Ghost Sites: Difference between revisions

'''Ghost Sites''' are pirate facilities which can be [[Hacking 101|hacked]] (like [[Exploration#Cosmic_Signatures|Data and Relic sites]]), but which have unique mechanics which set them apart. They were introduced in the [[Rubicon]] expansion.  

Ghost Sites can be found using the system scanner, without needing to [[Scanning & Probing|use probes]]. They shows up as [[Cosmic Anomalies|cosmic anomalies]] (type: combat sites), and occur in all [[System Security|categories of space]] (hi-sec, low-sec, null-sec and wormhole). They show up in the anomaly list as "{{co|wheat|<size> <faction> Covert Research Facility}}". The {{co|wheat|<size>}} is solely dependent on the [[security status]] of the system:

As expected, more difficult ones are more difficult to hack, have more rats appears - but have better loot.  All have the same number of hackable containers (often called "cans") though.

When you enter the site a timer is started (unless you warp in cloaked). The time is random and not shown, but it seems that the more ships are in the site at once, the longer the timer (in practice, if running a site solo, you will generally have enough time to hack and loot 2 cans before the timer expires). Since time is of the essence, it is not generally recommended to scan the containers with a cargo scanner due to the limited time that is available before the rats warp in and make the cans explode, however if you're fast and have not fitted warp core stabilizers to your ship, you can. The stashes are opened by the hacking mini game known from [[Hacking 101|data and relic sites]]; once the hack is complete, you can loot the cans directly. The cans are normally in a square, equal distance from each other, with one having better loot than the rest. (There are reports of the can having the best loot is named differently than the rest.) The hacking difficulty is comparable to the difficulty of hacking a data or relic site in a system with the same security status. If you fail your hacking attempt, either all the containers in the site will explode immediately or just the container you were working on will explode (see also below), unlike with normal data or relic sites. If just the single can explodes rather than all of them, you can continue hacking but the hidden timer is still running.  Unlike regular data/relic sites, when these cans explode, they do damage to your ship.

'''Other possible Hi-Sec Loot:'''

'''Other possible Low-Sec Loot:'''

'''Other possible Null-Sec Loot:'''

'''Other possible Wormhole Loot:'''

Armor-tanked ships are recommended over shield-tanked ships, as when the three mid-slot items listed above are installed, there is generally little room left to fit a good shield tank in the midslots. The [[Stratios]] or a Strategic Cruiser are excellent for running Ghost Sites, but these ships are very expensive and make for juicy targets during wartime. The [[Gnosis]] is a good choice, as it is not that expensive, and has lots of slot for required modules, and to mount a good tank. T1 exploration frigates or covert ops frigates are not recommended for running Ghost Sites, as while these ships are fast and make for excellent hackers, they tend to be too fragile to survive the explosion and/or the rats in Ghost Sites.  

It is worth remembering that the explosion of the cans is ALWAYS explosive damage, but the rats will [[NPC Damage Types|deal damage according to their faction]], so tank accordingly.