Should You Fly In The Astero?? || EVE Online

#captainbenzie #EVEEchoes #EVEOnline #newplayerguide #exploration

The Astero is a popular choice for explorers in EVE Online, so it felt about time that I showed you all how I fit mine!

[Astero, Astero]
Inertial Stabilizers II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Damage Control II
Overdrive Injector System II

Zeugma Integrated Analyzer
Scan Acquisition Array II
Scan Rangefinding Array II
5MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive

Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Sisters Core Probe Launcher

[Empty Rig slot]
Small Auxiliary Thrusters II
Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I

Sisters Core Scanner Probe x16

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[enigma]

I will reply more from the point of view of the one who likes to hunt explorers.

Astero is okay if you are sticking around LS or mostly flying in your blue care-bear NS space. Read - where warp disrupt bubbles can not be used against you. Wormholes or NS gatecamps - you are taking unnecessary risks.

Bubbles aside - Asteros are prized targets for solo hunters like me. Because those damn little sh*s are so slippery and thus hard to catch >=[
Sub 2-sec align time TOGETHER with a tiny signature radius really works to your advantage when someone de-cloaks on your ass and is thinking about you naked. Assuming you are paying attention to your overview in the first place ;) This is also where I have a slight issue with your fit @captainbenzie - there is no reason to fit the Inertial Stabs. Slap a second Nanofiber structure instead and call it good. Yes, you will loose as slight amount of Armour HP but you avoid blooming your sig with the stabs. The difference is not huge, but it is _there_ and I'd argue it matters more than a few extra HPs. If you got caught - most often you are as good as dead anyway. I _would_, however, advocate for using ECM drones. They are insanely cheap and they do work. Very rarely, but the overall price of the ship kinda makes it worth to carry them.. imho anyway.

However this is where the good ends. Flying a T2 explo frig makes more sense because:
* as mentioned in the video - you can fit a nullifier. This is a very big deal
* your warp speed is 8 instead of 5. This makes you lose less time spent warping around, which also makes you harder to chase as there are less ships that can keep up
* 5 seconds Cloak reactivation instead of 15. If you screw up - 5 seconds might sometimes be enough to save your bacon. 15 seconds is not.
* you can fit a cyno!!!!1! This is the biggest fear of hunters in NS and LS and is _always_ in the back of one's mind when jumping on a T2 explo frig
* the different race T2 explo frigs have different stats and bonuses, which enables you to choose the one that fits your play-style/needs the most. Buzzard is ofc the best and I don't care what anyone says ;)
* once again - the hull costs a fraction of the Astero. I always cringe a little when I kill an Astero and it has only the most basic modules on it.
Could go on and on and on about the differences between all the options as in EVE nothing is just black and white, ever. But gotta stop somewhere.

Yes the ship is beautiful, makes you feel a little special when flying one. And everyone is free to play the game as they please. But if exploration is the only reason you are undocking for - a T2 will do the same job better and for far less.

[shantvincent]

This might be 9 months old, but just wanted you to know that I think you are uploading great content. Thank you.

[x-Spirax-x]

These are by far my favorite ships to take to the dark skies, the SoE ships, But the Astero is the best looking of them all. I used to fly it JUST for the look. It looks like a proper spaceship.

[LifesGuardian]

Astero is quite versatile. Easily capable of pouncing on unwary explorers, more than capable of exploration itself, heck, I even fitted it for cargo and use it for a cloaky hauler for my incursion bling for the longest time!

[EuroHeliMalta]

There is one thing you left out about our beloved Astero. Out of all the exploration frigates it’s the only one that can complete not only Limited but also Standard Sleeper Caches. Because of the lows it can be fit with EM and Thermal resists and a DC2 plus repper. Using a mobile depot you can refit and run a standard sleeper cache. Also you can with the correct clone not only get <2 align but 13 AU warp.

[blandeauxfillaskii]

The Heron has more room in the trunk 🎁

[tesciu]

I'm back in the game after many years. I decided to check what i that all fuss about explo. Never done that seriously. Started with a cheeta. I was stunned how much money i earn. I fly NPC 0.0 where i used to live back in the day. It's pretty chill if you know what you are doing. I make 300 - 700 mil a day for 4-6 hours of exploring. One day some guy in Astero warped to my site and killed me. I forgot how core stab works now so i was not even mad. He inspierd me. I went to hs and bought one for myself. I have 3 kills on it so far, i still earn shitload of money, i can pvp in the same time and the loot from unlucky explorers i another incentive :D I sont care if i lost it. Ito costed me about 170 mil to buy and fit. It returned that investment the same day. That day i earned 700 mil. And not counting the 150 mil that burned in my Cheeta cargohold. So you are able to earn money for Omega but i would recommend to invest into Omega for 1-2 ma months, get the explo skills up, covert cloaking is very important for your survivability so it's worth it. Once you get your explo going you should be able to earn enough in about 7 days to pay your omega and the rest time you are free to to whatever you want.

[BNBPhotofr]

As someone who does mapping for a large null sec alliance I love the Astero for it's versatility. Always travel with a mobile depot and 3 fits (exploration, combat and travel) in your cargo. It is an expensive ship to fly, but t's very enjoyable.
One argument for having a flight of Hobgoblins II is for the odd abandoned Mobile Warp Disruption Field you come accross in null.

