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multi-purpose exploration ship?
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Syssitia Nikostratos
Apobangpo Worldwide
#1 - 2016-09-22 09:02:39 UTC
I'm newly returned to eve after about 18 months and I'm looking to get back into exploration (hi sec for now), which I really enjoyed before. I'm having some trouble figuring out just which ship/fit will suit what I want to do.

Basically, I want to be able to scan down data and relic sites, but also be able to scan for abandoned drones when I feel like going looking for some free mission wrecks to loot/salvage. I have an Astero which works perfectly for the former but terribly for the latter due to the power required for the expanded launcher (sisters or not). So I need a different ship that can handle the expanded launcher and can also carry some drones for defense for me. If it can also spare power for a sneaky cloak, that'd be even better.

I swear I had ships that could do this before, but it's been so long I don't remember what they were or how I fit them. Help please?

Manners maketh man.
Sheeth Athonille
Rabid Dogz Mining
#2 - 2016-09-22 09:32:35 UTC
Either a t3c, stratios, or gimp your fit. Those are probably your main options. The t2 scanning frigs are pretty good for that sort of thing, but you're not going to be able to really carry a flight of drones (I think the helios gets 1 drone?).

The expanded probe launcher is simply a PIA to fit. Also of note, you'll have a harder time scanning down regular sig's with an expanded probe launcher as its bonuses aren't as good as the regular one.
Zan Shiro
Doomheim
#3 - 2016-09-22 12:42:24 UTC
seen some gurista options for pseudo exploring. If drone skills perfect (or almost there) some fits seems to be pull a missile launcher(s) for a probe launcher.

Won't have mids for relics and such but shooty stuff should be possible. Exploring can also be CA/DED, what I see some fits set up for.
Syssitia Nikostratos
Apobangpo Worldwide
#4 - 2016-09-23 01:14:23 UTC
Ok, well thanks for the answers. I managed to get the expanded sisters launcher on my astero with a few co processor ii's in the low slots, so that will have to do while I'm in hi-sec. :)

Manners maketh man.
fourtwentysixtynine
Doomheim
#5 - 2016-09-23 04:38:16 UTC
Sheeth Athonille wrote:
Either a t3c, stratios, or gimp your fit. Those are probably your main options. The t2 scanning frigs are pretty good for that sort of thing, but you're not going to be able to really carry a flight of drones (I think the helios gets 1 drone?).

The expanded probe launcher is simply a PIA to fit. Also of note, you'll have a harder time scanning down regular sig's with an expanded probe launcher as its bonuses aren't as good as the regular one.

Expanded probe launchers have same bonuses as core, it's the probes that are weaker. Carry core probes and you'll be fine.
Donnachadh
United Allegiance of Undesirables
#6 - 2016-09-23 13:06:59 UTC
Sheeth Athonille wrote:
The expanded probe launcher is simply a PIA to fit. Also of note, you'll have a harder time scanning down regular sig's with an expanded probe launcher as its bonuses aren't as good as the regular one.

Are you serious. Or just not that familiar with the probe launchers.
T2 core and expanded both give a 5% boost to signal strength.
Sisters core and expanded both give a 10% boost to signal strength.
There are no other boost or bonuses from the launchers themselves.


fourtwentysixtynine wrote:
Expanded probe launchers have same bonuses as core, it's the probes that are weaker. Carry core probes and you'll be fine.

Scanning in high sec is so stupid easy even with lower level character skills (level 3 or above) there is nothing you cannot lock with combat probes. Yes the core may get that lock one scan cycle faster but that really is about all they will get you.
The combat probes on the other hand have a greater range which can be useful in some of the larger systems, and when using combats you save time switching probes when you want to change to scanning drones.
Zhilia Mann
Tide Way Out Productions
#7 - 2016-09-23 20:53:38 UTC
Donnachadh wrote:
Sheeth Athonille wrote:
The expanded probe launcher is simply a PIA to fit. Also of note, you'll have a harder time scanning down regular sig's with an expanded probe launcher as its bonuses aren't as good as the regular one.

Are you serious. Or just not that familiar with the probe launchers.
T2 core and expanded both give a 5% boost to signal strength.
Sisters core and expanded both give a 10% boost to signal strength.
There are no other boost or bonuses from the launchers themselves.


fourtwentysixtynine wrote:
Expanded probe launchers have same bonuses as core, it's the probes that are weaker. Carry core probes and you'll be fine.

Scanning in high sec is so stupid easy even with lower level character skills (level 3 or above) there is nothing you cannot lock with combat probes. Yes the core may get that lock one scan cycle faster but that really is about all they will get you.
The combat probes on the other hand have a greater range which can be useful in some of the larger systems, and when using combats you save time switching probes when you want to change to scanning drones.



