Ships & Modules

I've been flying my Proteus around for years, then left EVE for a long time. Now I'm back. I always loved my Proteus, could kite an entire battleship pocket. blah, blah, blah and loved how I could swap out drones and use em hard.

Well I come back to EVE to see the AI is now too smart for my lazy micromanagement. Well like I said I am at least LVL 4 in all drone specialties, hybrid specialties and missile specialties. Also maxed out with Gallente and Caldari BS, well LVL 4 on them. Looking for suggestions for a solid investment. I've been farting around with a standard Raven to try it out. Way less management than the Proteus, but really not much more DPS and just feels sluggish and well kinda boring. Not looking for a dedicated drone boat , but I wouldn't mind putting those skills to use in the right way.

Now I know there is a range of debates. But for someone in my situation, skill-wise, what would be probably the highest earning mission boat?

Not looking for a marauder, so so sowwy

Yep, second for the rattlesnake, but with your current skills I would also suggest a barghest as a possibilty, or with a bit more training, a vindicator. Neither of those will out perform the rs for regular lvl 4 missions though.

Be prepared for Rattlesnake nerf just in case, CCP put a heads up last year when they nerfed the Gila and Worm.

Rattlesnake, Vindi, Kronos, Dominix or Golem all spring to mind.

E: forget Golem and Kronos, just noticed you only said BS 4

Ive seen these rapid launchers on the market and have been curius about them. How does their dps compare to cruise missiles?

Also, i too was fancyong a rattlesnake but i my tear is that it is a reskinned domi....which i loath

I also have LVL 4 skills for the tengu. Would a tengo be more profitable?

Cruise missiles will do less damage on smaller targets. On the other hand cruise missiles will let you sit at 150 km range and use range tank.

[Rattlesnake, Rattlesnake Cruise range tank]
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II

Large Micro Jump Drive
Gist C-Type Large Shield Booster
Missile Guidance Computer II, Missile Precision Script
Missile Guidance Computer II, Missile Precision Script
Sensor Booster II, Targeting Range Script
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II, Optimal Range Script
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II, Optimal Range Script

Cruise Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Cruise Missile
Drone Link Augmentor II

Large Capacitor Control Circuit II
Large Warhead Rigor Catalyst I
Large Warhead Rigor Catalyst I

Warden II x2
Gecko x1
Curator II x2
Acolyte II x5

Untill you will find out, how to awoid too much incomming dps by properly poped trigers, you can use the shield / range tank fit

[Rattlesnake, Cruise shield tank ]
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II

Large Micro Jump Drive
Pith C-Type Large Shield Booster
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
EM Ward Field II <- match to the mission specific damage type
Sensor Booster II, Targeting Range Script
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II, Optimal Range Script <- switch to tracking speed script to shoot quick targets
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II, Optimal Range Script

Cruise Missile Launcher II, Inferno Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Inferno Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Inferno Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Inferno Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Inferno Cruise Missile
Drone Link Augmentor II

Large Capacitor Control Circuit II
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I

Warden II x2
Gecko x1
Curator II x2 <- mission specific damage type drones.
Acolyte II x2

Same paper DPS, but your missiles will apply much less damage on quick / small targets.

Use eve-survive.org to get an idea, what drones and hardeners to use in what mission.

Any BS (even the Machariel) is going to feel slow and lazy compared to a T3 so get used to that idea.

Other options I did not see listed here are.
Navy Raven, significantly better in missions than the standard version.
Scorpion Navy Issue is another one that works reasonably well.

Looking over the fits posted there is one thing I would change in many of them.
If you have the skills to use T2 launchers take the extra step and use T2 missiles as well.
The base explosion velocity and explosion radius numbers mostly work in favor of the T2 so you end up with more damage and more damage application than you get with the faction, and they are about one fourth the cost per missile.
Ranges will be shorter with the T2, numbers based on an all skills 5 setting in EvE HQ.
Precision - 74k
Fury - 111k
Faction 148k
To put that all into perspective with the same all skills 5 standard targeting range of the Rattle is just under 94k. So the only T2 that would be really affected are the precision and the desire of those small pesky little frigate and destroyer NPC to get into range for their guns, lasers, missiles really means that even the 74k is a non-issue.

I reckon I guessed his height correctly as the OP has biomassed his character...which I suppose was the prize? lol