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Rider's Extended Tutorial

Updated

Awaken in the Creche: A Rider's First Steps in EVE Frontier

Eyes open, Rider. The Frontier doesn't care who you were. It cares if you can survive the next hour.

You spawn inside the Creche - your temporary berth until you carve out something permanent in the void. Your Creation(Reiver) sits waiting: a compact, agile vessel with pre-assembled modules and just enough fuel to remind you how fragile you are.

A tutorial guide appears in the top-left corner. Follow it, or don't. The Frontier teaches either way. If you need to restart or skip, click the Star icon in the top-left → select Restart the tutorial or Skip.

Checkpoint 1: Understanding Your HUD

Before venturing into the Frontier, take a moment to understand the information displayed on your screen. Your HUD provides everything you need to navigate, survive, and make informed decisions while exploring.

Your heads-up display (HUD) shows your flight controls, ship status, fuel reserves, active modules, and nearby interactions. Learning how to read this information is just as important as learning how to fly.

  1. Tutorial Overview: Displays your current tutorial objectives. If you wish to restart or skip the tutorial, click the Star icon in the top-left corner and select the appropriate option.
  2. Flight Management: Displays your vessel's movement vector, throttle settings, and directional indicators. Monitor your speed carefully as ships carry momentum and do not stop instantly.
  3. Capacitor Meter: Located near your active modules, your capacitor powers many ship systems. Weapons, scanners, repair modules, and utility equipment consume capacitor energy when activated.
  4. Action Bar & Module Slots: Displays your fitted modules and consumables. Modules can be activated using either their assigned hotkeys or by clicking their icons directly.
  5. Ship Status Panel: Located in the lower-left corner, this panel displays:
    1. Fuel reserves
    2. Ship integrity
    3. Shell Vitality
    4. External temperature
    5. Internal heat levels
  6. Interaction Options: Nearby objects may provide contextual actions such as:
    1. Approach
    2. Lock Target
    3. Dock
    4. Interact
    5. Show Info
    6. Align To
    7. Set Destination
  7. Navigation & Warp Options: Celestial objects and structures can be used for longer-distance navigation through warp travel.
  8. Inventory & Jettison: Any item in your inventory can be discarded by right-clicking and selecting Jettison, creating a cargo container in space.

Survival Tip: The Frontier rarely warns you before things go wrong. Learn to monitor your fuel, ship condition, and environmental hazards regularly.

Checkpoint 2 - Take the Flight Controls:

Now that you understand your HUD, it's time to learn how your Creation moves through space.

Assisted Flight (Default)

Assisted Flight allows your Creation to steer toward wherever you're looking. Rather than manually controlling every aspect of your ship's orientation, your vessel automatically aligns itself with your aiming reticle.

  1. Move your mouse to direct your ship.
  2. Adjust throttle to control speed.
  3. Use strafing controls to maneuver around obstacles and targets.

Strafing Controls

While using Assisted Flight:

  1. W / S = Vertical Strafe Up / Down
  2. A / D = Horizontal Strafe Left / Right

This allows for more precise maneuvering while your ship automatically handles orientation.

Manual Flight

For Riders who prefer the original control scheme, Manual Flight remains available through the Settings menu.

Manual Flight provides direct control over:

  1. Pitch
  2. Yaw
  3. Roll
  4. Strafing

Additional Flight Features

  1. Use the Brake command to rapidly reduce velocity.
  2. Ships now retain throttle settings during a Leap.
  3. Different hulls may handle and brake differently.

Your ship has momentum. Releasing the controls does not stop movement immediately.

Learning how inertia affects your vessel is one of the first survival lessons every Rider must master.

Checkpoint 3: Dock and Resupply

Your first priority after learning how to fly is ensuring your Creation has enough fuel and supplies to survive beyond the Crèche.

Locate a Supply Dock

Fly toward a nearby Supply Dock.

As you approach, a docking indicator will appear showing your distance from the docking radius.

When you see:

"Press F to Dock"

simply press F.

