Wednesday 27 April 2016

You got stuck out of your wormhole?

If you live in a wormhole, one day, that shifting door will shut down behind you.

It is embarrassing but it happens.  A little preparation goes a long way towards fixing this.

If you are flying in a wormhole, you have a probe launcher and 16 core scanner probes with you.  16 because sometimes the first 8 get lost.

Before you enter a wormhole, do a 'show info', and compare the text with this page.

Having access to probes and a launcher is even more important if you see any of :
  • This wormhole is reaching the end of its natural lifetime
  • This wormhole is on the verge of dissipating into the ether (I have never seen this message)
  • This wormhole has had its stability critically disrupted by the mass of numerous ships passing through and is on the verge of collapse
  • (or if you are in a capital, an orca, or a higgs rigged battleship: This wormhole has had its stability reduced by ships passing through it, but not to a critical degree yet
Please remember to make sure you have bookmarks for both sides of any wormhole you fly through.  

How to have probes regardless of what ship you fly


On a combat ship, a mobile depot and probes + launcher in the hold works well.

On my Epithals, my probe launchers are offline as I don't have the fitting for shields, stabs and launcher.  If I ever get stuck I can offline a shield, online a launcher and get back to empire space. Some ships have so called 'utility slots' that are unused for weapons

There is also the alt account.  Every Eve account has 3 pilots. Send in an alt with a T1 scanning frigate, prototype cloak, scanning mids, nanofibre lows and gravimetric rigs before you send in you pricey combat ship.

I have some 'recruit a friend' trial accounts for scanning alts.  21 days of training gives plenty of time for training astrometrics 4, astrometrics rangefinding/pinpointing/acquisition at 3 on 3 pilots.  Grab the same scanning frigate as above, but put the cloaking skillbook into the cargo hold.  Log off two of these pilots in any wormhole you may need (either defensive for getting home - or offensive for invading someone later).  When it comes time to activate your emergency pilot, you will get either a month of gametime or a plex on your main, essentially making your emergency alt very close to free.  You still need to pay approximately 10M ISK for skillbooks and a basic scanning frigate.

Note: you can not be logged into a trial account and a real account on the same computer at the same time, but you can create your alt, swap accounts and send ISK then log back in again.

If you are stuck in wormhole space


So, for better or worse the above advice is not followed.  Maybe your scanner had an encounter with slightly used ammunition.  Maybe the wormhole was collapsed by your scanning pilot returning home.


Are you truly stuck?  Did a corp member already scan down other exits?  Check your corporation and personal bookmarks.

If you get really stuck in a wormhole without a scanner, your options become limited. If you are in a cheap ship with a cheap set of implants (or even no implants), self destruct your ship for the insurance, then self destruct your pod.  This will be painful but may save you a lot of time.

If you are in a ship or pod too expensive to do this with, you are permitted to break the golden wormhole rule, and ask for help in local.  You are already in trouble, and maybe someone will help, or maybe they will help for a price.

http://www.torpedodelivery.com/wormhole-location/ may be worth a look.  I have never used their service, but would not rule it out either.

Look at the owners of any Customs Offices or POS (or even citadels?) in system and contact their CEO's or diplomats (from corp or alliance descriptions).

Watch the system in Zkillboard (eg https://zkillboard.com/system/31000477/ - just a random wormhole) looking for kills.  If someone is in there, you might be able to get bookmarks from them.


If you end up in a bad place in known space


If you get back to known space and are in an expensive ship, but are in a horrible place, pirates all around or hostiles between you and highsec, then note what system you are in and logout.

Grab another pilot, corp member, alt, or even a activate an emergency 'recruit a friend' alt.  There are some options for ships : A Yacht (Stats , Pricing ) - ideal for a brand new alt, an interceptor with scanner and cloak, ideally a T3 cruiser interdiction nullified and covert with plenty of stabs; and escort your main home.  This escort may be flying +1 system checking for camps or bubbles, or it might be scanning down wormholes or both. It might even be with an extra mobile depot in the hold and a set of warp core stabs (See also http://foo-eve.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/how-to-transfer-mobile-depot-in-deep.html )



Getting stuck without a scanner in a wormhole is something I try to avoid, but these are some tips to recover from disaster.

