Ships & Modules

I like you. Try things out, figure out what you like... this is good.

As you suggested though, your fit probably isn't optimal. The small shield booster isn't doing much more than taking up space to be honest. So step one would be to try something like this:

[Scythe Fleet Issue, forum missions L4 option]
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Missile Guidance Enhancer II
Mark I Compact Shield Power Relay

Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
Kinetic Deflection Field II
Kinetic Deflection Field II
10MN Afterburner II

Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Missile
[empty high slot]

Medium Warhead Rigor Catalyst I
Medium Warhead Rigor Catalyst I
Medium Processor Overclocking Unit I

Way more survivable due to improved buffer plus it actually has a higher peak recharge than the small booster plus amp can provide. Damage applies better and you barely lose anything without the fourth BCU.

I'm still not sure it's up for L4s though. A simple step up might look like this:

[Cyclone, L3s copy 1]
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Missile Guidance Enhancer II
Missile Guidance Enhancer II

Large Shield Booster II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
EM Ward Field II
10MN Afterburner II
Large Compact Pb-Acid Cap Battery

[empty high slot]
[empty high slot]
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Heavy Missile

Medium Bay Loading Accelerator II
Medium Semiconductor Memory Cell I

The real issue with a Cyclone is that it just doesn't do enough damage. (And to be honest, that's really a function of heavy missiles; they're just not that great right now.) If you want to stick with Minmatar the next step up would be a Typhoon:

[Typhoon, armor mishin]
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Centus B-Type Large Armor Repairer
Armor Thermal Hardener II
Armor Kinetic Hardener II

Heavy Capacitor Booster II, Cap Booster 800
Large Micro Jump Drive
100MN Afterburner II
Phased Scoped Target Painter
Phased Scoped Target Painter

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
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Cruise Missile
[empty high slot]

Large Warhead Rigor Catalyst I
Large Warhead Rigor Catalyst I
Large Auxiliary Nano Pump I


[Typhoon, shield mishin]
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Missile Guidance Enhancer II
Missile Guidance Enhancer II
Damage Control II

Pith B-Type Large Shield Booster
Thermal Dissipation Field II
Kinetic Deflection Field II
100MN Afterburner II
Large Micro Jump Drive

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
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Cruise Missile
[empty high slot]

Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Large Processor Overclocking Unit I
[empty rig slot]

There's plenty of variation you can throw in to those and they'll still work. Faction/deadspace mods just happened to be what I had in EFT; a quick look says that none of them are critical. I'd likely go this route. Way, way more damage, still has good application, range is great... And it gets you into some additional styles of play.

Several things come to mind here based on the age of your character.

Do you run level 4's in a cruiser because it is a challenge? Or because it is the best ship you have / can afford?

If you like the challenge of it then the others have given you some excellent ideas and you can ignore the rest of what I have to say since it does not apply.

If you are running 4's in a Fleet Issue Scythe because it is the best you have then abandon the process and go back to level 3's. The simple fact that you can complete a mission faster will more than offset the lost ISK/LP from each individual mission.

I personally use EFT. Other's use PYFA, etc. Regardless I think you should always use a fitting tool that can import your character's skill API.

That way you can tweak it to see what you can fit. EFT also has a tool to simulate dps. So you can input your intended target's stats and then see what the estimated DPS would be. Ammo, velocity, direction, etc.

You could spend hours playing with fits....it's almost like it's own game.

EFT is one of the available options for fittings, I prefer EvE HQ but in the end there are three plus some online tools and they all work well it is more an issue of personal preferences.

EvE HQ my personal favorite.
PYFA.
EFT.
Osmium for online tools this is the one I see recommended most often but there may be others.