Hardcore Casual is Syncaine’s long standing blog covers both Eve and non-Eve issues with an outside the box perspective. One of my favorite site to read not only for the good commentary, but also for the great variety in it, visit it here.
Hardcore Casual: Wormhole space, and how it can be used
Having now experience wormhole (WH) space from a C1 to a C6, I’d like to talk a bit about the design behind them, and how players have adapted. Out of all MMO content, I think WH space in EVE is perhaps the most unique, most dynamic (real dynamic, not ‘dynamic’ dynamic), most sandbox thing out. It of course works in large part because of EVE itself, but even among EVE content WH space is really different.
For non-EVE players, here is a very basic rundown. Each wormhole is its own ‘zone’ that randomly connects to other ‘zones’, be it other wormholes or known space (high-sec, low-sec, 0.0 space). The zones difficulty scales from a C1 (easiest) to C6 (hardest), but not in all aspects. Finally, C1-C3 space is ‘shallow’, meaning the static connections (generally) go to known space, while C4-C-6 space can only have statics to other WH space. Random openings can also occur, so occasionally a C6 will have a direct route into high-sec. Confused yet? Hopefully talking about each class will clarify things a little.
C1: These WHs contain the easiest sleeper (NPCs), and also yield the lowest profits from fighting them. They are numerous, and only a battlecruiser or below can enter them. The low sleeper profits make C1s generally ‘pointless’ in that regard. But here is where players got creative, and the true nature of WH spaces comes out.
Not all things scale in WH space like sleepers. Planets, for instance, are all the same, and they are all set to the highest levels available (deep 0.0 space). This means that for planetary interaction, a C1 is just as good as a C6 in terms of output. That can be very profitable. Furthermore, since you can anchor a POS (or a dozen) in any WH, a C1 is just as good as a C6 for doing POS reactions or production, and since attacking a C1 POS is a major pain due to the ship and mass limits, your POS is (generally) far safer than even in Empire space.
Additionally, grav (mining) and ladar (gas) sites are not as strictly bound to WH class as sleeper sites. This means you can often mine the highest quality ore, and collect valuable gas, just as well in a C1 as you can in a C6. While WH space does present some challenges in terms of getting your goods to market or using them, the fact that they are available is pretty huge.
C2: While the sleepers are a bit tougher here, they are still fairly easy to solo for just about anyone with a decent battlecruiser, and the loot is still not amazing (though far better than lvl 4 missions). What makes C2 space special is that you generally (always?) have both a kspace static and a wspace static. This means that you can easily get supply into your WH, and also roll (force close) your wspace static to connect to others. Why would you want to do that? For PvP of course. Being able to connect to another WH, get a few cloaky PvP ships inside, and jump on unsuspecting players (perhaps farming valuable sleepers) can be very profitable and fun.
C3: The highest class of ‘shallow’ wormholes, C3 sleeper sites can be very decent ISK for small groups, or even a solo pilot with a solid ship. The type of static can vary, and something like a low-sec static means you won’t be getting a lot of visitors if you are good about closing unwanted random entrances. Having living in this type of WH for a while, I can easily say they make a great home for a smallish Corp looking to get into WH space.
C4: This is the WH class I have the least experience in, but what I’ve heard makes them sound like the redheaded stepchild of the bunch. The ISK jump from a C3 to a C4 is not major due to being unable to escalate the sites (bring a capital ship in and have more sleepers spawn), the logistics are harder since you are now in ‘deep’ WH space, and you still have all of the challenges in terms of invaders and such.
C5: At this class you can make some very serious (billions) of ISK due to capital escalations. The sites require plenty of logi (healer) support, and ships will die very quickly if people are not paying attention, but once you get some capital ships and know what you are doing, you will profit very quickly. Also due to the increased size of the entrances/exits, you can PvP roam in bigger fleets and invade others easier.
C6: The highest WH class with the highest ISK reward. Somewhat surprisingly a C6 is not a huge jump in ISK or difficulty compared to a C5, but it is higher. One big thing about C6s is that there are not a lot of them, meaning that if you have a static C6, you can roll the static and find the WH you are looking for ‘easily’ (in EVE terms. You still only have about a 2% chance per roll, and rolling can take 10 minutes or (much) longer). How you use this depends on what you plan to do, but it’s an important factor, especially when you consider the resources and skill level of Corps/Alliances at the C6 level.
