EVE New Citizens Q&A

I have done some reading and playing, but mostly related to mining and trade in high sec. But my eye and mind are on low and null sec areas. I have some questions about them.

In terms of danger, resources, populations and facilities such as stations to dock up and engage in trade, what can you share about low sec and null sec, and the differences between them, and as compared to high sec?

When I head to low sec should I expect to be targeted and attacked as soon as I get there, or is it more like after I have been there doing my thing for awhile, I am increasingly at risk the longer I stay?

Same question as to null sec?


How much greater are the resources and isk available to players in those areas as compared to high sec, and is it true that the lower the security, the higher the ISK opportunities?


Is null sec the highest risk and highest reward?


When I head into those areas am I more likely to find 1 on 1 hostiles, or is it more likely to be 3+ against lil ole me?

THANKS for your info!

Wow, lots of questions there. I'll do my best.

Vast areas of low and null sec and fairly quiet but the most dangerous areas are the gates from high sec into low sec and from low sec into null sec. These areas are often heavily camped which means jumping a big, slow ship into low sec from high sec without a scout is often a good way to go pop. The same is true of jumping from low to null but you then have even more problems since null camps are able to catch small ships and even covert ops ships more often than not.

However, once past the choke points you can often find a lot of empty space. Belt ratting or running anoms can be quite profitable in the lower security areas but keep watching local and hitting d-scan and ensure you have multiple safe spots to go to in an emergency. Having a cloak on your ship to wait out aggressors is quite useful in situations when you get caught in system with pirates blocking all routes.

In terms of isk, belt rats have bigger bounties and anoms net you more than in high sec I think but running level 4 missions in high sec is unfortunately going to make you more isk than ratting in low sec belts. If you can rat in null sec, especially NPC space, then each of the rats can be worth over 1.8mil but you need to get out there and have a big enough ship to kill them.

Additionally, low sec is far better than high sec for exploration but you need scanning skills and multiple ships unless you have a T3.

When I was in a null sec alliance I could make 60mil an hour running anoms solo but that was because I was in my alliance's safe space and could do so unmolested.

In terms of getting in and out of null sec, wormholes are a great way to skip the choke points and drop out behind them, but make sure you scanning skills are up to scratch and you know what you are doing before attempting it, otherwise you'll likely get stuck in one and have to pod-kill yourself back to k space.

In terms of the types of fights, 1v1 is rare. More often than not you will get ganked by a small/mid sized gang.

I realize that for experienced players some of my questions seem stupid. But your experience, knowledge and time shared on these forums in response is tremendously valuable to players such as myself.

In some cases from avid reading I had an inkling, but your responses confirm or change that, and expand and increase it. There is only so much knowledge I can gleam from even avid reading, and it is no substitute for your hands on experience.

This helps me in trying to be ready for my initial trips out there so as to make the most of it.

I am sure I speak for the huge majority of new players reading these foums ---> THANK YOU ALL!

Indeed. I just printed it out.

The title seemed more limiting than the thread turned out to be.

When you log off all mods become inactive, so no you cloak will not stay on. And you ship continues to be in space till you aggression timer ands, during which you can be killed and prodded.

Depending on what you've been doing, your ship will remain in space for a variable length of time after you log off.

Ratting will give you a yellow timer I think which means if you log off your ship will remain in space until it has run out. Cloaks deactivate on log off so you should use the cloak to wait out the timer, then log off.

The station facilities in high sec and low sec are about the same.You can check for specifics on the maps at Dotlan:
http://evemaps.dotlan.net/

In null sec, there are some stations that are run by NPCs, but most facilities (Outposts and Player Conquerable Stations) are controlled by player corporations. Only the null sec stations controlled by NPC's will let you dock without asking for permission from the null sec player alliance in the area. Dotlan maps indicate which null sec stations are controlled by NPC's.

Most of null sec is controlled by alliances that shoot strangers on sight, although the Curatores Veritatis Alliance in the Providence area is famous for allowing neutral visitors:
http://www.cva-eve.org/index.php?page=rules&cat=en

Many non-null sec player corporations also organize fleets for designated raid nights, to run quickly through low sec and null sec to see if they can find some pvp, then they return to their bases in low sec or high sec. Usually, those raid groups target players with outlaw standings. Some might be less picky while in null sec.

The borders of a null sec alliance tend to be patrolled in greater force and frequency than their backwater systems. If you manage to sneak across the border, you can probably find a quiet spot for a while. Naturally, some alliances are more dangerous than others.

I know little about null sec mining, except that most players don't bother with it if they are not in an alliance, since hauling null sec ore all the way back to market is a problem. Null sec hauling is mostly done by alliances using their own pilots. For trading opportunities with null sec alliances, check out systems right next to the null sec border. Many null sec pilots do not wish to travel the entire distance to Jita, and traders have difficulty traveling through null sec, so they meet at border systems.

Low sec is less organized, and the biggest danger is solo pirates or small groups of pirates, especially in frequently travelled systems. Travelling through low sec is usually safe if you are in a small, fast ship. If you are flying industrial ships, though, you will be a tempting target. You can learn a few tricks to make industrial travel much safer, (and the risks often exaggerated), but don't risk your entire fortune in one cargo hold full of goodies. You might have good luck trading in a system just inside the border to low sec (with pirates whose standings are too low to enter high sec).

Inter-regional trading can be a fun and profitable life. Hauling contracts pay better for low sec routes than for high sec routes, if you can manage the greater risk, though you might make better ISK hauling your own stuff for trade. Some low sec hauling contracts are legitimate, others are traps set by pirates.

If you stop somewhere in low sec to mine, run missions, or kill belt rats for an hour, you've made yourself a stationary target (a sitting duck). Run away either as soon as you see another ship in local, or as soon as you see another ship appear in your asteroid belt or mission area. Remember that some players use cloaks to sneak up on you. You can also keep checking your Directional Scanner, to see if a stranger has launched probes to hunt you down. Once you get to know the locals, you can be less paranoid.

Many miners swear that there is no good economic reason to leave high sec for low sec. It depends on the current prices in your region for different minerals. If you do wish to mine in low sec, I certainly used to do that on a regular basis in some quiet low sec mining spots, usually without any trouble.

In short, I've never found low sec to be all that scary, but you do need to be prepared to lose some ships.