Originally by: xyeLz

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T2 resists of command ships can be really nice, along with their tracking. But the thing that personally bothers me with CS ships, is their range. Blasters on low range on CS are awesome in PvP, but Rails in PvE just don't really cut it ususally.

I mean, I often jump in at 70km, and you're looking at 25-28km range or so on Medium Rails. If you want to use low range ammo like Plutonium, or even Antimatter, it just isn't gonna happen cause you're shooting with an optimal around 20km.

Needless to say, they can run lvl 4s, and very well too, but the range is a problem, so you need to come up with something to counter that.

Astarte is pretty cool though, following setup is pretty nice.

High
7x Caldari Navy 250mm Rails

Med
2x Cap Recharger II
2x Shadow Serpentis Tracking Computer

Low
A-Type Medium Armor Repairer
2x mission specific T2 Hardeners
3x Mag Stab II

2x CCC Rigs
5x T2 Medium drones

Tanks very well, great tracking. Can pop anything small quickly, and do ranged combat with long-range ammo. At ranges of 25-30km you can go Plutonium, below that Antimatter, with drones and tracking it eats up anything you'll find in LvL 4s.

Capacitor holds permanently. Resists are a bit low on Explosive though if you need to tank it on some missions, and the range isn't too great so long range ammo cuts into DPS.

On the Tracking comps, use scripts. The 'reloading' or rather switching of scripts is instant, so you can switch between 34% optimal range to 82% tracking speed, which allows you to do ranged combat better, and rip those annoying HACs and Ewar frigates.

Just a thought. I saw you thought about the Eos and Damnation, I'd personally go for Field command ships, but that's me. The fleet CS are just that, used for gangs or fleets, they get a bonus you can't really use well solo, while the Field CS gets a bonus you can use well missioning.

The damnation is a bit crap imo. It gets no damage bonuses at all, and ontop of that it has a mixed weaponry-layout for both missiles and lasers, fitting dmg mods wont be as effective as you're only boosting half the weapons. Furthermore drones do not compensate for this, with just 5 light drones tops and no spares.

If you are going missiles, I'd suggest the Nighthawk, for the range, but the Astarte and Sleipnir are very nice too, Abso isnt bad either. I think a BS though would be cheaper and better for missions. And if you didn't mind training for a Damnation, consider training for a Marauder, for true missioning power.

Do with my thoughts what you want, do what you feel is best. Good luck!

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