Kill a reptile as a bird of paradise flies right up your ass?

Last week my region was hit by a huge snowstorm, which is somewhat uncommon for where I live. Like any good gamer, I stocked up on supplies (chips & soda! lol) and bought a new game to overdose on while the South closed down for days.

Two of my corp-mates were already playing DayZ, and after watching some game-play on YouTube, I bought it off of Steam and convinced a couple of more people to try it out with me.

Though it is in early alpha still, it is so worth buying. If you love the dark brutality of EVE, you’ll love DayZ. It takes place during a zombie apocalypse, and you start out with nothing but a flashlight. The game forces you to survive, or die. You have to keep moving to find food, water, and weapons. Without them, you will starve to death or be slaughtered by zombies.

But the best part is the player killing. As it stands now, there are no chat boxes. Players have no name tags or any way to identify them, so when you run across someone; you don’t know if they are friendly or not.

Rarely are they friendly.

The first night we were all playing together, we came across our first player running to the same town we were headed to. He wasn’t geared up and was just starting out, or newly respawned. On comms, everyone was like ‘what should we do?’ and someone else suggested letting him live. My reply was simple, “Kill him now”. We were limited on supplies and whatever he would take would be one less thing for us. My friends couldn’t believe ‘sweet little Shalee’ could be so cold hearted, to which I responded, “Someone has to make the hard decisions!”

The game is that dark and intense. Remember your early pvp days in EVE, the jittery feeling in combat? Times that by a hundred and that is DayZ. You never know who is sneaking up behind you. You never know if a sniper has you in his crosshairs.

The first time I was player killed, I was on the top floor of a building clearing it. I was coming down the steps, and he was coming up. We both stopped and looked at one another, as if surprised the other was there. Over voice comms in the game (an awesome feature, you can talk to someone who is physically close to you), we both said ‘friendly!’ and then he started to ask me a question. Before he finished, he raised his gun and killed me.

Just like that.

Over my dead body, as the screen went black, I heard him say ‘Look, I’m sorry.”

That is DayZ. Kill, or be killed.

I didn’t rage log or yell, or expect him to do anything differently. That is the game. I laughed and started allllll over.

And, that brings me to my original point of this post.

EVE is a lot like DayZ, in that there is a dark brutality to it. You’re never really safe, and you never know who has you in their ‘crosshairs’.

However, some players forget that. They get lazy. They assume too much. They think that someone owes them a safe passage. They think they can do as they please with no repercussions, and when something bad does happen, they rage in the most hilarious of ways.

Let me explain.

My corporation is based out of Egghelende, and it is a low sec system. We often have randoms coming to the station for skill books. And for whatever reason, we have people ratting in our belts.

These people die. A lot.

We have pilots who do nothing but camp our undock and snipe anything that comes in. They are good at what they do. Like, super good.

I was talking to a couple of them the other night, and they mentioned the amount of hate mail they get because of it. I giggled because it amuses me to think about grown-ass men crying over losing a fake spaceship.

I don’t get the tears. I don’t understand why someone would expect not to be hunted in low sec. I don’t understand why someone would expect a pirate not to be a pirate.

I don’t get why they act as if EVE is a safe game. It’s not, and everyone knows it.

I asked my corpies to send me a couple of their mails so that I could share them with you!

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fuuuuuuuck
From: Cerun Scolmgha
Sent: 2013.06.24 23:09
To: M3PHIST0,

youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Re: fuuuuuuuck
From: M3PHIST0
Sent: 2013.06.24 23:10
To: Cerun Scolmgha,

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_13cPd1HcXG7JTL0oAvwyHTvW76gUobDDZ9v0vq2kAU/viewform?pli=1

Fill out our survey please, thx

Re: Re: fuuuuuuuck
From: Cerun Scolmgha
Sent: 2013.06.24 23:12
To: M3PHIST0,

You and yours are trolly, sir. I thumb my nuts at thee.

Re: Re: Re: fuuuuuuuck
From: M3PHIST0
Sent: 2013.06.24 23:13
To: Cerun Scolmgha,

Just doing my job bud, come back and visit us again soon

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phew
From: Craig Bartlett
Sent: 2013.06.29 06:37
To: M3PHIST0,

I landed in your base at Egghelende last night, I got up early to try to escape just now, and I did, just…

You may all be bastards but it’s fun!

