Yeah. I usually get L8-10 stuff in deep space since that's the only place I go to farm faction. I look for the nice stats on stuff bust most of it is crap.
"Hey Jo, you said reactors weren't useful until L8!" Yeah, well...I'm a lying pr1ck, get over it. I'll keep this brief, though. Look at your L7 reactors. Some might surprise you in how good their gen rates are, and an L7 reactor's highest mass pretty much comes in where you'd want an L8 to be, so take a look at these before you pitch 'em.
The Slayn & Korpil "Vortex" Mk3 is the RCT-Z of the L7 category. Masses go down into the 13s on exceptional pieces, possibly lower.
Shields:
This is usually the Shipwright's domain, but good ol' Nym kinda stole this from them (provided you get/find good loot). Nym's Starmap quest (talked about extensively in the Game Guides forum, you just have to look) awards an L8/RE7 shield called the (wait for it) Protect-O Net. You can almost smell the 50s nostalgia coming off that name.
The plusses to these things are that SW-crafted L7 shields tend to suck power down more than a hobo sleeping in a liquor-laden boxcar (they can't help it, it's the design). Get the right shields, and you'll have a comparable 1800-1900hp shield with around an 18-2200 reactor drain vs. the ~3400 you'd get from a SW, probably with a higher regen to boot. Shields are pretty self-explanatory - use the L7 crafted shields on the vendor search as a benchmark, then take your best and reduce/enhance everything there by a multiple of .04 (4% - the bonus gained at RE6&7). Mass should be 17k or lower - anything under 16k should be treated as exceptional.
Weapons:
There are only really two weapons you need to concern yourself with here for damage:
Sienar Flight Systems "Boltdriver" Ionic Pulse Weapon
Now, the first one is predictable. It's an Imperial-awarded weapon. It's pretty much always 1910.x-295x.x. The Ionic Pulse, awarded by Eyma during the CPG missions for the RG Interceptor/Vaksai/Heavy X-Wing, is a lot more chancy. SOME have gotten 3xxx+ IPWs, pilots like ME got CRAP. The one thing BOTH have in common are that they're rewards - you can't loot these.
Again, for the drain, think under 2k. The lower, the better. If you've got either of the two above weapons (provided your IPW is 2.9-3k+), your damages and hp/armor are taken care of, so you've got more elbow room to branch out with.
For mass, anything under 14k should be considered exceptional. Keep anything from 15.5k on down, though. 16k+ L7s are relatively common.
Effs should be anything over .6xx - odd-numbered weapons aren't exactly known for their heavy-hitting ability in this department, so 62-65% (post-RE) ain't half bad.
EPS should be 24 or lower, because you're looking for a refire in the pre-RE range of .33x to .32x or lower. You don't want a gun with a post-RE .30x refire rate taking 30 points every time it fires.
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L8:
Engines:
I think it's about the four millionth time I've mentioned it, but do the Starmap quest. Nym can reward an L8 with about 28k mass with a potential speed of up to 99.9 (damned friggin' dynamic rewards system).
But provided you get that sixty-million credit engine (I'm thinking in terms of Lee Majors, not real credits - put your tongues back in your heads), you want to mate it (like the L6) with parts that don't SUCK.
Drain gets a little less important here, because if you're running an L8 engine, chances are you've got a decent reactor loaded. Still, 1525-1450 and lower should be the magic range.
L8s with a mass of 25k or lower should NOT BE TOSSED.
As for PYR, you're IDEALLY shooting for a post-RE score of 75.x+, but 73-4 ain't bad, either. A good rule of thumb is to keep (as in, NOT SELL) any L8 with any PYR value over 70.x. To make a 75.0 score, the absolute minimum is a 71.5 engine.
Speed - the only engine that can give the Quantum Ion Drive a run for its money is the pre-nerf Haor-Chall Reward Engine, which most people probably friggin' sold to the chassis dealer, because I've seen VERY FEW of them. Do the Starmap quest. Chances are you won't regret it (unless you get an engine with a speed under 88.5 - the current speed of the POST-nerf Haor-Chall).
Weapons:
Say hello to Mr. Borstel Disruptor, everyone. If you don't see him in your inventory or loot pack, DON'T RE ANY GODDAMNED L8 WEAPONS. You will not beat the damage or EPS of this nice-ass reward blaster with any loot in this game, exceptional or not. Supposedly the Rebels have a Borstel doppleganger in the form of the Incom Tri-Cannon...either way, stop wasting these weapons...at least, stop wasting the GOOD ones.
Do I really have to repeat myself on the drain part again? Same crap applies - 2k or under. Mass, 27k or under, the lower, the better.
For Effs, .64x or higher pre-RE are keepers.
For refire, stick with .40x as your guide (you won't find many .39x L8s, but they do exist). Usually these will be your main gun, so you want it as close to about .37x as possible.
EPS is covered by the Borstel. If you don't have one, get one.
Reactors:
There's really only one type you have to look out for - the Kuat RCT-Z. These babies can have gen rates into the 3xxxx-4xxxx range, providing enough juice for a POB to run EO4, WO4, and CO4 without having to even touch reactor overload. If you get one of these wunder-reaktors (not a misspelling), try to find a reactor with a mass of around 23-24k to go with it.