While this is all true, it's reasonable to give the benefit of the doubt. The only reason to fit an expanded launcher is to use combat probes, and combat probes do indeed have a lower sensor strength (by virtue of scaling) than core probes.

Also, if you can lock a sleeper cache with combat probes and level 3 skills you're a better person then I am.
Donnachadh
United Allegiance of Undesirables
#8 - 2016-09-24 14:22:28 UTC
Zhilia Mann wrote:
While this is all true, it's reasonable to give the benefit of the doubt. The only reason to fit an expanded launcher is to use combat probes, and combat probes do indeed have a lower sensor strength (by virtue of scaling) than core probes.

And reading the OP is critical to understanding as well.
The OP specifically stated that they like to scan for "drones" as a way of locating mission sites and the possibility of taking the loor they may contain. Using core probes means that the OP would lose time recalling and launching probes to do what they want to do so using the combats as your primary probes ends up being faster. And IF or when they run into a signature they cannot lock due to low skills they always have the core probe option sitting in the cargo bay.

Zhilia Mann wrote:
Also, if you can lock a sleeper cache with combat probes and level 3 skills you're a better person then I am.

I have seen players with level 3 and 4 skills lock sleeper caches using combat probes before, ship fit and implants are the key here but then I never did say anything about those so you assumed I meant they were not needed.
Tsukino Stareine
Garoun Investment Bank
Gallente Federation
#9 - 2016-09-25 17:30:30 UTC
im pretty sure sleeper caches are unscannable to combat probes even with max skills and high grade virtues in a covops with max rangefinding mods

feel free to prove me wrong though, you probably won't be able to.

Art of Explosions
Nya Kittenheart
Science and Trade Institute
Caldari State
#10 - 2016-09-25 19:59:53 UTC  |  Edited by: Nya Kittenheart
There is no better ship than astero for HS explo, it s all about compromise Astero can do anything except superior sleeper cache 3 rd room( you will be wiped at the 1 st wave probably).
Cruiser sized ship can t do limited sleeper cache,Stratios is the weapon of choice except if you can fly a Proteus who is obviously more pricey ,both are able to clean Superior sleeper cache.
Anyway redeploying probes doesn t take that long ,as you can launch your core scanner/and load your combat probe in the launcher during warp in case you want to go for a salvage trip.My advice forget expanded and go with your Astero, i'd not even get combat probe for High sec :),
Mike Adoulin
Happys Happy Hamster Hunting Club
#11 - 2016-09-27 12:37:00 UTC
T3 dessies get probe bonuses, and can fight like crazy.


Not very good for exploring sites, tho

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Sobaan Tali
Caldari Quick Reaction Force
#12 - 2016-09-27 18:51:45 UTC  |  Edited by: Sobaan Tali
Mike Adoulin wrote:
T3 dessies get probe bonuses, and can fight like crazy.


Not very good for exploring sites, tho


They don't have any analyzer buffs, but they solve the CPU issue of using expanded launchers. In that case, you go from "I can't do that" to simple "I can, just not as good as the best in the field." That would be a better trade in my opinion.

Edit: they also don't have a scanning strength buff either. Forgot about that. I'd still keep D3s in consideration, though.

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Petranese
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#13 - 2016-09-27 23:53:24 UTC
Nya Kittenheart wrote:
There is no better ship than astero for HS explo, it s all about compromise Astero can do anything except superior sleeper cache 3 rd room( you will be wiped at the 1 st wave probably).
Cruiser sized ship can t do limited sleeper cache,Stratios is the weapon of choice except if you can fly a Proteus who is obviously more pricey ,both are able to clean Superior sleeper cache.
Anyway redeploying probes doesn t take that long ,as you can launch your core scanner/and load your combat probe in the launcher during warp in case you want to go for a salvage trip.My advice forget expanded and go with your Astero, i'd not even get combat probe for High sec :),


Astero is the best explorer even in LS and null. As you said, you can run everything except Archive in superior cache
Robot Robot
Plate of Beans Incorporated
#14 - 2016-10-10 13:32:31 UTC
Sobaan Tali wrote:
Mike Adoulin wrote:
T3 dessies get probe bonuses, and can fight like crazy.


Not very good for exploring sites, tho


They don't have any analyzer buffs, but they solve the CPU issue of using expanded launchers. In that case, you go from "I can't do that" to simple "I can, just not as good as the best in the field." That would be a better trade in my opinion.

Edit: they also don't have a scanning strength buff either. Forgot about that. I'd still keep D3s in consideration, though.


If you have t2 analyzers, you don't really need the buffs. For the most part, the hacking game is very easy. Similarly with the scanning strength buff. There are very few sites in high sec that you won't be able to pin down with an unbonused hull.

I think a T3 destroyer is a very good option for a nomadic combat probing all-in-one exploration ship. Sure, it's going to be worse at every individual part of it's task than a more dedicated ship, but that's always the trade-off with an all-in-one ship.