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Tips for speed grinding Sisters of Eve to level 4 missioning?
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Riel Saigo
Facta.Non.Verba
#1 - 2015-04-16 05:05:44 UTC
Never done missioning, and I need an independent way to generate ISK outside of Incursions and wormhole diving. So I thought I'd get into level 4s and decided to try for Sisters of Eve.

I've tried researching guides online and stuff. But I guess I've been having bad luck or something. All of them pretty much just give the basics - "use your agent finder to find an agent..." but then don't bother going into more detail.

Currently, I'm able to do level 2s for SoE. So my main questions:

1. What are the fastest ships for burning through level 2s and 3s? I'm skilled all the way up to battleships with a Gallente/Caldari focus. So I can fly a lot of stuff. But I don't want to waste tons of time on something that travels slightly faster than molasses. No faction bling please - can't afford it.

2. What are the fastest ways to get through levels 2 and 3? Security? Or Distribution? I don't want faction standing for Faction Warfare - just want to get to level 4s.

3. Are Sisters of Eve really a good faction to grind? Is the income potential at level 4 going to be reliable? I don't want to grind and then find the agents are either unavailable or out in lowsec.

Thanks in advance.
Chainsaw Plankton
FaDoyToy
#2 - 2015-04-16 05:35:51 UTC
warp speed rigged ishtar gets my vote for lv2/3s I'd throw a tractor beam in an empty high. maybe a drone link if it fits.

I always go the security route, it goes pretty fast. Then again I go pure blitz mode. some people seem to like courier missions, I can't really speak against them as I've never done them, but I feel like people that like courier missions don't know how to blitz. or have low skills and can't blitz. Although supposedly some areas with a bunch of courier agents in the same area so you can take a lot of missions at once, but don't know if that works for SoE.

and SoE has had a pretty consistent ~2k isk/lp ratio for a pretty long time. A few months back I did the SoE grind myself and figured it would crash with all the people farming it, but it is still going strong.

[Ishtar, lv3 blitz]
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Medium Armor Repairer II

Omnidirectional Tracking Link II, Optimal Range Script
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II, Optimal Range Script
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II, Optimal Range Script
Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
F-90 Positional Sensor Subroutines, Scan Resolution Script

Civilian Gatling Railgun, Civilian Railgun Charge
Civilian Gatling Railgun, Civilian Railgun Charge
[empty high slot]
[empty high slot]

Medium Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer II
Medium Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer II

Garde II x5
Warden II x5
Hobgoblin II x5
Hornet II x5
Acolyte II x5
Warrior II x5

@ChainsawPlankto on twitter
Lost Greybeard
Drunken Yordles
#3 - 2015-04-16 05:42:15 UTC  |  Edited by: Lost Greybeard
Riel Saigo wrote:
3. Are Sisters of Eve really a good faction to grind? Is the income potential at level 4 going to be reliable? I don't want to grind and then find the agents are either unavailable or out in lowsec.

Thanks in advance.


As far as direct income, level 4s are level 4s.

In terms of LP, Sisters has some decent stuff that sells well.

Quote:
1. What are the fastest ships for burning through level 2s and 3s? I'm skilled all the way up to battleships with a Gallente/Caldari focus. So I can fly a lot of stuff. But I don't want to waste tons of time on something that travels slightly faster than molasses. No faction bling please - can't afford it.


SoE has somewhat less strictly defined 'racial' enemies than some other factions, so you'll probably want a platform where you can quickly swap damage types. That means missiles or drones are your best friends in this case. Not that rails/blasters are bad, by any means, but you'll gain some speed from adapting per mission.

For L3s, just go 100% invincible and haul out a Battlecruiser, given your racial preferences I'd say Drake (Caldari/Missiles) or Myrmidon (Gallente/Drones). Personally I'd prefer myrm since you can still stick guns on there if your damage isn't quite cutting it (a rarity in L3s). If that's over your line cost-wise, bump it down to the corresponding bonused cruiser (e.g. Myrmidon -> Vexor) and honestly most L3s still won't force you to warp out even if you just sit there blasting.

