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m Clearing up the skills section. |
Salartarium (talk | contribs) m Proofreading; more adverbs and articles when it helps flow |
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==== Scanning skills ==== | ==== Scanning skills ==== | ||
* {{sk|Astrometrics}}: useful bonuses to scan strength(+5%), scan deviation(-5%) and scan time(-5%) per level. Level I unlocks the Core Probe Launchers and Core Scanner Probes, level II unlocks the Expanded Probe Launchers and the Combat Scanner Probes. | * {{sk|Astrometrics}}: useful bonuses to scan strength(+5%), scan deviation(-5%) and scan time(-5%) per level. Level I unlocks the Core Probe Launchers and Core Scanner Probes, level II unlocks the Expanded Probe Launchers and the Combat Scanner Probes. Level IV is the prerequisite for Astrometric Pinpointing and should be a short-term priority for the aspiring explorer. | ||
* {{sk|Astrometric Pinpointing}}: 5% reduction in maximum scan deviation per level. | * {{sk|Astrometric Pinpointing}}: 5% reduction in maximum scan deviation per level. | ||
** This skill is especially useful in the early phases of probing | ** This skill is especially useful in the early phases of probing and makes life easier. Training high levels of this skill paired with high signal strength will allow you to reduce the scanning radius more aggressively. Levels II and V allow use of Tech 1 and Tech 2 scan pinpointing arrays respectively. | ||
* {{sk|Astrometric Rangefinding}}: 5% increase in scan probe strength per level, making it the most important of these skills. Levels II and V allow use of Tech 1 and Tech 2 scan rangefinding arrays respectively. | * {{sk|Astrometric Rangefinding}}: 5% increase in scan probe strength per level, making it the most important of these skills. Levels II and V allow use of Tech 1 and Tech 2 scan rangefinding arrays respectively. | ||
* {{sk|Astrometric Acquisition}}: 5% reduction in scan time per level. This skill is useful for combat scanning, when every second counts, but is not hugely important otherwise. Levels II and V allow use of Tech 1 and Tech 2 scan acquisition arrays respectively. | * {{sk|Astrometric Acquisition}}: 5% reduction in scan time per level. This skill is useful for combat scanning, when every second counts, but is not hugely important otherwise. Levels II and V allow use of Tech 1 and Tech 2 scan acquisition arrays respectively. | ||
==== Other skills ==== | ==== Other skills ==== | ||
* Racial Frigate: Level I is required for the Tech 1 scanning frigate of each faction ({{Sh|Magnate}}, {{Sh|Heron}}, {{Sh|Imicus}} and {{Sh|Probe}}) and the strong per-level bonus for scanner probe | * Racial Frigate: Level I is required for the Tech 1 scanning frigate of each faction ({{Sh|Magnate}}, {{Sh|Heron}}, {{Sh|Imicus}} and {{Sh|Probe}}) and the strong per-level bonus for scanner probe strength on these hulls make training it to IV worthwhile. Level V is a step towards covert ops ships. | ||
* {{sk|Covert Ops}}: together with racial frigate V, this skill unlocks the covert ops ships ({{Sh|Anathema}}, {{Sh|Buzzard}}, {{Sh|Helios}} and {{Sh|Cheetah}}). New players need not rush into these, but covert ops ships are a good medium-term goal for keen explorers. | * {{sk|Covert Ops}}: together with racial frigate V, this skill unlocks the covert ops ships ({{Sh|Anathema}}, {{Sh|Buzzard}}, {{Sh|Helios}} and {{Sh|Cheetah}}). New players need not rush into these, but covert ops ships are a good medium-term goal for keen explorers. | ||
** Note that since the hull bonuses for scanner probe | ** Note that since the hull bonuses for scanner probe strength on the covert ops ships are per-level, a covert ops ship only outmatches a Tech 1 exploration frigate in probe strength at Covert Ops IV. | ||
* {{sk|Cloaking}}: level I is needed to use prototype cloaks, handy for Tech 1 exploration frigates; IV is necessary to fit covert ops cloaks and should be trained when a character is on their way to flying covert ops ships. | * {{sk|Cloaking}}: level I is needed to use prototype cloaks, handy for Tech 1 exploration frigates; IV is necessary to fit covert ops cloaks and should be trained when a character is on their way to flying covert ops ships. | ||
* {{sk|High Speed Maneuvering}}: to fit MWD. | * {{sk|High Speed Maneuvering}}: to fit MWD. | ||
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=== Launching probes === | === Launching probes === | ||
To start probing launch your probes and open both system map and probe scanner window. | To start probing launch your probes and open both the system map and probe scanner window. | ||
Many players find it useful to undock the probe scanner window from the system map by clicking the square icon on top right corner of probe scanner window. This allows you to open and close both the system map and the probe scanner independently. | Many players find it useful to undock the probe scanner window from the system map by clicking the square icon on the top right corner of the probe scanner window. This allows you to open and close both the system map and the probe scanner independently. | ||
With the probe scanner open, the system map now shows information relevant for probing. The red spheres are signatures that need to be probed with probes, green icons are anomalies or completely probed signatures, and the blue spheres are the areas scanned by each of your probes. | With the probe scanner open, the system map now shows information relevant for probing. The red spheres are signatures that need to be probed with probes, green icons are anomalies or completely probed signatures, and the blue spheres are the areas scanned by each of your probes. | ||
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=== Initial placement === | === Initial placement === | ||
You have several controls for your probes. | You have several controls for your probes. | ||
* Drag the cube to move whole probe formation. | * Drag the cube to move the whole probe formation. | ||
