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Fa Xian
Garoun Investment Bank Gallente Federation
0
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Posted - 2013.05.20 18:32:00 -
[1] - Quote
I've recently moved my exploration from hi to low. I decided to try a FW area thinking that players there would have each other to mess with and won't bother or have time to come looking for my ship in signatures. This has turned out to be less successful than I had hoped - while I've had some decent success, I've now been caught three times, losing 2 Dominix and a Vexor.
I'd like to continue to do exploration, but I'm finding the losses here annoying. What can I do differently to enjoy exploration with less risk of loss?
Some questions / ideas;
1) I could do low level sleeper sites solo in a Dominix - retreat to hi to look for wormholes that would allow this? Never seen another player in a wormhole site before and have done half a dozenGǪ would there be less chance of running into other players there?
2) I know it's unrealistic to think that I can avoid people in low completely. So, I'd be happy to get advice on how to escape an encounter or fight back. Fight back seems like not an option - they find me when I'm no shields, half armor, fighting 10 NPCs, and half cap. Is run my only option? Can I do anything other than fit 2 warp cores and hope there's just one aggressor?
3) How do other people manage low exploration? Do you just do little sites (esp. no combat) so that you aren't in one place very long? |
Some Rando
University of Caille Gallente Federation
1098
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Posted - 2013.05.20 18:38:00 -
[2] - Quote
Fa Xian wrote:I decided to try a FW area thinking that players there would have each other to mess with and won't bother or have time to come looking for my ship in signatures. lol
Half of the people in FW zones are just looking to **** with the FW guys.
Fa Xian wrote:1) I could do low level sleeper sites solo in a Dominix - retreat to hi to look for wormholes that would allow this? Never seen another player in a wormhole site before and have done half a dozenGǪ would there be less chance of running into other players there? I personally wouldn't day-trip high-sec statics but I've had success with low-sec statics. I'd also avoid using the BS and go with something like a Drake or T3.
Fa Xian wrote:2) I know it's unrealistic to think that I can avoid people in low completely. So, I'd be happy to get advice on how to escape an encounter or fight back. Fight back seems like not an option - they find me when I'm no shields, half armor, fighting 10 NPCs, and half cap. Is run my only option? Can I do anything other than fit 2 warp cores and hope there's just one aggressor? MWD + cloak. Learn it, love it.
Fa Xian wrote:3) How do other people manage low exploration? Do you just do little sites (esp. no combat) so that you aren't in one place very long? Spam d-scan, watch local, fit a cloak. I used to run non-combats in an Arbitrator, never had any real problems. Keep an eye out for probes, but also watch out for pre-run sites, some people come back to them in combat ships. CCP has no sense of humour. |
Riot Girl
Thundercats The Initiative.
913
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Posted - 2013.05.20 18:43:00 -
[3] - Quote
You can't cloak if you're locked. Oh god. |
Fa Xian
Garoun Investment Bank Gallente Federation
0
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Posted - 2013.05.20 18:47:00 -
[4] - Quote
Quote:MWD + cloak. Learn it, love it.
Hmm... I use a covops frig for exploration, but I've never used a non-covops cloak. I thought the thing you are talking about is what people use to escape gate camps? I don't get caught in gate camps - only one time and it didn't really bother me; I don't feel bad about losing it when there are 15+ people on you. Cost of doing business really.
But MWD isn't going to get me clear of a site in my limited experience. You get scrambled. It's been a solo Tengu or at most a couple of little ships that show up to rout me. I have no real warning and no real time before locked and dead in the water. I can usually survive for a while - if I could warp out, I think I'd make it. That's what makes me think stabilizers - but depressing how much they gank your targeting range.
Quote:Spam d-scan, watch local, fit a cloak. I used to run non-combats in an Arbitrator, never had any real problems. Keep an eye out for probes, but also watch out for pre-run sites, some people come back to them in combat ships.
