November turned out to be a pretty nice month for me. I got a few chances to put the new Rorqual to good use which I was happy for considering the price. I also had the chance to get my logistics in Empire wrapped up and settle myself fully in 0.0 again; it's just amazing how spread out you can get your stuff. On the PvP front, not a very successful month but also no major losses which makes it just fine in my book. Still it was nice to get out and have a little PvP fun again, it's been a while.
There is a lot of big news from CCP and I am absolutely thrilled that they have finally made an effort to "fix the little things" that players have been asking for. I hope they stick to this and continue to improve EvE. I am also very happy that they decided to stage Incursion instead of push out incomplete features that neither CCP or the player-base would be happy with. It really looks like the efforts of the latest CSM have paid off and I think all EvE players should be proud of that!
30 November 2010
21 November 2010
Lo-Sec - yes, it sucks
I've regularly avoided entering the discussion on hi-sec, lo-sec, and null-sec and why any one is better than another. In reality there are differences that should be addressed and in my opinion CCP needs to realize that putting more "loot" in lo-sec is not going to make it any better.
To help explain this I want you to consider New Eden to be an ecosystem. With that said please imagine hi-sec to be the land ecosystem. Here a person is relatively safe from danger. Of course there are criminals here that are willing to forgo the protections of civilized society in order to damage other's property but in general they are the exception rather than the rule.
Skipping ahead a bit I would like you to imagine null-sec as the deep sea ecosystem. Here, in the deep of the sea humans are able to hide, to fight small battles at will, and to field the mighty warships that have made us great. We have flexibility here! We can establish empires here! We can take empires here if we do not like how they are run! We can hide within the depths of the sea and disappear into the dark if we must. These are the problems and the benefits of the ocean, as well as the reason so many pilots love null-sec space.
And now... just consider lo-sec to be what it really is! It is a tidewater, a break between the land and the sea that ebbs and flows. At times it is fine; a grand place to stage fleets for money making ventures. But at times it isn't so friendly; being the most unrelentingly turbulent place that can be imagined. Yes, I have already painted lo-sec space in a negative light and I won't apologize for that. In lo-sec CCP has created an area where no pilot wants to go except for those few who prey on the pilots who either: are forced to pass through or are too new to understand why it's dangerous. This area of space is more ridiculous than anything because it doesn't fit the fiction or the form of the game yet we are expected to accept it as pilots.
While this seems like a fair system because every pilot must pass through the slums of lo-sec to get to their destination; in reality it is not. Personally, I no longer pass through lo-sec with anything other than a frigate that has a cynosural field generator attached. By using Jump Freighters, or other capital ships I am able to almost completely by-pass low security space. Many alliances do this, which leaves only the singular pilot or the poorer alliances in lo-sec space.
I have heard all of the arguments ranging from "alliances as powerful as CVA started in lo-sec" to "if you don't want to be there don't go there." If you think about both of those arguments they don't hold water in my opinion. Firstly CVA did begin in lo-sec but that was a staging ground for a concerted attack on 0.0 space and (what many current pilots seem to overlook) tat happened in a time LONG before the area was truly contested. Secondly, I know many pilots who don't want to be in lo-sec. They often want to go to 0.0 where they can use their interdictors, their stealth bombers, even their frigates at full effectiveness. However in order to do so they are forced to pass through lo-sec space where they may be killed by pirates who know that those pilots are only passing through.
So what should CCP do? I know I don't have the answer, but I do know that it won't matter if they make lo-sec space rewards a 100,000,000 times greater than any other area, the drawbacks will still keep pilots out. It need much more work than a little better reward system which seems to be the plan of incursion...
To help explain this I want you to consider New Eden to be an ecosystem. With that said please imagine hi-sec to be the land ecosystem. Here a person is relatively safe from danger. Of course there are criminals here that are willing to forgo the protections of civilized society in order to damage other's property but in general they are the exception rather than the rule.
Skipping ahead a bit I would like you to imagine null-sec as the deep sea ecosystem. Here, in the deep of the sea humans are able to hide, to fight small battles at will, and to field the mighty warships that have made us great. We have flexibility here! We can establish empires here! We can take empires here if we do not like how they are run! We can hide within the depths of the sea and disappear into the dark if we must. These are the problems and the benefits of the ocean, as well as the reason so many pilots love null-sec space.
And now... just consider lo-sec to be what it really is! It is a tidewater, a break between the land and the sea that ebbs and flows. At times it is fine; a grand place to stage fleets for money making ventures. But at times it isn't so friendly; being the most unrelentingly turbulent place that can be imagined. Yes, I have already painted lo-sec space in a negative light and I won't apologize for that. In lo-sec CCP has created an area where no pilot wants to go except for those few who prey on the pilots who either: are forced to pass through or are too new to understand why it's dangerous. This area of space is more ridiculous than anything because it doesn't fit the fiction or the form of the game yet we are expected to accept it as pilots.
