Back in Ghost Festival and Naraka, a little sooner than expected as well. Let’s start with a recap, considering I’ve effectively maintained radio silence for a good three months. I’ll be doing most of this by memory, as my access from Veto’s communication network has been revoked. Yes, more on that later as well, bear with me here.

My activity in space during these months has been low, as I’ve spent it mostly station-side suffering apathy towards everything and everyone around me. Even amongst former Ghosts, I felt alone, so I kept confined to my quarters dabbling in planetary industry to keep some form of income. My own fault to some extend, as I never planned to stay here for the long run and made that quite clear.

There was also the loss of VCS Acquisitio — a Tengu class — during Operation Platinum Halo. It all started out so well, getting a small fleet together and sneaking into Curse where we would work for the Cartel. Morwen, Mortis and Plumb were with me, as well as Fey Delade and Great Artista. Being unprobable sure gave us an edge in hostile terrain, and with interdiction invulnerability and a covert-ops cloak moving about was no longer an act of suicide. It was indeed not capsuleers that brought my ship to its knees, but the simple combination of scrambling and webbing Gallente Navy frigates circling the dropout point of the very last acceleration gate of an highly important series of missions. Something about researchers, the details elude me as I didn’t exactly pay attention to them. The Cartel wants something done and I do it, simple as that. But yes, an egger beaten by non-eggers, due to them cleverly exploiting the one weakness of my setup, a speed tank. I was lucky though, I took down the objective with me and thus did not suffer a standings setback. Just the loss of slightly over a billion invested, and a skill level yanked out of my brain. While I did almost break even on selling Cartel goods and other mission spoils, the latter did leave me a little shaken. Medical staff assured me that everything was alright, no damage other than forgetting part of what I learned was detected, but I am still convinced it triggered something somewhere in my unconsciousness that drove me to becoming a recluse.

It was August when I got contacted by Alexander Rykis about laying the foundations of a grand new Angel Cartel loyalist alliance: Ghost Syndicate. While his methods and attitude were controversial and abrasive, there was potential in the idea of forming a group that would be the CVA of the Angels. Feeling restless in my “home” I decided to take a chance and help with the formation stage and see where it would lead us, thus joining Resistance Project. Alas, after only 7 days the whole thing got called off. Even with known and respected loyalists like Aria Jenneth and myself, and the inclusion of Nikita Alterana and her project Risen Angels, the continued mistrust and ridicule from the capsuleer community towards Alex got to him. And there was the failed attempt to infiltrate Stillwater through an associate as well. Hadn’t he decided to end things, I would have left, as targeting Stillwater for valuing their independence is something I simply cannot agree with. I had hoped I could have steered him away from his ill feelings towards them, but alas. As he denounced the Cartel, had a short stay within Star Fraction, and eventually moved on from being a CEO to joining an existing corporation, I found myself back home in Ghost Festival. Now there I can see a question arise. Why did I not return to Veto? The answer is fairly simple. The same day RESPR defected Veto announced that 40% of its shares are now under Guristas ownership, moving them from independent contractors to the status of Guristas loyalists.

In the two weeks I’ve been back I have been working hard – and so has Marcus Gord who has returned to lead PRELI —  on getting everything ready to reopen recruitment. A meeting with representatives of Risen Angels, Anshar Incorporated and Stillwater was held, where mutual blue standings including exchange of goods and services with the former two and an NAP with the latter was reached. While it was sure to happen due to the alignment with the Guristas, we were reset by Veto and followed suit, after a poor choice of words by Nikita Alterana sped up the process. Thus we shall be leaving Goinard, which should curb any rumors that “we would have never survived weren’t it for Veto”. Our new home is already decided on, and the last work is being done on a clear formulation of our goals, as well as a final review of policies, rules and organisational procedures. Keep an eye on the IGS, and another one on my Galnet Blog for more information soon. For now I have to get back to work.

Everyone has a breaking point, and I have hit mine. I’ve been in hiding for what now, two weeks? Something like that, at least. Operation Platinum Halo ended quite unexpected. I should write the report on that, but I simply lack the willpower to do so.

