mikeazariah

Mike looked over and sighed. Kry was heading up the gangway and she looked like she had a full head of steam going. He settle back at his desk and frowned at all the paperwork that was accumulating and shoved to one side. He set the maker for one coffee and one glass of tea.

“You . . . you . . . Cat, you!” She slumped. “Where have you been?”

“Um, out and about? Mainly working for this agent who sends me after pirates.”

“You do know we had a war on?”

Mike smiled. “I haven’t been far.” He tapped his comm padd and two ship schematics filled the space between them. Another touch of the controls brought the smaller one to the fore. “I have been scouting about in my bomber, keeping an eye on things.” A touch hilighted the larger. “And I slapped this together in case we needed to be a bit more convincing.” The Megathron rotated slowly in the space. “I call it the Big Rifter.”

“Good, as long as you are not still naming ships after me.”

Mike chuckled. “No, I even changed the name of the Kry Baby. But now the war is over and I hardly saw hide nor hair of the enemy. They get tired of looking at our POS?”

“You have NO IDEA how many hours I spent manning the guns waiting for them to start something.” She growled. “I had a cot set up in the POS so if something started while I was asleep . . . ”

“You sleep? While ‘roids still wander the belts?”

She growled and shook a fist at him. “They interrupted my mining. I am just glad we took the battle back to them and ended it once and for all.”

“Yeah, I been meaning to ask about that. The other folks who joined us and helped out. Not that I object but who the hell were they?”

“I was wondering that myself. I was there when one of them met up with Smeg and I think they know each other from some previous encounter . . . but neither said much beyond basic war conversations. But I am sure there was a lot that wasn’t being said.”

“What, like something out of the movies? ‘We even yet?’ or maybe ‘I’m your father, Luke?’” Mike laughed. “You have the most interesting imagination, that sort of stuff never happens in real life.”

“Well there was something going on . . . I’m just sayin.”

Mike waved it off. “So I am almost ready, been studying like a demon.”

She smiled. “Soon the belts will be cleared so much faster. I might even be able to free up a bait hulk I had for the last ‘event’ that you can borrow till you have one of your own.”

“Bait hulk? You took one out during Hulkageddon?”

Kry primped her hair for a moment. “A Queen must keep up appearances, even in the face of adversity.”

Mike facepalmed and shook his head. “Queen of the Carebears, hunting gankers, manning the guns to defend a POS. I swear, Sab is a bad influence on you.”

She looked down her nose at Mike. “No, he was the jaws of the trap that the hulk was bait for.”

“I stand corrected, you are a bad influence on him.”

“Damn right.” She sniffed imperiously then they both started laughing. “Oh, I need you to man the recruitment channel, tonight. I will be busy.”

“Me? I don’t know anything about recruiting. I . . . I might blow it.”

“Easy there, ya wimp. You talk to them, sound them out. Let them know we are mining, industralists, missioneers. Casual as we can get and only ask for a sense of humor and a love of old comedies. We have little tournaments, the occassional low and nullsec roam, wormhole explorations, and mining ops, as the mood takes us. How hard is that to tell someone?”

Mike muttered. “Sounds easy when you say it.”

“This from a man who made speeches and ran for CSM? You are being lazy! Now find me some recruits or I will put you in charge of POS fueling for a month.”

“Yes ma’am.”

*****************************

Lessons

You can play Eve solo . . . but it will wear thin, fast. People make the difference. We have one of the most vibrant communities in gaming and whatever you are looking for, there is a group here, for you. You should get out of the npc corps as soon as possible unless you are in them for a reason (like avoiding wardecs).

The other thing you can do is join a chat channel other than the ones forced on you by the default settings. This is where you readers come in. What are the ‘other chat’ channels that you hang out in aside from your own corp private ones? I will collect a few of these, play chat-whack-a-mole for a few sessions and bring it back here to a future blog post.

m

“Let’s say this is you. A small corp making a living downing hi-sec POS’s. In your travels you encounter this. A defenceless POS owned by a very famous Eve personality. You make a choice. You decide to be the bad-guy and go after that famous POS.”
If ever a small example of the butterfly effect video was brought to life this might be it.

