Orientation Guide - First Week
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This section of the Orientation Guide provides useful information about Signal Cartel and also lists a number of activities that new members can comfortably participate in during their first week with little to no experience.
Don't worry though, because other than completing the Mandatory Tasks on the previous page, the rest of this guide contains no additional mandates or time-sensitive requirements. You are encouraged to freely explore our offerings at your own pace and blaze your own trail. Signaleers are explorers after all! So dig in and have fun, but remember to take it slow.
Learn the Lexicon
As previously mentioned, if you are completely new to EVE Online, learning the game terminology and slang can be a daunting task. Additionally, Signal Cartel uses unique terms and abbreviations that can make getting a handle on things even harder.
Here are some resources that will help:
- Learn the Lingo - Common slang and words used by EVE players in general and Signal Cartel in particular.
- New Eden Word Bank (NEWB) - A browser extension designed to help new players automagically translate and understand EVE-related jargon.
- EVE Lexicon - Abbreviations and terms commonly used in EVE Online (from EVE University)
Consider Joining Buddy Club
Buddy Club is an opt-in service within the Signal Cartel Academy that pairs new members with more seasoned Signaleers (a Buddy) during their early days of corp membership. Buddies are a friendly point of contact that provide help and guidance as new members adjust to life as a Signaleer in EVE Online.
EVE Online has a notoriously steep learning curve. In addition, Signal Cartel plays EVE on Hard Mode because of our strict adherence to The Credo. Buddy Club aims to help new members overcome these barriers to entry and smooth out the learning curve to make becoming a Signaleer easier and more enjoyable. Therefore, Buddy Club benefits all new Signal Cartel members regardless of whether they are completely new to EVE or a veteran pilot of New Eden.
Buddy Club Info
- Buddy Club is a completely optional service offered to new members
- Pairings last for one month
- Participation in Buddy Club does not limit or strict any corp activities
- Buddies are helpers, not supervisors
- Buddy Club requires the use of Discord
- To learn more about Buddy Club, please click here
How To Request a Buddy?
- Please request a Buddy using the /buddy command in any of our Discord channels.
- New members are assigned Buddies by the Assistant Manager for Matchmaking based on best fit including language and time zone considerations. After approximately 48 hours, you will receive a DM from Allison indicating who your new Buddy is and your Buddy will contact you on Discord.
Relocate to a Corporate Base
Signal Cartel has three main offices in high security (high-sec) space:
- Solar System: Zoohen
- Station: Zoohen III - Theology Council Tribunal
- Solar System: Gelhan
- Station: Gelhan V - Moon 10 - DED Logistic Support
- Solar System: Saisio
- Station: Saisio VIII - Moon 4 - Perkone Factory
New members may want to consider moving their belongings and medical clone to one of them. To do so, you are encouraged to take advantage of our free Signal Cartel Relocation And Moving Service (SCRAMS). Please read the SCRAMS page and then contact Xavec to coordinate the safe relocation of your stuff. Please note that relocation is completely optional and only offered for your convenience.
The benefits of making one of these bases your home station include convenient access to corp contracts and hangars along with proximity to fellow Signaleers. All of these stations offer roughly the same services, but Zoohen has emerged as the most popular and is where most fleets formup. Also of note, Saisio lacks clone bay facilities (for jump clones), but the system does have the Journey of Katia Sae Memorial!
Members may also wish to relocate to Signal Cartel's headquarters in Thera:
- Station: Thera XII - The Sanctuary Institute of Paleocybernetics
The advantage of having a base in Thera is that it provides a good starting point for any trip since it has a high number of wormhole connections to New Eden and Anoikis (aka Wormhole Space or J-space) and allows easy participation in EvE-Scout Mapping. However, new members should weigh this convenience against potential hazards before making a decision to relocate to the HQ. Thera is more dangerous than an average J-space system because of the NPC stations, and certain entrance wormholes are often actively camped by resident PVP corporations.
Our newest corporate office is located in Turnur, which is in low security (low-sec) space.
- Solar System: Turnur
- Station: Turnur III - Moon 17 - Boundless Creation Factory
Turnur has become a nexus, much like Thera, allowing us to expand our scanning services to the system. More recently, an ancient Jovian stargate was discovered in Turnur leading to the dangerous new system of Zarzakh. Just like with Thera, new members should be aware that Turnur is hazardous and often actively camped. However, mysteries await those experienced enough to explore it!
Set Up Exploration Skill Training Queue
The proposed training plan focuses on essential exploration skills which include scanning, hacking, cloaking, and operation of ships. Before starting the training, players must decide which racial frigates they want to fly and choose the relevant <Racial> Frigate skill, for example, Caldari Frigate for a Heron. This choice does not depend on the playerโs race - any race may fly any ship. However, new players will be able to start flying ships produced by the empire they belong to a little faster as <Racial> Frigate I is included in their starting skills.
