If I were to model a Proteus for exploration, it would look something like this:
[Proteus, explo]
Federation Navy Magnetic Field Stabilizer
Federation Navy Magnetic Field Stabilizer
Federation Navy Magnetic Field Stabilizer
Corpum C-Type Medium Armor Repairer
Corpum A-Type Energized Kinetic Membrane
Corpum A-Type Energized Thermal Membrane
10MN Afterburner II
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Tracking Computer II
250mm Railgun II, Federation Navy Antimatter Charge M
250mm Railgun II, Federation Navy Antimatter Charge M
250mm Railgun II, Federation Navy Antimatter Charge M
250mm Railgun II, Federation Navy Antimatter Charge M
250mm Railgun II, Federation Navy Antimatter Charge M
250mm Railgun II, Federation Navy Antimatter Charge M
Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Sisters Expanded Probe Launcher, Sisters Core Scanner Probe
Medium Semiconductor Memory Cell II
Medium Auxiliary Nano Pump II
Medium Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Proteus Core - Augmented Fusion Reactor
Proteus Defensive - Covert Reconfiguration
Proteus Offensive - Hybrid Encoding Platform
Proteus Propulsion - Hyperspatial Optimization
Drones are whatever. Lows are expensive and geared towards kin/therm tanking. Honestly if you’re just doing that you can downgrade. If you throw in EM/exp you’re probably looking at the same basic quality range (C-type repper or better/C-type hardeners or B-type membranes or better). The magstabs… well, you have to kill things in a somewhat timely fashion.
I’m not in love with the range on the guns (22+33 with antimatter or 44+33 with lead). Damage is… fine. At least with the upgraded magstabs. Honestly, 658 is pretty decent if you’re able to stick to antimatter but the range envelope means you won’t be able to do so consistently.
As for some other options…
A Tengu might look something like this:
[Tengu, explo killer]
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Pith C-Type Large Shield Booster
Thukker Large Cap Battery
Missile Guidance Computer II
Missile Guidance Computer II, Missile Range Script
Pithum C-Type Kinetic Deflection Amplifier
Pithum C-Type Thermal Dissipation Amplifier
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Assault Missile
Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Sisters Expanded Probe Launcher
Medium Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer II
Medium Rocket Fuel Cache Partition II
Medium Hydraulic Bay Thrusters II
Tengu Core - Augmented Graviton Reactor
Tengu Defensive - Covert Reconfiguration
Tengu Offensive - Accelerated Ejection Bay
Tengu Propulsion - Chassis Optimization
As long as you’re up against Guristas/Serpentis, this thing is solid. 703 DPS to 56 or 550 DPS to 84. And that’s without playing around with scripts.
Tight on grid; unfortunately you have to use the expensive battery to make the Pith large work. Ballistic controls are somewhat optional here; you have some damage wiggle room on this fit. Deflection amps are dirt cheap; use deadspace.
Both of the above options really only shine against Serpentis/Guristas though. If you were to want to branch out against BR/Sansha, you could do worse than a HAM Loki these days. Sample fit might look like this:
[Loki, exploration armor missiles]
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Corpum C-Type Medium Armor Repairer
Corpum A-Type Energized Thermal Membrane
Corpum A-Type Energized EM Membrane
Corelum C-Type 10MN Afterburner
Missile Guidance Computer II, Missile Range Script
Missile Guidance Computer II, Missile Range Script
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Heavy Assault Missile
Sisters Expanded Probe Launcher, Sisters Core Scanner Probe
Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Salvager II
Medium Hydraulic Bay Thrusters II
Medium Rocket Fuel Cache Partition II
Medium Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer II
Loki Core - Augmented Nuclear Reactor
Loki Defensive - Covert Reconfiguration
Loki Offensive - Launcher Efficiency Configuration
Loki Propulsion - Intercalated Nanofibers
Drones are whatever again. Missile range is a touch on the low side; 49.4km with 576 DPS, but it’s fully selectable. So that’s at least decent.
Against Angels you could do worse than a HAM Legion. Perhaps something like this:
[Legion, explo HAM angel]
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Damage Control II
Corpum C-Type Medium Armor Repairer
Corpum C-Type Energized Explosive Membrane
Corpum A-Type Energized Kinetic Membrane
Missile Guidance Computer II, Missile Range Script
Missile Guidance Computer II, Missile Range Script
10MN Afterburner II
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Nova Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Nova Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Nova Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Nova Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Nova Heavy Assault Missile
[Empty High slot]
Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Sisters Expanded Probe Launcher
Medium Hydraulic Bay Thrusters II
Medium Rocket Fuel Cache Partition II
Medium Semiconductor Memory Cell I
Legion Core - Augmented Antimatter Reactor
Legion Defensive - Covert Reconfiguration
Legion Offensive - Assault Optimization
Legion Propulsion - Wake Limiter
Valkyrie II x5
Drones do matter here since the missile sub is short a launcher and long a drone bonus. A classic shield fit could also work; you could conceivably refit the Tengu above. You could also try a shield Loki:
[Loki, exploration shield missiles]
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Ballistic Control System II
Shield Boost Amplifier II
Pithum B-Type Medium Shield Booster
Pithum A-Type Explosive Deflection Amplifier
Pithum B-Type Kinetic Deflection Amplifier
10MN Afterburner II
Missile Guidance Computer II, Missile Range Script
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Nova Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Nova Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Nova Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Nova Heavy Assault Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Nova Heavy Assault Missile
Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Sisters Core Probe Launcher, Sisters Core Scanner Probe
[Empty High slot]
Medium Hydraulic Bay Thrusters II
Medium Rocket Fuel Cache Partition II
Medium Capacitor Control Circuit I
Loki Core - Dissolution Sequencer
Loki Defensive - Covert Reconfiguration
Loki Offensive - Launcher Efficiency Configuration
Loki Propulsion - Wake Limiter
(That’s total spitballing. All these fits are to an extent, but that one was really thrown together.)
So, some themes to draw from.
- I’d really recommend three faction damage mods to get your site completion time down.
- Two damage application mods are a must; more are often helpful. Missile fits need them more than gun fits since you can mitigate damage reduction through piloting on a gun fit.
- Shield fits with a large cap battery can tank like no one’s business. Armor fits just don’t tank as hard so you might have to use higher end mods.
- Three slot tanks are usually all you have room for; choose carefully.
- I really like Sisters launchers. You don’t really need them for most purposes but I’m spoiled.
So… does that count as general guidance?