After a long hiatus–wherein I played EVE, was further frustrated by ECM and FW fleets, quit EVE, tried RoM, got to 50 and realized it was more WoW than I’d hoped, quit RoM, went back to WoW again, semi-quit WoW (but free game time!), and currently find myself firmly in the clutches of Darkfall–I am ready to post again.

Darkfall is rather hardcore: you can hit members of your group and own alignment, being hit in the back or sides is much more painful than the front, mounts are spawned and can be boarded or taken by anyone in the vicinity if you aren’t careful, and when you die you drop everything you were carrying and wearing.  It’s also a FPS style MMO so you have to aim your shots with magic, arrows, and melee weapons.  Being nearly handicapped in the hand-eye coordination department, Darkfall really got my panties in a twist for the first few days (I had to turn down my mouse’s DPI too; it was seizure-land!).  However, I feel like I’m getting the hang of it and all the gameplay is surprisingly interesting.

There are no consideration mechanics in the game.  You can’t tell by mouseover whether you’ll be able to solo this guy or whether he’s going to wreck your whole group.  If you can see someone, they can see you; actually, they’re probably all ready heading for you, shouting for friends to follow and bring the tar.  They zig and zag, avoiding your painstakingly aimed arrow or magic spell.  They run back to friends for a heal, circle you to hit vulnerable spots, attack the weakest in your group, and eat food to regen health.  There is a real risk each time you go out to fight you could die and lose everything on you AND THOSE ARE JUST THE MOBS.  (I’m telling you, the AI in this game is smarter than some of the people with whom I’ve raided!)

PvP is a whole ‘nother story, pals.

Ken and I started playing about a week ago to try it out and see what we thought.  Obviously that went well.  Tonight, Travis joined us and after a quick run down of the basics, we decided to head over to an easy dungeon close-ish to our Alfar territory we found on an online map resource. 

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a tombstone of another player who’d fallen victim to god-knows-what in there (oh, I totally ninjaed all his shit too) so we proceeded with caution.  We’d found a neat goblin village in the undergrown caverns and were luring them to their deaths in a convenient alcove when a few other people showed up.  Apparently they’d 0verheard what we were saying about their mothers ’cause they proceeded to FUCK US UP.  I saw one guy set Travis on fire and I bolted in the opposite direction. 

There was a bunch of shouting on Vent and in the confusion–which included Travis being incapacitated and Ken running into the group of three people hell-bent on our destruction and corpse-looting to ninja-revive like an EMT on PCP–I ran into another neat mob-filled town to hide.  Except this wasn’t a primitive goblin village with cute huts and cozy fires out front.  This place was crawling with undead dwarves who could hit me for half my life in one shot.  I ran around like a crazy person, getting lost-er by the moment and finding that the smartass AI could find me hiding behind rocks and in houses, even if I was crouched behind a table with my eyes covered. 

I finally found my way back to Ken and Travis and it was like that scene in The Lion King where Timone is running toward Zazu in that bone cage thing, screaming “LET ME IN!  LET ME IN!” while Zazu is crying “LET ME OUT!  LET ME OUT!”  Of course those PKing fucks (I know I’m usually the PKing fuck and that’s totally fine.  The moral here is do as I say and not as I do, ‘kay?) were right behind the guys and I flipped around to run again.  They chased us around those caverns for nearly an hour.  Ken went down first in a heroic effort to draw fire away the rest of the group.  Travis hid in some boxes for at least ten minutes, listening to the pitter-patter of searching feet, but eventually got boned too.  I snuck back to the goblin city, found a house, and LOGOFFSKIED.  (I don’t want to hear about how that was a cheat or I’m not honourable for sticking around or whatever.  This is war, people, and if you ignore opportunies to outsmart that’s your own fault!  Plus, I have no shame.  At all.)

So there you have it.  Darkfall’s my current drug of choice…I don’t go broke and I do it a lot.

As I:fiction::oil:water I am not participating this month.  However, here are those who are!