Gods and spirits, this is frustrating, I need to get myself together again. Before someone gets the bright idea of checking up on how I’m doing. I submitted a vague leave of absence some days after returning to Goinard, saying the loss of the VCS Acquisitio and getting a skill level yanked out of my head had me needing some time to recover. There’s some truth in that, surely, but that ain’t all of it.

Why did I have to go and fall for the most stubborn man in the whole of New Eden? I had no other choice than to come here. Yet the irony of it all, considering the role the Guristas played in his history and how this almost resembles what happened in the past …

Myrhial gives a pained sigh.

He probably doesn’t even realize how much I miss him, even now. In some way, I probably deserved this. Yet all I want is him back by my side. I promised Aria I’d take care of him. Breaking his hart and then crushing the pieces under my boots sure ain’t doing it right.

But I can’t just give up. I’ve learned so much here, but I am not quite done. Just a little longer. Then I can go back to PRETA. The revival of Naraka. A phoenix from its ashes. I have no doubts it will be a success.

Will he return to me then? I am not sure. I’d give so much for it to happen, but I realize I might have wasted all my chances. If only he could see things my way, I am sure he’d understand.

Myrhial takes a deep breath.

Enough ranting, nothing is getting done this way. I’ll rest a little longer and then get back into the action. Finish what I started, and then onwards to the future. I’d let so many more down if I didn’t. And that is not my intent.

Welcome to the eighteenth installment of the EVE Blog Banter, the monthly EVE Online blogging extravaganza created by none other than me, 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 tocrazykinux@gmail.com. Check out other EVE Blog Banter articles at the bottom of this post!

On May 6th 2010, EVE Online celebrated its 7th Anniversary. Quite a milestone in MMO history, especially considering that it is one of the few virtual worlds out there to see its population continually grow year after year. For some of you who’ve been here since the very beginning, EVE has evolved quite a lot since its creation. With the expansion rolling out roughly twice a year, New Eden gets renewed and improved regularly. But, how about you the player? How has your gaming style evolved through the years or months since you’ve started playing? Have you always been a carebear, or roleplayer? Have you only focused on PvP or have you given other aspects of the game a chance – say manufacturing. Let’s hear your story!

Getting near to my third year in EVE — I started in August 2007 — and I still haven’t seen it all, though I’ve certainly been around. Being a carrier pilot is something that will get ticked off this year, after which I need a new list. And while I never say never, 0.0 sov and all it entails is something I hold no real interest in, which is the only area I’ve not really poked my nose into.

A short summary of my carreer could be described as carebear gone pirate but remaining true to that carebear side. And then there is the constant of roleplaying all through the years. The specifics? Well, keep reading.

Alts

• Same account: Valnurana, my trader, newbie hauler and alliance executor resides on the same account as Myrhial, as for a long time I was very stubborn about getting a second account and did not have the income to pay one with PLEX. She’s mostly retired now. Also have the placeholder CEO for Ghost Festival sitting in the third slot.
• Different account: Faber Demaunier is my miner and has taken over the role of hauler from Valnurana. She will eventually take over the role of trader too. Will probably go down the path of research and manufacturing in the future, or mission running, or even both.

Carebear

• Exploration: A constant throughout my career, with which I share a love / hate relationship. Have gotten a rare few good catches, an overall steady income when focusing on radar plexes, but also a great many sites that just were a waste of ammo. Primarily focussed on these in lowsec.
• Research: I have personally researched all blueprints in my possession and aided PRELI with researching blueprints which were payment for the POS tower they received in exchange.
• Manufacturing: Mainly making my own ammo when running missions, or produce rigs for my own use to save some ISK on fitting ships. A few months back I finished Production Efficiency V and started buying up cheap salvage to create rigs and sell them at profit. Not a bad income for the slight effort it takes.
• Mission runner: My earliest source of income. Have done both combat missions and couriers in highsec, lowsec and nulsec, and have worked for the Caldari, Amarr, Thukker and Angel Cartel.
• R&D: I’ve got five agents working for me and once every few months I blitz through highsec to collect my earnings. A nice wallet booster but not as good as it used to be back in the days.
• Mining: I once mined in a Procuror — lol terrible ship — in lowsec just for the sheer lulz. I still get poked fun at for that. When I was a wee lil’ pirate I mined a few lowsec gneiss plexes in an Osprey, but other than that I leave this to Faber.
• Wormholes: Potato RR fleets make quick work of Sleepers, and getting near 100 mil a person for a few hours work is great. While quite dull in itself — point drones at broadcasted target and sit back — the vent chatter does get me through it.
• Trade: Mostly marging trading and probably where I’ve gotten most of my ISK. I’ve also invested in shares and IPO’s, all but one payed off, the one that didn’t was due to the player vanishing into thin air. Not sure if that was an intended scam or not. Have also done some resale for people, and selling goods on their behalf with getting a cut of the profits.
• Planetary interaction: Running a nanite repair paste chain spread over two accounts, with Myrhial working on five planets and Faber taking care of the sixth.