I admit I'm probably fail piloting because I don't use the directional. Can you recommend a good instructional video on it perhaps? That might be the thing I'm missing... still feel like I'm gonna get taken a lot if I can't run. And it sounds really annoying to have to click a button every few seconds. |
Lady Ayeipsia
Red Federation RvB - RED Federation
641
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Posted - 2013.05.20 18:48:00 -
[5] - Quote
For hi sec exploration of wormholes, you want a battlecruiser. BSes cannot fit into a c1 wormhole.
Drakes use to be the best at hi sec wormholes, but that may have changed after the bc tiericide. |
Fa Xian
Garoun Investment Bank Gallente Federation
0
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Posted - 2013.05.20 18:50:00 -
[6] - Quote
Some Rando wrote:Half of the people in FW zones are just looking to **** with the FW guys.
Yeah, they hair on the back of my neck prickles when there are 3 or 4 people in the area on the same faction doing nothing - that's boredom that's looking for trouble. When there's 15+ people and chatter, it seems likely they're busy with each other - but then they get done and decide "Hey, who's this dumbass in local who wasn't in the fight?" ... and I get found.
But someone must be doing lowsec exploration. Or does no one do this stuff in this area? |
Fa Xian
Garoun Investment Bank Gallente Federation
0
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Posted - 2013.05.20 18:51:00 -
[7] - Quote
Riot Girl wrote:You can't cloak if you're locked.
Yeah, I don't think a cloak is going to work for anything but keeping you safe while scanning. I already use a covops for that. |
Fa Xian
Garoun Investment Bank Gallente Federation
0
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Posted - 2013.05.20 18:54:00 -
[8] - Quote
Lady Ayeipsia wrote:For hi sec exploration of wormholes, you want a battlecruiser.
I've done some Myrmidon business there... but sleepers are fairly tough and I never sank a lot of points in to BC. I suppose that's an option though; skill up BC to max and use those. It's a cheaper loss than a BS.
I'm not against losing things, just need to pitch the rate I lose them to slightly lower than the rate I make money to replace them. |
Some Rando
University of Caille Gallente Federation
1098
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Posted - 2013.05.20 18:55:00 -
[9] - Quote
Fa Xian wrote:I admit I'm probably fail piloting because I don't use the directional. Can you recommend a good instructional video on it perhaps? That might be the thing I'm missing... still feel like I'm gonna get taken a lot if I can't run. And it sounds really annoying to have to click a button every few seconds. It doesn't take much, just set the range to max and mash the button every so often when someone's in local. When you arrive, hit the button once and familiarize yourself with what's there so you don't freak out over someone's Reaper at a POS. Do a Google search, there are plenty of guides out there to get more utility from it; it's a very simple control. CCP has no sense of humour. |
iSupremacy
Blackwater Coalition Forces Harkonnen Federation
11
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Posted - 2013.05.20 18:57:00 -
[10] - Quote
I'm using a Pilgrim all in one exploration fit when i explore in lowsec.. Just watch your D-scan and local and you should be fine |
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Domanique Altares
Rifterlings Point Blank Alliance
100
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Posted - 2013.05.20 18:58:00 -
[11] - Quote
Some Rando wrote: Spam d-scan, watch local, fit a cloak. I used to run non-combats in an Arbitrator, never had any real problems. Keep an eye out for probes, but also watch out for pre-run sites, some people come back to them in combat ships.
This is your best advice, right here. I live in low, and explore in low. Always watch d-scan. Always. Spam it like you were in a WH when Old Man Local tells you someone else is in system. Keep it set to a sane distance of 1-2million kms. Anything shows, you start aligning out to a safe/station, and be ready to spam warp if someone pops up on grid.
I'd also make the recommendation that you move to low if you want to explore here. Being a stranger and making daytrips is what gets you caught, more often than not. If you live in a system and explore the neighboring ones, you will quickly build a network of safes and tacticals that will help you immensely; you'll be able to do some scouting and exploring in disposable frigates, and save your mission runner for when it's time to hit the sites. You'll never be totally safe from people who want to gank/pirate you (especially not in FW space, we get bored like anyone else) but some of us are less interested in spending the effort hunting you down on a lark if we recognize you and see you as mostly harmless. You'll also learn to recognize who everyone else is. Which ones you can depend on to try and gank you, who your fellow explorers are, who the ninja miners are, etc. |
Domanique Altares
Rifterlings Point Blank Alliance
100
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Posted - 2013.05.20 19:00:00 -
[12] - Quote
Lady Ayeipsia wrote:For hi sec exploration of wormholes, you want a battlecruiser. BSes cannot fit into a c1 wormhole.
