Probe
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The Probe is large compared to most Minmatar frigates and is considered a good scout and cargo-runner. Uncharacteristically for a Minmatar ship, its hard outer coating makes it difficult to destroy, while the limited weapon hardpoints force it to rely on drone assistance if engaged in combat. SHIP BONUSES
Minmatar Frigate bonuses (per skill level):
Ship Attributes
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3 (1/2) 
4 
4
15 MW 
275 tf
381 m/sec
200 m³
Summary
The Probe is the Minmatar Exploration Frigate. Like all Tech I exploration frigates, the Probe receives skill-dependent bonuses to scanner probe strength. The Probe excels at locating cosmic signatures in all security levels of space. The Probe also receives a role bonus (independent of pilot skill level) to relic and data analyzer virus strength, which helps the Probe pilot crack exploration sites. With these two bonuses, the Probe is a strong starter frigate for Minmatar pilots interested in Exploration. And while Probe pilots eventually skill into Tech II Covert Ops exploration ships (like the Cheetah), there isn’t much exploration content that the Probe can’t complete.
The Probe has four mid slots available for exploration and propulsion modules. Like any exploration frigate, the Probe’s mids are usually fit with a microwarpdrive and a data and relic analyzer, which leaves one slot free for an additional assistance module—typically a Scan Rangefinding Array. (You might be tempted to put a shield extender here for defense, but a tackled explorer is a dead explorer, and shield extenders make you easier to tackle by increasing signature radius.) Low slots are best fit with inertial stabilizers and/or a warp stabilizer for faster escapes. Keep in mind that warp stabilizers reduce lock range and speed; having more than one makes locking exploration sites uncomfortably slow.
The exploration Probe is also commonly fitted with a Prototype or Improved Cloaking Device, so that the ship can cloak while probing signatures in unsafe space. The Probe cannot, however, fit a Covert Ops Cloaking Device. So, when cloaked, it cannot warp and suffers a significant penalty to speed.
Tech I exploration frigates have the largest cargo capacity of any frigate. This makes the Probe a speedy freight courier and distribution mission runner. By fitting the ship with expanded cargohold modules and cargohold optimization rigs, it is possible to build a Probe that can carry over 1200 m3 of cargo. Or, by exchanging some of these for warp stabs, the Probe can be made into a low-sec courier that can evade insta-pointing gate camps.
The Probe can be fit for combat probing, by using an Expanded Probe Launcher in place of the standard Core Probe Launcher. However, combat probing requires considerably greater in-game and pilot skill than site probing. Successful combat probers need to be able to locate targets in a single quick scan, or at most two. Pilots that have the Astrometrics skill levels required to do this, and have the experience necessary to use D-Scan intelligence to pinpoint those targets before scanning, are typically already trained into Covert Ops frigates anyway.
Skills
No skill notes available.
Fitting
Exploration
Core Probe Launcher I
Prototype Cloaking Device I
Salvager I
5MN Microwarpdrive I
Cargo Scanner I
Data Analyzer I
Relic Analyzer I
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Inertial Stabilizers II
Inertial Stabilizers II
Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
Hobgoblin I x1
Salvage Drone I x3
Hornet EC-300 x3
Core Scanner Probe I x16
- Prototype Cloaking Device I is a cheaper alternative to Improved Cloaking Device II but reduces speed while cloaked.
- Low slots can be modified to pilot preference:
- - Inertial Stabilizer provide increased maneuverability at the expense of reducing time to be locked
- - Nanofiber Internal Structure provide increased maneuverability and speed at the expense of reduced structure hitpoints
- - Can swap in Warp Core Stabilizer to negate warp disruption/scrambler effects at the expense of shorter targeting range and longer lock times
Cargo
Improved Cloaking Device II
5MN Microwarpdrive II
Limited Adaptive Invulnerability Field I
Limited Adaptive Invulnerability Field I
Small Shield Extender II
Expanded Cargohold II
Expanded Cargohold II
Expanded Cargohold II
Small Cargohold Optimization I
Small Cargohold Optimization I
Small Cargohold Optimization I
- Replace rigs with T2 variant once if you ok to get just a bit more cargo space (+111 m3) and triple the price.
- Replace Expanded Cargohold by Inertial Stabilizers when traveling empty.
- Use MWD+Cloak trick while carrying expensive cargo.
Alpha Combat Prober
Expanded Probe Launcher I
5MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive
Initiated Compact Warp Scrambler
Scan Acquisition Array I
Scan Rangefinding Array I
Type-D Restrained Nanofiber Structure
Photonic Upgraded Co-Processor
Photonic Upgraded Co-Processor
Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
Warrior I x7
Core Scanner Probe I x16
Combat Scanner Probe I x16
Sisters Combat Scanner Probe x8
- Sister's Expanded Probe Launcher can be used for additional scan strength but is an expensive module for hero/suicide tackle
- To avoid jumping into the fray take a command position in fleet, toggle "exempt from fleet warp", then warp squad/fleet to the signature scanned down
- Switch one rig to Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade II and replace the other with Small Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer II to keep similar scan strength and increase warp speed to reach the target faster (+1.25 AU/s)
Tactics
While not designed for combat, one can still combat fit an exploration frigate to catch unsuspected lone gankers off guard. When fitting for combat, as other races' exploration frigates, the Probe has a severe shortage of power grid while having a huge CPU reservoir. Plus the ship has no bonus to guns or missiles, it is best to fit missile or rockets to save on power grid for prop and repper. The large CPU left over can then be used to fit a range of damage, resist or ewar mods.
Notes
You can add notes here.
Patch History
| A long, long time ago... |
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YC118.8 v.1.0 – Build: 1077233 – 13.09.16
March 2016 v.1.0 – Build: 1030955 – 08.03.16
Februrary 2016 v.1.0 – Build: 1012752 – 09.02.16
Odyssey v.1.0 - Build: 584903 - 04.16.13
Retribution v.1.0 – Build: 476047 – 04.12.12
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Outer Ring Excavation Ships
