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lvl 4s
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Demerius Xenocratus
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#1 - 2014-02-26 23:46:20 UTC
I've been playing a little over 2 months, and I can steamroll most lvl 3s in my brutix. There are a few that are still slightly challenging and rewarding enough to merit doing, but the rest require me to spend more time looting/salvaging and traveling than actually executing red crosses. I've been attempting level 4 missions on and off for about a month. I solo'd "Serpentis Extravaganza" relatively quickly in my brutix due to all of the rat BS having very poor range. I've done a decent number of them, with most taking a fair amount of time and requiring multiple warp-outs. I lost a brutix to a drone mission where the gate drops you in the middle of a large collection of tackling frigates and BS.

At this point I'm wondering what my best option is for lvl 4s. I don't much like the idea of flying a dominix (mjd sentry easymode).
I could start using t1 sentries within a day, need nearly a month for t2. I can get 300 dps out of my myrmidon with 5x hammerhead 2s and engage from up to 100k, and if necessary can get close to 400 dps with 3x ogre Is and 2x hammerheads. I bought a megathron and can get 411 dps out of that with AM charges with approx. 40k optimal and 80k falloff, plus another 85-125 dps with light or medium drones. However even with 2x ANP II, DCU II, 1600mm meta 4 plate and meta 4 repper I still end up having to warp out sometimes, especially from missions where the accel gate drops you close to the enemy. I could fix this somewhat by spending a day training MJD, but at that range I'd be using thorium for about 300 dps. The highest dps at range ship I can field right now is a talos, with 500 dps at 40-80k + 5x light drones, but that ship is paper, I already lost one to a drone mission with a gate.

I know what eve-survival is, I just generally can't be bothered to look up every mission. I'm about to just give up on l4s for a month or 2 and go hunt hisec complexes instead. Just looking for advice and thoughts I guess, seems like everything that will significantly increase my capabilities is a 1-2 month train.
Funky Koval
Bad Artists
#2 - 2014-02-27 00:29:05 UTC  |  Edited by: Funky Koval
Rail Mega with MJD should work for you. Don't worry so much about your damage projection, the way you use MJD is grab some initial distance, true, but then just shoot the rats as they are closing in on you, maybe with some minimal kiting. You don't mind letting them close the distance, because you'll be eliminating them one by one, therefore steadily decreasing incoming DPS. And if things do get too hot to handle, just use the MJD again.


EDIT: and more importantly, once you get the hang of the whole MJD sniping thing, you should be able to swap some of the tanking mods in lows for damage mods, leading to much better efficiency / completion times.
Demerius Xenocratus
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#3 - 2014-02-27 01:01:40 UTC
Funky Koval wrote:
Rail Mega with MJD should work for you. Don't worry so much about your damage projection, the way you use MJD is grab some initial distance, true, but then just shoot the rats as they are closing in on you, maybe with some minimal kiting. You don't mind letting them close the distance, because you'll be eliminating them one by one, therefore steadily decreasing incoming DPS. And if things do get too hot to handle, just use the MJD again.








So basically MJD + sebo. Probably another range mod instead of tank, I had some troubles with being permajammed out to 80k.
Tauranon
Weeesearch
CAStabouts
#4 - 2014-02-27 01:14:07 UTC
Demerius Xenocratus wrote:
I've been playing a little over 2 months, and I can steamroll most lvl 3s in my brutix. There are a few that are still slightly challenging and rewarding enough to merit doing, but the rest require me to spend more time looting/salvaging and traveling than actually executing red crosses. I've been attempting level 4 missions on and off for about a month. I solo'd "Serpentis Extravaganza" relatively quickly in my brutix due to all of the rat BS having very poor range. I've done a decent number of them, with most taking a fair amount of time and requiring multiple warp-outs. I lost a brutix to a drone mission where the gate drops you in the middle of a large collection of tackling frigates and BS.

At this point I'm wondering what my best option is for lvl 4s. I don't much like the idea of flying a dominix (mjd sentry easymode).



MJD generally fails against gurista, and I have never fitted a dominix with an MJD. My typical 5 gun mission domi fits could reach 99km with both weapon systems, do 1026 dps at ~30km and can tank standing still. My ratting shield domi does almost 1200 dps (it literally has to or it doesn't justify existing because of the ishtar).

