Thursday, May 29, 2014

The Art of War: Combat Frigates Part One

Now that I'm back its time to continue on with the Art of War series. We last left off on attack frigates so this week I'll be covering combat frigates for Amarr.

Tormentor

Traits:
Amarr frigate skill bonus per level:
10% bonus to small energy turret capacitor use
5% bonus to small energy turret damage
Slot layout: 3H/3M/3L

This ship used to sport mining bonuses back in the day, and boy am I glad they changed that. Now it's a very unassuming damage dealer sporting both light drones and energy turrets. The tormentor fulfills the tackle role better than the Punisher because of its third mid slot; granting the ability to fit prop mod, web, and scram.

[Tormentor, Brawler]
Pseudoelectron Containment Field I
Small Ancillary Armor Repairer
Small Armor Repairer II
Heat Sink II

Experimental 1MN Afterburner I
J5b Phased Prototype Warp Scrambler I
X5 Prototype Engine Enervator

Small Focused Pulse Laser II, Imperial Navy Multifrequency S
Small Focused Pulse Laser II, Imperial Navy Multifrequency S
Small Focused Pulse Laser II, Imperial Navy Multifrequency S

Small Semiconductor Memory Cell I
Small Semiconductor Memory Cell I
Small Auxiliary Nano Pump I

Warrior II x 2

It's an unassuming little ship with the ability to put out 166 dps before heat with imperial navy while still being able to retain its tank. Run the small armor rep the entire fight and burst the AAR as you need it. With everything except the AAR on you get 2min 45 of cap which should be more than enough to finish the fight. Always carry Conflag and Scorch also, Amarr ships can change their ammo crystals practically immediately so never be afraid to swap out depending on engagement range. I leave scorch in by default and swap to imperial navy for frigs or conflag for cruisers. Some people prefer to use two auxiliary nano pumps and a nanobot accelerator, but I'm terrible at cap management when it comes to amarr ships. I've noticed I pulse too early on the AAR and end up capped out way too early in the fight.

[Tormentor, kite]
Pseudoelectron Containment Field I
Tracking Enhancer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II

Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I
J5 Prototype Warp Disruptor I
Medium F-S9 Regolith Shield Induction

Dual Light Pulse Laser II, Scorch S
Small Focused Pulse Laser II, Scorch S
Dual Light Pulse Laser II, Scorch S

Small Energy Collision Accelerator I
Small Energy Locus Coordinator I
Small Ancillary Current Router I

Warrior II x2

There's one problem with this boat that you guys should be able to guess by now. It suffers terribly from Amarr's cap hungry condition. You won't be able to leave everything running for too long so use this kiter very carefully. Overheat everything and hope for the best. Keep at range at the edge of your optimal.

Crucifier 

Traits:
Amarr frigate bonus per skill level:
7.5% bonus to tracking disruptor effectiveness
10% bonus to tracking disruptor optimal range
Slot layout: 2H/4M/3L

This boat really used to shine until they upgraded the sentinel, its tech II older brother, now not many people fly it because the sentinel does everything this boat does and more. If money is an issue and you'd like to learn how to fly a sentinel this is the boat to stepping stone with.

[Crucifier, Crucifier]
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Heat Sink II
Micro Auxiliary Power Core II

Experimental 1MN Afterburner I
J5b Phased Prototype Warp Scrambler I
Balmer Series Tracking Disruptor I, Optimal Range Disruption Script
X5 Prototype Engine Enervator

Small Focused Pulse Laser II, Imperial Navy Multifrequency S
Small Focused Pulse Laser II, Imperial Navy Multifrequency S

Small Energy Collision Accelerator I
Small Energy Metastasis Adjuster I
Small Energy Metastasis Adjuster I

Warrior II x3

This is the best I can come up with and I gotta say I'm hard pressed to do anything with it. Its dps is low and tank is low and its not amazingly fast. Mwd fit it would run out of cap too soon but this way it runs stable, you could swap the nano for a small armor rep but I don't see it buying you much time due to its pitiful base armor hp. I feel like the ticket here is to stay at scram range and use your tracking disruptor to mitigate damage. The sentinel does it better because its neuts wreak havoc on the enemies active mods and guns. Thoroughly unimpressed though, please prove me wrong and show me how to fly this.

