So let's review a little here. Back in November of 2010 my main industry pilot finished training for a super agile Viator fit. I had asked around over blockade runners Vs deep space transports. I got back a solid response "Blockade runners 100%!". Back then I was looking to move goods through lowsec in smaller amounts. In this regard the original fit for "Nothing to see" was perfect and the fit remains the same and unchanged today. It's my go-to cloaky hauler for which I favor more trips in greater safety for those select items one must often truck through hostile space. Here is the fit as it has been for over a year:
FIT: Viator - Nothing to See (Cost ~80M ISK)
HIGHS:
-Covert Ops Cloaking device II
MIDS:
- "Cetus" ECM Shockwave I
- Invulnerability Field II
- Y-T8 Overcharged Hydrocarbon I MWD
LOWS:
-Nanofiber Internal Structure II
-Local Hull Conversion Inertial Stabilizers I
-Expanded Cargohold II
RIGS:
-Medium Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer
-Medium Polycarbon Engine Housing I
The fit is basically a poor man's 0.0 Viator fit. It's 100% agility with a hint of "OH F**K!" insurance and honestly I've used the insurance more than once. The closets I came to loosing this hull was actually in highsec. I was hauling P3 goods from amarr space to caldari space taking advantage of some truly awesome deltas in SO and BO between both. I jumped into a 0.5 mid way right as a Smart Bomb camp went off. The first cycle of the smart bombs took me from full HP to 23 Hull. I was all ready aligning when it went off and I mashed MWD and the INV field and cleared the radius and warped right as the second cycle fired. I've also used the ECM to save a friend from a gate camp in low. I was on my way back empty. Got a "HELP!
I also played around with deep space transports a bit as well when I needed to move POS parts around before I got access to a jump freighter. Honestly I can see them being a great shallow space run about at best. Basically a Bustard is a badger MK II with a better tank. The increased warp strength might save you from a solo dude with a disruptor, but it will not break a scram without an additional warp core stabilizer. I tested it with a 'ceptor with a scram and a disruptor. Base hull can break the disruptor but not the scram. Even fit out with 1 WCS, that sole 'ceptor can pin it. With two WCS it can get away from a single duel point 'ceptor. Sorry but that be LAME! Add to that that it cannot warp cloaked and has stuff all cargo space if you fit for agility. I agree Deep Space Transports stink and need some love.
OK! Back on track here. Blockade runners mate! The Viator Vs the Crane and such...
THE VIATOR
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THE CRANE
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Name: Viator
Hull: Iteron Class
Role: Transport
Developer: Duvolle Labs
Blockade runner transports are the fastest type of industrial available. Utilizing sturdy but lightweight construction materials and sacrificing some cargo space, these haulers are able to reach speeds greater than those of a cruiser while withstanding heavy fire - factors which make them ideal for zipping through dangerous territories with valuable cargo.
Gallente Industrial Skill Bonus:
+5% cargo capacity per level
+5% velocity per level
Transport Ships Skill Bonus:
-5% armor repairer duration per level
-98.5% to -99.25% bonus to cpu need of covert ops cloaks
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Name: Crane
Hull: Badger Class
Role: Transport
Developer: Kaalakiota
Blockade runner transports are the fastest type of industrial available. Utilizing sturdy but lightweight construction materials and sacrificing some cargo space, these haulers are able to reach speeds greater than those of a cruiser while withstanding heavy fire - factors which make them ideal for zipping through dangerous territories with valuable cargo.
Caldari Industrial Skill Bonus:
+5% cargo capacity per level
+5% velocity per level
Transport Ships Skill Bonus:
+5% shield booster boost amount per level
-98.5% to -99.25% bonus to cpu need of covert ops cloaks
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High Slots
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1
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High Slots
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1
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Medium Slots
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3
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Medium Slots
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4
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Low Slots
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3
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Low Slots
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2
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Rig slots
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2
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Rig slots
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2
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CPU
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250
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CPU
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285
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Power Grid
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135
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Power Grid
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125
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Calibration
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400
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Calibration
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400
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Capacitor Capacity
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875 GJ
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Capacitor Capacity
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843.75 GJ
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Base cargo Capacity
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3000 m3
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Base cargo Capacity
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3500 m3
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Inertia Modifier
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0.55x
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Inertia Modifier
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0.48 X
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Mass
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11,150,000 kg
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Mass
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11,150,000 kg
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Shields
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1266
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Shields
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1758
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Armor
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1899
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Armor
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1196
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Hull
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2602
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Hull
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1969
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Signature Radius
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115 m
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Signature Radius
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125m
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Max Velocity
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170 m/s
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Max Velocity
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165m/s
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Ship warp Speed
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9.0 AU/s
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Ship warp Speed
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9.00 AU/s
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I played around with the Crane and Viator for a more lowsec focused application. No bubbles in lowsec to bust out of means we can get into warp faster. Less fast tackle in low means we can be cloaked a little longer before warping. So we can focus a little more on the max cargo capacity and let the hulls agility get us through.
