EVE General Discussion

I'm a new player and I mainly enjoy trading, PvE and exploration.
Seeing as how exploration sites are all but farmed out in high sec, I've decided to start exploring low sec.
Now, as this is my first "real" effort to get into low sec, I think I'll need to fit my Imicus a bit differently, but I'm not sure exactly how.
I'd love some suggestions about a good low sec Imicus fit and any tips you might have for exploring low sec.
Note: I'm not doing combat sites/DED complexes with the Imicus.

My current Imicus high sec exploration fit:
High: 2X Salvager, 1X Core Probe Launcher
Mid: 1X Data Analyzer, 1X Relic Analyzer, 1X Cargo Scanner, 1X Scan Rangefinding Array
Low: 3X Inertial Stabilizers
Drone Bay: 4X Salvage Drone

Also, is it just me or do high-sec non-combat exploration sites hand out very poor rewards? Does that improve in low sec/null sec?

Thanks:
--Drizz

Fit a cloak and some Warp Core Stabilizers :)

Drop salvagers,salvage drones and scan array. Add cloak and mwd. Rigs according to what is harder for you either scanning or mini-game.

People have probably said this, but put a cloaking device on it.

I often hunt explorers in lowsec, alongside doing some exploring myself, and a cloaking device is key to making it out alive with your loot. It also helps avoid being ganked in highsec on the way back out, after you manage to find a juicy pirate blueprint or some such.

Cloak, cloak, and more cloak. There is no such thing as too much. Train it until you can use the Covert Ops cloaking device, then train for Covert Ops frigates.

Those are excellent for doing lowsec exploration, if you have the skills for them. Do not fly one until level 3 of Cov Ops Frigate, however, because their virus strength skills are reliant on the Cov Ops skill, not the racial frigate skill. So until L3 in Cov Ops, they are actually worse than the T1 frigate.

But the improved strength will help you get past the minigames faster, and help minimize your time being uncloaked. The better margin of safety, the better chance of getting the good stuff.

To a newbie, it may seem as though Cov Ops frigates are expensive, but even a few hours of lowsec Relic sites will make those ships pay for themselves.

Training scouting and exploration skills also makes you very useful in fleets, as you can make an excellent scout for a fleet commander. You will be worth your weight in gold to a decent FC. It's an excellent path to follow for a new player.

If you're going to start out exploring in low sec with your Imicus, get rid of the Inertial Stabs, as they actually make you easier to lock, which could be troublesome at gates since you can't warp cloaked. Nanofibers are nearly as effective, and if you get caught in an exploring ship, you're dead anyway, so the loss in hp isn't worth worrying about.

I'd also drop the Shield Extender for some sort of prop mod, as the sites I run in null at least can be fairly spread out (never run a site in low or high, so not sure if those are the same.) Again, your hp is pretty much meaningless, so a little better maneuverability would be preferred, IMO.

Thanks a bunch for all the tips and advice.
Reading all you've said, maybe I should wait before venturing into low sec- if the rewards aren't much better, I probably shouldn't risk my full set of +3 implants (they're worth around 55 mill combined).
I will, however, bookmark this thread and come back to it in a few weeks, when I'll feel like that much ISK isn't something to fret about :).

Thanks again:
--Drizz

Lowsec is like playing Tic-Tac-Toe...
The only way to win is to not play...
Instead collect pirate tears when they see that yet another highsec dweller refuses to garnish their killboard.

This is almost exactly what I use for an Imicus; my scanning skills are high enough that I use data/relic rigs instead of scanning rigs, and I fit a cargo scanner instead of a probe mod. Cargo scanner lets you cherry pick through the garbage. Omit if you're willing to hack everything. It's cheap, solid, and gets it done.