Missions & Complexes

1. D-Scan + Specialized probing character can find any (uncloaked) ship in space.
2. Use D-Scan to estimate Range and Position, move probes in pattern, hit scan, sling probes out. You have maybe 30-40 seconds where the probes are visible.
3. Don't do missions/plexes with neutrals in the system, place scouts on gates, have backup ready.

dscan is friend, keep scaning for probes while you do what ever your doing and you will be fine.

Escalation sites do not work like that. The initial hi sec site is scannable, the other sites after are not. The loki was probed down.

I've done a lot of expeditions and yes, it's a bit tricky doing the last stage in low security systems with others showing in local. Just need to do a bit of pre-work to help insure safe retrieval of the Overseer loot.

First thing to do is set up safe spots in the system, warping around cloaked. After that, warp to the site (journal location) and quickly bookmark the site beacon, then warp out to a safe spot, recloaking of course. This will reset the timer which gives you another 24 hrs to complete the site. Each time you warp to the site, the timer will reset and the site will remain active as long as the Overseer isn't destroyed. If the system has a lot of activity in local, I usually sit cloaked at safe spot in system watching local and will reset the site timer when needed until I feel secure. Usually I'll stay cloaked and remain silent in the system for hours, even days if needed, before running the site. This allows me to see who is hunting and who is just passing through. If the same player or corp/alliance keeps popping up in local, more than likely they're on the hunt. Most probers will give up trying to find you after a little while. Also check map for system stats to see active players docked, ship / pod kills, etc.

Now with the site beacon bookmarked, you can warp to the site at a set range up to 100km without being decloaked. This will allow you to view the NPC's in the Deadspace site. Can then make a few other bookmarks at different spots within the site to easily destroy the various NPC's. I usually save the Overseer for last on most sites. Depending on the activity of local and the expedition site (amount of NPC's), sometimes I'll just jump on the Overseer, bookmark the wreck or can, warp out to let the site despawn, then go back and quickly collect the loot. Gated sites will provide you a bit more time inside. Remember to never stay near the initial warp in points for the sites. That allows others to basically hot drop on you, as you now already know.

Remember, the NPC wrecks will show up on D-Scan which will let others know you're doing the site without them having to launch any probes. I usually do the 'Scorched Earth' policy. Mainly it's kill a couple of NPC's and quickly destroy the wrecks, then warp out recloaking back to safe spot. Repeat as needed until just the Overseer is left. This takes a bit longer to complete the site but it does allow you to collect up the bounty on the rats while providing a measure of safety without alerting others who might be looking to catch you.

D-scan works with the overview when the option is selected in the scanning window. To spot probes and ships, make sure they're selected to show in the overview settings. Could even set up a special overview tab for that. I usually just keep the D-scan range set to max and have probes and ships set to show in all overview tabs.

Another option is to change the D-scan range when inside the gated sites. Other players will have to warp to the gate first, then use the gate before they actually enter the site. When you first enter gate warp to the site, note the onscreen message showing distance till warp bubble ends and then set your D-scan range a little above that. This will show if anyone is getting ready to enter the site. As I said earlier, I don't usually reset the D-scan range.

Anyway, I hope this helps and don't give up. Just remember, Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

DMC

DMC - thought you had fallen off the edge of the universe man. Used to share some channels with you on another character. Good to see you still around

Wow!

Great info, thank you for all the replies. Looking back I made a couple of critical errors, not D Scanning enough, no safes spots etc, Also so much for T-3's with ECCM being hard to probe.

There were only two guys in local, both nin station according to map when I jumped in system. Prolly rhe flashy red in the Proteus who tried to jump me and maybe his prober alt ????

Great stuff DMC, thanks alot. I think one thing I will do with gates next time is drop a can as soon as I warp in, will give me a reference as to how far from warp in point I am, but will show up on D-scan so dunno....

Bottom line, is the loot worth the risk??? Although I really like DMC's ways of reducing the risk.

Thanks again all.

Do not bring a 1B loki into low-sec, if you are not use to flying around low-sec. Use a T1 ensured battlecruiser with T2 fit, it's only around 50M if you loose it.

Make sure you have the right d-scan setting, max range and make sure you can see probes. I always use the overview settings, and remove everything except ships and probes.

Make sure you have a safespot before you warp to the mission site, wait until the system seems safe, when you warp to the mission area the escalation timer reset to 24 hours, you can keep doing that for days i think. If others are living in the system check their character for low security status, and try waiting in to system to see if they drop combat probes.

Be willing to leave the loot to save your ship, if it comes to that, the loot is worthless if it means loosing you ship.

Lowsec isn’t that dangerous. Seriously what’s all this talk of making safes round system, waiting till its quiet , etc. Its not necessary.

1: Dscan, if no probes warp to site
2: Scan while running site, if combat probes then warp out
3: Profit

It really is that simple.

It depends on how willing you are. For me the potential to have a site for my own would be much higher in the ranks than a site that i had to share with others.

You just have to remember that they can not find you (if it is an escalation) without using combat probes. Combat probes are one thing that you should have on every overview profile ... because you want to see them on dscan.

This will keep you safe but its ridiculous overkill. And the part about sitting cloaked, silent in the system for hours sounds like its the smart thing to do but then you need to realize that you're wasting hours to...gamble. That's pure inefficiency. At that point you might as well just write off the escalation and stick to high sec.

Low sec is pretty safe; watch high-low chokes for camps, watch dscan if local isn't empty and otherwise just be vigilante. Be fast and efficient and its a walk in the park. Get a friend or an alt to scout and it gets even easier.