Moving into Wormhole Space: Difference between revisions

Before you can even start thinking about moving into a W-space system, you need to pick the right one for your needs and plans.

There are 2604 systems in W-space, each different and unique. Choosing the one you will like will take time and lots of effort. You will probably spend days or even weeks scouting before you find a system that suits your needs. You will have to decide if you are going to live there by yourself or with a couple of friends. You will have to know what activities you are going to perform there (manufacturing, harvesting gas and [[ore]], killing [[Sleepers]]) and if you are going to be able to do those things alone or if it will require a fleet. Your [[statics]] will determine what activities are easily available, as well as the feasibility of regular logistics runs. [[Shattered wormhole systems|Shattered wormholes]], [[Drifters|drifter wormholes]], and [[Thera]] all disallow anchoring of player-owned structures, but nonetheless some capsuleers call these systems home.  

* Plan ahead on what kind of static you wish the system could have, and look for that.

** HS statics are often high traffic but trivialize logistics runs.

** C2 and C4 systems have two statics rather than one.

* Keep in mind that [[Wormhole attributes|wormholes have mass restrictions]]. You won't be able to jump a [[capital ship]] through most of them, and there are wormholes that won't even allow [[battleship]]-sized ships.

* Look for a system with a variety of [[planets]] that will later be useful for your [[Planetary Industry]] colonies.

* Decide what class of system you're looking for.

** Low-class WHs (C4 and below) do not have to deal with hostile caps, as they must be built in those systems due to wormhole size restrictions.

** High-class WHs (C5 and above) are less connected to kspace and much more hotly contested.

* Ask yourself if you want any system effects (i.e. a Pulsar effect will help shield tanking ships and cripple armor tanking ones.)

Let’s say you want to live in wormhole space and aren’t sure which class fits your situation. Different setups favor different group sizes and goals:

Solo players generally thrive in Class 3 systems. C3s have a single static (making them less desirable for evicting groups), their combat sites are easy to run with low or moderate SP, and logistics are simple because many C3 statics lead to high-sec or low-sec. Gas and ore sites also appear regularly, making them good all-around solo homes.

Small groups often prefer Class 2 or Class 4 systems because both offer dual statics. This provides steady content, exploration routes, and reliable logistics paths. Hostile capital ships cannot enter low-class wormholes and must be built inside the system, so the risk of surprise capital escalations is virtually nonexistent. C2s are flexible and easy to live in. C4s provide harder sites and better payouts, without the capital escalation gameplay found in C5/C6.

So you think you've found a system you like, and you would like to move in now? That's great! Let's see now.

* Have you checked if there is someone already occupying it? Who owns the structures, and are they active?

* Have you checked [https://zkillboard.com/ zKillboard] for activity in that system? Do you see any patterns in the groups killing/dying there?

* Have you placed a scanner alt in the system? (very important, in case you get podded)

 

 

 

 

* Most new or small groups should anchor an Astrahus first and treat it as a beachhead.

* Once stable or profitable, upgrade to a Fortizar, which drastically reduces eviction risk.

* Always configure a sensible vulnerability window—one aligned with your actual active hours.

* Keep your fuel blocks stocked. An unfueled structure loses essential defensive capabilities.

* Set ACLs carefully so only trusted pilots have tethering, docking, and fitting permissions.

==== Threats and Eviction Risk ====

Because medium structures have only one reinforcement timer in wormholes, they attract opportunistic attackers:

* Off-timezone multiboxers can ref an Astrahus at quiet hours.

* Hostile groups may ignore the timer if defenders form.

* Third-party fleets may wander in and finish the job even if the original aggressors never return.

Larger citadels (especially Fortizars) discourage this behavior due to multiple timers, longer operations, and greater commitment required from attackers.

* Temporarily storing capitals built inside the system

* Mass and rolling tricks

* Bait and trap setups

However, POSes should no longer be considered primary bases of operation.

A POS can be anchored and online in about 30 minutes, while a citadel requires a 24-hour anchoring period.

Because of this, wormhole residents often anchor a tower on every moon in their system. This denies attackers the ability to quickly place their own POS for staging. Instead, hostile groups must anchor a citadel—which leaves them vulnerable and without a place to dock while the structure comes online.

