EVE!

[Martimus]

If you are going Gallente, the Vexor is probably the best mission cruiser. Just put some rails in the highs, resistance and a medium armor rep in the lows, cap rechargers in the mids (and a propulsion mod to go faster when you need it). Draw aggro with the rail gun, then let your drones kill the target.

I haven't done this in a few years though, so the smaller details are a little sketchy.

 

[Markbnj]

Thanks for the tips, guys. The main reason I have an Exequeror is the larger cargo hold. I intended to use it primarily for exploration/mining in signatures. But you're right, it's not much of a combat ship. I also wasn't using very smart tactics last night: went barreling in and drew aggro from the whole crowd. I could get away with that on lvl 1 missions but not, apparently, lvl 2.

I didn't realize it was better to use small, as opposed to medium, combat drones. Looks like I'll be fitting out a new ship tonight .

 

[Red Storm]

I didn't realize it was better to use small, as opposed to medium, combat drones. Looks like I'll be fitting out a new ship tonight .

General rule of thumb for drones (in regards to PVE):

Against frigates use small.

Against cruisers use medium.

Against battleships use heavy.

For battlecruisers it's either medium or heavy, depending on several factors (strength of the battlecruiser, distance from you as heavies are much slower than medium, your drone skill level, etc.).

 

[Markbnj]

Can I expect frigates on all lvl 2 missions?

 

[Martimus]

Can I expect frigates on all lvl 2 missions?

You can expect frigates in all missions, but also expect to see larger ships as well. A Vexor has enough Drone space to hold a full set (5) of medium drones AND two full sets (10) of light drones.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Oh, I forgot to post these kills:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IizftjOv1M

Yeah, wormhole space has just started into a all out war with 2-3 main factions vying for control. Since we hate the russians, we joined up against them. We got called in for backup when a russian group attempted to take over a C5. We killed all their capitals they sent in.

I need to start playing more again. I just finished up training heavy interdictors V (just need to get heavy assault ships to V and I will essentially be a cruiser god with all race cruisers pretty much maxed out (except for drone skills)).

 

[Markbnj]

Heh, I obviously need to learn some tactics. I fitted out a Vexor and got owned hard in the first L2 security mission I tried with it. I had four Warrior I's, two railguns and two blasters. I went for the longest range railguns I could use and afford, with an eye toward the ranged pulling tactics suggested above. But when I warped into the location the whole crew aggro'd on me immediately, and with their beam weapons they were able to hit me from at least as far away as I could hit them. My tank just completely melted. I ran away twice and repaired, but on the third attempt they got me before I could warp. First ship lost and about 8 mil. ISK down the tubes. I was running a medium shield booster I, cap recharger II, three reactor control I's. The four Warriors I was able to deploy with Drones IV just weren't much help, since I couldn't separate the mobs, and was taking fire from all sides.

 

[novasatori]

sounds like you need to work on your fit and probably skills to go with it

you can try checking here:
http://eve.battleclinic.com/item_database.php?id=i626

 

[M0rphz0r]

Heh, I obviously need to learn some tactics. I fitted out a Vexor and got owned hard in the first L2 security mission I tried with it. I had four Warrior I's, two railguns and two blasters. I went for the longest range railguns I could use and afford, with an eye toward the ranged pulling tactics suggested above. But when I warped into the location the whole crew aggro'd on me immediately, and with their beam weapons they were able to hit me from at least as far away as I could hit them. My tank just completely melted. I ran away twice and repaired, but on the third attempt they got me before I could warp. First ship lost and about 8 mil. ISK down the tubes. I was running a medium shield booster I, cap recharger II, three reactor control I's. The four Warriors I was able to deploy with Drones IV just weren't much help, since I couldn't separate the mobs, and was taking fire from all sides.

I highlighted a few problems with your fitting. Been a while since I last played Eve, but as far as I remember the Vexor should be armor-tanked. Throw out the shield booster, get yourself a Medium Armor Repairer II, a Damage Control II (always a good idea to fit one of those!), 1600mm Rolled Tungsten Plates - and Cap Rechargers to make sure you won't run out of juice. You should never, ever have to fit 3 reactor controls.
Also, you shouldn't mix long-range and short-range weapons. Drop the blasters, stick with the railguns and try to kite the enemy, if they get too close, sick the Warriors on them.

 

[Markbnj]

The third Reactor Control unit I just tossed in there because after the weapons I was pretty close to maxed on grid, and didn't know what else to put in the slot.

Some good ideas above, so I will fit out another ship tonight and see how it goes. The kiting thing I don't quite get yet. I played archers in DAoC and WoW and I could kite mobs all day long . Last night I couldn't get the hang of it. The Vexor is only good for 160-ish meters per second, and I couldn't stay ahead of the enemies. I have a 10mn microwarp, good for 1000-ish mps but it evaporates capacitor, and I believe it has some negative effects on your signature in combat. My biggest issue last night was I didn't have control of positioning when I got to the camp. I seemed to get their attention pretty much as soon as I warped in.

