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Astero vs Stratios?
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Frenzy Holder
TakTokACCEM
#1 - 2014-07-29 17:39:57 UTC
Am I missing something or is there any reason to use the Stratios instead of an Astero for exploration? I could see if it's for combat sites, but for pure hacking purposes, is there any reason to go with a Stratios instead of an Astero?
Riot Girl
You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack
#2 - 2014-07-29 17:55:56 UTC
Not really, but then there's no reason to use an Astero over a Cov Ops for that purpose either.

Oh god.
Owen Levanth
Sagittarius Unlimited Exploration
#3 - 2014-07-29 18:02:38 UTC
Riot Girl wrote:
Not really, but then there's no reason to use an Astero over a Cov Ops for that purpose either.


Astero = Good for running frigate/destroyer-sized combat sigs (DED 1 and DED 2). Also good for destroying a Cov-Ops, if you meet one accidentally deep in Null or LowSec.

Stratios = Good for several more combat sigs, even better to destroy competition. Also better able to survive explosions by the new ghost sites. Especially worthwile outside of HighSec, where those explosions can get pretty nasty.

And now you know.

In short, it depends on what do you want to be doing, how much risk you want to take, etc. I mean nothing prevents you from only running relic and data sites in your dinky little cov-ops, just be aware there are people like me around, targeting the same sites, but using ships with weapons and propulsion jammers instead.
Xequecal
Ministry of War
Amarr Empire
#4 - 2014-07-29 18:02:58 UTC
Astero needs a lot less SP to fly, there is that.
Serendipity Lost
Repo Industries
#5 - 2014-07-29 18:03:15 UTC
https://zkillboard.com/kill/39093087/

It's a pretty good all around scanner/pvp initiator platform. There is a lot you can kill or 'hold for help' with it. It's scans reasonable well. Folks love to shoot them, so it's great to flash around and let some one 'catch' . The 3point scram is pretty sweet for those PI hauler thingers.

As above, sometimes getting caught means just that!
Bronson Hughes
The Knights of the Blessed Mother of Acceleration
#6 - 2014-07-29 18:09:27 UTC
Riot Girl wrote:
Not really, but then there's no reason to use an Astero over a Cov Ops for that purpose either.

A CovOps Frigate is typically better than an Astero for pure exploration if you have CovOps IV or higher. They have a scan time bonus that the Astero lacks, and a higher scan strength bonus at CovOps IV, while having the same +10 to analyzer virus strength.

If you're looking for a ship that can handle exploration and do combat sites though, the SoE line excellent. If you're willing to forgo the CovOps cloak, a Gnosis makes another good "jack of all trades" exploration ship; combat abilities similar to a Stratios, fast align times, large cargo hold, and costs less than an Astero, but it lacks the analyzer bonus.

Relatively Notorious By Association

My Many Misadventures

I predicted FAUXs
Garresh
Mackies Raiders
Wild Geese.
#7 - 2014-07-30 12:24:47 UTC
I'm not sure that racial covops can be considered better than the astero actually. Its like what a 5% scanning bonus at all level 5? I'm already over 100 easy, why would I take another 5%? Considering the asteros have higher utility and align freakishly fast, I don't see much need for base covops anymore. Its especially telling to me because I feel like the astero has completely obsoleted both the minmatar and gallente one, with both more drones, better align and speed, and a really excellent slot layout.

This Space Intentionally Left Blank
Mr Floydy
Questionable Ethics.
Ministry of Inappropriate Footwork
#8 - 2014-07-30 12:40:59 UTC
Isn't the Astero faster and significantly much quicker to align? I'm sure my Astero aligns in half the time as my Buzzard despite it having a plate on it. Plus it looks prettier :D
Serendipity Lost
Repo Industries
#9 - 2014-07-30 12:43:24 UTC
The whiteness of the SOE ships it pretty awesome. Very easy to find when rooting through an SMA to find a scanning ship.
ChromeStriker
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#10 - 2014-07-30 12:44:13 UTC
For pure exploration, the stratios has a bigger cargo hold and can take a bang from a ghost site.

Also in a single fit you can do almost every hisec combat site, and every relic/data/ghost site, without too much trouble...

Stick a mobile depo in and you can cruise the more dangerous space lanes

No Worries
Moth Eisig
#11 - 2014-07-30 14:14:14 UTC
Cov Ops if you just want to hack and analyze as fast and efficiently as possible.

Astero if you want to hack and analyze marginally less well, but also do low level combats and kill any cov ops/exploration frigates you come across.

Stratios/T3s if you don't mind more travel time and want to do ghost sites/high level combats and kill any Asteros you come across.
Bronson Hughes
The Knights of the Blessed Mother of Acceleration
#12 - 2014-07-30 14:43:13 UTC  |  Edited by: Bronson Hughes
Garresh wrote:
I'm not sure that racial covops can be considered better than the astero actually. Its like what a 5% scanning bonus at all level 5? I'm already over 100 easy, why would I take another 5%? Considering the asteros have higher utility and align freakishly fast, I don't see much need for base covops anymore. Its especially telling to me because I feel like the astero has completely obsoleted both the minmatar and gallente one, with both more drones, better align and speed, and a really excellent slot layout.

At CovOps V, a CovOps frigate gets a 50% bonus to scan probe strength, whereas the Astero only gets 37.5%. Given that Data/Relic sites are often the hardest to probe down, that extra 12.5% helps.

There's no doubt that the Astero is superior at combat, so it's far better suited for combat sites or as a multi-purpose ship. But for pure Relic/Data Site work, I prefer the hull that costs 18Mil ISK, not 80Mil ISK, even if it does align somewhat more slowly.

EDIT: Note, even though I'm talking about CovOps frigates in general terms, you raise a good point that the slot layout on some of them is really atrocious. Helios, I'm looking at you. My exploration character flies an Anathema: I like having 3 lows (sorry Buzzard), and the Cheetah is just too damned ugly.

Relatively Notorious By Association

My Many Misadventures

I predicted FAUXs