Punisher

Traits:
Amarr frigate skill bonus per level:
5% bonus to small energy turret damage
4% bonus to armor resistance
Slot layout: 4H/2M/4L

Last but not least the almost perfect brawler, I say almost perfect because this hull really needs that 3rd mid slot to shine but it's still a decent option.

[Punisher, Plate Rep]
Damage Control II
Small Ancillary Armor Repairer
400mm Reinforced Rolled Tungsten Plates I
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II

Experimental 1MN Afterburner I
J5b Phased Prototype Warp Scrambler I

Dual Light Pulse Laser II, Imperial Navy Multifrequency S
Dual Light Pulse Laser II, Imperial Navy Multifrequency S
Dual Light Pulse Laser II, Imperial Navy Multifrequency S
[empty high slot]

Small Energy Burst Aerator II
Small Trimark Armor Pump I
Small Trimark Armor Pump I

9.5k ehp with a 130dps heated tank all while doing 119 dps unheated makes for a mean little brawler. If you require a nos you can downgrade the guns to make one fit but as long as you're pulsing the AAR cap shouldn't be an issue. You'll be hard pressed to find something you can't out brawl in the < 8km range. 

That's all for this segment. Next week will be Caldari combat frigs. Always feel free to Convo or eve mail me if you have any questions or comment below.

Fly ballsy o7

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Fit of the week: Rapier

Yesterday was my first day back from a two month hiatus from eve, and good old adaptive chaotic tranquility had been running black ops fleets in there new home. While I was gone minmatar cruiser V had finished so what better time to try out the rapier. I've mentioned my love of recon ships and I think I found a new favorite.

[Rapier, Blops]
Damage Control II
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
Armor Explosive Hardener II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Warp Disruptor II
Stasis Webifier II
Stasis Webifier II
Stasis Webifier II
Phased Weapon Navigation Array Generation Extron

Dual 180mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
Dual 180mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
Cynosural Field Generator I
Covert Ops Cloaking Device II

Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I


Valkyrie II x4

This is not your typical roaming around fit this is catered for black ops hot dropping and filling just the support web role. It has a pitiful 85 dps from guns and 90 from valkyries so don't expect to be top damage. This boat setup this way is meant to hop in and shut down a secondary target plus add an additional web to the primary.  For a roaming fit out suggest something like this.

[Rapier, Roam]
Damage Control II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Capacitor Power Relay II

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
Federation Navy Stasis Webifier
Federation Navy Stasis Webifier
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II

425mm AutoCannon II, Arch Angel EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, Arch Angel EMP M
Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Medium 'Notos' Explosive Charge I

Medium Anti-Kinetic Screen Reinforcer II
Medium Anti-Thermal Screen Reinforcer II

Warrior II x5
Hornet EC-300 x3

Still laughable dps at only 178 but you are much more mobile and much more reppable than the armor fit above. 33.5k ehp isn't bad for a recon. The armor fit is meant to support redeemers and only to survive long enough to pull range. This one is meant to hang around 30km from the fight to apply support webs and take out choice tackle or eliminate ewar drones with your smartbomb. If you're a drug user, standard mindflood will allow you to run both mwd and webs permanently. Could swap drones but I like having dishonor drones in squishy boats.

Fit of the weeks are meant be an idea. If your skills prevent you from fitting something try using meta 4 modules, or if you have better suggestions leave them in the comments below.

I'm not dead

Hooray! I'm back! Did you miss me? I needed a hiatus from eve due to some real life and work issues I couldn't devote enough time to either endeavor so I decided it was best to put eve on the back burner for a bit. Now I'm back though, so expect a continuation of my art of war posts and some fit of the week posts. I foresee a rapier post today considering I flew it for the first time on my first day back with great luls.