Ships & Modules

I haven't eft'd a rail vindi since before the pirate rebalance thingy (been longer since I've flown one). I was thinking a 2k dps dual prop set up, for the kill one group at 100km missions, as it gains a few 100 dps over the blaster kronos. My old fit was pretty similar to yours, but with a cap injector, sensor booster, and t2 burst aerator. Old vindi had gimped locking range so you needed a sensor booster, and/or a targeting range rig. and regardless the fitting was pretty tight. this one uses pretty much all the CPU, and has about 50 pg spare. needs every fitting skill at 5. a meta cap injector, and a compact AB would free up a bit of room.

[Vindicator, PVE - Rails]
Federation Navy Magnetic Field Stabilizer
Federation Navy Magnetic Field Stabilizer
Federation Navy Magnetic Field Stabilizer
Imperial Navy Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane
True Sansha Armor Explosive Hardener
Internal Force Field Array I
Shadow Serpentis Large Armor Repairer

Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Heavy Capacitor Booster II, Cap Booster 800
Shadow Serpentis 100MN Afterburner
F-90 Positional Sensor Subroutines, Scan Resolution Script

425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L

Large Hybrid Burst Aerator II
Large Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer I
[empty rig slot]

Hobgoblin II x5
Warden II x4

since the TE nerf I wouldn't worry about it too much. I'd rather fit as many tracking comps as possible. EFT shows 47+49 with 2 tc, 45+47 with 3 te. the tracking bonus is nice, but not sure how much it is needed in lv4s, plus if you need the tracking you probably don't need the optimal and can switch scripts.

Haven't used a Kronos myself but have used the following for Lv4s over the years: Raven/RNI, Mael, Tempest, Vargur, Apoc/Navy and more recently Typhoon Navy, Gila, loki, Domi, Rattler, Macharial and maybe a few other hulls here and there. I've done full clear/salvage with alt, solo ull clear/salvage with Marauder and Blitzing. The requirements change depending on how you do missions.

Observations that might be applicable to the Kronos:
- DPS means nothing without the ability to project or apply that damage (Blasters, Torps, Rapid Heavies).
- Different missions can be done better with different builds. I haven't found a universal fit yet. Don't be afraid of switching builds.
- Drone travel time is a thing.
- Being stuck to sentries is a thing too.
- Blitzing has vastly different requirements to full clear & Salvage.
- Selectable damage IS actually a thing IF applicable. Kronos has a slightly better time at it due to large range of rats being decently vulnerable to Kin/Therm especially in the right space.
- Travel time in a slow BB is a royal pain in the rear. Even a Mach going 500m/s feels too slow sometimes.
- Ammo cost/economy. Marauders have the advantage here, don't be afraid of using faction/T2 ammo, unlike a AC Mach *shudders*

My suggestion would be to make use of the save fit and quick fit functionality to have at least two main fits, one rail and one Blaster. Switch out as needed depending on the mission and if you want to blitz or full clear. Example: Damsel grab the blasters and full clear, Zazzmataz grab rails and blitz. EOM full clear or blitz fit rails, drop the prop mods for extra projection. Stuff like that.

The Marauders have great projection and decent to great dps and a strong affinity to full clear rather than blitz. They can't make use of their great tank and projection while moving from pocket to pocket. Single pocket missions are great because of their projection.

Now this is all mostly to help you look at builds (and your own build) and be able to understand the build rather than just parrot builds and wonder why they don't work for you. That said here's what I'd fly if I had a Kronos and an explanation as to how I would fly it and why:

[Kronos, New Setup 1]
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Large Armor Repairer II
Adaptive Nano Plating II

Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Large Micro Jump Drive
100MN Afterburner II

425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L
Bastion Module I
Salvager II
Salvager II
Salvager II or Small Tractor Beam II

Large Hybrid Burst Aerator II
Large Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer II

Hammerhead II x5
Hobgoblin II x5
Garde II x2

This is a full clear build. Warp into a pocket, drop MTU and MJD 100km out (so that you are +- 100km away from any rats.) You have a lock range of 112km and E-War immunity. You have incredible projection with near max(over 95%) DPS to 75km and still great DPS at 100km (only half way into falloff) not to mention no tracking problems at that range. Tank is probably a little overkill and could probably get away with dropping the plating for another TE. Soon as most of the room is dealt with MJD to gate for next pocket or to MTU and salvage. Use AB to get from MTU to next pocket if close enough (363m/s so around 22-24km or less)

Plenty of headroom if you want to bling (Faction stabs, TEs, Armor repper, Prop mod, drop the plating, or even put on a MWD instead of the AB etc.)

http://community.eveonline.com/news/patch-notes/patch-notes-for-aegis-sovereignty

Has all the information on what you might have missed in your absence. Also features a list with all previous patchnotes which I also recommend you read.

All true. The build is more of a one size fit all build. A lot of missions have rats at 50km, 60km, 70km, 100km, etc. For that build it doesn't really matter where the rats are, you either bastion up and start blapping frigs or MJD 100km, bastion up and start blapping frigs.

If you are willing to put more effort into it then you can have a blaster fit and switch between the two depending on the mission

For hardwires on my Mach I run falloff and 2 damage. The ROF on the Mach is a sizable bit faster than the kronos though so it doesn't feel like a ROF boost will help as being able to get bigger volleys out. I can see the tracking one helping for the Kronos more. Remember to split the guns to make full use of the high volley to gib 2 frigs at a time.

If I may make a suggestion for implant 6, look at the warp speed implant and replace the locus coordinator with a T2 Hyperspatial velocity Optimizer. If you don' have anything specific planned for slot 1-5 look at a mid grade ascendancy set. Should get 3.9 au/s on the Kronos with that loadout. Travel time in a BS adds up over time. Not sure if I'll ever be able to go back to a 'normal' BS after the glory that is the Mach 7.5 au/s warp speed (Max is 8.5 but dang a fair bit more expensive). Interesting fact the 13% warp speed implant gives more speed than the mid grade ascendancy omega with full set.

I'm so lazy I just park my butt in one spot and refit using a mobile depot based on the mission or the hole I've dug due to my laziness. That said I like blasters with tracking comps and webs and no prop mods since that additional module offends my lazy nature.

6: warp speed ws-6
7: Tracking mr-7
8: Zor's
9: damage SS-9
10: Large turret damage

I like the damage over the rate of fire. In general I don't think the 5% rof makes a big enough difference. Plus with server ticks, reaction time, and latency I'm not sure you can make good use of the 5% rof bonus. in missions I'm killing/changing targets so fast that I probably wouldn't gain real dps by having the rof implant. If you are shooting big hp targets you will get the bonus, but it is only a few dps more, and it also increases ammo/cap use.

Implants don't get a stacking penalty so you don't have to worry about that aspect.