Posted - 2010.12.22 19:40:00 - [2]

 

Getting the Drake and BC4 is only a couple days. It's totally worth it.

-Liang

Posted - 2010.12.22 19:44:00 - [4]

 

Edited by: Barrak on 22/12/2010 19:46:25
Edited by: Barrak on 22/12/2010 19:45:18
Very good question.....

If you are running pure missions WITH support, then you are probably better off in a Drake asap........ HOWEVER, there is something (massive) to be said for a pilot that maximises their support skills in the smaller ships first.

Maximising skills before moving onto bigger ships is by far the better decision in the long run. Upgrading ships early normaly results in tears when said ships are lost due to the lack of support skills neeeded.

It's easier to fly a small ships with small skills than it is to fly a large ship with small skills.... much easier.

If you are still able to contribute to the gang with your Caracal, then personaly, with experience of losing ships being on my side, I would upgrade my skills before my ship.

All that said, dont just limit yourself to weapons.... as you upgrade to T2 weapons and mods, you will find you need more support skills (Mechanic, Electronics, Sheilds and Engineering) to actualy fit them (not to mention Weapon/ADvanced upgrades) and use them.

The best thing a new pilot can do is to concentrate on the support skills, especialyl once they have found a ship they like..... the Drake will still be there in a month and you will all the better a pilot for leaving it until then (or longer depending on skills).

It will be a rare case that an experienced player in the game suggests upgrading ships before skills......

All that said..... you gotta find the balance, flying a Caracal for 6 months and nothing else, can be somewhat boring :)

Regards

Barrak

Posted - 2010.12.22 19:51:00 - [6]

 

Edited by: Jaina Sunspot on 22/12/2010 19:51:46
Go for a Drake definatly. The ammount of stuff you can do in it is amazing. It isn't that long of a train, Cruiser 3 then get the Battlecruiser skill to 3-4 and with the right tanking mods most lvl 3's and eventually lvl 4's can not touch you.

Once you have it then work on the stuff you need for it. Here is a rough list of what you want and most of these will carry over to other ships.

PVE Skills

Battlecruiser IV(Dmg/Tank)
Tac Shield IV(for T2 Hardeners)
Shield Upgrades IV (for T2 Extenders)
Shield OP IV(Extra Tank)
Shield Management IV(Extra Tank)
Electronics V(Fitting T2)
Egineering IV-V(More Fitting Options)
Weapons Upgrade IV (IMPORTANT for both fitting and T2 BCU's)
Drones V, Drone Inter III-IV (Drone Dmg)
Scout Drone V (T2 Drones)
Rapid Launch/Warhead Upgrades III-IV (Missile Dmg)
Missile Bombardment/Projection III (Missile Range)
Guided Missile/Target Nav Prediction III (Acuracy)
Target Painting I (Accuracy)
Heavy Missile IV (Damage)
Heavy Missile V and Specialization IV(T2 Launchers and Fury Missiles)

PVP Skills

High Velocity Heam III (MWD)
Prop Jamming IV (Tackle)
Energy Emissions Sys IV (Neutralisers)
Heavy Assault V/Spec IV (Optional, Heavies work well)
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This is a list of Drake related skills you will want to focus on. She is a good PVE ship and can do lvl 4's fairly quick. If you have T2 Launchers even quicker since you have Fury Missiles for Battleships. The Tank Vs Gank Blows the Caracal out of the water.

I threw in the PVP skills for free in case you want to give it a go. Drake is a good all around ship for any task when fit right.

Posted - 2010.12.22 20:01:00 - [8]

 

Edited by: Barrak on 22/12/2010 20:03:00
hmmm....

Depends on what you are running.

If you put yourself into a Drake and you start to stuggle with some of the missions, or whatever it is you are doing, then drop it in favour of spending more time on skills.

YOU can be your best judge on that.

The Drake is a great ship. So, getting into one, has huge benefits, however, its a lot to lose. If you have a fair amount of support ISK wise, then go for the drake.

