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Urgg Boolean
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
185
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Posted - 2012.07.24 23:20:00 -
[1] - Quote
I can't get to SiSi as I'm working back2back 12 hour shifts. So let me ask:
1) How does the ice mining skill apply ? To the rigs or the mods?
2) How do they alter existing ships ? Like, do you log in to find that the existing rigs have been auto deleted?
3) If we buy ships now, I am assuming that they will be auto-converted into the new versions when the patch hammer drops ?
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Urgg Boolean
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
185
|
Posted - 2012.07.25 15:27:00 -
[2] - Quote
Had time to get onto SiSI and have some feedback. I have not really flown Mackinaws before, but that was my focus in SiSi.
Before the Mack info: that issue with screen dimming on my lap top is back. It was gone for so long, but apparently it's back with the latest patch in SiSi.
MACK:
1) cap constrained
- using toons with varying skill sets, cap depletes in 3 mins using an active buffer/resist tank filling all mid slots
- I used an anti-EM rig plus passive thermic amp plus 3X invul = stable @ 4% worst case
- used a Power DIag in a low to get stable @ ~11%
- cap still depletes if I cycle strippers more than once per full cycle
2) CPU constrained
- with above semi-active tank, a CPU booster was needed.
- forget an MLU as it pushes cap beyond limits
- can use MLU with full passive tank, but it's that same purpose defeating issue of more tank/less yield or vice versa.
3) target constrained
- only 4 target locks - maybe this is normal for a Mack, but it seems way too wimpy. I could live with 5, and 6 would be great.
- 27K targeting range unbuffed by fleet booster
- can't target BS Ratz in 0.0 as they orbit at 29K+. Must wait for Ratz to get close enough in hi sec.
- can't have 4 roidz targeted cuz you must leave an open target slot for ratz
5) Good News :
- the buffer/resist tank described above easily handled two rat BSs and 3 frigs. Not even a problem.
- Hammerheads X10 (two ships in fleet) took out BSs fine, although slowly - tank about 75% after first BS torched, 85% while killing 2nd BS.
- config: between 48K and 53K EHP depending on toon/skills (in fleet without Orca, in-game, not EFT guessing)
- all resists in the high 80s
- fairly wimpy shield at ~5.5-7K depending on toon/skills
LOWS
CPU Booster thingy II (may or may not need - but it's close any way you slice it)
PDU II
DCU II
MIDS
Thermic Amp II
Invuln II X 3
HIGHs
Strippers I X2
RIGS
anti-EM I
Shield Extender I
This was a quickie loadout for testing. I'd love to see people's fits for the Mack to get an idea of balancing tank/yield with all the constraints listed above. Hopefully, somone has devised a more optimal loadout... |
Urgg Boolean
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
185
|
Posted - 2012.07.25 17:47:00 -
[3] - Quote
There seem to be some recurring themes that I'll address without quoting a wall of undented text:
1) insuffucuent space for crystals:
While I agree it would better to have max crystal storage space for flexibility as a soloist, in a fleet you can just assign boats to ONLY certain rocks such that each boat only needs a few different crystals. ALso, I know it's archaic, but you can have your hauler jettison crystals for you and/or refit if you have to haul solo style. DOes not seem like a big issue to me.
2) Mining is boring:
Yes it is. I personally prefer longer cycles so I can relax, sip barley wine, read a book, and occassionally look at my screen and tweak things. My main is the Orca pilot in our fleet Ops for this very reason. But when I tested the Mack out on SiSi, I was really liking the long cycle times and huge ore bay so I could enjoy some quality time with a good book while doing otherwise brainless mining. Faster cycle/jettison/move ore times would only make STOP mining. I couldn't do it - it's mindless keystroking. The new Mack is just what the doctor ordered from my perspective. I finally can give CCP some applause.
3) Ice yield
Yup - the Mack is the loser. Hulk is the winner. I got back on SiSI and mined ice in 0.0. The Mack is a pathetic shade of it's former self. The Hulk is fine at ice though in terms of yield. Looks like CCP wants the gankers to still have ice mining bots available as paper thin tanked gank bait. I think it fits the new "role" based functions for each boat. I'm good with that. Yes - it means ice mining is just as dangerous as it was before IF you want max yield. Or, use the Mack wirth a good tank and less yield more safely. It's your choice - but I am glad we have these choices available now.
4) Rigs determine the role:
This bugs me a little. It eans you have to buy two boats and rig them differently if you want to mine ice compared to ore. Ditto for Merx. Since this is no different than before (Hulk = ore / Mack = ice) I guess I'm okay with that part of it.
The part I don't like is that if I burn a rig slot for an Ice thingy, my tank is wimpier. This defeats the new role of the Mack and therefore should not be done in this way. One strange idea is to allow the mining rigs to be removed without destruction, but I'll bet that would be a hot button item for some people. |
Urgg Boolean
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
187
|
Posted - 2012.07.26 11:47:00 -
[4] - Quote
Am I missing something? I can't find the new mining frigate on SiSi ? You know, the one in the concept art from the dev blog.
Please don't tell me that the "new" mining frigate is now the skiff? I was really looking forward to the new ship design. I'd buy one for looks, and just use it for hauling or something... |
Urgg Boolean
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
187
|
Posted - 2012.07.26 12:02:00 -
[5] - Quote
Annette Aumer wrote:Newest build up on Sisi
no crystal size reduction
no cargobay expansion
but Ore bays on the Retreiver and Mac have been reduced and the bonus has been reduced from 10% to 5%
Boo! Hiss!!
TBH I don't really care about the cargo bay/crystal issue. But the size of the ore bay was excellent. I'm disappointed they reduced it. As it was at 37.5K, it took roughly 30 mins to fill it up. That seemed perfect for the role of the boat. Now, it'll be less perfect. |
Urgg Boolean
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
189
|
Posted - 2012.07.29 20:09:00 -
[6] - Quote
I can live with (and actually like) all the proposed mining ship changes except one: Mackinaw :: max targets = 4. This was fine when it was a dedicated ice miner.
Now, it's feels like a handicap in actual usage tests I have been doing on SiSi.
Can you please adjust the Mack so "max targets = 5" ? (6 would better.) |
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