 

==== That's no moon! ====

[[File:DEATHSTAR.jpg|thumb|Deathstar]]

If you anticipate conflict, you can still configure a POS in the old “Death Star” style—offline unnecessary modules and anchor extra guns and ECM using the freed powergrid. A well-defended tower is still annoying enough that many groups won’t bother attacking it unless they are fully committed.

A heavy-EWAR setup (“Dick Star”) can also be used to irritate and delay attackers, buying you precious time to regain hole control or call allies.

There are a number of various activities you can do inside a wormhole system. Most of them require specialized ships. There is no Jack of all trades here; you will need at least a couple of hulls so you can be effective at what you do. You will lose ships in W-space; you will need to be able to replace them. Keep them cheap and affordable. Don't fly faction ships in W-space; they are simply not worth the risk. Here's a small list of recommended ship types.

==== Must-haves: ====

* [[probe scanning#Ships|Scanning ships]], T1 frigates, CovOps frigates and Recons. You can't do anything without them in W-space. Keep spare ones. You will lose them.

* [[Battlecruiser]]s are the most common ships people use to run anomalies in lower class w-space. A passive-tanked [[Drake]] can easily run any and every anomaly in a Class 1 and Class 2 system solo.

* [[Strategic Cruiser]]s, especially the [[Tengu]] and [[Legion]]. They significantly speed up running anomalies but are very expensive, so use them only if you really can afford to lose them.

* [[Battleship]]s with Remote Repair modules fitted are required for higher class wormholes anomalies, such as Class 4.

==== Ore Sites ====

* [[Exhumers]] - in most cases too expensive for being worth the risk. Use mining barges unless you exactly know what you are doing.

==== Gas Sites (need to be scanned) ====

* [[Destroyer]]s. You won't need anything bigger than Dessies in W-space. Sleeper loot is small in size. It will fit in the small cargo hold of a destroyer.

* The [[Noctis]] is sometimes used for high-class WH sites that have many more wrecks to deal with. These ships are more expensive and easier targets.

* You'll want to rig your salvager with at least 2 salvage rigs if you're in a Class 3 or higher WH; many of the sleeper wrecks require either rigs or L4/L5 salvaging skill to salvage at all.

* [[Hauling|Haulers]], T1 or T2, [[Badger]]s, [[Bestower]]s, and anything that you would use in K-space is used in W-space, and often. You will need them to run to K-space for supplies and to pick up PI products; can't live without them.

* Capital Industrial Ships, the [[Orca]] and the [[Rorqual]]. The first one is very useful for moving large amounts of cargo in and out of a W-space system, as well as providing mining bonuses for mining fleets, but you have to risk the ship in the mining site. The Rorqual, if you can afford it, will compress ore, making it smaller and easier to transport to K-space. This sounds stupid until the first time you have six or seven million{{m3}} of ore in the hangars.

* T2 Cruisers, [[Heavy Interdictors]], [[Heavy Assault Cruisers]], [[Recon Ships]], [[Cruiser#Logistics|Logistics]], any kind is very useful, as they are small in size and huge in potential. Sooner or later you will have to face other players in W-space, and these are the bread and butter of W-space PvP.

* [[Stealth Bombers]], W-space mechanics are the same as nullsec space. You can use [[bombs]], and they are very effective. A small gang of Bombers can really ruin a day for your enemies. See: [http://amerrylifeandashortone.blogspot.com/2010/08/stealth-bomber-guide.html Guide: Stealth Bomber] (By: Hallan Turek, 11 August 2010).

* Battleships, they are rarely used in PvP in W-space, but they are very useful in taking down POS's where you cannot use capital ships and for defense fleets. They are also useful for crashing wormholes due to their mass.

* Battlecruisers, any kind. They are very popular in PvP in W-space because of their mass/DPS ratio. They are easy on the wormholes and can deal a significant amount of DPS.

* [https://anoik.is/ Anoik.is]

* [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSaCHnBRDw8Ki6nuamMzQv3InN978Zh7F6RcwlYdJHnlQkDrrdz5zrG3Of_8eoyxeqJimMHt9-7GjLn/pubhtml# Grubu's Maintained Nolak's Updated Karr's Modified Rykki's Guide 1.5]