More actions
m replaced "scanning" link with "Probe scanning" |
→Encounter Surveillance System: I tried filling this out with more details on the mechanics, since I've learned them recently. I hope this is good. Perhaps the ESS really deserves its own page now, since it's not a player-deployed structure but rather a default feature? |
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== Encounter Surveillance System == | == Encounter Surveillance System == | ||
''' | Every sovereign nullsec solar system has an Encounter Surveillance System. The ESS stockpiles a portion of the bounties awarded in that system, and then slowly pays them out to the pilots who earned them—if, that is, no one else steals the money first. Each ESS is divided between a small and easily compromised 'Main Bank' and a much larger and much more secure 'Reserve Bank'. | ||
The ESS is available as a beacon which anyone can warp to. At the beacon there is a deadspace gate, which is restricted to hulls of cruiser, battlecruiser, and battleship size only. The gate leads to the physical ESS itself, which is surrounded by a 150km-diameter field that disables | |||
As of | |||
* cloaks | |||
* microwarpdrives | |||
* warp drives | |||
* cynos, and | |||
* filaments. | |||
As a result, the fastest method of leaving an ESS field is the use of an afterburner, which will not propel ships to anything like the speed provided by a MWD. To enter an ESS usually therefore represents a significant commitment to holding the field, as all quick methods of leaving are disabled around the ESS. | |||
The Main Bank is accessed by sitting within 10km of the ESS and selecting the 'Link' button which appears over the ESS. This initiates a countdown of usually around five minutes, which is visible to all pilots in the solar system concerned. During the countdown the pilot accessing the Main Bank must remain within 10km of the ESS; travelling further away will end the countdown, which must then be restarted from the beginning. | |||
If the countdown reaches zero and the pilot accessing the ESS has not either left or been removed by enemy action, the accessing pilot then receives tags in their cargohold which can be exchanged for the value of the Main Bank's contents at any CONCORD station. Since the ISK concerned was stored up to be disbursed to pilots who had been ratting in the system, the pilot has effectively stolen part of their income. | |||
Sovereign nullsec corporations usually therefore respond quickly to attempts on the bank—if they know about them; since the notification is only solar-system-wide, it is possible to sneak into quiet territory and empty out a Main Bank, or indeed several Main Banks. Though it is risky, and though it is not especially profitable in ISK-per-hour compared to some more reliable moneymaking schemes, bank robbery can bring in money, has a low start-up cost (the price of a fast T1 cruiser plus filaments for mobility), and is a good way to learn about moving through hostile nullsec territory. | |||
The much larger Reserve Bank can be accessed using special keys which are themselves expensive and difficult to acquire. When these are used the money in the Reserve Bank is paid out over time at a rate that spools up and then drops down. The time spend paying out is set by the looters, and by setting a higher time they can collect more of the money if they accept more risk. | |||
== Mobile Siphon Unit == | == Mobile Siphon Unit == | ||