[zapszki]

IMO astero is for the more experienced players bc of the cons listed. However, I much prefer the astero to the covops frigats. When you are fully skilled, using Zeugma with blackglass implant, you'll find that it takes more time to move from can to can than the actual hacking, thats when the asteros exeptional inertia and speed comes really handy. Also, it is much more survivable so it is much easier to do sleeper caches. Im all in for the idea of either pvp or explo, then do it right if you fit for explo, be able to do sleepers as well.

[FizzleFX]

15:15 inertias also increase your signature > faster lock for a new friend of yours!

[danielringler]

First, thanks for your videos, I still learn form them :)
there Astero is my go to exploration ship almost since I started playing eve online (now checking the Meta, its really good). I agree with fitting it for exploration and not half and half.
my fit is different as I use it also for sleeper caches, it works great in them (everything in limited and standard and first 2 rooms in the superior).
about drones, I do have EC-300 and it can save you if you are locked and scrammed, it just gives you a little more chance to survive, i also have a burst jummer for the same reason, saved me a few times :)
about price, yea its more expensive but I prefer it to all covert ops frigates as it has under 2 sec allign time and more cargo space. my Asteros pay many, times its value before I lose them :)
o7

[ryanlin]

My favorite scanning ship is for sure the Pacifier. The warp speed is so nice. Tech 2 Covop Frigates technically are a bit better at scanning since they have a deviation bonus but I run midgrade virtues with the Pacifier so the extra deviation bonus doesn't affect scan speed too much.

[crazycrentax]

In honesty, I have to say that my Astero I use mainly for running hi sec sites quickly and scanning relic and data sites in hi sec. Its proved very adaptable and is also capable of running 1/10 and 2/10 sites as well as the 3/10. There are a lot of people who don't bother with the low end sites but over the years I have found them to be quite profitable and of course if I find a site the Astero can't cope with I can get back to base and change ship very quickly. The price of course will effect most people but in my case I get plenty BPC's and just make my own, in fact I get that many BPC's at times I have been known to sell quite a lot of these ships. The only time I really used the Astero in WH's was when I was in a WH Corp and we used to take these out in fleet, really good fun, and scares the bejesus out of people when half a dozen of them uncloak right in front of you, although we didn't do PvP most of the time it was fun to see how others would react.

[militarymoose]

Always been a Stratios fan myself. I know it's bigger, bulkier, and more for ambush PvP, but I like knowing I'm big enough to push little ships around even if they combat fit, yet still small enough to GTFO in a hurry if needed.

[gentleslice]

From a guy who plays for 10+ years i would say to any newcomers / guys who want to get into exploring. DO NOT go for the Astero. Because from my opinion if you build up a decent t3 cruiser like the Legion / Loki / Tengu etc you will have overall more enjoyable exploration through out the universe. You can do combat sites you can do hacking you can pvp.... You are basically getting an overall more versatile ship. I want to point out before the drama its just my opinion take it as however you want no hate for Astero users :). Oh! and great vid Benzie as always. Cheers!

[fatelmite]

my favorite exploration ship is the pacifier for a multitude of reasons the main one being the warp speed plus the nullifier and when combined with it's combat capabilities I think it is a foe to be reckoned with

[ianemery]

Weirdly, despite being subscribed, YT has only shown me this video a year after you published it :-/ Glad to see you back on the horse, btw.

One issue you missed - it is impossible to get a usable fit if you want to use Combat probes; this issue is made even more obvious when you look at the newer Navy explorer ship versions.

The Astero makes a good (but expensive) Hi Sec Explorer, even with Alpha skills it can scan down all non Sleeper sites (and with some fiddling, L4 Sleeper sites); while at the same time, being tough enough to handle all DED3 and some DED4 combat sites; with the bonus being it is a Frigate, so you can hunt for loot in even DED1 sites, which can drop 30-50 mill worth of Deadspace modules, but take only a few minutes to run (I've had 303 mil from a DED 3 this week - balanced by, nothing but a can - twice)

The only other Alpha compatible explorer ship that comes close is the Imicus - which can do all DED3 sites and a few L2 combat sites, but a lot slower - with the bonus that it has a larger hold to store all that loot.

With enough space for 3 sets of drones, you can pretty much cover all Pirate faction damage types and roam throughout all Hi Sec areas, I have done 150 jump roams before now; dropping off loot at waystations when my hold got too full (Christmas/Easter/Anniversary Event).

[MysticalDragon]

Another solid video.

One of my toons is actually in an astero atm. Before my 6 year break it was the go to scanning ship. I LOVE the SOE ships. However, since its not classed as a cov ops and no 3rd high slot, its going to be relegated to the hangar if I dont sell it. I may get the pacifier instead for something blingy as it looks amazing.

[rayderrich]

But but but Captain, I LOVE the Astero so much, it is a gorgeous ship for screenshots!
It is also a big money maker not for exploring but just for trading. Buy 100 of them and come back 5 years later, insta-rich!
Thank you for your tips though.

[dboydw]

Def my favorite ship and one of the coolest looking!