Epimithius09 (hence forth called Epi) is the leader of the Concord Preservation and Recovery corp (.CPR.). Their corp documents proclaim them to be fighting an ecoguerrilla war against abandoned and offline POS’s that pollute lunar landscapes all across New Eden. For the most part, that is what they have been, a small alt corp eking out a hisec living bringing down the occasional player owned station.

Then there is Chribba. Veldspar ‘God’ who is famous for his honesty and reliability, not to mention his massive holdings such as a hisec mining Dread. (Yes Virginia, there IS a mining Dread). He does not shoot anything except rocks. He does not pvp. He is the host of many eve services on and offline including eve-search, eve offline, eve agents, and Chribbas third party service. He is known to all veteran Eve players, and his services are used by many every day of the year.

Epi sees Chribbas POS and decides it is too damn tempting. He (and his corp) war dec Chribba. In Epis words . . . “Why did we war dec Chribba? Because he had some POS’s that would be easy to kill and make us a nice profit. Also, because it would be fun. Did I know who Chribba was before I placed the war dec? Yes I did. Did this influence my decision? Yes it did. Normally I won’t war dec an alliance as it is too expensive to do. I made an exception here as it was Chribba.”

Chribba takes up the story from there. Asked how he reacted when he saw the wardec. “Pulse rose from 80 to 180, I’m not a pvp person so I was starting to wonder how long I’d have to hide in station I have been randomly decced before but nothing of the serious kind, small 1-member corps.” Chribba decided to post that this war looked serious in the Crime and Punishment thread of Eve forums. I asked if the result was what he had been hoping for. “tbh I didn’t know what I had hoped for, my general insight was more to just let them destroy the towers, wait for the war to end and resume previous life The C&P was more of a notice from my side since it felt like they was actually going to do it compared to the other random 1-man deccs but to my surprise people joined in big numbers and for that I am very thankful, and while still scary for me (even though sitting cloaked watching) it was good for for most based on what I heard.” Chribba in turn referred me to Jonny 101 ” I do suggest you talk to Jonny 101, he was one of the major organizers (on his own) and pretty much ran the show while I was sitting cloaked.” So from one source to the next, I moved on.

Johnny continues the story. “Chribba was attacked, I organised the defence in a shiny ship from his pos, Exalted, Noir and Duty showed up bravely, joined by Repo to guared it in the TZ . Pirates and mercenaries band together in defence of Veldspar. Giving Chribba their services free of charge, the unprecedented event that the cnp pirate community banded together behind these mercs to aid Chribba. Special mention of timaios and Erichk Knaar as the heroes of the day. If anything, I’ve taken this further than Chribba wanted but I like my overkill and people were eager to defend him. Truly it was a cooperation between some of eve’s most respected mercenaries and the cnp community. The battle was short, we had about 50 people repping the pos. Several got shot and so went to change to combat ships, but Erichk Knaar got back first in his rokh. He began opening fire on the enemy, who all shot back at him, Noir’s own gang was remote repairing him and I, and the other FC’s ordered our people to remote shield transfer Erichk as well. This might seem like neutral repping but that is in fact wrong EVERY person boosting erich was flagged to the enemy who were in a pathetic fleet of about 5 very poorly fitted battleships. The fight was no great tactical victory, merely an example. What happens when you’re up against the combined forces of some of eve’s most respected mercenaries, the CnP community and Chribba’s good vibrations. Any one of the four corporations I mentioned above could have soloed this with ease but we want to show the eve community that we hold Chribba highly and time he spends combat fitting pos’s is time he isn’t using making us services.”

This was so impressive that even the offending POS attackers admired the effort. Nara Wolf: “I personally have no issues with Chribba or most of the parties involved. Those of you who banded together in the defense of Chribba without descending into pettiness and hate, bravo, seeing the community work together like that was awesome. The sight of all those Pospreys was awe inspiring, I hope you all had fun blowing us up. We knew what we were doing and don’t mind the wardecs or the smack-talk, just keep in mind it’s a game and enjoy yourselves, I know I will.”

