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On the fence :: Drone Durability and Heavy Drone Operation
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Thak Dallocort
Rogues and Destitutes
#1 - 2014-02-03 19:02:39 UTC  |  Edited by: Thak Dallocort
I've been working drone skills since I've started playing (Sept 2013) and have T2 Light, Medium and Sentry drones. I am wrapping up training the remaining support skills out to V but I am on the fence for training Drone Durability and Heavy Drones out to level V.

My following drone skills are as follows:

Ammar Drone Specialization ........................ 2
Caldari Drone Specialization ........................ 2
Combat Drone Operation ............................. 5
Drone Durability ............................................ 2 (planned to 4) *should it go ahead to 5?
Drone Interfacing .......................................... 5
Drone Navigation .......................................... 4 (currently finishing off 5)
Drone Sharpshooting ................................... 5
Drones ......................................................... 5
Electronic Warfare Drone Interfacing .......... 4
Gallente Drone Specialization ..................... 2 (planned to 4)
Heavy Drone Operation ............................... 1 (planned to 4) *should it go ahead to 5?
Minmatar Drone Specialization .................... 2 (planned to 4)
Repair Drone Operation .............................. (will consider if I go into Logistics support)
Scout Drone Operation ............................... 5
Sentry Drone Interfacing ............................. 5

I currently am just PvE for now until additional core ship skill and weaponry can be skilled up. Of course I am level 3/4 on the typical Gallente drone boats up to BCs. (Algos, Vexor, Myrmidon).

I am planning on staying in the drone boat classes (Ishtar/Dominix, etc...) and was wondering if drone durability and heavy drones are worth going ahead and finishing off in training (I may be moving into PvP once the core ship skills are better(armor, gunnery, engineering, etc...)).

The drag is the addition 40 days for drone durability 5 and heavy drone operation 5. Is it worth going for right now (or at all.. xould save them for a queue saver not to go empty)?

Suggestions, comments and opinions welcomed (just try to keep the flames about being a dronie to a minimum)
Kirkwood Ross
Golden Profession
#2 - 2014-02-03 19:54:12 UTC
Based on the information you've provided both drone skills would benefit you. Also get all race drone specializations to at least IV.
Batelle
Federal Navy Academy
#3 - 2014-02-03 20:05:19 UTC  |  Edited by: Batelle
It may be another year, but Heavy Drones stand to come out ahead next time drones get balanced. Heavy drones also fit easier into a fit/scheme than sentries do. You also have ships like the Navy Vexor and Eos that are designed to field heavy drones. They're also good on a myrmidon or brawling gila. Also great on vindicators and navy megathrons.

Drone durability is good, but its a long train for a marginal benefit. Its the one drone support skill I haven't taken to 5 yet. Caldari drone spec 4 is a good for PVE also. Amarr drone spec you should leave at level 2 until CCP rebalances drones.

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RavenPaine
RaVeN Alliance
#4 - 2014-02-03 21:50:45 UTC
I've been a drone guy for a long, long time. Not drone boats per say, but a fan of fast and effective drones as an auxiliary weapons system.

Definitely do Heavies before drone Durability V. Just for the T2 Ogres if nothing else.

I'd probably do Electronic Warfare Drones V before durability as well. I think that range is more important, on more occasions.

*In my opinion* Durability V (and EW V) would be skills that you do some time down the road. For now, Ship skills and other skills will probably be way more beneficial to you.
Tau Cabalander
Retirement Retreat
Working Stiffs
#5 - 2014-02-03 22:00:37 UTC  |  Edited by: Tau Cabalander
Heavies are not very useful in PvE. They are best deployed against targets < 15 km distant.

I only use them against Angels, and typically only in Damsel.

Of course my drone-only shadow alt trained them all.

I like the Drone Durability for PvE as it gives 5% shield + 5% armor + 5% hull, but I'd still train heavies first.
Lia Danna
Perkone
Caldari State
#6 - 2014-02-04 01:20:16 UTC
t2 heavies are great, and if you're remapped for it and like drones go for it.

Drone support skills, other than drone interfacing and combat drone operation, can be left at IV, in my opinion, unless you plan on fielding fighters or FB anytime soon. Drone durability V would probably be the last skill I train to V even if I was an avid drone user.
Tau Cabalander
Retirement Retreat
Working Stiffs
#7 - 2014-02-04 19:56:54 UTC
Lia Danna wrote:
t2 heavies are great, and if you're remapped for it and like drones go for it.

Drone support skills, other than drone interfacing and combat drone operation, can be left at IV, in my opinion, unless you plan on fielding fighters or FB anytime soon. Drone durability V would probably be the last skill I train to V even if I was an avid drone user.

Erm... drone skills do not affect fighters / fighter bombers.
The Djego
Hellequin Inc.
#8 - 2014-02-04 20:17:14 UTC
Heavy Drones can be useful on some pvp brawling setups, in pve sentry drones all the way, this includes angels(garde II >>> bouncer II because of the tracking at closer range).

As for Drone Durability V, I got it on 2 of my chars, it is nice for sentry's, since you need to play less scoop and redeploy games, but overall it isn't much of a change. If a light drone dies it is probably webed and can't come back to you quick enough. The skill doesn't change this, also in pvp the effects are not that big. If you get it, get it last.

As for Repair Drones V, I got it on multiple chars and it is very nice because the T2 drones move a lot faster to the next RR target or get back to the ship, what is very handy if you do for example Incursions where one RR can be 50km off the next. The extra RR over T1s only really becomes noticeable on Logis, however it is always nice to have some extra rep potential, even when you run HQs with up to 10 other logis. One major downside might be that they are fairly expensive and you can only buy them in market hubs, since they are a fairly low volume item.

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Sabriz Adoudel
Move along there is nothing here
#9 - 2014-02-05 06:05:47 UTC
T2 Heavy Drones are worth getting. Drone Durability is a lower priority and should sit at 4.

Heavy Drones are very good at applying damage to any cruiser or larger that is in close range.

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