Missions & Complexes

In the spirit of Ace Lapointe's L4 Golem thread (which contains some interesting discussions and ideas), I thought I'd create one for the Kronos.

Disclaimer: This is not the tankiest build, but it is one of the fastest, most agile and well-suited for the intended weapons package. This is also not the perfect build - nor is it necessarily ideal for all players. Depending on skills, implants and player experience - expectations can and will vary. This should be considered a starting point for perfecting your own builds!

With that out of the way, let's get down to some specifics. First and foremost, you will need great (but not necessarily perfect) skills to get the most out of any Marauder - particularly the Kronos. The ability to fit and wield T2 neutron blasters is essential. The right set of implants will also go a long way to augmenting performance and in many instances will offset skill deficiencies to some extent (why I've left a few implant slots open). Second, this fit is not cap stable (nor is it intended to be) - and it definitely does not have a GTFO option. This implies you have a general understanding of mission and NPC aggro mechanics. While Marauders are more forgiving - they're not infallible. Finally, this fit attempts to blend a hybrid (no pun intended) balance between mission blitzing and clearing. There are often missions you will want to blitz simply because they have an excellent LP return and missions you'll want to clear because there is a either excellent loot to salvage or a high chance of valuable implants that may drop.
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[Kronos, Kronos Blaster]

Neutron Blaster Cannon II, Null L
Neutron Blaster Cannon II, Null L
Neutron Blaster Cannon II, Null L
Neutron Blaster Cannon II, Null L
Bastion Module I
Small Tractor Beam II
Small Tractor Beam II
Drone Link Augmentor II

Domination 500MN Microwarpdrive
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Sensor Booster II, Scan Resolution Script

Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Damage Control II
Shadow Serpentis Magnetic Field Stabilizer
Corpus C-Type Large Armor Repairer
Shadow Serpentis Magnetic Field Stabilizer
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II

Large Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer II
Large Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer II

Hobgoblin II x5
Hammerhead II x5
Garde II x2

Null L x10000
Void L x2500
'Packrat' Mobile Tractor Unit x1
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Mid-grade Ascendancy Alpha
Mid-grade Ascendancy Beta
Mid-grade Ascendancy Gamma
Mid-grade Ascendancy Delta
Mid-grade Ascendancy Epsilon
Eify and Co. 'Rogue' Evasive Maneuvering EM-705
Zor's Custom Navigation Hyper-Link
Inherent Implants 'Lancer' Gunnery RF-905

With respect to implants, this leaves slot 6 and slot 10 open with slots 7 and 8 easily substituted - so there's a lot of flexibility. As with the Kronos build, implants should be looked as a starting point based on your personal play style.
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These are the performance specs (numbers in brackets are while in Bastion):
• 58.3k omni EHP (82.3k EHP); 266.7 HP/s armor repair (744.8 HP/s)
• 1043 DPS @59.4km maximum range ( 1043 DPS@68.5km maximum range)
• 99-158 DPS with a flight of light or medium drones (84 km maximum range)
• 1153 m/s, 8.19s align time and 4.23 AU/s warp speed
• Capacitor lasts 3m22s with everything running
• Hull price of 1.14B ISK with 391M ISK in fittings for a total of 1.54B ISK.

This build is designed to get quickly to the mission area, immediately close to within range of the objectives and begin applying massive amounts of DPS while using a combination of the passive shield buffer and Bastion to mitigate most of the incoming damage. I've gone with a minimal amount of bling and focused on key modules and implants. There are enough modules that can be substituted depending on your personal preference. For example:

• Coreli A-Type Adaptive Nano Plating in place of the Nanofiber Structure II (this will cost you 15.8% inertia, 9.5% velocity but significantly buff your tank)
• Large Micro Jump Drive in place of the Sensor Boster II (this will give you a GTFO option at the expense of 60% less targeting speed)
• Large Hybrid Burst Aerator II in place of one of the Large Hyperspacial Velocity Optimizer II rigs (this will give increase your rate of fire by about 5% at the expense of -0.75 AU/s warp speed)

The Kronos really shines when it's in a position to quickly and effectively volley ships off the field. For this reason, I value the ability of the sensor booster to aid in quickly locking targets (particularly frigates) as this enables me to utilize medium drones to apply more damage to targets and quickly focus on anything red boxing. Inertia is probably even more important than speed, as this improves the rate at which you both accelerate and reach warp velocity. While there are a handful of missions (Worlds Collide, Pirates) where a MJD can be advantageous, this can also be easily offset with the MWD (since blasters can easily start picking frigates off in excess of 75km). Another module that I've found particularly useful on the Kronos is the Auto Targeting System which can be used in place of the Drone Link Augmentor II. This grants an extra +1 target in passive mode (for a total of 11 non-Bastion) and will actively target anything red boxing you within 60km. This is something that is ideally-suited for blasters since it's of minimal benefit to railguns.