Drakes use to be the best at hi sec wormholes, but that may have changed after the bc tiericide.
Drake is still just fine for getting started. I solo c1 and c2 sites with one, and run small groups in c3s, and have no issues at all. |
Felicity Love
STARKRAFT Joint Venture Conglomerate
619
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Posted - 2013.05.20 19:01:00 -
[13] - Quote
Use a Zephyr to explore. Sweet little ship -- people will waste tonnes of time chasing you if you fly it properly.
Proud Beta Tester for "Bumping Uglies for Dummies" |
Skeln Thargensen
Thargensen Plumbing Services
162
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Posted - 2013.05.20 19:01:00 -
[14] - Quote
the problem with the dominix is the mass. you won't be able to get it through certain wh and definitely not access C1 w-space systems. BC max. drake is a very popular choice as it has a great shield tank though i guess you could use a myrmidon instead if you want armour tanking and drones.
also always assume you're being watched by cloakies in an anomaly. they don't need to scan you down with probes so you have zero intel. I prescan signatures also so you can't rely on d-scan at all. the wormhole pirate is meticulous and patient. freelance space bum |
Reaver Glitterstim
Dromedaworks inc Tribal Band
514
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Posted - 2013.05.20 19:06:00 -
[15] - Quote
Fa Xian wrote:1) I could do low level sleeper sites solo in a Dominix - retreat to hi to look for wormholes that would allow this? Never seen another player in a wormhole site before and have done half a dozenGǪ would there be less chance of running into other players there? Use a Myrmidon. It'll fit into class 1 w-systems and is more agile. You probably shouldn't run sleeper sites alone, but if you do you at least want to be quick on your feet. Fit a warfare link to your tech 1 battlecruiser. Train Wing Commander. Get in the Squad Commander or Wing Commander position. Your fleets will be superior to everyone else's. |
Moth Eisig
The Trident Brotherhood
9
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Posted - 2013.05.20 19:09:00 -
[16] - Quote
Set dscan to max range, check the use overview settings box, and have your overview set show probes. Spam dscan and get out if you see probes, especially if they're combat probes. Also keep an eye on local and get as much info as you can from the other pilots' bios and histories. With some experience patrolling the same systems regularly, you get an idea of what pilots/groups to watch out for, and how long you can wait before getting out when you see probes on dscan or if you don't really have to leave the site at all.
The eve university wiki has really good info on using dscan.
edit: I'm speaking in regards to low sec space. WH space is different entirely because of resident behavior (like pre-scanning sites) |
Some Rando
University of Caille Gallente Federation
1100
|
Posted - 2013.05.20 19:09:00 -
[17] - Quote
Fa Xian wrote:Riot Girl wrote:You can't cloak if you're locked. Yeah, I don't think a cloak is going to work for anything but keeping you safe while scanning. I already use a covops for that. Regarding this, most of the advice already given here is to keep you from getting caught in the first place; that's what the MWD and cloak are for.
In an exploration ship, if you get caught you're usually dead. If you're flying a drone ship carry a flight of ECM drones. When/if you get caught, pop the drones, set them on your assailant, align, and watch the status icons for a chance to warp out. At the very least, you'll be primed to warp your pod. CCP has no sense of humour. |
Oshi Ryn
Pulse Heavy Industries
0
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Posted - 2013.05.20 19:24:00 -
[18] - Quote
fly a cloaky tengu... keep an eye on your d-scan.
a BS is way too cumbersome for this type of work |
Fa Xian
Garoun Investment Bank Gallente Federation
0
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Posted - 2013.05.20 19:33:00 -
[19] - Quote
Oshi Ryn wrote:a BS is way too cumbersome for this type of work
Yeah, I'm spending too much time in sites in a big, easy to find, slow ship. I tried a Vexor instead but got caught again anyway - probably could have got away there though with directional.
