tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456789637460064957.post6128116325345387309..comments2023-09-13T17:57:45.119+01:00Comments on Diaries of a Space Noob: Day 142 : Gardes! Gardes!Cheradenine Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06822231437454134489noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456789637460064957.post-90532130956648375642012-11-12T19:23:57.545+00:002012-11-12T19:23:57.545+00:00If you continue to use Sentries past the AI change...If you continue to use Sentries past the AI change, I think that by adding remote reppers you can mitigate most of the disadvantages.<br /><br />Additionally, one of the other advantages of Sentries over mobile drones are the Sentry Damage rigs. There are no rigs to improve non-sentry drone damage.<br /><br />(though, personally, I don't use sentries as I feel it wastes time I could be using to move to the next gate)Weshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06131250791912950076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456789637460064957.post-29637377200182850232012-11-09T13:59:34.042+00:002012-11-09T13:59:34.042+00:00As some have already said, try two flights of sent...As some have already said, try two flights of sentries (Gardes and either Bouncer or Warden for long range). Wardens are much better against anything Serpentis due to having kin damage (their vulnerability). Using Bouncers in Gallente space is usually a bad idea, as most enemies will have their highest resistance in exp.<br />You should *always* use at least one, preferably two omidirectional tracking links, T2 if skills allow it (1.25 tracking and range multiplier instead of 1.2). This will boost range so far that the limiting factor becomes your Domis puny targeting range (70-something km). If enemies start of far away, Wardens will kill one frig per volley (if you don't mind micromanaging, you can split them into two groups, still one-shotting most small things). Once stuff is in close Gardes can still hit orbiting cruisers at about 6-8 km (probably just a bit further out with your skills). They don't have to travel to their targets and you can generally leave them to do their thing while you make a coffee.<br /><br />Running missions with Sentries isn't necessarily much fun, but it requires only a bit of attention and is quite efficient.Creatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456789637460064957.post-77704620958450826042012-11-09T10:12:53.548+00:002012-11-09T10:12:53.548+00:00Yeah, dreading the AI upgrade. At least I've p...Yeah, dreading the AI upgrade. At least I've practised with controlling mobile drones beforehand and swapping sets in and out for combat reasons. <br /><br />As with all the advice above I still need to boost my skills some more, particularly Heavy Drones and Interfacing V, but I've been scared into a redirection of the skill plan. I'm aiming for Destroyers V and BattleCruiser V for all races before the skills go racial next year (at first I thought it was happening on the 4th, but apparently not). Just knowing that I'll be saving 80 to 100 days future training makes it a must to avoid this noob tax. <br /><br />Cheradenine Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06822231437454134489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456789637460064957.post-49446272839768711992012-11-09T09:56:07.717+00:002012-11-09T09:56:07.717+00:00I'm glad to read you don't like Sentries. ...I'm glad to read you don't like Sentries. I sometimes feel the rest of Eve swears by them but I always find them mediocre.<br /><br />I use Ogres very heavily. I've invested in the Drone Navigation, Drone Sharpshooting skills to counter the dead time between targets and in Drone Durability to give the poor buggers a better chance to limp back in half structure and undock just before they pop when a fresh wave of rats spawn.<br /><br />There's also a module that speeds up your drones. With a Drone Navigation Computer II and Drone Navigation V Ogres do reasonably well. <br /><br />Of course it'll all go south when Retribution hits and the change to NPC AI comes in that makes them switch targets more.Stabshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08716211705647213383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456789637460064957.post-36770251132769219492012-11-09T06:18:57.325+00:002012-11-09T06:18:57.325+00:002x Omni II + 2x Drone Damage Amp II + full flight ...2x Omni II + 2x Drone Damage Amp II + full flight of Garde II or Bouncer II drones = rats dying very quickly. But make sure you have flights of Warrior IIs and Hobby IIs as you'll need them if the drones get under your guns. Heavy / Sentry Drones are BS level weapons, and track accordingly.<br /><br />Mostly, you'll find you don't need curators or wardens. Warden and bouncer range is comparable, but bouncers do more damage. And you can usually do just fine switching directly from bouncers to gardes - there's not really a meaningful gap for curators to fill.<br /><br />For a slightly more entertaining take on drone tactics, try a gila or ishkur: deploy garde IIs, fly in wide circles, watch as the chasing fleet gets picked apart by the drones.Debirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456789637460064957.post-12445471510102710442012-11-09T00:57:53.483+00:002012-11-09T00:57:53.483+00:00Anon above is right. Sentries have a sig and it...Anon above is right. Sentries have a sig and it's 400. Same as large rails/blasters. The t2 versions are really a step up too, so if you are interested, get into them ASAP.<br /><br />Omni's make a world of difference too - +30% optimal and tracking for the federation navy version which is currently going at about 80mil per iirc.<br /><br />If tracking is the concern, then the navy sentries are better. They're quite a bit tougher too, though they do less damage than the T2s.Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06278950336161773752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456789637460064957.post-28564990585617038332012-11-08T22:28:47.032+00:002012-11-08T22:28:47.032+00:00Sentry drones are akin to large-size turrets. They...Sentry drones are akin to large-size turrets. They are less effective against orbiting sub-battleship targets, although they'll alpha most frigates and even some cruisers with good skills as they burn in. So don't expect them to work against close-orbiting frigates without webs and target painters. <br /><br />That being said, get either T2 sentry drones or T2 heavy drones as soon as possible. In my experience, heavy drones are too slow even with the appropriate drone mods to be efficient against distant targets. Garde IIs, backed by two omni links, will murder most things within 45km or so. And PvE with sentries is very boring, although you do have to pay attention, since they'll die fast if aggroed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456789637460064957.post-52660485418794550642012-11-08T20:34:22.608+00:002012-11-08T20:34:22.608+00:00I fly a dominix on lvl4 missions too. I carry some...I fly a dominix on lvl4 missions too. I carry some gardes, but like you I found they don't work so well on small ships. I'd never examined the tracking table to realize why. <br /><br />Another reason not to use sentries is that when flying in company, you generally all want to move together to the next gate. Seems rude to hold everyone else up whilst you wait for the sentries. <br /><br />Finally, I think the ogres are pretty good. Sure they aren't fast, which is a problem if I you see them start to take damage. I only deploy them with targets closer than 20km or for structures post fight.Dai verdigrishttp://eveonline.comnoreply@blogger.com