11:12 UTC
The new SOE pirate frig will probably be amazing for it as well, and can fit a covops cloak.
Substantia Nigra
Polaris Rising
Goonswarm Federation
#7 - 2013-09-30 13:36:47 UTC
fastest ship-type for completing the missions are the assault frigates ... wolf being the best I used. tech 1 frigates can, but are not great. Interceptors are also fine and may become ship tye of choice in about six-weeks time. stealth bombers also ok I gather, but have never used them for the pirate arcs.

The main risk is other players and that risk is mostly during your travel (bubbled gates) > station undocking >> on the mission grid.

I guess I am almost a 'vet' by now. Hopefully not too bitter and managing to help more than I hinder. I build and sell many things, including large collections of bookmarks.
Verity Sovereign
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#8 - 2013-09-30 18:05:43 UTC
Well, I lived in WH space for a while, I know to check D scan... but I can't d scan the other side of a gate.

I'm thinking a Taranis post expansion will be great, it should be very hard to get caught if one travels nano'd.

Of course, I've also been smart bombed on gates, and sure, by not warping directly to the gate , you can avoid it, but I'd prefer not to show up on D scan as they are coming.

But then again, trying to semi-slowboat through a bubble leaves you vulnerable to some extent to smartbombs too.

I was also hoping to complete it before the SOE frigs come out - I anticipate they may lead to more traffic in Low/NPC null, and attract more hunters...
Kurt Saken
Star Cluster Wanderer
#9 - 2013-10-02 02:03:32 UTC
Verity Sovereign wrote:
Well, I expect that the major threat is from other players, not the missions themselves.... safest way to travel in null without a cloaky interediction nullified T3, is a cloaky ship.



Not really. If the gang at the other side has a good fleet composition the dictor will trap you and the interceptors will decloak you. Bang, you're dead. Besides, good luck killing frigate rats with torpedoes in a reasonable amount of time.

I run the pirate epic arcs with a blaster Merlin for the combat missions and a Crow for the courier missions, but as someone said above, an AF will complete the combat missions faster. An arty Thrasher is a good choice too.
Verity Sovereign
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#10 - 2013-10-04 15:50:36 UTC
Quote:
Not really. If the gang at the other side has a good fleet composition the dictor will trap you and the interceptors will decloak you. Bang, you're dead.


If they are good, yes, but you've currently got a better chance in a ship with no velocity penalty while cloaked, than with a non-cloaky ship. When Interceptors become bubble immune, they'll be the ship of choice, for sure.


Quote:
good luck killing frigate rats with torpedoes in a reasonable amount of time.

Again, you can fit standard light launchers on it, you don't have to fit torpedo launchers
Kurt Saken
Star Cluster Wanderer
#11 - 2013-10-04 17:26:11 UTC  |  Edited by: Kurt Saken
Verity Sovereign wrote:
Quote:
Not really. If the gang at the other side has a good fleet composition the dictor will trap you and the interceptors will decloak you. Bang, you're dead.


If they are good, yes, but you've currently got a better chance in a ship with no velocity penalty while cloaked, than with a non-cloaky ship. When Interceptors become bubble immune, they'll be the ship of choice, for sure.

Quote:
good luck killing frigate rats with torpedoes in a reasonable amount of time.

Again, you can fit standard light launchers on it, you don't have to fit torpedo launchers


You don't need to be good to decloak a lonely bomber. Just approach to him when he decloaks after gate activation and the drones assisted to you will decloak him. I've done that many times

Sure you can do that, but you will see what happens when you face a rat with decent resists/tank with bad dps and 1500 ehp with terrible resists. They rarely warp scramble so you can always warp off, but the point is to kill them fast before some of the friendly locals realize what are you doing in the system.

I'm not saying that is impossible to complete successfully an epic arc in null with a Bomber, but from my experience you will have less problems running missions in Assault Frigates, long range Destroyers (Thrasher) or standard frigates (in this order).

Good luck out there and i'm looking forward to hearing from your null sec adventures.
Batelle
Federal Navy Academy
#12 - 2013-10-08 14:39:19 UTC  |  Edited by: Batelle
Taking a covops frig out there is definitely one of the safer ways to travel unscouted through null. Although i'd prefer the scanning covops to the bomber simply for the extra speed and agility. The things are nearly uncatchable if you don't make any piloting mistakes (the cloak/mwd trick works with the covops cloak, but without a speed penalty, meaning you get a full cycle of your max mwd speed while cloaked. Using this trick I've escaped a handful of PL dramiel/sabre gangs with no losses in my helios).

An interceptor is also a good choice and should be better than either covops option for actually completing the missions. Again, its not guranteed to be safe, but its a cheap fast ship that will make the trip 19 times out of 20, and even against a big camp you typically have a decent shot to run back to your in-gate.

You can just make the trip in a t1 tackle frig. Fit right, you've got a very good chance of making the trip and if you die, its no big loss.

Finally, you can just take a noobship with a mwd or a shuttle or something stupid. If you make it, you can buy a t1 frig out there for the missions.

I wouldn't take an AF because they're more expensive and much more likely to be caught than the other options (and the dps isn't strictly necessary to complete the missions). If you run into any sort of camp while on the way, you will very likely die, while with the other options you'll always have a decent chance against anything except the most determined and prepared of camps.

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Substantia Nigra
Polaris Rising
Goonswarm Federation
#13 - 2013-10-16 03:23:17 UTC
Fastest mission completion is in assault frigate (e.g. A/C-fit wolf or similar). Tech I frigates can complete but can be slow. Destroyers also, but tank (lack thereof) can be a problem. Interceptors fine, altho not as fast as AFs … but may be much better for these arcs after their November buff. I have never used a stealth bomber but understand they’re also fine, if slow.

Biggest risk is other players trying to kill you and employing bubbles at or near the gates you use. Reducing the likelihood of dying to them is largely a matter of skill, somewhat a matter of ship setup, and occasionally a matter of luck.

When using AF I use a travel-fit to move systems and then refit in station nearest to mission location. I also usually run a covops frig (or nullicloaki T3) scout.

Lot’s more info, and a wonderful related commercial product, in the forum thread linked in my .sig below.

I guess I am almost a 'vet' by now. Hopefully not too bitter and managing to help more than I hinder. I build and sell many things, including large collections of bookmarks.