Saturday 23 April 2016

Drone Walkers Recruitment

Greetings and salutations!

I'm  Achaeus Amellion CEO of  Requiem Eternal and member of the Drone Walkers and I have an offer for you.

Let's look at what you do right now. You pay rent. BILLIONS of isk per month. To play the game. You spend your ingame money to make money.

What do you get for that? Systems to play in. Do you get defense? Do they protect your systems? Do they fight for you? No. They do not.

What happens, if you can't make a payment? Well they'll be bros and give you credit right? Wrong. They'll be lenient, but they expect that money on the next payment. If you don't pay? You get kicked, with all your assets locked up.

For the billions of isk you spend, are you getting access to all of the moons in the system?  No. You're not. They're keeping the moons, and collecting money FROM YOU, to help THEM keep their space safe.

Are you free? No. You're nothing but a slave. You work the fields, and they profit.


I SAY IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO TAKE YOUR CHAINS OFF!

Why should you make isk, only to hand it someone else?

Why should you pay isk, to someone who doesn't defend you?

COME JOIN DRONE WALKERS!


Drone Walkers has conquered the region of Tenal, and has a large amount of space in Cobalt Edge and Oasa already.

The war for the Drone Lands is underway.

Join us, and help us win.

If you join up with us, you can rat in Tenal, mine in Tenal, and not pay a single month's rent.

THERE ARE NO FEES TO LIVE WITH THE DRONE WALKERS

WHO ARE THE DRONE WALKERS?!??!?!?!??!?!

We are a coalition of former pvp alliances from the Drone Federation. We decided we were going to fight the CFC, whether we lost our space or not. THEN, the manager of the dronelands gathered us together, and talked to XIX, and they gave us PERMISSION to fight. We would NOT BE LOSING OUR SPACE for fighting the CFC. There was only one stipulation. We were told that when the CFC Won the War, we could not ask XIX for help to protect our space for them.We were told that whatever we conquered... We could decide what would happen.

So we decided, we would make Tenal a place to live, RENT FREE. Where NEIGHBORS, PROTECT NEIGHBORS. We would use R64 moons, to pay ihub bills, and purchase upgrades, all around the region.

They found out about this, and were PISSED. They wanted to consider Tenal part of their "Renter Empire." They wanted those R64s for themselves. Then the CFC started getting it's ass KICKED. They thought we would get broken on the CFC, and we'd be weaker and easier for them to manage. Then they saw how many people we were fielding in fleets. The manager of the dronelands, got us MONEY to fight the CFC. We didn't ask for it, but hey, isk is isk right?

Then the XIX Rentershitlords put out a statement, saying we were breaking the NIP. (CFC invaded Cobalt Edge two years ago, HELLO?!) They said we were taking isk, to break NIP. (Their manager is the one who gave it to us.) They said we broke an agreement by holding R64 moons. (They didn't fight for Tenal, why should they get them?)

Why do you align with this group? They're the worst! Come join us! Have a say in your future. Don't pay rent to the machine!

If you are interested in joining, please send me a mail or join this channel:  01100110 01110010 01100101 01100101

Regards, Achaeus Amellion


This is a mail I received from Achaeus to keep us informed.  If you are interested, evemail Achaeus Amellion or DoToo Foo

Thursday 21 April 2016

Entosis work

Stabs as a write up of enstosis work in CFC space at http://stabbedup.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/a-quick-mbc-entosis-primer.html .  I have a slightly different view.

I first flew entosis as part of a friendly land grant in Peregrin Falls, then in Tenal with Drone Walkers, and then attempting to defend that land grant.

I agree with Stab's that you really want 5 pilots in Entosis ships for a capture/defense event, and maybe a scout or two.  On top of this having a defense fleet nearby is a nice bonus but not necessary.

