EVE:Recon
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What is Recon?
Recon is the first layer of intelligence gathering. We scout systems and enemy troop movements. We mark structures, scan moons, light cynos, and more. We are the keepers of the knowledge that FCs drool over. We help to determine the direction of wars and find targets for our boys and girls to blow up. If you've ever wanted to scare locals into docking up and prevent them from earning their "carebear" ISK without ever firing a shot then Recon is for you.
What do you need?
Recon work is done almost exclusively in a Tech 2 Covert Ops Frigate (preferably not the Helios as it only has 2 high slots, which limits it's capabilities) with a Covert Ops Cloak and an Expanded Probe Launcher using Combat Scanner Probes. Depending upon what type of recon work you are doing you will also fit a Cyno or Survey Probe Launcher.
So fit up your favorite Cov Ops Frigate to the following standards:
[Cheetah, Recon] [empty low slot] [empty low slot] [empty low slot] Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I [empty med slot] [empty med slot] [empty med slot] Covert Ops Cloaking Device II Expanded Probe Launcher I, Sisters Combat Scanner Probe [empty high slot] Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
[Buzzard, Recon] [empty low slot] [empty low slot] Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I [empty med slot] [empty med slot] [empty med slot] [empty med slot] Covert Ops Cloaking Device II Expanded Probe Launcher I, Sisters Combat Scanner Probe [empty high slot] Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
[Anathema, Recon] [empty low slot] [empty low slot] [empty low slot] Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I [empty med slot] [empty med slot] [empty med slot] Covert Ops Cloaking Device II Expanded Probe Launcher I, Sisters Combat Scanner Probe [empty high slot] Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
[Helios, Recon] [empty low slot] [empty low slot] [empty low slot] Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I [empty med slot] [empty med slot] [empty med slot] [empty med slot] Covert Ops Cloaking Device II Expanded Probe Launcher I, Sisters Combat Scanner Probe Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
Empty Mid and Low slots are all pilots choice. Add more tank in the mids or fit for doing a bit of exploration to make some ISK while you are working for the corp. In the lows, use fitting or cargo or speed mods. What ever you want. Just no offensive modules, because you really don't want to aggress in this thing. The extra high slot (in all but the Helios) is reserved for a Cyno (regular or covert depending upon what the FC is asking for) or a Survey Probe Launcher if you are scanning moons.
How to
Recon has multiple jobs to perform each with a different level of skill and attention needed. For all official recon duties you are asked to perform it is expected that you are setting up multiple gate perches and tier 3 (or deep) safes in each system you travel through.
POCO Scanning
POCO Scanning is the simplest of jobs for Recon to perform and typically is only done once when deploying to a new staging area, and POCO scanning can be done in any ship (even a pod).
- Enter the system you wish to scan
- Open your Overview to a tab that shows POCOs
- Right click on each POCO in your overview and collect the information
When scanning POCOs the following information needed is:
- Region, Constellation, System
- Planet Number
- Planet Type
- POCO Owner Ticker (Corp & Alliance)
- Tax Rate
If you are on an official POCO scanning operation then the corp will have a spreadsheet for you to fill out with the Region, Constellation, System, Planet Number, and Planet Type already filled in. This should allow most pilots to scan a system's POCOs and record the information in a matter of minutes.
Moon Scanning
- Fit Survey Probe Launcher into your extra high slot
- Fit Cargo Expanders in the lows
- fill up your cargo hold with Survey Probes(Discovery Survey Probes I are the prefered.)
- Go scanning
The easiest way I've found to scan moons is to warp to the moon. Once you land align to the Moon and when you reach maximum velocity fire the Survey Probe Launcher. Like bombs, survey probes travel straight ahead form the ship so you must be sure that your ship is facing directly at the moon.
If you have the ability to fly it the Prowler makes an awesome Moon scanning ship due to having 2 high slots (can fit Survey Probe launcher and Covert Ops Cloak) and a huge cargo bay compared to CovOps Frigates.
POS Scanning
For POS scanning you will be scanning down, taking screen shots, and getting Dingo scans of POSes. You will use this information to fill in the AIEU Recon POS Form.
Fleet Scouting
Often times this will go along with lighting a cyno, so never leave station with a fleet without a cyno and enough liquid ozone to light it. (If you want to be super pro train Cynosural Field Theory to V and carry enough liquid ozone to light 2 cynos.) You will many times be running +/-1 (or more) to the fleet to be cloaky eyes for the fleet and provide warp ins. You may also be called in to bring in the reinforcements (the reason for the cyno) and to combat scan for the fleet (to get those pro warp ins). Practice with a buddy (or two) to get better at grabbing combat warp ins. Good combat probing can allow a smaller and "weaker" force to decimate a more powerful foe.
Lighting Cyno
When in doubt of placement ask your FC. If you war lighting a cyno for a fleet battle then you will normally light it in a deep safe (though sometimes just off grid from a designated gate) in an empty system. If lighting for a structure shoot typically you will be lighting it 200-300 kms from the structure to give the fleet a short warp to the target.