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Few missioning newbie questions
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Sour Skittles
Doomheim
#1 - 2012-04-11 11:18:55 UTC  |  Edited by: Sour Skittles
Yo, got a few questions that i think are gonna be easily answered by some vets, so here goes

1. I'm gonna be running level 4's with a tech 2 fit abaddon, am i right in thinking that running missions for an amarr corp will put me against pirate factions that are vunerable to laser damage?

2. I'm training my alt atm, he started off as a prober, and Ive used him to clear C2 WH sites in a drake in the past and he can fit a decent tech 1 raven, would i make more isk running missions with both raven and abaddon, or switch him to a noctis and salvaging my way through?

3. Aiming to do level 5's soon with both characters, is running the alt in a passive nighthawk and using him to tank as i plough with the abaddon a better idea than having him RR the abaddon?

Edit - I just noticed when looking at my standings that im negative with most pirate factions, but also the Gallente/Minmatar federations, is this to do with my running caldari missions in the past. Also my standings with corps like the Imperial academy, and other starting corps are around -5, what caused this, my sec status is at about -7, is that a reason?
Outlawd
Asset Seizure and Reclaimation
#2 - 2012-04-11 11:53:09 UTC
1.) Yes and No. Some Amarr corporations operate out of other Faction's space. Make sure the sovereignity of the space is Amarr to ensure you get a majority of Blood & Sansha missions.

2.) It completely depends. The standard formula is two DPS = Quicker missions. I like to also Salvage and loot, but that's my personal preference. I would also say take the Raven over a second Baddon. The reason for this being Damage versitility on the Raven. You will be getting Angel/Guri missions on the odd occasion even if you are in Amarr space.

3.) Generally speaking I've seen a lot of people use a NH/Rattle as aggro magnet and whizz around in glass cannons doing the mop up. I've not had a huge amount of exp in lvl V missions, so maybe someone else can clear this up better for you. If you did want a RR boat though, I would defo choose the Rattler over the NH. Has a bigger drone bay also, so if things go super ****-up, you can deploy some Armor rep drones too.

With regard to your standing, it sounds like you have been taking on Faction missions. If you are working for Caldari/Amarr this usually involves going and messing with Gallente/Minmatar respecitvely. The best way to remedy this is to do the SoE epic arc, Blood-Stained stars to try and bring your standings back up. In the mean time get Diplomacy up to 4 or so, so that you can worry less about negative standings. I personally blanket decline all Faction based missions.

Additionally, storylines will decrease your standing for other factions (I believe).

I'm not quite sure how you have managed to get your standing at -5 with starter corps. Unless you declined missions or something? Maybe someone else has the answer to that one.
Ikonia
Royal Amarr Expeditions
#3 - 2012-04-11 11:59:03 UTC
Sour Skittles wrote:
Yo, got a few questions that i think are gonna be easily answered by some vets, so here goes

1. I'm gonna be running level 4's with a tech 2 fit abaddon, am i right in thinking that running missions for an amarr corp will put me against pirate factions that are vunerable to laser damage?

2. I'm training my alt atm, he started off as a prober, and Ive used him to clear C2 WH sites in a drake in the past and he can fit a decent tech 1 raven, would i make more isk running missions with both raven and abaddon, or switch him to a noctis and salvaging my way through?

3. Aiming to do level 5's soon with both characters, is running the alt in a passive nighthawk and using him to tank as i plough with the abaddon a better idea than having him RR the abaddon?

Edit - I just noticed when looking at my standings that im negative with most pirate factions, but also the Gallente/Minmatar federations, is this to do with my running caldari missions in the past. Also my standings with corps like the Imperial academy, and other starting corps are around -5, what caused this, my sec status is at about -7, is that a reason?


1.) Nope, not always. There are certain missions, especially harder ones, where your common amarr fit will be very, very nasty. Like:
Angel Extravaganza L4
Worlds Collide (L4 you can also go for Angels)
Zazzmataz right hand (L4 is mixed with vessels that can be quite nasty)

Advisory: Read the spoilers in the net, setup for the right resistance and eventually change the weapons.

2.) This cant be answered in general. Example: I am using my alt with Orca (3x 70km tractor, salvaging vessel in tummy to change in space, 5 t2 drones for support to my hac or bs) or when it is getting dirty i change him to a Logistic t2 vessel.

3.) I have done several L5s. None of them was easy or made me smile. I recommend to go to Mandoo and check for the Police officer in space to give you the sec status mission for status over 5.0. You can play this mission only once per toon, so be prepared. This mission gives you a good overview, how ******* hard and long a L5 can be. Have about 5 hrs time, for the last pocket have some friends at hand, since the so called "indestructible" Drone mothership CAN be destroyed, but it is like damn hard and it drops nothing, and you dont need to kill it, but tank it. But to find out how hard a L5 endmob can be, this is a good training for you.

