Exploration: Difference between revisions

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== Checking Your Ship Scanner ==

You’ve found a quiet system to explore and are safely nestled in a comfortable spot. Cocoa and blankets are optional. Time to explore! Pop open your ship’s scanner using the little button on your ship’s HUD that has a picture of a radar screen on it (or press ALT-D). While you were parking your ship somewhere, your scanner was busy! It’s more than likely tracked down a few points of interest throughout the system. Note that if your scanner readout says “No Signals Detected,” that means the system is currently empty. Head to a different system to explore, but note that you can always come back to this system again later to see if anything juicy has appeared.

You’ve found a quiet system to explore and are safely nestled in a comfortable spot. Cocoa and blankets are optional. Time to explore! Pop open your ship’s scanner using the little button on your ship’s HUD that has a picture of a radar screen on it (or press ALT-P). While you were parking your ship somewhere, your scanner was busy! It’s more than likely tracked down a few points of interest throughout the system. Note that if your scanner readout says “No Signals Detected,” that means the system is currently empty. Head to a different system to explore, but note that you can always come back to this system again later to see if anything juicy has appeared.

There are two types of signal that your scanner may have just picked up: '''Cosmic Anomalies''' and '''Cosmic Signatures'''.

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[[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 Anomalies come in two ~~general~~ types...

Cosmic Anomalies come two main types...

* '''Combat Sites'''

** ~~These~~ sites are a single area filled with several waves of NPC opponents. Blow them up for bounties and loot! Check the [[Cosmic Anomalies]] page for information on the general difficulty of these sites. If you built the High-Sec PvE Combat frigate outlined earlier, you should be able to handily deal with Cosmic Anomalies of the lowest two difficulties (Burrows and Hideaways).

** Regular versions of these sites are a single area filled with several waves of NPC opponents. Blow them up for bounties and loot! Check the [[Cosmic Anomalies]] page for information on the general difficulty of these sites. If you built the High-Sec PvE Combat frigate outlined earlier, you should be able to handily deal with Cosmic Anomalies of the lowest two difficulties (Burrows and Hideaways).

** A special kind is a '''Covert Research Facility'''

*** If the tag is "Lesser/Standard/Improved/Superior", then these are [[Ghost Site|Ghost Sites]], which have NPCs and hacking. They can be run with good skills, and sufficient tank (usually a cruiser). Before attempting these, see [[Ghost Site]] for a lot more details.

*** If the tag is "Besieged", then these are serious Combat sites, that contain a bunch of NPCs including Mordu's Legion Battleships! As an explorer, avoid these at all costs!

* '''Ore Sites'''

** These sites are temporary pockets filled with either 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. These can be interesting places to head if you’ve cross-trained as a miner, but remember, because they are so easily found, they will likely be filled with other pilots, both friendly and less so.

=== [[Cosmic Signatures]] ===

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* '''Combat Sites'''

** Combat Sites that are tracked as Cosmic Signatures are more complex than Cosmic Anomalies: indeed, they ''are'' complexes! Complexes are EVE’s version of “dungeons”. They are made up of several “rooms” of space 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. Cosmic Signature Combat Sites come in two general flavors, both of which are more difficult than the equivalent Cosmic Anomaly site: [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/DED_Complex_List DED Complexes] and [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Unrated_Complex_List Unrated Complexes]. While the High-Sec PvE Combat frigate listed above ''might'' be able to clear the 1/10 difficulty version of these Combat Sites, you’re probably better off fielding a separate, combat-oriented ship to deal with them. Just probe down the site’s location, save it as a bookmark by right-clicking on it, then pilot a bigger, angrier ship in and enjoy!

** Combat Sites that are tracked as Cosmic Signatures are more complex than Cosmic Anomalies: indeed, they ''are'' complexes! Complexes are EVE’s version of “dungeons”. They are made up of several “rooms” of space 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. Cosmic Signature Combat Sites come in two general flavors, both of which are more difficult than the equivalent Cosmic Anomaly site: [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/DED_Complex_List DED Complexes] and [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Unrated_Complex_List Unrated Complexes]. While the High-Sec PvE Combat frigate listed above ''might'' be able to clear the 1/10 difficulty version of these Combat Sites, you’re probably better off fielding a separate, combat-oriented ship to deal with them. Just probe down the site’s location, save it as a bookmark by right-clicking on it, then pilot a bigger, angrier ship in and enjoy! Or make friends by sharing the bookmark with others, and letting them run the combat site.

