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Caldari Frigates
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Niko Takahashi
Yoshitomi Group
#1 - 2012-04-16 12:55:12 UTC
Hello All,

After being a Carebear for way too long I am looking to get into PVP.
Since I am aware of my lack of skill but not lack of SP I would like to ask about the Crow interceptor.

I can fly Minmatar Caldari and Amarr as well but always liked the missiles so If someone could share fits for Hawk, Crow and Merlin as entry level ships to use.

If possible could you share some fits for small gang or solo and some tips on how to get some kills. Blink

Always liked the black so Crow for the looks :D
FT Diomedes
The Graduates
#2 - 2012-04-16 13:37:23 UTC  |  Edited by: FT Diomedes
Here's a decent Merlin setup that I have used with generally good results:

[Merlin, Merlin]
Micro Auxiliary Power Core I
Damage Control II

Experimental 1MN Afterburner I
Medium Shield Extender II
Stasis Webifier II
Warp Scrambler II

Light Ion Blaster II, Null S
Light Ion Blaster II, Null S
Rocket Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Rocket
Rocket Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Rocket

Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Small Core Defence Field Extender I
Small Core Defence Field Extender I

If you persist in using the Crow, be advised that within web/scram range just about any T1 combat frigate will eat you for lunch. My Rifter/Incursus pilot likes a little mustard on the side when he eats Crow.

And here is a Kestrel that I've flown with mixed results. It's won a few fights against Rifters, but it gets slaughtered by anything that can kite. An AB frigate does much, much better when it can fit a web and a scram.


[Kestrel, Kestrel of Doom]
Ballistic Control System II
Micro Auxiliary Power Core I

Experimental 1MN Afterburner I
Medium Shield Extender II
J5b Phased Prototype Warp Scrambler I

Rocket Launcher II, Caldari Navy Trauma Rocket
Rocket Launcher II, Caldari Navy Trauma Rocket
Rocket Launcher II, Caldari Navy Trauma Rocket
Rocket Launcher II, Caldari Navy Trauma Rocket

Small Hydraulic Bay Thrusters I
Small Core Defence Field Extender I
Small Core Defence Field Extender I

CCP should add more NPC 0.0 space to open it up and liven things up: the Stepping Stones project.

Niko Takahashi
Yoshitomi Group
#3 - 2012-04-16 13:42:11 UTC
FT Diomedes wrote:

If you persist in using the Crow, be advised that within web/scram range just about any T1 combat frigate will eat you for lunch. My Rifter/Incursus pilot likes a little mustard on the side when he eats Crow.


Thank you sir for the fit.

As to the point you make against the Crow.

Would it be a better idea then to try for a long point Light missile standoff setup?
FT Diomedes
The Graduates
#4 - 2012-04-16 13:56:49 UTC  |  Edited by: FT Diomedes
The Crow does very little DPS with standard missile launchers fitted (or whatever the hell CCP are calling them these days).

Like many Caldari missile boats, the Crow has ridiculous amounts of range and terrible DPS. The CPU is too low to fit enough damage mods. Forget about any kind of tank. If they hit you, you're dead.

If someone gets a scram on you, you are dead. Seriously, I soloed a Crow and an Ares in my Rifter when they were stupid enough to come get me when I deliberately warped into a drag bubble. I'm not going to pretend their fits were great, but the Crow is very hard to fit decently.

If someone has a good Crow fit, please educate me. Here are my attempts at fitting decent Crows. I have never flown these two ships below, this is just EFT-warrioring at its finest.

Rocket Crow - 79 DPS at 26km, 3471 Max Speed, 2695 EHP

[Crow, Rockets]
Ballistic Control System II
Overdrive Injector System II
Damage Control II

Limited 1MN MicroWarpdrive I
F-90 Positional Sensor Subroutines, Scan Resolution
Warp Disruptor II

Rocket Launcher II, Trauma Javelin Rocket
Rocket Launcher II, Trauma Javelin Rocket
Rocket Launcher II, Trauma Javelin Rocket
[empty high slot]

Small Hydraulic Bay Thrusters I
Small Polycarbon Engine Housing I

And a missile fit - 88 DPS at 63km, 4528 max speed, 1768 EHP

[Crow, Missiles]
Ballistic Control System II
Overdrive Injector System II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II

Limited 1MN MicroWarpdrive I
F-90 Positional Sensor Subroutines
Warp Disruptor II

Standard Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Trauma Light Missile
Standard Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Trauma Light Missile
Standard Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Trauma Light Missile
[empty high slot]

Small Bay Loading Accelerator I
Small Bay Loading Accelerator I

My recommendation is to avoid the Crow at all costs.

CCP should add more NPC 0.0 space to open it up and liven things up: the Stepping Stones project.

Xedam Praxis
Repo.
#5 - 2012-04-16 14:14:01 UTC  |  Edited by: Xedam Praxis
I’ve had much success soloing with a Crow. However, you need to understand the strengths and weakness of the ship to be effective.

Here’s a standard missile Crow for PvP:

[Crow, New Setup 1]

Light Missile Launcher II, Scourge Fury Light Missile
Light Missile Launcher II, Scourge Fury Light Missile
Light Missile Launcher II, Scourge Fury Light Missile
125mm Gatling AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma S

Limited 1MN MicroWarpdrive I
Warp Disruptor II
Tracking Disruptor II, Optimal Range/Tracking Speed Disruption Script

Overdrive Injector System II
Overdrive Injector System II
Capacitor Power Relay II

Small Polycarbon Engine Housing I
Small Polycarbon Engine Housing I


5034 ms / 7205 ms
DPS: 71.9 / 84.6
EHP: 1.81K
CAP: Stable

It’s fast as hell with amazing GTFO ability (it should be virtually impossible for you to fail at getting away). The trade-off is that you’re DPS isn’t great. However, with a 24KM point (28.8km overheated), insane speed, and a Tracking Disruptor, you should be able to take on all T1 frigs, destroyers, and cruisers with ease, provided you have the time to whittle them down.

