One of the most valuable tools in EVE is the in-game Star Map. With this a player can find out lots of information about their surroundings, and their current route. Many players are not accustom to using this to their advantage, and some don't even know of it's ability. In this article I'll go over these points, as well as a few practices to make the most of this invaluable tool.
Think of the Star Map as your central intelligence center of sorts; it offers lots of information on every high, low, and null system in the universe. First open your Map by pressing "F10", and clicking on "Star Map" if you're in the Solar System Map mode. Also, if you have a hard time dealing with the 3D mode, be sure to click the "Flatten" button as well. From there, let's start looking at what the map can do.
World Map Control Panel
The Control Panel is where we control what we see on the map, and how. Each one of the options is quite useful, and more so as each player becomes more involved with the game.
Our first tab is the "Search" tab. The only difference from this search and the People and Places search is that the output of the control panel search is specifically for locations. You can search for systems, constellations, and regions; while allowing it to interface with the Mapbrowser (mini-map).
Star Map Options
On to the "Star Map" tab we can already see radio buttons allowing us to alter the map.
Actual Color: This let's us look at the color of the star in each system
DED Agent Site Report: This shows the various beacons in each system that have a landmark, or site
DED Deadspace Report: This shows the static deadspace sites on the map. Since the removal of static DED sites, most of these are COSMOS sites.
Incursion: Shows the systems in while active incursions are taking place
Region: This option color codes each system into the region they reside in
Security Status: Using this allows you to view each system in it's corresponding security status score color
Autopilot
Avoidance Systems: This shows the systems that are in your Avoidance List.
My Information
While most of these are options that can be obtained through other parts of the UI, the most important options are the corp/fleet member locations. Instead of having to bother someone to find their location, you can simply check the map.
Deliveries: Shows corporation deliveries
Impounded: Shows impounded office items
My Assets: Shows the systems where your assets reside
My Available Agents: Systems where available agents are
My Cargo Illegality: Shows systems where illegal items in your cargo will be confiscated
My Colonies: Show systems where Planetary Interaction colonies are in use
My Corp Members Now in Space: Show corporation members on the map
My Fleet Members: Show fleet members on the map
My Locations: Show the systems where you have bookmarks
Planet Scan Range: Color-codes systems with planets in range for scanning from your Remote Sensing skill
Systems I've Visited: Shows the systems you've visited, and how long ago you last visited each system (bugged for the time being. Data is not accurate)
Planets
You can choose to highlight systems on the map with the selected planet type. Extremely helpful for PI pilots to find systems, or constellations that have all the desired planets without having to scout the area.
Services
Here you can choose what type of station service a station in the system has. This is great for finding facilities close to you like medical, and repair services.
Sovereignty
Development Indices: Shows null-sec system's development by level on the map.
Factional Warfare
For any Faction Warfare pilot these options are quite useful. They give you information of your militia's systems, and where fights have been occurring. Matched with the Statistics below, these can give you an advantage over the opposite militias.
All Militias: Shows all Factional Warfare militia systems
Amarr Empire: Only shows Amarr Empire FW systems, and their contested state
Caldari State: Only shows Caldari Empire FW systems, and their contested state
Gallente Federation: Only shows Gallente Empire FW systems, and their contested state
Minmatar Republic: Only shows Minmatar Empire FW systems, and their contested state
Militia Ships Destroyed in the Last Hour: Shows where militia ships were destroyed in the past hour
Militia Ships Destroyed in the Last 24 Hours: Shows where militia ships were destroyed in the past day
Recent Sovereignty Changes
Unless you live in Null-Sec, these options may be useless to you. Using these you can get a quick glimpse as to how alliance areas are being extended or overrun.
Recent Sovereignty Changes: Shows all recent sov changes
Sovereignty Gain: Systems that have been recently obtained
Sovereignty Loss: Systems that have been recently lost
Station Gain: Systems where a station has been obtained
Station Loss: Systems where a station has been lost
Sovereignty
All Factions and Alliances: Shows all sovereignty from all alliances
If you wish to see a single alliance sovereignty, you can choose that alliance in the list here.
Statistics
These options are quite vital for anyone venturing into low-sec, or null-sec. Each one gives you a way to find out where recent activities have taken place. While each one has at least a 15 minute delay, it does make it easier to avoid hostiles, or stalk prey.
