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{{Exploration links}} | {{Exploration links}} | ||
{{related class | Exploration (CORE class) }} | {{related class | Exploration (CORE class) }} | ||
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The main object of an explorer is to track down hidden areas found in systems across all of the EVE universe. These areas contain valuable items or other points of interest, but cannot be warped to initially. Instead, a player must use their ship's scanner and their Probe Launcher to track down the “signals” of these hidden areas through a process generally referred to as “probing,” or “scanning,” or “exploring.” If you’ve ever heard someone mention that they are going to “probe down a site”… this is it! | The main object of an explorer is to track down hidden areas found in systems across all of the EVE universe. These areas contain valuable items or other points of interest, but cannot be warped to initially. Instead, a player must use their ship's scanner and their Probe Launcher to track down the “signals” of these hidden areas through a process generally referred to as “probing,” or “scanning,” or “exploring.” If you’ve ever heard someone mention that they are going to “probe down a site”… this is it! | ||
You’ve found a quiet system to explore and are safely nestled in a comfortable spot. Cocoa and blankets are optional. Time to explore! Pop open your ship’s scanner using the little button on your ship’s HUD that has a picture of a radar screen on it (or press {{button|ALT}} + {{button|P}}). While you were parking your ship somewhere, your scanner was busy! It’s more than likely tracked down a few points of interest throughout the system. Note that if your scanner readout says “No Signals Detected,” that means the system is currently empty. Head to a different system to explore, but note that you can always come back to this system again later to see if anything juicy has appeared. | You’ve found a quiet system to explore and are safely nestled in a comfortable spot. Cocoa and blankets are optional. Time to explore! Pop open your ship’s scanner using the little button on your ship’s HUD that has a picture of a radar screen on it (or press {{button|ALT}} + {{button|P}}). While you were parking your ship somewhere, your scanner was busy! It’s more than likely tracked down a few points of interest throughout the system. Note that if your scanner readout says “No Signals Detected,” that means the system is currently empty. Head to a different system to explore, but note that you can always come back to this system again later to see if anything juicy has appeared. | ||
When you first enter a system, none of its Cosmic Signatures will have any identifying information besides a generic designation, such as “MRM-213”. However, much like Cosmic Anomalies, Cosmic Signatures come in several types. You just won’t know exactly what you are tracking down until you pull out your probes! | When you first enter a system, none of its Cosmic Signatures will have any identifying information besides a generic designation, such as “MRM-213”. However, much like Cosmic Anomalies, Cosmic Signatures come in several types. You just won’t know exactly what you are tracking down until you pull out your probes! | ||
=== A Good Place to Start === | === A Good Place to Start === | ||
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[[File:scanwin_orange.jpg|thumb|200px|The scanner window, with two Anomalies and a Signature]] | [[File:scanwin_orange.jpg|thumb|200px|The scanner window, with two Anomalies and a Signature]] | ||
* '''You already have the scanning panel open, but let’s hit {{button| | * '''You already have the scanning panel open, but let’s hit {{button|F9}} to open up the Solar System Map.''' This is a “wireframe” representation of the system you are currently in, complete with all the major celestials, like planets, moons and the sun. Since you have your scanning window open, there should be some green and/or red dots and spheres on your map. These represent the Anomalies and Signatures currently tracked by your scanner, as well as their general location. Green dots indicate areas that you can warp to, either an Anomaly or a Signature you have scanned down. Red dots or spheres represent the general area in which your ship’s scanner is detecting the signal of a Cosmic Signature. We’re going to have to narrow that down in order to warp there. | ||
* '''The bottom left of your scanner window has an icon that looks a bit like an atom.''' That’s the shortcut for the “Pinpoint” probe formation. '''Press it''', and your ship will launch its payload of probes and automatically arrange them in a Pinpoint formation. Neat! | * '''The bottom left of your scanner window has an icon that looks a bit like an atom.''' That’s the shortcut for the “Pinpoint” probe formation. '''Press it''', and your ship will launch its payload of probes and automatically arrange them in a Pinpoint formation. Neat! | ||
