User:Uryence/Scouting

Scouting in EVE involves gathering information around or ahead of the current location of a group of other players, to help the group succeed in their goals. Often a scout ship is also equipped to tackle targets and start fights. Almost all PvP fleets and gangs in EVE have at least one scout, and some PvE fleets also use scouts.

Scouting can be demanding and dangerous, but basic scouting requires minimal player experience or character skills, and can offer a lot of satisfaction in helping fellow players succeed. The role has a high ceiling for skilled play and good scouts are a welcome asset in many player corporations. The skills and knowledge developed in scouting synergize extremely well with both solo PvP and fleet command.

Scout roles

Objectives

Some scouting is purely defensive: a group of players is doing something or travelling somewhere, and need one or more scouts to check how safe the space around the group is, and to warn of incoming threats.

Some scouting is defensive and offensive: a fleet needs one or more scouts to warn of threats, but also to locate weaker or even opponents. In some cases, offensive scouting will also involve tackling a target ship to hold it down and start a fight.

The ships and tactics used can vary a lot depending on which of these goals a scout has, and which kind of space they're flying in.

Tools

Maps

NB WH mapping tools as well as Dotlan &c

Further reading

• Rookie's guide to fleet ops
• D-scan
• Bookmarks
• Safespots
• Probe scanning
• Topology