The fit:
Arbalest Siege Missile Launcher x3
Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Core Probe Launcher
Cold-Gas I Arcjet Thrusters
Warp Disruptor II
Medium Shield Extender II
Nonofibre Internal Structure II x2
Ballistic Control System II
Small Warhead Calefaction Catalyst I
Small Bay Loading Accelerator I
The hunt:
I had tried camping a radar site, but things had not worked out. Rather than a battleship (or even a battlecruiser) the site was run by a Tengu. Because of the comparatively small sig radius, I thought my dps would not likely be enough to solo the cruiser. I called for backup, but the Tengu finished the site before backup arrived.
However, we did have a small fleet now, and we stumbled on a Ferox at a belt, so we (myself and two battlecruisers) all jumped in.
I took up a position about 50km from the fight as I did not need to be in point range. I aligned to a celestial and opened fire, with impressive results (okay I was impressed, but then I usually fly low dps ships). We quickly subdued the Ferox, and he agreed to pay a ransom of 60 million ISK.
This underscored a problem with long range missiles. When he agreed to a ransom, I already had two volleys in the air, so although I immediately shut down my launchers, I nearly blew him up via delayed dps!
However, language difficulties meant that the Ferox had thought he was paying a ransom of 60,000 ISK rather than 60,000,000 ISK. When he could not pay the agreed ransom we refunded him his payment and destroyed his ship.
2011.11.20 13:40
Victim: Arch3Ang3l
Corp: Reblier Ancbeu Administration of Defence
Alliance: None
Faction: None
Destroyed: Ferox
System: Hevrice
Security: 0.4
Damage Taken: 19712
Involved parties:
Name: Susitna
Security: -10.0
Corp: The Tuskers
Alliance: None
Faction: None
Ship: Hurricane
Weapon: Hurricane
Damage Done: 8348
Name: Ronan Jacques (laid the final blow)
Security: -9.7
Corp: The Tuskers
Alliance: None
Faction: None
Ship: Drake
Weapon: Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Missile
Damage Done: 5588
Name: Taurean Eltanin
Security: -10.0
Corp: The Tuskers
Alliance: None
Faction: None
Ship: Purifier
Weapon: 'Arbalest' Siege Missile Launcher
Damage Done: 4479
Name: Serpentis Watchman / Serpentis Corporation
Damage Done: 1297
Destroyed items:
Thunderbolt Heavy Missile, Qty: 10
Heavy Missile Launcher I, Qty: 2
Shield Recharger I
Photon Scattering Field I
Medium Shield Extender I
Signal Amplifier II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Warp Core Stabilizer I
Scourge Heavy Missile, Qty: 15 (Cargo)
Antimatter Charge M, Qty: 2978 (Cargo)
Dropped items:
Heavy Missile Launcher I, Qty: 3
Thunderbolt Heavy Missile, Qty: 40
250mm Railgun I, Qty: 2
Antimatter Charge M, Qty: 60
Invulnerability Field I
Warp Disruptor I
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Serpent F.O.F. Light Missile I, Qty: 100 (Cargo)
Thunderbolt Heavy Missile, Qty: 1850 (Cargo)
Mining Drone I (Drone Bay)
Strangely, although I am on the killmail, I don't actually receive any credit from Battleclinic.
Afterthoughts:
This was not a challenging fight, and if I had been in my Vengeance or Malediction I would not have bothered to post about it. However, there are still learning points here for a bomber.
I was the last one to land at the fight, so I had less time to inflict damage. However, I still did more damage than my Vengeance would have done if I had been first on the scene, so I'm happy with the contribution that the Purifier seems to be able to make to BC fights. More and more I am of the opinion that even if I can't solo in this thing, there is a future here for fleet dps/ewar; I'm certainly not regretting the training time I have put in.
However, this was my first real experience with the dps delay that plagues long range missiles. While not a big deal in this case, I could see it resulting in lost dps in a fast moving fleet fight.
I was not fired upon during the engagement, so I can't yet comment on the MSE, but I certainly did not feel disadvantaged by the lack of mwd; sig bloom can kill you just as fast as lack of speed.
good Stuff, I love my Manti.
ReplyDeleteOut on a roam last night
2 Claws 1 Kitsume and Me in Manti.
Cane Warps in.
The Kitsume Pilot wasn't feeling too hot and wasn't paying much attention he never noticed he had drifted towards a wreck... Well guess what BANG! Cane warps in and Inta Pops the Kitsume. Being newish to Pvp The Cane warp to 0 on the Wreck/Kitsume so I assumed it was Auto Fitted... Damn we can't take it I was thinking.
