Missions & Complexes

The deep space probe exploration guide suggests that 4/10 complexes can spawn in high sec. Are they restricted to spawn only in systems up to a certain security rating? If I remember right it used to be the case but the guide doesn't say anything about it.

Is the information that complexes respawn immediately in a random system correct?

There are three factors that we know to be true in regards to spawn mechanics.

1. They are "general" security tied. I.e. Lookout, Hideout, Watch, Vigil and 1/10-4/10 all spawn in high sec (.5-1.0), with the 4/10 also spawning in low sec. The 4/10 in low sec is of a different signature strength though which leads me to believe that in the database, it may be identified as a "unique" item. Alternatively, there could simply be a parameter that states "if in low, apply x strength, if in high, apply y strength."

2. They are tied to "factions." Gurista plexes in Caldari, Sansha in certain Amarr, etc. Drones unfortunately, spawn everywhere.

3. Ladar plexes and sites are tied to specific regions. Some gas sites are tied to constellation as well.

Now for a while there was a much repeated theory of "sites are tied to regions." However, in the past 6-12 months, there has been a lot of reconsidering of this theory based on findings. I personally do not believe the region tie to have any basis to it. Its rather difficult to prove, though it is possible. We'll get to it~

While I'm here, the other myth I'll address is downtime spawns. A lot of people who don't find sites throughout the day have a misconception that sites only spawn after downtime, are run by the people who are active right after downtime, and thus deplete the game of sites until the following downtime. This is false. Sites respawn, as you said, immediately. However, if a site has been started but not finished, it will have a timer applied to it. When the timer runs out, the site will respawn the following downtime. This leads to a load of sites that have not been completed respawning at downtime, and thus the belief "sites only respawn at downtime, how am I supposed to get to them if I can't play right after downtime?"