* '''Relic Sites'''

** Relic Sites are locations filled with abandoned structures filled with salvage and other loot. Best of all, in ~~high-sec~~ space, they’re filled ''only'' with valuables: no NPC defenders. Your exploration frigate can happily sail into these sites and use their Relic Analyzer on the structures within to pry out valuables. ~~For more~~ details on the hacking minigame, see [[Hacking 101]].

** Relic Sites are locations filled with abandoned structures filled with salvage and other loot. Best of all, in other than in wormhole space, they’re filled ''only'' with valuables: no NPC defenders. Your exploration frigate can happily sail into these sites and use their Relic Analyzer on the structures within to pry out valuables. See mode details below on the hacking minigame, and/or see [[Hacking 101]].

* '''Data Sites'''

** Data Sites work ~~much~~ like Relic Sites, ~~only~~ they require a Data Analyzer to access~~, and typically~~ contain ~~more~~ valuable loot ~~items~~. Items worth millions of ISK ~~frequently~~ drop here even in high-sec, so keep a sharp eye out for them!

** Data Sites work exactly like Relic Sites, but they require a Data Analyzer to access. They contain valuable loot in hackable cans, and no NPCs. Items worth millions of ISK sometimes drop here even in high-sec, so keep a sharp eye out for them!

* '''Gas Sites'''

** Most high-sec Gas Sites are Nebulas, which are quiet, undefended areas that have several gas clouds that can be harvested with specialized, expensive equipment. Sadly, most high-sec gasses are not worth much ISK, either, meaning that most new explorers should avoid these sites. Gas Sites are more lucrative in lower-security space, which you likely won’t venture into at first.

** Occasionally, a Gas Site may be a Lab or other facility that pirates have set up to harvest the gas for themselves. These areas are a combination of Combat Site and Data Site, and contain hackable structures that are guarded by NPC opponents.

* '''Wormholes'''

** Wormholes are temporary gates that can take your ship from your current system to almost anywhere else in space, including 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, nullsec Relic and Data sites with Sansha, ~~Gurista~~, Angel and Serpentis in ~~the name~~ are unguarded sites in WH space). 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 page and the [[Wormholes 100]] class for more detailed information.

** Wormholes are temporary gates that can take your ship from your current system to almost anywhere else in space, including 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, Guristas, Angel and Serpentis in their names are unguarded sites in WH space.) 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 page and the [[Wormholes 100]] class for more detailed information.