Quote:


could start using t1 sentries within a day, need nearly a month for t2. I can get 300 dps out of my myrmidon with 5x hammerhead 2s and engage from up to 100k, and if necessary can get close to 400 dps with 3x ogre Is and 2x hammerheads. I bought a megathron and can get 411 dps out of that with AM charges with approx. 40k optimal and 80k falloff, plus another 85-125 dps with light or medium drones. However even with 2x ANP II, DCU II, 1600mm meta 4 plate and meta 4 repper I still end up having to warp out sometimes, especially from missions where the accel gate drops you close to the enemy. I could fix this somewhat by spending a day training MJD, but at that range I'd be using thorium for about 300 dps. The highest dps at range ship I can field right now is a talos, with 500 dps at 40-80k + 5x light drones, but that ship is paper, I already lost one to a drone mission with a gate.



if you keep sending drones on long expeditions, you'll soon figure out that they do 0 dps whilst travelling, and that NPCs agro on them, web them and then they don't come back. The dominix is able to bring both weapon systems to bear on most mission targets, and that's why it generally turns out faster than either hyper or mega, and the hyper is a better mission boat than the mega too (it can do some pretty high numbers/speed in missions where application isn't stressed with rail/sentry fits).

Quote:


I know what eve-survival is, I just generally can't be bothered to look up every mission. I'm about to just give up on l4s for a month or 2 and go hunt hisec complexes instead. Just looking for advice and thoughts I guess, seems like everything that will significantly increase my capabilities is a 1-2 month train.


You are going to enjoy being overtaken by cerb's and ishtars in the highsec plexes then (I wouldn't let that stop you, but don't expect that you won't face pilots with lots of SP, and fast hacs, and if more sp irritates you here, its certainly going to irritate you there too).
Blue Absinthe
Wardec U
#5 - 2014-02-27 01:22:13 UTC
Demerius Xenocratus wrote:
I've been playing a little over 2 months, and I can steamroll most lvl 3s in my brutix. There are a few that are still slightly challenging and rewarding enough to merit doing, but the rest require me to spend more time looting/salvaging and traveling than actually executing red crosses. I've been attempting level 4 missions on and off for about a month. I solo'd "Serpentis Extravaganza" relatively quickly in my brutix due to all of the rat BS having very poor range. I've done a decent number of them, with most taking a fair amount of time and requiring multiple warp-outs. I lost a brutix to a drone mission where the gate drops you in the middle of a large collection of tackling frigates and BS.

At this point I'm wondering what my best option is for lvl 4s. I don't much like the idea of flying a dominix (mjd sentry easymode).
I could start using t1 sentries within a day, need nearly a month for t2. I can get 300 dps out of my myrmidon with 5x hammerhead 2s and engage from up to 100k, and if necessary can get close to 400 dps with 3x ogre Is and 2x hammerheads. I bought a megathron and can get 411 dps out of that with AM charges with approx. 40k optimal and 80k falloff, plus another 85-125 dps with light or medium drones. However even with 2x ANP II, DCU II, 1600mm meta 4 plate and meta 4 repper I still end up having to warp out sometimes, especially from missions where the accel gate drops you close to the enemy. I could fix this somewhat by spending a day training MJD, but at that range I'd be using thorium for about 300 dps. The highest dps at range ship I can field right now is a talos, with 500 dps at 40-80k + 5x light drones, but that ship is paper, I already lost one to a drone mission with a gate.

I know what eve-survival is, I just generally can't be bothered to look up every mission. I'm about to just give up on l4s for a month or 2 and go hunt hisec complexes instead. Just looking for advice and thoughts I guess, seems like everything that will significantly increase my capabilities is a 1-2 month train.


Dude you're amazing at this game.
Demerius Xenocratus
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#6 - 2014-02-27 01:55:51 UTC
Blue Absinthe wrote:
Demerius Xenocratus wrote:
I've been playing a little over 2 months, and I can steamroll most lvl 3s in my brutix. There are a few that are still slightly challenging and rewarding enough to merit doing, but the rest require me to spend more time looting/salvaging and traveling than actually executing red crosses. I've been attempting level 4 missions on and off for about a month. I solo'd "Serpentis Extravaganza" relatively quickly in my brutix due to all of the rat BS having very poor range. I've done a decent number of them, with most taking a fair amount of time and requiring multiple warp-outs. I lost a brutix to a drone mission where the gate drops you in the middle of a large collection of tackling frigates and BS.

