Tuesday, 26 May 2009

The Question Now

Actually, it's less *now*, but it soon will be. I'm nearly at the end of training up for Mal's ships (although there's the matter of training up the skills for the mining crystals I didn't realise I was inheriting).

Then I'll need to set a new course -- and probably not in the direction of the Interceptor or the Logistics Cruiser he left me, although those will stay safe and warm in a hanger, in case of need later. The question is whether to move to gank, and save up for a HAC, or stay carebear and aim longer-term for the bigger target of an Orca.

The HAC would be for L4 missions -- well, the ones that Eve-Survival doesn't recommend for the capsuleer who wants to die nastily and bloodily. My BC seems to be able to cope with most L3s and while I have no desire to force myself into the heavier stuff, I gather that there are rewards there, to be reaped. And I suppose, once I've learned how to use it properly, it might be capable of seeing off the smaller PvPer (the one in a nooB ship, for example).

The Orca, on the other hand, would be for mining ops. To act as a mother ship, to move an entire wing of ships -- Hulk, hauler, ganker, salvager -- from system to system, and to carry the loot to a market. I would use the Freighter -- the fabled Flying Brick -- but that can't pick up contianers from space, only from a station, and it also can't take rigged ships. So, if I want to have mission-ready ships I need the Orca. Trouble is, it costs so much.

The HAC would be cheaper, but I'd be running it in combat missions, where I could lose it. And gh*d knows what the insurance would be. On the other other hand, once I can run Ogre IIs, it is possible that missions will be able to be approached differently. And there is also the matter of the fabled 1400s. Will a HAC be able to mount these ? Effectively ?


Either way I need ISK. Which, at the moment, seems to come best from the mining side of the carebear life. I mentioned the plag prices, but I seem to be able to make over a million just with a hold-ful (Mammoth, not Hulk) of veld. But at that rate the Orca will be forever. The HAC would be quicker, but only till I lost it (and all the fittings).


The poniez aren't much help, either :: they're more interested in Cantering On Stations, and getting (or me getting them) some luxury blankets and nosebands, and some Gallente oats.

2 comments:

  1. For level four missions, the most efficient ship to run them in is a battleship. Dominix for Gallente, Raven for Caldari, Typhoon for Minmatar, Armageddon for Amarr.

    1400mm will NOT fit on a HAC, only cruiser guns. Since you asked I assume you are a Minmatar specced pilot, thus you would be looking at a 80-100 million ISK ship like the Muninn for a HAC and no good insurance payout should something happen. Typhoon or Tempest far better choice IMHO.

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  2. I wouldn't aim to mission in a HAC reliably/efficiently beyond L3s. If you are dead set against BBs, aim for command ships. They will take longer to "process" L4 missions, but can be a lot of fun with friends. All the pre-reqs to fit one properly will keep you busy for a while and will help with any other ship you wish to fly. Add in the bonuses to gangs and they are win/win for us cruiser-hull lovers.

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