The level to which skills can be trained and, consequently, which modules and ships can be used depends on the state of a playerโs clone: Alpha (๐) or Omega (๐). The limits for each skill are indicated in the plan below.
Completing the whole plan will take a significant amount of time. The speed of training depends on a characterโs attributes, such as Intelligence and Perception - the higher the attributes the faster the training of skills that require them. There are two ways to increase attribute scores and, therefore, reduce the training time: neural remap and implants.
Neural remap
A player has the ability to reallocate points between attributes in order to optimize training time. Such a decision must be made after due consideration as neural remap is only possible once every 12 months.
For the plan below, the fastest training time is achieved with this map:
- Intelligence: 27
- Perception: 17
- Charisma: 17
- Willpower: 17
- Memory: 21
The remap can be initiated by pressing the Remap Now button on the Character Sheet -> Character -> Attributes tab.
Note: This is a suggested attribute remap and is not mandatory in any way.
Implants
Character attributes can be boosted by the use of implants. For example, Cybernetic Subprocessor and Memory Augmentation implants improve Intelligence and Memory attributes by 1 to 7 points, depending on the model. Thus, the โBasicโ variation gives +3 bonus and costs about 10 million ISK.
Unlike neural remap, implants are physical objects which are inserted into a clone which means that they are not transferred during clone jumps and will be destroyed if the pilot's pod is destroyed (podded).
Phase I: T1 Frigate
Signal Cartel provides free fitted T1 exploration frigates to its members, available through Corporation contracts in all offices. The first phase of the training plan contains the skills required to use them. Some fittings also have drones but the skills needed to operate them are not included in the plan as drones are not necessary for exploration.
| Ship | Skill | Clone | Required for |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | Astrometrics IV | ๐ | Astrometric Pinpointing and overall scanning improvement |
| Anchoring I | ๐ | Sowing a new rescue cache | |
| Amarr Magnate | Cloaking I | ๐ | Prototype Cloaking Device I |
| Gallente Imicus | Astrometric Rangefinding II | ๐ | Scan Rangefinding Array I |
| Cloaking I | ๐ | Prototype Cloaking Device I | |
| Minmatar Probe | Astrometric Rangefinding II | ๐ | Scan Rangefinding Array I |
| Cloaking I | ๐ | Prototype Cloaking Device I | |
| Caldari Heron | Astrometric Rangefinding II | ๐ | Scan Rangefinding Array I |
| Cloaking I | ๐ | Prototype Cloaking Device I | |
| Astrometric Pinpointing II | ๐ | Scan Pinpointing Array I |
Even though the fittings include modules that are not available to alpha clones, it is possible to engage in exploration activities without them, simply unfitting the modules for which skills are not available.
Phase II: Advanced T1 Frigate
This phase will improve a pilotโs rate of success in scanning and hacking using T1 modules. Magnate pilots who struggle with scanning down higher-level signatures might consider trading a microwarpdrive for a scan rangefinding array.
| Skill | Clone | Required for |
|---|---|---|
| Astrometric Rangefinding IV | ๐ | Increased scan strength |
| Astrometric Pinpointing IV | ๐ | Reduced scan deviation |
| Archaeology III | ๐ | Increased virus coherence for relic sites |
| Archaeology IV | ๐ | Increased virus coherence for relic sites |
| Hacking III | ๐ | Increased virus coherence for data sites |
| Hacking IV | ๐ | Increased virus coherence for data sites |
| <Racial> Frigate IV | ๐ | Increased scan strength |
| Astrometric Acquisition II | ๐ | Reduced scan time |
| Astrometric Acquisition IV | ๐ | Reduced scan time |
Phase III: T1 Frigate with T2 modules
Skills trained in this phase will provide a quantum leap in pilotsโ scanning and hacking abilities by enabling them to use Tech II modules.
| Skill | Clone | Required for |
|---|---|---|
| Astrometric Rangefinding V | ๐ | Scan Rangefinding Array II |
| Astrometric Pinpointing V | ๐ | Scan Pinpointing Array II |
| Archaeology V | ๐ | Relic Analyzer II |
| Hacking V | ๐ | Data Analyzer II |
| Astrometrics V | ๐ | Core Probe Launcher II |
| Astrometric Acquisition V | ๐ | Scan Acquisition Array II |
Phase IVa: Covert Ops Frigate
While T1 frigates provide a cheap option to get started on exploration, serious explorers should develop skills that will eventually enable them to fly Tech II Covert Ops ships. T2 exploration frigates provide superior hacking and scanning bonuses and can fit Covert Ops Cloaking Devices and Interdiction Nullifier modules (to help escape bubbles) both of which significantly improve the shipsโ survivability.
