Tech and meta levels

These three terms are all indicators of the quality of an item or ship hull and all mean different things. The definitions also differ whether the item is a module, ship or rig.

Modules

Civilian Modules

Civilian Modules are a special case and are only mentioned here for completeness. You should NEVER consider fitting a Civilian Module except in the Tutorial Missions and on your trusty Rookie Ship. These modules are useless except for educational purposes.

Tech 1 Meta 0

These are the basic modules that are manufactured by players from blueprints seeded on the market by NPCs. Meta 0 modules have no Meta level attribute visible in their attributes. They have generic names based on their type such as "1MN Afterburner I".

If someone offers you a "meta 0" duel, they mean a duel in a Tech 1 ship with only this type of module installed.

Tech 1 Meta 1-4

These are dropped by NPC ships and are not manufactured by players. The higher the meta level the better quality the item. Higher meta level items are more effective and usually have lower fitting requirements as well, but this is not always the case. Meta level 1-4 items do not require more skills to use than meta 0. Because of their better performance higher meta level modules will have a higher price on the market. These modules have more colorful names such as "Experimental 10MN Afterburner I" and "150mm Light Gallium Machine Gun". These modules are sometimes called "named" modules.

Tech 2

Shortened to "T2", these modules are manufactured by players through the Invention process. T2 modules are usually more effective than Tech 1 Meta 4 modules, but sometimes they are the same. T2 modules are never less effective than meta 4 modules. Tech 2 modules often require more skills to use than Tech 1 modules, and they usually take more CPU and/or Powergrid to fit. T2 modules have a meta level of 5 in their item attributes.

When deciding whether to use a Tech 2 module, make sure to compare it to a Tech 1 Meta 4 module before making the purchase. In some cases the meta 4 module has the same performance with lower fitting requirements.

Storyline

Storyline modules are rewards from missions, specifically COSMOS missions and some Epic Arc missions. In COSMOS missions you don't get the item itself, but you receive 3-run Blueprint Copies (BPCs) that need some decent skills and sleeper technology to produce and most of them are quite expensive (in ISK and Skills) to produce. Epic Arc rewards are given as items but their availability is limited to how often you can do the epic arc, and the time it takes to complete them. As such, both types of storyline items tend to be expensive despite being similar quality to Tech 2, and are not traded in great numbers.

Faction

Faction modules are equal or superior to Tech 2 modules and are purchased from Loyalty Point stores either as items or blueprint copies. These items will have a meta level of 5 or higher in their item attributes. They have names based on their faction such as "Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System".

Deadspace and Officer

Deadspace and Officer modules are dropped in deadspace complexes and as loot drops from rare named enemies (which can be found, for instance, in asteroid belts or DED complexes in nullsec). These are the best modules and as such are very expensive. These items typically have a meta level of 9 or higher in their attributes. Deadspace modules have names based on their faction and quality such as "Pith B-Type Large Shield Booster". The progression from lower to higher quality is: "C-Type", "B-Type", "A-Type", "X-Type" - so a "B-Type" module will usually be better (and more expensive) than a "C-Type" module, but you should always check the detailed stats. Officer modules are named after the NPC they drop from, such as "Estamel's Modified Adaptive Invulnerability Field". While officer modules are usually better than deadspace modules, this is not always the case; always check the attributes before you buy.

Video lesson on Meta Levels

A video introduction to meta levels of modules can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5ZV4nmi4t4

Ships

Tech 1

Tech 1 ships such as the Rifter are bought from NPCs or manufactured by players from blueprints seeded on the market. After the tiercide these no longer have different power levels. Instead they are grouped into roles, such as attack, combat, and disruption. Attack ships are fast and hit hard, but combat ships are more resilient, while disruption ships focus on EWAR.

Empire Faction

Empire faction ships such as the Imperial Navy Slicer are bought from the loyalty point stores of empire factions, such as the Gallente Federation Navy or Minmatar Republic Fleet. They are obtained as either complete ships or as limited run blueprint copies. You can also purchase these ships second-hand from players on the market. Empire faction ships are more powerful and much more expensive than Tech 1 ships, and are normally less powerful than Tech 2 or Pirate faction ships. The main advantage of Empire faction ships is their low skill requirements. If you can fly a faction's Tech 1 ships, you can fly the Empire faction ships, making them a good way of gaining an advantage during the long skill train to Tech 2 or Pirate faction ships.

Tech 2

These ships are only manufactured by players through the Invention process. They are usually comparable in price to Empire faction ships while being more powerful, but have high skill requirements to use. As well as better performance and bonuses, T2 ships have increased damage resistance, making them tougher. Additionally, many (but not all) Tech 2 ships are more specialised than their Tech 1 counterparts. An example of a Tech 2 frigate is the Wolf, a Tech 2 Minmatar Assault frigate based on the Rifter.

Pirate Faction / Non-Empire Faction

These ships are bought from non-empire faction loyalty point stores, including Pirate factions, and others, such as Sisters Of Eve. They can also be purchased second-hand from players on the market. These non-empire faction ships require two different races' Spaceship Command skills to use. For example, the Dramiel, an Angel Cartel frigate, requires both Minmatar and Gallente frigate skills. They do not require high levels in them, however, making them considerably easier to train for than Tech 2 ships. Non-Empire ships typically have equal or better performance to Tech 2 ships, but cost considerably more.

Tech 3

Strategic Cruisers are the only Tech 3 ships currently in the game. Tech 3 ships are constructed with Sleeper components that can only be found in wormhole space, and are therefore very expensive, but they are the most powerful ships in the game for their size. T3 ships have similar skill requirements to fly as T2 ships.

Rigs

Tech 1

Tech 1 rigs are made from materials salvaged from Tech 1 player or NPC ships, or found in Relic sites. They are made from blueprints seeded on the market by NPCs. Rigs do not have meta levels and there are no subdivisions of quality other than their Tech level.

Tech 2

Tech 2 rigs are made from materials salvaged from Tech 2 player ships. As such they are much more rare and expensive than T1 rigs, but they also provide larger bonuses.