Ships & Modules

I've recently started doing some pvp and I've had a bit of success but want to streamline my method.

I head to lowsec with a magnate, scanning a few relic/data/combat sites, then head back to my highsec base, grab a coercer and return to the lowsec sites to prey on explorers.

I want some opinions on what ship would be best to do this all in one step. Without having separate scanning/pvp ships.

I know a vexor can do the job but I'd much prefer something that relies on turrets. I would prefer to also avoid T3s with me being very new to pvp. Perhaps a budget of 30-50 mil would be reasonable.

Maybe I'm asking for a bit too much for that sort of isk?

Edit: it's probably worth mentioning that I have pretty decent amarr/caldari/gallente skills for hulls and weapons. Absolutely no skills in minmatar.

I'm interested in what would do it best though for 50mil.

Also I've tried putting a probe launcher in one of the coercer high slots but I find it tricky to scan down a lot of sites.

You could just PvP fit your Magnate. Given that your most likely targets are going to be other exploration frigates, and most of them aren't armed, that should be all you need. Point, web, 2x turrets, rudimentary tank. Sit at the warp-in and wait.

If you're looking for an upgrade, the Gnosis comes to mind: no extra ship skills necessary, great bonuses to all weapons (turrets, missiles, and drones), and bonuses to scan probes. Any of the SoE ships, although expensive, would fit your needs well, although they tend to rely more on drones than turrets.

EDIT: Last time I checked, you could get a Gnosis hull for about 60mil, plus you'd need to fit it. On that budget though, I'd stick with the Magnate, or just put a probe launcher on your destroyer as the poster above me suggested.

Astero, provided you have drone skills.
Admittedly a bit pricey but it's got my money.

Ironically, Minmatar is probably your best bet. So get training bud.

Blackbird.

Dual prop anything. You will want the mwd to get into point range and under thier guns quickly then switch out to ab for the speed/sig tank.

Are you hunting relic/data site explorers or combat explorers? It makes a big difference.

The relic/data pilots have no teeth and no tank. You can best hunt them with either a bomber or cov-ops of yoir choice. The caldari and gallente are best because they have the most mids and you will need multiple scrams to keep your prey in place. Their only real defense is warp core stabs. You'll need 3 scrams for the amarr boats because they have 4 lows.

If you're hunting combat explorers and mission runners then I suggest a dual prop frigate. I favor the comet for this activity. Its sig is deadly small and you can achieve near interceptor speed with the raw damage of a blaster boat. I have taken at least a dozen drakes as well as other BC's and various cruisers, even destroyers and drone boats. An actual interceptor would likely do the job just as well and an AF even better but the t1 and navy frigs are a bit less costly.

As a side note, you should have either a cruiser or a few friends on hand should something juicy show up on scan. Take the advice of the above poster who suggested having a mobile depot and a probing fit on hand as well.

Just a couple of examples for you:

[Manticore, Anti - Explo]
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II

Faint Epsilon Warp Scrambler I
Faint Epsilon Warp Scrambler I
Faint Epsilon Warp Scrambler I
Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I

Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Sisters Core Probe Launcher, Sisters Core Scanner Probe
Light Neutron Blaster II, Void S
Light Neutron Blaster II, Void S
Rocket Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Rocket

Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I


[Federation Navy Comet, Mission Raider]
Small Ancillary Armor Repairer, Nanite Repair Paste
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Overdrive Injector System II

Experimental 1MN Afterburner I
Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I
Warp Disruptor II

Light Neutron Blaster II, Void S
Light Neutron Blaster II, Void S
Small Diminishing Power System Drain I

Small Ancillary Current Router I
Small Ancillary Current Router I
Small Auxiliary Thrusters I

Hobgoblin II x3

Thanks a lot for this, I like the look of both these fits.

This is correct. I dual scrammed a site running astero once only to have him warp away cause he had 4 stabs.