Delara Navaan wrote:Thanks for the encouragement guys. I'm definitely considering running a Talos now... so much more fun than something more conventional. Anyone else got any decent builds for me??
Aria Ta'Rohk wrote:I'd assume that with the tracking bonus the Talos receives from the Battlecruisers skill, it could deal with NPC frigates quite easily with blasters just by either popping them on approach or burning away from them to minimize transversal. So in theory, it could work, but I think the tank may be a little underwhelming. Perhaps fit 2 Hardeners, and a shield booster? Maybe an extender? Here is something I just threw together while typing that last sentence:
Talos: Level III Runner
Highs:
Neutron Blaster Cannon II x8 (Antimatter L)
Mids:
10mn Afterburner II
Thermic Dissipation Field II
Kinetic Deflection Field II
Large Shield Extender II
Lows:
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II x2
Tracking Enhancer II x3
Rigs:
Medium Core Defense Field Purger x3
I have no idea if that is even a good idea for level 3s, as I don't mission, but it seems like it could work.
Thanks for yours btw Aria. Although I'm wondering are the tracking enhancers a bit of waste? Since you get drones to take out any frigs and shoot long distance at anything else??
That's just it though Delara, there will be many frigs. The tracking bonus is nice, and the TEs are advisable on a shield fit, but you will probably need a web to have those large neutron blasters track well. And I would always advise fitting a DC on any ship, so you may need to adjust the above lows to take into account DC and SPR(s).
The big problem with blasters and an ab fit will be that (especially with guristas missions) you will end up traveling a lot to get to rats that like to snipe you. This is where a rail fit is better. But of course conversely those rails won't track the frigs that come close on you. And depending on the unbonused drones to take them all out will also take more time.
Best thing to do is to read the mission descriptions and figure out whether it lends itself to sniping (rail fit) or if it is ideal for a blaster fit in that there are mostly cruisers and they get close. And if you do regen shield fit you may want some SPR(s) in your lows and a web plus invuln in your mids to compensate for not having the two rat specific hardeners.
I tried a Talos a couple times in some level 4s after the ship came out to tranquility. It was underwhelming and even dicey (tank) compared to the other ships I had available (Sleip, Fleet Phoon, Domi). Level 3s might actually be worse due to large guns v medium and small size rats. That is why I think you could be better served with a Myrm or even a pre-buff Brutix. But have fun either way. Good luck to you.