EVE New Citizens Q&A

I think so. There might be some OBP out there from before invention was introduced. But they will be super expensive. As in trillions of isk. Provided anyone will sell.

Let's divide blueprints into several separate levels.

T1 (Tech 1) is the most basic. You can buy an unlimited run T1 blueprint from an NPC corp and as long as you have the right production skills, you can buy or mine the minerals needed and make the item. Limited run T1 blueprint copies are created from unlimited run blueprint originals. There is no such thing as an unlimited run blueprint copy.

Faction. A step above T1 but still below T2. The only current way to get a faction blueprint is from an npc corp loyalty store (or buy one from another player), and the blueprint will always be a limited run blueprint copy. You cannot create more blueprint copies from a blueprint copy, you must have an unlimited run blueprint original to create a limited run blueprint copy.

T2 (Tech 2) is a set up from faction. Currently, Tech 2 blueprints are always limited run blueprint copies but years ago the game did have unlimited run T2 blueprint originals. Some players may still have some of those unlimited run T2 blueprint originals. Expect the price of those unlimited run T2 blueprints to be astronomical, IF you can find someone with one that they want to sell.

Players can create limited run T2 blueprint copies, but it takes some specialised skills, some specialised materials and there is always a chance that the attempt to make the T2 blueprint will fail. Even if you do successfully create a T2 blueprint, making the item requires more than just ordinary minerals, there are other specialised materials that are needed to make the T2 item.

I've never looked at making T3 ships or modules, so I can't comment on what's required for them. As it is I dabble in making T2 blueprints and items, but just small stuff like modules and drones.

Buying/selling blueprints. All the basic unlimited run T1 blueprint originals can be bought from npc corps on the regular market. Limited run T1 blueprint copies, faction blueprints and T2 blueprints that are sold by players to other players are sold in contracts.

As explained so far, not just blueprints, but the ships and modules themselves:

T1 is baseline - blueprint originals were available since the release of the game, so that players could start producing everything without limits. Eventually, when enough manufacturers got going (took a few years), CCP removed the NPC vendors that sold ships and modules, and relied on player industry only. Currently all the T1 ships and modules on the market are made by us from blueprints.

Named / Officer (Navy Issue) - these are loot, always intended as loot. Supposed to be slightly better than manufacturing, but a lot more rare, because you have to go loot them, and there's a random chance that they won't drop. So the blueprints are given in the LP store, as a single run alternative to getting the ship or module; you pay less LP but have to provide your own mats. It's a serious grind to accumulate enough LP for even a single blueprint copy, so that keeps them rare.

T2 - initially, I think CCP planned on having a Tech Level progression, but T2 ships were so overpowered compared to T1, that eventually they stopped at T2 and cancelled the "progression". They also didn't like "the Lottery", the process by which they selected who would get the T2 unlimited originals that they were introducing every few months. So they switched from unlimited blueprint originals to the Invention system, where anyone can convert a T1 limited copy blueprint into a T2 limited copy blueprint, if they put ISK, time, and effort into it. So currently for T2 you can find limited copies, and they're relatively rare and expensive because it costs ISK and time to Invent them.

Otherwise, the Market interface accepts only repackaged unchanged things, so only the T1 BPO that have NOT been researched at all (to improve manufacturing costs) are on the market. Every other type of blueprint (copy or researched original) is in the Contracts system.

Apologies; that was indeed a failure on our part.

You are a complete and utter idiot.

Tech 1 blueprint originals are available on the market from NPCs and sometimes players.
With a tech 1 blueprint, you can:
Build. This usually takes minerals, but some (ex cloakers, deep core mining lasers, links) require other things.
Material/Time efficiency research. This usually just means you need to be at the right facility (use the "facilities" tab to find one). Some of them require something extra (deep core mining lasers) for the research process. If you're going to be building a lot of something, do the ME/TE research, or buy a BPO with the ME/TE research already done.
Copy. Copies can be used to build the item you want to make, or for tech 2 research.

Faction blueprints are tech 1 blueprint copies, available only from the loyalty point store or maybe a drop.

Most tech 1 blueprints only require industry level 1 to work. Capital ships and parts require capital ship construction.

Tech 2 blueprints are almost always copies. Originals are seriously rare and ridiculously expensive.
They typically require a tech 1 version of the item, some morphite, and some other stuff.
To make a tech 2 blueprint copy, you need datacores and a copy of the blueprint for the original item. Your odds of actually getting the BPC are improved by training the science skills the job depends on, and by the use of decryptors.
To use one, you usually need industry V and level 1 of the science skills the blueprint depends on. Some (rigs) require the rigging skill.

When in doubt, looking the item up and clicking "show info" is your friend.

If you have the time, skills and resources, building ships from BPC's is cheaper than buying from the Market. Course it will take time to manufacture and it won't save you a lot of ISK or if you plan to sell, it won't make you a lot of profit.


DMC