Drifter Wormholes

Overview

Drifter Wormholes (Unidentified Wormholes leading to Sentinel, Barbican, Vidette, Conflux, or Redoubt) present high-value tactical opportunities and strategic risks across New Eden.

Because these connections span dozens of regions, "criting" (reducing mass to critical) or actively rolling these connections is an operational necessity to control system traffic, deny hostile fleet logistics, and secure alliance space.

System Network & Signatures

Drifter wormhole connections are deadspaced on the wormhole side and feature specific signature designations based on the destination hive system.

Wormhole Name	K-Space Sig	J-Type Designation	System Effect	Controlling NPC Faction	System ID / Hub
Vidette	V928	J164710	Magnetar	Amarr Empire	Sanctified Vidette
Redoubt	R259	J174618	Wolf-Rayet	Triglavian Collective	Azdaja Redoubt
Sentinel	S877	J055520	Red Giant	EDENCOM	Sentinel MZ
Barbican	B735	J110145	Cataclysmic Variable	Minmatar Republic	Liberated Barbican
Conflux	C414	J200727	Pulsar	Caldari State	Conflux Eyrie

Network Topography & Mass Properties

• Total Connections: Each Drifter system connects to 50–70 K-Space systems via Jove Observatories, plus 6 static wormholes to C1–C6 J-space (Z647, D382, O477, Y683, N062, R474).
• Spawn Mass: Drifter connections usually spawn at reduced mass (~375,000,000 kg remaining capacity).
• Maximum Jump Mass: 300,000,000 kg per single jump.
• Transit Rule: Due to initial spawn limits, heavy fleets (e.g., Battleships) are capped at around 25 ships before total collapse, whereas Assault Frigate fleets (Harpy: ~1.04M kg, Retribution: ~1.17M kg) can transit 150+ pilots two-way.

Operational Importance

• System Security & Denying Hostile Projection: Drifter connections allow hostile fleets to bypass regional gate camps and mid-points. Criting the hole restricts heavy hostile doctrines (Battleships, T3Cs) from jumping through without risking trapping themselves or collapsing the connection.
• Signature & Scouting Management: Drifter hubs can contain over 50 active signatures. Dedicated scout alts in nullified interceptors should bookmark connections from the inside rather than attempting to scan down every signature from scratch.
• NPC Threat Mitigation: Unattended Drifter holes can spawn aggressive roaming patrols, including Apollo/Artemis Tyrannos or Autothysian Lancers, which will attack local structures or pod capsuleers if aggressed.

Recommended Vessel Fits for Mass Control

Heavy Mass Roller (Megathron / Praxis)

• Role: Rapid mass reduction prior to stage 3.
• Propulsion: 500MN Heavy Microwarpdrive (High Mass Mode) + Higgs Anchor Rig.
• Mass Standard: ~160,000,000 kg (Cold) / ~300,000,000 kg (Hot MWD).

Precision Finisher / Mass Control (Heavy Interdictor - HIC)

• Role: Controlled final pass to crit without inadvertently collapsing the hole.
• Module: Zero-Point Mass Entangler (Entangler script reduces ship mass to near frigate levels for safe return passes).

Step-by-Step Criting Procedure

Phase 1: Pre-Execution Scouting

1. Grid Check: Send a cloaked scout or nullified interceptor through first. Confirm the far side is clear of enemy bubbles, interdictors, or Drifter Battleships.
2. Check Mass Description:

• • "This wormhole has not yet had its stability significantly disrupted..." (> 50% mass remaining)
  • "This wormhole has had its stability reduced, but not to a critical degree yet..." (10%–50% mass remaining)
  • "This wormhole has had its stability critically disrupted..." (< 10% mass remaining — CEASE HEAVY ROLLING)

Phase 2: Mass Reduction Runs

1. Cold Entry: Jump heavy rolling battleships through **COLD** (MWD Off).
2. Hot Exit: Align back, activate 500MN MWD **HOT** right before entry back into home space to double ship mass on the return pass.
3. Track Pass Mass: Log each pass's estimated weight in local/fleet chat to prevent accidental closure.

Phase 3: Bringing to Critical Mass

1. As soon as the hole transitions to Stage 2 ("reduced, but not critical"), switch to HIC passes or single cold Battleship passes.
2. Reduce remaining mass until the status explicitly reads critically disrupted.
3. DO NOT make hot passes on a critical hole unless the explicit command is to collapse and disconnect the system entirely.

Hazards & NPC Combat Mechanics

NPC Unit	Location	Threat Level	Key Mechanics & EWAR
Apollo / Artemis Tyrannos	K-Space / Drifter WHs	Critical	Overshield, 750k HP Doomsday weapon, 1300 DPS Omni damage, 3500 m/s speed.
Autothysian Lancer	Jove Observatories	Medium	Scout drones; non-hostile unless aggressed or approached within 50km near observatories. Will pod capsuleers.
Arithmos Tyrannos	C5/C6 Capital Escalations	Extremely High	200 GJ/s Neuts, 4-point Warp Scramble, high tank, no Doomsday.
Hikanta / Ladon / Mynos	Drifter Hive Sites	Critical	Mynos Scrambles at 11km (shuts down MWD/MJD); Ladon Webs; Strategos flies Dreadnought in Nexus Point.

Aggro Clearing Protocol

If you accidentally trigger aggression from Autothysian Lancers or roaming Drifters:

1. Dock immediately or clear the grid.
2. Board a cheap frigate (do not use a corvette).
3. Warp to the Jove Observatory and let the Lancers/Drifters destroy your frigate.
4. Destruction of a player-owned frigate clears your character from their system-wide aggression table.

Regional Routing & Alliance Intel

Regional Distribution

• Primary Operating Regions: Branch,