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thanks
From: Scarlett Cobon-Han
Sent: 2013.07.12 00:40
To: M3PHIST0,

why dont you go to low sec and kill people u fucking jerk off, leave the people alone that are playing to have fun alone, oh that right you probably dont have the balls to do that cause then u will get pushed around.

From: M3PHIST0
Sent: 2013.07.12 00:43
To: Scarlett Cobon-Han,

Where the hell do you think you were jackass. welcome to low sec and eve. enjoy your stay

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_13cPd1HcXG7JTL0oAvwyHTvW76gUobDDZ9v0vq2kAU/viewform?pli=1
Fill out our survey for a chance at a free clone upgrade and raffle

Re: Re: thanks
From: Scarlett Cobon-Han
Sent: 2013.07.12 00:45
To: M3PHIST0,

yeah asshole just passing through to buy something wasnt hanging out or running missions fucking jerk..people like you ruin the gaming experience for everyone.

Re: Re: Re: thanks
From: M3PHIST0
Sent: 2013.07.12 00:47
To: Scarlett Cobon-Han,

Did you read the warning the game gives you before jumping in to a low sec system. all part of the game, don’t like it, stay in high sec. Scrub

Re: Re: Re: Re: thanks
From: Scarlett Cobon-Han
Sent: 2013.07.12 00:48
To: M3PHIST0,

ur pretty tough hiding at jump gates to get ur kills…pussy

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fuck u
From: OLLO LOPHAND Do’Urden
Sent: 2013.10.02 01:26
To: M3PHIST0,

I LOST EVERY THING I HAD THANKS

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

——————————–
Holy fuck!!!! that was quick!!!!
From: Scifinoide Xenoscopic
Sent: 2014.02.03 17:18
To: FallenDream09,

I did not see that coming….
What did you hit me with the first time?
I couldn’t move…..???

Did you get bonus for my pod?

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

bitch
From: Im TheNOOB
Sent: 2013.07.31 06:57
To: M3PHIST0,

хуйло ебаное

(I tried google translate but it came up with gibberish.  However, I’m sure it’s a really good burn!)

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

Kill Rights
From: Arimus Perfectus
Sent: 2013.11.17 06:04
To: M3PHIST0,

Your kill right was used
From: CONCORD
Sent: 2013.11.14 07:53

M3PHIST0 has been killed using your kill right. The kill right you had on him has now been removed.

Hope we meet 1v1 next time pussy. But hey this works just fine too. Have a nice day and may the bird of paradise fly right up your ass!

Re: Kill Rights
From: M3PHIST0
Sent: 2013.11.17 07:12
To: Arimus Perfectus,

Oh, you were that srcub fail baiting in a belt with a rapier, I remember now.
Must have been really mad about that to be mailing me for this, your tears have fueled me for another day. Thanks for the laugh ❤

Re: Re: Kill Rights
From: Arimus Perfectus
Sent: 2013.11.17 07:15
To: M3PHIST0,

Nope wasn’t mad and not now just saying what goes around comes around to those to skill less to solo kill anything, Just don’t be alone next time or better yet bring a crew. I didn’t get my medal for nothing!

Re: Re: Re: Kill Rights
From: M3PHIST0
Sent: 2013.11.17 09:27
To: Arimus Perfectus,

come on back and see us anytime, we offer free hugs.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Kill Rights
From: Arimus Perfectus
Sent: 2013.11.18 07:06
To: M3PHIST0,

You just proved my point pussies and skill less players have to run in packs because they totally suck at a game they should delete all characters and play Lotro.

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

…
From: Lacomus Wright
Sent: 2014.02.14 07:37
To: M3PHIST0,Was there any point -_-. Wanker.

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

see you shortly
From: Mystic Elandria
Sent: 2014.01.26 22:29
To: FallenDream09,

Re: see you shortly
From: FallenDream09
Sent: 2014.01.26 22:35
To: Mystic Elandria,

Is this a threat?

Re: Re: see you shortly
From: Mystic Elandria
Sent: 2014.01.26 23:43
To: FallenDream09,

no a promise from PL see you around son and your allies

Re: Re: Re: see you shortly
From: FallenDream09
Sent: 2014.01.26 23:46
To: Mystic Elandria,

Odd, we’re on awkwardly good relations with PL…in fact, some of their members are in this corp. goodluck to you.