* '''You should now notice that some blue spheres have appeared on your Solar System map.''' That’s the general area that your probes can currently scan. The center probe in this formation is represented by a white box with arrows sticking out of it. '''You can click and drag those arrows to move the probes around: by default, dragging that center probe will move ''all'' the probes together in formation. This is useful. Now, in order to start tracking down a Signature, you will need to drag your probes so they are centered over one of the red Signature dots or spheres and then press the Analyze button on the middle left of your scanning window.''' This will scan that area more thoroughly with your probes, and will take a few seconds to complete. If the signature’s red sphere is larger than the area your probes’ blue spheres cover, hold {{button|ALT}} and expand the sphere size. This will increase the range of your probes so you can scan the whole red sphere. If all this is done correctly, the scan will complete and increase the '''Signal Strength''' of your chosen Signature. This is listed on the far right of your scanning window. | * '''You should now notice that some blue spheres have appeared on your Solar System map.''' That’s the general area that your probes can currently scan. The center probe in this formation is represented by a white box with arrows sticking out of it. '''You can click and drag those arrows to move the probes around: by default, dragging that center probe will move ''all'' the probes together in formation. This is useful. Now, in order to start tracking down a Signature, you will need to drag your probes so they are centered over one of the red Signature dots or spheres and then press the Analyze button on the middle left of your scanning window.''' This will scan that area more thoroughly with your probes, and will take a few seconds to complete. If the signature’s red sphere is larger than the area your probes’ blue spheres cover, hold {{button|ALT}} and expand the sphere size. This will increase the range of your probes so you can scan the whole red sphere. If all this is done correctly, the scan will complete and increase the '''Signal Strength''' of your chosen Signature. This is listed on the far right of your scanning window. | ||
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Collaboration with other capsuleers can increase one's productivity. Through the use of [[bookmarks]] corp members can share signatures, and via various third-party tools players can share additional information. | Collaboration with other capsuleers can increase one's productivity. Through the use of [[bookmarks]] corp members can share signatures, and via various third-party tools players can share additional information. | ||
Mapping tools generally focus on wormhole chains to be used by travelers. EVE University | Mapping tools generally focus on wormhole chains to be used by travelers. EVE University uses the [https://wanderer.eveuniversity.org/ Wanderer] mapper. | ||
Using Wanderer: [https://wiki.eveuniversity.org/Wormhole_Community_Navigation#Using_Wanderer Guide and WHC Server] | |||
The EVE University Wanderer server only holds the maps for the WHC, so unless you are part of the WHC you cannot use it. Instead, you can use the public servers for Wanderer or Pathfinder. You can add other characters to your Wanderer maps on the public server by using the access lists. | |||
Additional [[third-party tools]] are available for mapping wormhole chains. | Additional [[third-party tools]] are available for mapping wormhole chains. | ||
The organization EVE-Scout and corp Signal Cartel maintains a publicly-available map of [[Thera]] connections on their website and 3rd-party tool Tripwire. | The organization EVE-Scout and corp Signal Cartel maintains a publicly-available map of [[Thera]] connections on their website and 3rd-party tool Tripwire. | ||
=== Site types === | === Site types === | ||
Exploration sites are divided to cosmic signatures and cosmic anomalies based on how they are located. | Exploration sites are divided to cosmic signatures and cosmic anomalies based on how they are located. | ||
Cosmic Anomalies are areas of interest that radiate a strong enough signal that you can jump to them immediately after your ship scanner finds them. You don’t need to do any fancy probing or anything: just click and go! Of course, since everyone can easily see these sites, they’re typically less rewarding, and possibly more crowded than Cosmic Signatures. | Cosmic Anomalies are areas of interest that radiate a strong enough signal that you can jump to them immediately after your ship scanner finds them. You don’t need to do any fancy probing or anything: just click and go! Of course, since everyone can easily see these sites, they’re typically less rewarding, and possibly more crowded than Cosmic Signatures. | ||
