SI Radio Member Blog Banter Entry #20: Agatir Solenth – 2010.08.25

Welcome to the twentieth 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 to crazykinux@gmail.com. Check out other EVE Blog Banter articles at the bottom of this post!

With the recent completion of the 3rd installment of the Hulkageddon last month, @CyberinEVE, author of Hands Off, My Loots!, asks: “Griefing is a very big part of EVE. Ninja Salvaging, Suicide Ganking, Trolling, and Scamming are all a very large part of the game. What do you think about all these things? You can talk about one, or all…but just let us know your overall opinion on Griefing, and any recommendations you may have to change it if you think it’s needed.”

Greetings my fellow corp men, women, & blog readers!!!

The four items listed above: Trolling, Scamming, Suicide Ganking, and Ninja Salvaging I do not see as “greifing.”  I define “Greifing,” as intentionally targeting a person to make their game less enjoyable, repeatedly.  I agree that the four items listed can be frustrating, and can make the game more difficult.  However, all of them can be avoided with proper planning and play of EVE.  Manasi clearly tells you how to do that here.

You see… I view other players in EVE as I view a NPC Sleepers or Rats.  They are an obstacle that can result in the gaining or loss of isk (& ship).  So to complain that I am attacked by them makes no sense in my humble opinion.  EVE is not just a game of ships, it is also an economic game.  An attack or loss of isk can occur during market transactions as well.  Just as in the real world, “buyer beware.”  If you don’t have time or brains to do the proper research of the transaction you are about to enter, you might as well buy a faction battleship, fit it with officer modules, and take it down any pipe leading to null sec.  The result will be the same.  You will lose a ton of iskies.   All though the second option will be posted as a killmail, and everyone will be able to see just what an ass hat nub you really are.

EVE is not a game for noobs to get their one hour fix of success.  (Log on to WoW, and you make a level per sitting, maybe two!)  In EVE not everyone gets the gold star.  EVE is for the patient player, who works to get better, who works to accomplish things, and is willing to risk it to get better.  You lose your ship, it is GONE.  All those hours grinding out missions to get that T3 ship… Lost!  You don’t run back to your wreck (corpse) and collect your things and carry on.  Your gear (what is left of it) is now in the possession of someone else.

So you know… I have been the victim of two of the four items listed, Scamming & Suicide Ganking.  In Amarr I wasn’t paying attention and purchased some Radio L crystals for 5,000,000 isk and not the 50,000 isk price I thought they were.  I purchased 10!  It seems I had accidentally clicked on the price column to list the highest price at the top.  I can tell you looking at my wallet a few purchases later resulted in a WTF moment.  But I had to laugh.  Why?  Because I knew better, and was dumb enough to say, “That will never happen to me.”  I now hope it won’t happen again, and triple read each transaction before I accept.  The second loss was a suicide smart bomb attack outside the Amarr trade hub station.  It was a Bestower loaded with some supplies.  Luckily it was mainly T1 stuff, the most expensive items were a set of +3 Learning Skill implants.  At first it was a WTF moment, to find myself in a pod.  However, again I had to laugh at myself… why?  WELL…  I was in a rush, wasn’t paying attention to all those folks screaming in local about what was happening.  It was a good lesson to learn.  Now, when I move high value items I insure to have the appropriate scouting, support, and tank.  Does that sometimes mean I have to make two trips instead of one?  Yes, but it is how I PLAY the game to be successful and avoid those obstacles.

The other two…  Trolling, I avoid forums.  Ninja Salvaging, I’ve been lucky enough and did most of my mission running days off the beaten path, but now reside in null sec.  There is no Concord in null sec.  However if I were to go back, I would have friends or noobs to salvage behind me.  I tell you what… if you want a chance to meet some new folks in EVE, invite a noob to salvage for you.  They will be SO excited of the isk they will make, that they probably be too shocked to realize they could steal it all.  Often you even get a “THANKS,” in return.   ***Consider it EVE Karma***

The only thing I would like to see changed…  Insurance and the Suicide Gank!  IF, you do suicide gank, and your ship is Concorded, you should not receive an insurance payout.  Insurance should not cover ships used in the commission of a crime in Empire Space.  However, suicide ganking should remain in the game.

Fly Safe… Stay Profitable…

Ag