While this seems like a fair system because every pilot must pass through the slums of lo-sec to get to their destination; in reality it is not. Personally, I no longer pass through lo-sec with anything other than a frigate that has a cynosural field generator attached. By using Jump Freighters, or other capital ships I am able to almost completely by-pass low security space. Many alliances do this, which leaves only the singular pilot or the poorer alliances in lo-sec space.
I have heard all of the arguments ranging from "alliances as powerful as CVA started in lo-sec" to "if you don't want to be there don't go there." If you think about both of those arguments they don't hold water in my opinion. Firstly CVA did begin in lo-sec but that was a staging ground for a concerted attack on 0.0 space and (what many current pilots seem to overlook) tat happened in a time LONG before the area was truly contested. Secondly, I know many pilots who don't want to be in lo-sec. They often want to go to 0.0 where they can use their interdictors, their stealth bombers, even their frigates at full effectiveness. However in order to do so they are forced to pass through lo-sec space where they may be killed by pirates who know that those pilots are only passing through.
So what should CCP do? I know I don't have the answer, but I do know that it won't matter if they make lo-sec space rewards a 100,000,000 times greater than any other area, the drawbacks will still keep pilots out. It need much more work than a little better reward system which seems to be the plan of incursion...
16 November 2010
Fail Mail - Uh... What?
I'm not trying to steal Ga’len's awesome fail mail Friday's but I just had to share this one that I ran across. This weekend while roaming I was involved in some kills against my former alliance Fatal Ascension and while looking for those I found this.
Now to me this looks like a mining Archon which was odd enough when I first ran across it. But on closer inspection I noticed that this beauty is sporting a pair of "Large Armor Repairer II's" and a "Large Remote Armor Repair System I" instead of capital mods. Also note that the single rig is a "Large Drone Mining Augmentor I."
Eve-Kill Link:
http://eve-kill.net/?a=kill_detail&kll_id=8069519
Eft Fitting:.
Now to me this looks like a mining Archon which was odd enough when I first ran across it. But on closer inspection I noticed that this beauty is sporting a pair of "Large Armor Repairer II's" and a "Large Remote Armor Repair System I" instead of capital mods. Also note that the single rig is a "Large Drone Mining Augmentor I."
Eve-Kill Link:
http://eve-kill.net/?a=kill_detail&kll_id=8069519
Eft Fitting:.
[Archon, Sevano Markeen's Archon]Large Armor Repairer II
Large Armor Repairer II
Expanded Cargohold I
Expanded Cargohold II
Expanded Cargohold II
Expanded Cargohold II
Expanded Cargohold II
Cap Recharger II
Cap Recharger II
Large Remote Armor Repair System I
Prototype Cloaking Device I
Drone Control Unit I
Drone Control Unit I
Drone Control Unit I
Large Drone Mining Augmentor I
Einherji x1
Einherji x1
Einherji x1
Einherji x1
Einherji x1
Einherji x1
Hammerhead I x1
Hammerhead I x1
Hammerhead I x1
Hammerhead I x1
Hammerhead I x1
Hammerhead I x1
Hammerhead I x1
Hammerhead I x1
Hammerhead I x1
Hammerhead I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Mining Drone I x1
Templar x1
Templar x1
Vespa II x1
Vespa II x1
Vespa II x1
Vespa II x1
Warrior II x1
"
Odds and Ends
Just a quick note that I've updated the blog to reflect my new corporation in the "My EvE Life" section as well as the about me section. Also, Dashavata is currently recruiting on a limited level so head over to our forum for more details. You may contact Erbie in game if you have questions.
I have also added a section with my favorite blogs. Mainly these blogs represent the writers I enjoy the most as well as those who keep me up to date with EvE the best. I added the Dev and EvE news feeds as well for anyone who doesn't catch them as much with Capsuleer gone (ie. me).
I have also added a section with my favorite blogs. Mainly these blogs represent the writers I enjoy the most as well as those who keep me up to date with EvE the best. I added the Dev and EvE news feeds as well for anyone who doesn't catch them as much with Capsuleer gone (ie. me).
10 November 2010
EvE: Games of Chance
It's been a very busy week both in game and out but I've been blowing off a little steam with a touch of EvE Online Hold'em and far more mini lotteries at SOMER.blink than I want to admit. My streak of zero luck in EvE based games of chance is still intact and despite loving EOH I've had to pull out for a third time to avoid losing all of my ISK.
SOMER.blink on the other hand is something I really just discovered, even though I have known about it for a while. Now that I've started I don't think I can stop, but I will certainly be taking a break before I go broke. Even though I have lost 7 "blinks" this is addicting and really quite fun, so head over there and check it out if you haven't already. I believe you need to sign up via the in game browser but you can use your regular browser to play once you have registered.
SOMER.blink on the other hand is something I really just discovered, even though I have known about it for a while. Now that I've started I don't think I can stop, but I will certainly be taking a break before I go broke. Even though I have lost 7 "blinks" this is addicting and really quite fun, so head over there and check it out if you haven't already. I believe you need to sign up via the in game browser but you can use your regular browser to play once you have registered.
