Ships & Modules

Having extensively played around with a number of L4 mission ships and fits, I've settled on a variation of the Rattlesnake I call the Sidewinder. The stats on this are absolutely insane, and you can easily make upwards of 50m ISK an hour in high-sec virtually risk-free (certainly gank-free). The main criteria behind this design was ensuring that it was fun to fly, didn't require reconfiguration between missions, light on micromanagement and fairly forgiving.

Damage: 646 missiles + 579-770 drones = 1225-1416 DPS
Range: 93.8km targeting, 148km missiles, 84-88km drones
Speed: 118m/s base, 855m/s MWD, 2.82 AU/s (3.56 AU/s Mid-grade Ascendancy)
Defense: 76.1k EHP (60-68-76-60), 174.1 DPS omni tank (cap stable)

5x Cruise Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno/Scourge Cruise Missiles*
Drone Link Augmentor II, 1x Gecko, 2x Warden II, 2x Curator II, 5x Salvage Drone I

Prototype 100MN Microwarpdrive I
Large Micro Jump Drive
Gistum C-Type Medium Shield Booster
Gistum C-Type EM Ward Amplifier
Gistum C-Type Thermic Dissipation Amplifier
Gistum C-Type Kinetic Deflection Amplifier
Omnidirectional Tracking Link (optimal range and tracking speed script)**

3x Ballistic Control System II
3x Drone Damage Amplifier II

2x Large Hyperspace Velocity Optimizer I
1x Large Processor Overclocking Unit
1x 'Packrat' Mobile Tractor Unit***
2x Mobile Tractor Unit

* You can achieve more raw DPS with Fury missiles, but even with +5 implants you still need to run a target painter to apply maximum damage to battleships. With Faction missiles, you apply 100% damage to battleships and battlecruisers which frees up a mid slot. This also reduces the types of missiles you need to carry and subsequently frees up more cargo space for salvage.
** With a tracking speed script Geckos will absolutely murder frigates. Switch to optimal range for Sentries.
*** The 'Packrat' MTU is worth the extra ISK for stand-alone missions and storylines as it has a 25% speed boost. The other 2 standard Mobile Tractor Units are so you can drop these in mission rooms, bookmark and return later (I just use a nano-Badger with a shield tank and Hyperspacial rigs for fast collection).

First and foremost, this fit is cap stable. It means that with the exception of the MWD, you can run everything non-stop and still have plenty of capacitor for both the MJD and MWD. It's also incredibly simple, requiring the activation of only 2 modules upon entry to a mission. Second, this thing both blitzes and salvages missions fast. Really fast. 2.82 AU/s not only gets you between stargates and missions quicker, but increases both your acceleration and deceleration time when using accelerator gates (this allows you to start locking targets faster). The MWD is perfect for getting around between gates, and the MJD is utilized to get certain mission objectives or as your "get-out-of-jail-free" card (since NPCs don't scram). Third, it has an obscene amount of DPS. Over 1600 DPS with maximum skills and implants. And this isn't just 'paper' DPS, but real applied DPS. This is without target painters, webs or rigors. The tank is fairly light on the Sidewinder as your ability to project DPS out to 90km is your tank.

This is a cheap fit, and will run you around 600m ISK (consider that the Rattlesnake itself is around 380m ISK). With a 70k+ EHP tank and less than 240m ISK in actual modules that can drop, this fit is anti-gank (it would take a half dozen Tornados to alpha it, and thus not cost-effective). On the higher end of the scale, and depending on how many damage modules you want to upgrade to Faction (which saves a lot of CPU) - you can get the DPS to well over 1600 and a warp speed of 4.65 AU/s!