** Hold shift to move individual probes. | ** Hold shift to move individual probes. | ||
** Hold control to adjust probe distance from center point. | ** Hold control to adjust probe distance from center point. | ||
* Alt+scroll, alt+drag or slider in probe scanner window to alter probe range | * Alt+scroll, alt+drag or slider in probe scanner window to alter probe range | ||
You can also move your probes to pinpoint formation, spread formation or your own saved custom formation in the probe scanner window. When scanning signatures, only pinpoint formation, formation move, and probe range changes are needed. Sometimes you may encounter a signature you can't get all the way to 100%. You can try moving your probes into more tightly packed pinpoint formation to get | You can also move your probes to pinpoint formation, spread formation or your own saved custom formation in the probe scanner window. When scanning signatures, only pinpoint formation, formation move, and probe range changes are needed. Sometimes you may encounter a signature you can't get all the way to 100%. You can try moving your probes into a more tightly packed pinpoint formation to get 0.1% more signal, but placing them too close to each other will reduce scan results. | ||
To scan a signature, move your probe formation over the signature sphere. A good starting formation is the pinpoint formation, with range adjusted to cover the whole signature sphere. A trick to help with initial probe placement is to know that ''all'' signatures are within 4 AU from celestial objects. If there is only one celestial near the signature sphere, then the signature is near it and you can place your probes there. | To scan a signature, move your probe formation over the signature sphere. A good starting formation is the pinpoint formation, with range adjusted to cover the whole signature sphere. A trick to help with initial probe placement is to know that ''all'' signatures are within 4 AU from celestial objects. If there is only one celestial near the signature sphere, then the signature is near it and you can place your probes there. | ||
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[[image:Probing_sphere.jpg|thumb|440px|When the signature is seen as a sphere place the pinpoint formation to cover the whole sphere.]] | [[image:Probing_sphere.jpg|thumb|440px|When the signature is seen as a sphere place the pinpoint formation to cover the whole sphere.]] | ||
[[image:Probing_celestial proximity.jpg|thumb|440px|The signature is always withing 4 AU from a celestial. If there is only one celestial in the area you can move your 4 AU pinpoint formation to cover only space near it.]] | [[image:Probing_celestial proximity.jpg|thumb|440px|The signature is always withing 4 AU from a celestial. If there is only one celestial in the area you can move your 4 AU pinpoint formation to cover only space near it.]] | ||
[[image:Probing_circle.jpg|thumb|440px|When the signature is seen as a circle there is no good simple trick. Move the probes to cover whole circle but closer to one of its sides.]] | [[image:Probing_circle.jpg|thumb|440px|When the signature is seen as a circle there is no good simple trick. Move the probes to cover the whole circle but closer to one of its sides.]] | ||
[[image:Probing_double.jpg|thumb|440px|When the signature is seen as two points the point that is further away from your previous scan point is most likely the signature location.]] | [[image:Probing_double.jpg|thumb|440px|When the signature is seen as two points the point that is further away from your previous scan point is most likely the signature location.]] | ||
[[image:Probing_point.jpg|thumb|440px|When the signature is seen as single point move probe formation on it and decrease probe size.]] | [[image:Probing_point.jpg|thumb|440px|When the signature is seen as single point move probe formation on it and decrease probe size.]] | ||
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A number of different results can occur after an initial scan. | A number of different results can occur after an initial scan. | ||
# If only one probe overlapped with the signature, the result is a sphere. You know that the signature is inside that sphere in region that overlaps with one probe only. Center your probe formation on the new sphere, adjust range, and scan again. | # If only one probe overlapped with the signature, the result is a sphere. You know that the signature is inside that sphere in the region that overlaps with one probe only. Center your probe formation on the new sphere, adjust range, and scan again. | ||
# If two probes overlapped with the signature, the result is a circle. The signature is somewhere on the circle where only two probes overlap with each other. Make an educated guess, move your formation, resize and scan again. | # If two probes overlapped with the signature, the result is a circle. The signature is somewhere on the circle where only two probes overlap with each other. Make an educated guess, move your formation, resize and scan again. | ||
# If three probes overlapped with the signature, the result is two points connected by a line. The signature is near one of the points. Usually, it is on the point that is further away from your probe formation's center. Move your probes, adjust range , and scan again. | # If three probes overlapped with the signature, the result is two points connected by a line. The signature is near one of the points. Usually, it is on the point that is further away from your probe formation's center. Move your probes, adjust range, and scan again. | ||
# If four or more probes overlapped with the signature the result is one point. Center your formation on it, reduce probe range and scan again. At this point, and assuming your probe strength is sufficiently strong to scan the signature at all, you will probably be able to pinpoint the signature just by repeatedly re-centering the formation and reducing its range. | # If four or more probes overlapped with the signature the result is one point. Center your formation on it, reduce probe range and scan again. At this point, and assuming your probe strength is sufficiently strong to scan the signature at all, you will probably be able to pinpoint the signature just by repeatedly re-centering the formation and reducing its range. | ||