== Probing Down an Exploration Site ==

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 == Checking Your Ship Scanner ==
-You’ve found a quiet system to explore and are safely nestled in a comfortable spot. Cocoa and blankets are optional. Time to explore! Pop open your ship’s scanner using the little button on your ship’s HUD that has a picture of a radar screen on it (or press ALT-D). While you were parking your ship somewhere, your scanner was busy! It’s more than likely tracked down a few points of interest throughout the system. Note that if your scanner readout says “No Signals Detected,” that means the system is currently empty. Head to a different system to explore, but note that you can always come back to this system again later to see if anything juicy has appeared.
+You’ve found a quiet system to explore and are safely nestled in a comfortable spot. Cocoa and blankets are optional. Time to explore! Pop open your ship’s scanner using the little button on your ship’s HUD that has a picture of a radar screen on it (or press ALT-P). While you were parking your ship somewhere, your scanner was busy! It’s more than likely tracked down a few points of interest throughout the system. Note that if your scanner readout says “No Signals Detected,” that means the system is currently empty. Head to a different system to explore, but note that you can always come back to this system again later to see if anything juicy has appeared.
 There are two types of signal that your scanner may have just picked up: '''Cosmic Anomalies''' and '''Cosmic Signatures'''.
@@ Line 130: / Line 130: @@
 [[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 Anomalies come in two general types...
+Cosmic Anomalies come two main types...
 * '''Combat Sites'''
-** These sites are a single area filled with several waves of NPC opponents. Blow them up for bounties and loot! Check the [[Cosmic Anomalies]] page for information on the general difficulty of these sites. If you built the High-Sec PvE Combat frigate outlined earlier, you should be able to handily deal with Cosmic Anomalies of the lowest two difficulties (Burrows and Hideaways).
+** Regular versions of these sites are a single area filled with several waves of NPC opponents. Blow them up for bounties and loot! Check the [[Cosmic Anomalies]] page for information on the general difficulty of these sites. If you built the High-Sec PvE Combat frigate outlined earlier, you should be able to handily deal with Cosmic Anomalies of the lowest two difficulties (Burrows and Hideaways).
+** A special kind is a '''Covert Research Facility'''
+*** If the tag is "Lesser/Standard/Improved/Superior", then these are [[Ghost Site|Ghost Sites]], which have NPCs and hacking.  They can be run with good skills, and sufficient tank (usually a cruiser).  Before attempting these, see [[Ghost Site]] for a lot more details.
+*** If the tag is "Besieged", then these are serious Combat sites, that contain a bunch of NPCs including Mordu's Legion Battleships!  As an explorer, avoid these at all costs!
 * '''Ore Sites'''
 ** These sites are temporary pockets filled with either 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. These can be interesting places to head if you’ve cross-trained as a miner, but remember, because they are so easily found, they will likely be filled with other pilots, both friendly and less so.
 === [[Cosmic Signatures]] ===
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 * '''Combat Sites'''
-** Combat Sites that are tracked as Cosmic Signatures are more complex than Cosmic Anomalies: indeed, they ''are'' complexes! Complexes are EVE’s version of “dungeons”. They are made up of several “rooms” of space 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. Cosmic Signature Combat Sites come in two general flavors, both of which are more difficult than the equivalent Cosmic Anomaly site: [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/DED_Complex_List DED Complexes] and [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Unrated_Complex_List Unrated Complexes]. While the High-Sec PvE Combat frigate listed above ''might'' be able to clear the 1/10 difficulty version of these Combat Sites, you’re probably better off fielding a separate, combat-oriented ship to deal with them. Just probe down the site’s location, save it as a bookmark by right-clicking on it, then pilot a bigger, angrier ship in and enjoy!
+** Combat Sites that are tracked as Cosmic Signatures are more complex than Cosmic Anomalies: indeed, they ''are'' complexes! Complexes are EVE’s version of “dungeons”. They are made up of several “rooms” of space 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. Cosmic Signature Combat Sites come in two general flavors, both of which are more difficult than the equivalent Cosmic Anomaly site: [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/DED_Complex_List DED Complexes] and [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Unrated_Complex_List Unrated Complexes]. While the High-Sec PvE Combat frigate listed above ''might'' be able to clear the 1/10 difficulty version of these Combat Sites, you’re probably better off fielding a separate, combat-oriented ship to deal with them. Just probe down the site’s location, save it as a bookmark by right-clicking on it, then pilot a bigger, angrier ship in and enjoy!  Or make friends by sharing the bookmark with others, and letting them run the combat site.
 * '''Relic Sites'''
-** Relic Sites are locations filled with abandoned structures filled with salvage and other loot. Best of all, in high-sec space, they’re filled ''only'' with valuables: no NPC defenders. Your exploration frigate can happily sail into these sites and use their Relic Analyzer on the structures within to pry out valuables. For more details on the hacking minigame, see [[Hacking 101]].
+** Relic Sites are locations filled with abandoned structures filled with salvage and other loot. Best of all, in other than in wormhole space, they’re filled ''only'' with valuables: no NPC defenders. Your exploration frigate can happily sail into these sites and use their Relic Analyzer on the structures within to pry out valuables.  See mode details below on the hacking minigame, and/or see [[Hacking 101]].
 * '''Data Sites'''
-** Data Sites work much like Relic Sites, only they require a Data Analyzer to access, and typically contain more valuable loot items. Items worth millions of ISK frequently drop here even in high-sec, so keep a sharp eye out for them!
+** Data Sites work exactly like Relic Sites, but they require a Data Analyzer to access.  They contain valuable loot in hackable cans, and no NPCs. Items worth millions of ISK sometimes drop here even in high-sec, so keep a sharp eye out for them!
 * '''Gas Sites'''
 ** Most high-sec Gas Sites are Nebulas, which are quiet, undefended areas that have several gas clouds that can be harvested with specialized, expensive equipment. Sadly, most high-sec gasses are not worth much ISK, either, meaning that most new explorers should avoid these sites. Gas Sites are more lucrative in lower-security space, which you likely won’t venture into at first.
 ** Occasionally, a Gas Site may be a Lab or other facility that pirates have set up to harvest the gas for themselves. These areas are a combination of Combat Site and Data Site, and contain hackable structures that are guarded by NPC opponents.
 * '''Wormholes'''
-** Wormholes are temporary gates that can take your ship from your current system to almost anywhere else in space, including 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, nullsec Relic and Data sites with Sansha, Gurista, Angel and Serpentis in the name are unguarded sites in WH space). 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 page and the [[Wormholes 100]] class for more detailed information.
+** Wormholes are temporary gates that can take your ship from your current system to almost anywhere else in space, including 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, Guristas, Angel and Serpentis in their names are unguarded sites in WH space.)  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 page and the [[Wormholes 100]] class for more detailed information.
 == Probing Down an Exploration Site ==