Warfare & Tactics

Does anyone know how one would go about setting up the double bubble mechanic?

The term double-bubble is used by different folk to mean different things. Those meanings include:
- The old (no longer possible) interdictor setup where you had two interdiction probe launchers fitted;
- Nested bubbles along the lines shown in that video;
- Various magic bubble setups;
- Sequential interdictor bubbling methods.; and
- Probably others I am not aware of.

I used to use a lot of magic bubbles (a specialised method of inter-grid combat where you isolate the join between two grids and then make use of the dynamics interplay across that join) and currently use sequential ‘dictor bubble methods on a daily basis.

Magic double-bubbles do still work but are now, with native grid size so much larger, a real PITA to setup. I do not use them anymore.

For various reasons my ‘dictor double-bubbles are usually very long (several thousand km) drag bubbles. By drag I mean they drag the target ship beyond their intended warp destination into the leading edge of the bubble (as opposed to stop bubbles which stop the target ship before they get to their warp destination).
Here’s the basics of how it goes:
- ‘dictor sits cloaked at the drag bubble spot;
- Scout sees suitable target approaching gate in feeder system;
- ‘dictor uncloaks, deploys a bubble (interdiction sphere probe), and burns towards a prepared bookmark location which is where ships land in that bubble;
- When target appears on DS (5 degree focussed is more discerning for this purpose but more fiddly to setup) ‘dictor deploys a second bubble.
If the target is warping direct gate-to-gate they will land right in the middle of the second bubble, mere metres away from the ‘dictor. If they burn away the ‘dictor has a third bubble available while working to bring them under control. This works also for cloakies, because the ‘dictor is sitting where they land and so decloaks them. The cloaky-catching technique is slightly more complicated but the basics are the same.

This is a Darwinian setup and does not catch folk who use decent perches to avoid warping directly gate-to-gate. It also does not catch ships that are interdiction nullified (‘ceptors, many T3s, and yachts).

The method shown in the clip above is a double-bubble variant that adapts to the 'new' grid system. A stop bubble no longer works to stop a warping ship when it is placed >1000km from the warp destination (typically a gate). So the method shown has one bubble at <1000km, to stop the target ship's warp, and another at >1000km within which the stopped ship finds itself. This is the same setup as the old magic stop bubbles, except for the inter-grid aspects.
Drag bubbles, on the other hand, operate as previously to very large distances. I have not yet found an upper limit ... providing alignment is ok and the bubble is ongrid with the warp destination.