Re: Re: Re: Re: see you shortly
From: Mystic Elandria
Sent: 2014.01.26 23:54
To: FallenDream09,

sure but not the top brass
seeya

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: see you shortly
From: FallenDream09
Sent: 2014.01.26 23:55
To: Mystic Elandria,

They hold titans. so yea. the top lowsec brass is where we live. have fun

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: see you shortly
From: Mystic Elandria
Sent: 2014.01.26 23:56
To: FallenDream09,

look forward to popping you

I am in PL you fuck

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: see you shortly
From: FallenDream09
Sent: 2014.01.26 23:56
To: Mystic Elandria,l

which corp?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: see you shortly
From: Mystic Elandria
Sent: 2014.01.26 23:59
To: FallenDream09,

think before you do stupid things

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: see you shortly
From: FallenDream09
Sent: 2014.01.26 23:59
To: Mystic Elandria,

Says the guy running missions in .4 and not watching dscan.

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

ввв
From: Andrei Arsten
Sent: 2014.02.08 05:47
To: M3PHIST0,

хуесос ебаный нахуй питушня ебучая

(I google translated, lols: cocksucker fucking fuck fucking pitushnya)

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

месть
From: Arheon Higaar
Sent: 2014.01.13 08:44
To: M3PHIST0,

убью гада !

(Google translate says: kill a reptile!)

What is FW?

Hello, hello! I thought I’d do a little Q&A post on the basics of Factional Warfare. Sounds pretty boring, I know, but, since the blog was listed as a featured fan-site, I’ve picked up a few readers who have absolutely no idea what FW really is.

It’s cute, really. I had one new reader convo me in game, asking about FW, and he thought that it was “just a bunch of people fighting in High Sec”.

High Sec!!! Most militia pilots cannot even go to high-sec due to being dirty evil pirates. (more on this later)
So, without further ado, questions I’ve been recently asked about FW:

Q: What is FW anyhow?

A: Basically, it is an ongoing war between the four game factions: Amarr, Caldari, Minmatar, and Gallente. It is a perpetual war that never ends.

The setup is supposed to be that Amarr and Caldari are allies, and Minmatar and Gallente are allies. There are two war-zones, the Amarr vs Minmatar, and the Caldari vs Gallente one.

The wiki page states: “A player belonging to an enlisted FW player corporation in the Gallente Federation can shoot any other player enlisted with Amarr or Caldari. However that player cannot shoot at a player enlisted in the Minmatar Republic.”

That is horribly misleading. Just because the game makes your militia allies to another militia does not mean that they are real blues. Yes, the game will automatically assign them as friendly, but that doesn’t make them friendly. The biggest problem with having fake allies is that you lose none of your own militia standings for shooting one another. So Amarr can shoot their allies, the Caldari, without losing Amarr standings. Etc, and so on.

If you are an Amarrian pilot and shoot another Amarrian pilot, you will lose a lot of standings, and eventually cause your corporation to get kicked from militia. If you are an Amarrian pilot and you shoot a Caldari pilot, everything is hunky-dory.

Q. Where does FW happen?

A: Pretty much everywhere. Once you join a militia, you gain a whole slew of enemies who can freely shoot you anywhere. At anytime. You’re never safe. NEVER. EVER.

Ok, going for the dramatic effect there, but it is true. You can’t just waddle around high-sec on autopilot in your big fancy blingy ships anymore because there are people who are deliberately looking for you. You can’t just go to the big trade hubs and not expect to get shot at, because eventually a war-target will be there, waiting for you.

So you’re safe no where, got it?! Good.

Mainly, the war takes place out in low sec. Amarr/Minmatar War Zone Map, Caldari/Gallente War Zone Map. This is where most of the fighting happens because this is where the FW missions are, and the FW plexes.

Side-note. On the wiki, they want to call the plexes “bunkers”, but no one who actually does FW will call them dungeons. Dungeons? This ain’t WoW, people.

Plexing is a big part of FW, because that is how you take control of systems. If you control the system, you can dock there. If you don’t, you’re screwed. Move along people. Other benefits of owning the system includes cheaper clone prices and some industrial stuff, like more slots? Or something carebearish. I don’t know. Probably no one else does either.

However, owning a system contributes to the overall total, which is divided into tiers. The higher your tier is for your militia, the more ISK you will make off of the plexes, missions, and killing your enemies.