Either as an attacker or as a defender, make them commit to every node.  A single entosis griffon makes them attend.  As a defender, every minute you spend entossing you have a multiplier effect on them.

In my opinion, the reason that Drone walkers took Tenal so quickly the CFC simply did not show up.  People may have a shot at sewerfleet/swordfleet, but they slow down the advance.  Nothing fell as quickly as Tenal did.

An Entosis blackbird (or griffin), says bring friends or go home.  Or it should at least.  Instead, 20 AFK entosis nodes on that boat.

Eventually, we lost that space in Peregrin Falls (not everything goes Walker's way), but ... I kept the fighting 'over there' instead of at home.  We only had 4 pilots on to defend that station, and yes I would have preferred more.  We did tie up 40 pilots running around trying to pin us down.  More importantly the fighting was kept out there for another 4 days rather than at home.  4 Days is a lot of time to move things.

Peregrin falls and Oasa are not Tenal where CFC alliances evaporated without the ability to move goods.

I wanted our nullsec group to have the space in Peregrin Falls.  Not having it bothers me.  Our killboard is so red, it can be used as afood warmer.  We have too much bulky stuff to move quickly, and rumours of a huge volume of tritanium and P1 planetary interaction goo.

Good news though, all the P2 is safe.  The tech 2 ships, the modules, the compressed minerals, the middle value stuff are all moved.  Not as far as I would like, but good enough.  I have a trading alt in with my low value goo sitting in station.

Drone Walkers have Tenal.  CFC ... have parts of lowsec, at least until they form against Voltron.

Sunday 17 April 2016

Dotlan summary of the war

Dotlan has a few nice tools to watch the ebb and flow of the war.


http://evemaps.dotlan.net/sovereignty/live shows the systems that have fallen in the last 2 days in a 'Flag waving' perspective.  For all the talk that 'who wants to own sov?', the answer is plenty.  Player groups like their flag on the map.  Now some systems temporarily are missing Territorial claim units but I think that is because given a choice of importing ships or flags, players are moving ships.

Sov changes are actually a trailing indicator of power as sometimes the battles leading up to sov transfer have already been decided, and the flag planting is the formality coming later. Think 'Tenal' falling to Drone Walkers.

http://evemaps.dotlan.net/outposts/freeports shows the number of Free ports.  Any time an outpost is taken, it undergoes 2 days of being in freeport mode.  That there are currently 31 freeport outposts is remarkable.  By the time you have read this post it will change but there is still a lot of activity.

http://evemaps.dotlan.net/corp/movements shows the player movements.  Obviously, a large positive movement is a healthy sign, and vice versa.  Alliances, especially PVE ones, are under stress, and alliances are feeling the stress.  From what I have seen a large drop is either because the alliance has been smashed, or that there is a change in direction within the alliance and some are unhappy.  This especially applies to alliances on the front lines or have been swept over by the war.

Coalitions are being made and remade on a daily basis.  In my opinion, this war will set boundaries and the style of game we will be playing over the next 2 years.

Some players will flock to the strong, supporting a renter style arrangement for years to come.

Some players will take advantage to break out on their own.  Groups will say 'no more', and burn down the old renter space.

Some groups are obviously looking 'post war', at what the landscape will be with a lowsec based Goonswarm and no CFC.  They want to make sure peasants do not become too revolting. All some of those groups need to do is deny access to jump routes.  Shadow of XXdeath / Brothers of Tangra spring to mind, with the most to lose if renters decide they don't need to rent anymore.

Some will thrive on the stress.  Some (like me) will log on because internet pixels are important. Some will log off and wait for the wind to blow over.    Eve however is very much alive. Online Player count is up.



As pilots you have a choice.  There are boundaries to break and remake.  For me, I have taken a liking to the semi-AFK Entosis Blackbird.


Saturday 16 April 2016

War fire sales

Just a short note.

