Ships & Modules

That's a lotta questions
I'll try to answer some, and stay somewhat fluid.

PvE, missions:
If you can improve your Rattlesnake it's never a bad thing to do. Making isk fast is important, so you can have more time for other activities. I have a feeling you aren't nearly maxed out in that snake. Pick skills that would ALSO help other ships and max them out.
Edit add here: If you are really just 2 months old, your snake is probly doing about 30% of what it's capable of.

Command ships:
1. You need to be in a fleet to get command bonus's. Solo won't work.

2 and 3. The effects are very beneficial to a fleet. Small fleets as well as big fleets. Imagine giving 10% more hit points to your fleet in a 5 vs 5 fight. It means you're killing their second guy, while they are still shooting your first guy. It means they lost 20% of their fire power, while you still have 100% of yours. Now imagine that same advantage in a 50 man fleet.
The assist bonus isn't actually 10%, but you get the idea.
Range boosts, speed boosts, repair boosts. All these have a use in different fleet doctrines.

4 and 5 and 6. Some command ships work well for limited applications in PvE. Passive fit Nighthawk has a use in some lvl V missions.
For most applications though, Command ships use medium weapons systems. Just not as powerful as large weapons, so the missions go slower. Slower = not as good.
Not really good for exploration or WH jumping. T3 are better.

7. Not a lot of demand, but it really depends on the corp/alliance you fly with.

8. My favorite Command ship, and something you did not touch on, is the Astarte for PvP. It does amazing damage, has great tank, and handles pretty decent. It's not used for command bonus in this role though... just a nice BC hull for PvP. Sleipnir used to be similarly used, but not so much any more.

9. Fun until it pops. I think it is all relevant to your ability to lose ships. Off grid booster is kind of fun, knowing that you give all these bonus to your pilot or fleet. Typically though, off grid ships are a duel box / second account kind of thing.

And can be set up to provide links, granted they are normally used as a OGB.

1. yes assuming the fleet is set up correctly. The booster and everyone under them in the chain gets links
2. the bonuses are very strong so people really like having them, I would assume alliances have enough CS pilots that they can have most links in most fleets. Smaller gangs probably don't have as many link pilots available, but plenty do.
3. of course, small gangs love to have links. and a command ship can provide some good firepower to help out.
4. CS aren't really that great in PVE, at least that is what I think. I'd rather use a battleship in nearly every case
5. probably about comparable to t1 BS in most cases, but I'd rather fly a pirate bs or marauder
6. probably, although I would guess people currently prefer using t3 ships for those, but t3 might get nerfed again soon™
7. pretty in demand, people like the boosts, although many pilots have a link alt. but there is warning that CCP might change boosting mechanics, the main idea is that links will have to be on grid to give bonuses.
8. Probably the Sleipnir as that is the one most used for combat. Although I always loved the idea of the Eos. I used to really like the absolution based on looks, but dunno if the performance was ever there. but they changed the abso's looks.
9. fun is too subjective to comment on

One of the main things I will note is that it is harder to provide links and fit for combat. usually will have to pick one to three links you want the most if you are going to do that. many people will make CS fits that are solely designed to provide link boosts and to not get in combat. usually provided by an alt as it is pretty easy to warp to a safespot and stay aligned, or stay in docking/jump range of a station/gate.

Hey! Many thanks for thise replies...

So its pretty clear that, given the current situation, Command Ships are really an alt business.

I thought they were live action buffers like we see in many other games But they seem more like passive buffers That stay behind and "enjoy" the action from the chat.


I'll skip my turn. Given my young age i am probably better to set my mid-term goal for something more useful such HACs...

...up until ccp change their game play and make them more active (must be in the action, must manage targets of buffs and penalties, etc)




POD

Yes, but only within a fleet structure.
The links will work on a minimum of two pilots - if you're in a different system to the rest of your fleet, if you're docked...etc your fleet-mates will gain no benefit from your links; conversely, if your fleet are docked or in another system you will gain no benefit either.