Cosmic Signatures are the bread and butter of an explorer. These are hidden areas that cannot be warped to unless tracked down by probes. Because of this extra step, Cosmic Signature exploration areas can be very lucrative, even in high-sec space! | Cosmic Signatures are the bread and butter of an explorer. These are hidden areas that cannot be warped to unless tracked down by probes. Because of this extra step, Cosmic Signature exploration areas can be very lucrative, even in high-sec space! | ||
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[[Combat sites]] can be found in many flavors. They all share the common element of killing rats for rewards. Combat sites are generally split into two categories, anomalies and signatures, depending on how they are found. | [[Combat sites]] can be found in many flavors. They all share the common element of killing rats for rewards. Combat sites are generally split into two categories, anomalies and signatures, depending on how they are found. | ||
The most commonly found combat sites are [[ | The most commonly found combat sites are [[Combat sites#Combat anomalies|combat cosmic anomalies]]. They are visible in scanner window as soon as you jump into a system and require no specialized scanning equipment. They are always ungated pockets in space with multiple waves of rats. | ||
A specific type of cosmic anomalies is besieged covert research facility. These sites are found in low security space only and are harder than the normal anomalies. The rats in these will attempt to shoot into your lowest resist so omni tank is needed. | A specific type of cosmic anomalies is besieged covert research facility. These sites are found in low security space only and are harder than the normal anomalies. The rats in these will attempt to shoot into your lowest resist so omni tank is needed. | ||
[[ | [[Combat sites#Cosmic signatures|Combat cosmic signatures]] are harder to find. They need to be [[Probe scanning|scanned]] with probes and are generally rarer than anomalies. They are made up of several “rooms” of [[deadspace]] connected by Acceleration Gates, and they frequently have containers filled with great loot. Of course, they are also guarded by large numbers of NPC ships. These combat sites are further divided into unrated and DED rated complexes. The differences between the two are mostly cosmetic. | ||
==== Relic and Data sites ==== | ==== Relic and Data sites ==== | ||
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Pirate relic and data sites do not contain any dangers. You just need to scan the site down, [[hacking|hack]] the containers with and grab the goods. This is usually done in defenseless frigate in lawless space so watch out for other players. Drone data sites are similar but failing the hack spawns hostile drones. The drones are weak and even T1 scanning frigate can handle them. Pirate relic and data sites are found in normal space and class 1-3 wormholes. In drone regions only drone data sites are found. | Pirate relic and data sites do not contain any dangers. You just need to scan the site down, [[hacking|hack]] the containers with and grab the goods. This is usually done in defenseless frigate in lawless space so watch out for other players. Drone data sites are similar but failing the hack spawns hostile drones. The drones are weak and even T1 scanning frigate can handle them. Pirate relic and data sites are found in normal space and class 1-3 wormholes. In drone regions only drone data sites are found. | ||
[[Ghost | [[Ghost Sites]] are dangerous data sites found in all [[System security|categories of space]]. In them you have limited time to hack and a single failed hacking attempt will trigger the container to explode, dealing high [[Damage types|explosive]] damage to your ship. These sites can be identified from "Covert Research Facility" in their names. | ||
Sleeper caches are the most complicated data sites. They contain traps and environmental hazards, single mistake can get poorly fit ship killed. The come in three flavors: [[Limited Sleeper Cache]], [[Standard Sleeper Cache]] and [[Superior Sleeper Cache]]. The limited sleeper cache is for frigates while the other two require more powerful ships. | Sleeper caches are the most complicated data sites. They contain traps and environmental hazards, single mistake can get poorly fit ship killed. The come in three flavors: [[Limited Sleeper Cache]], [[Standard Sleeper Cache]] and [[Superior Sleeper Cache]]. The limited sleeper cache is for frigates while the other two require more powerful ships. | ||