Shields:
The Tier 4 reward shield is pretty much the end-all-be-all of this category. No loot will beat the shield's HP post-RE, which makes your job a LITTLE easier.
Stats to keep in mind: Drain: 2200 and lower Mass: 28k and lower Regen: 14+
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L9:
EDIT: Weapons CAN be keepers here, especially with the Vaksai and Royal Guard Interceptor's popularity. Use the post-RE Borstel/Tricannon damages as guides for what an L9 SHOULD be.
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Next - the heavy-hitters, the L10s.
Message Edited by KaylBreinhar on 08-09-200509:58 PM
Death doesn't fly a JSF anymore...he flies a Gallente Thorax in EVE Online
AWSOME post.. this should be made into a sticky.. thank you for taking the time to explain.
"When Sony and Lucas set out, we said, 'How can we do this and not make another EQ?' We didn't want it to be all about Luke, or combat, or lock our players into a class.So we created a system that would allow players to switch professions during the game, and there would be a lot of gameplay around making that change.If you want to go from architect to scout we've created a system to make that happen." - JULIO TORRES JaydenAlejandro (MDoc/TKM/Nov.Swordsman)/Kirith Sarin (CH, Ranger)/Eido (Chef,Artisan) Order of the Dying Knights/Citizens of Purgatory, LOK
All the stuff that I salvage in space goes up for sale in Coronet at the bazaar. Relatively affordable prices too. Keeps me rollin' in credits, and that's what counts, right?
So, is deep space a good place to get lvl 8 shields? I looted a 15.X regen shield last night with really good mass, but poor front/back shielding. What is the max on shield regen anyway?
NRory KorooN
Avatars of the New Dawn
Eclipses only confirmed Triple Master, Marksman, Pistoleer, Smuggler / Master Pilot
So, is deep space a good place to get lvl 8 shields? I looted a 15.X regen shield last night with really good mass, but poor front/back shielding. What is the max on shield regen anyway?
15.x pre-RE is above-average - they can get as high as 18-19. Regen isn't as important as mass, drain, and shield hp, which is handled nicely by the reward shield. Regen isn't gonna do much for you in the middle of a firefight - that's what Cap to Shield Shunt IV is for.
Message Edited by KaylBreinhar on 06-06-200510:02 PM
Death doesn't fly a JSF anymore...he flies a Gallente Thorax in EVE Online
L10 engines used to be engines capable of 120+ speeds post-RE. Sadly, those days are gone - the Devs have taken them out. That doesn't mean these things still aren't useful.
Pretty much everything is static in relation to the L6s, with only the masses, YPRs, and speeds being different.
Mass - keep anything under 45k YPR - anything at or over 75.x (to make 80.0 you need a min of 75.5) Speed - preferably as close to 90 as possible - you need about a 94 to make near 100, a theoretical 99.9 engine would make 105.89 (possible 105.9) top speed
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Shields:
L10 shields should be considered POB-only. They're too damned heavy for even the heaviest of fighters.
That being said:
Mass - anything in the low 40s. Drain - as close to or under 2000 as you can get HP - look for 25-2600 and higher (it'll be difficult to find better, trust me) Regen - 16 and higher
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Weapons:
The big kahunas - ANOTHER zone where I see a lot of bad REing. Just because you get ten of these things doesn't mean you should RE them - use this as a benchmark:
Drain - 2k and lower...again... Mass - low 40s Min Damage - 2600 is a good floor. 2700 is even better. Max Damage - 4000 and higher. Effs - don't get rid of any .7xx weapons, the higher and closer to .8xx, the better. EPS - you want under or as near to 30.0 as you can get Refire - around .400 or lower (lowest I've seen and REed with is .395)
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Capacitors:
I'm listening to seven hours of BIO 103 lectures at the moment, so bear with me for making this brief:
Drain: anything under 1k - these are going into POBs only - you can skimp here. Mass: low 40s, mid 30s. Energy: the higher the better, don't settle for less than 1300. Regen: get one that's 50.x or higher.
Message Edited by KaylBreinhar on 06-07-200501:12 AM
Death doesn't fly a JSF anymore...he flies a Gallente Thorax in EVE Online
The HP values are irrelevant. That shield is worth hanging onto for the regen score. The mass is a little high for a medium fighter post-RE. Find a 26-28k or lower shield, then one with a reactor drain of near 2k. Then you'll be in business......provided you have an L8 reward shield to burn - no L8 shield will have HPs better than the reward shield.
Message Edited by KaylBreinhar on 06-06-200510:36 PM
Death doesn't fly a JSF anymore...he flies a Gallente Thorax in EVE Online
/salute Jotun for a ton of extremely useful work - I have two master pilots, and I still learned a trick or two (or three!) in this material. Alas, Jotun, if only you were just a touch more diplomatic in your approach, you would indeed be an ideal Pilot Corr, but I fear you may have drawn too much fire in the past with your outspoken criticisms of SOE for that to ever happen... Still, I know I'd vote for you!
In the meantime, Garva/Virrago/Soterios/SOMEONE - PLEASE STICKY THIS THREAD!
Still, I know I'd vote for you!
