Nano Comps I: Return of the Vedmak

Welcome to this new series! Over the last half year or so I have been thinking about what nano ships do go together well quite a bit, and now I feel like the Ideas are grounded well enough to write about it. I will detail one comp per article, and have plans to make this a series.

Comp Idea

For this first comp, we are looking at what I like to call a «close range« armor kite comp. Close range in this case because there are no bonuses points and we fight in normal point range. The Idea of this comp is relatively simple. We commit on some target with relatively high dps/neuts and eliminate it (either killing it or rendering it cappes out and thus not a threat), then pull range and reset, and repeat the whole process.

Ships

Vedmak x2-x4
Oneiros x1
Magus OR Bifrost x1
Typhoon Fleet Issue (optional x1)
Kitsune (optional x1)

Ship Details

Vedmak

The Vedmak is the core of this comp, it’s ability to fit three Medium Neuts is really what makes this comp work, as you can quickly disable enemies. The high tracking is also fundamental to clear tackle efficiently and keeping open the mobility of this comp. The spool however is not necessarily what we want, as Ideally we would have damage right this second, but really we are outmof other options that bring in the same speed, tracking ans utility.

Different kinds of fits work for this role, both the classic web fit (sometimes with blinged neuts to match that web range) and also different kinds of dual prop fits. My current favourite is the plateless dual prop variant which is pretty awesomely fast with the AB, allowing you to mitigate enough to survive without the plate in a lot of situations. I can be pretty spicy tho, and I see plated versions as a safer alternative.

Classic Web Fit (by Amelia Duskpace)

[Vedmak, [Amelia Duskspace] HED 3Neut 50mn 800mm MAAR]

Shadow Serpentis Multispectrum Energized Membrane
Damage Control II
Entropic Radiation Sink II
Entropic Radiation Sink II
800mm Rolled Tungsten Compact Plates
Medium Ancillary Armor Repairer, Nanite Repair Paste

50MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive
Federation Navy Stasis Webifier
Medium F-RX Compact Capacitor Booster, Navy Cap Booster 800
Warp Disruptor II

Heavy Entropic Disintegrator II, Occult M
Medium Gremlin Compact Energy Neutralizer
Medium Infectious Scoped Energy Neutralizer
Medium Energy Neutralizer II

Medium Ancillary Current Router II
Medium Ancillary Current Router II
Medium Polycarbon Engine Housing I


Acolyte II x5
Vespa EC-600 x5


Quafe Zero Classic
Agency 'Pyrolancea' DB5 Dose II


Mystic M x1000
Occult M x1000
Navy Cap Booster 800 x18
Baryon Exotic Plasma M x500
Meson Exotic Plasma M x1000
Tetryon Exotic Plasma M x500
Nanite Repair Paste x200

Safe Dual Prop Variant

[Vedmak, HED 3Neut 60mn 800mm MAAR]

Damage Control II
800mm Rolled Tungsten Compact Plates
Imperial Navy Multispectrum Energized Membrane
Entropic Radiation Sink II
Entropic Radiation Sink II
Medium Ancillary Armor Repairer, Nanite Repair Paste

50MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive
Medium F-RX Compact Capacitor Booster, Navy Cap Booster 800
Warp Disruptor II
10MN Afterburner II

Medium Gremlin Compact Energy Neutralizer
Medium Gremlin Compact Energy Neutralizer
Medium Gremlin Compact Energy Neutralizer
Heavy Entropic Disintegrator II, Mystic M

Medium Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Medium Ancillary Current Router II
Medium Ancillary Current Router II


Caldari Navy Vespa x5
Hornet EC-300 x5


Improved Exile Booster
Agency 'Overclocker' SB7 Dose III
Synth Frentix Booster


Mystic M x1000
Occult M x1000
Navy Cap Booster 800 x18
Baryon Exotic Plasma M x500
Meson Exotic Plasma M x1000
Tetryon Exotic Plasma M x500
Nanite Repair Paste x200

My Current Favourite (with AP Copyright)

[Vedmak, HED 3Neut 60mn MAAR <<]

Damage Control II
Shadow Serpentis Multispectrum Coating
Multispectrum Energized Membrane II
Entropic Radiation Sink II
Entropic Radiation Sink II
Medium Ancillary Armor Repairer, Nanite Repair Paste

10MN Afterburner II
Medium Capacitor Booster II, Navy Cap Booster 800
Warp Disruptor II
50MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive

Medium Energy Neutralizer II
Medium Infectious Scoped Energy Neutralizer
Medium Infectious Scoped Energy Neutralizer
Heavy Entropic Disintegrator II, Meson Exotic Plasma M

Medium Ancillary Current Router II
Medium Ancillary Current Router I
Medium Auxiliary Nano Pump II


