Experiment 99H

In my last post I mentioned the Ferox I'd been flying a Ferox, dubbed Experiment 99H mainly as it's insurance was next to expire. I shan't lie, I wasn't looking forward to the prospect and did not have any high expectations at all. I'd bought it on a whim ages ago when I was first able to fly Caldari Battlecruisers and thought to myself why not.

To say that I have been astounded by this underdog really is an understatement and doesn't go far enough. Sure it doesn't stand much of a chance against the likes of a Hurricane but still it's proved a tough little nut.

The fit I used was as follows:

6 x 220mm Vulcan Autocannon II
1 x Medium Gremiln Power Core Disruptor

2 x Large Shield Extender II

1 x EM Ward Field II
1 x Warp Disruptor II
1 x Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive

1 x Damage Control II
1 x Tracking Enhancer II
2 x Gyrostabilzer II

3 x Medium Core Defense Field Extender

5 x Warrior II

Does a modest 385dps, but with 92k EHP with a fairly consistent resist profile. I can't use blasters, hence the AC's, but that tank takes some chewing on.

It's insurance expired without it having been destroyed so it's to the back of the queue it goes until it's time comes around again. Maybe I'll have trained blasters by then, who knows.

Here's a few highlights that come to mind when I think about this ship's exploits:

http://tuskers.killmail.org/?a=kill_detail&kll_id=12847006 Extremely close fight against a dual web Drake.

http://tuskers.killmail.org/?a=kill_detail&kll_id=12849004 Decided to attack this under sentry fire as he jumped through a gate, also a close one against his impressive tank and T2 Hammerheads.

To date has destroyed 378 million isk in 15 ships & associated modules destroyed and earning drops of over 41 million isk.

Insurance

I'm sure that I'm not alone in the situation as a pirate when I'm faced every day with the question:

"What shall I fly today?"

Currently Kirith has in the region of 100 fitted ships in Hevrice. Choosing one can be a pain especially when coupled with my natural indecisiveness.

As my play time has diminished I have found it increasingly difficult to keep ships insured as they don't get exploded often within the 3 months that insurance lasts. Should I then fly ships that are uninsured or find an alternate solution.

When faced with this conundrum months ago I decided that I'd fly the ships in my hangar which has its insurance expiring soonest. I did think that it would be a boring way to play, but boy have I been pleasantly surprised.

This kicked off with my armour tanked Thrasher, it really did me proud and it's not a ship I fly often though I guess the same can be said about any of my ships.

Here's some stat's about S&M Freak the aforementioned Thrasher:

37 kills (13 Pods)
Caused 480m isk in damage
81m isk in drops from kills
Efficiency score of ~96%

Since the demise of this Thrasher I've been flying ships in order of insurance expiration. After the Thrasher I moved onto a Ferox. Would you believe that the Ferox didn't get exploded before its insurance expired, despite my aggressing on gates and fighting opponents it should have died to!

I feel that this exercise has also made me a better pilot as being thrust into ships which you wouldn't otherwise fly makes you learn how to fly in different styles.

So the question I pose to my readers is twofold. How do you cope with many ships in your hangar and insuring them? And what drives your choice of what to undock and roam in?

Shopping...

In the caharacter review I mentioned that there was a temptation to blow my trading profits by buying more and more ships for Kirith. Needing no encouragement, although it was given by long time blog follower Kirith Kodachi.

I've not been in space in a while, so have decided that I needed some retail therapy. Therefore today I logged in my alt sat in Jita who holds Kirith's pursestrings and decided to buy fittings for the following unfit ships in his hangar:

3 x Bellicose
5 x Breacher
1 x Ferox
1 x Probe
2 x Scythe
5 x Vigil

My pending-transport cargo container in Jita now is brimming with modules awaiting the next transport run to low-sec.

I'll admit that the ships above are far from renowned for their combat prowess, but that's the reason they have sat there unfit and therefore unused. As a result the fits I've chosen are a very eclectic mix! I'm sure as and when they inevitably appear on killmails some laughs and raised eyebrows will be seen. I've splashed out a bit too on a few of the loadouts which is blatantly nonsensical but I got a bit carried away with the likes of a complex MWD on one of the Breachers! It's all fun though, right?

I have been known for doing this sort of thing before, fitting a couple of Slashers & Bursts for combat in the past. Amazingly I still have both of each, the Slashers have bagged a kill or two aswell!

I should get some time in space this week but am not sure that I'll get these new toys this week. Time will tell!