Exploration: Difference between revisions

{{Update|November 9, 2021 patch (Version 19.10), added new types of Exploration sites.  Add to main Explo page, and any other relevant page (e.g. Data and Relic sites) as appropriate.}}

{{Exploration links}}

{{related class | Exploration (CORE class) }}

Players will learn what [[Exploration skills|skills]] are required to start exploring, what ships and equipment are best for the new explorer, what sorts of areas can be [[probe scanning|located]] using the exploration mechanics, how to use probes to track down hidden exploration sites, and how to use analyzer modules to hack into loot containers in exploration sites.

=== Probing Down an Exploration Site ===

* '''You already have the scanning panel open, but let’s hit {{button|F10}} 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.

=== Collaboration ===

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.

The organization EVE-Scout and corp Signal Cartel maintains a publicly-available map of [[Thera]] connections on their website and 3rd-party tool Tripwire.

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!

{{main|Combat sites}}

[[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.  

{{main|Relic and data sites}}

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.

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 [[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 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 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.  

Wormhole space has its own sets of sleeper sites unique to each wormhole class. The sleepers defend these sites, for more information see [[Wormholes]].

* Weapons are of course needed to harm the rats.

** [[Drones]] are another option that does not need high slots.

* An armor or shield tank.

* [[Guide to combat sites]]

[[Category:Exploration]]