FlightGlobal
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Posted - 2010.07.11 22:53:00 -
[1]
HiNi there,
first off this is an alt, but I am a scout in a large coalition.
I would say a couple of things regarding your question:
1: TYPE OF SCOUT
U must remember that scouts can have specalist roles, not just the old +1/+2/-1/-2 fleet scout- although being a +/- scout (number of jumps ahead/behind of main fleet) is certainly the most common scouting role, u must remember that there are others, and that they may overlap depending on what your up to and what your FC needs. They include:
- Tackle.
- Cyno/cov ops cyno.
- Probing
- long range recce. ie sent way ahead, sometimes hours before a fleet is even formed to find targets in hostile territory, including POS locations, ships/fleet locations, and current activity.
- Warp in. ie finding a warp in location for the rest of the fleet or long range ships.
- safe spot and warp ins on gates at grid distances.
- Deapth recce. Sent days ahead of a campaign to establish 'pattern of life' intel. Ie what bases are active, who uses them, what alliances are friendly to the target, what jump bridges are there, what routes are most used/least used, where might jump bridge routes be, what ship types/fits and fleet compositions are used?
While the above may not nessisarily change they way u fit/fly a scouting ship (cov op or whatever else u may fly), it's important to know before u undock as u may want to change ship/fit.
In terms of skills:
1) get in the ship u want to fly (cov op/recon/or even t3). Get it up to level 4.
2) get level at least 4 in all Sub cap navigation skills - u will need these. (come back and do lvl 5 later if u want but it's worth getting 5 in them all).
3) get level 4/5 in the skill that let's u fly cloaked (cov ops?).
4) get scanning skills to level 4 in all related skills (eg astrometrics, astrometric rangefinding, astrometric pinpointing and astrometric triangulation etc).
5) get level 3/4/5 in ewar skills- I don't bother with these, but if u are required to tackle and wait for support to kill your target ewar is what keeps u alive.
6) tackle skills- learn to use a web and a point at lvl 4/5.
Fitting:
- I for one don't even bother fitting guns to my cov ops- if u need to use them u are probably already dead. - i do sometimes fit bombs for a giggle tho.
- cov ops cloaking device t2- u ain't a proper scout if u can't warp cloaked.
- point+ewar mods as required.
- cyno as required.
- probe launcher as required (but best fitted as a rule unless u need it off for some reason).
- overdrives in the lows where possible- that extra cloaked speed will come in usefull.
Most important:
Short of actually having a cov op and a cov op cloaking device, the most important skills for a scout can't be bought or trained- that is why I love scouting, coz while there may be a lot of scouts in eve, there are not many good scouts. To be a good scout u need (amount other things) to be:
- a good listener.
- Able to communicate intel quickly, concisely and precisly to your fc either using voice comms or typing.
- able to predict/understand your fc's intentions, someimes without being told.
- able to not draw too much attention to youself.
- be able to predict enemy movements.
- have excellent knowledge of system layouts and routes.
- be able to I'd ship classes visually by size/hull type.
- u can't be a km *****.
- u have to be selfless and do an often thankless job.
- most importantly, u have to be patient.
I am sure u will love it, and practice is the nest way to learn. Feel free to mail me in game if u have more questions. A good place to learn the trade is a corporation/alliance called 'suddenly ninjas' - they fly almost exclusivly in cov op type ships and are always happy to help people, even those not in thier Corp/alliance.
GL HF!
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