Detour into the unknown: My first steps into Exploration flying a Heron

I'm hitting pause on my Enforcer grind—and my eventual dive into PvP—to try something completely different: Exploration.

After months of security missions and getting my Merlin into proper fighting shape, I figured it was time to learn scanning, cloaking, and the art of sneaking around New Eden. You know, useful skills for not getting podded too quickly when I finally do jump into PvP.

Right now I'm sitting at 665 out of 750 Enforcer points (still not entirely sure what that means, but it sounds impressive). I could push through those last 85 points running the same missions over and over, but that familiar itch kicked in—the one that whispers, what if you did something else?

So I took the detour.

The Heron arrives

I picked up the "An Introduction to Cosmic Signatures" mission chain, and my evening immediately veered sideways into exploration territory. Worst case scenario? I get bored and go back to pewpewing Guristas. Best case? I learn something new.

After finishing the second mission, I got handed a Heron. A pleasant surprise, especially since I'd watched an exploration tutorial earlier that day covering the Heron (pictured above)—and its sleeker cousin, the Buzzard (filing that one away for later).

And just like that, I had a new evening project.

Down the fitting rabbit hole

Here's the thing about EVE: getting a ship is easy. Learning the ship is where the game begins.

I fell headfirst into the fitting rabbit hole: What actually fits on a Heron? What almost fits, with the skills I have at the moment? What skills do I need to unlock Tech II versions of these modules? I bounced between market hubs, weighing cheap prices fifteen jumps away against paying a bit more for convenience at my current station.

This is what I landed on:

High Slots

• Core Probe Launcher I
• Prototype Cloaking Device I
• Salvager I

Mid Slots

• 5MN Microwarpdrive I
• Relic Analyzer I
• Data Analyzer I
• Scan Rangefinding Array I 
• Scan Pinpointing Array I 

Low Slots

• Nanofiber Internal Structure I
• Inertial Stabilizers I

Rigs

• Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I x2
• Small Low Friction Nozzle Joints I 

Cargo

• Core Scanner Probes x16
• Mobile Depot

I don't fully understand what half of these modules do yet—but that's part of the fun, right? I'll figure it out as I go, one module at a time. Or one "oh, that's how this works, eh?!" moment.

The road ahead 

I called it a night after buying half a dozen modules scattered across three or four systems, the farthest about fifteen jumps out (all in highsec, thankfully) and using my fully-fitted Merlin (pictured above) to safely go on a pick-up run. Tomorrow I'll finish fitting her out and see what this exploration thing is all about.

I'm still learning. Still rediscovering the game. And very much in the "new explorer" phase.

And honestly? I'm having a blast.

If any of you have some friendly advice on the Dos and Don'ts of Exploration, I'm all ears!