EVE Online
EVE Online

Planetary Interaction (PI)

Master Planetary Interaction (PI) in EVE Online. Learn to extract raw materials from planets and process them into valuable goods for manufacturing and the eco.

·Multi-source verified (45/45)

Planetary Interaction (PI)

Planetary Interaction (PI) is a lucrative and engaging aspect of EVE Online that allows capsuleers to extract raw materials from planets and process them into more valuable goods. These goods are essential for various manufacturing processes, including player-owned station modules and Nanite Repair Paste, making PI a vital part of the New Eden economy. While it might seem complex at first, a structured approach will have you generating passive income in no time.

Understanding the Basics of PI

At its core, PI involves deploying structures on a planet's surface to harvest resources and then processing those resources. The type of resources available varies greatly depending on the planet's classification (e.g., Barren, Gas, Ice, Lava, Oceanic, Plasma, Storm, Temperate).

Key PI Structures:

  • Command Center (CC): The central hub of your PI operation on a planet. It provides power and CPU for other structures and acts as a storage facility. You can only have one per planet.
  • Extractor Control Unit (ECU): Deployed over resource hotspots, these units extract raw materials from the planet's crust.
  • Extractor Heads: Attached to ECUs, these individual drills extract the resources. More heads mean faster extraction.
  • Processors (Basic, Advanced, High-Tech): These structures refine raw materials into progressively more complex products.
    • Basic Processors: Convert raw materials (P0) into P1 (e.g., Aqueous Liquids into Water).
    • Advanced Processors: Convert P1 into P2 (e.g., Water and Electrolytes into Coolants).
    • High-Tech Processors: Convert P2 into P3 (e.g., Coolants and Mechanical Parts into Robotics).
  • Storage Facilities: Provide additional storage capacity for extracted and processed goods.
  • Launchpads: Used to launch processed goods into orbit for collection by your ship.
  • Links: Connect all your structures, consuming CPU and Power Grid from your Command Center.

Setting Up Your First PI Colony: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Step 1: Skill Training

Before you even undock, ensure you have the necessary skills. Prioritize these:

  • Command Center Upgrades (CCU): Increases the CPU and Power Grid of your Command Centers, allowing for more structures. Aim for at least Level III, ideally IV or V.
  • Planetary Management: Increases the number of planets you can manage simultaneously. Each level grants one additional planet.
  • Remote Sensing: Improves the accuracy of your planetary scans for resource hotspots.
  • Interplanetary Consolidation: Reduces the CPU and Power Grid usage of links, crucial for efficient layouts.

Step 2: Choosing Your Planet and Resources

This is a critical decision. Open your star map (F10), right-click on a planet, and select "View Planetary Industry." This will bring up the planet's topographical map and resource distribution. Look for planets with high concentrations of the raw materials (P0) you need for your desired P1, P2, or P3 products. Common early-game P0 resources include:

  • Aqueous Liquids (Oceanic/Temperate planets)
  • Base Metals (Barren/Lava planets)
  • Carbon Compounds (Temperate/Barren planets)
  • Felsic Magma (Lava/Plasma planets)
  • Noble Gas (Gas planets)

A good starting strategy is to focus on producing a single P2 or P3 item that is in demand on the market. For example, if you aim for Robotics (P3), you'll need Coolants (P2) and Mechanical Parts (P2). This means you'll need to extract Aqueous Liquids and Electrolytes for Coolants, and Base Metals and Reactive Metals for Mechanical Parts. You might need multiple planets for this.

Step 3: Deploying Your Command Center

  1. Fly your ship to the chosen planet.
  2. Right-click on the planet in space and select "View Planetary Industry."
  3. In the PI interface, click the "Deploy Command Center" button.
  4. Place the Command Center strategically. While its exact location isn't as critical as ECUs, try to place it somewhat centrally to your planned extraction areas to minimize link length.
  5. Click "Submit" to deploy.

Step 4: Setting Up Extraction

  1. Select your Command Center in the PI interface.
  2. Click the "Extractor Control Unit" button.
  3. Drag and drop the ECU onto a rich resource hotspot (indicated by darker colors on the resource overlay).
  4. Click on the deployed ECU and then the "Extractor Program" tab.
  5. Drag the "Extractor Heads" onto the resource hotspot. Aim to cover as much of the darkest (richest) area as possible. You can adjust the cycle time and number of heads. A shorter cycle time extracts more frequently but depletes the resource faster.
  6. Click "Start Extraction" and then "Submit."

Step 5: Establishing Processing Chains

This is where your raw materials become valuable products.

  1. Deploy Processors: Click the "Processor" button and choose the appropriate processor type (Basic, Advanced, High-Tech). Place them near your Command Center or other processors to minimize link length.
  2. Configure Processors:
    • Click on a processor.
    • Select the input material (e.g., Aqueous Liquids for a Basic Processor).
    • Select the output product (e.g., Water).
    • Click "Start Program" and "Submit."
  3. Create Links:
    • Click on your Command Center.
    • Click the "Create Link" button.
    • Drag a link from the Command Center to your ECU, then from the ECU to your first processor, and so on.
    • Links consume CPU and Power Grid. Keep them as short as possible.
  4. Set Up Routes: This tells your structures where to send materials.
    • Click on the structure that is producing materials (e.g., your ECU).
    • Click the "Create Route" button.
    • Drag a route from the output of the ECU to the input of your Basic Processor.
    • Repeat this for all steps in your production chain: Basic Processor output to Advanced Processor input, Advanced Processor output to High-Tech Processor input, and finally, the High-Tech Processor output to a Storage Facility or Launchpad.
    • Click "Submit" after creating all routes.

Step 6: Deploying Storage and Launchpads

Once your products are made, you need to store them and get them off the planet.

  1. Storage Facility: Deploy a Storage Facility near the end of your production chain. Route your final product to its input.
  2. Launchpad: Deploy a Launchpad. Route your final product from the Storage Facility to the Launchpad's input.
  3. Launch to Orbit: When you're ready to collect, click on the Launchpad, then "Launch to Orbit." This will create an orbital customs office container that you can pick up with your ship.

Collecting Your Goods

Once your Launchpad has launched items to orbit, you will see a customs office container in space near the planet. Fly your ship to this container and loot its contents. Be aware that these containers are visible to other players and can be stolen in low-sec or null-sec space.

Maintenance and Optimization

  • Regular Checks: Your extractor programs will deplete resources over time. Check your PI colonies every 1-3 days to reposition extractor heads to new hotspots or adjust programs.
  • Skill Progression: Continue training Command Center Upgrades and Interplanetary Consolidation to expand your operations and improve efficiency.
  • Market Research: Always check the market for the demand and price of your chosen P2/P3 products. Prices fluctuate, and adapting your production can significantly increase your profits.
  • Multiple Planets: As your Planetary Management skill increases, expand to more planets, potentially specializing each planet for a specific P0 to P1 or P1 to P2 conversion, then shipping P1/P2 to a central processing planet for P3/P4 production.

PI is a marathon, not a sprint. With careful planning and consistent management, it can become a significant source of passive income in EVE Online.