Circumstantial Evidence
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Posted - 2014.11.06 14:50:43 -
[1] - Quote
I checked out the highsec site in Kuomi.
With T2 hacking modules, all scanning skills at level 4, Stratios, standard core launcher, no scanning rigs or midslot modules, Sister core probes: strength 87.1 pts, Base Deviation .08 AU
The best I could scan down the highsec site, using default pinpoint probe layout, centered on the signature point, was 90%.
I got to 100% by shrinking the default probe formation tightly around the signature point.
I think this is a fair balance for highsec, it requires a little bit of extra effort, new players might not know about the Alt-click probe adjustment. I like that it's possible with level 4 skills and the standard launcher.
Warping to the site: Other data/relic sites display a message hinting at what to expect, but no message was displayed on warping to this one. First warp would be a good time to inform players if their ship size (frigate / cruiser) is appropriate for the site.
I didn't fail the first puzzle and the Rift appeared, so can't comment if hack failure seems overly harsh ;)
On attempting to enter the rift, I got a message telling me I need a smaller ship.
Site and rift were still there and open, after 10 mins of fitting up an Astero. Fortunately Kuomi had a seeded station.
Astero lows were T2 200mm plate, T2 EANM, T2 small repper, T2 DCU. (Close to 2000 armor HP and 6000 EHP on fitting screen.)
I had a cargo scanner, so I knew which can contained the BPC. (I'm hoping one is guaranteed to appear, since the site is going to be "rare.")
The closest thing on entry was a "Remote Presssure Control Unit," so I hacked this first, before approaching a Dented Storage Depot with the BPC, tucked inside an exploded structure, with a mildly suspicious glowing gas cloud.
I took no damage until I was done hacking; I got a 1 run bpc for polarized neutron blaster.
(The allowed time seems good, if you don't fail the first attempt.)
Then as I moved away, I started taking environment damage every 1-3 seconds.
25-55 points per hit into armor. I was able to keep up with the damage, using small armor repper on this fit.
Looking around the site, I noticed "Remote Defence Grid Unit" - I didn't fail any hacks before hacking this, so i'm guessing this stops damage from the storage depot cans, if you fail a hack. Because it certainly doesn't stop Plasma Cloud damage, while steering a path in and around the clouds to hack it, and other loot cans ;)
Only after I hacked the Remote Defence Grid Unit did I intentionally fail some hacks to see what would happen, and noticed I was able to hack storage depot cans an unlimited number of times, if I failed the attempt.
The site doesn't despawn right away, if you warp away leaving some cans un-hacked.
Suggestions:
The message "Spawn Container is not a valid target for this module" from what the player should think are not containers (the rift-creating Hyperfluct Generator, Remote Presssure Control Unit, Remote Defence Grid Unit) is immersion breaking. Please improve this text for these objects, if possible.
Some site loot seems to go against the Sleeper theme, I found a meta 4 medium neutron blaster.
I would prefer to see only "sleeper components" and related invention / manufacturing items.
Considering site rarity, after the BPC, loot felt "sparse": some cans containing only 100 RAM. I know this is the highsec version, but... perhaps a few more items? Or, perhaps take away 2 cans and re-distribute same loot amount.
Thoughts:
The site offers choices to reduce the problems you might face, that's awesome. But you're not forced into a path, if you think you can handle or evade some environment damage, and have experience with the high difficulty (90) hacking puzzle.
This site offers a wonderful change of pace from Approach Can / Hack / Take Loot. The "Rift" appearing, gives the site a feeling of discovery. I spent 15 minutes just looking over everything and reading "Show Info's", before deciding what to do first. (I don't think other players will let me have that kind of quality time in highsec, once it hits TQ.  )
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