Intelligence

Intelligence

Intelligence, or "intel" for short, is the term used for information on certain subjects. It is most often used as in a matter where referring to information on a certain system, but it can also be used in correlation with data on corporations or alliances in the game.

'System intel' would be specifics within a system and most information is gathered using local and your ship scanner. In the local chat channel you can see who is currently also in the system, this means you can see whoever might be hunting you or who your possible victims are... The scanner is not commonly used in empire, as the hundreds of objects in space make it a hazard to work with, but in the more lawless regions it can be an important lifeline. It provides slightly more accurate information on a more limited range than local but might also tell you what other people are flying. Keep in mind however, that it also picks up abandoned ships and ships inside POSs.

'Ship intel' is information on what certain pilots are flying most of the time and how proficient they are at flying these ships. There is a very accurate list of all known titans and their pilots publicly available for instance, this is a form of intel you can exploit to your advantage if you want.

Both ship and system intelligence are important within eve and there are a lot of ships dedicated to it, like the covert ops for starters. Covert ops are more often used for the real work to gather the actual information on things. They jump into unknown systems where they might be immediately faced with hostiles on the gate because your enemies did a better job at gathering intel.

It is certainly the lifeblood of the alliances and factions who operate in a hostile environment such as null sec or at war with another faction.

Never fly through a dangerous part of space without intel.