Hey guys,

I've witnessed (via Youtube) 20 or so Rifters mobbing a carrier and within minutes podding it's pilot.

But the other racial frigates... nary a word is spoken about them. Do they genuinely suck, or have they fallen victim to "numbers optimization"?

If "mixed fleets" are a viable option, then what sort of frigate force would it take to overwhelm and destroy a lone pilot flying in, say, a Hurricane or a Vagabond at a gate camp?

Two examples of Rifter fits.

[Rifter, Passive shield tank, AB, no web]
Local Power Plant Manager: Reaction Shield Power Relay I
Local Power Plant Manager: Reaction Shield Power Relay I
Local Power Plant Manager: Reaction Shield Power Relay I

Medium Subordinate Screen Stabilizer I
Limited 1MN Afterburner I
J5b Phased Prototype Warp Scrambler I

150mm Light Carbine Repeating Cannon I,Fusion S
150mm Light Carbine Repeating Cannon I,Fusion S
150mm Light Carbine Repeating Cannon I,Fusion S
Limited 'Limos' Light Missile Launcher,Mjolnir Light Missile

Small Core Defense Field Purger I
Small Core Defense Field Purger I
Small Core Defense Field Purger I

In the following armor tanked fit, you could put a 400mm plate instead of the 200mm and replace the armor rep with a hardner or reactor control unit, and put some projectile weapon rigs instead of the meh ones here, which would probably be better for PvP, as tank hardly matters in fleet battles.

Also note that 200mm autocannons may also be fit.

With the 3-3 mid-low slots architecture, you can play around a lot with this ship's fitting.

[Rifter, Armor tank, MWD]
Damage Control I
Small I-a Polarized Armor Regenerator
200mm Reinforced Steel Plates I

Upgraded 1MN Microwarpdrive I
J5 Prototype Warp Disruptor I
'Langour' Drive Disruptor I

150mm Light AutoCannon I,Fusion S
150mm Light AutoCannon I,Fusion S
150mm Light AutoCannon I,Fusion S
Limited 'Limos' Light Missile Launcher,Nova Light Missile

Small Capacitor Control Circuit I
Small Semiconductor Memory Cell I
Small Semiconductor Memory Cell I

I for one won't be in any standard tech 1 gallente frigates. Well, unless I want to haul something quickly. The incursus has only two low slots but three mid slots. The others are a bit blah. Now, the federation navy comet is certainly appealing. I'll fly it once I get gallente frigate five. Pirate frigates are amazing and tech 2 frigates seem to be godly and makes for a fantastic tackler of just about anything. I like the tough frigates, but not the simple tech 1 frigates. It doesn't take much more training to get into a much better frigate. Yes, there is pilot skill involved, but the ship makes a difference, too.

Besides Tank and DPS, Speed is an important element of t1 frig combat, it control who dictates the pace and range of combat and the Rifter being Minmatar, holds the natural advantage. However, since the Gallente hull buff, I have seen Incursus fits that are on par with Rifter speed/combat capabilities.

Alot depends on the pilot, but assuming all pilots are equal and all fits are correct, I would rate t1 frigs thusly:

1. Cookie Cutter Rifter - Pros: Fast, Versatile, Standard DPS Cons: Less Tank than most
2. Shield Kestrel - Pros: Highest DPS t1 Frigate, Solid buffer Tank, Rockets Cons: Lack of speed, Lack of Dictation
3. Railgun Incursus (scram range) - Pros: Fast, Good DPS, Good Range Cons: Tracking, Only 2 lows
4. Cookie Cutter Tristan - Pros: Versatile, Good DPS, Nice Tank Cons: Slow, Skill Intense, Can be Kited
5. Cookie Cutter Merlin - Pros: Versatile, Good DPS, Very Nice Tank Cons: Slow, Can be Kited
6. AC Punisher - Pros: Amazing Tank Cons: Less DPS than most, Slow, Only 2 Mids
7. Blaster Incursus - Pros: Good DPS Cons: Can by Kited, Only 2 Lows

If "mixed fleets" are a viable option, then what sort of frigate force would it take to overwhelm and destroy a lone pilot flying in, say, a Hurricane or a Vagabond at a gate camp?

Anyone have any ideas on what the fittings would be for them?

Goal: Take down a Vagabond or a Hurricane without letting them warp away

So I've been reading lately about how a certain now prominent alliance rose to power through the might of the Rifter. Chiefly, their pilots were all low SP with very little game experience, but they were able to overwhelming capital fleets with sheer numbers of cheaply fitted Rifters.

4. Cookie Cutter Tristan - Pros: Versatile, Good DPS, Nice Tank Cons: Slow, Skill Intense, Can be Kited

Anyone have any ideas on what the fittings would be for them?

Goal: Take down a Vagabond or a Hurricane without letting them warp away

Anyone have any ideas on what the fittings would be for them?

Goal: Take down a Vagabond or a Hurricane without letting them warp away

Neut tristan is more effective than any tristan that offers "good DPS"

It's difficult to say one frigate is better than another, because it depends on the circumstances. For instance, the best frigate for 1v1 frigate fights might be an MWD frigate with Warp Disruptor and Standard Missiles (eg. Kestrel or Breacher), whereas the best frigate for "real" PvP is probably going to be the Rifter even though in 1v1s they can be beaten, especially if they've fitted an MWD. In 1v1 you also have a scissors/paper/stone thing going on so there's no overall 100% winner as there is always a ship & fitting providing a counter to your ship & fitting.