Fair warning: because they're so invincible and have such excessive damage in context, a BC in an L3 may be more _boring_ than a riskier ship. Especially since drones + rails myrmidon is literally target, click, it dies.

For some L2s, you can just bring in the Myrmidon (the other advantage of drones is you don't have to refit to smaller drones, just deploy different ones). However, in some cases there will be restricted warp-gates, so grab a destroyer. My money's on the Algos, because drones = safe + lazy again.

Quote:
2. What are the fastest ways to get through levels 2 and 3? Security? Or Distribution? I don't want faction standing for Faction Warfare - just want to get to level 4s.


The primary rule is that the instant you get access to level 3s, do them instead of 2s.

Whether security or distribution is faster depends on a lot of things, but if you're actually comfortable flying ships up to the BC+ sizes, my money would be on security. When I pull the old Vexor out to help a mate with lower-level missions, typically I clear a room in around a minute, meaning I can literally finish many missions before I'd even get halfway to a destination with distro.

Your mileage will vary wildly, though. Try both, and honestly settle on whichever one bores you the least rather than which one is faster. When I'm doing outright grinding, I lose a lot more hours to tossing up my hands and going "**** this, I'm going to the bar instead" than I do to actually having issues with the task.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: The best option is to find someone running L4s already, offer to give them the isk back when they split the rewards (or help them churn through combat L4s faster), and take half of those rewards. You lose the intermittent story missions but you'll get into the specific corp's L4s a lot faster. Also don't forget to train some diplomacy and so on if you haven't already.

EDIT: While an Ishtar is CRAZY overkill for grinding up, the fit in the previous post will serve you well if you can swing it, because once you hit L4s you can just swap the rigs and fit and use it for L4 as well.
Celine Sophia Maricadie
Tal-Cel Industry and Salvage LLC
#4 - 2015-04-16 05:42:35 UTC
If you're trying to grind quickly to Level 4's you may want to consider running Distribution missions. They're boring as crap, but you clear them quickly and this means you make more Standings gains for the same time-effort. Plus you get the Storyline Agents quicker, too.

Once you're in the Level 4's the Security missions all the way.

Naturally, if you're wanting to earn ISK and LP along the way the Security missions pay the best for those in-level.

It's up to you which is more important, of course, and it seems you're fairly set on the Security route in any case.

I took the Distribution missions to grind for Level 4's for SoE, but I also wanted to reach the 8.0 standings, too.
Riel Saigo
Facta.Non.Verba
#5 - 2015-04-16 06:04:20 UTC
Thanks. Do you find the Gardes are able to finish off most targets? Or is there stuff they struggle with?

Or do you primarily rely on some other drone? And how do you finesse it to keep the rats from shooting at your drones?
Lost Greybeard
Drunken Yordles
#6 - 2015-04-16 06:40:24 UTC
Riel Saigo wrote:
Thanks. Do you find the Gardes are able to finish off most targets? Or is there stuff they struggle with?

Or do you primarily rely on some other drone? And how do you finesse it to keep the rats from shooting at your drones?


For L2/L3 the damage application on gardes isn't great. They certainly _can_ kill frigs, appropriately placed, but you're talking a swarm of frigates in a lot of missions so they'll be under the guns pretty fast. Similarly, large drones are a bit slow and don't apply well to small/med targets.

Honestly, the most generally useful are probably 5 Hammerhead(II)s + 5 Hobgoblin(II)s + 5 Valkyrie(II)s. Drop whichever size of the thermal ones seems more appropriate in most conditions, and use the explosives when something weak to Explosive and strong to thermal is up, e.g. Angel Cartel.

