Gavin DeVries
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Posted - 2009.04.22 00:09:00 -
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Ok, first things first. Train Social to level 3, then get Connections to level 3 and Negotiation to level 3. You can go to level 4 in all of these if you want. Here's why:
You must have a certain minimum standing with an agent or the corporation the agent works for in order to run missions for that agent. Every time you complete a mission, you'll get a standing increase with the agent and a smaller standing increase with the corporation. The Social skill increases the amount of standing you gain. Connections gives you free standing. Negotiation increases the amount of money you're paid for the missions. The first two help short circuit the process of climbing the ladder.
Basically you find the highest level and quality agent you can use in the corporation you want to work for, and run missions for him. Eventually you'll earn enough corporate standing to move to a better agent, either higher quality or higher level. As this happens you move up. You need roughly a 2.0 standing to use level 2 agents, 4.0 standing to use level 3 agents, and 6.0 standing to use level 4 agents. It varies up or down based on the quality level of the agent.
A Caracal is a cruiser. Level 2 missions are designed around cruisers. Level 1s are designed around frigates, level 3s around battlecruisers, and level 4 missions are designed for battleships. Nothing says you can't complete them in other types of ships, but that's what they were designed for. Some are very easy and some are very hard, even in the same level.
Generally speaking, level 1 missions will be entirely frigates in the opposition. You will rarely see a cruiser to fight. Level 2 missions still have a bunch of frigates, but cruisers become common and occasionally a battlecruiser will show up. Level 3 missions have plenty of cruiser and battlecruisers are common. Battleships show up occasionally, and frigates are in smaller numbers. However, the frigates are typically elite frigates that will web you and warp scramble you. Level 4 missions tend to have hordes of battleships and battlecruisers, while the smaller ships tend to be elites.
I haven't looked at the fitting you found, but you can run level 1 missions in a Caracal. Fit it with Assault Launchers (not heavy assault); these shoot light missiles, which are intended to shoot at frigates. You can still use assault launchers in level 2 missions since there are more frigates than cruisers there.
As to what to train, I recommend you get Electronics and Engineering to V. Get Weapon Upgrades to 4. Since you're Caldari, get Energy Systems Operation, Energy Management, Shield Operation, Shield Management, and Caldari Cruiser to 4. Also, if you plan on going down the missile route, take Missile Launcher Operation to 5, Standard Launchers to 4, Rapid Launch, Missile Bombardment, and Target Navigation Prediction to 4. Once Missile Operation gets to 5, get Guided Missile Precision to 4, and Warhead Upgrades to 4. You'll probably also want Tactical Shield Manipulation, Shield Upgrades, and Energy Grid Upgrades to 4.
Yes, that sounds like a lot of skills, but those will give you a good basis for any missile boat you happen to jump into. Tac Shield Manip lets you use shield hardeners, Shild Upgrades lets you use extenders and boosters (by the way, it you use a shield booster you'll also want to take Shield Compensation to level 4), while Energy Grid Upgrades let's you fit cap rechargers and the like. Your eventual goal is to be able to use tech 2 of every module you fit on the ship. It's a bit longer to use tech 2 weapons than it is to use the other modules.
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