Caldari Navy Vespa x5
Hornet EC-300 x5


Improved Exile Booster
Agency 'Overclocker' SB7 Dose III
Synth Frentix Booster


Mystic M x1000
Occult M x1000
Navy Cap Booster 800 x19
Baryon Exotic Plasma M x500
Meson Exotic Plasma M x1000
Tetryon Exotic Plasma M x500
Nanite Repair Paste x200

Oneiros

Given that this comp is relatively thin and goes in at close range, at least one ship will die at pretty rapid pace. At this range most of the range-dependant EWAR (Damps, TDs, GDs) are ineffective, we alreasy have Neuts and Jams are a conflip on your own survival. This leaves Logi as the most influential option.

The choice of the Oneiros is for the following reasons. We need a fast and agile Logi that can turn with the gang to go in an out quickly which rules out 100mn options. We also usually don’t have any time to play around once commited, so spooling Logi makes little sense as well.

[Oneiros, 3LRAR MRAR 60mn]

Federation Navy 800mm Steel Plates
Imperial Navy Multispectrum Energized Membrane
Damage Control II
Corpum C-Type Explosive Energized Membrane
Medium Ancillary Armor Repairer, Nanite Repair Paste

50MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive
Sensor Booster II
Medium Capacitor Booster II, Navy Cap Booster 800
10MN Afterburner II

Large Remote Armor Repairer II
Large Remote Armor Repairer II
Large Remote Armor Repairer II
Centum C-Type Medium Remote Armor Repairer

Medium Polycarbon Engine Housing II
Medium Ancillary Current Router II


Medium Armor Maintenance Bot II x5


Improved Exile Booster
Agency 'Overclocker' SB7 Dose III


Navy Cap Booster 800 x24
Nanite Repair Paste x200
ECCM Script x1
Scan Resolution Script x1
Targeting Range Script x1

It might also be possible to make a 50mn Logi Proteus with the recent buffs, but it looks pretty expensive.

Magus / Bifrost

Since so far we don’t have any links, we can increase both the comps speed and tank quite a bit without adding a lot of piloting overhead, as well us to hopefully save one of our pilots.

We definitely want Rapid Deployment and Armor Energizing links, and if we have more slots assing Rapid Repair, Interdiction and Evasive Maneuvering would help as well, I am not sure in which order though.

Here we have face some dilemma: The Magus has a hard time fitting three links and having some way to regenerate health at once, leaving us with just two links or no way to repair. The Bifrost can have 3 links and passive shield regen. So if you have the Logi, I would go with a buffer Magus, while if you don’t I would go with a Bifrost.

Buffer Magus

[Magus, 3link 6mn 200mm << (Backpack)]

Imperial Navy 200mm Steel Plates
Multispectrum Coating II
Coreli A-Type Explosive Coating
Nanofiber Internal Structure II

5MN Y-T8 Compact Microwarpdrive
Micro Jump Field Generator
'Delineative' Warp Scrambler
1MN Afterburner II

Core Probe Launcher I, Core Scanner Probe I /OFFLINE
Armor Command Burst II, Rapid Repair Charge /OFFLINE
Armor Command Burst II, Armor Energizing Charge
Skirmish Command Burst II, Interdiction Maneuvers Charge
Skirmish Command Burst II, Rapid Deployment Charge

Small Command Processor I
Small Command Processor I


Acolyte II x3
Imperial Navy Infiltrator x2
Hornet EC-300 x5


Skirmish Command Mindlink


Armor Energizing Charge x300
Armor Reinforcement Charge x300
Rapid Repair Charge x300
Navy Cap Booster 800 x15
Nanite Repair Paste x200
Core Scanner Probe I x16
Evasive Maneuvers Charge x300
Interdiction Maneuvers Charge x300
Rapid Deployment Charge x300

I did the math on what is the cheapest way to make this fit, and currently it seems to be the better to buy a “Delineative” Scram instead of abyssaling anything, feel free to choose a different route.

Buffer Bifrost

[Bifrost, 3link 6mn MSE DCU << (Backpack) AA]

Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
IFFA Compact Damage Control

5MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive
Caldari Navy Medium Shield Extender
Faint Epsilon Scoped Warp Scrambler
Micro Jump Field Generator
1MN Afterburner II

Core Probe Launcher I, Core Scanner Probe I /OFFLINE
Armor Command Burst II, Rapid Repair Charge /OFFLINE
Armor Command Burst II, Armor Energizing Charge
Skirmish Command Burst II, Rapid Deployment Charge /OFFLINE
Skirmish Command Burst II, Interdiction Maneuvers Charge
Skirmish Command Burst II, Evasive Maneuvers Charge

