Ships & Modules

I've been bouncing around between various ships for a couple weeks now. I started in a cruise raven, then tried an autocannon tempest to spice things up and it couldn't tank close range dps. After that I got a Maelstrom and made a MJD artillery fit as I thought it was too slow flying for autocannons (I may have been wrong i think). That setup was too low DPS in order to get the needed range, and the cycle rate was painful even though I divided the turrets into 4 groups to cut down on overkill. After that I got a dominix and faction sentries but that was the most boring ship I ever flew. I tried a Artillery Fleet Hurricane without much success, and my latest failed boat is a rail Rokh.

After all that I want to give autocannons a shot as they seem to be the popular BS projectile turret of choice even when not on a mach. My issue is that I can't seem to find enough info on the forums for fitting an AC setup for L4 that is not a mach, and I don't trust battle clinic for fits.

I CANNOT AFFORD A MACHARIEL for the time being so don't tell me to get one. I need an AC ship to fly while I earn isk (I only could buy all those other ships as I mostly broke even when selling them off before getting a new one) .

My biggest concern is how much falloff, tracking, and ship speed do I need to pull this off decently.

AC's on other hulls are difficult to pull off effectively for two reasons. The machariel is ridiculously fast, and it has a massive bonus to falloff range. This means that range is a MUCH smaller issue compared to other autocannon-wielding ships.

You're right about the maelstrom being slow. Without T2 ACs (for barrage), it ends up being in deep falloff quite a bit. It was really designed as an arty ship, tbh. (hence the ROF bonus)

The tempest CAN tank the dps with the right fit, you just have to tinker with it. Of the three minnie battleships, it's easily the go-to option for autos.

Another one you might try, unless absolutely stuck on AC's, is a cruise Typhoon. You already have the basic skills for one, it seems? It's fast enough to kite around the heavy hitters but has a very nice set of bonuses for pve.


For the tempest, something like this should do ok...at higher skill levels you can drop some cap mods or go active cap:


[Tempest, New Setup 1]
Power Diagnostic System II
Power Diagnostic System II
Tracking Enhancer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II

Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Explosive Deflection Field II
X-Large Shield Booster II
Cap Recharger II
100MN Afterburner II

800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Artillery I, EMP L
800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Artillery I, EMP L
800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Artillery I, EMP L
800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Artillery I, EMP L
800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Artillery I, EMP L
800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Artillery I, EMP L
Prototype 'Arbalest' Light Missile Launcher, Mjolnir Light Missile
Prototype 'Arbalest' Light Missile Launcher, Mjolnir Light Missile

Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I

Hobgoblin II x5
Hobgoblin II x10


That's geared toward angels, so obviously you'd change hardeners against other rats. Just a basic idea, you'll be able to refine it more to fit your skills both now and as you progress. The idea would be to murder the small stuff either on approach or with your missiles and drones, while hitting the closer-range dps from 20km or so...outside their ideal range.

If you're doing it right, you won't need to use the shield booster too terribly much...most stuff won't hit you too hard as long as you don't let it on top of you.

Why would you need cap? You have capless weapons and an LSB on....

Which is more than you need to complete any mission really. You are not supposed to permarun your booster man...

Here is a good Mael for the job at hand...C:

[Maelstrom, L4]

Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Tracking Enhancer II
Tracking Enhancer II

Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Shield Boost Amplifier II
Pith B-Type Explosive Deflection Field
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Pith C-Type Large Shield Booster
100MN Afterburner II

800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma L

Large Projectile Burst Aerator II
Large Semiconductor Memory Cell I
[Empty Rig slot]

And now for something out of left field: AC Fleet Phoon.

Fleet Phoons are generally considered missile ships and for good reason. However, if missiles are not an option, the ship can also perform admirably as a gunboat due to its exceptional speed. It can easily pass 1k dps even in armor variant, while still leaving plenty of room for TC and a web in the mids, allowing you to reach about 40k falloff. All in all, it'll have slightly less tank than a similar Tempest fit, but considerably better dps, higher speed and more control. You'll also want Ogres over sentries, as you'll be moving about a bit, so the web is mandatory to help them hit stuff - since you're close range fit, you'll be staying close to your enemies anyway.

