In the spirit of our spiritual poster, Hedliner, I will attempt to outline the MARK ONE version of the new Armor Doctorine hence titled "FoxCat". You may have seen these called repeatedly over the last week and some of you have no doubt been sad for the lack of Rokh Fleet calls and wondering if we are transitioning to a brand new fleet doctorine and abandoning the Rokh Train.
First of all -- FoxCat is NOT a replacement doctorine for anything other than Hellcats, which in PL at least we've phased out due to their limited range and issues handling bombs. In the HBC arsenal it will
NOT replace Rokhs, but it will add a massively important tool into our arsenal fighting Southern Coalition who are notoriously cowardly in their ship doctorine choices and utilization. Of course at the start of any new doctorine -- FCs are very eager to call for these ships, so you will no doubt see a little bit of a dip in use of Rokhs -- but please don't be foolish and sell or trash yours :cripes:.
Please also note that the ship fittings are to be considered "mk1", ie. very much still evolving. We have barely moved past a concept test phase and have not yet been REALLY stress tested against a competent FC with a full fleet -- mainly because our enemy is still running with their arms in the air panicing. This will change and the SoCo
will find a counter to the current fittings, which in turn will lead to us evolving the doctorine further. This is quite normal process in EVE -- our current Rokhs you as well use I believe are mk4, our hellcats made to mk5-6 before being phased out.
The Armor Doctorine in general allows us to do few things a little bit better than Shield Doctorine:
- Nearly invulnerable Target Painting and Stasis Webifying platforms (Loki has 4-5x more EHP than Huginn)
- No tank penalty for fitting Sensor Boosters and Cap Injectors (thus very hard to damp and resistant to Void bombs)
- Scales down extremely well due to readily available Archon Triage pilots
- Cheap and available antibomber platforms (only antibombers we had for Rokh fleet was either paper thin instacanes which were often forced off field for bombers to do their run)
- Nearly invulnerable and low skill point friendly firewall platform
Of course there are many downsides to the Armor Doctorine over Shield Doctorine -- ECM for example is very hard to bring along in the Armor Doctorine composition.
Lets look at each of the MAJOR ship classes and utility types in isolation and speak a little about how you should fly them and what you should pay attention to -- and of course --
how you should fit them.
BATTLESHIPSThis is obviously the core of the doctorine and something we always need PLENTY of in the fleet. Ideally, 60% of our fleet consists of Battleship class spacevessels. You can trim that down in really large fleets, but we require critical mass in terms of alpha and DPS -- so we need plenty of workhorses.
This doctorine calls for HIGH TRACKING, MID RANGE ships. The main two ships which this fleet should consist of are: Apocalypse Navy Issue and Apocalypse. Acceptable alternatives are Machariel and Megathron Navy Issue -- but I will not be talking about those two ships or their fittings really. They're expensive and will probably get primaried first, so you're better off in a Apocalypse.
While the doctorine is often refered to as NAPocs or Navy Apocs -- the regular run of the mill variant Apocalypse is more than adequate and has both T2 and T1 variants available for people who are SP challenged. The Navy Apoc will enjoy a "cool" factor along with extra 20 bombs worth of EHP, but the regular Apoc can still survive your ordinary bombing run on us as well as being primaried by baddies.
IMPLANTS AND DRUGSI cannot stress enough how important it is to have cheap implants in your head when flying FoxCat BS and how CRUCIAL it is to have drugs in your cargo. PLEASE. Have both. They are cheap and available.
