Heron: Difference between revisions

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==Summary==

The Heron is the Caldari T1 exploration and ~~scanning frigate~~. It is a ~~good ship~~ for ~~rookies and veterans who are~~ interested in exploration ~~but do not have~~ the ~~skills for~~ the ~~T2 version~~, the ~~{{ship|Buzzard}}~~. ~~Bonuses~~ to ~~scanning~~, ~~archaeology~~, and ~~hacking~~ modules ~~make this ship very effective for looting exploration sites~~, ~~as well as being a valuable hacker~~ in ~~the [[Override Transfer Array]] vanguard incursion site~~.

The Heron is the Caldari [[Frigates#Exploration|Exploration Frigate]]. Like all Tech I exploration frigates, the Heron receives skill-dependent bonuses to scanner probe strength. The Heron excels at probing cosmic signatures in all security levels of space. The Heron also receives a role bonus (independent of pilot skill level) to relic and data analyzer virus strength, which helps the Heron pilot crack exploration sites. With these two bonuses, the Heron is a strong starter frigate for Caldari pilots interested in [[Exploration]]. And while Heron pilots eventually skill into Tech II Covert Ops exploration ships (like the [[Buzzard]]), there isn’t much exploration content that the Heron can’t complete.

The ~~5 Mid Slots allows all~~ the ~~4 required exploration modules~~ in ~~addition~~ to a ~~free slot~~. ~~This~~ is ~~often used for~~ a ~~Scan Rangefinder Array or other boosts until~~ the ~~Capsuleer has enough scanning skills~~ to ~~skip these~~. ~~An aspiring Capsuleer will also find Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrades useful~~ for ~~scanning down difficult sites although eventually these should~~ be ~~replaced with rigs~~ that ~~increase your virus strength~~ and ~~coherence~~.

The Heron has five mid slots, the most of any T1 exploration frigate. This gives the Heron the most room to fit exploration and propulsion modules, and arguably makes the Heron the strongest of the four racial T1 explorers. Like the other three racial variants, the Heron’s mids are typically fitted with a microwarpdrive and a data and relic analyzer. This leaves two slots for additional assistance modules—most commonly Scan Rangefinding and Pinpointing Arrays, or shield extenders. (There are single modules that do both data and relic analysis and that would leave even more room, but they aren’t worth the decrease in performance and/or increased cost.)

The exploration Heron is also commonly fitted with a Prototype or Improved Cloaking Device, so that the ship can cloak while probing signatures in unsafe space. The Heron cannot, however, fit a Covert Ops Cloaking Device. So, when cloaked, it cannot warp and suffers a significant penalty to speed.

Tech I exploration frigates have the largest cargo capacity of any frigate. This makes the Heron a speedy freight courier and distribution mission runner. By fitting the ship with expanded cargohold modules and cargohold optimization rigs, it is possible to build a Heron that can carry nearly 1000 m3 of cargo. Or, by exchanging the cargo modules for warp stabs, to build a low-sec courier that can evade insta-pointing gate camps.

The Heron can be fit for combat probing, by using an Expanded Probe Launcher in place of the standard Core Probe Launcher. However, combat probing requires considerably greater in-game and pilot skill than site probing. Successful combat probers need to be able to locate targets in a single quick scan, or at most two. Pilots that have the Astrometrics skill levels required to do this, and have the experience necessary to use D-Scan intelligence to pinpoint those targets before scanning, are typically already trained into Covert Ops frigates anyway.

==Skills==

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 ==Summary==
-The Heron is the Caldari T1 exploration and scanning frigate. It is a good ship for rookies and veterans who are interested in exploration but do not have the skills for the T2 version, the {{ship|Buzzard}}. Bonuses to scanning, archaeology, and hacking modules make this ship very effective for looting exploration sites, as well as being a valuable hacker in the [[Override Transfer Array]] vanguard incursion site.
+The Heron is the Caldari [[Frigates#Exploration|Exploration Frigate]]. Like all Tech I exploration frigates, the Heron receives skill-dependent bonuses to scanner probe strength. The Heron excels at probing cosmic signatures in all security levels of space. The Heron also receives a role bonus (independent of pilot skill level) to relic and data analyzer virus strength, which helps the Heron pilot crack exploration sites. With these two bonuses, the Heron is a strong starter frigate for Caldari pilots interested in [[Exploration]]. And while Heron pilots eventually skill into Tech II Covert Ops exploration ships (like the [[Buzzard]]), there isn’t much exploration content that the Heron can’t complete.
-The 5 Mid Slots allows all the 4 required exploration modules in addition to a free slot. This is often used for a Scan Rangefinder Array or other boosts until the Capsuleer has enough scanning skills to skip these. An aspiring Capsuleer will also find Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrades useful for scanning down difficult sites although eventually these should be replaced with rigs that increase your virus strength and coherence.
+The Heron has five mid slots, the most of any T1 exploration frigate. This gives the Heron the most room to fit exploration and propulsion modules, and arguably makes the Heron the strongest of the four racial T1 explorers. Like the other three racial variants, the Heron’s mids are typically fitted with a microwarpdrive and a data and relic analyzer. This leaves two slots for additional assistance modules—most commonly Scan Rangefinding and Pinpointing Arrays, or shield extenders. (There are single modules that do both data and relic analysis and that would leave even more room, but they aren’t worth the decrease in performance and/or increased cost.)
+The exploration Heron is also commonly fitted with a Prototype or Improved Cloaking Device, so that the ship can cloak while probing signatures in unsafe space. The Heron cannot, however, fit a Covert Ops Cloaking Device. So, when cloaked, it cannot warp and suffers a significant penalty to speed.
+Tech I exploration frigates have the largest cargo capacity of any frigate. This makes the Heron a speedy freight courier and distribution mission runner. By fitting the ship with expanded cargohold modules and cargohold optimization rigs, it is possible to build a Heron that can carry nearly 1000 m3 of cargo. Or, by exchanging the cargo modules for warp stabs, to build a low-sec courier that can evade insta-pointing gate camps.
+The Heron can be fit for combat probing, by using an Expanded Probe Launcher in place of the standard Core Probe Launcher. However, combat probing requires considerably greater in-game and pilot skill than site probing. Successful combat probers need to be able to locate targets in a single quick scan, or at most two. Pilots that have the Astrometrics skill levels required to do this, and have the experience necessary to use D-Scan intelligence to pinpoint those targets before scanning, are typically already trained into Covert Ops frigates anyway.
 ==Skills==