Science & Industry

Hi,

I've got a PvP character, a PvE missions/explorer character, and I'm now looking at making a character that can haul goods and ... I'm not sure what else. So, I was wondering if I could get some advice from everyone.

If you were going to make an alt that was going to focus on industry, what would you do?

Thanks a lot

I know, it's an incredibly broad question.

I want something that will complement the other characters. For instance, I'm going to train up in hauling first, since I've found myself stuck a few times in null or low sec needing supplies.

Maybe manufacturing for my explorer? Maybe trading since I'm going to be hauling anyway? I really don't know.

I've played this game off and on for a long time, but I've never done more than run the tutorials when it comes to industry.

Alts in general

Industry (or why my industry alts have lots of skills):

* Hauling
** Distribution Missions
** Courier Contracts
** Industrial
** Transport
*** Deep Space Transport
*** Blockade Runner
** Freighter
** Jump Freighter
** ORE Freighter
** Industrial Command Ship
** Capital Industrial Ship

* Manufacturing
** T1
** T2
** T3
** Storyline
** Boosters
** Faction / Pirate

* Research
** Material Efficiency
** Time Efficiency
** Copying
** Invention

* Mining
** Mining Missions
** Ore Harvesting
** Ice Harvesting
** Gas Harvesting
** Reprocessing
** Mining Frigate
** Expedition Frigate
** Mining Barge
** Exhumer
** Fleet Boosting
*** Industrial Command Ship
*** Capital Industrial Ship

* Planetary Interaction
** Structures
** Fuel Blocks

* Starbases
** Anchoring
** Starbase Defense
*** Logistics
*** Carriers & Triage
** Moon Mining
** Simple Reactions
** Complex Reactions
** Hybrid Reactions
** Drug Reactions

* Corporation Management

* Trade
** Contracts

Note that you can naturally grow skills:
* Hauling and fleet boosting can lead to jump drives, which can lead to Black Ops and carriers.
* Mining Drones can lead to Combat Drones, which can lead to drone boats, and possibly even fighters & carriers.
* Mining Fleet Boosting can lead to Fleet Boosting and Command Ships (the Eos is also a drone boat).
There are many related avenues.

Example:
* Basic (30 day buddy + 6 PLEX MCT + 20 day MCT Christmas bonus)
* Advanced (science specialist)
* Miner (drone and medium-hull specialist, especially HICs)
* Trader (primary industry character)
* Fleet Booster & Reprocessing (a.k.a. "My Shadow")

My shadow was my first alt. He hauled while I mined. He grew from there. His job is to make my life easier.
Example: For missions, he pilots a Rattlesnake and assists me with drones.

One thing to think about is how you want to spend time with this character. Will you be interested in playing him for hours at a time as a primary activity? Or do you just want to log in a few minutes now and then, start some automated processes that will eventually earn some isk, then log out to play with your PvE/PvP characters?

If you want to play him hours at a time then this points you to mining, hauling, and trading. If you want the log in a few minutes now and then option, this points you to planet interaction, manufacturing, and blueprint research/copying.

My advice would be if you are creating an alt to move your stuff then specialise in the hauling area outlined by Tau in his post above. If you live in null or low sec then having an alt that can use a blockade runner and/or a jump freighter is incredibly useful. I would also recommend training the skills to pilot an Orca for transporting fitted ships in high sec (in low and null you should aim for a carrier).

The benefit is that those core skills and jump drive skills will allow you to eventually cross train to other more PvP focused ships if you want. For example, my hauling alt that I originally trained into blockade runners and jump freighters has now trained into black ops battleships and dreads.