Your ship will automatically move into position and connect to the Dock.

Resupply Your Creation

After docking:

  1. Open the Supply Dock Inventory and locate your first Leap Module. Once equipped, it will significantly improve your ability to travel and navigate across Frontier.
  2. Transfer available materials to your ship.
  3. Collect any starter supplies provided.

These resources will help establish your early survival capabilities.

Refuel

Before departing:

  1. Access the Dock's fuel reserves.
  2. Transfer fuel into your tank.
  3. Confirm your reserves are sufficient for travel.

A ship without fuel is little more than floating wreckage.

Checkpoint 4: Acquire Your First Gravity Sensor

Your next goal is expanding your ability to detect and investigate the unknown.

The Gravity Sensor is one of the most important exploration modules available to a new Rider.

It allows you to detect and resolve signatures while also providing access to the Directional Scanner.

Option 1: Obtain One from an Access Dock

Travel to an Access Dock and retrieve a Gravity Sensor from its available inventory.

Option 2: Manufacture One Yourself

Your Creation comes equipped with basic industry facilities capable of manufacturing many early-game modules.

  1. Press Alt + I to open Industry.
  2. Locate the Gravity Sensor blueprint.
  3. Deposit the required materials.
  4. Begin production.
  5. Withdraw the completed module.

Why the Gravity Sensor Matters

Without sensor equipment, much of the Frontier remains hidden.

Your Gravity Sensor allows you to:

  1. Detect signatures.
  2. Resolve unknown objects.
  3. Discover new locations.
  4. Operate the Directional Scanner.

The better your sensor coverage, the more information you'll gather before committing to dangerous situations.

Checkpoint 5: Fit, Power, and Activate

Manufacturing a module is only the first step. To gain any benefit from it, you must install and power it.

  1. Step 1: Press Alt + H to access Ship Management.

  2. Step 2: Locate the Gravity Sensor in your inventory. Drag it into an available interior slot within your vessel.

    Your Gravity Sensor is now physically fitted to your ship.

  3. Step 4: Open the Power Management tab. Locate the Gravity Sensor and switch it online.

    Modules only function while powered.

  4. Step 5: Once powered, your sensor systems become active and begin detecting nearby signatures.

You are now ready to begin exploring beyond visible space.

Checkpoint 6: Exploration, Discovery, and Signatures

The Frontier is no longer completely visible from the start. Riders need to gradually uncover the galaxy through exploration.

Discovering New Systems

Your StarMap only displays:

  1. Systems you've personally discovered.
  2. Systems detected by your sensors.

Unknown systems appear as charted outlines until explored.

Once visited, the map reveals:

  1. System names
  2. Planets
  3. Moons
  4. Stargates

Resolving Signatures

As your sensors detect activity:

  1. Unknown objects appear as unresolved signatures.
  2. Resolved signatures become identified locations or entities.
  3. Important objects receive enhanced visual emphasis.

Directional Scanner

The Gravity Sensor now provides access to the Directional Scanner.

Use it to investigate:

  1. Ship activity
  2. Structures
  3. Resource locations
  4. Unknown contacts

Good pilots use information before committing to risk. Great pilots survive because of it.

Checkpoint 7: Asteroid Mining and Resource Extraction

Mining has changed significantly in Cycle 7.

Asteroids are no longer simple objects that gradually disappear as you mine them.

They now possess layered interiors, varying compositions, and valuable materials hidden beneath their surface.

Acquire a Cutting Laser

Manufacture or obtain a:

  1. Small Cutting Laser
  2. Synthetic Mining Lens

Install the Cutting Laser as an Exterior Module.

Loading Your Mining Lens

You can load a Mining Lens by:

  1. Using the Action Bar.
  2. Dragging the lens onto the laser.
  3. Using the inventory right-click menu.

Finding Asteroids

The Frontier now contains numerous asteroid families, including:

  1. Char
  2. Ingot
  3. Flint
  4. Mire
  5. Ember
  6. Spar
  7. Glaze

Many asteroids also exist in variants such as:

  1. Prime
  2. Core
  3. Deep
  4. Shocked
  5. Hollow

Mining Procedure

  1. Approach within approximately 12 km.
  2. Activate your Cutting Laser.
  3. Aim at the asteroid surface.
  4. Cut through outer layers.
  5. Break off material from the rock.
  6. Collect released regolith fragments.

