Player Features and Ideas Discussion

So, I just finished running several lvl 4 missions... Though, this is not a special case (done a million of them); the ways in which I salvaged and looted were different


These few missions that I ran were at a different attempt.

1) Using 2x tractor with 1x salvager

2) Using 1x tractor with 2x salvager

3) Using 2x MTU with 3x salvager on ship

4) Run 3 missions, BM'ing each room as you go, and returning to salvage in a Noctis with 4 tractor and 4 salvage. It's also important to note that I am capable of full 10 locked targets.


While I did not measure exact completions with 3 missions per method, the results were noticeable.

1) Probably the slowest, as Marauders are not bonused to salvaging.

2) More effective than option 1, but the limited range bonus of Marauder tractor hinders the use of these ships as salvage/loot (I use cruise missiles which increases completion time, but also increases wreck range)...This becomes more effective with the use of MJD/MWD.

3) With 2x MTU, you have to heavily focus on managing damage (try not to accidentally shoot a wreck), managing tank (if not cap stable), and managing salvage to keep the 2 MTUs from tractoring off each other.
While this is much more effective than 1 and 2 (and quite a bit more engaging than than all other options) it is also hindered by having to manage so many things at once, and the slow tractor velocity and retarget timing of the MTUs.

4) Significantly more effective than any other option. Warping to BMs of several missions (thus avoiding warp gates) on top of tractoring 4 targets at the same time you salvage 4 targets, is very effective.



The whole point of all this was to determine if their was any method to which Marauders were effective enough to negate the use of a Noctis.
The reasoning is due to the additional highs, the tractor bonus, and the large hold are intended to allow the Marauder to be self sufficient when in PVE content.
Now, in no way should Marauders be as powerful as the Noctis while still retaining their combat effectiveness.
That said, you can still give them the same tractor and salvage bonuses the Noctis receives, and it won't overshadow it, as 1t - 2s or 2t - 1s cannot compete against 4 of each...

So, the question then becomes, is it a good idea to give Marauders the bonuses of the Noctis, should they be stronger, or should we find a different bonus for them entirely???

My personal opinion is to give them AT LEAST the bonuses of the Noctis, if not a bit stronger. (even if they're stronger, the number of modules would still keep them from being AS effective.)


However, I'd like to see if someone has another idea that could replace the Tractor bonus and/or remove high slots.
Perhaps bonused towards salvage drones and Noctis lvl tractor range and speed? This would mean less fitting sacrifice.

The Marauders are just fine. The game is not designed around min-maxing Level 4 missions. Yes, the Noctis is a better salvaging ship than a Marauder. "News at 11!"

For me, the bonuses on the Marauders work just fine for grabbing a loot can in a 0.0 complex so I can get my expensive ship out of space that much faster.

If CCP felt it essential to give Marauders an additional bonus to salvaging drones, I would not complain. I would not, however, give up anything else to get that bonus. Having utility high slots is too useful.

No, the marauder class was not intended to do what you are asking it to do. It is intended to allow you to grab some stuff while killing and then move on. If you want everything the Noctis is your baby.

What is wrong with giving a raiders Noctis tractor bonus?

Again, they can't fit as many as a Noctis and don't have a salvage bonus.

It's more like asking that they put the frosting on the cake as it's "almost" a cake, but not without it.

You know, people will abuse this...
Just an example: finish site, drop mobile depot, congrats you have a tanky Noctis

As an example of "how to do":
Just drop in every site / stage a MTU and bookmark it.
After like 90min shooting change to Noctis and salvage the BMs in order to avoid despawning of wrecks...

Granted on rare occasions someone will come and blow up your mtu...

Why not drop MTU in each room, come back with Noctis loading 8 salvagers and just rip right through the wreck ball in a minute? MTU already did all the tractoring.

My Noctis carries only a single tractor for that one odd wreck every once in a while that was out of range.

I tend to play in short bursts. Do 4 or so missions and I am out of time. So I just drop MTU in each room, and spend a little time at the end of my session picking up cans and ripping through the wreckballs. Every month or so I will go through and do some blueprint runs on some rigs and it amounts to a sizeable bit of my income. I never bothered to track what wrecks had which salvage, it takes literally about a minute to burn through a pockets worth of wrecks.

It's also worth noting that at least in high sec there are corps that do nothing but salvage. If you bookmark your rooms remember to blue the wrecks you can contract the bookmarks and a corp like Pro-Synergy will give you half value. I did this when I played more and made more ISK than any other way.

there are still people who bother about the bad loot and salvage from missions?
I thought the age of salvage was over as CCP introduced all the salvaging tools and ships and thus crashing the prices.

Exactly thiz.

Automaten effiziency vent up by a lot.

Read the OP, skimmed through the rest.

No to giving the Marauders the same bonuses as the Noctis.
No to giving MTU's those bonuses as well.
Both are tools to help players, neither of them should ever approach the effectiveness of the Noctis.

Decide which of your 4 methods gives you the best return for your time invested and go with that.