Skill Discussions

Considering signatures spawn in 3 dimensions, anyone arguing that the 7 probe configuration isn't necessary is....just wrong.

The minimum required is 4 probes. I tend to use 5 probes as I only have level 2 skill. I've never had problems, though it is faster on my max skill probe alt in a T3 probe ship with Sisters gear.

And with a 5% sensor strength bonus instead of 10%. But you're mostly correct.

How are you guys dealing with the fact that signatures can spawn above and below your probes when you probe out a planet?

Alright. Yeesh. They're welcome to it I guess.

Scanning skills really depend on how much you scan - as has been pointed out if you live in a wormhole or an explorer you reallly want all the skills to be V -- no one has pointed this out but in my opinion the order of importance is:

Astrometrics to V (deep space scanner probesalone make this a priority. Eight probes however ARE very useful)

Astrometric Rangefinding to V (max the probe strength from skills - yes you need it)

Astrometric Pinpointing to V (decreasing the scan deviation is important in getting fast scans)

Astrometic Acquisition to V (for fast-as-it-gets scanning)

I would point out that the benefits of the last two skills are nice for the PVE exporer, but far more critical for the combat scanning pilot.




As for using eight probes in scanning - there are multiple applications which use eight probes for scanning - combat probing has some interesting applications with eight probes (e.g. simultaneous use of two tetrahedrons) and for those WH pilots with 20+ signals to get through (the most I've personally seen in a system is 53 sigs) it helps to rapidly scan down all sigs if need be. (shotgun scanning is the way to go there).

Finally, sorry Tippia, the name of the tetrahedron refers to the fact it has four sides, the fact that it also has four apexes when you put the scanning probes is purely coincidental. (I often use an octahedral scanning configuration, which uses six probes, the name of the shape in this case is not really as suggestive as you imply, the same is true with a cubic configuration which has six sides but eight apexes, where you would use eight probes).

Sorry but you are 100% wrong on that.

I have tested between my main with near max scanning skills and my alt with skills at 2-3. There are sigs that start so small my alt did not even pick them up on his list.

Same system, scanning at the same time, there were sigs that my main picked up, but my alt did not even get them on the list. The ones the alt did get showed lower %.

Comparing the two I could reduce range and put my probes right on the spot in the system and pick up the sig. But only because I knew exactly where to look. And even then the alt could not get it to 100%.

The size of the sig depends on your scanning strength. if your skills are too low any sig below 0.1%(with your skills) will not show on your list.

You need your scan strength as high as possible to get the really hard to find sigs. Scan speed you can do without, but it is still very nice to have.

My main some times finds sigs as small as 0.2-0.3% even with really good skills, and boosted ship and equipment. They generally turn out to be wormholes or grav sites. I see a lot more garv sites now then I did when my skills were lower. Based on my testing it would seem the sites were always there, I just could not find them.

For some reason ISN fly 12 Man fleets so in principle you need to lock 11 pilots (cant lock yourself) .I am not a huge fan of 12 man fleets as the payout starts to tank pretty hard.

not to mention you have to nerf your fit to be able to lock 11.

Haven't seen it mentioned, Afterburner V, worth getting or no? I read something at one time stating it wasn't worth it but I can't recall the basis of that theory.

Excellent, thank you for clearing that up, I was likely reading some old, outdated information.