Small Command Processor I
Small Command Processor I


Skirmish Command Mindlink


Armor Energizing Charge x300
Armor Reinforcement Charge x300
Rapid Repair Charge x300
Navy Cap Booster 800 x15
Nanite Repair Paste x100
Core Scanner Probe I x16
Evasive Maneuvers Charge x300
Interdiction Maneuvers Charge x300
Rapid Deployment Charge x300

Typhoon Fleet Issue

This ship can augment the burst potential of the comp significantly while it has enough range so that it’s lower agility doesn’t make it an all to big liability. Comming in at about 900m ISK including fit it is also not entirely out of the price range of the comp (like a Barghest) and gets a further two heavy Neuts, making it an interesting choice once there is enough antitackle.

[Typhoon Fleet Issue, RHML 2Neut 500mn LAAR <<]

Large Ancillary Armor Repairer, Nanite Repair Paste
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Multispectrum Energized Membrane II
Damage Control II

500MN Y-T8 Compact Microwarpdrive
Heavy F-RX Compact Capacitor Booster, Navy Cap Booster 3200
Large Micro Jump Drive
Federation Navy Stasis Webifier
Warp Disruptor II

Rapid Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Missile
Rapid Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Missile
Rapid Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Missile
Corpus C-Type Heavy Energy Neutralizer
Corpus C-Type Heavy Energy Neutralizer
Rapid Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Missile
Rapid Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Missile
Rapid Heavy Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Missile

Large Warhead Rigor Catalyst I
Large Warhead Rigor Catalyst I
Large Warhead Calefaction Catalyst I


Acolyte II x5
Republic Fleet Warrior x5
Berserker II x5
Hornet EC-300 x4


Improved Exile Booster
Synth Crash Booster
Agency 'Pyrolancea' DB7 Dose III


Inferno Fury Heavy Missile x900
Mjolnir Fury Heavy Missile x900
Nova Fury Heavy Missile x900
Scourge Fury Heavy Missile x900
Navy Cap Booster 3200 x5
Navy Cap Booster 800 x2
Caldari Navy Inferno Heavy Missile x900
Caldari Navy Mjolnir Heavy Missile x900
Caldari Navy Nova Heavy Missile x900
Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Missile x900
Nanite Repair Paste x500

I abyssaled the propmod for cheap and got another 150 m/s out of it on this one.

Kitsune

Finally as a second standoff range ship, having jams can open up opportunities to go in in the first place, and disable Logi or enemy DPS for some time, thus further increasing the survivability of the frontline for bigger engagements. Unfortunately the cruiser options (Rook or Tengu) are pretty slow, so I don’t think they can keep up with this otherwise quite fast comp, or don’t have enough range to stay safe. This only leaves the Kitsune as an option. Here is a max range fit that is not specific to this comp, I am sure you could also try tanking it, but with how thin it is this probably difficult.

[Kitsune, 5mn #Dugtrio <<]

Signal Distortion Amplifier II
Signal Amplifier II

5MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive
Radar ECM II
Radar ECM II
Radar ECM II
Radar ECM II

Improved Cloaking Device II
[Empty High slot]
[Empty High slot]

Small Ionic Field Projector II
Small Ionic Field Projector II


Nanite Repair Paste x100
Gravimetric ECM II x5
Ladar ECM II x5
Magnetometric ECM II x5

Comp in Action

Battle Report 1
After taking a roller bait and barely making it out with my Gila, we decide to try our luck with some Vedmaks and an Oneiros on the now crit hole. Bob spits out our third Vedmak as the hole closes behind us, the Vedmaks ram and Neut the enemy Loki which allows the Oneiros to run circles around them and tank long enough to kill the Loki and then screen the rest of the gang so the Oneiros can pull range and live.

Pando Stream
On a random evening after spending way to much time testing Smartbombs, we decided to go for a quick Roam in Pochven with something that losely follows this comp, and get some decent action. Somehow later on we kill a Tengu that has a 4b shieldbooster on it, two Vedmaks with neuts is all that was needed to kill him apparently.

Spot in the Meta

I think this comp has a hard time mostly against longer range comps as the Oneiros has problems getting shot from range, and enough long webs making gapclosing hard. In general the stats of the ships are probably not good enough to witstand a prolonged chase into longer range opponents.

On the other hand this kind of style does well against sigtanking comps as they will get run down and neuted, and have little ewar to fend for themselves (as EWAR ships have no signature bonuses, so they are easily killed with Vedmaks), while screening tackle will have a hard time to screen a bunch of ships comming in at once while laserbeaming them.

Conclusion

I hope you like this new format and I wrote this detailed enough to convey the main synergy of the comp, but short enough to keep it interesting. I think I will the same style of “close range” kite comp with shield ships next time.