The Rook is the Combat Recon counterpart to the Force Recon Falcon. It serves as an excellent ECM platform for any T2 cruiser gang, and as an up close “brawler” ECM boat.

Built to represent the last word in electronic warfare, combat recon ships have onboard facilities designed to maximize the effectiveness of electronic countermeasure modules of all kinds. Filling a role next to their class counterpart, the heavy assault cruiser, combat recon ships are the state of the art when it comes to anti-support support. They are also devastating adversaries in smaller skirmishes, possessing strong defensive capabilities in addition to their electronic superiority.

Developer: Kaalakiota

As befits one of the largest weapons manufacturers in the known world, Kaalakiota's ships are very combat focused. Favoring the traditional Caldari combat strategy, they are designed around a substantial number of weapons systems, especially missile launchers. However, they have rather weak armor and structure, relying more on shields for protection.

• Caldari Cruiser V
  • Spaceship Command II
  • Caldari Destroyer III
    • Caldari Frigate III
      • Spaceship Command I
• Recon Ships I
  • Cloaking IV
    • CPU Management IV
  • Signature Analysis V
    • CPU Management I
  • Spaceship Command V
  • Electronics Upgrades V
    • CPU Management II
    • Power Grid Management II

Role bonuses:

• Cannot be detected by direction scanners

Caldari Cruiser bonuses (per skill level):

• 7.5% bonus to kinetic Light Missile, Heavy Missile and Heavy Assault Missile damage
• 10% reduction in ECM Target Jammer activation cost

Recon Ships bonuses (per skill level):

• 30% bonus to ECM Target Jammer strength
• 10% bonus to Heavy Missile and Heavy Assault Missile max velocity

S2N AHAC Rook

[Rook, S2N AB Armor HAC's]

Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Explosive Armor Hardener II
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II

10MN Afterburner II
BZ-5 Neutralizing Spatial Destabilizer ECM
BZ-5 Neutralizing Spatial Destabilizer ECM
BZ-5 Neutralizing Spatial Destabilizer ECM
BZ-5 Neutralizing Spatial Destabilizer ECM
BZ-5 Neutralizing Spatial Destabilizer ECM
BZ-5 Neutralizing Spatial Destabilizer ECM

Light Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Light Missile
Light Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Light Missile
Light Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Light Missile
Light Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Light Missile
Light Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Light Missile

Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I

Shield Gang Rook

[Rook, Battle Rook]

Signal Distortion Amplifier II
Signal Distortion Amplifier II
Damage Control II

Y-T8 Overcharged Hydrocarbon I Microwarpdrive
Large Shield Extender II
EM Shield Hardener II
ECM - White Noise Generator II
ECM - White Noise Generator II
ECM - White Noise Generator II
ECM - White Noise Generator II

Heavy Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Heavy Missile

Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I

The same general rules that apply to the Scorpion apply to the Rook. The exact listed ECM modules are not required, and best-named modules work just as well as T2. Since it's a Caldari Recon, it is as fragile as anything can be, even though it is specifically tanked against Amarr HAC gangs, do not expect to live long as primary. Range is the best friend you can have, and the further outside of hostile optimal you can stay and still do your job, the better off you'll be.

The Rook has two additional stipulations. Please only fly this hull in shield-tanked gangs. You should only be in this hull if you have trained Recon V and Signal Dispersion IV. Otherwise, you're better off flying the Scorpion instead or a Blackbird(if you're not able to fly a Scorpion yet WTF are you doing looking at Recons?).

Additionally, since they do not fit without implants, T2 Heavy Launchers are not required. Named launchers are ok, but if you'd like to be somewhere other than at the bottom of a killmail, it is suggested you find a way to make them fit.

A note on ECM modules

Best-named Signal Distortion Amplifiers and ECM are just as good as T2 (actually best-named ECM are better since they have the same jam strength but use less cap) and are usually cheaper in Jita (except the Caldari jammers). Just make sure you're actually fitting best-named and not some lesser module. Best-named jammers also use less capacitor. From the Named Items Chart, their names are:

• 'Hypnos' Signal Distortion Amplifier I
• 'Umbra' I White Noise ECM
• BZ-5 Neutralizing Spatial Destabilizer ECM
• 'Hypnos' Ion Field ECM I
• Enfeebling Phase Inversion ECM I

BZ-5 (Caldari) jammers are usually around 2 million isk more than T2, so for those you probably want to stick to T2.