f13.net

So with a new enthusiasm for EVE I am thinking about low cost/useful shit to fly. In the past as Caldari I usually fly Tackle Drakes or BBirds. I can now fly Falcons/Rooks/Cov-Ops/SB's and am training cyno but for day to day fleet/pick up action they're a bit expensive. My Drake fit is awesome and works when appropriate, and I won't fly Caldari BS in fleet so I'm thinking about disposable BBird fits when the Drake is not a good idea. (I really enjoy the EW game - it's not a sacrifice).

The two BBird fits I have come up with - I have Caldari Cruiser V and EW IV (in queue to V)

Blackbird, Live a bit fit

Damage Control I
Compulsive Signal Distortion Amplifier I

Halting Phase Inversion ECM I
Halting Phase Inversion ECM I
'Shade' I White Noise ECM
'Shade' I White Noise ECM
Large Shield Extender II
Invulnerability Field II

Heavy Missile Launcher II, Widowmaker Fury Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Widowmaker Fury Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Widowmaker Fury Heavy Missile
[empty high slot] ?? WHAT TO PUT HERE?

Medium Ionic Field Projector I
Medium Core Defence Field Extender I
Medium Core Defence Field Extender I

Shields: 5579 (EHP 16314)
Jam Range: 114km
Targetting range: 110km
DPS/Volley: 78/749

Obviously not a Damage Dealer, but has some ability to throw missiles at tackle/support ships.

--OR--

Blackbird, Paper BBird

Compulsive Signal Distortion Amplifier I
Compulsive Signal Distortion Amplifier I

Halting Phase Inversion ECM I
Halting Phase Inversion ECM I
'Shade' I White Noise ECM
'Shade' I White Noise ECM
CZ-4 Concussive Spatial Destabilizer ECM
Compulsive Ion Field ECM I

Heavy Missile Launcher II, Widowmaker Fury Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Widowmaker Fury Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Widowmaker Fury Heavy Missile
[empty high slot] ?? WHAT TO PUT HERE?

Medium Ionic Field Projector I
Medium Ionic Field Projector I
Medium Ionic Field Projector I


Shields: 5579 (EHP 4625)
Jam Range: 125km
Targetting range: 149km
DPS/Volley: 78/749

The big difference is obviously way crappier shields but increased range and ability to engage 6 targets ECM vs. 4.

My ability to fit utility high slots is near non-existant or I'd have rep/useful shit there.

The thing is that in my 3 or 4 months in GS fleets when I always flew either BBirds or drakes, my experience was if the BBird got targeted it was all over. A little extra survivability didn't do much. Of course that was with <3 million SP and now I have 6.5+.

Thoughts?

BBs get smoked hard, if you can't jam the attackers. I say tanking it won't save you anyway, so might as well ECM em.

That's why I always liked the super tanked scorpion. Scorps get targetted primary a ton.

Is there anything that can get your jam range up even higher? Range is your other defence.

"Long Distance Jamming" (optimal range) and "Frequency Modulation" (falloff) skillbooks and Centurion implants.

Yeah I'm thinking there's no point in tanking a BB at all. They explode if someone looks at them funny anyway, so I think I'll fit it for EW and range and just blow em up

A little honor tank to help you as your aligning out is good, but that's only to complement the fact that you are supposed to engage your jammers at range and run like the spacewind if you get locked-up. Be aware what's close to you. If the enemy is too close start warp, bookmark, warp back to the bookmark at your optimal.

Be aware if you warp back that if your warpin is in-line with a nearby bubble you will end up at the edge of that instead.  This will kill you.  I think that this means within 100km.  You need a warpin above, below or to the side of the bubbles as you look at the fight from your warpout (below is good because people tend to look at the fight from above and to the aside.