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Joanna Ramirez
Intaki Militia
17
    |
Posted - 2012.06.23 20:06:00 -
[1] - Quote
What is plexing?
Factional warfare complexes, aka plexes are things which affect system occupancy in faction warfare. Occupancy affects whose sides NPCs are inside said plexes and whether or not you can dock in stations located in system.
To conquer a system, you need to take about 120 plexes of various sizes until capture status bar hits 100%. This turns bunker vulnerable and which can then be shot and occupancy changes in next downtime.
1: Finding a plex
To locate a plex inside a system, you will have to scan it. You can use ship scanner for this and scan on planets, star, bunker, etc. It has a range of 64 au and completes the cycle in 10 seconds.
If FW plex is within scan range, it always shows up as hit such as GÇ¥Gallente minor compoundGÇ¥. After you initiate warp, the plex beacon appears on overview and anyone can warp there.
2: How plexes function?
Plexes are essentially isolated deadspace pockets (except that microwarp drives function) where entry is only gained by properly sized ships using the acceleration gate. There are minors, mediums and major plexes and also various subtypes of them (compound, facility, installation, outpost, Stronghold) which effects what kind of npc's spawn to plex.
For minor plexes (Caldari minor stronghold for example) you can only enter in t1 frigate or destroyer. Anything else will be stuck on gate. Medium plexes dont have minor/major in front of their name (Caldari outpost for example) you can enter with t1 cruiser and t2 frigate.
Major plexes are either "restricted" (installation, facility, outpost) which have gates that allow battlecruiser and smaller or unrestricted (stronghold and compound) where you enter with any ship, including capitals.
Unrestricted plexes are different from other plexes in such regard that you can warp at range to them and enter grid on the range of your choosing (this was changed after the Caldari militia pulled the now-legendary low-sec doomsday in Heydieles).
Your arrival position is then determined by your angle of arrival on the entry beacon (where you would land if you warp to 0). This is not necessarily without risks as warping at range could still land you on top of the timer, where enemies most likely are massed up.
In case you are worried about loopholes to system, it is not possible to cyno inside a plex (nor warp to other member). Smartbombs dont function while in range of acceleration gate so it's not possible to camp them that way, though one can put opportunistic bomber at range and hope something comes from that angle.
Faction ships count as t1 ship of their type so even some of the overpowered crap like cynabals count as vanilla t1 cruiser in regards to plex entry.
To capture or defend a plex, you have to fly to the timer inside the plex and stay within capture range (10-30km depending on plex size) for designated time (10-20 minutes). If you leave the capture area or war target enters capture range, timer is stopped and wont be started until enemy is driven off. In friendly plex, you only have to wait for timer to run down, in hostile plexes you get shot by npcs. All plexes spawn 3-6 waves of npcs.
Continued... |
Joanna Ramirez
Intaki Militia
17
|
Posted - 2012.06.23 20:09:00 -
[2] - Quote
3: Fighting inside a plex
When entering a plex, you (and enemies) always land about 2km of an entry point. This is perhaps closest thing to a "bubble" in low-sec. As such, it's a good place to put an ambush with tacklers and other ships being at optimal range. While entry is visible as cosmic anomaly, you can drop a can to mark it.
If you are alone in a plex with friendly npcs, then best bet is to use npcs as support (more on that later). Also, the timer is usually priority for enemies who do come to plex. It is best to place supporting ships and long range ships away from the button so war targets are forced to take range to them instead of closing in if they want to go to timer.
If you are being chased by pirates and war targets, plexes are also good ways to divide enemy fleet or to take sanctuary in as hostiles may have numerous ships who cannot follow you.
4: NPCs
When inside the plexes, the defender has the advantage of NPC ships on his side. Faction NPCs are basicly mission npcs with their appropriate damage types. Amarr are Blood Raiders, Caldari are Guristas, Gallente are Serpentis and Minmatar are Angels.
In the upcoming patch, Ewar from the npcs will be removed, thing which is probably widely rejoiced by all but minmatar players. So in general the npcs will now offer crappy turrets (Amarr/Gallente) or crappy turrets and decent enough missile spam (Caldari/Minmatar). This probably means that pulling off such legendary kills such as executioner frigate soloing an abaddon are no longer seen.
The NPC aggro differs a bit. Sometimes they attack right away when somebody enters, other times enemy has to get pretty close or even at range of the timer. Plexes always have an initial spawn of 4-6 ships appropriate for plex size. If war target touches the timer, it starts an invisible countdown and causes more spawns to appear in course of following minutes.
