Narrowing Ship Choices for Solo Combat

Starwalker was considering ship choices for solo combat and spending more time in that particular ship to really learn how to fly and fight in it. Whilst the idea of a single ship might be attractive at a more practical level it would probably be one of each: T1 frigate, Assault Ship and Battlecruiser.

Potential candidate ships included:

• T1 Frigate: Rifter or Merlin
• Assault Ship: Hawk, Wolf or Jaguar
• Battlecruiser: Drake, Hurricane, Harbinger or Cyclone
• Other: Taranis or Thrasher

Similarly, he still liked to experiment and perhaps fly some of the more exotic ships such as covert operation frigates. This illustrated the problem for Starwalker, he was neither fixated on any particular ship nor in a hurry to restrict his options. 

So perhaps the key question was why fly only one ship? Starwalker's answer was to improve his pilot skills by really learning one ship inside and out and to practice fighting with it against an array of different ships.

However, this question wasn't only about what Starwalker wanted to fly but also what was he likely to run into - and would they engage in a fight? On that basis, it seemed like a choice between an Assault Ship or Battlecruiser as a good, general purpose ship that could engage almost anything. 

Starwalker also remembered that Truen1ght had recommended battlecruisers a few months ago because of the prevalence of battlecruisers. Since then Starwalker had trained for Battlecruiser V and Assault Missile Specialisation II so he could fly a HAM Drake now. It would also be comparatively easy to complete any training required for medium weapon systems.

The reason not to fly a battlecruiser would be cost. A rough and ready comparison for a fully T2 fit: 

• Hawk would be around 40m ISK
• Wolf would be around 50m ISK
• Hurricane would be around 80m ISK
• Drake would be around 80m ISK
• Merlin would be around 10m ISK
• Rifter would be around 10m ISK

One notable exception to these rough ranges would be the Cyclone that comes in around 45m or Assault Frigate level of cost. Choices, choices, choices.