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Question about Probing

Author
Mercfh
Ministry of War
Amarr Empire
#1 - 2012-06-07 20:11:32 UTC
Pardon my ignorance (because when it comes to eve I am).
But is there ANY viable fit for a Pirate that actually uses probe launchers?

I know Covert Ops ships get a bonus but they aren't exactly suited to combat.....so seems pointless to use them.

Sidequestion: What can probes actually scan besides Moons/Ships?

Sidequestion2: What exactly is the Point of Ship/Cargoscanners? (besides the obvious) Like why would someone want them?

Thanks
MadMuppet
Critical Mass Inc
#2 - 2012-06-07 20:32:52 UTC  |  Edited by: MadMuppet
Regular probe launchers can only be used to find objects in space (not ships) using core probes.
Expanded probe launchers can use combat probes to find ships. Larger ships, battle cruisers for example can mount them. A solo player with an expanded probe launcher is going to be at a disadvantage. With a probing fleet you usually have a specialized player handling it for the fleet (in a covert ops ship that can warp near the target cloaked and then summon friends to warp to him).

Cargo scanners let you see what is in someone cargo hold. Handy if you are thinking about blowing up their ship and hope that they drop some nice gear. This is where suicide ganking can end up being profitable.

Ship scanners allow you to see what is fit to a ship (weapons, shields, etc). This can be handy for figuring out the ship's tanking ability as well as its potential firepower. A common use for it recently has been with Hulk gankers scanning mining ships looking for high-value tanking mods (hoping for them to drop) or to find poorly tanked ships so that they can be popped.

This message brought to you by Experience(tm). When common sense fails you, experience will come to the rescue. Experience(tm) from the makers of CONCORD.

"If you are part of the problem, you will be nerfed." -MadMuppet

Nyreanya
Serenity Labs
#3 - 2012-06-07 20:34:02 UTC
I've seen loki fits that use probes in wormholes.
Ships, sites (mining, hacking, salvage), wormholes.
Scanners are used to see what's fit, what's in the cargo, and how much cap the other person has.

[/sarcasm]

Kijo Rikki
Killboard Padding Services
#4 - 2012-06-07 20:34:17 UTC
Welp, I know who to primary when I got a test fleet on my tail. Smile

You make a valid point, good Sir or Madam. 

Mercfh
Ministry of War
Amarr Empire
#5 - 2012-06-07 20:35:35 UTC
Ok makes sense, so can Probes find other things (Like Anchored items/Wrecks/etc?)
Destination SkillQueue
Doomheim
#6 - 2012-06-07 20:35:55 UTC
The covop bonuse is nice to have, but not strictly necessery to have with most targets. Probing without it works just fine. The viability of a "pirate" fit propably depends on your targets. You'll have to compromise on your fit, but it's very viable to still be able to take down a wide variety of targets. This especially so, if you're looking for juicy targets instead of challenging fights.

You can also probe out drones, structures, cosmic anomalies and cosmic signatures. What you can probe depends on the type of probes you use. Core probes are for cosmic anomalies and signatures, combat probes for all of the above and so are deep space probes. There are also differences in minimum and maximum ranges of probe types, which makes each one more suited for a particular type of probing.

I've seen ship scanners used to get intel on enemies, so your fleet can fit to fight against them specifically and getting some tactical info on cap ships during a battle. Cargo scanners and ship scanners seem to be mostly used by suicide gankers to make sure they have a good chance to make a profit from the gank.
MadMuppet
Critical Mass Inc
#7 - 2012-06-07 20:39:37 UTC
Mercfh wrote:
Ok makes sense, so can Probes find other things (Like Anchored items/Wrecks/etc?)


You cannot find wrecks, cans, or GSCs. Not directly, but if there is a ship nearby you can find the ship and then go there and see if the wrecks are there (ninja looting)

You can find hidden pirate bases, hacking sites, ships, POSs, wormholes, grav sites (hidden asteroid fields), etc

This message brought to you by Experience(tm). When common sense fails you, experience will come to the rescue. Experience(tm) from the makers of CONCORD.

"If you are part of the problem, you will be nerfed." -MadMuppet

THE L0CK
Denying You Access
#8 - 2012-06-07 20:48:24 UTC
Mercfh wrote:
Ok makes sense, so can Probes find other things (Like Anchored items/Wrecks/etc?)



Combat probes. I spent an hour once honing in on a scout drone.

Do you smell what the Lock's cooking?