The Sidewinder is most effective when utilized as follows:

• Angel Cartel: Gecko, Scourge missiles, tracking speed script
• Blood Raiders, EOM, Rogue Drones, Sansha: Curators, Inferno missiles, optimal range script
• Guristas: Wardens, Scourge missiles, no drone script
• Mercenary: Wardens, Scourge missiles, tracking speed script
• Serpentis: Wardens, Scourge missiles, tracking speed script

Use your Sentries to snipe frigates and cruisers, and cruise missiles for battleships then battlecruisers. Any frigates that close to less than 25km ignore for later (you always have the MJD in a pinch). To finish any frigates off deploy a Gecko and switch to a tracking speed script to absolutely murder frigates. If you get swarmed and your tank starts to take a beating, MJD out and redeploy. It's rare that you'll find yourself in this scenario, but it's always good to have options.

Depending on what Faction you run L4s for, you can substitute Bouncers or Gardes. Just bear in-mind that Bouncers are most effective against Angel NPCs and Garde against Federation Navy NPCs. Gardes will also fall well short of your maximum drone range, and the 'paper' DPS is only realized at short ranges. You can also substitute a flight of Hobgoblins or Warriors instead of the salvage drones.

Final thoughts. The entire Sidewinder fit will run you less than any Pirate, Faction or Marauder hull (just the hull, never mind fitting it out...). It will deliver anywhere from upwards of 50% more applied DPS than any other mission ship, and with the sole exception of the Machariel - is the fastest in this configuration. It's the only ship that has native resists, 7 mid-slots and a passive shield tank (the Barghest comes close, but still lags behind in tank and damage application). It can deal with any NPC at almost 100% effectiveness with a combination of drones and 2 missile types. In terms of actual L4 mission performance, it will complete these in less than half the time of any other ship.

Questions/Criticisms:
Can you post your mission times? I find the words blitz, using LMJD to range tank, and 3 minute cooldown on LMJD to be a contradiction.

Would it kill you to post in EFT format?

50M/hour. Does this include isk, LP conversion (what rate?), salvage, and/or loot?

50M/hour isn't anything to write home about, but since this is a relatively cheap level 4 runner (~600M according to EFT,) is lazy to operate and is gank-resistant; those could be mitigating factors. OTOH, you can blitz level 3s in a much cheaper Ishtar for ~50m/hour (at 2,000 isk/lp) or get more than 50M/hour in a tad cheaper t2 fit Level 3 Mach (at 2,000 isk/lp.)

Arthur, why. You were more on the right track with the fit you posted here: http://eve-search.com/thread/409765-1/page/1
Except for the Geckos. And the DLA and the MJD. Yuck.
Edit: and the FoF missiles

I think I found another rattlesnake salesman. lots of RS hype, no evidence. And I really doubt a RS will blitz lv3s faster than, well just about anything. Warp speed counts for a lot there.

in general if a mission takes over 5-10 mins I don't do it.

Here's a L3 Rattlesnake blitzing fit. The target painter is to get quick aggro so you can initiate firing of the auto-targeting missiles, but also note that drones will typically auto-attack any target you paint. This will do 1126 dps out to 88km with V skills, before implants or overheating. With rapid heavies you want more velocity as opposed to better damage application, as you'll lose more DPS to lost volleys. The Pithum C-Type Large Shield Booster is probably overkill. Total cost is approximately 480m ISK - less than a Machariel hull.

5x Rapid Heavy Missile Launcher II, Inferno/Scourte auto-targeting missiles
Drone Link Augmentor II
2x Warden II, 2x Bouncer II, 2x Curator II, 5x Hobgoblin II

Prototype 100MN Microwarpdrive I
Pithum C-Type Large Shield Booster
EM Ward Amplifier II
2x Thermic Dissipation Amplifier II
Kinetic Deflection Amplifier II
Phased Weapon Navigation Array

2x Ballistic Control System II
2x Drone Damage Amplifier II
2x Omnidirectional Tracking Enhancer

3x Large Hydraulic Bay Thrusters I

I agree. And if your goal is looting and salvage, you're probably shooting everything anyway to maximize this.