| Skill | Clone | Required for |
|---|---|---|
| <Racial> Frigate V | ๐ | Covert Ops Frigate |
| Electronic Upgrades V | ๐ | Covert Ops Frigate |
| Covert Ops I | ๐ | Covert Ops Frigate |
| Cloaking IV | ๐ | Covert Ops Cloaking Device |
| Covert Ops V | ๐ | Increased scan strength |
Phase IVb: Astero
The Astero is a versatile exploration ship that also has impressive combat bonuses and is quick to align (<2 seconds when properly fitted). Skills required to fly an Astero can be trained very quickly, but itโs also one of the most expensive frigates in the game. One of the strongest Astero bonuses is that it, just like Covert Ops frigates, can use a Covert Ops Cloaking Device. It is not recommended to use an Astero without a CovOps cloak, therefore Alpha clones are discouraged from flying this ship. Also, the Astero cannot fit Interdiction Nullifier modules and is surpassed in scanning ability by Covert Ops Frigates once Covert Ops IV is trained.
| Skill | Clone | Required for |
|---|---|---|
| Amarr Frigate III | ๐ | Astero |
| Gallente Frigate III | ๐ | Astero |
Check Out Our In-Game Corporation Skill Plans!
Want some more direction about what skills to train and in what order? Whether you're looking to train core exploration skills or you're interested in the required skills needed to hop into one of our PvE Armor Battlecruiser Doctrines, our Corp Skill Plans are here to help. Feel free to browse through the various categories and pick a skill plan that aligns with your current goals. Please click here for more information.
Browse Our Official Signal Cartel Ship Fittings
If you want some proven ship fits that just plain work, please check out our corp fittings for various ships:
- Open the in-game
Fittingwindow (Alt-F) - Click on the
Equipmenttab - Click on the
Hulls & Fitsbutton - Click the
Filter: Corporation Fittingsbutton - Browse our various corp ship fittings or search for your desired ship
- Fit your ship
- Fly dangerously and enjoy!
Note: Don't forget to check out Splunkworks for all your other ship fitting needs!
Attend a Signal Cartel Academy Talk
The aim of the Signal Cartel Academy (SCA) is to provide a way to share the wealth of knowledge already present within the ranks of the corporation to those that might need it. There are aspects of this that are inherently linked with what we specifically do (like our EvE-Scout Rescue Division activities) and others that are more generic and related to the understanding of game mechanics as a whole. Regardless of the nature, the SCA aims to assist new and returning players joining Signal Cartel with a way to ask for (and offer) help in order to tap into knowledge held by fellow corp members.
SCA offers two educational platforms:
- Coffee Time - a weekly informal chat usually centered around a particular topic and held on Sundays. โ
- Classes - more formal and structured classroom-style lectures.
Note: Check out our Discord server's Events (located at the top of the channel list) for upcoming Coffee Times and Classes.
Requesting a more formal "class" is extremely easy, and it's something that can be done as soon as Discord authorization has been granted by posting a [NEED] titled thread in our ๐ชeducation-need-offer forum channel.
- Click here for more detailed information on how to properly format a class request
- Every Signaleer is encouraged (especially new members) to be proactive in requesting mentorship
- On the other side of the spectrum, everyone is also likewise encouraged to volunteer their time to share their knowledge in a similar fashion, through the posting of an [OFFER] thread under similar rules as above.
The Academy is open to all, regardless of seniority in the corporation, and welcomes classes that cover all aspects of EVE mechanics and topics.
Attending a class is extremely easy. It could be as simple as joining one of the voice channels (generally ๐ชsca-auditorium) to follow the lecture (voice is optional, so you can just listen in). At times, a specific requirement in-game about fits or location will also be posted and will need to be organized, but most of the classes will generally be held in a classroom-style setting with just the need for participation on Discord.
Hug Someone
The Credo does not allow Signaleers to initiate aggression, but it does allow them to fit Festival Launchers, hurl snowballs and fireworks at unsuspecting targets, and banter light-heartedly in Local! Such treatment of other EVE players is known as โgiving a hugโ, and the fleets dedicated to this activity are called โHugs Fleetsโ.
Hugs Fleets can be organized for any reason: to pay a visit to wardeccers, to scare the living daylights out of miners, or to spread goodwill and good cheer at random around New Eden. The price of this fun is usually the ship in which the fun is being had. The loss of your ship in a Hugs Fleet is almost a certainty and is expected by all participants. This, in turn, simplifies Fleet Commanding duties to the point that any Corp member, regardless of experience, can and is encouraged to be a Fleet Commander (FC) for one such fleet. The cost of the ship, however, should not discourage a space-poor player from participating in Hugs Fleets, since suitable ships, festival launchers, and fireworks are available for free on corp contracts.