Was this impressive? Hells yes. To see groups of mercs stand for something more than profit was inspiring in and of itself. But I started this with the quote from the Butterfly Effect. It does not stop with the POS defence, no no no. Now the forces that banded together under Chribbas banner have started to go after other corps and alliances. If an alt was in CPR that is reason enough for them to dec whatever corp or alliance the ‘main’ lives in. Jonny 101 has spent 5250 mill of his own cash and 250 mill of donated to wardec the Privateer alliance. Sys-k has dropped IMM since they held another character common to Epi. (Or so it is claimed by the FoC [Forces of Chribba].)

Has this ended? No, In Eve very few things end. The sand shifts and the tides change but there will always be the historical moment when the forces of Crime and Punishment stepped up to defend a pacifist. By Jonny’s measure “Bottom of the barrel “pvp” corp attacks Chribba. The elite of eve’s mercenary community and the worst pirates in the game band together to curbstomp them into the stone-age.”

I asked Epi if this was true. “No. We failed to take down two of the POS but we got one POS. Additionally business will continue there are more POS out there to be removed and they will be taken down. Business will continue as usual : )” When asked if he could go back in time, would he do it again he replied “Of course it was fun and we got a POS out of it : )” Epi had nothing but good things to say about Noir and Chribba and even the pilot who bagged him. He plans on continuing the good work of his corp although he will not repeat the wardec on Chribba ” If he left it offline I might try it it again. But its quite expensive so only if i could do it and get something out of it. This dec showed that he pays attention to war decs so we probably wouldn’t be able to kills a pos before he could defend it.”

In related news another corp had picked up the cause of the War on Chribba and the forces of good are not so swift to leap to the defense seeing the threat as distant and inconsequential. Chribba may not feel the same way about that . . . he did, however mint and give medals to all who participated in the first war. I managed to get something even better, an autographed photo of Chribba for my own corpmate, Mechanoid Kryten that reads “To te Carebear Queen /Chribba” in his best handwriting.

The best thing about Eve is the ability to set your own win parameters. Each side of the above war feels that they won. In my opinion, they all did. Each played the game they wanted to play and interacted with other folks. Each was kind enough to allow me the time to ask 10 questions (a self imposed limit) and I quoted from those interviews for this report. If there is some issue or aspect of Eve you think would make a good story for the Tribune please contact the editors or leave a comment below and we will see if it can be done.

Welcome to the eleventh installment of the EVE Blog Banter, the monthly EVE Online blogging extravaganza created by CrazyKinux. The EVE Blog Banter involves an enthusiastic group of gaming bloggers, a common topic within the realm of EVE Online, and a week to post articles pertaining to the said topic. The resulting articles can either be short or quite extensive, either funny or dead serious, but are always a great fun to read! Any questions about the EVE Blog Banter should be directed here. Check out other EVE Blog Banter articles at the bottom of this post!

This month’s banter comes to us from Joe Brusati a long time reader of CrazyKinux’s Musing, who asks the following: CCP states that T3 Strategic Cruisers are just the start for the T3 line-up. In future Eve expansions what would you like to see as the next T3 ship type. Please be specific on details about what role this ship would play, cost of manufacturing, and the different modules that would be available for it, and of course you must give your T3 ship a name!

Well, I definitely wanted to participate in this month’s Banter, but an unforeseen event last week prevented me from doing so, as well as preventing me from posting anything on this blog since last Tuesday. Indeed, though my wife and I were expecting our second child to come into this world sometime in early September, the little fellow had other plans and stepped into the spotlight on Thursday morning. Let me tell you that this surprise “happily” wrecked my well planned schedule for the next few days. I’ll have more on that story in another post. But for now, let’s get to the Banter articles!