In this area I mucked around with both hulls with a pair of Medium cargo hold optimization I rigs. The viator had 4,959.4 m3 and the Crane had 5,785.9 m3. Viator was 115m for sig and 0.42x for inertia, while the crane was 125m and 0.36x for inertia. So crane wins round 1 being faster to get moving and more base cargo.
I then went after max cargo capacity. The viator with the extra low slot pretty much topped out at 10,279.2 m3.The crane weighed in a close 2nd at 9,405.8 m3. One might ask what difference 873.4 m3 can make? Well let's consider nanite repair paste at its 0.01 m3 foot print 873.4 m3 means I can fit 87,340 more of them in my viator. If I sold that difference at 24K each, that's 2BN isk more in that cloaky ship. Then again having a full bay of nanite repair paste is not the best way to move around 24.6 BN ISK. So let's look at getting that large tower out to lowsec shall we. Large tower is 8k and it runs 40 blocks of fuel an hour. So the Viator drops the tower and puts 11 hours worth of fuel in it, the crane drops the same tower but only 7 hours worth of fuel. So an extra 4 hours of fuel before I need to bounce out there with a Jump Freighter and fill up the fuel bays and drop the rest of the towers arrays. Viator wins round 2 for giving me 4 more hours for a clear jump window and 2BN more isk worth of nanite repair paste I can cram in it.
I looked at adding a small shield buffer tank to each for those pesky smart bombs. Without getting too silly with SonOFBrabens skills. I can get the Crane to 15.2K EHP, 67/73/69/65, and a sig radius of 135m with 9.4k M3 cargo. The Viator 11.8K EHP, 67/58/79/65, and a sig radius of 120M with 10.2K m3. So the crane wins round 3 being able to use its extra mid slot to punch through those highsec smart bomb gate camps.
Last I tried to blend it all together and come up with a more survivable variant of the 0.0 fit I fly on my original Viator. I did not EFT this or get too silly with faction mods etc. Just named meta 4 and T2 where my alts have skills to fly. They are fit thus:
The Crane: Just Passing By - lowsec/highsec fit.
Highs:
- Covert Ops Cloaking device II
Meds:
- Medium F-S9 Regolith Shield Induction
- Medium F-S9 Regolith Shield Induction
- "Cetus" ECM Shockwave I
-Invulnerability Field II
Lows:
- Expanded Cargohold II
- Expanded Cargohold II
Rigs:
-Medium cargo hold optimization I
-Medium cargo hold optimization I
The above fit is pretty much how I fly the crane with my Freighter alt. I use it to ferry small goods around high and lowsec when a charon/rhea just does not make sense. It's actually cap stable so the ECM can be turned on and left on if you get de-cloaked. It's 7K EHP w/ 1/61/56/51 without the inv II on and 9.1K EHP 30/73/69/65 with it on. So it can take a smart bomb and GTFO (yes not going to tank for long, but that's not the idea). I has a sig radius of 135M which is so-so. Top speed of 203 m/s and a inertia modifier of 0.36x. Cargo is 9.4k m3 so it can still deliver a large tower with 7 hours of fuel to lowsec.
It's not the most awesome fit ever but it does what I want it to do. Gets small goods about empire and low. I've also dropped towers with it flying in through 12 man lowsec entry gate camps...
The Viator: :) o/ - lowsec/highsec fit (yes the name is cheeky)
Highs:
- Covert Ops Cloaking device II
Meds:
- Y-T8 Overcharged Hydrocarbon I MWD
- "Cetus" ECM Shockwave I
- Invulnerability Field II
Lows:
- Expanded Cargohold II
- Expanded Cargohold II
- Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Rigs:
-Medium cargo hold optimization I
-Medium cargo hold optimization I
The above fit is pretty much how I fly the Viator with my lowsec PI/POS/cloaky scout alt. I use this fit for everything from moving small stuff to and from the POS to hauling in PI goods. It's NOT cap stable by any means but she is FAST! It's 5.5K EHP w/ 1/41/71/51 without the inv II on and 6.1K EHP 30/58/79/65 with it on. So it might take a smart bomb and GTFO. I has a sig radius of 115M which is a little harder to lock than a barge ;). Top speed of 229m/s with MWD off and 1293 m/s with it on and a inertia modifier of 0.35x. Cargo is 8.0k m3 so it can still deliver a large tower if needed.
Again, nothing stunning here fit wise. Gets the job done and does not cost an arm and a leg.
So really either hull is a awesome blockade runner. The fits above are not perfect and some might feel the need to flame. However they do what I need them too and my pilots can fly them. In all cases this is just my take on how I fly them and how they rate side by side.
Cheers
EVE SOB
Thank you very much for posting the comparison of these two fine ships. I have a Crane and may get a Viator too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, best read so far on the Viator.
ReplyDelete