EVE: Myrmidon II, Star Pike
The STCS Star Pike, replacing the STCS Star Sword, has now survived two Blockade missions - the Level II mission that destroyed her predecessor. I, however, have not learned to recognise the name of the mission and connect it to the feelings of pain and hurting that happen as dozens of tough destroyers and frigates whale away on the poor battlecruiser.
At one point last night, I was trying to warp out to a safe spot to do some repairs, and the amount of red was increasing at a rate where I was almost afraid to watch - a bunch of new spawns had come in, and were doing silly amounts of damage. As the shooting stopped, I was warping out with 1% structure, and nothing else left at all.
The problem - or one of the problems - is with the frigates. I haven't yet been able to identify whether it's my particular kind of damage isn't hurting them, or they're just incredibly tough, or what, but it takes longer to take down a Guristas Guardian Guard frigate (that can't be what they're called, but it's what I remember seeing) than it does to take down 3 Guristas Troopers - and the Troopers are destroyers.
I got there in the end, though, albeit with considerable loss of drones, and I've improved the fitting on the Star Pike by another increment; guns for variable ranges, and more cap. I'll try this out on another few missions, and see how it feels. Shield rigs may also be called for.
EDIT: The difference made by the new fittings was incredible. I didn't even dip into armour on the next mission I got, which was another edition of The Blockade. Having an extra 20km or so in which to hit things made all the difference, I think; that and not running out of cap.
Posted by Drew Shiel at November 14, 2007 6:20 PM
Heavy drones, that would be the thing. I had light and medium. I've made some adjustments since, and things're working fairly well now.
Posted by: Drew Shiel at November 14, 2007 11:13 PM
Something's not right. I was able to shield tank most lvl 3 missions in a Myrmidon while my 5 heavy drones tore through frigates, destroyers and cruisers. Some shield hardeners were required, and a drone range extension rig. Just don't let the drones get targeted.
Posted by: Tassos Bassoukos at November 14, 2007 6:40 PM