Pirate

• Ships of all sizes: I have flown T1 / T2 frigates (with the exception of ewar frigates), destroyers, T1 / T2 cruisers, battlecruisers and battleships into pvp combat, mostly fit for pvp but the few occasional encounters in pve setups have been there as well. I fly mostly in fleets but have also tried my hand at solo combat.
• Faction war: Busting plexes or simply clashing with a militia group, picking off stragglers from large fleets and even opening plexes to bait targets inside, faction war offers a variety of strategies and was where I really learned to pvp. Operation Bold Harvest will always hold a dear spot in my heart.
• Mission busting: This has got to be the most profitable kill till date. Delicious faction loot. Not all are like that though, and it is usually newer players you catch because they aren’t watching the scanner or even unaware of probes. The bulk of targets in Operation Longshot were of that kind.
• Ransoms: A rare occurrence, not because of a lack of trying but because a situation has to lend itself to it and then there is still the willingness of the target to pay up.

Roleplay

• RP corp / alliance: All corporations / alliances I have been part of have had roleplay as part of their activities. My character has undergone quite the transformation, from State loyalist to Cartel loyalist. While this has had a certain impact on her personality as well as her cultural thinking she’s still very Caldari in her ways.
• Channel RP: From bars to political discussions, I’ve been in a fair number of channels. Favorite hangouts are The Skyhook and The Last Gate. I’m one of those eternal lurkers in The Summit as well.
• In character blogging: Been slacking on this a little — and blogging as a whole — since I’ve stepped down as CEO, but for the two years I’ve been blogging I’m at around at least two posts a month.

Leadership

• Corporate: Have been a director and later on a CEO, now serving as shadow CEO while I take out some more time for myself. Don’t worry though, Naraka will be back, no matter what people are saying or assuming. I’ve already got so much ideas on where I want to take the corporation and being in Veto has been a very enlightening experience so far. Someday I hope to chronicle my experiences in a guide for beginning CEO’s and directors.
• Fleets: PVE and PVP, I’ve been FC, backup FC, backup backup FC and logistics coordinator. Having invested in learning leadership skills I’m also serving as fleet booster when needed.

Participants:

1. CrazyKinux’s Musing: The Heroes with a Thousand Faces
2. StarFleet Comms: Life. Evolved.
3. A Carebear’s Journeu: This Carebear Thinks He Is Developing Teeth
4. The Elitist: Our ventures in EVE
5. A Mule in EVE: From a guppy predator
6. Travels of the Ronin: Evolution and Adaptation
7. The Ralpha Dogs: The Past Through Tomorrow
8. Where the frack is my ship: A journey, not a destination
9. I am Keith Neilson: 7 Year Itch?
10. Inner Sanctum of the Ninveah: Evolution Me
11. EVE Opportunist: A long history of a short time
12. Roc’s Ramblings: Things Change
13. Guns Ablaze: Onwards and Upwards
14. EVE On Real Life: Haven’t you grown up yet?
15. The Fang: The path of the ninja
16. EVEOGANDA: Whoops Apocalypse!
17. EVE SOB: Learning to swim
18. The Life of a Dead Jester: My Time with EVE
19. Personal Files, Ciarente Roth: Personal Diary 18.6.112
20. Learning to Fly: Change is Good
21. Depths Unknown: Falling With Style
22. Morphisat’s Blog: Jack of all trades
23. Sarnelbinora’s Blog: Thoughts of EVE
24. Confessions of a Closet Carebear: It’s the yellow box, stupid…
25. Adventures in Mission Running: My path amongst the stars
26. When 11 Ninjas isn’t enough: First days in the North (continued)
27. Lost in New Eden: My EVE Life So Far
28. Life in my Hole: How My EVE Experience Has Evolved
29. The Lathspell of Mithrandir: EVE-olution
30. Chocolate Heaven: Recurring Themes
31. More as they get published…

