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Catalyst pvp tactics
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Julius Tavers
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
#1 - 2012-10-18 19:53:25 UTC
I am completely failing to kill frigs in a Catalyst. Looking for advice...

Currently fit with Light Ion Blasters II firing Null, also a MagStab II. MWD II, and a scram.

My idea was to swoop in on MWD, scram the frig, get in close and blast away.

Fail, of course, is that by then I am now scrammed myself, MWD stops working. I can't get into blaster range, and die.

So questions:

1. Should I go to AB + scram? AB is so much slower (~750 m/s), I'm worried I'll never catch anyone.

2. Or MWD + point? Pointing to keep me out of scram range keeps me out of blaster range as well - would I then have to switch to rails?

3. Slightly different question: If using an MWD, what is the optimal tradeoff between speed and agility. I found that with 2 Auxillary Thrusters I rigs, I could get 1775 m/s, but my orbit never got closer than 4km. Using 1 Aux Thruster + 1 Polycarbon Engine Housing 1 got me about 150m closer, but at only 1749 m/s. Or is this a dumb question; i.e., do you use the MWD to get close and then turn it off?
Deen Wispa
Sheriff.
United Caldari Space Command.
#2 - 2012-10-18 20:36:01 UTC
Let me take a shot in the dark. Fighting dual webbed Hookbills? Try the rails catalyst. Should be easier to kill them.

High Five. Yeah! C'est La Eve .
Julius Tavers
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
#3 - 2012-10-18 20:53:46 UTC
Deen Wispa wrote:
Fighting dual webbed Hookbills?


Lol Almost as if you were there....

Yes, that. But today a Tormentor, as well. I will definitely try the rails - fits my training better anyway.

Also, it occurs to me that - though I've read the Catalyst is a great frig killer - is it a great solo frig killer. Maybe I should let other's do the pointing and then sweep in for the dps?
Deen Wispa
Sheriff.
United Caldari Space Command.
#4 - 2012-10-18 21:48:54 UTC
It's situational dependent really. There is no way to give a concrete answer. It depends on what you're fighting and what is flying with you.If you're flying Gallente blaster hulls, you should expect to get primaried all the time. It's the nature of the beast.

High Five. Yeah! C'est La Eve .
ShahFluffers
Ice Fire Warriors
#5 - 2012-10-19 06:55:55 UTC  |  Edited by: ShahFluffers
I've always preferred using 125 railguns on my Catalyst.

[Lows]
MIcro Auxullary Power Core I
Tracking Enhancer II
Damage Control II

[Mids]
Limited 1 MN Microwarpdrive I
Faint Warp Disruptor

[Highs]
125mm Railgun II (Spike)
125mm Railgun II (Spike)
125mm Railgun II (Spike)
125mm Railgun II (Spike)
125mm Railgun II (Spike)
125mm Railgun II (Spike)
125mm Railgun II (Spike)
125mm Railgun II (Spike)

[Rigs]
Small Hybrid Collision Accelerator I
Small Hybrid Burst Aerator I

[Drones]
Warrior SW-300

Notes:
- with Spike it deals about ~120 DPS up to ~40km (which is more or less when you can target someone)
- with Caldari Navy Antimatter it deals about ~210 DPS up to ~11km
- speed is ~1600 m/sec with the MWD
- tracks fairly well for a "long range" weapon
- use that sole drone as early as you can... cutting a speedy frigate's speed by 5% will, at best, alarm the pilot and make him/her do something stupid... or, at worst, merely annoy him/her.

How did you Veterans start?
Donnerjack Wolfson
Brutor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#6 - 2012-10-19 18:21:56 UTC
ShahFluffers wrote:
::stuff::


I agree with all of that but the drone choice. A frigate taking on a destroyer is either absurdly bad (so no threat) or quite good (and thus will likely not panic) or at the command of someone else (and thus you're screwed if you can't get away/kill them fast anyways.

It is much better to have a damage or ECM drone - the former to kill them quicker, the latter to get away or keep them from killing you - than to try to panic someone who will probably not panic.
Zarnak Wulf
Task Force 641
Empyrean Edict
#7 - 2012-10-19 18:44:16 UTC
125mm rail cat is the way to go. At least for now. Keep in mind that for winter the cat is gaining 10 pg and 8 CPU. It is getting a very slight HP buff. It is also trading places with the thrasher in terms of mass and alignment time. It will be the fastest destroyer. Nuetrons will be a viable choice. 125s will fit a lot easier. It will lose its drone. :(
Deen Wispa
Sheriff.
United Caldari Space Command.
#8 - 2012-10-19 19:29:36 UTC
Donnerjack Wolfson wrote:
ShahFluffers wrote:
::stuff::



It is much better to have a damage or ECM drone - the former to kill them quicker, the latter to get away or keep them from killing you - than to try to panic someone who will probably not panic.


I don't think you have a good chance of getting a jam off with one ECM drone. Well, at least not enough to warrant consistent usage of it. And if you do, then ECM drones really need a huge nerf.

High Five. Yeah! C'est La Eve .
X Gallentius
Black Eagle1
#9 - 2012-10-19 22:17:21 UTC  |  Edited by: X Gallentius
Been having fun with 2x metastasis adjusters in rigs (+15% tracking each), and a magstab(+21.5% dps). +overdrive injector (+ speed) in the low. A bit more tracking than the TE2 (+9.5%, but longer range), and more damage (+21% dps for hybrid burst*hybrid collision).

ShahFluffers wrote:
fit....