It all boils down to what you can afford....though, that said, it's the Drake this week, can you promise yourself to go back to support skills after that? I ask because after the Drake... the Raven is very nice too........ see a pattern emerging?

Like I said though.... you are your best judge.

I assume you are in Highsec?

Regards


Barrak

Posted - 2010.12.22 20:15:00 - [10]

 

Ignore the Drake, go straight for raven. Profit.

Posted - 2010.12.22 20:55:00 - [12]

 

Alara's right. Where the Raven is one of the best PvE ships out there the Drake is much more noob friendly and will allow you to use something effective and relatively safe( big tank ) while skilling up and building up isk for a Raven. Also longer-term should PvP become a priority you'll be far better served with the flavor-of-the-month Drake then a Raven.

Posted - 2010.12.22 21:03:00 - [14]

 

I noticed you mentioned you're still doing level 1 missions. If anything that's the thing you should work on first. You should by now have standings to do L2 at least unless you've only run a tiny handful of missions. Train Connections up to 3 to unlock L2s otherwise. Grind those until you unlock level 3 missions at least.

Originally by: Major Sackrash

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Originally by: Liang Nuren

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Getting the Drake and BC4 is only a couple days. It's totally worth it.

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Don't encourage more people to use the drake for the love of allah!!!!!

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It's ok, in about three days I'll have the skills to upgrade to Nighthawk and there will be one fewer Drake flying around. Balance will be preserved.

Posted - 2010.12.22 21:06:00 - [16]

 

I just loaded up Evemon...wanted to make sure I was right before saying anything...

I can already FLY the Drake. I have the minimum skills (Caldari Cruiser 3 and Battlecruisers 2)

Why do I need BC4?

Posted - 2010.12.22 21:09:00 - [18]

 

Originally by: Dramorn

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I just loaded up Evemon...wanted to make sure I was right before saying anything...

I can already FLY the Drake. I have the minimum skills (Caldari Cruiser 3 and Battlecruisers 2)

Why do I need BC4?

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You don't. It just gives you more tank and damage. I'd focus on getting your fittings to T2.

Posted - 2010.12.23 00:45:00 - [20]

 

Get yourself a decent Drake fit from someone.... maybe some here can post a nice L2/3/4 setup. I don't have one as I was beyond level 3 missions when the Drake (finally) came out.

Once you get the fit, throw it into EFT, not to turn you into an EFT warrior but to see what skills you need.

If you can produce the Deeps and the tank, then its worth going for it, in my opinion. If, however, which is probably the case, it looks a little loose... then just give it another weeks training.... just keep testing the fit every other day.

One point that is worth noting at this stage.... there are no words to describe how much of an overkill a Drake is for level 1 and 2 missions.

It will probably take you longer to kil stuff (unless you load standard launchers) and you will almost certainly be taking more damage.

The game is all about balance.........

Posted - 2010.12.23 04:48:00 - [22]

 

In addition to Jaina's list of pertinant skills you can add training Missle Launcher Operation to IV which opens up Warhead Upgrades for a 2% boost in missle damage per level.

Throw this Caracal fit into EFT and see what you need to train to equip and fit it:

[Caracal, L2 Mission]
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II

10MN Afterburner II
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
Invulnerability Field II
Invulnerability Field II

Assault Missile Launcher II, Bloodclaw Fury Light Missile
Assault Missile Launcher II, Bloodclaw Fury Light Missile
Assault Missile Launcher II, Bloodclaw Fury Light Missile
Assault Missile Launcher II, Bloodclaw Fury Light Missile
Assault Missile Launcher II, Bloodclaw Fury Light Missile

Medium Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Medium Core Defence Field Extender I
Medium Core Defence Field Extender I


Hobgoblin II x1
Hobgoblin II x1

Train for the modules installed in this set-up (T2 AML's optional) while you are working your way through L2 missions in your Caracal.

When you can equip everything in this fit you will be more than able to fly a Drake in L3 missions.