=====Bombing===== ---- =====Overview===== Bombers may be part of a larger fleet, or they may coordinate with the main fleet, or they may be totally on their own. Generally bombers are grouped in squads of 8, and squads may be grouped into wings. Made up of multiple bomber squads, one or more scouts in [[eve:ships:frigates:covert_ops|Covops]], and optionally one or more [[eve:ships:destroyers:interdictors|Interdictors]], a Bomber wing is intended to launch multiple bombs into an enemy fleet simultaneously. When done properly it can wipe out large numbers of ships in the blink of an eye. Bomber wings cooperate closely with the main fleet FC for maximum effectiveness. ---- ===== The Basics ====== ==== What Are Bombs? How Do They Work? ==== [[eve:weapons:bombs|Bombs]] are an area-of-effect (non-targeted) weapon launched from a bomb launcher. They travel in the direction your ship is facing, fly for 10 seconds and detonate 30km from your launch point. Bombs inflict AOE damage with a radius of 15km from its detonation point. ==== Always Bring the Bomb Type that the FC Calls For ==== Bombs are resistant to the damage type they inflict, but not to other types of damage. So if everyone uses a concussion bomb and one idiot in the group launches a shrapnel bomb, that shrapnel bomb will blow up all of the concussion bombs. ==== Bombers Wings Ideally Consist of Multiple Squads of 8 ==== Again this is due to bomb damage. If more than 8 bombs are launched simultaneously, there is a chance the damage will still blow up the bombs in flight, even if they are the same type. A squad of 8 will be able to blow up cruisers, 2 squads of 8 or 16 will be able to blow up battlecruisers and possibly battleships and 3 squads of 8 or 24 will pretty much own shit. ==== Follow the FC's instructions ==== As a grunt in a bomber wing, your job is to take fleet warp, bomb people and gtfo. Stay calm and follow instructions. STFU and don't improvise. ==== Lag is your enemy ==== If you warp onto grid with 400-500 ships, your computer will probably shit itself. Turn off brackets and effects, otherwise you'll be sitting there decloaked for several seconds while you load grid and you'll wake up in station dead. ==== Fits ==== [[military:reimbursement:predditors:bombers]] ---- ===== Initial Setup ===== ==== Overview ==== First you need to have a Bomber Overview, sometimes known as GTFO overview as well * No brackets * Planets * Gates * Asteroid belts ==== Modules Setup ==== You need to setup your modules in a smart way, which means: **Place your bomb launcher where you can't click it accidentally** * F1 - Cloak Device * F2 - MicroWarpDrive * F5 - Bomb Launcher * Alt-F1 - Torp Launchers (grouped) * Alt-F2 - EWAR ---- ===== Fleet Operation ===== ==== Formups ==== Most of the time Bomber ops are formed on demand, based on the real time intelligence we have. Usually ops will not be posted but instead there will be a Jabber broadcast to our auth group that will announce the FC and the FleetName. All the other details (Formup, target systems, bombs, yaddayadda) can be found in the Fleet MOTD once you join. ==== Bomb Types ==== The most important thing you can do in a fleet its to **bring the correct bomb**. The Fleet MOTD -- whenever you join the fleet, it will be the first thing it appears on your fleet chat -- should always detail which bombs to bring. If you bring the wrong bomb you will fuck the whole fleet up as you will destroy your own fleets bombs * **Shrapnel** - Explosive Damage Bombs, they get boosted damage when used by a [[eve:ships:frigates:hound]] * **Scorch** - Thermal Damage Bombs, they get boosted damage when used by a [[eve:ships:frigates:nemesis]] * **Concussive** - Kinetic Damage Bombs, they get boosted damage when used by a [[eve:ships:frigates:manticore]] * **Electron** - EM Damage Bombs, they get boosted damage when used by a [[eve:ships:frigates:purifier]] * **Void** - Neutralize Capacitor * **LockBreaker** - Works as Caldari ECM but made into a Bomb ---- ==== Wings ==== Usually there is an Active Wing and a AFK/Support wing in the fleet. If you aren't sure where to be, please ask the FC about it, or you may risk not getting any fleet warps to bomb. ==== Squads ==== NEVER take a squad commander position. These are reserved for the FC so he can position himself in there and warp the squad.