EVE Online: Mastering Planetary Interaction for Passive ISK

Introduction: What is Planetary Interaction (PI)?

Planetary Interaction (PI) is an EVE Online feature allowing capsuleers to build industrial colonies on planets, extracting valuable resources and processing them into commodities. While requiring initial setup and periodic adjustments, PI offers a reliable, semi-passive income stream, complementing more active ISK-generating pursuits.

The core loop involves establishing infrastructure, harvesting raw materials (P0), refining them through various stages (P1, P2, P3, P4), and transporting the finished goods to market hubs. It demands an investment of time and ISK upfront, but the ongoing maintenance is relatively low compared to activities like mission running or exploration.

Essential Skills and Requirements

To effectively build your PI empire, certain skills are crucial. Training these increases the number of planets you can exploit, the efficiency of your resource extraction, and the complexity of the production chains you can manage.

• Interplanetary Consolidation: Determines the maximum number of planets you can establish colonies on (up to 6 at level V). Essential for scaling your PI operations.
• Command Center Upgrades: Allows upgrading deployed Command Centers, significantly boosting their Powergrid (PG) and CPU output. This is vital for powering more complex colonies with numerous structures and links.
• Planetology: Improves the accuracy of your planetary resource scans, making it easier to identify resource-rich 'hotspots'. Required to train Advanced Planetology.
• Advanced Planetology: Further enhances scan accuracy, allowing for precise placement of extractor heads to maximize resource yield.
• Specific Industrial Skills: Skills like Gallente/Minmatar/etc. Industrial may be required to anchor certain advanced PI structures like specific factory types or Launchpads.

Setting Up Your First Planetary Colony

Begin by finding a promising planet. Access the 'Planetary Industry' view from your ship's interface or the system map. Scan planets to identify resource concentrations. Higher security space (high-sec) usually has lower resource wealth but is safer, while low-sec, null-sec, and wormhole space offer richer planets at greater risk. Note the Customs Office tax rate if present (mandatory in high/low-sec).

1. Deploy a Command Center (CC): This is your colony's heart. Select the CC type matching the planet (Barren, Temperate, Gas, etc.). Placement isn't critical for the CC itself, but consider potential future expansion.
2. Scan and Place Extractor Control Units (ECUs): Use the planetary scan overlay to find bright resource hotspots. Place ECUs nearby. Deploy Extractor Heads from the ECU over the brightest areas, adjusting the extraction area size and duration (more on this later). Avoid placing heads from different ECUs extracting the *same* resource too close, as yields diminish.
3. Install Processing Facilities: Build Basic or Advanced Industry Facilities to convert raw materials (P0) into processed goods (P1, P2, etc.). Each facility requires specific schematics for the desired product.
4. Set Up Storage: Build Launchpads or Storage Facilities (Silos) to hold materials. Launchpads double as storage and are essential for exporting goods off-world via the Customs Office.
5. Establish Links: Connect all structures with links to route materials. Start from the source (Extractor/Storage) and connect towards the destination (Processor/Launchpad). Links consume PG and CPU – upgrade them strategically.
6. Submit Changes: Once designed, submit your layout to build the structures.

Optimizing Extraction and Processing Chains

Profitability hinges on efficiency. Optimize extractor placement, streamline processing flows, and manage your colony's cycles effectively.

• Precise Extractor Head Placement: Use the detailed scan view to position individual extractor heads over the absolute peak resource concentrations shown as bright white areas.
• Efficient Processing Chains: Design logical flows (e.g., P0 -> P1 facilities -> P2 facilities -> Launchpad). Minimize link distances to save PG/CPU. Use online PI planning tools to design complex P2+ chains.
• Extraction Cycle Management: Shorter cycles (e.g., 1-2 days) potentially yield more resources per hour but require frequent resetting. Longer cycles (e.g., 1-2 weeks) are less hands-on but may extract less overall if resources deplete. Balance yield vs. your playtime.
• Strategic Upgrades: Upgrade your Command Center first for more PG/CPU. Then, upgrade links handling high volume or connecting power-hungry facilities. Upgrade structures if needed, but CC/Links are often the main bottlenecks.

Transporting and Selling Your Planetary Goods

Once processed, materials accumulate in your Launchpad. You need to launch them into space via the planet's Customs Office (accessible within docking range) and then transport them to a market.

• Exporting from Planet: Interact with the Customs Office, select your Launchpad, and initiate an 'Expedited Transfer' to move goods from the Launchpad to the Customs Office storage (incurs tax).
• Hauling: Use a suitable industrial ship to collect goods from the Customs Office hangar. The Gallente `Epithal` is specifically designed for PI hauling with a dedicated commodity bay. For risky low/null-sec hauling, consider a faster, cloaky Blockade Runner.
• Market Analysis: Sell your PI goods at major trade hubs like Jita, Amarr, Dodixie, or Rens. Use third-party tools (like Eve Tycoon or evemarketer.com) to check prices and demand across hubs to maximize profit.
• Selling Methods: Use standard market sell orders for common goods. For large volumes or specialized products, consider using public contracts to find buyers directly, potentially securing better prices or reducing market fees.

Advanced PI: Scaling Up Your Operation

Ready to dive deeper? Advanced strategies involve maximizing scale, targeting lucrative markets, and leveraging location advantages.

• Multi-Planet Empire: Utilize all available planet slots from your Interplanetary Consolidation skill. Specialize planets (extraction vs. factory) for peak efficiency.
• Target High-Tier Production: Producing P2, P3, or even P4 commodities used in T2 manufacturing, structure components, or fuel blocks can be significantly more profitable, though requires more complex setups and logistics.
• Location, Location, Location: Exploit the richer resources in low-sec, null-sec, or wormhole space. Player-owned Customs Offices in null/w-space often have zero tax but require joining the owning corporation/alliance. Balance risk vs. reward.
• Market Adaptation: PI market demands fluctuate based on EVE's economy (wars, updates, industry trends). Stay informed and be ready to adjust your production to meet current needs.

Resources for Further Learning

Continue your PI journey with these helpful resources:

• EVE University Wiki (Detailed PI Guides)
• Online PI Planners & Simulators (Search for current tools)
• EVE Online Forums & Reddit (r/eve)
• In-game Corporation/Alliance Knowledge Bases