CrazyKinux@gmail.com who is the renowned blog organizer and podcaster
Crazy Kinux
http://www.crazykinux.com/2009/05/eve-blog-banters.html

Mike dropped down to the shop floor and went over to where “Scotty” and the rest of the workers were watching something on a bigscreen and laughing. Some were pointing to specific points on the screen and the laughter would double as the rest saw what he was pointing at. Mike swung about till he could see the screen . . . it was ship plans.

‘Scotty’ looked over and seperated from the group, still chuckling. “Need something?”

“Yeah, ‘nother wardec so gonna me doing some refit of a pair of ships, wanted your opinion . . . ” Mike drifted off as another wave of laughter rolled out from the group. “you guys laugh at my refit orders like that?”

“No, well, not always. This is pie in the sky designs the local pilots and corps are putting in for tender. Wish-lists. And oh boy are some doozies. One guys wants the firepower of a battleship but be able to be invisible and fast . . . . should name that ship Ninja and see how the pirates like it.”

Mike laughed.

“Another wants a miners dream of a ship that can change one ore into another . . . I’d call that one the Alchemist.”

“Good Lord the minerals market would plummet faster than an Amarr boat worked on by Minnie mechanics.” Mike replied.

“Yup, almost everyone of the designs is a dream of being the best and the brightest at what they do, with not regard for what can be or what is . . . gertanikpt.”

“Gertanikpt?”

“Oh what is the word . . . balanced. Karmic redress, to get something you need to give something. Most of these designs ‘give’ what they don’t want anyhow in exchange for more of what they do want. The balance goes out of alignment and they are not gertanikpt.”

“Got it. I think.”

“So, if you had your way, Mr Missioneer . . . do you think you could propose a ship that we didn’t laugh at?”

“No, my dream ship is as non-gertanikpt as it gets. I wish my Myrm could refit in space.”

“You dreaming me out of a job?”

“In a way, yes. I’d like to be able to coldswap modules in deep space . . . for when I am exploring. The ability to fit in the hacking or archeology stuff on the fly without having to haul my ass all the way back here. That is what I would want. Maybe it might take a bigger fitting, lot more mass, sig radius and all that sort of thing but I would like a dedicated bay that can swap out the scanners and tools of the exploring trade.” Mike shrugged. “Not that I object to coming down to chat with you guys . . . just sometimes it is a long haul from where I am back to here to switch a single module in and out. In deep space I don’t know what I am going to find and I would like to be ready to use what I d find out there . . . but like I said, dreaming, just dreaming.”

“Yes, well that is all most of this stuff is . . .come here we GOT to show you the guys design for a frigate that can out shield tank a Drake.”

“You’re kidding, THIS I have got to see . . .. ”

Lessons

1) Dreaming is fine, but balance of the game is better, in the long run.
2) Telling others your dreams is a very trusting thing to do. And will often get you laughed at.
3) If the dreams include a shipload of exotic dancers . . . DON’T share the dream, this ain’t that kind of forum

mike

The news went out over the Alliance Network that a mining operation was to be held. Mike tossed some clothes in a bad and caught a shuttle across 20 jumps before stopping to buy and fit a new retriever. When he showed up for the operation he felt . . . less than impressive. A fleet of Hulks greeted him along with a pair of Orcas. He fell in line as the warp was called and soon was nestled next to the Orca and tossing ore that his strip miners pulled in over into the larger holds as fast as he could.

The scouts had found a good system and the rocks were abundant. Until the Op showed up. Lasers lit the sky.

The fields melted like a comet at perihelion. Too soon the call of other duties broke the team apart. Mike had barely got back to his hanger when a chime on his comm told him that he had been paid for his share of the duties, 12 million. Mike started to laugh. That was, within 100,00 isk how much he had spent setting up the ship for the operation. Now he had a ship in the region of the ops, ready for next time.
*****

Lesson
1) A well run mining op is hideaously efficient. My compliments to all involved
2) It is nice chatting and making isk and NOT worrying about counting the isk and rocks.
3) For those who haven’t got it yet, find a corp, find and alliance, people are what really matter, the rest is bollocks

mike

You flip from station to station, you meet folks. That or you sit alone in the corner of the bar thinking you look ‘dangerous’. As opposed to ’sad and so very very alone’. Mike was not prone to sitting in the corner. So he met pirates who thought dangerous was better proved out in space, and carebears . . . . oh the carebears.