If there is war near you, you have docking rights and an exit to 'safe' (whatever that is - maybe a thera wormhole?) , then now is the time to pick up fire sales.

Lots of people being evicted, and looking to recover anything from their isk.

Me?  I have been making sure I can remote trade on my pilots for those items I can't move.  Visibility, Marketting, Tycoon, and an astero with a covert ops are all useful skills.  I don't need to be in station to trade, (though there are things owners can do to be painful).

A little bit of diplomacy would not go astray either.  Just because your alliance is red with someone, does not mean that is the only way to move things.  Black Frog Freight (business is booming), even public freighter contracts with collateral will all help.


Wednesday 13 April 2016

The CFC will be loving this

A non aggression pact is where you agree not to shoot each other.

A defense pact is where you agree to share enemies.

http://evenews24.com/2016/03/28/drone-walkers-invade-northern-imperium-space/ has an incomplete list of alliances in drone walkers, who ... are now apparently at war with Shadow of xXDeathXx.  https://www.reddit.com/r/Eve/comments/4e7c74/legion_of_xxdeathxx_declaration_of_war_against/

Day of the revolution



Revolution Day +2


Understanding is a three edged sword: Your side, their side and the truth (whatever that is).

I am confused about why this conflict came into being, but this is my poor understanding.

Once upon a time there was a B0tlrd agreement between the CFC and PL (pandemic legion).  The CFC and PL could provide protection for all, PL under the Brothers of Tangra (B0t) banner.

Fozziesov was announced, and Xxdeath took over many of the PL (Bot) systems, and 'ownership' of the renters.

Fozziesov dropped and the renters largely stopped paying rent, but still existed at the pleasure of PL and Xxdeath.

The CFC and their allies have been needled by the goblin for a while, showing that the CFC were not all powerful, and resistance was not entirely futile.  The Casino War happened (now also called World War Bee) CFC space from the south burned.

The Ex-Renters formed Drone Walkers and with a rumor of acknowledgement from Xxdeath, and took Tenal, previously controlled by the CFC.

Xxdeath even joined the party and took G-LOIT and E-SCTX from Lawn (affiliated with the CFC).

Drone Walkers have visions of independence but were (at least at a line level) focused on CFC territories.

Something got up Xxdeath's nose.  Was it one of the sov transfers going to the 'wrong/right' group? Was it CFC saying please explain to Xxdeath?  Is it Xxdeath wanting dreams of servant renters paying oodles of ISK again? Was it really Xxdeath complaining about Drone Walkers taking space ... when Xxdeath was also taking space?  Maybe all it takes is Drone Walkers not following Xxdeath orders.

This has split the Drone Walkers to a degree, with especially BlackNova Mercenaries and Southern Syndicate declaring for Xxdeath.

As of writing this post, Tenal is Drone walkers, with a few timers to defend.  Cobalt Edge has Xxdeath systems still in flames.  Oasa is kinda quiet, and for the first time ever, I have seen sov space unclaimed.  Peregrin Falls has Drone Walkers systems in flames with some defensive operations to come. In Malpais,  Phonix Company  ( part of Drone Walkers) is taking heat from

I am a slow blogger.  Each post can take me days to write.  I start off with a 1/2 baked idea, and try to work on it with research.  I have posts that are simply not keeping up with the whiplash of events.  Who knows, by tomorrow, this is probably out of date

I have a grr bias, and support the smaller group, especially when the larger groups show weakness.  I do not understand why any small group is actively supporting either Xxdeath or the CFC.  Bending the knee and quietly docking up makes some sense.  Deciding to be part of something epic (and on the winning side) makes sense, even if I don't like it.

As a (would be) independant, actively being in the front lines fighting for those that only want you to bend the knee makes no sense.

I have my eye on the prize, and anything else is a distraction.

There are plenty of groups that want to fight the slumlords that have outlasted their usefulness.  Contact DoToo Foo in game, see the Drone Walkers forum ad, I hear Spectre Fleet is taking pilots.  Reddit's eve jobs has lots of adds at the moment.