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Gas sites contain gas clouds that can be [[Gas cloud harvesting|harvested]] for resources. The resources gathered in normal space are used for [[Medical boosters|boosters]] while the resources in wormholes are used in [[Tech 3 Production|T3 production]]. | Gas sites contain gas clouds that can be [[Gas cloud harvesting|harvested]] for resources. The resources gathered in normal space are used for [[Medical boosters|boosters]] while the resources in wormholes are used in [[Tech 3 Production|T3 production]]. | ||
In certain regions there are also [[ | In certain regions there are also [[Combat sites#Chemical labs|gas site combat sites]]. These sites contain two waves of rats and containers that need to be hacked to get access to the rewards. They contain drug related commodities, blueprints, implants and skillbooks. | ||
==== Ore sites ==== | ==== Ore sites ==== | ||
Ore sites are cosmic anomalies and do not require probes to be located. These sites are temporary pockets filled with either [[Ice harvesting|ice asteroids]], which can be mined for fuel components, or regular asteroids of a rarer type not normally found in that system. You can tell what kind of asteroids are within the site by the site’s name: they’re pretty obvious. | Ore sites are cosmic anomalies and do not require probes to be located. These sites are temporary pockets filled with either [[Ice harvesting|ice asteroids]], which can be mined for fuel components, or regular asteroids of a rarer type not normally found in that system. You can tell what kind of asteroids are within the site by the site’s name: they’re pretty obvious. | ||
====Wormholes==== | ==== Wormholes ==== | ||
{{main|Wormholes}} | {{main|Wormholes}} | ||
Wormholes are temporary gates that can take your ship from your current system to almost anywhere else in space. They are cosmic signatures and need to be scanned with probes. Some wormholes go to highsec, lowsec, or nullsec space, and are sometimes valuable shortcuts around the universe. Some go to dangerous “uncharted” areas referred to as “wormhole space” or “w-space.” W-space areas contain the most lucrative exploration sites in the game, but most of them are guarded by powerful Sleeper NPCs, even the Relic and Data Sites that are so tame in high-sec. (As of the Phoebe release in late 2014, nullsec Relic and Data sites with Sansha, Blood Raider, Guristas, Angel and Serpentis in their names are unguarded sites in WH space. So after learning more about WH's, if you have enough data/relic skills, you could consider running these.) For these reasons, at the start of your career, you should leave wormholes alone... but don’t forget about them! Later articles will go into how you can begin dipping your exploration toe into the vast, untamed pond of wormhole space. See the [[Wormholes]] information. | Wormholes are temporary gates that can take your ship from your current system to almost anywhere else in space. They are cosmic signatures and need to be scanned with probes. Some wormholes go to highsec, lowsec, or nullsec space, and are sometimes valuable shortcuts around the universe. Some go to dangerous “uncharted” areas referred to as “wormhole space” or “w-space.” W-space areas contain the most lucrative exploration sites in the game, but most of them are guarded by powerful Sleeper NPCs, even the Relic and Data Sites that are so tame in high-sec. (As of the Phoebe release in late 2014, nullsec Relic and Data sites with Sansha, Blood Raider, Guristas, Angel and Serpentis in their names are unguarded sites in WH space. So after learning more about WH's, if you have enough data/relic skills, you could consider running these.) For these reasons, at the start of your career, you should leave wormholes alone... but don’t forget about them! Later articles will go into how you can begin dipping your exploration toe into the vast, untamed pond of wormhole space. See the [[Wormholes]] information. | ||
=== Sites in | ==== Sites in Wormhole Space ==== | ||
Wormhole space has its own sets of sleeper sites unique to each wormhole class. The sleepers defend these sites, for more information see [[Wormholes]]. | Wormhole space has its own sets of sleeper sites unique to each wormhole class. The sleepers defend these sites, for more information see [[Wormholes]]. | ||
Lower class 1-3 wormholes also contain pirate data and relic sites. These are identical to sites found in normal null security space. | Lower class 1-3 wormholes also contain pirate data and relic sites. These are identical to sites found in normal null security space. | ||
==== Other Sites ==== | |||
There are some more sites which involve both hacking and combat: | |||
* [[AEGIS Capital Ship Security Facility]] | |||
* [[SCC Secure Key Storage]] | |||