These spawns appear even if war target is chased from the timer and as such it can be a best thing that happens to you as you will soon have 15-30 NPC ships supporting you. In larger plexes they really start to make a difference (except against smaller boats in case of Gallente and Amarr).
Continued... |
Joanna Ramirez
Intaki Militia
17
|
Posted - 2012.06.23 20:17:00 -
[3] - Quote
5: What do I get from plexing?
From offensive plexes which are located in enemy space, you get lots of loyalty points, which you can happily use to saturate market with faction items or just fly said faction stuff yourself without risk of getting poor. Depending on plex size, you should get between 10000 GÇô 30000 loyalty points from each.
To get the loyalty points, you have to be within capture range of the timer. When timer hits 0, the total lp is then divided between pilots within capture range. In general, Amarr & Gallente plexes can be speed tanked by a noob alt without killing rats. Caldari & Minmatar take a bit more effort due to missiles.
After a plex is captured, it disappears from scan and capture bar goes up/down, depending if plex was succesfully attacked/defedned. However, GÇ¥outpostsGÇ¥ of all sizes constantly respawn every 30 minutes after being taken. This makes it possible to hit systems all the time.
But I heard defending systems is important too!?
It is important to note that you only get loyalty points from offensive plexes and defensive plexes only give you standing with your respective militia. Once plex closes, everyone on the grid, no matter if there is 1 or 100 ships, receives this standing boost. Amount is determined by your current rank.
Every raw 1.0 standing with your militia gives you promotion which then boosts your factional standing (Amarr empire for example) and also derivative standings with factions who like your militia like Mordu, Thukker Tribe, etc.
So basicly this mechanism is in place to prevent one side from totally dominating the warzone since there is little interest to maintain occupancy in places far away from your base or without stations. However, systems you control and GÇ¥upgradesGÇ¥ do give militia wide benefits in terms of loyalty point gain and LP store prices so the GÇ¥boring defenseGÇ¥ is also useful.
Fortunately Amarr and Caldari are blessed with two wonderful COSMOS missions where they can cash in on good faction standings. I have a habit of using barely trained alts to run defensive plexes in condors, executioners, atrons, etc.
When they reach high-enough standing with Caldari State, one can go to Otomainen solar system and do COSMOS mission offered by agent Zabon Michi which gives storyline mining implant (mining bonus +5%) worth hundreds of millions (plus bounties, plus other goodies).
Amarr has even more lucrative option in form of Akemon that gives most excellent armor hitpoint implant (+8% armor hitpoints) worth around a billion. Of course it's relatively easy to do both as member of Caldari militia too.
Gallente and Minmatar on the other hand get jack and sh.te in regards to COSMOS missions.
Note: Pirates living in Ihakana can send small percentage of isk they make from ganks to this character 
6.Odds and ends:
Setting map to show GÇ¥sovereignty GÇô factional warfareGÇ¥ opens up a good indication on what systems are heavily contested or not, based on dot size. Militia office which is available in every station also has rundown of current state of contestancy regarding your militia. This mean Amarr office only shows systems in Amarr/Minmatar front, not Caldari/Gallente front for example
When warping to plex, best range to warp to gate is 10km. You will still land close enough to activate the gate but wont risk bumping into gate. You used to invulnerable once you activate gate but these days you can get tackled on acceleration gate. You still seem to get some kind of GÇ¥safety marginGÇ¥ but I would not test dodging camping interceptor with a battlecruiser for example.
If a neutral (or even war target) has very high standings for said faction, he wont be aggroed (Another GÇ¥working as intended featureGÇ¥ according to CCP). Sadly these days one cannot check the standings beforehand either.
The "Ihub" which controls system occupancy has about the hitpoints of a small pos except that it has a hideous shield recharge rate. To avoid going insane while destroying them, one should go with 15-20 high dps boats at least.
The End. |
Mutnin
SQUIDS.
244
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Posted - 2012.06.23 20:41:00 -
[4] - Quote
Good post & nice to see you bring it up to date and post it on the new forums..