\\ Dont join a squad with 9 people on it, pretty much for the same reason. If there are 10 people in the same squad, the FC wont be able to position himself as squad commander and warp it. If you are in a squad with 10 guys, and the FC is not in it, please move yourself into another squad.\\ Squads are usually set up in a smart way depending what bomb types and numbers the fleet has. Please ask the FC where to be rather than putting yourself into any squad. This is really important in fleets that use a mix of Void Bombs and Damage Bombs, as the composition of bombs per squad its very crucial.\\ ---- ===== Ready To Bomb ===== ==== Positioning ==== Most of the time bombers setup 300 KMs above the target, for this they will have someone (usually the FC) saying "Everyone Warp to that member at 0", at which point you warp to that guy at 0 (sounds hard right?). One important little bit: **MAKE SURE YOU ARE CLOAKED**, because if you arent you will decloak the whole bomber gang and you will take the surprise factor out of the fleet, and the FC will hate you.\\ Whenever the FC says something like "Warp to X from 0 to 30" it means you need to pick a random distance when warping to X, which can be either 0kms, 10kms, or 30kms. ---- ==== Patience is a Virtue ==== Unlike any other doctrine, bombing is based on patience and cleverness. Keep in mind that the FC has to wait for the right timing and positioning to be able to launch an attack. //Patience is a virtue// and you need to just chill down and wait for the FC to work it out. Don't align to enemy targets based in your judgement, for if you do this for long you might not be in warp range whenever the FC finally decides to attack. It's quite annoying for the FC if you are are saying "Lets do this, lets do another stuff, look, there is a target" stuff all the time, FCs know how to do their job so please let them do it. ---- ==== Doing the Bomb Run ==== Only after everyone has prepared, the squads are organized, and the timing and positioning lend themselves for a bomber run, is it time to attack: * Your FC will tell you to **Align** to something (Can be celestial, a guy in field, a wreck). If you cant find the align point, don't panic, its not that big of a deal. * You select **BOMBER Overview** (or GTFO overview) * Your FC will move himself into squad commander position of your squad * Your FC will squad warp you 30km off the target he wants to kill * You **WAIT**, and **WAIT** until you are **LANDING** and then you **Decloak** * When you land decloaked, **SPAM** your **BOMB LAUNCHER button** * As soon as you see your bomb going off (When the Bomb Launcher Starts to Cycle) you **WARP OUT** using your Bomber Overview ---- ===== Special Notes ===== * The bomb travels in the direction of your alignment. Because of this, when you are landing after a squad warp, you have to launch your bomb //immediately//, or your alignment will drift and your bomb wont land on the target. On the same note, you need to make sure you launch your bomb before warping, as warping changes your alignment. * You want to wait until you are about to land to decloak. If you decloak early you are just giving the enemy more time to react, place dictors in our direction and bubble all the bombers, or even worse, make their whole fleet warp out before you even land. * For the ultimate bombing run, read up on [[eve:pvp:bombing:multi_vector_bombing|Multi Vector Bombing]] * If a bomber dies before the bomb explodes, the bomb will disappear. ---- ===== Anti Bombers ===== Bombers can be both friendly and hostile therefore this section helps both friendly Bombers by informing them what is a threat and non-Bombers on how to counter this attack style. ====Bubbles==== Keeping you fleet **[[eve:pvp:electronic_warfare:warp_disruption_fields|bubbled]]** may sound stupid, but it also means that the bombers can't warp to you at their desired range. If they warp to you and decloak, they will also be unable to escape straight away, giving you the chance to kill them. ====Insta-Ships==== A few high alpha, fast locking ships are a bombers worst nightmare. [[eve:ships:battlecruisers:hurricane]], [[eve:ships:battlecruisers:tornado]], and [[eve:ships:cruisers:cynabal]] are known for this tactic. ====Fast Tackle==== [[eve:ships:frigates:interceptors|Interceptors]] with a [[eve:pvp:electronic_warfare:warp_disruption|warp disruptor]] are also a great way to dissuade bombers. If there's an accidental decloak, [[eve:ships:frigates:interceptors|interceptors]] can head in the general area and decloak more. They can also point bombers when they decloak to bomb.