Tech and meta levels: Difference between revisions

'''Tech''', '''Faction''', and '''Meta''' are terms which indicate the quality, rarity, or power of an item or ship hull.

Most modules in EVE have several (up to tens) of variants (each a module in their own right), which fulfill the same basic function, but have different statistics. <!-- This needs a screenshot --> You can find all related modules through the in-game "Show Info" window, under the "related items" tab, where you can also compare the modules' statistics using the item comparison tool. Modules have an attribute (also visible in the "Show Info" window) called "Meta level", which is roughly a measure of the module's quality - a module with a higher meta level will generally (but not always!) have better stats than the equivalent module with a lower meta level.  

These are dropped by NPC ships and are not manufactured by players. The higher the meta level the better quality the item. Higher meta level items are more effective and usually have lower fitting requirements as well, but this is not always the case. Meta level 1-4 items do not require more skills to use than meta 0. Because of their better performance, some high-demand meta modules may have much higher market prices than Tech 1 or even Tech 2 modules; however because of plentiful supply, many meta modules have comparable or even lower market prices than Tech 1 modules.

This is one of the module types most heavily affected by the module tiericide. Non-tiericided module groups will usually have four meta variations (referred to as "meta 1" - "meta 4), with the meta 4 variant of a module being strictly better than the meta 1 variant in all ways. Tiericided module groups, meanwhile will usually have several variants with mostly equal stats but one specific improvement, and specific keywords in their names to denote that improvement. Modules will only have variants which are relevant to their attributes.

{{example|For example, the Large Shield Extender I (Meta 0) module has two "named" variants, the Large Azeotropic '''Restrained''' Shield Extender and the Large F-S9 Regolith '''Compact''' Shield Extender. When compared to the Meta 0 module, the former has a reduced signature radius increase, while the latter has reduced fitting requirements. Additionally, both modules have higher shield hitpoint bonuses (the module's primary attribute). Note that the additional adjectives in the module names (such as "Azeotropic") are purely flavor text and have no specific meaning, although they may sometimes reference real-world or theoretical technologies related to the module.}}

==={{anchor|Tech 2}}[[File:Icon tech2.png|24px]] Tech 2 (Meta 5)===

* '''Sisters''': Sisters of EVE

* '''Veles/Perun''': Triglavian Collective

===[[File:Icon deadspace.png|24px]] Deadspace (Meta 7-16)===

===[[File:Icon officer.png|24px]] Officer (Meta 7-17)===

Officer modules are among the most rare, expensive and strongest modules in EVE, and as loot drops from rare named enemies which can be found in asteroid belts. Officer modules are named after the NPC they drop from, such as "Estamel's Modified Multispectrum Shield Hardener". While officer modules are usually better than deadspace modules, this is not always the case; always check the attributes before you buy.

===[[File:Icon abyssal.png|24px]] Abyssal ===

Abyssal modules are created by combining other modules with Mutaplasmids found in the [[Abyssal Deadspace|Abyss]]. The result is a unique module with randomly increased and decreased stats. These stat adjustments, as well as the original module, mutaplasmid used, and pilot who used it, can be viewed via the module's Show Info window or via the module's tooltip when in a cargo bay or hangar; and this information can be shared by viewing a Contract for the module or by linking the module in chat. However, the modules cannot be traded on the normal Market, and their stats are not shown in Killmails or Ship Scans.

===[[File:Icon faction.png|24px]] Faction Ammunition===

Empire faction ships such as the [[Imperial Navy Slicer]] are bought from the loyalty point stores of empire factions, such as the Gallente Federation Navy or Minmatar Republic Fleet. They are obtained as either complete ships or as limited run blueprint copies. You can also purchase these ships second-hand from players on the market. Empire faction ships are more powerful and much more expensive than Tech 1 ships, but are normally less powerful or expensive than Tech 2 or Pirate faction ships. One of the main advantages of Empire Faction ships is their low skill requirements; if you can fly a faction's Tech 1 ships, you can also fly their Empire Faction ships, making them good for gaining an advantage during the long skill train to Tech 2 or Pirate faction ships. This said though, most Empire faction ships also gain very large bonuses from skill training, which encourages training ship skills and gives very tangible bonuses on the way.

These ships are only manufactured by players through the Invention process. They are usually comparable in price to Empire faction ships while being more powerful, but have high skill requirements to use. As well as better performance and bonuses, T2 ships have [[T2 Resists|increased damage resistance]], making them tougher. Additionally, many (but not all) Tech 2 ships are more specialised than their Tech 1 counterparts. An example of a Tech 2 frigate is the [[Wolf]], a Tech 2 Minmatar [[Frigates#Assault Frigates|Assault frigate]] based on the [[Rifter]].

These ships are bought from non-empire faction loyalty point stores, including Pirate factions, and others, such as Sisters Of EVE; and single-run blueprints for them can be found by destroying rare commander and sometimes tougher NPCs in certain combat sites. They can also be purchased second-hand from players on the market. These non-empire faction ships require two different races' Spaceship Command skills to use. For example, the [[Dramiel]], an Angel Cartel frigate, requires both Minmatar and Gallente frigate skills. However, they do not require high levels in these skills, making them considerably easier to train for than Tech 2 ships. Non-Empire ships typically have equal or better performance to Tech 2 ships, including very powerful unique bonuses specific to their pirate faction, but also cost considerably more than Tech 2 ships and do not benefit from [[T2 Resists|T2 resist bonuses]].

* [[Strategic Cruiser]]s are the most flexible and among the most powerful ships in the game for their size (and mass), with enormous possible variations in their capabilities, due to their ability to be fitted with one of three subsystems in four different slots. Flying strategic cruisers requires training in these subsystem’s related skills, and may require a much wider range of other combat skills than T2 ships.

Tech 2 rigs are made from materials ("blue salvage") salvaged from the wrecks of either Tech 2 player ships or Commander NPCs, or found in rarer and more difficult relic sites. As such they are much more expensive than T1 rigs, but they also provide larger bonuses. Blueprint copies for Tech 2 rigs are available through Invention, but can also sometimes be found in data or relic sites.

* [https://www.eveonline.com/news/view/rebalancing-eve-one-module-at-a-time Dev Blog: Rebalancing EVE one module at a time] (Sep 2014)