MUST-HAVE Implant: ST-903 or better if pimp
Recommended: LE-1003 or better
MUST-HAVE DRUG: Standard Frentix or Improved Frentix depending on supply for improved
Recommended: Standard Drop as backup if we fight vs. Oracles/Drakes/AHACs/etc
Positioning: you should be approaching the main fleet anchor, unless otherwise SPECIFICALLY called for by the FC. You NEED to make you you approach the anchor (have it on watchlist) every now and then in order to avoid :CCP: style positioning fuckups. If you get separated from the herd -- you die.Apocalypse Navy IssueSkill suggestions (should really be requirements): Amarr Battleship 5, Sharpshooter 5, etcShow content
[Apocalypse Navy Issue, FoxCat One]
Damage Control II
Heat Sink II
Armor Kinetic Hardener II
True Sansha Armor Thermic Hardener
True Sansha Armor Explosive Hardener
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Sensor Booster II, Targeting Range Script
Heavy Electrochemical Capacitor Booster I, Cap Booster 800
100MN MicroWarpdrive II
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Large Energy Locus Coordinator II
Large Energy Locus Coordinator II
Large Trimark Armor Pump I
Apocalypse SkilledSkill suggestions (should really be requirements): Amarr Battleship 5, Sharpshooter 5, etcShow content
[Apocalypse, FauxCat One]
Centii C-Type Adaptive Nano Plating
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
True Sansha Armor Thermic Hardener
True Sansha Armor Kinetic Hardener
Armor Explosive Hardener II
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
Damage Control II
Prototype 100MN MicroWarpdrive I
Medium Electrochemical Capacitor Booster I, Cap Booster 800
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Sensor Booster II, Targeting Range Script
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Mega Pulse Laser II, Scorch L
Large Energy Locus Coordinator II
Large Energy Locus Coordinator II
Large Trimark Armor Pump I
Apocalypse Low SkilledSkill suggestions (should really be requirements): Amarr Battleship 4, Large Energy Turrets 4, etcShow content
[Apocalypse, FauxCat T1]
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
Armor Kinetic Hardener II
Armor Explosive Hardener II
Armor Thermic Hardener II
Centii C-Type Adaptive Nano Plating
Damage Control II
Prototype 100MN MicroWarpdrive I
Tracking Computer II, Tracking Speed Script
Tracking Computer II, Tracking Speed Script
Sensor Booster II, Targeting Range Script
Mega Modulated Energy Beam I, Imperial Navy Standard L
Mega Modulated Energy Beam I, Imperial Navy Standard L
Mega Modulated Energy Beam I, Imperial Navy Standard L
Mega Modulated Energy Beam I, Imperial Navy Standard L
Mega Modulated Energy Beam I, Imperial Navy Standard L
Mega Modulated Energy Beam I, Imperial Navy Standard L
Mega Modulated Energy Beam I, Imperial Navy Standard L
Mega Modulated Energy Beam I, Imperial Navy Standard L
Large Ancillary Current Router I
Large Energy Locus Coordinator II
Large Trimark Armor Pump I
STRATEGIC CRUISERSWe use Strategic Cruisers for dual role in FoxCat fleets -- firstly they of course do their primary racial role of pointing or webbing stuff that comes close, but since you don't do much DPS anyway with no low slot dmg mods -- in FoxCat fleets you are part of the CRUCIAL fleet saving role called "Firewall". Your highs are maxed out on smartbombs (Small EMP II or Faction required) in order to destroy missiles that fly past your smartbomb range.
Positioning: You will be anchored on a T3 Firewall Anchor and in a Sub Channel dedicated to your function. You will orbit on the anchor at called for ranges and activate your smartbombs WHEN your anchor calls for them.
Note: NEVER EVER EVER ACTIVATE SMARTBOMBS AS YOU LAND OR YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY SAD RIFTER BROS. Wait for them to be called for. Don't be a Makalu.
LokiSkill suggestions (should really be requirements): Well, everything you need to fly a loki v0vShow content
[Loki, FoxCat Support]
Damage Control II
1600mm Reinforced Rolled Tungsten Plates I
1600mm Reinforced Rolled Tungsten Plates I
Armor Kinetic Hardener II
Armor Explosive Hardener II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
10MN Afterburner II
Federation Navy Stasis Webifier
Federation Navy Stasis Webifier
Conjunctive Ladar ECCM Scanning Array I
Sensor Booster II, Targeting Range Script
True Sansha Small EMP Smartbomb
True Sansha Small EMP Smartbomb
True Sansha Small EMP Smartbomb
True Sansha Small EMP Smartbomb
125mm Gatling AutoCannon II, EMP S
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Loki Defensive - Adaptive Augmenter
Loki Electronics - Immobility Drivers
Loki Engineering - Capacitor Regeneration Matrix
Loki Offensive - Hardpoint Efficiency Configuration
Loki Propulsion - Fuel Catalyst
ProteusSkill suggestions (should really be requirements): Well, everything you need to fly a loki v0vI didn't actually have a Proteus EFTed, but did this in 30s and it seems to do the job. Basically you need to have 300k+ EHP against uniform.