At 5000 m/s you'll be able to outrun most light drones, but the 125mm Gatling AC is there to help if they’re giving you trouble.

This ship really shines in a gang, as your speed, 24KM point and TD make you an amazing tackler, able to pin down ships and hold them there with ease, taking virtually no damage yourself.

I usually fit an Optimal Range Disruption script in the TD and carry a Tracking Speed Disruption script in my cargo.

Recently though, I’ve started using the below fit, which provides some more damage at the expense of speed:

[Crow, New Setup 2]

Light Missile Launcher II, Scourge Fury Light Missile
Light Missile Launcher II, Scourge Fury Light Missile
Light Missile Launcher II, Scourge Fury Light Missile
125mm Gatling AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma S

Limited 1MN MicroWarpdrive I
Warp Disruptor II
Balmer Series Tracking Disruptor I, Optimal Range/Tracking Disruption Script

Overdrive Injector System II
Overdrive Injector System II
Capacitor Power Relay II

Small Bay Loading Accelerator I
Small Warhead Calefaction Catalyst I


4807 ms / 6878 ms
DPS: 87.9 / 103
EHP: 1.86K
CAP: Stable

I'm flying it with a set of low-grade snakes, which pushes me above 5000 ms without overheating. I've also got a missile explosion velocity implant in, to increase the damage a bit more. I've found the additional damage provided by this set-up to be worth the speed trade off (which for me is negligible due to the implants).

You can feel fairly safe taking on most T1 frigates, destroyers and cruisers with this ship. A heavily buffer tanked cruiser might take you a while, but it's certainly doable. As I mention before, the GTFO ability of this ship is really what makes it great, as you can mitigate losses simply by leaving if the fight turns sour.

Generally AFs do not make great targets. However, if you know the pilot is inexperienced, or likely to have a poor fit, go for it.

Other intys are a toss up. If flown poorly they can be an easy fight, but anyone who knows how to effectively dictate range will likely burn away when they realize they can't catch or hit you. I fought a Tusker in an active tanked Malediction a few days ago and it ended in a stalemate -- me unable to break his tank and him unable to catch or hit me.

In fleets the Crow is an amazing scout and fast tackle. Able to run gate camps with ease and lock down targets before they even notice you're there.

Although tons of fun, this ship certainly has its limits and some ships will be beyond your capabilities simply due to an inability to deal enough damage. If you're okay biding your time for the right targets though, it’s a great little hit-and-run boat.

EDIT: I know people who fly the Rocket Crow, but I feel that the Crow's main strengths are it's speed and range, which the rocket fit does away with, sacrificing survivability and range for DPS.

EDIT 2: Here's a Hawk fit. I haven't flown it yet, but it's a similar idea to the Hookbill i.e. close distance fast with the MWD, throw down the dual-webs and rain rocket death on your target at nearly max damage.

[Hawk, New Setup 1]

Rocket Launcher II, Scourge Rage Rocket
Rocket Launcher II, Scourge Rage Rocket
Rocket Launcher II, Scourge Rage Rocket
Rocket Launcher II, Scourge Rage Rocket
[Empty High slot]

Limited 1MN MicroWarpdrive I
Warp Disruptor II
Fleeting Propulsion Inhibitor I
Fleeting Propulsion Inhibitor I
Medium F-S9 Regolith Shield Induction

Ballistic Control System II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II

Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I

2412 ms / 3431 ms
DPS: 207 / 244
EHP: 7.56K
CAP: 1m10s with MWD, Stable without

“The word of a gentleman is as good as his bond; and sometimes better.”

  • Charles Dickens
Tobiaz
Spacerats
#6 - 2012-04-16 14:19:39 UTC  |  Edited by: Tobiaz
I haven't looked at them much lately but the Crow used to be a pretty decent interceptor. Something changed?

edit: nm, ninja-answer :P

Operation WRITE DOWN ALL THE THINGS!!!  Check out the list at http://bit.ly/wdatt Collecting and compiling all fixes and ideas for EVE. Looking for more editors!
FT Diomedes
The Graduates
#7 - 2012-04-16 14:43:35 UTC
I'll have to try out some of those tracking disruptor fits. They look better than mine.

CCP should add more NPC 0.0 space to open it up and liven things up: the Stepping Stones project.

Xedam Praxis
Repo.
#8 - 2012-04-16 14:54:52 UTC  |  Edited by: Xedam Praxis
FT Diomedes wrote:
I'll have to try out some of those tracking disruptor fits. They look better than mine.


Not necessarily "better", but they're designed for solo PvP, whereas I think your fits would shine in more of a fleet scenario. I've loved flying the Crow. It's ability to mitigate losses is, in my experience, unparalleled. The TD allows you to engage a wider array of ships, which is important for a craft that's already limited in target selection. Additionally, with that speed there's nothing like encountering a drone boat and simply outrunning his drones while you whittle away his tank. Big smile

“The word of a gentleman is as good as his bond; and sometimes better.”

  • Charles Dickens
Niko Takahashi
Yoshitomi Group
#9 - 2012-04-16 15:12:04 UTC  |  Edited by: Niko Takahashi
Thanks to all especially Xedam looks like I am going to give it a spin. And the Hawk as well.

Edited out a really dumb question :)