Problem is, I can't do lowsec combat sites solo in a little cruiser. It was modestly challenging with a Dominix... and I'm unhappy giving up on those sites. They have fun times and nice loots. But it takes a long time to solo those lowsec combat sites with 4 rooms. That's lots of time to get found and caught.
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Fa Xian
Garoun Investment Bank Gallente Federation
0
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Posted - 2013.05.20 19:34:00 -
[20] - Quote
Reaver Glitterstim wrote:You probably shouldn't run sleeper sites alone...
Well, I wish I had people to hang with and help out, but that's just not in the cards it seems.
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Skeln Thargensen
Thargensen Plumbing Services
163
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Posted - 2013.05.20 19:37:00 -
[21] - Quote
maybe go ishtar if you want a drone platform with serious agility? it's cramped for CPU but you can fit two sets of sentries and all the modules for exploration. best for serpentis and guiristas space due to the resists. freelance space bum |
Fa Xian
Garoun Investment Bank Gallente Federation
0
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Posted - 2013.05.20 19:43:00 -
[22] - Quote
iSupremacy wrote:I'm using a Pilgrim all in one exploration fit when i explore in lowsec.. Just watch your D-scan and local and you should be fine
Hmm... I don't know that I'm willing to train another factions ships unless I have to. The Gallente equivalent would be the Arazu... and it's got total junk bonuses for solo exploration. And seems like a damn expensive ship to be putting at risk. I dunno. Both recons for Gallente seem pretty awful as ships.
Frankly, I would have thought that drones would have been a good way to go for solo exploration, but I'm starting to think that's not a good idea. I'll be losing them every time I have to run. I have a lot of skill points in drones... shame to waste that.
I guess my go to all-in-one would be a Myrmidon, but no cloak then. No cloak? No scan bonuses? Why not just use the Helios to find and another ship to fight. I'm already putting on a lot of hats it seems with "beat combat site" and "survive PVP engagements"....
Shame I couldn't fight back. Everyone wins if I do that. But I don't know the first thing about real PVP and it seems like a guaranteed recipe to lose a lot of expensive ships. |
Fa Xian
Garoun Investment Bank Gallente Federation
0
|
Posted - 2013.05.20 19:44:00 -
[23] - Quote
Skeln Thargensen wrote:maybe go ishtar if you want a drone platform with serious agility?
When they start giving them away for free maybe. :) |
War Kitten
Panda McLegion
2001
|
Posted - 2013.05.20 19:48:00 -
[24] - Quote
Lots of good advice here.
The directional scanner is your best friend in the world outside of hisec. Definitely get used to having it open and using it.
Set it to maximum range, 360 degrees and see what's on scan when you enter a system. Get a feel for what gates and stations are on scan and which ones aren't. Set up an overview tab that does not have wrecks and cans and POS garbage on it, and use that tab when using the d-scanner (with the checkbox marked for "use overview settings"). The less clutter on the d-scanner, the better. Ideally you'd only want ships, stargates, the sun and docks on this overview.
When someone comes into local, spam that d-scan button until you see what they came into system with (He's the signature that wasn't there when you scanned earlier - you did remember to scan earlier right?). If all the gates to your system are on d-scan, you'll see what he jumped in with before he cloaks. If you don't see him after a minute of this spamming, he either jumped in from a gate off scan, logged in from dock, entered from a wormhole off scan, or logged in in space outside of your scan range.
Once you know what the enemy is flying, you can adjust your survival tactics. If he's in something cloaky, and/or you see probes come out, GTFO. Safe up, dock, whatever. He's hunting you.
If you see him in something you know can't warp while cloaked, you can keep running the site carefully, and reduce your d-scan range to something shorter to see if and when he gets close to you. But always keep checking d-scan when there are neutrals in system with you. Always assume they are hunting you and ignoring everyone else in system.
You don't need to learn to use the directionality features of the d-scanner to survive - just modifying the range can be enough.
Also keep in mind that unless you're in a site that has to be probed down, a good hunter will find you with his d-scanner alone, and depending on the size and layout of the system, do it in a minute or less.