At this point I'm wondering what my best option is for lvl 4s. I don't much like the idea of flying a dominix (mjd sentry easymode).
I could start using t1 sentries within a day, need nearly a month for t2. I can get 300 dps out of my myrmidon with 5x hammerhead 2s and engage from up to 100k, and if necessary can get close to 400 dps with 3x ogre Is and 2x hammerheads. I bought a megathron and can get 411 dps out of that with AM charges with approx. 40k optimal and 80k falloff, plus another 85-125 dps with light or medium drones. However even with 2x ANP II, DCU II, 1600mm meta 4 plate and meta 4 repper I still end up having to warp out sometimes, especially from missions where the accel gate drops you close to the enemy. I could fix this somewhat by spending a day training MJD, but at that range I'd be using thorium for about 300 dps. The highest dps at range ship I can field right now is a talos, with 500 dps at 40-80k + 5x light drones, but that ship is paper, I already lost one to a drone mission with a gate.

I know what eve-survival is, I just generally can't be bothered to look up every mission. I'm about to just give up on l4s for a month or 2 and go hunt hisec complexes instead. Just looking for advice and thoughts I guess, seems like everything that will significantly increase my capabilities is a 1-2 month train.


Dude you're amazing at this game.


Thanks, you too.
Illiar D'Anaari
Lassandar
#7 - 2014-02-27 01:57:14 UTC
Generally speaking, you're better off using specific hardeners than adaptive passive ones. There are a few rats and missions that shoot more than 2 types of damage, but they aren't the norm. Try using 1 repper, 2 specific hardeners (kin+therm for serpentis) and 1 Reactive armor hardener. The reactive will give you some adaptability if there's the odd EM missiles or Exp sentry, and bolster your already high resists if the rats do only shoot 2 types of damages. Also, never fit a plate for pve. You don't need buffer, you need tanking, which comes from resists and repair.

I'd try something like this for a Mega:

[Megathron, Rails Mission Fit]
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Armor Thermic Hardener II
Armor Kinetic Hardener II
Reactive Armor Hardener
Large Armor Repairer II

Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
100MN Afterburner II
Heavy Capacitor Booster II, Cap Booster 800

425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L

Large Processor Overclocking Unit I
Large Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Large Nanobot Accelerator I

Hobgoblin II x5
Hammerhead II x5

Getting 725 dps out of the guns with my skills, 869 with the hammerheads, tanks 445 dps against Serpentis (would be more actually because of the RAH)
Demerius Xenocratus
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#8 - 2014-02-27 02:09:16 UTC  |  Edited by: Demerius Xenocratus
Illiar D'Anaari wrote:
Generally speaking, you're better off using specific hardeners than adaptive passive ones. There are a few rats and missions that shoot more than 2 types of damage, but they aren't the norm. Try using 1 repper, 2 specific hardeners (kin+therm for serpentis) and 1 Reactive armor hardener. The reactive will give you some adaptability if there's the odd EM missiles or Exp sentry, and bolster your already high resists if the rats do only shoot 2 types of damages. Also, never fit a plate for pve. You don't need buffer, you need tanking, which comes from resists and repair.

I'd try something like this for a Mega:

[Megathron, Rails Mission Fit]
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Armor Thermic Hardener II
Armor Kinetic Hardener II
Reactive Armor Hardener
Large Armor Repairer II

Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Scripture
100MN Afterburner II
Heavy Capacitor Booster II, Cap Booster 800

425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L

Large Processor Overclocking Unit I
Large Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Large Nanobot Accelerator I

Hobgoblin II x5
Hammerhead II x5

Getting 725 dps out of the guns with my skills, 869 with the hammerheads, tanks 445 dps against Serpentis (would be more actually because of the RAH)


Part of my problem is I just started training large hybrids, I think it's like a 25 day train for t2 guns.

Is faction ammo worthwhile? I've used it before it gives about 10% dps boost but it gets expensive real fast. I was using faction kinetic/thermic resists on my brutix since most long range rats seem to favor those damage types, guess I should put them on my mega. I've also learned to avoid rogue drone missions like the plague.

So no magic bullets, if I don't want to do sentry domi I should grab MJD anyway and keep training large hybrids.