Side-note. I really loathe the tier system, if you search my blog you’ll find a couple of rants on why I think it sucks. Pretty much it is a perpetual cash flow for whoever is ‘winning’.

Q: So winning is decided by what Tier a faction is in?

A: Eh, not so much, no. The thing is, not many people really care about who is winning. We are all winners. By this point, the majority of FW players have alts in various militias so they can soak up the rewards. You can make a lot of ISK in FW if you have the time and desire to do so.

Since most people cash in on alts, there isn’t a huge reason to claim systems otherwise. I think most corps and individual players choose their own goals and work towards that, for their own personal reasons. For instance, my corp doesn’t really care about system occupancy for the most part. We live on a fringe system in FW, so the whole docking thing isn’t an issue for us. I know a couple of other corps who do the same thing elsewhere in the war zone. They have picked a couple of systems they care about and will plex the heck out of the to keep them, but it is really for no real purpose other than ‘we want them’.

I mean, after you’ve seen a system flip fifteen or twenty times already, it loses its importance. Do I really want to stay logged on for another four hours to run those plexes…or do I want to watch Vampire Diaries instead?!

Also, another fun effect of having your militia being on the losing side usually means you’ll get a little more pvp because the ‘winning’ side is out there trying to soak up as much LP as they can. Its a strange and confusing pendelum we chase.

Q. Does FW fuck up your standings & sec status?

A. Ab-so-fucking-lutely. Sec status is a big kicker, because the war zone (which is in low sec) is often fraught with more neutrals than war targets at time. Those neuts will invade your plex, so of course you’re going to shoot them. How can you not defend your plex? It is how you make your money. So you shoot, kill, and lose security status. Rinse and repeat, and eventually you lose so much that you cannot even go into the militia’s capitol star system that you are defending!!! I fight for Amarr, but I cannot go to Amarr. lol

FW is really a mish-mash of pilots. Some are naughty little pirates that will shoot everything that moves that’s not blue, they don’t care if they go neg ten. In fact, they probably prefer being neg ten. However, there are some people who do care, and it really messes with their sec.

The good thing is that, you can purchase sec status by turning in tags to Concord, etc. That really is a brilliant thing for those who care. I once cared and tried to fix my status with them, but a week later I was already flashy again, so I’ve thrown in the towel. But I love the fact that there is an ‘easy fix’ for it, if I want to fix my status again.

Standings is a big deal for some people. I’ve heard countless times they would join militia but don’t want to destroy their standings. Or, a corp wants to join a certain militia but one or two dudes will have horrible standings with it, so they are unable.

Pretty much if you join one faction and do all the things you’re supposed to, your standings with the enemy faction are going to fall. Drastically so. Which means, even after you leave militia, you still can’t go to your old enemy space without getting shot.

If you want to fix those standings, I think you have to do a lot of missions. Personally, I loathe missions. I really think there should be some kind of option to buy standing. If you can buy sec status, why not buy faction standings? Make it cost as much as it does to fix security status. I think this one thing would encourage more people to join FW.

Q- So why join FW if it is so flawed?

A– Because it is still pretty awesome, despite all the things I’d change about it if I could.

*FW doesn’t require the commitment that Null sec does, I think.

*Also, a lower skilled pilot can do quite well in FW.

*It’s a good place to learn small gang pvp.

*You can fly solo or with others.

*You can make a lot of isk in an unfit ship (I do think it’s fucked up a hull of a ship can plex, but since it is in the mechanics, why not take advantage of it?).

*You can run FW missions if that is your thing for absurd amounts of LP.

*You get militia ranks, which are meaningless for the most part but sound cool. I’m a Divine Commodore, baby.

*It’s a good way to support your role play, if that is your thing. Ie, if your toon is an Amarr loyalist, what better way than to prove it by fighting for Amarr?

*The people are chill, for the most part. There is smack talk, of course, but it isn’t to the degree of what I think is elsewhere in the game. Your space enemies are still kinda your bros, too. It isn’t uncommon for enemy militia to call a quick truce to kill pirate fleets that roam into their war zones.

*The Dust connection. Currently in FW you can fit up special ammo that will allow you to bomb planets when Dust Bunnies in call in orbital support. You can’t imagine the giddy thrill you’ll get when you blow up people IN ANOTHER GAME. All those tears, baby.