f13.net

Keep it Simple Stupid   :wink:

So, Destroyers.  I asked in general chat over the weekend after looking in to them and running the numbers on plain ol' Frigates vs. Destroyers vs. Cruisers (vs. Interceptors which what with Frig V required are going to be a ways off).

As I see it, Destroyers use Small Arms but themselves have the signature of a medium (cruiser class) vessel whereas Cruisers can be outfitted with Mediums.  Cruisers also cost about 10-20 times a Frigate.  Destroyers on the other hand (Minm. Thrasher) cost 4-5 times a Frigate and make great use of all the Small weapons class skills I already have.

I have experiemented running missions and ratting with a Destroyer and I'm enjoying having 8 high-power slots to use (only one missle hardpoint for you rocket jockeys) as well as the range bonus to Projectile weapons.

Are they just not well suited for PvP roles or what do people think?  I'll always keep a couple Rifters outfitted for tackling duty on hand but I expect to be flying the Thrasher for mission and escort/ratting duty until I can further train Cruiser and Med. Weapon skills and can afford to be losing those.   :wink:

They aren't really very good for PvP. At about a million each you can't really consider them disposable like you would a frigate. They're easy to hit and can't take much damage before they blow up.

I am still at work, so this idea might be way off, but wouldn't it be possible to mount a whole lot of nos' on a destroyer ?

I am not sure how effective small energy drains are against cruisers, but at least you should be shield/armor tank for a long time.

You can always mount small guns on a cruiser - the idea that you are wasting your small gun skills when you move to a cruiser isn't valid.  The grid and cpu savings from doing that let you play around more with a lot of the other goodies that you wouldn't normally be able to mount as an underskill cruiser pilot with med guns.  If you think a destroyer chews up frigates try a cruiser with small guns and big shields/armor tank.

Destroyers are ok for running lvl 1 - 2 missions and for belt ratting down to about 0.4. I also run level 3 courier missions in mine when the cargo is small enough (because its much faster than my badger 2)

I'd imagine they'd be ok in fleet PvP _if_ you warped in after the main fleet (after the enemy have all picked their targets) and took out the tacklers (which they should have no problem doing)

Yeah there are some nasty setups (the Duramaller for example, Maller+small guns+1600mn plate) for cruisers that can wtfpwn frigates with impunity.

Yeah, thats wht I am using.

Destroyers are good for adding a little firepower to a frig gang, or anti-frigate capability to a heavy fleet.  Once you're fitting battleships, destroyers are pretty disposable (your BS guns cost more each than a fully fitted Destroyer).

--Dave