That's a pretty sensible fit.

I would prefer a NOS over the second tractor although admit I find myself not using it often, more than I would use a second tractor though I think.

I actually do like the stasis grappler it really can bring things to a stop especially when in bastion although it's usefulness over a fed navy web in pve is debatable and perhaps either aren't necessary as you suggest.

Not sure about the DC. Feel that really should be a reactive armour hardener.

I don't have the cash for those implants, I do find a genolution set quite handy for general buffs.

Slot 6 should probably be small hybrid turret damage

Slot 8 medium hybrid turret damage

I would pick these as I would not clone jump to do burner missions and the DPS boost is more valuable in those.

Slot 10 I would pick large hybrid turret or my current clone has an old imperial navy modified noble implant.

Thanks! I've built-in enough redundant modules such that it can accommodate individual preferences. With three utility high slots, a single tractor beam is often sufficient - so you can definitely drop one in favor of the NOS. The drone link augmentor is optional as well (I've found that many of those pesky turrets are often just outside an ideal falloff or drone command range).


I did try the grappler quite extensively but found that often by the time I'd locked the target it was orbiting inside my guns and had little to any benefit. Having a 60%+ boost to lock speed actually allowed me to kill more frigates before they were able to get under the guns.


You certainly can't go wrong with a reactive hardener, either. I like the added shield and hull buffer a DC affords.


A Genolution set with a WS-615 or WS-618 implant is roughly equivalent to the Mid-grade Ascendancies.


All excellent choices - which is why I left a lot of implants unspecified.

Arthur said:

"Disclaimer: This is not the tankiest build, but it is one of the fastest, most agile and well-suited for the intended weapons package. This is also not the perfect build - nor is it necessarily ideal for all players. Depending on skills, implants and player experience - expectations can and will vary. This should be considered a starting point for perfecting your own builds!"



This is a very good start, and a great perspective.


-Kirst

As I mentioned to you before in another thread, I'm just not liking the ascendency implants and the Hyperspatial rigs.

If I'm going to use Bastion in a mission, or do any salvaging, I'm going to get locked in time wise. So, in doing those things that take time, I can't see rushing in and out of a mission.

I'm just not seeing the use of those rigs and implants, just to gain a few seconds of warp time, when something else, more helpful could be used.

IMHO

-Kirst


(FYI, and neither here nor there, but on Friday I retired after 47 years at GM)

I can understand the blitzing part, or what I called BLITZING, in another thread on the topic.

I was matching my times against Stoic's Mach for L3s. My Tengu was hitting about 13AU/s.

I'm trying to remember all the results, but I believe I beat Stoic's Mach in 18 out of 21 missions.

I'm not going to pull up those posts, as not to take away from this one.

So, I do see the use of those implants and rigs for you to blitz missions.



-Kirst

Sadly I recently lost a kronos in the gallente epic arc, cos I had forgotten to swap back from a mwd to a mjd for one of the missions, and couldn't get out before I went pop. I lost a rattlesnake for the exact same reason in serpentis assault 1/3 a while ago. Must pay attention more, like my school reports always said.

As for this, I think you pretty much have it about as good as a blitzing kronos gets here, but I still also think that if you're blitzing, a pirate bs hull is going to be better, and marauders should stick to full clears.

But I am going to give you full marks for this fit and write up for its stated purpose.

Not to be mean, but these things are not a matter of opinion. I have some spread sheets with recorded mission times in different ships, fits and implant sets. Ascendancy + warp speed rigs are the single best investment if you want to improve your mission income, except for burner missions.

I'm sorry, but it is exactly a matter of opinion. It directly relates to how one wants to run a mission. My EVE time has been greatly reduced, from my own desire, so I may log in to run a mission once in a while. I'll run one or two missions and that's it. I may salvage, and I may not. I don't care how long it takes, I'm doing it all for fun. I have no need for spread sheets. So to me it is not the single best investment that I can make. (I've already made mine in using Crystals.)

I will agree with you though for the person, that is could be good for a person, who is a dedicated mission runner, and wants to run many missions in one night to maximize their income. I am not saying that you are wrong, it's just not for me.

I didn't feel you were being mean at all.

-Kirst

In running regular L4s, if they are two or three jumps out, I turn them down. I'll only take one in system or one jump out.

So, again, yes, I can see their use if you need to get to point A to B, or from point A to point D, very fast to run a mission or a series of missions.

I'm pretty sure though the ship that you use in L4s with the hyperspacial rigs, is not the same ship you use for Burner missions. In Burner missions, every slot, every module, every rig, has to be geared toward that specific mission to complete it.

-Kirst