Both sites are very dangerous, and it is best to avoid them until you have gathered enough information on how to run them. Both sites involve PVE combat, avoiding mines, and hacking. However, they are also very lucrative. They can be found in Lowsec. | |||
== Survival == | == Survival == | ||
As with most things in EVE, the more dangerous the environment the higher the rewards. | As with most things in EVE, the more dangerous the environment the higher the rewards. Exploration in HighSec tends to have low return on time, but the minigames are far easier and the risk of attack is far lower. As you start moving into more and more negative space the rewards begin to go up significantly. However, by the time you start running sites in null sec you will most likely want to have T2 modules and appropriate rigs for your exploration vessel. This will typically mean that you will be running sites in a ship that has little to no defensive or offensive capability beyond being fast and hopefully cloaky. You may also not have an opportunity to sell your loot frequently, this can lead to a cargo hold full of 100's of million of ISK in a hull that is paper thin. | ||
Outside of high-sec, it is common for other players to scan you down, not just with the traditional combat probes, but with core scanner probes as well - since you will be in a scannable location. | Outside of high-sec, it is common for other players to scan you down, not just with the traditional combat probes, but with core scanner probes as well - since you will be in a scannable location. While running the site, and particularly while in the minigame, keep your overview and Local visible, and keep running D-Scan. If you see any probes zero in on you, move quickly away from the structure you are looting and cloak up or warp out. A well used Stealth Bomber, Recon ship, or T3 Cruiser, can make extremely quick work of you, and turn a nice profit in the process. Also keep in mind that somebody else may be there already and cloaked. Especially as you start interacting with the first structure - watch your Local and be ready to run fast. A cloaked stealth bomber could just be chilling waiting for you to start the minigame and lose situational awareness. | ||
When on approach to a site you can make a nearby escape bookmark on your way in. | When on approach to a site you can make a nearby escape bookmark on your way in. This acts as a quick bugout location that lets you still keep a D-Scan eye on the site you are running to see who comes in. | ||
Remember, even though you have invested in scanning down the site, and may be close to finding the system core, it probably isn't worth risking your ship and your cargo to finish a particular structure or site. | Remember, even though you have invested in scanning down the site, and may be close to finding the system core, it probably isn't worth risking your ship and your cargo to finish a particular structure or site. | ||
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Also note - when running some sites in wormholes there will be Sleepers, and all of the above still holds except local won't help and the locals may have already scanned the site so may not need to drop probes on you (of course this can also hold true anywhere - but what's life without a little risk!) | Also note - when running some sites in wormholes there will be Sleepers, and all of the above still holds except local won't help and the locals may have already scanned the site so may not need to drop probes on you (of course this can also hold true anywhere - but what's life without a little risk!) | ||
=== PvE combat === | |||
A ship for running combat sites is very different from a ship that is for running data and relic sites. Combat sites are much easier to scan than data and relic sites and the scanning is usually done in the same combat ship that is used for running the sites and not in an exploration frigate. | A ship for running combat sites is very different from a ship that is for running data and relic sites. Combat sites are much easier to scan than data and relic sites and the scanning is usually done in the same combat ship that is used for running the sites and not in an exploration frigate. | ||
* Weapons are of course needed to harm the rats. | * Weapons are of course needed to harm the rats. | ||
** You’ll have few high slots available for weapon [[turrets]] or [[missile launcher]]s. | ** You’ll have few high slots available for weapon [[turrets]] or [[missile launcher]]s. | ||
** [[Drones]] are another option that does not need high slots. | ** [[Drones]] are another option that does not need high slots. | ||
* An armor or shield tank. | * An armor or shield tank. | ||
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* [[Guide to combat sites]] | * [[Guide to combat sites]] | ||
[[Category:Exploration]] | [[Category:Exploration| ]] | ||