Cheers
Sour Skittles
Doomheim
#4 - 2012-04-11 12:04:31 UTC
Thanks to both, for the SOE epic ark tip, if forgotten about the epic quests since i stopped played, and for the level 5 tip. Pretty much answered what i needed to know
Outlawd
Asset Seizure and Reclaimation
#5 - 2012-04-11 12:12:59 UTC  |  Edited by: Outlawd
Ikonia wrote:


1.) Nope, not always. There are certain missions, especially harder ones, where your common amarr fit will be very, very nasty. Like:
Angel Extravaganza L4
Worlds Collide (L4 you can also go for Angels)
Zazzmataz right hand (L4 is mixed with vessels that can be quite nasty)

Advisory: Read the spoilers in the net, setup for the right resistance and eventually change the weapons.


2.) This cant be answered in general. Example: I am using my alt with Orca (3x 70km tractor, salvaging vessel in tummy to change in space, 5 t2 drones for support to my hac or bs) or when it is getting dirty i change him to a Logistic t2 vessel.


Cheers



Edit - Changed the layout for ease of reading;
1.) If you are running with a Raven alt, all of these missions become... meh...
2.) This can be answered in general. Two DPS will always complete missions quicker than, 1 dps and a salvager (which increases your ISK income by proxy). But it does depend on your multi-tasking skills.

Ikonia wrote:
Advisory: Read the spoilers in the net, setup for the right resistance and eventually change the weapons.

100% this
Ikonia
Royal Amarr Expeditions
#6 - 2012-04-11 14:22:57 UTC
for 2.) Yes, he is right that 2 DPS are quicker than 1dps and 1 salvage.

My point is a different: You might finish the mission quicker when it is about the fight. But in most cases the wrecks are spread over a huge space. So while i am fighting on combat vessel i am already tractoring and looting and salvaging with Orca. Not in every situation, but in secure 50% of all situations im nearly finished with loot and salvage when the last rat explodes. So when i am done with combat, i am done with mission, while Outdlaw needs to fly back and get his salvaging/looting equipment, in best case from the station in same system, but often enough from 2 or more jumps away.

Of course some simply let the wrecks drift and only check for ML4 stuff as loot and go for next mission instead of wasting time with loot and salvage. Which method is more proficient depends on a lot of factors. Skills, style of playing, interest, research and manufacturing, desired LP items, faction gain, empire faction gain, refinery, prices of loot and distance to the trade hubs and many things more.

That at least is the decision of the OP. That was, why i meant, you cant answer this in general. I gain lots of my profit from salvaging and loot. The LP items are nice, but its cheaper for me, to simply buy them on the market instead of wasting time grinding LPs :) I know even several players that also go for the asteroids and mine them in mission sites. Even slower, but even far more proficient for them.

Still convinced, 2 cant be answered in general.

Cheers
Outlawd
Asset Seizure and Reclaimation
#7 - 2012-04-11 14:39:46 UTC  |  Edited by: Outlawd
My personal method;

Find a system that has 2 level IV agents in the same station.

I have me in my Nightmare/Tengu/Nighthawk/Astarte(considering changing this up for a Talos) (mission dependant).
I have my alt in a very, very heavily tanked Dominx with Sentries, Heavies and remote Rep drones (shield/Armor dependant) with Remote armor or shield reps (mission/ship dependant on the above).

I then accept a total of 4 level IV missions.

I will blast through them... fast. A combination of high DPS main ship with a logistical Dominix with sentries makes for quick missioning. I rarely worry about aggro because of having all that tanking locally and remotely.

Once I complete those 4 missions, I will run back. Hand in all 4, then send out the alt, to salvage & loot all 4 missions.

Whilst I am doing this, I am running 2 level 4's with me at the same time. Usually, this will end at the same time as the salvaging, at which point I will make a judgement call on whether to loot & salvage those two, or just begin the cycle again.

*****

This routine, is what I have found to be the most profitable according to my play style. I am considering expanding it to bring another combat pilot (in a Machariel) into the mix.

Arguably, I could probably get more money, if I just blitzed 4 missions at a time in 2 Tengu's, or 2 Nightmares or a Nightmare & a Mach etc etc.

What I was actually suggesting in my original posts, is that when doing 1 level 4 mission at a time, with 2 boxes, it will definitely be more profitable (as per the orginal question) to have 2 combat pilots. It would then be OP's choice whether to come back in 2 Noctis' (probably what I would do) or just to carry on with the next mission.

The other obvious suggestion, would be to engage Pro Synergy (best service in New Eden) to clean up after you.
Ikonia
Royal Amarr Expeditions
#8 - 2012-04-12 09:24:38 UTC
I admit, it must be good profit. For my personal taste and playstyle, this is simply too much stress. At least thats why i left the L4s, though i made some last weekend with a friend. SInce i can fly them all solo in HAC now, it started really to be boring.

So i am now exploring, because i like the kick when opening the can and get some faction loot and such :).

Cheers