I find that without a good mob to provide one for them, most people would have no mentality at all. |
Lexmana
949
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Posted - 2013.05.20 19:50:00 -
[25] - Quote
As others have said: dscan. That is your problem. If you don't use it you will be caught. There is no way you an survive in low/null without using dscan extensively. But if you learn to use it combined with some smarts you can get away with a lot of crazy stuff, maybe even running sites in a domi (though i recommend something smaller). |
l0rd carlos
Friends Of Harassment
429
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Posted - 2013.05.20 19:51:00 -
[26] - Quote
Watch dscan!
I have been scanned down mutiple times, never lost a ship. Most probers are bad and you see the probes for some minutes on dscan. A lot of time to get away from the warpin beacon on the plex.
Watch dscan!
For lowsec exploration you don't need such a big ship as a Domi. I did fine in a PvP fittet tornado in angel space.
Watch dscan!
Even if you don't see probes on dscan, get away from the warpin beacon as soon as possible. If you are in a fat ship like a domi, it never hurts to be alligned to a station, savespot or a cluster of multiple celestials
WATCH DSCAN! Or place an cloaky alt on the warpin gate.
Fighting back can work. As i allready said, most people are bad, i allready know that they are comming and in what ship. So if they are comming in i burn away fromt he rats, at 100 - 150km the Angel rats don't do any damage. And to get to me the enemy need to burn though the rats :D In the last two month i killed 2x Cynas, tornado, talos and a 2,3 Bil Tengu that tried to kill me in my plex. German blog about smallscale lowsec pvp: http://friendsofharassment.wordpress.com |
Skeln Thargensen
Thargensen Plumbing Services
163
|
Posted - 2013.05.20 19:54:00 -
[27] - Quote
Fa Xian wrote:Skeln Thargensen wrote:maybe go ishtar if you want a drone platform with serious agility? When they start giving them away for free maybe. :)
they're not that pricey. it's just awful to lose a ship like that to the first gatecamp you run into.
I would suggest getting more comfortable with moving around lowsec in a fast cruiser, say a thorax or a vexor. learn the ways of bookmarking instawarps from stations and the MWD and cloak trick and you'll be a pro in no time. freelance space bum |
Fa Xian
Garoun Investment Bank Gallente Federation
0
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Posted - 2013.05.20 19:58:00 -
[28] - Quote
l0rd carlos wrote:I did fine in a PvP fittet tornado in angel space.
What do you mean "PVP fit" here? Just scramble, web, MWD, and dps? Or are you talking about this as an all-in-one explore ship?
I was planning to try scram, web, MWD fit, but then I thought I'd get schooled by people who know the ropes in PVP anyway - those are offensive fit things, not defensive fit things. What consitutes a PVP fit that doesn't care if the enemy runs away? Sort of an "anti-PVP" fit - just destroy people who find you?
I get that I've not made the best choice with a Dominix - 2 wrecks make that apparent, especially when I couldn't even manage to take apart a frigate in one engagement. |
Karsa Egivand
Sebiestor Tribe Minmatar Republic
186
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Posted - 2013.05.20 20:14:00 -
[29] - Quote
Fa Xian wrote:I'd like to continue to do exploration, but I'm finding the losses here annoying. What can I do differently to enjoy exploration with less risk of loss?
I suggest Providence (NRDS nullsec), which is MUCH safer than lowsec. (Unless you are on CVAs KOS list, so check that you are not). Unless TEST is roaming through - which isn't that likely ATM - it's almost highsec (still watch local and have safespots).
Most PvE should be managable even without an alt. |
Liam Inkuras
Chaotic Tranquility Casoff
273
|
Posted - 2013.05.20 20:15:00 -
[30] - Quote
A cruiser is more than sufficient to run all lowsec profession sites, and many combat sites. Heck, some can even be run in the T1 exploration frigates. I suggest you look up the YouTube user "Jonnypew." He is an eve player that has a YouTube channel dedicated to exploration, with some pvp and Dust 514 thrown in. While many things are outdated (ship fits etc.) it will give you a solid foundation upon which you can build. I wear my goggles at night.
Any spelling/grammatical errors come complimentary with my typing on a phone |
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