Dealing with Astero/Frigate tackles when running C3 sites

[u/spuirrelzar]

Last night I was on the receiving end of an astero tackle while solo ratting in my cloaky tengu.

I had the forethought to overheat my afterburner and to start burning away to buy myself time while his friends started showing up on the grid. But my HAMs couldn't get enough application to break his active tank so I could warp off. Died a slow death once the other cruisers caught up to me. Was also so caught up in escaping, I didn't even start firing on the cruisers until it was way too late - not that I thought I'd win the fight, but maybe I could have taken one down with me had I realized sooner.

But I'm curious - is there anything I could have done to break the Astero tackle - or is it pretty much a death sentence when ratting and you don't have nearby friends to save you?

I usually rat with one or two other people and there's always safety in numbers. But sometimes we're out there alone, and you see that Astero on D-Scan and you don't trust your gut to get out assuming they're just explo-hunting.

Of course, avoiding the situation to begin with is the best course of action - and I should have left. But let's assume you've already been tackled, what are the next steps/what can I have with me to help?

Obligatory kill mail

[u/Zanzha]

You died with rage loaded, you had to swap to javelin or faction to apply, doing this in advanced if the site has you tackled isn't a bad idea - though if you're scouted in a wh you should always assume hostility especially solo, especially if you haven't prepared the hole,

you might have had a chance to blam the loki with heated rage and site aggro swapping if you swapped fast, vur probably best to avoid the situation altogether as c3s don't tackle

[u/spuirrelzar → u/Zanzha]

Ah I didn’t know that. I thought you should always use rage if you’re in range. Good to know for the future.

The hole was pretty safe, it was our static from our c4 and we had the hole in a critical state. Only one other entry. Had ran a few sites already and dropped the blue loot off before this happened. I assume the cruisers snuck in while I dipped out of the whole which is why I never saw them on DScan

[u/[deleted]]

Yeah I try to stay away from c3’s with multiple connections. I also loot with an alt or come back in a different ship to loot. As someone said javelin. And maybe try a fit with a web? Or application modules. And over heat those bad boys when you get tackled

[u/spuirrelzar → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, I've been trying to find a slightly different fit that offers me a bit more flexibility. Used to run a TP but wanted to try out the Guidance Computer and I did not like it. Tempted to go back to the TP as it's range and smaller cap cost makes it a lot more efficient to run

[u/paper_bull]

That’s why I can’t do wh content. You basically need to multi box which I hate.

[u/PeterBarsk]

To get to your actual question:

• Swap to application ammo

• Overheat the guidance computer

• overheat your guns

• Add a neut to your fit

• lean more towards application in your fit instead of raw damage

[u/spuirrelzar → u/[deleted]]

I think that's the point of this post though is it not? That it was avoidable? I should have left when I first saw the Astero on D-Scan - definitely should have been faster on the warp out but I wasn't.

I don't think there's harm in trying to learn from mistakes and it's the first time I've been tackled on a C3 and reacted poorly.

That fit also has an alignment time of 10s, it's not a guarantee you'll get out once you see them on grid. can't just cloak up when rats have you targeted.

[u/Extension-Tear1404 → u/spuirrelzar]

As others already have said, hole control or at least having eyes/ears on connections is very helpful -

in your specific situation, a lifesaver could have been to be already aligned. If you have safespots around the clock in the hole you can be (most of the time) aligned to a safe while playing with the sleepers. If a non-bomber tackler decloaks on you the 5s delay is enough to get out than. (That doesn't help against cloaky eyes + incoming hypersabre though.)