Using investigation probe to maximise finds?

[Anon De Mouse]

Using investigation probe to maximise finds?

What is the best way to use the investigation probes to find other player?

I usually do it by moveing the cords out by 10 increasing hoping to find planets close by that I can attack or just so I know where people are, but this method is incredibly unsuccessful sometimes. I was wanting to know what some vets use to find people, or if there are certain coord that planets never appear past.

My method:

Say my base was the Chronoton Nebula at 433/480/44

I would send them like this:

443/480/44
then
433/490/44
then
433/480/54
then
443/490/44
then
443/490/54
And-so-on-and-so-forth

My way doesn’t achieve great results and sometimes it ends up with missing huges areas. Please help me out. As everyone knows I am a noob:D
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Follow the blood and you will find me!

[Renee Davis]

This is similar to laying circles (actaully 3-D spheres) without the edges over lapping so "close up the holes" and decrease your axial coordinate changes to 6-8 instead of 10
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[Anon De Mouse]

So your saying that I'm doing it right but I need to decrease my coord change?

Thats more simple then I thought
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Follow the blood and you will find me!

[Shade]

The only time i use an IP is at account creation to initially find neighbors, where i send it very much depends on my coords.
Other than that it's only use for me, is identifing my Allies bases for better incoming readings.

If you need to search for other players, use the wide range probe, results will be much more fruitful.
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!! Total Ownage !!

[T2]

I've had relatively good success using the wide scan probe using it in a similar fashion. It takes a good 48 hrs or longer however to complete my scans. Using your example of 433/480/44, I'll send a WSP to 413/480/44 and one to 453/480/44. Next pass is at 433/500/44 and 433/460/44 and so on for the 3rd number in coords.
As the WSP covers 17 sectors I believe, I get a pretty good idea on who's around me. The 3 sectors that get missed are closest to my base and it is easy to fill in the "holes" after via investigation probes.
The big downfall is the slow travel speed of the WSP as it takes approx. 24 hrs for it to reach its destination. Using just 1 WSP to do this, it will take a week to cover all points around you so biting the bullet and deploying all 3 probe slots to this task might be the better option.
I try to do it at least 2 or 3 times during an evo.
Good Luck

[Renee Davis]

Sorry anon. but, I got that wrong. the conceptual "spheres and circles" I was using actually have a diameter of 20 sectors (2x the radius or probe "range" in st). So the "circles" in your layout actually overlap excessively and you are probing large areas multiple x.
Increase the axial coordinate changes to 16-17 should do it efficiently and leave no "holes" in the coverage.

I use wide range probes with the "holes" in their coverage layout at max (no overlapping of ranges) then "fill the holes" with standard investigation probes to get this type of probing done faster
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[Anon De Mouse]

Hahahaha i tested the 6-8 sector I only got my base but it looks like everyone uses WSP which i havent even invented yet looks like I will invent those then get back to you

Thank you shade, T2 and Renee
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Follow the blood and you will find me!

[admin]

be aware, that in the z-axis, most planets are concentrated around z=50
but there can always be a planet at z=2 or z=97... but not many

[Renee Davis]

Anon. incoming forum pm. An offer for action early on
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[Anon De Mouse]

So to summarise:

- use at the start of account to discover your neighbours, use again to check who is around you.
- Using WSP is more successful then investigation probe because of larger scan radius
- 20 sectors up and down of cords although on the z axis most of the planets will be around the 50 mark.
- For investigation probes use 16-17 sectors away.


Is this right? It might be an idea to put this on the wiki to help out some of the newer players. I can put it on the wiki I just need to word it better.

What about the use of the other probes to people use just the DSP or do they use other? It would be good to learn about those aswell if you vets are willing to post about them. All i know is that with the DSP is that you place it one or two sectors away from the scoreplanet or planet you are scaning.

PS. Yes I received your PM and also replied, Renee.
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Follow the blood and you will find me!

[admin]

yes, please post it in the wiki

i think "Investigation Probe" would be the right title