Missile rats do kinetic and thermic yes? Only worried about tanking things that will hit me.
Tauranon
Weeesearch
CAStabouts
#9 - 2014-02-27 02:31:34 UTC
Demerius Xenocratus wrote:


Is faction ammo worthwhile? I've used it before it gives about 10% dps boost but it gets expensive real fast. I was using faction kinetic/thermic resists on my brutix since most long range rats seem to favor those damage types, guess I should put them on my mega. I've also learned to avoid rogue drone missions like the plague.



it is for missions if you are blitzing. It may not be if you are just basically collecting bounties and loot.
Illiar D'Anaari
Lassandar
#10 - 2014-02-27 03:21:22 UTC
Demerius Xenocratus wrote:

Part of my problem is I just started training large hybrids, I think it's like a 25 day train for t2 guns.

Is faction ammo worthwhile? I've used it before it gives about 10% dps boost but it gets expensive real fast. I was using faction kinetic/thermic resists on my brutix since most long range rats seem to favor those damage types, guess I should put them on my mega. I've also learned to avoid rogue drone missions like the plague.

So no magic bullets, if I don't want to do sentry domi I should grab MJD anyway and keep training large hybrids.

Missile rats do kinetic and thermic yes? Only worried about tanking things that will hit me.


Training T2 guns does take a long time, but it's well worth it. getting level 5 on the weapon system and level 4 in the spec means a 13% increase in overall damage, which is huge.

Faction ammo does cost quite a bit more. Honestly, I prefer min maxing my damage output than my isk input. I enjoy myself more that way, and it's a game after all.

I haven't used a MJD yet on any of my battleships and I do quite well. Getting T2 tanking mods will help you be able to sustain the damage in missions, and taking the time to look up the mission on eve survival will also make an enormous difference. I lost an apoc once because I had made it a habit to shoot frigates first, and the mission I was in had triggers on those, so I spawned a ton of ships, including more frigs with scram, and I got completely overwhelmed. 2 minutes of preparation would have saved me that loss.

Lastly, damage type is mostly dictated by faction. Guristas deal nearly 100% kinetic damage (just a small part is therm), Serpentis deal a good mix of therm and kin, Sansha and Blood Raiders deal EM/therm, Angels deal mostly explosive and kinetic, while drones and mercs deal a mix of all damage types, making them the hardest to defend against. The info about damage dealt is also found in the mission reports on eve survival.
Dirk Massive
D.O.O.M.
#11 - 2014-02-27 11:36:26 UTC
Funky Koval wrote:
Rail Mega with MJD should work for you. Don't worry so much about your damage projection, the way you use MJD is grab some initial distance, true, but then just shoot the rats as they are closing in on you, maybe with some minimal kiting. You don't mind letting them close the distance, because you'll be eliminating them one by one, therefore steadily decreasing incoming DPS. And if things do get too hot to handle, just use the MJD again.


EDIT: and more importantly, once you get the hang of the whole MJD sniping thing, you should be able to swap some of the tanking mods in lows for damage mods, leading to much better efficiency / completion times.

Do basically what they said and you should be just fine.

**Bringing WAR and TERROR to a system near you.... **
Batelle
Federal Navy Academy
#12 - 2014-02-27 14:57:19 UTC
if you're going to use an MJD there's no reason to take a mega over a hype. And if you are going to use an MJD with either, you'll want at least t1 sentry drones for significant extra instant damage at those ranges.

"**CCP is changing policy, and has asked that we discontinue the bonus credit program after November 7th. So until then, enjoy a super-bonus of 1B Blink Credit for each 60-day GTC you buy!"**

Never forget.
Hasikan Miallok
Republic University
Minmatar Republic
#13 - 2014-02-27 22:59:34 UTC
Long term you might consider a Marauder for level IVs. If so choose an interim battleship with skills that match whichever marauder you want to work towards.

Also be aware that early on your completion time is slowish so looting makes little difference to the number of missions you can complete per hour. Your main income will be bounties and loot.

As your efficiency improves with skill looting will become less worthwhile and your income will start to shift towards cashing in the LP earned. At this point you are better running missions from lower security agents for corps with high LP/ISK ratios and blitzing them.
Cage Man
Fusion Enterprises Ltd
Pandemic Horde
#14 - 2014-03-03 23:22:56 UTC
The mega above will work fine, drop a mag stab for more tank the first few times to get comfortable. You could also try it on the test server first to see what you prefer. Even meta 4 guns will work. I personally don't use the MJD method.. too much thought and planning involved.