i'll say definitely... for one, it makes the grind to L4's alot more bareable. For another, when you start running L4's in the CNR you can fit the drake to salvage (if you don't have a dozen ninja's salvaging your wrecks). I use a drake with 4x tractor's and 4x salvagers with cargo expanders and a good AB. Makes salvaging very fast (just BM the initial contact and any other contact spots....).

Of course that only works if you're clearing, but like everyone said, if you're going speed runs over clears you might as well train into a tengu...

I like to go half AFK a lot and watch tv.. or movies.. or play other games on my PC. Can the Drake take shots to the face like my CNR can or do I constantly need to be monitoring it?

Like.. in my CNR, i can grab full pocket aggro in level 2s and 3s, and then just wait for my drones to kill shit one ship at a time.

This post was edited by PeaceThroughWar on Oct 2 2011 03:52pm

I haven't mission-ed in a long time, but i would say it can.

depends. A cnr can run 2 invuln's and an X-L extender which makes it pretty long term on the tank. A drake isn't gonna handle near the punishment, but to be honest I wouldn't leave either of them for too long on L3's. some missions are fine, but some you'll still get smoked. If you wanna afk drone it then i would say stick with the CNR and go passive regen tank. That will definitely not work when you start L4's but for L3's it could. also would take alot longer since ANY cal ship is shit for drones so you'll still be taking a long time... Didn't know you wanted to drone it, so anything you do is going to be way sub par speed wise.

If I were you I would considering getting a Rattlesnake. They're amazing for gathering an entire pocket and letting drones do all your work and they don't require too many skills.

oh.. heh.. I dont mean PURE drone it.. I mean.. like.. I'll grab aggro, sick the drones

And every now and then I'll come back to retarget something with my missles. Yea, PURE droning would take FOREVER. lol

be careful with drones they tend to attack the triggers .