Average Pilots in Space in the Last 30 Minutes: This shows the average pilots in space for the last 30 minutes
Cynosural Fields: Shows where cynosural fields have been activated
Escape Pods Destroyed in the Last 24 Hours: Shows pods destroyed in the last day
Escape Pods Destroyed in the Last Hour: Shows pods destroyed in the last hour
Jumps in the Last Hour: Show the number of jumps made in each system for the last hour
Number of Pilots Currently Docked and Active: Show the number of docked pilots that are active
Pirate and Police Ships Destroyed in the Last 24 Hours: Show the number of rats destroyed in each system for the past day
Ships Destroyed in the Last 24 Hours: Show number of ships destroyed in the last day
Ships Destroyed in the Last Hour: Show number of ships destroyed in the last hour
Station Count: Show the number of stations in each system
There are a few things to point out in these options. First looking for pod and ship destruction will help you find a safer route though low/null space. Ship destruction can be due to failed ratting, but pod destruction lets you know there are pirates in the area. Using the number of jumps option can warn you of incoming fleets, or even the retraction of fleets in an adjoining system. The station count gives you a quick look at systems that do not have stations where pilots can be cornered. Needless to say you can see the importance of these options.
Labels
Now it's time to move on to the Label tab. Labels are great for finding various areas at a glance without having to search for it.
Region Labels
No Region Names: This completely turns of region name labels
Selected Region: Only show the region name for the system selected on the map
Selected Region and Neighbors: Show the region for the selected system, as well as adjoining regions
All Regions Names: Show all region names on the map
Other Labels
Constellation Names: Check this box to show constellation names for the selected system. They will show as a the name with a box around the name.
Solar System Names: Shows the solar system names for selected systems, and all adjoining systems
Landmark Names: Shows landmark names for landmarks all over the universe (i.e. The Eve Gate in New Eden).
Lines
The lines are pretty straightforward as these options help change the behavior of the system lines on the map.
Connection Lines
I don't want to get into these too much. I would suggest turning on "All Lines" and leaving it there. This part of the map has a few bugs which do not allow you to get the setting chosen.
Alliance Jump Bridge Routes: Checking this box will show you all the active jump bridges your alliance owns on the map
Color Lines By
Jump Type: Shows lines as blue for "system gate" jumps, and purple for everything else.
Region: This makes all of the lines the same color for each region.
Many people don't care for the lines, but they are great for low and null to find big gates like regional gates. The bigger they are, the harder it is for someone to catch you (most of the time). Using the lines can help you find a place to avoid, or a place to camp.
Tiles
Here is the big resource hog for the map. Generally if you use the map a lot, and want it to load fast, keep tiles off. Aside from that, they really don't offer anything that you can't get from the star options.
Tile Settings
These are pretty self-explanatory, and can be visually seen as each is changed.
Color Tiles By
Sovereignty: Shows a color for each alliance on the tile
Standings: Shows the holding alliance's standing towards you
Legend
Here in the legend you can find out what each color represents for your stars, and tiles. Depending on what is chosen from the star tab, and tile tab; the legend differs for each.
Animation
Like the Tile Settings, these are quite self-explanatory. I do want to point out that if you're having issue with the map zooming out when selecting systems, turn off the "Auto Zoom to Selection" option here.
Solar System Map
For the sake of making this article complete, I will briefly cover this section. As you can see we have a Solar System Map tab, and in it we can filter what is shown. We can click the first icon "Show" on each filter type to toggle the visibility of each type. Clicking the second icon "Show Hint" will put a content box over each of the items in the filter.
Map Browser (Mini-Map)
I want to point out one bit of this particular map as it is quite helpful to people that utilize the map. When in a low or null-sec system, pilots will warp to a celestial nearest the destination gate to check for possible gate camps via the directional scanner. One way to find the nearest celestial is to check what is close on the overview, but sometimes that isn't enough. If you want the entire layout of the system without losing sight of what's going on around you, you will normally use the map browser by pressing "F11". One thing that is annoying about the default map browser is that everything is clumped up on top of each other, so finding that close celestial can be a pain. If you right-click the system portion, you can choose the option "show map abstract". This stacks all the points of interest in a nice stacked line, allowing you to easily select each item to get a context menu to warp, align, etc.
Web Maps
If you're not in EVE, there are maps you can use outside of game.
EVE Influence Map: The player-run sovreignty influence map
EVE's Web-Based Interactive Map: This map is run by CCP, and runs off the data of the main servers.
Well that's it. As usual I hope this has been helpful. Have fun, and fly safe. o/
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