Harry Voyager
   |
Posted - 2005.12.11 09:50:00 -
[1]
Well, with 8 heavy drones, if you fit dual Webs, you'll massacre anything that comes closer than 10km, easily.
Even if you can't use 8 Heavy drones (and if you can't, what are you doing in a Thorax?), a pair of webs will lock down any NPC tight enough for your blasters to do the rest of the job.
Also, if you are NPCing, you'll have to fit an Afterburner instead of a MWD, as MWDs don't work in deadspace missions.
A mission running Thorax I used for a while was
5x Heavy Electron Blaster I
1x 10MN AB I
2x Stasis Web
1x Medium Armour Repairer II
2x Mag Stab II
2x Cap Power Relay
8x Berserker Heavy Drones
It was more than adaquate for lvl 2 missions, and could hanlde most lvl 3 missions with aplomb. It did have trouble with some of the harder ones, and requires a type of suicidal piloting to survive them, but overall it was a fun ship.
Aside from the Tech II components (which can be swapped for their equivalent Tech I parts), it's a relatively cheap ship, and I don't think it is all that skill heavy, at least to fly in the first place. You do need Drones V, however, because you really do need the full eight drones to make her sing.
I recommend Berserkers, because their explosive damage complement's the Thorax's kin/therm output nicely and their high speed means they're much more effective at fast responce, and because of their symbolism for this type of ship.
Piloting tactics are relatively simple: set autopilot to approach, launch drones, set to attack, hit the AB, and ram him. Remember to double web when you hit 10km, hold your fire until you're 1km off his bow, and don't forget to turn anything off that you're not using (such as the armour rep when you're not taking armour damage, or the AB once you're within firing range.) If nothing else teaches you energy disciplin, running a guzzeller like this one will.
Just remember, this ship's best defense is killing them before they kill you, so if it comes down between keeping the armour rep running, or keeping the guns hot, always choose the guns. It's ok ifthey get into your hull a bit, as long as they don't kill you before they die. You can always sling a hull rep in the hold, and fit it up later.
Harry Voyager
____________________
I'm not an idiot; I just play one on the forums. |