Now the Cane had started to WMD around make safes I Assume. I'm following him closely ( For a Laugh I got right to 5000 off him...I survived :P )
Anyway some time later same gate same cane
2 Claws and Me.
Now the Cane is warping around his safes trying to catch a Claw... well this is where we found its an Arty Cane Its managed to get in range of a Claw but lucky enough My boy was fast enough and warp to the other side of the grid with his shield gone ^^. The Claw Pilot decides a little smack talk is in order a quick witty one liner later... Now We fancy are chances againsts an arty fit Cane so I get within 50k (I did not know the range of an Arty fit Cane) now after the local chat I must have forgot to unclick local and typed 50K off him... gutted why oh why did I not just speak into my Mic....
Anyway new plan.
Never used torps at close range
I was gonna creep to 5000 off him and have the claws warp to 0 and we all get under his guns.
About to throw this into action when a Manti in his corp come from the gate ack ok we can handle that... another new face in local from the other end of system a Cynabal is on D-scan from his Allicance... damn we all say together... time to leave.
Well it was a failed evening if we had just gone for the Cane earlier it would have been a different night... Ack Well got another Roam Planned tonight.
Your Blog has really opened my Eyes Thank you very much :)
I've found Drakes (so missile boats in general) and Arty fit ships (projectiles, lasers, hybrids) to be the real problem. Granted, I can't shoot at 50km (I have to be 35 or less, skills need work), but at 50km I think drones aren't a real issue. That said, at 50km with the sig bloom, you're easy prey for a missile boat or arty boat. The MSE will give you that buffer if you miss the yellow boxing.
ReplyDeleteHowever, and I could be wrong about this, close range is probably a more common fit than long range for battlecruisers in low than in null. By and large, close range fits will have trouble hitting beyond 35km even with good skills and the ranged ammo, so you should be (mostly) safe at 50km.
When he could not pay the agreed ransom we refunded him his payment and destroyed his ship.
ReplyDeleteNever let it be said that there is no courtesy among pirates.
Couple of responses to the previous comment: I can't speak for "lowsec" in general, but I know that among factional warfare fleets in your area, range-fit BCs (HML Drakes and 720mm artillery Hurricanes) are practically the standard. It's been a good while since I've seen militia FCs specifically ask for short-range fits. I won't say that long-range fits are used exclusively, at risk of invoking sod's law, but as they're requested more frequently and pilots have more time to train for them, long-range BC fits are becoming increasingly common.
" long-range BC fits are becoming increasingly common."
ReplyDeleteThat's the standard fleet fit in null too. most often it's a shield nano bc fleet because staying at zero is asking for trouble vs. a bs fleet.
A few months ago I'd see exclusively close range battlecruisers for roams (nanocanes mostly). Since last month they've become all but extinct. I only see goon fleets, kitchen-sink fleets, and the VERY rare evoke small gang running around with them. Brick, MM, and Cascade all use Long Range fits last I checked (Today for Cascade, 2 weeks for MM and Brick), meaning 720's. Currently 650's are being reviewed but will likely be rejected on the point of optimal range.
ReplyDeleteI find it surprising that FW and null seem in lockstep with this move from autos to arties. My only guess for this switch is to overcome reps via alphastrike, which is at the least Cascade's reason for this switch.
I had a thought, and maybe it's something you and the Tuskers have already considered:
ReplyDeleteWhy does no one carry a ship scanner on their ship? I understand that it uses a midslot which can be used for more tactical purpose, but if your end goal is ransom, and you've got gang, not everyone needs tackle. Surely one person can spare an EWAR slot for a Ship scanner. (I actually think the bomber would be best suited for this: you can evade, you can lock quickly, and you can evaluate the readout under the safety of a cloak.) As it's been said, knowledge is the most powerful weapon you have available to you.
(We don't generally use these in null either, and I have guesses stemming from this why you don't)
As a secondary effect, A ship scanner does report the target's capacitor level. If you watched Clarion Call 3 and didn't know how they knew what the capacitor levels on ships were, this is probably how (it's the only method I know, I may be mistaking this function with the cargo scanner)
As a tertiary effect, the ship scanner will give you a rough idea of the target's fit (if it matters. Does not return exact fits in my experience).
And just as a question, what prompted a ransom offer of 60 million ISK? It'd be akin to my flying a Cyclone and being asked to pay 60 million for it to live, when at best the whole fit costs 30, including the hull. (I realize you likely did not make the demand, something to consider anyways.)
Often the cloaky probe scout in a gang will be cargo/ship scanner equipped for dealing with mauraders/t3,s etc
ReplyDeleteIn a combat ship the loss of slots makes it not worth fitting those modules and tbh..its not worth risking the scouts security for something like a ferox ...
Hiya! Do you have any blogging education or this is just a natural gift? Waiting forward to hear your answer.
ReplyDelete