08 November 2010
New Player Guide: Racial Ships
This is a guide to the racial ships of EvE online. As you may already know the best part about EvE is that your racial choice is almost entirely for role play reasons and you are allowed to fly any ship you choose (given the proper time to train the skills). Since EvE has a time based training system (which is not actually related to play time) you can technically fly anything in the game if you so choose.
Of course you have to start somewhere so what follows is a description of each race's ships in general terms. There are always ships which do not fit the mold of their race; these outliers which will be discussed in the future.
I will outline each race in what I consider to be "noob" friendliness (from most new player friendly to most experience friendly). The most important thing to remember as you learn about each racial ship type is that EvE is a balancing act and no ship, race, or setup is perfect; New Eden is a sandbox and it is 100% impossible to predict what your enemy may be flying. When fighting NPC's never forget that the management of aggression and knowing what you are getting into are more important than skills in many cases. Check out EvE Survival to find out what the mission you are about to accept entails.
This guide has been written as of the Tyrannis version of EvE and will be updated with annotations to account for future releases. There will also be a small follow up for the best mixed race ships as well as the best ships not made by the four playable factions of EvE.
Of course you have to start somewhere so what follows is a description of each race's ships in general terms. There are always ships which do not fit the mold of their race; these outliers which will be discussed in the future.
I will outline each race in what I consider to be "noob" friendliness (from most new player friendly to most experience friendly). The most important thing to remember as you learn about each racial ship type is that EvE is a balancing act and no ship, race, or setup is perfect; New Eden is a sandbox and it is 100% impossible to predict what your enemy may be flying. When fighting NPC's never forget that the management of aggression and knowing what you are getting into are more important than skills in many cases. Check out EvE Survival to find out what the mission you are about to accept entails.
This guide has been written as of the Tyrannis version of EvE and will be updated with annotations to account for future releases. There will also be a small follow up for the best mixed race ships as well as the best ships not made by the four playable factions of EvE.
05 November 2010
Rorqual
Every time I get a little ISK it starts to burn a hole in my pocket. This time I think I've decided to go ahead and pull the trigger on the Rorqual that I have wanted for some time now. No, I don't mine as much these days as I used to but in my opinion this is a very versatile ship.
Not only is it a mini Jump Freighter but with the bonuses to Shield repairers and Capital Tractor Beams the Rorqual would be a very nice counterpart to my Thanatos. Since I doubt I will ever be able to hold onto to enough ISK to get my Anshar this is like a miniaturized version that just happens to have a ton of other uses as well, so it's a win-win. Right now there don't seem to any good deals out there as even the best contract doesn't come with a capital shield booster or cargo rigs. It looks like I may have to put the whole thing together, which isn't really that bad but is a little annoying. If so Pyro Tech Industries has always been great for corp mates and friends so I'll probably just go to them.
Not only is it a mini Jump Freighter but with the bonuses to Shield repairers and Capital Tractor Beams the Rorqual would be a very nice counterpart to my Thanatos. Since I doubt I will ever be able to hold onto to enough ISK to get my Anshar this is like a miniaturized version that just happens to have a ton of other uses as well, so it's a win-win. Right now there don't seem to any good deals out there as even the best contract doesn't come with a capital shield booster or cargo rigs. It looks like I may have to put the whole thing together, which isn't really that bad but is a little annoying. If so Pyro Tech Industries has always been great for corp mates and friends so I'll probably just go to them.
04 November 2010
Carebear'n
Not a particularly busy week but after settling into the space occupied by my new corp I've been carebearing quite a bit to build up my reserves. To be honest it's actually a little weird to be living in a deep 0.0 pocket without much red/neutral interference. In the roughly two weeks I've been here I have been bothered by exactly one incursion of neutral forces. They did manage to destroy my ratting Dominix which I brought into the fight in order to help save a corp mate (who survived by the way). Of course I had planned to lose the ship at some point in 0.0 so it was un-rigged and fully insured.
Having cut my teeth in Providence, moved on to Scalding Pass for -FA-'s practice run at sovereignty, and then to Cloud Ring for the real thing it is definitely a little odd to be left alone most of the day.
There are no cloaky U'K waiting around all day for a lone ratter to slip up. No roaming French gangs looking for someone who didn't pay enough attention. In a way I miss all that action, especially the days of U'K vs CVA. I'm sure more than enough action will come to my sleepy corner soon enough and I may regret those words but for now I think I'm going to have to suit up and go find some PvP.
Having cut my teeth in Providence, moved on to Scalding Pass for -FA-'s practice run at sovereignty, and then to Cloud Ring for the real thing it is definitely a little odd to be left alone most of the day.
There are no cloaky U'K waiting around all day for a lone ratter to slip up. No roaming French gangs looking for someone who didn't pay enough attention. In a way I miss all that action, especially the days of U'K vs CVA. I'm sure more than enough action will come to my sleepy corner soon enough and I may regret those words but for now I think I'm going to have to suit up and go find some PvP.