 

[M0rphz0r]

If you're getting aggro as soon as you come out of warp, here's one thing you could try: Make a bookmark and warp out, then warp to the bookmark at a distance. Might not work if it's a multi-stage mission with several warp gates, though.

 

[Martimus]

Here is a fit you can use. I just made this in EFT using all meta 3 parts (and a DCII, since meta 3 damage controls are ungodly expensive).
highs:
2x 200mm Carbide Railgun
Salvager I
Drone Link Augmentor I

mid slots:
2x F-b10 Nominal Capacitor Regenerator
Y-S8 Hydrocarbine I Afterburners

low slots:
N-Type EM hardener (specific to enemy type you are fighting)
N-Type Thermic Hardener (specific to enemy type to you fighting
Medium Automated I Carapace Restoration
Damage Control II

Switch the hardeners to the damage types the rats in the mission give you, and this should work for you. If you can afford it, buy 3 medium capacitor control circuit I's and fit them as well, to make it cap stable.

 

[Markbnj]

Cool, Martimus. Thanks very much. Hopefully my skills will cover all or most of that gear.

 

[Michael]

You also need to make sure the rats are shooting you, not your drones. You can control up to 5 drones. Warriors are pretty weak for larger targets, hammerheads are much better. Make sure you are using the specific hardeners for the mission. Control your drones, don't let them aggro groups that are not yet in the fight.

http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Missions_guide

www.eve-survival.org

Michael

 

[Genx87]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/26/health/bodybuilder-gamer-avatar-inspiration/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

 

[Markbnj]

You also need to make sure the rats are shooting you, not your drones. You can control up to 5 drones. Warriors are pretty weak for larger targets, hammerheads are much better. Make sure you are using the specific hardeners for the mission. Control your drones, don't let them aggro groups that are not yet in the fight.

http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Missions_guide

www.eve-survival.org

Michael

I do find the Hammerheads to be much more effective. Still can only control four of them, but Drones V is about 3/4 trained.

At the moment if I am going to swap gear for specific damage types I need to figure out some way to determine what the damage will be before I head into the mission. I think there is some skill that lets you swap gear in space but if so I don't have it yet.

 

[Martimus]

I do find the Hammerheads to be much more effective. Still can only control four of them, but Drones V is about 3/4 trained.

At the moment if I am going to swap gear for specific damage types I need to figure out some way to determine what the damage will be before I head into the mission. I think there is some skill that lets you swap gear in space but if so I don't have it yet.

You can look up the mission ahead of time to find out who the opponent is. Each opponent (other than Angel I believe) will only dish out 2 types of damage. You then fit those two hardeners, and you are good to go.

I believe the place I looked up missions was eve-survival or something like that. I haven't run a mission since 2009, or maybe even 2008, so my memory is a little hazy.

 

[Fallen Kell]

http://eve-survival.org/wikka.php?wakka=MissionReports

That is the place to lookup your missions. I still have it bookmarked because I use it for reference when running wholehole sites (since most of the time I am doing sites in random other wormholes so don't have them memorized, and if you screw up and kill the trigger first you will very quickly be flying back in your pod).

 

[Markbnj]

Thanks, guys. So, is there any sort of "camp" etiquette in Eve? Or is it completely open season on everything? I ask because last night I was scanning up Gurista hideouts in Caldari space, and had just found a nice one and started killing pirates when a heavy cruiser warps in, salvo kills everything in the pocket, and then warps out. I've warped in on people working areas before and I always warp out and look for something else.

 

[Lonbjerg]

Thanks, guys. So, is there any sort of "camp" etiquette in Eve? Or is it completely open season on everything? I ask because last night I was scanning up Gurista hideouts in Caldari space, and had just found a nice one and started killing pirates when a heavy cruiser warps in, salvo kills everything in the pocket, and then warps out. I've warped in on people working areas before and I always warp out and look for something else.

Anything goes in EvE...if you dare...simple as that.

 

[ichy]

Got a very nice expensive kill today.

http://eve.battleclinic.com/killboard/killmail.php?id=17841481

The guy said he fell asleep at a safe spot. Whoops!

 

[KaOTiK]

Obviously wasn't that safe

 

[ichy]

Yeah. This guy has a habit of losing very expensive Tengus.

I envy whoever got this kill.

http://eve.battleclinic.com/killboard/killmail.php?id=17576844

 

[Martimus]

Very nice. I first thought you killed him 1 v 1, but see it was afk. Still a very nice kill!

 

[ichy]

He started shooting back when his shields were down to about 50%. My alt was on the way so I could've nailed him even if he'd been on the ball.