Here's a sample fit thrown together right now:

[Typhoon Fleet Issue, gunboat]
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Armor EM Hardener II
Armor EM Hardener II
Armor Thermic Hardener II
Large Armor Repairer II

Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
True Sansha Stasis Webifier
Cap Recharger II
Republic Fleet 100MN Microwarpdrive

800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet EMP L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet EMP L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet EMP L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet EMP L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet EMP L
800mm Repeating Artillery II, Republic Fleet EMP L
[Empty High Slot]
[Empty High Slot]

Large Projectile Burst Aerator I
Large Projectile Ambit Extension I
Large Auxiliary Nano Pump I

Ogre II x5


Needs Genolution set to fit, but then every pve pilot should have that anyway.

Should you fly that? No. In your own words "you only could buy all those other ships as you mostly broke even when selling them off before getting a new one". Rule #1 of EVE: do not fly what you cannot afford to lose. The moment a ship undocks is the moment you can lose it, be it to a mistake, loss of power or just a passerby who's bored and wants to feed on your tears. It sounds to me even buying a T1 battleship is a bit too much for you right now. After all, what happens when you'll lose it? You also said that your Tempest couldn't tank the dps up close, which suggests your skills may be a bit on the low end for battleships. Being able to sit into a ship and being able to actually fly it are two distinctly different things.

So here's my suggestion: forget battleships for a while. No, really, forget them, behave as if they don't exist. Grab an Oracle and go blast a few belt rats in Providence, or sit into a Condor and join Faction Warfare or grab a Probe and go explore a bit. You'll learn that you don't need a battleship to have fun and make money while you're at it. And before you know it, a few months will pass and you'll sit into that Tempest of yours, suddenly realizing that all you were lacking was a little perspective, experience and skill. Plus you'll be able to afford that Mach - provided you'll still want one, of course.

Bigger isn't always better. Just my two cents.

Ah, I see. Sorry to have misunderstood you then. Still, the core of what I said remains - it doesn't seem like you have a purpose beyond "spicing things up". Truth is, every battleship, when fit for it, can do level 4 missions. Yes, even the Scorpion - it may not be optimal, but it can be done.

Let me ask you one simple question: WHY do you want to fly an AC battleship? Because other people said they're good? Forget what other people said unless it's your FC asking for a doctrine ship. That's why I offered my final advice - by backing out of a scenario that in popular opinion requires a battleship, you may realize that you don't want to fly one at all. Or perhaps by experiencing other scenarios you'll learn that even a Tempest can perform admirably in certain roles.

As for the difference between Maelstrom and Mach, yes, there's a big difference between them. And believe it or not, Mach is not always better. In fact, I sold one for Navy Apocalypse. Crazy, huh?

See, I would have said the same thing cause your questions sounded like the questions of someone pretty new, and instead of taking offense at the advice that someone has spent their time and been good enough to give you, quite comprehensive advice at that , you could try being a little less of a prig and actually be thankful.

Hiya,

I may have read your comment more harshly than intended, but that's the problem with a written forum, it's hard to judge exactly what the tone is a lot of the time, or what is meant by statements like "I'm broke" unless they are clarified with "but not so broke I can't replace my battleship a few times over" .

it does seem that you ARE smarter than that, I think most people, myself included, operate from the principle that there are a lot of players that AREN'T, and odds are we are talking to one of them - often I do not think we are wrong.

Seen the same thing too, the player with BS 1 who has flown one out of a station and thinks they have won the game, and while everyone says the old "Don't fly... can't afford" line, many seem to either learn by doing and then rebuilding, or do and rage quit.

I have learned a couple of good fits for ships I have yet to fly from the post, so all good. I realise I am at risk of being banned from the forums for being too nice now, but I can't really think of anything nasty to say. Happy battleshipping!

Using autocannons on a mission boat without a range bonus is kinda painful, you lose alot of dps to falloff and you'll also end up having to burn around to get into range and when you're using something like the Mael which is a brick, it can get pretty annoying.

Artillery is a good way to go, the tracking is bad but you can get around that by manual piloting away from the rats, it works like a charm and gives you way more range. Considering the dps loss from falloff and burning around to get into range with autos, artillery might actually perform better. When I ran a Mael I used artillery because I found autos frustrating, eventually when you get the isk you can upgrade to a Mach.

Also I noticed you said you tried a Raven, a Cruise Phoon/Raven would definitely outperform a Mael by a huge margin for missions so if its an option you should consider focusing your training there and using one of those.