Toshiro GreyHawk
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Posted - 2011.05.08 05:07:00 -
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The first thing to understand about ships - is that there is no one best solution for everyone. Different people have different goals and priorities, skills and money.
Mining Vessels:
1) Rookie ships ... it doesn't make much difference. The Velator has 2 drones but I'd not cross train for that. None of them can carry more than one mining laser. If you're brand new - go out into the belts and do Mine & Return, then sell the raw ore until you have 20k - then buy a mining frigate. Repackage your rookie ship twice and you've got two free mining lasers in your items hangar to put on that mining frigate.
2) Mining Frigates - are varied so it depends a little on what you want.
a) The Tormentor - 2 mining lasers, one drone, allows you to put 3 expanded cargo holds in it's lows - but - only has one mid slot, making you chose between having a tank and an AB. You don't need an ore scanner for a mining frigate but that's another choice. One drone. If you're doing Mine & Return - the extra cargo space helps but if you're mining into a jet can it makes less difference (though it still helps).
b) The Bantam - two mining lasers, one drone, two low slots, slightly better than the Navitas as a miner.
c) The Navitas - two mining lasers, one drone, two low slots, slightly better than the Bantam in combat.
d) The Burst - sucks - two mining lasers, NO drone, one low slot. Stay in .9 and above until you have the money for a Scythe or cross train to someone elses ships.
Mining Cruisers:
1) The Osprey: 3 mining lasers with a 20% output boost per level of Caldari Cruiser trained. 20m3 drone capacity. Combat - support.
2) The Scythe: 3 mining lasers with a 20% output boost per level of Minmatar Cruiser trained. 5m3 drone capacity. Combat - support.
3) The Vexor: 4 mining lasers (no boost). 100m3 drone capacity, with a 20% boost in drone effectiveness per level of Gallente Cruiser Trained. This is a decent miner and a good combat ship.
4) The Arbitrator: 2 mining lasers (no boost). 150m3 drone capacity, with a 20% boost in drone effectiveness per level of Amarr Cruiser Trained. This is a good combat ship but a terrible miner.
The two Drone Boats are both good combat ships whereas the two Mining Cruisers are only support ships but better miners (though you can certainly put weapons on them). So it depends on what you want to do. The Vexor is the best all around ship (if you've got good drone skills). The Osprey is the best dedicated Miner.
All you need to get started with a factions ships - is faction Frigate II - so if you want to move over to the Caldari Line of Miners (Badger > Osprey) you can do it in a very short time.
Training a Cruiser is optional though. You actually don't even need to train for frigates to get into a mining barge.
So, say you're Amarr - and you're mining in a Tormentor - you could get a Procurer - rather than spend time training Amarr Cruisers just so you can use an Arbitrator. If you're character is only going to be a miner - then it doesn't matter if the Arbitrator is a good combat ship. Besides you might not have your drone skills all that high.
That is why the much maligned Procurer is an option. You may however - be better off financially - just waiting and getting into the Retriever. Where the Procurer is most valuable - is for someone training a mining alt - as they can put all their training into getting in a barge and none into any other ship. The alt can just skill while the main makes money. THEN - if you're going to do that more than once - your corporation can buy one Procurer and pass it down to up and coming miners who give it back when they get retrievers.
Covetors vs. Hulks is a matter of money. Hulks are somewhat better but cost vastly more.
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Orbiting vs. Kiting
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