Might be useful to add info on war zone control & how the whole tier system works for upgrades and so on. |
Lipbite
Express Hauler
93
|
Posted - 2012.06.24 02:43:00 -
[5] - Quote
Thanks for the post! I wish it was made a month ago so I wouldn't miss all the rigged LP fun in Minmatar space... |
Major Killz
State Protectorate
Caldari State
13
|
Posted - 2012.06.24 03:57:00 -
[6] - Quote
Thanks! Hopefully you're also able to put together a video tutorial. A comprehensive video tutorial for factional warfare or atleast the Caldari Milltia. I'm also willing to compensate you (1billion) for your continued efforts to the Caldari State (making the tutorial video). Hopefully the tutorial covers these topics below:
-Territorial Control
-Missions
-Factional Warfare Dungeons
-Overview
-Scanner, probe launchers & probes
-Directional scanner
-Loyalty Points
I'll post this guide in my corporations bulletin.
- proxyyyy |
Joanna Ramirez
Intaki Militia
24
|
Posted - 2012.06.24 06:39:00 -
[7] - Quote
"Reserved for possible addendums" |
Lugalbandak
Anunnaku Industrial Corp.
0
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Posted - 2012.06.24 12:35:00 -
[8] - Quote
Nice read , Good guide. |
Ramon Sohei
URSALIS LOGISTICS GROUP
Villore Accords
8
|
Posted - 2012.06.24 15:33:00 -
[9] - Quote
Joanna, this Damar Rocarion's FW Plexing Guide you stole from his other forum posts! 
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Joanna Ramirez
Intaki Militia
26
|
Posted - 2012.06.24 15:46:00 -
[10] - Quote
Ramon Sohei wrote:Joanna, this Damar Rocarion's FW Plexing Guide you stole from his other forum posts!
Derp, i've been caught in my attempt to gain fame, glory and girls. Or I just might be Damar's alt since other accounts got wtfforumbanned.
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Bengal Bob
Angry Mustellid
Iron Oxide.
52
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Posted - 2012.06.25 09:01:00 -
[11] - Quote
Joanna Ramirez wrote:Ramon Sohei wrote:Joanna, this Damar Rocarion's FW Plexing Guide you stole from his other forum posts! Derp, i've been caught in my attempt to gain fame, glory and girls. Or I just might be Damar's alt since other accounts got wtfforumbanned.
Weren't they banned because you were using plexing exploits? |
Joanna Ramirez
Intaki Militia
39
|
Posted - 2012.06.25 09:12:00 -
[12] - Quote
Bengal Bob wrote:Weren't they banned because you were using plexing exploits?
Nah, forums bans came from insulting CCP Soundwave (looooongggg ban) with Damar and for saying "no" in thread that some people deemed sensitive with Yuri (that ban is probably over by now though). |
Aggeron Fargone
Tribal Liberation Force
Minmatar Republic
0
|
Posted - 2012.08.12 19:01:00 -
[13] - Quote
Joanna Ramirez wrote:To capture or defend a plex, you have to fly to the timer inside the plex and stay within capture range (10-30km depending on plex size) for designated time (10-20 minutes). If you leave the capture area or war target enters capture range, timer is stopped and wont be started until enemy is driven off.
After flying with some buddies in the fed def I have found that (at least with this toon) stopping a timer or reversing it with an ally does not work. I say this because I could not stop the timer nor reverse it after a 24th imp. was chased out of a gall plex in melmaniel by me. I was also getting shot by the fed navy npc while chasing the guy out. So capturing with ally is a go, but defending with a ally is a big negative. Something is wrong with this to me. |
Yuri Intaki
Nasranite Watch
Caldari State Capturing
38
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Posted - 2012.08.12 19:08:00 -
[14] - Quote
Aggeron Fargone wrote:After flying with some buddies in the fed def I have found that (at least with this toon) stopping a timer or reversing it with an ally does not work. I say this because I could not stop the timer nor reverse it after a 24th imp.
Of course NPCs shoot you. You are suspicious "neutral" after all. And plex might have already been captured which is the reason bar didnt move backwards. |
Lexmana
690
|
Posted - 2012.08.13 09:17:00 -
[15] - Quote
I miss a section on how to fit your ship for plexing. |
Joanna Ramirez
Intaki Militia
68
|
Posted - 2012.08.13 11:03:00 -
[16] - Quote
Lexmana wrote:I miss a section on how to fit your ship for plexing.
Relevant bit:
Faction NPCs are basicly mission npcs with their appropriate damage types. Amarr are Blood Raiders, Caldari are Guristas, Gallente are Serpentis and Minmatar are Angels.
If this does not tell you most what you need to know, I dont know what will 
But in all seriousness, I wrote this based on old guide where most of the plexing was actually done in ships capable of PVP before the stabbed/cloaky/gunless frigates became the norm and I dont see need for a section which explains "How to carebear properly". |
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