Tuesday 5 April 2016

Do you want a place in nullsec?

With the Casino War / World War Bee happening, there is nullsec space to be taken.

http://evemaps.dotlan.net/sovereignty/campaigns/upcoming shows 331 timers vulnerable systems.   https://timerboard.net/ is struggling to keep up.

If you look at dotlan, border Imperium alliances are under reinforcement, and anti Imperium space is not (or at least not too much).  As of this post (and things are changing rapidly ) the regions with more than 10 timers are

Under the current war, even small gangs can dogpile in.  Have a look at the current map, find a place just behind the lines, and have at it..

Bonus points if you dogpile into a constellation over from a timer that is currently being fought over. The special of the day is grr goon, but if you are so inclined, the denizens of nullsec are all busy so choose the target of your choice

This is the first war under Fozzie/Aegis sov, and many players have not taken entosis systems before.  http://wiki.eveuniversity.org/Sovereignty_Mechanics_(Aegis/Fozziesov) is a more detaied read.

The too long, didn't read (it all) version of Aegis mechanics:

  • Put an entosis link (highslot) onto a hull (not interceptor - wont fit, not capital - takes too long), and strontium clathrates in the hull - fuel.

Optional pre-work.

  • Look up Find a vulnerable Outpost (think nullsec station), Infrastructure hub ('IHub'  - expensive system upgrades), or territorial claim unit ('TCU' - flag waving plus limited intel), that is 'vulnerable'.
  • If the system is too well used (has an Active Defense Multiplier or ADM) above 3, AFK cloak, roam, or otherwise harass the locals.  The attacker's goal in this phase is to stop the defenders from ratting or mining as much as possible.

Initial stage


  • Apply the Entosis link for one cycle (warmup) and then 10 minutes times the 'Activity Defense multiplier'  - 10 minutes for an unused system, 60 minutes for a well lived in system.  Don't lose your hull, don't have someone else apply an entosis link.  
  • You are 'pointed' while your entosis link is up, and you can't receive remote repairs.
  • If you succeed come back in a couple of days.
Using dotlan to work out the numbers. http://evemaps.dotlan.net/system/MZPH-W

This system has TCU that will need to be entosised for 37 minutes with an entosis link I or 34 minutes with an entosis link 2 to become vulnerable (32 minutes plus a warm up cycle).  Each cycle uses 1 strontium clathrates (5 minutes tech 1, 2 minutes tech 2).

The Infrastructure Hub has already fallen to the 'initial stage'.  

Round two

This time you have to play 'whack a mole' with nodes in the constellation.  Our example target system has the constellation as listed in http://evemaps.dotlan.net/map/Tenal/O-EOI9

There will be 5 nodes active at any time.  Attackers capture 10 nodes with no defenders? Then the defenders TCU (400m) or IHUB (starting at 600m) is destroyed, or the Outpost (a trader's fortune) is put into freeport.  The defenders take 10 minutes plus warmup cycle per node to defend.  The attackers take the adjusted time (between 10 minutes and 60 minutes plus warmup cycle) to capture.

Stations Round three


While an outpost is in freeport mode, anyone can use it.  Another vulnerability window and the station can be captured.  The would be station owners corp has to capture 20 nodes.  (Rumour has it that one corp has to do all, and we listened to rumour).  The good news is that these nodes are only 10 minutes (plus warmup each).

TCU/Ihub round three

If there are no TCU's in sov nullsec, launch a TCU, give it 2 entosis cycles, and you have your own banner in space (plus warning if anyone drops a POS in system ?)

If there are no infrastructure hubs in sov nullsec, you can drop an ihub and do the same.




Hopefully coming soon are posts about how you can use wormholes to invade your choice of nullsec system, or what alliances are recruiting (hint ... lots and lots, including ours.)  Out in nullsec, I am looking for small PVP groups with a ratting / mining bent, or ratting / mining groups willing to bear arms (and an update of my recruiting page is required)