Objective Based PvP

I've been debating signing back up to the Minmatar militia.  Part of it is to have a reason to undock and engage.  Purposeless slaughter only goes so far, and by being a militia target, I give opposition even more reason to engage me.

I would, of course, bring my particular philosophy to objective engagements:  fly cheap, fly better, and bleed the enemy dry.  When I risk a 3m ship to destroy a 20-40m one, I demoralize the enemy when I win and give them no satisfaction when I lose.

AAR: Frerstorn 21Jan14

System:  Frerstorn

Time:  0100UTC 21Jan14

Location: Novice Plex
Battle Summary:  http://eve-kill.net/?a=kill_related&kll_id=21494702

The fit:

[Republic Fleet Firetail, Firetail]
Gyrostabilizer II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Pseudoelectron Containment Field I

Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I
Medium Shield Extender II
J5b Phased Prototype Warp Scrambler I
X5 Prototype Engine Enervator

150mm Light AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma S
150mm Light AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma S
Rocket Launcher II, Scourge Rage Rocket

Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Small Anti-Thermal Screen Reinforcer I
Small Anti-Kinetic Screen Reinforcer I

I'd located myself about 60km off the beacon inside the plex.  Petrus Blackshell and Basker Melkan warped in.  Questions about parental sexuality was exchanged in local.  I confirmed both had autocannons fitted.  I waited until both Rifters were confirmed to have MWDs as they burned towards me, Petrus about 20km ahead of Basker.

Petrus and I tackled each other nearly simultaneously and exchanged weapons fire.  In a few seconds Basker closed and applied his tackle to me.  As Basker closed to zero, Petrus pulled range.

I attempted to switch tackle and DPS to Basker, but I learned that right clicking and hit approach did not switch the active target, so when I hit F1-F4 I was still applying tackle and firing at Petrus.  This happened about two or three times before I actually switched my gunfire to Basker.  Within a few seconds of doing so, Basker pulled range and Petrus closed back in.  I was still comfortably above 50% shields.

I properly switched back to Petrus and destroyed his ship.  At this point I was low on shields and decided to make an attempt at the second Rifter, knowing I was going to be faster and almost certainy have more DPS.  I closed with Basker and overheated.  Baskers ship exploded as I was entering half structure.

Gf's were exchanged in local.  In the Rifterlings chat channel, Petrus lamented that he had selected Fusion ammo for the one time he ends up fighting a shield Firetail.

Their fits:

[Rifter, Petrus Blackshell's Rifter] Emergency Damage Control I Adaptive Nano Plating I 200mm Reinforced Rolled Tungsten Plates I Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I J5b Phased Prototype Warp Scrambler I X5 Prototype Engine Enervator 200mm Light Gallium Machine Gun,Republic Fleet Fusion S 200mm Light Gallium Machine Gun,Republic Fleet Fusion S 200mm Light Gallium Machine Gun,Republic Fleet Fusion S 'Limos' Rocket Launcher I,Caldari Navy Scourge Rocket Small Projectile Burst Aerator I Small Projectile Collision Accelerator I

[Rifter, Basker Melkan's Rifter] Damage Control II Adaptive Nano Plating II 200mm Reinforced Rolled Tungsten Plates I Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I J5b Phased Prototype Warp Scrambler I X5 Prototype Engine Enervator 200mm AutoCannon II,Barrage S 200mm AutoCannon II,Barrage S 200mm AutoCannon II,Barrage S 'Limos' Rocket Launcher I,Caldari Navy Nova Rocket [empty rig slot]

Notes:

1) I screwed up switching targets.  If I had done so properly the engagement would not have been as close.

2) I commend the two pilots for dipping in and out of close range as I switched targets to apply more DPS.  Though my target switching was bad, this might have actually contributed to destroying the two Rifters faster as I had DPS superiority up close.

3) I failed to bring Barrage ammo, though I do not believe I would have either used it or swapped to it mid engagement.

4) The two Rifters both had relatively low tanks.  When I remarked to Petrus that a 400mm plate would fit easily with downgraded guns and a mild fitting change, he scoffed at the notion of downgrading guns.

5) My EHP difference between Fusion and Phased Plasma ammo is not significant, a couple hundred EHP at most.  EMP on the other hand would've shaved off a significant chunk of EHP.  However given the Firetails potential to be either shield or armour fit, Phased Plasma should be the default short range ammunition choice unless killboard history suggests that I only fly one kind of fit.

6) An artillery shield Firetail achieves similar tank levels and better damage projection but has worse tracking and vulnerable to being out tracked if double webbed as this engagement played out.  Though speeds are significantly lower if it involves scrammed and webbed MWD frigates, I suspect the poorer tracking on artillery would still be an issue and therefore not a viable option.