Ecliptic Rift

Several other bloggers ([1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]) have posted lists of the baddest-looking piracy ship models in EVE. While I generally don’t pirate in the sense that, say, Andrea Skye and Kirith Darkblade do, almost all of us have opinions about the best-looking combat ships in EVE. In the spirit of their posts, I focused on small (sub-capital) ships. Tomorrow, I will follow up with my favorite non-combat ships, because that’s how I roll.

My favorite combat ship models:

#5 Stiletto

The Minmatar “Stiletto” interceptor looks like what it is: fast and deadly. The Claw’s rounded leading surfaces make it look a little less interesting to me, even if it does have more high-power slots.

#4 Cyclone

I really like the “Cyclone” battlecruiser. While the overall shape looks like a hammer, the spotlight on the front adds a really nice touch.

#3 Crusader

I have never flown Amarrian ships, but their interceptor models really stand out. The “Crusader”, and its darker-skinned brother the “Malediction”, both communicate quite well through their design lines: you can’t escape the lightning of God’s wrath.

#2 Harbinger

Another exception to my general disdain for all things Amarrian, the “Harbinger” battlecruiser grabbed my attention during the recent Alliance Tournament VIII.

#1 Hurricane

My favorite by far. As soon as it arrives, the “Hurricane” battlecruiser promises to rock you.

Time to get these factories busy again.

While BKAT regroups and consolidates a little, I thought I’d take a bit to restart my factories and labs. Trading generates more profits, but manufacturing provides steady, reliable income, generally with less time invested. Plus I like doing it, which really drove the decision more than anything else.

As my comrades will tell you, I really hate mining, so I find it easier to buy my inputs (minerals and components) on the open market rather than try to go get them myself. So I picked up enough to build a Cyclone just to warm up, then put in jobs for a full run of Merlins (30 units) and Hurricanes (15 units), plus some Large EMP Smartbomb II blueprints I’ve had sitting around for far too long (close to a year, I think). The Cyclone didn’t generate enough profit, but I think the margins on the Hurricanes will help. And I have a Drake BPO coming out of the lab in the next day or two, if I remember right.

Also, I put in several invention tries for Sabretooth Fury Light Missiles, since I need to burn through some BPCs. I haven’t checked on the results yet, but I expect to do so in a few hours when I finally stir out of my suite here in the Oursulaert III Fed Navy station. (Why have I moved back into Federation space? I don’t know, either. But I do like the clubs on this station.)

So what will I do next, industry-wise? Probably move into a little more research and invention. I might get back in touch with an old associate and find a nice little C1 wormhole with a static link, or maybe he’ll find a way to set up in high security space someplace, and get a research station going again. I need to find something with enough volume and margin to make the time investment pay off, especially while I fly off having fun with the corp. (More on that tomorrow, I hope.)

Image credit Funky64