And the above only really scratches the surface and talks about the ‘normal’ things people do with wormholes. I’m sure there are dozens of unique uses for WH space, with creative Corps and Alliances doing some very interesting things. But due to the nature of WH space itself, finding out what, let alone how, can be very difficult, if not impossible.
As veterans are always quick to point out, wormhole space is truly the last great frontier.
- Syncaine
That the post is from a link that comes from a blog that includes all of the interwebs and not just those that have a firm understanding of EVE and its workings. Like that? Like things like that you don't already know?
or that this "Tell us something we already don't. Know." is just horribad.
Banned the OP idiot, a ton of people in EVE have never set a foot in a WH – this is great insight.
I love this, I have never set foot in a wormhole for more than a few hours. Wormholes have always had a feeling of openness, a sense of getting lost and I can't get myself to go exploring without a group of friends.
Someday I'll go into wormhole space, but until then wormholes will always be the the real eve experience.
As a member of one of the biggest WH alliances in game, confirming this is quite accurate.
Also, feel free to venture into our humble abode so we can shoot you >:)
zomg, you are so cool and many and crap ! TL I guess.
Remember, if you go into their humble abode with more than 5 people (or if they don't outnumber you 2:1) you won't get a fight.
The only information here that is incorrect is the C4 capital escalation. My corp and I, now alliance, have lived in our C4 for nearly 2 years. Our Thanny and Archon both provide us the battleship escalation. Also, our static WH is a C3 that will 90% of the time have a static high sec, the other 10% is low sec.
I would like directions to your C4, or at least a j-sig, because that is completely contrary to years of experience living in a C4.
Of course, contact me in game as im on my phone right now. Glyndi is my in-game name and would be happy to chat about whs
C4s dont have Capital Escalation, nor do 90% of C3s have Highsec Statics. Don't really see what your angle is here, but whatever.
True most C3's have a lowsec static just under 60%. Only 20% of C3's have a hisec exit. Most of the hisec exits I get in my c4 are through connection c2 with c4/hs statics or a c2 with c3/hs statics. And lastly C4's DO NOT provide cap escalation.
I honestly would be more then happy to show you the escalations… Our static is C247 those C247s will either have a D845 or U210. I have no angle.
Almost forgot… J123746 is our WH system
eve-kill.net/?a=pilot_detail&plt_id=73… intresting how u have one unknown on your kill board for two years of c4 exp and I would venture to say you must think that using your caps as logi for the site would be you saying that is an escalation
I didn't say 90% of C3s have high sec either…
"Also, our static WH is a C3 that will 90% of the time have a static high sec"
Which means MOST of the C3 connections we have are high sec
Forgot to mention I won't actually be logged in for another 3.5 hrs.
I just moved my main into a C1 WH and am already beginning to enjoy it far more than I ever did hisec space. No PI transfer costs, access to ABC ores, sleepers to shoot (albeit not very tough for even a small group of vet toons) and the relative safety of a POS are all pluses. Once you get over the "scary" aspect of getting around in a WH and figure out the logistics of moving stuff in and out (one word: stealth!), it's pretty cool.
Yes, come to w-space, and bring your fighting boots. We are always glad to have new people to rumble with.
I've only ever raided the C1, 2, and 3 sleeper sites of the WHs that I've scanned down. You still make a good amount of money and you don't ever need to "live" in one. Just be sure you have a good eye on d-scan, because the residents sure do….
There is one thing people usually forget the mention. There are wormholes that connect k-space to k-space.
You can find wormholes that connect a highsec to a nullsec or a lowsec to a null, etc. These are quick and temporary ways to use as logistics, bypassing camping or getting much faster travel through wherever you want to go.
If you get trapped in nullsec, as long as you have a probe launcher and probes your can find wormholes that can lead you to more favorable areas of space. It is much safer since you can pretty much bypass those bubbled gate camps at the nullsec/lowsec border systems.
Two rules in wh space: D-scan all the time and NEVER talk in local.
Well, im living in WH space, and its the best of eve.
No local gives you gr8 chances to gank ppl, you can feel like predator tracking his pray. Also randomness of exits is gr8, you can feel like a phantom raiding one ls, and dissapearring after closing your exit after. Also single Wh cant rly support big fleets so there is no TD offten
scannig my way out in devoter after wh colaps 555554525 HI priceless