The Warfare link bonuses can perhaps best be described as shared slots - if you fit a shield harmonising link (which uses one of your highslots) then everyone within your fleet responsibility gains what can be equivalent of an extra invuln on their fittings - this can mean that they're harder tanking but suffering significant stacking - or it could allow them to remove one of their already fitted Invulns and replace it with something else - extra tackle, ECCM...etc.

As such the power of warfare links is significant - and theoretically grows with the number of ships in the fleet.



Absolutely. Small gang warfare is often the place where Links are considered indispensible. Every edge in pilotting and mechanics will be sought in this case.



Yes... and no...
In almost every PvE situation you would benefit more from another DPS platform than from a link ship...
However they are deemed essential in Incursions for example...



Command ships are generally not as good as BS at this role - though I know several people who do prefer to fly them.

I routinely fly a Claymore in small gang warfare. It's a whole lot more fun than dragging around an alt. The training to get to it is pretty intense for a new character, so I recommend holding off on that.

You obviously have never piloted the Slep before.

The wait is long, but at least the Slep it is almost worth it. Dual XL-ASB, 220's and you are your own mini-Vargur.

THough I would suggest waiting on training for it and get other skills up, I personally would get all other ships you want trained to near perfect before you move to CS's.

it isnt that bad u dont lose skills like a t3 and cs are normally cheaper
they can have brick tanks and rly nasty dps
downside is speed and training time compared to t2 or t3 cruiser

Well my point is that, with how things work at the moment, your can simply have an inactive alt in a CS somewhere in the zone and you get all the bonuses. No need to actually be in the action piloting the ship.

So why would you risk a high value ship in skirmish combat when you can leave it behind and still get all the bonuses?


No questions that the bonuses are interesting...but I think there are no questions that you don't require an active pilot to get them.



I always loved buffers in every MMORPG I played. I hope they fix the CS soon,,,to make them playable

Hey Lanark!


BTW, thanks for the answers/comments.


So you are 100% right. I have NO pvp experience other then trying to go through low-sec and being blown to pieces. I am not yet confident in my capacities as an EVE PILOT and I want to learn more of the game to actually get into that very fascinating aspect of EVE. In other MMO, I used to be a full PVPer and I absolutely loved it. However, the stakes are a little higher in Eve (which is an absolute good thing) as you actually lose multiple million ISK every time you get beaten. Therefore, I think I will feel more comfortable doing some PVP when: 1) I understand what I am doing; and 2) I have a decent ISK stack to pay for that hobby.

But thanks to Donnachadh, who took me under his wing, I am learning this game at an accelerated rate and I should get ready to try up PVP in the near future.

This said, in all the MMO I played (started with Everquest back in the days...) I always loved to have a support role, Either as a healer or a buffer. I always preferred to help other human beings accomplish their goals then shooting at pixel and admiring my DPS numbers. Anyway, just a personal choice. In EVE, those tasks/functions translate to logistics and Command ship (unless i am missing something). So those would be my natural focus...

Given my young age in EVE (4 months old), my skill set is quite low. So, if I am to go one of those route (logistics or CS), I would rather pick one type of ship that would also allow me to do other things in the game.

Looking at the stats of Command Ships, I loved the fact that, in a group they would be VERY useful to help everyone else with their buffs, DPS and tank. Outside of a group, they could probably solo L4 missions or run exploration sites in high sec (not risking that ship in low/null!!!). On paper...they are very interesting.

However, I then realized that because you don't actually need to be part of the fight to offer your bonuses to the rest of the group, most people simply get an ALT and leave the CS cloaked somewhere in the system.

Also, T3 ships seem to be able to provide similar bonuses (is that really so?).


Anyway, it simply busted my bubble that CS would be a great type of ship to orient my training. I am talking here about investing the next 3 months of training to be able to pilot one of those. And from what I read, I would just be filling a a role that is normally undertaken by an AFK pilot.

Not very interesting...

...unless I am missing something fundamental.


Pod