Tuesday 1 February 2011

The Devil

Being a werewolf meant having the dexterity and jaw power to instantly rip out a man's jugular. It was a trick of her father's that had always annoyed her mother, especially when he did it just before meals.
-- (Terry Pratchett, Men at Arms)

There was a time when the Dramiel was just another faction frigate, but someone took what was an also ran and turned it into the only ran, with upgraded guns, range, speed and a deployment of four drones.

I remember back when flying the Dramiel was like flying a sexier Rifter but now the Dramiel is flown by anyone who thinks they can fight and if they can't fight, they can easily run away.

It is a particular favourite of plex farmers and for obvious reason. I don't blame them, if you want to make ISK, almost risk free, then this is the ship for you.

Dramiel
The Dramiel is the most long-standing and often-used ship design in the Angel Cartel's vast repertoire of vessels. A frigate workhorse if ever there was one, this sharp-tusked, dangerous beauty can sting unimaginably hard if one is not prepared for its assault.

Special Ability: 100% bonus to Small Projectile Turret damage

Minmatar Frigate Skill Bonus: 10% bonus to Small Projectile Turret falloff per level
Gallente Frigate Skill Bonus: 7.5% bonus to Small Projectile Turret tracking speed per level


Now y'all know I take great pleasure in making sure the Gusandall 2/10 complex isn't farmed, hell, I hate any ISK farming period and as such have made it my mission in the past to harass and kill any who would try and do such in the area.

There's a fellow who's been trying to run the plex on regular occasion, I caught him a while back when he was using a Succubus, I was in a Worm, he wasn't happy when I ransomed his pod and said some unpleasant things with regards to my character.

He was spotted earlier in the evening running the plex using a Dramiel but had left by the time I got ready, but as with all farmers, they always come back for more.

I wanted something to catch him, and then I wanted something to kill him.

Daredevil
Little hard data is to be had on the Daredevil's exact origin, but it is believed that Guardian Angel engineers created it to serve as a defensive complement to the Cartel's Dramiel frigate. In both flair and utility it closely resembles its counterpart, but it eschews offensive capabilities in favor of greater defensive potential and stronger armor plating. A tough nut to crack.

Special Ability: 200% bonus to Small Hybrid Turret damage

Gallente Frigate Skill Bonus: 10% bonus to Small Hybrid Turret falloff per level
Minmatar Frigate Skill Bonus: 10% bonus to the velocity factor of stasis webifiers per level

Now I remember flying the Daredevil before but never really got the hang of it, back then it had drones, but a lot has changed. My last DD was donated to Prometheus Exenthal for Frigank 6, but it didn't live long enough to feature too heavily.

Back then the Daredevil was ok, but now it's actually pretty damn impressive.

I undocked and warped to the 2/10, checking the scanner all the time during warp, the Dramiel still there. I land on the ancient acceleration gate and activate it, launching into the first room of the complex.

There he was, about 90 clicks away and moving well over 2.5km/s.

I would have to lure him in, a bit of Lame Kane™ to start off with, make him feel the comfort his speed afforded him would win him the fight.

[ 2011.02.01 18:37:30 ] (notify) Approaching Bromiel
[ 2011.02.01 18:37:35 ] (notify) Speed changed to 1441 m/s

He starts to close on me, hovering at about 35km

[ 2011.02.01 18:37:37 ] (notify) Speed changed to 1396 m/s

He slowly tightens his orbit.

[ 2011.02.01 18:37:58 ] (notify) Speed changed to 1795 m/s

The time has come, at about 30 clicks away, afterburner is set to overload...

[ 2011.02.01 18:38:40 ] (notify) Speed changed to 2412 m/s

At 24km a stasis web reaches out to the Dramiel and caresses the sleek hull

[ 2011.02.01 18:38:54 ] (notify) For initiating combat your security status has been adjusted by -0.1217.

He engages back, launches drones...

[ 2011.02.01 18:38:58 ] (notify) Syreon 5I4 <X.I.X>(Dramiel) has started trying to warp scramble you!
[ 2011.02.01 18:38:59 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Syreon 5I4 barely scratches you, causing 27.8 damage.

He fires off some Barrage ammuntion in my general direction...

[ 2011.02.01 18:39:00 ] (notify) You have started trying to warp scramble Syreon 5I4 <X.I.X>(Dramiel).
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:02 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Syreon 5I4 hits you, doing 83.0 damage.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:04 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Syreon 5I4 barely scratches you, causing 55.9 damage.

I don't think he expected me to be this close, I open fire...

[ 2011.02.01 18:39:06 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II places an excellent hit on Syreon 5I4 <X.I.X>(Dramiel), inflicting 874.6 damage.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:08 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Syreon 5I4 heavily hits you, inflicting 96.2 damage.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:08 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II lightly hits Syreon 5I4 <X.I.X>(Dramiel), doing 323.3 damage.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:09 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Syreon 5I4 lightly hits you, doing 21.1 damage.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:09 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II hits Syreon 5I4 <X.I.X>(Dramiel), doing 522.5 damage.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:11 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Syreon 5I4 heavily hits you, inflicting 37.0 damage.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:11 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Syreon 5I4 hits you, doing 28.9 damage.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:11 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Syreon 5I4 heavily hits you, inflicting 100.8 damage.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:12 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II hits Syreon 5I4 <X.I.X>(Dramiel), doing 526.6 damage.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:14 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Syreon 5I4 hits you, doing 81.4 damage.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:14 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Syreon 5I4 hits you, doing 32.6 damage.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:14 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II hits Syreon 5I4 <X.I.X>(Dramiel), doing 618.4 damage.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:15 ] (notify) True Sansha Stasis Webifier deactivates as Bromiel begins to explode.
[ 2011.02.01 18:39:16 ] (notify) Domination Warp Scrambler deactivates as Bromiel begins to explode.

Twenty two seconds of action and Sgt Angua stands victorious over the wreck of the Dramiel, The pilot quick enough to get his escape pod out this time, he docked immediately and went on vacation.

I'm very happy with her first outing, the sheer animosity of how she tore through the Dramiel impressed me, really impressed me. I expect the Dramiel pilot to be back in some or other faction ship and we'll be ready.

Edit: Shout out to
The tHornton from The Hatchery, because he asked :)

3 comments:

Tom said...

now...how to word this?

Tone: positive, appreciative.
Mood: cheerful.

Good work mate. I usually am not that impressed with your work. This I love though. Nice kill, I hope you enjoy the DD and get many more (experienced) peeps farming the complex with it.

Sard Caid said...

Team Liquid love ♥♥♥!

tHornton said...

<3