New members are encouraged to participate in and organize Hugs Fleets, as they are a great way to get to know fellow corp mates and find new friends. No experience is required! If you are interested in organizing your very own Hugs Fleet:
- Watch this informative video on how-to FC a Hugs Fleet (recommended, but not required)
- Please post your announcement in the
๐ชready-roomDiscord forum channel by using the Fleet Announcement Template. - Don't forget to promote your event so people show up (click here for some tips). Everyone knows the best hugs are group hugs!
Some examples of Hugs Fleet after-action reports (AARs) are below:
- https://forums.eve-scout.com/topic/10467/aar-show-turnur-some-love
- https://forums.eve-scout.com/topic/9596/aar-buddy-club-huggs-fleet
- https://forums.eve-scout.com/topic/8180/aar-hugs-fleet-24-07-2020
- https://forums.eve-scout.com/topic/4491/aar-hugs-fleet-saturday-15th-september
Participate in EvE-Scout Rescue Cache (ESRC)
Not all who wander are lost. But some people do get stuck in wormholes and have no way to get out. In such cases, our EvE-Scout Rescue (ESR) Division helps them by directing the stranded pilot to one of our rescue caches if they can use the probes and launcher weโve left there, or by mounting a direct rescue effort.
Participating in EvE-Scout Rescue Cache (ESRC) program is one of the easiest ways to contribute to the corporation and the community. All you need (besides learning the procedure) is an exploration frigate and supplies for the caches, which are all available on free corp contracts at any Signal Cartel base! Please click here to learn more about our corp contracts and how to access them.
Briefly, a rescue cache is a password-protected small secure container anchored in an Anoikis system. It must contain one Core Probe Launcher I and eight Core Scanner Probes I. If a stranded pilot has the ability to equip the Core Probe Launcher, or already has one and just needs probes, they will be directed to the cache and given a password to open it. With the launcher and the probes, the pilot can then scan their own way out of Anoikis.
If you want to participate in ESRC program, Signaleers must fly with Allison turned on, especially when exploring in J-space. When a Signal Cartel pilot enters an Anoikis system, Allison informs them if there is a cache in that system and whether it needs attention. If there is no cache present, then a new cache needs to be sown, i.e. deployed, anchored, and filled with supplies. If there is a cache already present, then it may need to be tended which simply means opened and checked for content. An anchored small secure container will expire in 30 days if itโs not opened. Every time the container is opened, the expiration timer is reset to the full 30 days. Therefore it is important to visit each rescue cache periodically and tend it, marking it appropriately through Allison.
๐ ATTENTION: Before you participate in the ESRC program, it is MANDATORY to read the following guides and pages: ๐
- EvE-Scout Rescue Cache
- ESRC Full Guide ๐ Start here!
- Quick Reference Guide
- How to locate our Rescue Caches (two methods):
- ESRC Shared Bookmarks - When possible, USE THE BOOKMARKS! It's much easier.
- Bounce Method
- Still have a question? Ask it in our
#esr-loungeon Discord.- If no one promptly answers, please ping @ESR-Coordinator on Discord for assistance.
Member Map
As a solitary explorer traveling through the abyss, Signal Cartel provides a bright beacon lighting the way home. We come from all walks of life and from all over the globe. Wherever you are, you're one of us now. Welcome home.
- Check out the Signal Cartel Member Map by clicking here.
- Don't see yourself on the map or want to modify your location?
- Login to the Signal Cartel MMA here.
- As always, participation is voluntary.
Help! You've Got Questions, We've Got Answers
While the New Member Orientation Guide is designed to help you get started on your journey as a Signaleer, more nuanced and advanced questions often require the help of one of our veteran players. We are always happy and willing to help you in your journey. Here is how to reach out to one of our live(ly) customer service representatives (aka your fellow corp mates):
Who Do I Contact?
In general, any veteran Signaleer should be able to either answer your question or point you in the right direction. However, if you are looking for someone specific, please see these handy pages:
How Do I Contact Them?
- Discord is likely your best bet. It is the most actively monitored communication medium (in- and out-of-game) and you'll probably receive an answer regardless of time zone.
- See the previous page for how to set up Discord. Please remember that setting up Discord is mandatory.
- Also, please review the following Discord Ping Triggers and use them as appropriate.
- Alliance Chat (in-game channel) - Our main in-game chat channel. Allows communication with corp members that are in-game with you. Immensely helpful and fun if you are both logged in at the same time!
Next Step
Ready to take a deeper dive into Signal Cartel and everything you can start doing during your first month and beyond? Click here to move on to the last section of the guide!