Show content
[Proteus, FoxCat Support]
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
Armor Explosive Hardener II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Armor EM Hardener II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Damage Control II
10MN Afterburner II
Domination Warp Disruptor
Domination Warp Disruptor
Domination Warp Scrambler
True Sansha Small EMP Smartbomb
True Sansha Small EMP Smartbomb
True Sansha Small EMP Smartbomb
True Sansha Small EMP Smartbomb
Civilian Gatling Railgun, Civilian Railgun Charge
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Proteus Defensive - Augmented Plating
Proteus Electronics - Friction Extension Processor
Proteus Engineering - Capacitor Regeneration Matrix
Proteus Offensive - Hybrid Propulsion Armature
Proteus Propulsion - Localized Injectors
LOGISTICSWe don't often call for MANY logistics in the smaller fleets, but experience has shown us that good mixup of Logistics ships in this doctorine allows us to be much more mobile and flexible. So I would encourage anyone who's a Logi br0 or wanting to become a logi bro to fly one in this fleet. It will allow the fleet to be much more effective and kill a TONS more running hostiles.
Positioning: As always, you are either orbiting or approaching anchor, Guardians will have a Logi Chain channel for energy -- one up one down method. Oneiros are BRILLIANT logistics, but not everyone can fly them :smith:.
Fittings:
These Logistics are not the usual AHAC logis, they
have to tank a lot of DPS with a healthy buffer, hence they have reduced rep capability.
GuardianSkill suggestions (should really be requirements): Logi 5, etcShow content
[Guardian, FoxCat Logi]
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
True Sansha Armor Thermic Hardener
Armor Kinetic Hardener II
Armor EM Hardener II
Internal Force Field Array I
Experimental 10MN Afterburner I
ECCM - Radar II
Large 'Regard' Power Projector
Large 'Regard' Power Projector
Large 'Solace' Remote Bulwark Reconstruction
Medium 'Solace' Remote Bulwark Reconstruction
Medium 'Solace' Remote Bulwark Reconstruction
Medium 'Solace' Remote Bulwark Reconstruction
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
OneirosSkill suggestions (should really be requirements): Logi 5, etcShow content
[Oneiros, FoxCat Logi]
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Armor EM Hardener II
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
Armor Explosive Hardener II
Damage Control II
10MN Afterburner II
Large Ld-Acid Capacitor Battery I
Cap Recharger II
Conjunctive Magnetometric ECCM Scanning Array I
Large Remote Armor Repair System II
Medium Remote Armor Repair System II
Medium Remote Armor Repair System II
Medium Remote Armor Repair System II
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
ANTIBOMBER HEAVY CRUISERSAntibombers are extremely important in all BS fleets. This is a CRUCIAL BRO role and should not be sniffed at. Your role is to have a bombers only overview when warping in or when close to main hostile fleet, then swap to all ships overview and shoot both tackle and bombers rest of the time. Dictors/Inties should DIE to you along with ANY bomber that decloaks.
Positioning: You should approach the main fleet anchor in order to be in the middle of things.
ZealotSkill suggestions (should really be requirements): normal AHAC zealot skillsShow content
[Zealot, FoxCat Support]
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
Damage Control II
Armor Thermic Hardener II
Centii C-Type Adaptive Nano Plating
Armor Kinetic Hardener II
Heat Sink II
Armor Thermic Hardener II
10MN Afterburner II
Sensor Booster II, Targeting Range Script
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Focused Medium Beam Laser II, Imperial Navy Multifrequency M
Focused Medium Beam Laser II, Imperial Navy Multifrequency M
Focused Medium Beam Laser II, Imperial Navy Multifrequency M
Focused Medium Beam Laser II, Imperial Navy Multifrequency M
Focused Medium Beam Laser II, Imperial Navy Multifrequency M
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I