These forums have been archived and are now read-only.

The new forums are live and can be found at https://forums.eveonline.com/

Ships & Modules

 
  • Topic is locked indefinitely.
 

Should I use racial specific drones?
Author
Previous Topic Next Topic
JonnyRandom
#1 - 2011-12-01 01:59:39 UTC
I run lvl4 mishes and for the longest time I've only been using hobgoblins and hammerheads because I think someone once told me that they were the best and the rest were kind of useless. But I've compared them now using EveMON and it seems that the gallente drones are actually quite bad. They are the slowest and have the worst tracking (which I think is the most important for drones, right?), but they do have the biggest damage mod, but not so big as to completely overshadow all the other drones.
Plus the fact that racial specific drones would inherently do more damage to targets that are weak to their damage type.

So, for lvl 4 mishes should I be swapping out my drones like I do with ammo and resistance mods?



Also, should I train Drone Sharpshooting (increase optimal range)? It will add 200m to their optimal at lvl 4, but I don't think that is worse the training time.

Thanks for any replies in advance
Flurk Hellbron
Science and Trade Institute
Caldari State
#2 - 2011-12-01 02:03:11 UTC
Mishes????????? What are that?
JonnyRandom
#3 - 2011-12-01 02:10:06 UTC
It's like missions, only said in a fond and cuddly kind of way. Like when you have a shark in your living room and you love it so much you call it sharky and want to hug it.
Rawls Canardly
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#4 - 2011-12-01 02:56:31 UTC
Die. Just... die.
But seriously, thermal drones are best in almost all cases (angel cartel, use winmatar drones for that)
Shivus Tao
Brutor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#5 - 2011-12-01 03:05:46 UTC
Why gallente drones are the best for missions:

Thermal is a universal weakness amongst most rat types, gallente drones also do the most damage. Only angels and certain factions are strong against thermal so that's where you use minmatar drones.
Onictus
Federal Navy Academy
Gallente Federation
#6 - 2011-12-01 03:07:03 UTC
Tracking only counts on heavies and sentries......otherwise speed and damage are all that really matters....and if you aren't flying a drone ship speed doesn't matter really either.....both are fast enough to catch mission frigates.
Whiteknight03
Trilon Industries and Exploration
#7 - 2011-12-01 07:16:32 UTC
The extra damage is the main thing that matters. There's only 2 cases where you want different lights or combat drones:
Angels -> Bring Explosives
EoM -> Bring Kinetic
Sentries depend more on the range where you want to engage enemies.
Zhilia Mann
Tide Way Out Productions
#8 - 2011-12-01 17:23:10 UTC
Gallente (thermal) drones do the most raw damage but are slowest (which really doesn't matter much in missions). They are the best option against Blood Raiders, Sanshas, and rogue drones, and mercenaries. They are decent against Serpentis, Guristas, and EoM. They are poor against Angels -- except Vipers and Webifiers, which have a bit of a thermal hole.

Caldari (kinetic) drones have a nice shield buffer, so can take more damage before needing repair. They are the best option against Serpentis, Guristas, and EoM and are decent against Angels, rogue drones, and mercs. They are poor against Blood Raiders and Sanshas.

Minmatar (explosive) drones are nice and fast but otherwise unremarkable. They are the best option against Angels and otherwise aren't very useful in PvE.

Amarr drones are **** and should never be used outside of extreme niche circumstances.

All of the above applies to heavies, mediums, and lights. Sentries have their own considerations, but the quick summary is that it's usually best to carry a flight of Garde IIs plus a flight of target-specific sentries if you can manage it.

Whether Gallente or Caldari drones are better all-purpose options is debatable, but it largely depends on the mix of missions you face. I usually keep both options around and usually prefer kinetics.
Kesshisan
#9 - 2011-12-01 17:51:27 UTC
Gila/Dominix pilot here.

For Heavy Drones I use Ogres and Berserkers only. Ogres have the most damage, and Berserkers travel the fastest.

For medium and light drones I do the same; use Gallente in General, and Minmatar drones for when I need/want some extra speed.

For sentry Drones I use Gardes and Curators* for things at about 35-50k (more or less) and Wardens for things very far away.

*I use Gardes in general, but Curators if the enemy is weak vs EM (Blood Raiders.)
Bartholemu Fu-Baz
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#10 - 2011-12-02 01:53:29 UTC
I experimented with mixing the drones, but after a while of losing the non-Gallente ones I figured it was evolution in action.
GavinCapacitor
CaeIum Incognitum
#11 - 2011-12-02 02:07:22 UTC
Zhilia Mann wrote:

Caldari (kinetic) drones have a nice shield buffer, so can take more damage
...
I ... usually prefer kinetics.


And that is why you should never listen to this person, ever.
Misanthra
Alternative Enterprises
#12 - 2011-12-02 02:26:10 UTC
GavinCapacitor wrote:
Zhilia Mann wrote:

Caldari (kinetic) drones have a nice shield buffer, so can take more damage
...
I ... usually prefer kinetics.


And that is why you should never listen to this person, ever.



this....if your drones are getting shot up, recall them. Drone versus new room/wave aggro, I got isk on the rats. Ships meatshield for the drones, not the ohter way around.
Zhilia Mann
Tide Way Out Productions
#13 - 2011-12-02 04:09:21 UTC
Misanthra wrote:
GavinCapacitor wrote:
Zhilia Mann wrote:

Caldari (kinetic) drones have a nice shield buffer, so can take more damage
...
I ... usually prefer kinetics.


And that is why you should never listen to this person, ever.



this....if your drones are getting shot up, recall them. Drone versus new room/wave aggro, I got isk on the rats. Ships meatshield for the drones, not the ohter way around.


Good god. I prefer them for damage type, not as a meat shield. Yes, I recall them when they get agro. And yes, Caldari drones have more time to make it back before hitting armor, which is especially nice if they get webbed.
Chelsea Devildriver
Science and Trade Institute
Caldari State
#14 - 2011-12-02 08:57:43 UTC

What FighterDrones should one use in Blood Raider sanctums?

Is gallente fighters better than the rest like small/med drones ?