In previous experiences (2 prior experiences clearing sites & huffing; no AARs prepared) a team of 3 people cleared numerous gas sites to allow for huffing. In this experience the fleet was smaller (2 members including myself) than before; however the goals remained the same.
Objectives:
(a) enter a WH, scan signatures
(b) trigger gas sites and reship for sleeper combat
(c) return with fleet to remove sleepers
(d) reship to huff gas
(e) payout isk for gas and loot
Participants
A general call was made in the AMC channel for interested parties. No announcement was made in any other channel (I did not think it was permitted due to
Spoiler
Kevin Dogguide - Brutix Navy Issue/Venture
Devoros Vyndiver - Gila/Venture
Devoros Vyndiver - Gila/Venture
A few WHs were scanned and deemed inappropriate in the course of preparations. The WH was evaluated prior to advertising a gas huffing opportunity and deemed to be acceptable. I scanned down signatures in the WH and found:
1 Ordinary Perimeter Reservoir
1 Token Perimeter Reservoir
2 Minor Perimeter Reservoir
3 Barren Perimeter Reservoir
2 WH entrances into null sec
1 WH entrance into C4/5
Prior to clearing sites:
A series of bookmarks were created of the signatures of interest (including WHs exits and where they lead), a safe spot, entrance and exit, and shared. Prior to entering the WH we examined the NPC entities at each site and determined the order at which to tackle the sites and targeting NPCs. The plan was to advance from easiest site to hardest (token -> minor -> barren -> ordinary) and destroy NPCs jointly instead on taking on NPC 1v1. In my hold I carried a remote armour repairer, mobile depot, MTU, probes and launcher, and a regular armour repairer. These items would be used to make repairs, scoop loot, refit, or scan an exit if the existing exit closed.
Prior to huffing gas:
An EVE site (Fuzzwork) was consulted to determine what gas to huff first, and an order established on which site to huff from first.
Significant events:
(1) All gas sites were cleared with no losses to drones or irreparable damage (in the WH) to ships.
(2) The ordinary gas site proved to be the most challenging. the distance to the sentry drones and damage inflicted resulted in team members warping to the safe spot to rep shields. The fits for the ships were for distance (31km and 41km ranges); however we were not able to deal enough damage to NPCs before they neared breaking into armour. It is possible that the ship fits could be improved upon, or further skills trained.
(3) I was unable to effectively share fleet bookmarks and needed to drag bookmarks and jet them for sharing.
Stats:
Loot (including salvage): 15,821,809.39
Gas value: 53,242,182.48
ISK delta: 69,063,991.87
FC Review
Overall the operation was run very well. Unfortunately, not all the gas was taken from the cleared sites. The operation was scrubbed when combat probes and a covert ops ship appeared on dscan. While it was an isk positive operation having more huffers present may have resulted in a greater amount of gas being taken from the WH and higher profits. It was difficult to leave 5 untouched gas sites behind.
I believe that in a gas huffing fleet several members could huff while a few scouted/guarded the huffers in cruiser/bc ships. This 'guard' would unlikely deter T3, battleships, or small-gang battlecruisers but may be enough of a deterrent to smaller threats to allow huffers to complete all sites. Alternatively, everyone huffing (without scout/guard) would be the fastest option. Hopefully as I work to get a regularly advertised gas huffing fleet at AMC off the ground there will be more people available to participate.
I need to learn more about sharing fleet bookmarks. I am unsure if there is a delay between sharing and it being available, but they did not appear in the menu after right-clicking in space.
This experience was useful to help me determine how long it would take me to scan down a few WHs and get a fleet going. Today this prep work took about 1.5 hours moving through systems, scanning down signatures, making bookmarks, researching sites, etc. A gas huffing fleet that I would be Fc'ing would probably have to start at (the earliest) 23:00. This time may be prohibitive for EU AMC members.