[Delicious Tag: eveblogbanter18]

When the announcement came that planetside industry would at last be opened up to capsuleers I immediately locked myself in my office and started to consume every bit of information available and developing a plan on how I could make this work for me. And when the first command centers left the assembly lines I invested in no less than five, lowering them on planets in and near Goinard and establishing an industrial network that is still undergoing rigorous tweaking to maximize output and minimize facility downtime.

I’ve always enjoyed the creation part of being a “demi-god”, perhaps even more than I enjoy the destruction part. Although, when doing export and import routines yesterday, the two came together as a Condor and Coercer appeared on scan in Goinard. With Morwen off scanning down a Badger Mark II I had spotted earlier, and receiving intel from her that these were beginning outlaws, I decided to reship and take this chance for some combat practice. When one complains about difficulties of finding prey, one should not pass up when the prey presents itself on ones doorstep, no? Especially not if it sits waiting in the system’s top belt with the intention to also hone their combat skills.

Balancing my chances to catch them with enough survivability I had my pod transferred to the Mercutio, an Arbitrator class cruiser. The fight itself was nothing spectacular, landing on top of them, pinning down the Coercer which received the firepower of a full flight of Hammerhead II’s while tracking disruption crippled his offensive capabilities. I directed my rocket launcher and autocannons at the Condor, and took down his shields and half his armor while he got out of distance. Might have even had him had I been quick enough to set the statis webifier on him. “Good fight”, the Coercer pilot hailed in the local channel as he warped his pod to safety. “Good fight”, I returned. We spoke a little more and he detailed how his wingmate had been surprised by the damage the rockets did to his little vessel, and how they will try to learn from this skirmish to improve upon themselves.

Warping off with all the loot in my cargo hold, but forgetting my drones clearly shows I’ve room for improvement as well. Solo combat still makes me jittery from the adrenaline. I’ll have to take the opportunity to take the lessons offered to me by a few other Veto pilots earlier that day to become a “solo hero” as well. Although with finalizing the plans for my next business venture, which will be a corporate project if I can gauge enough interest for it — and initial polling for interest does make it appear so — the solo combat training will get pushed further down on the agenda again. If all goes well though the earnings will be spectacular and I can buy me enough frigates to last me a lifetime, ignoring the pseudo-immortality of our kind.

When LeTo announced that he was organizing a Dramiel operation I just had to be there. After all, many of those originated from the blueprints I bought in Curse and had shipped over to Goinard. I had found buyers for each within Veto and soon after discussions on how to fit and operate the ship were held all over comms. The ISK this generated will be invested into improving my ability to run Cartel missions within hostile grounds, as Cursed Alliance and other capsuleer groups in the area are keen on defending “their” territory. Here’s to hoping my plan will work. I’ll probably write a little something about it later on.

Arriving in Old Man Star, our first destination of that evening, targets were sighted in the first belt: A bunch of Rifters with Osprey logistical support. The resulting battle was quite a sight, and Korthan captured a recording of it. While the Dramiels were doing their thing I directed my torpedoes at the Ospreys, which while far from optimal were the best targets for me on the field. Eventually dominating the field we collected the spoils and found out through local channel chatter the fleet were a group of Tuskers, whom were checking on a target there themselves. Ah, how quickly the roles of the hunter and the hunted can change. I had to break off a little later as I was feeling tired and unable to focus, but from the combat records I learned the fleet (or some of its members) ended up taking out another Stabber, Stiletto, Atron and Myrmidon. To my great joy — even though it is bad for my personal business — all Dramiels made it back home safely at the end.

Many camera drone snapshots were taken and shared around in the following days, the Dramiels being such aesthetically pleasing crafts to behold, but one of them beats it all. Morwen took a shot of them gathered around the Loki that provided us with leadership bonuses, and added a rather witty caption to it.