He knew most of them hated the term . . . he wasn’t that fond of it himself. It was a stylish descriptor the pirates used to describe those who did lawful actions, worked in highsec space. Those who made the ships the pirates delighted in blowing up (and being blown up in). Those who held the line against the incursions of Angels, Blood Raiders, and Guristas in the ’safe’ areas.

Then there was Kry. He met Kry first on the comms and thought he was a pretty decent guy. Easy to chat with and had a similar sense of humor. They both liked similar media and so ‘inside jokes’ were understood between them. Kry’s face looked vaguely familiar but Mike could not quite place it. Finally it turned out that they were in the same station and Mike headed off to meet Kry. In a bar, of course. Figured it would be no problem to find him in a bar but damn if he could not find anyone who looked as Kry did on the channel.

It was bloody amateur night on stage. One bad singer after another, one current pop song mangled, the next left bleeding on the ground, the third surrendered without a whimper. Mike ordered another drink and scanned the crowd. He was still looking when a new song started. It was not a pop song. It was a very old old melody, something about Rising Sun House. But that was not the words he was hearing. The fool woman was singing about mining. Asteroid mining. Someone off to his side commented on how bad she was and a grizzled guy who was sitting right next to Mike replied that it was not about the melody, it was the words.

Mike nodded slowly. He could understand that, sometimes it was not the medium but the message. So he gritted his teeth and listened to the whole song, the guy next to him filming it with a headcam. She finished her song and to (very) scattered applause she came straight over to the guy with the cam. Mike nodded to the bartender and pointed to the two of them and then covered the cost of their drinks.

An hour later amateur time was over and music was being piped in but the three of them were still there. Mike was still chuckling that the woman was Kry. “You get the name from that old movie?” He asked.

“Which movie?”

“The Krying Game.” Mike answered with a grin on his face.

Sab groaned and shook his head. “She’s mine. Stop trying to make time with her.”

Mike held his hands up in self defence. “All yours. No question about it. I am still having trouble reconciling that this is the guy I have been talkin to for the past while.” Kry giggled coquetishly. “Stop that damn you, it just ain’t right. You know as well as I do that space is a place where men are men and so are most of the women.”

Kry laughed at that. “And what about in stations?”

“In lowsec stations? It is a place where men are men and the women are payed to prove it. In hisec? Well there are a few financiers and miners, I suppose. But really . . . ”

Sab shook his head. “Now you’ve done it, you mentioned mining, and that means she is gonna tell you about. . .”

“Dumpty! My pet rock.” Kry laughed as she finished Sabs sentence.

“Pet rock?”

“It is a huge asteroid I found in a local system. 132k if it is a pound. It is huge!” Her eyes glowed as she described a normal asteroid miners wet dream. “Veldspar, of course. Beautiful thing.”

“How much did you make off of it?” Mike asked.

“Make off of it?” She looked aghast. “I would never hit my baby with lasers. I am waiting to see if it will grow.”

“Um, it is a rock? Rocks do not grow.”

“They do in a belt if other ones get pulled in. I want to see what size it will get to.”

Mike shook his head and murmered softly. “Queen of the Carebears, won’t even shoot rocks.” He didn’t say it softly enough, she heard him. “Oh, wouldn’t that be a title to try for. But how could you prove you were the best?”

Mike laughed. “Try starting a peace initiative in lowsec. Convince others not to shoot.” He laughed at the thought of that.

Sab shook his head. “She doesn’t believe me when I tell her. Carebears are not people, they are floating pinatas in lowsec.”

Mike squinted at Sab. “You been out there a time or two haven’t you.”

Sab nodded. “Yeah, but I am ‘rehabilitated’.”

Mike snorted and the topic turned to other things. Neither Mike nor Sab noticed the new gleam in Krys eyes.