Regolith Families

Materials are categorized into five major resource groups:

  1. Silicate
  2. Carbonaceous
  3. Metallic
  4. Sulfide
  5. Volatile

Different asteroid layers may contain different materials beneath the surface.

Following valuable veins and exposed seams is part of mining efficiently.

Checkpoint 8: Read the Stars - Charting the Unknown

You've learned to fly. You've learned to survive.

Now it's time to discover where you are.

The Frontier no longer reveals itself all at once. Every Rider's StarMap is now unique, built from personal discoveries and sensor detections.

Step 1 - Open the StarMap

Press M to open the StarMap.

Unlike earlier cycles, you won't see the entire galaxy immediately. Your map only displays systems that:

  1. You've personally explored.
  2. Your sensors have detected.

Unknown systems appear as charted outlines marked as [Unexplored].

Step 2 - Follow Sensor Contacts

Stars can often be detected long before you're close enough to visit them.

Different stars emit different signatures:

  1. Bright stars can be detected from farther away.
  2. Dim stars require closer observation.
  3. Some systems may appear through one sensor channel before appearing through another.

Exploration begins long before you jump there.

Step 3 - Resolve New Systems

When you travel into a newly discovered system, additional information becomes available:

  1. Star name
  2. Planetary bodies
  3. Moons
  4. Stargates
  5. Orbital locations

The more you travel, the larger your personal map becomes.

Step 4 - Route Planning

Route planning only functions through systems that you've already discovered.

There may be shorter routes through unexplored territory, but finding them is part of the Frontier experience.

Step 5 - Understand Multi-Star Systems

Many systems now contain multiple stars.

Your compass displays every visible star within the system:

  1. Primary stars appear larger.
  2. Companion stars appear smaller.
  3. Star colors become visible once fully resolved.

Every expedition expands your knowledge of the galaxy.

Rider's Tip: Exploration is permanent for your character. Once discovered, a system remains charted on future journeys.

Checkpoint 9: Build Your First Refuge

Every Rider eventually needs a safe harbor.

A Refuge provides protection, storage access, and a secure docking location.

Step 1 - Gather Construction Materials

Use your cutting laser and industry facilities to acquire the resources needed for construction.

Mining, refining, and logistics are now core parts of Frontier progression.

Step 2 - Open Build Mode

Press B to open the Build Menu.

Select Refuge.

Step 3 - Place the Structure

Position your Refuge at a suitable location.

Before construction begins, the Refuge exists as a ghost blueprint.

You may:

  1. Reposition it.
  2. Rotate it.
  3. Plan nearby infrastructure.

No resources are consumed until construction begins.

Step 4 - Construct the Refuge

Deposit the required materials and begin construction.

Once complete:

  1. Bring the structure Online.
  2. Verify operational status.

Step 5 - Dock Using the Docking Clamp

Approach your Refuge until "Press F to Dock" appears. Press F.

Your vessel automatically aligns and docks.

While docked:

  1. Your ship remains protected.
  2. You can access structure services.
  3. You can safely log off.

Survival Tip: Docking at a Refuge is one of the safest ways to protect your vessel while offline.

Checkpoint 10: Expanding Your Presence

A Refuge is only the beginning.

As you gather resources and expand your knowledge of the Frontier, you'll gain access to:

  1. Printers
  2. Refineries
  3. Network Nodes
  4. Storage Assemblies
  5. Stargates
  6. Industrial Infrastructure

Now the journey is yours.

The Frontier rewards those who prepare, adapt, and dare to venture into the unknown. Every Rider starts with a single Creation and a simple Refuge, but what comes next is entirely your story.

See you in the void, Rider! o7

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