A T2 fit strat cruiser will run less than 500 for any type. More likely the 300ish but there are a few exceptions. That said if you're already bored with the L4 sniper and bs meta why not just drop the mission running all together? With that Ishtar and geckos you can pull substantially higher isk per hour with no more risk out in nul.

Go join a renter or other nul block corp and break out of the cattle pens of hisec.

Try a Gila. Won't be any sentry sniping involved after Kronos expansion. It'll still be a solid choice due to its ridonkeydickulous DPS.

Edit: Oops, just noticed you already mentioned the Gila. Well anyway, I think that might be the most entertaining choice.

Also, a Machariel is pretty nimble for a battleship.

Even with ridiculous dps, combat drones just lose too much dps from travel time in missions, mission rats tend to be spread out and far away, this means in the end your actual dps numbers are almost half of what it actually is. Not to mention having to pull your drones in when they get aggressed, as well as the risk of losing them when frig webs them etc. Sentry drones are really the only way to go in most kinds of PvE, you can still do them with combat drones, but they will be terribly inefficient in comparison.

I have found that t2 cruisers (except afktar) require fairly tailored fits to the missions at hand. I strongly recommend trying out a sleipnir if you have the skills for it. Similar damage and tank to a t1 BS hull when well skilled, more agile and much faster, with enough versatility to tailor your fit to budget and wallet. It can even be made to 2 slot tank most missions with sufficient bling and a shiny pod.

[Sleipnir, Mission]
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Damage Control II

Gistum C-Type Adaptive Invulnerability Field
Gistum C-Type Adaptive Invulnerability Field
Gist C-Type Large Shield Booster
Gistum C-Type 10MN Microwarpdrive
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script

425mm AutoCannon II, EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, EMP M
425mm AutoCannon II, EMP M
Salvager II
Salvager II

Medium Semiconductor Memory Cell II
Medium Semiconductor Memory Cell II

Hobgoblin II x5

is about what a friend of mine used to run, and was almost as fast as a arty mach in most BS heavy missions, and much much faster in frig heavy or highly mobile ones.

What do you all think about the Cerberus? I was thinking of using one with HAM launchers because it has both a missile velocity and missile flight time bonus that can give HAM launchers some pretty amazing range. I was looking at slapping on 1 T2 velocity and 1 T2 flight time rig as well. That would get me 54.7 KM range with max skills when using Rage, 65 using regular or faction, and 98 KM range using javelins.

Also, if I train for a Cerberus I would just have to train subsystem skills and I could fly a Tengu as well.



I am thinking about possibly going for a Mach and / or a vargur. How close do you have to be with AC's to be worth using over artillery? I looked at using large arty on the Vargur or mach, but it seems like I would end up in a long range sniping combat style and get bored like I did with sentry sniping. I want to be mobile.

I wonder how the new mordus BS would fair for L4's. They seem rather PVP focused with the point bonus and all.

If you want something both mobile and effective at L4s, Mach is definitely the way to go. However going for a Cerberus then a Tengu is a much better training plan for future PvP use while still being decent L4 mission runners, Battleships see far less use in PvP unless you're part of a large null alliance that uses BS as part of their doctrines. The Mordus BS really shouldn't be used for missions, the point bonus is completely wasted and it's not really doing anything that the other missile BS can't do either better or for cheaper.

Yeah, the only big deal with the mordus ships is the massive velocity bonus. combined with the flight time reduction it's only a 50% range boost, but the missiles reach the target a lot faster than on other missile boats. The mordus boats are also supposed to be almost as fast as Angel boats. Too bad torps suck so much or the mordus boats might be fun with torps.

You may be pleasantly surprised with the Cerberus. I came back recently after a long time off, used to run lvl4 with tengu or nighthawk. After looking at the recent changes to heavy missiles, I put HAM's on a Cerb and with good skills and implants it seems considerably better in lvl4 than either the nighthawk or tengu, mostly due to the range bonuses. 600+ dps with t1 scourge HAMs, and a pretty good tank, 45 to 55 range depending on rigs. The only trouble I had over the course of 5 or 6 missions was not paying attention and letting myself get neuted and having to warp out, not much buffer if the cap runs dry.