Ships & Modules

I want to get a Rattlesnake for semi afk level 4 missions with enough tank to hold against everything and resonable DPS. I do have some questions though about drone mechanics.

I'll keep it short.

1. Does the Drone Navigation Computer module and Drone Navigation skill affect ORBIT speed of drones?
2. Does the optimal range increase from the Omni Tracking link affect drone orbit distance?
3. (Generally) Do you get a 100% accuracy up to turret/drone optimal range or when you are exactly at the optimal range, for example optimal range of 40km, 100% accuracy up to 40km or you need to be exactly at 40km for it to be 100% accurate?
4. Can heavy drones with 1-2 Omni tracking links kill frigates?

Finally, how does this look to you for semiafk/careless level 4 farming?

[Rattlesnake, test]
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II

Invulnerability Field II
Photon Scattering Field II
Heat Dissipation Field II
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II
Drone Navigation Computer II

'Arbalest' Cruise Launcher I, Paradise Cruise Missile
'Arbalest' Cruise Launcher I, Paradise Cruise Missile
'Arbalest' Cruise Launcher I, Paradise Cruise Missile
'Arbalest' Cruise Launcher I, Paradise Cruise Missile
Drone Link Augmentor II
Drone Link Augmentor II

Large Core Defence Field Purger I
Large Core Defence Field Purger I
Large Core Defence Field Purger I


Ogre II x5
(Drones to taste, Ogre II as basic combat drone)


Ty

1) Yes and no, sorta. When drones travel from one place to another their MWD is on. And they only check to toggle off (or on) every few seconds. So you will see your drones MWD to their target and sometimes their MWD will stay on for a few seconds while orbiting and firing at the target....and your drones will miss because of the high angular velocity... But they will eventually turn off the MWD, and orbit normally.

2) As far as I know, no. But I'm not 100% sure on this.

3) No, you won't get 100% accuracy, because drones are stupid. They orbit their targets rather than trying to match the speed of their targets to minimize the angular velocity. Also if the target is as fast or faster than your drones, the target will eventually get out of your drone's optimal range (since drones try to ORBIT, not follow) and your drones will turn on their MWD, and you'll be back in situation 1...

4) Yes. Very very slowly, but they will eventually kill them. You don't need the tracking links (in fact, 2x nav computers will make be faster at killing than omnis.) I've had my heavy drones one-shot non-elite frigates with a wrecking shot BEFORE I got my drone interfacing V. And elite frigates die to heavy drones, too, they just take a bit longer.




This is an expensive ship, throw some T2 rigs on it. You don't become gank-bait from rigs quite the same way you do with modules. Also, are you even cap stable with all those SPRs in the lows?

Also, stick on a MWD or AB for the missions with gates far away. I know you plan on going afk, but you won't always be afk and this makes it extremely convenient for you. You don't need the AB to on and cap stable with everything running, just for travelling between gates when you are done with the room. You're in a Snake, you will have plenty of tank. If you fit your tank to the rats, you should be more than fine even with one "useless" module (the AB.)

Good luck!

I'm using this fit. It is able to tank full agro Drone Horde. Orbit bunker at 30km, pop neut sentry first, then other sentries, then pop all triggers and go cut the lawn
Invulnerability Field II isn't always on, only if there are too many rats.

[Rattlesnake, Full Passive shield]
Beta Reactor Control: Shield Power Relay I
Beta Reactor Control: Shield Power Relay I
Beta Reactor Control: Shield Power Relay I
Beta Reactor Control: Shield Power Relay I
Beta Reactor Control: Shield Power Relay I
Beta Reactor Control: Shield Power Relay I

Caldari Navy Magnetic Scattering Amplifier
Caldari Navy Heat Dissipation Amplifier
Invulnerability Field II
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II

'Arbalest' Cruise Launcher I, Cataclysm Cruise Missile
'Arbalest' Cruise Launcher I, Cataclysm Cruise Missile
'Arbalest' Cruise Launcher I, Cataclysm Cruise Missile
'Arbalest' Cruise Launcher I, Cataclysm Cruise Missile
Drone Link Augmentor I
Drone Link Augmentor I

Large Core Defence Field Purger I
Large Core Defence Field Purger I
Large Core Defence Field Purger I

Praetor II x5
Wasp II x5
Infiltrator II x5
Vespa II x5
Acolyte II x5
Hornet II x5

Damn forum ate my previous post grr.

Basically your fit only has 22 minutes of cap with max skills. Switch out the Invul II for either a shield recharger for even more tank or an AB for gate traveling as previously suggested. That should give you an hour+ of cap. Otherwise, if you are concentrating on Heavies then leave the rest. Though sentries finish missions faster due to having immediate effect on target. If you feel like switching to sentries here is what I use. Switch hardeners to mission specific as needed.

[Rattlesnake, Mission]
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System

Shield Recharger II
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
Heat Dissipation Field II
Photon Scattering Field II
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II

Caldari Navy Cruise Missile Launcher, Paradise Cruise Missile
Caldari Navy Cruise Missile Launcher, Paradise Cruise Missile
Caldari Navy Cruise Missile Launcher, Paradise Cruise Missile
Caldari Navy Cruise Missile Launcher, Paradise Cruise Missile
Drone Link Augmentor I
Drone Link Augmentor I

Large Core Defence Field Purger I
Large Core Defence Field Purger I
Large Sentry Damage Augmentor I


Garde II x5
Hammerhead II x10
Garde II x1
Hobgoblin II x5
Warden II x5


As for your questions:

1. yes
2. no
3. Nothing is ever 100% accurate with drones. Everything that affects players chance to hit effects drones. They will miss sometimes even on stationary targets and damage varies from hit to hit.
4. Yes, though heavies may have problems catching frigs without proper drone nav skills trained up.

Edit: Oh and that active tank fit...no, just no. The dps is crap, the gank me module is just asking for it, and with the Noctis here now there isn't any reason not to have cruises in the highs. Stay away from active rattler fits for missions.

When inside the optimal, you need tracking to follow your target. The closer the more tracking.

Of course with missiles you don't need tracking

Cruise do crap damage on fast/small targets though. AFAIK Cruise are best suited against BC.