As far as keeping the rats off your drones, the AI will generally go for the easier target to hit/kill and what's a bigger threat in the general sense, not necessarily in that order. My usual method is to pull aggro with a gun (doesn't matter if you hit or not), then release drones once everything's at least yellow-boxed on me, and do a sweep with small drones before taking out the medium ones. Knowing when to call your herd of cats back in is sort of a 'have to work it out yourself' thing, though. Things like not moving the ship, using resistance boosters instead of HP boosters (which you were probably gonna do anyway) and so on that allow the NPCs to deal their full damage to you also helps hold aggro.

And, obviously, if you're rolling with a BC or T2 cruiser it's not like they can actually hurt you much even if they're all on you, so no skin off your nose that your defenses are "low".
erg cz
Federal Jegerouns
#7 - 2015-04-16 08:22:54 UTC
The pro tip is to do L2 -L3 security missions in Simela

Once upon a time I used Gnosis for this.
Advantages:
1. It is a drone boat, that has 6 shooting slots
2. Can be fitted passive shield tanking for blitz L2 and active tanking for L3.
3. You have to adapt your damage type for rats (even in Genesis you will face angels or Serpantis a lot) and drones + missiles is the best way to do so.
4. Can fit medium micro jump drive. Missions like L3 Mordus hunters can go nasty so you will appreciate 'get out' button.
5. Large, I mean LARGE, cargo hold.

Disadvantages:
1. Fast align but slow speed, it is slowest BC out there.
2. With all V BC skills Brutix, myrmidon or drake will work work better. But Brutix only work better agains Serpentis, Mercs and Mordus. Myrmidon is not that much faster and can not fit Missiles. Prophecy is an ammarian ship...
3. Only 75 m3 drone bay and 50 band width. On the other hand L2 and even L3 are so full of small quick targets, that guns are > then drones there. You do not need to wait, till they fly to the target. Ability of Gnosis fit BONUSED lasers, hybrids, missiles and projectiles can be handy here as soon as you have all fittings fit and ready.

Dominix with sentry drones is the best ISK/efficiency ratio out there. All 3 L4 SoE agents are camped (tak a look at yestardays Lanngisi kill board). So even though Machariel, Rattlesnake or any Maradeurs can be more effective, then Dominix, Dominix is still better for L4 IMHO. Cause it is no gank magnet.

[Dominix, 150]
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Shadow Serpentis Large Armor Repairer
Damage Control II
Drone Damage Amplifier II

Large Micro Jump Drive
F-90 Positional Sensor Subroutines, Targeting Range Script
Federation Navy Omnidirectional Tracking Link, Optimal Range Script
Federation Navy Omnidirectional Tracking Link, Optimal Range Script
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II, Optimal Range Script

Tachyon Modulated Energy Beam I, Radio L
Tachyon Modulated Energy Beam I, Radio L
Medium 'Solace' Remote Armor Repairer
Drone Link Augmentor II
Drone Link Augmentor II
Drone Link Augmentor II

Large Drone Scope Chip II
Large Ionic Field Projector I
Large Drone Control Range Augmentor II

Garde II x5
Warden II x5
what ever medium / small drones you need

This tool will be able to produce maximum of 822 DPS with garde and Standard crystals at 65 km optimal range. But it is not the point of it. Point is 150 km drone control range (can be easely increased), 160 km drone optimal and 170 km targeting range. So you can sit 160 km from you targets and still shoot them inside the optimal range of your weapons. 630 DPS with Warden II. Your guns start hitting incomming frigates from 120 km range and when they come to 40-50 km they are dead. So your Wardens can keep working on bigger targets. No additional ammunition costs, nano paste, cap booster charges etc...

Absolutely free head start for newcomers!. Just click the link and get extra 250 000 SP!
ergherhdfgh
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#8 - 2015-04-16 11:17:49 UTC
couple things to add. SoE iirc has only 2 security level 4 mission agents in high sec and they are no where near each other. If you won't run empire faction kill missions it is possible to get stuck on the 4 hour timer for turning down a mission. I believe one of them borders low sec and occasionally will give you a low sec mission but I could be thinking of the level 3 agent.

Osmon is a very busy system because SoE LP is so popular. It is probably the system in game where you are most likely to have un-invited visitors in your mission pocket so don't be surprised when you see suspect baiters.

As far as ships go if you can barely sit in a BS you will most likely be better off running level 3 until you get more skill points. Once you are running level 4's the really good isk is in the burner missions. To solo those requires deadspace fit faction and T2 frigs. If you can get a friend or two they can be done in cheaper ships.

Want to talk? Join Cara's channel in game: House Forelli
Kharaxus
The Silver Wing
The Curatores Veritatis Auxiliary
#9 - 2015-04-16 11:50:42 UTC
Riel Saigo wrote:
1. What are the fastest ships for burning through level 2s and 3s? I'm skilled all the way up to battleships with a Gallente/Caldari focus. So I can fly a lot of stuff. But I don't want to waste tons of time on something that travels slightly faster than molasses. No faction bling please - can't afford it.

2. What are the fastest ways to get through levels 2 and 3? Security? Or Distribution? I don't want faction standing for Faction Warfare - just want to get to level 4s.

3. Are Sisters of Eve really a good faction to grind? Is the income potential at level 4 going to be reliable? I don't want to grind and then find the agents are either unavailable or out in lowsec.

Thanks in advance.


Find a missioning Corp, or a few friendlies to run missions with. You will quickly discover who the weak link is and WHY, and learn from it so you can balance things out while flying with that person.

Running missions with others, and skilling your social skills, will make mission running quick.

Whatever ship you are using for incursions likely already has what you need to get you along.

Cara Forelli
State War Academy
Caldari State
#10 - 2015-04-16 13:46:03 UTC
Riel Saigo wrote:
2. What are the fastest ways to get through levels 2 and 3?

Train "Connections" to at least 4. No other single thing will speed up the processes as much. The "Social" skill helps as well.

Want to talk? Join my channel in game: House Forelli

Titan's Lament
erg cz
Federal Jegerouns
#11 - 2015-04-16 14:25:02 UTC
ergherhdfgh wrote:
SoE iirc has only 2 security level 4 mission agents in high sec and they are no where near each other. If you won't run empire faction kill missions it is possible to get stuck on the 4 hour timer for turning down a mission. I believe one of them borders low sec and occasionally will give you a low sec mission but I could be thinking of the level 3 agent.


There are 3 of them, actually.

Absolutely free head start for newcomers!. Just click the link and get extra 250 000 SP!
BeBopAReBop RhubarbPie
University of Caille
Gallente Federation
#12 - 2015-04-16 16:44:19 UTC  |  Edited by: BeBopAReBop RhubarbPie
seconding the ishtar idea. A gila also works very well. It easily pushes 600-700 dps with selectable damage types. The smaller ship size means faster traveling, and it can tank even the hardest level 4's.

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Riel Saigo
Facta.Non.Verba
#13 - 2015-04-17 15:43:26 UTC
Thanks for the tips and advice everyone. I just unlocked level 3 missions.

Turns out I was making a bigger deal out of grinding level 2s than I needed to. Level 2 passed by pretty quickly. Not much of a grind at all. I didn't really need to worry much about clearing it at all. Just fly a cruiser or battlecruiser and be done with it.

Thanks again.
Sabriz Adoudel
Move along there is nothing here
#14 - 2015-04-21 05:50:15 UTC
There's another way - you can go to one of the L4 hubs and ask other players if they can share their mission rewards with you in exchange for ISK. Those rewards include the standings boost.

Depending upon how nice you are feeling, you might even give them the ISK you promised.

I support the New Order and CODE. alliance. www.minerbumping.com
GordonO
BURN EDEN
#15 - 2015-04-22 00:23:15 UTC
Do your grinding in a macharial, you can fit it to align and warp faster and still have enough tanks. 800ac, will kill everything even up to 60 km away. split guns to groups of 2 and one of 3 and watch stuff melt.

... What next ??