A couple nights back, a guy killed Ken in his Kestrel.  Ken chased him for the next half hour or so for another one-on-one chance but the guy wouldn’t bite.  So Ken called me in for harassment’s sake and we decided to bait him out with something helpless and rain down Gang Bang fire.  This prompted a yet another ECM-bashing tirade in local (Okay, so we goaded the shit out of the guy…  And pardon the gap in the middle; I logged Gank out for a minute to change skills on another toon.):

[ 2009.03.24 04:20:41 ] Spork’d > You failed buddy
[ 2009.03.24 04:20:46 ] RueTiron > that is some pussy shit
[ 2009.03.24 04:20:55 ] ZeitGeisT iL > aflac
[ 2009.03.24 04:20:56 ] RueTiron > falcon and 5 pirates vs a noob in a caraal
[ 2009.03.24 04:20:59 ] Gankis Khan > LOL, you always have something to say when you lose.
[ 2009.03.24 04:21:02 ] RueTiron > and you still lost 2 ships
[ 2009.03.24 04:21:04 ] RueTiron > LOL
[ 2009.03.24 04:21:10 ] ZeitGeisT iL > falcon…5 pirates..
[ 2009.03.24 04:21:14 ] Gankis Khan > “Not my fault,” you say.
[ 2009.03.24 04:21:14 ] ZeitGeisT iL > u confuse for belt rats
[ 2009.03.24 04:21:15 ] Spork’d > lol, i lost a tackle fitted iskur buddy
[ 2009.03.24 04:21:24 ] Spork’d > check the killmail, no guns on it, you took the bait like a nub.
[ 2009.03.24 04:21:33 ] RueTiron > i am a noob
[ 2009.03.24 04:21:33 ] ZeitGeisT iL > A F L A C
[ 2009.03.24 04:21:40 ] RueTiron > the bait
[ 2009.03.24 04:21:42 ] RueTiron > lol

[ 2009.03.24 04:26:33 ] RueTiron > and you had to degrade yourself to do it
[ 2009.03.24 04:26:39 ] ZeitGeisT iL > oh good yer still crying
[ 2009.03.24 04:26:41 ] ZeitGeisT iL > i wanted seconds
[ 2009.03.24 04:26:43 ] RueTiron > stfu
[ 2009.03.24 04:26:46 ] ZeitGeisT iL > we get thirsty out here in space
[ 2009.03.24 04:26:53 ] RueTiron > you suck
[ 2009.03.24 04:26:55 ] RueTiron > a falcon
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:00 ] ZeitGeisT iL > did u feel big and bad beating up the kestrel?
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:02 ] ZeitGeisT iL > did it tickle?
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:06 ] ZeitGeisT iL > u tickle
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:06 ] RueTiron > that is some bitch tactics
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:09 ] sgt cruz > lol someones pissed
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:10 ] ZeitGeisT iL > no
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:13 ] ZeitGeisT iL > we used hax
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:20 ] RueTiron > bitch tactics
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:24 ] ZeitGeisT iL > yes
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:27 ] Gankis Khan > Aww, cry some more, Rue!
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:27 ] ZeitGeisT iL > keep going
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:29 ] RueTiron > B I T C H
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:30 ] ZeitGeisT iL > im getting haaaaard
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:32 ] RueTiron > tactics
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:34 ] Gankis Khan > You power my jams.
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:44 ] RueTiron > im crying
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:48 ] ZeitGeisT iL > RueTiron will u sit on my lap?? I AM SANTA
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:50 ] Tripden > tama is full of noobs c/d ?
[ 2009.03.24 04:27:51 ] RueTiron > have some dignity
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:01 ] Gankis Khan > /emote confirms.
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:06 ] RueTiron > you probably coulda taken me…. without the falcon
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:10 ] ZeitGeisT iL > /emote c
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:10 ] RueTiron > if you werent some bitches
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:16 ] ZeitGeisT iL > but we r bitches
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:18 ] RueTiron > i mean it was only 5 of you
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:22 ] ZeitGeisT iL > end of discussion?
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:24 ] Lawlzer > Ruetiron, you talked shit when you killed my kestrel
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:28 ] ZeitGeisT iL > we r noob hot dropping nublets
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:30 ] RueTiron > lol
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:35 ] Lawlzer > like that was a fair fight.
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:36 ] RueTiron > lawlzer you suck
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:43 ] RueTiron > it was fair
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:44 ] Lawlzer > just kicked your ass.
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:45 ] ZeitGeisT iL > he sucks ME AND HES VERY GOOD AT IT STFU
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:52 ] Gankis Khan > Yes, more please.
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:53 ] RueTiron > the first fight was fair
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:58 ] Gankis Khan > MOAR TEARS!
[ 2009.03.24 04:28:59 ] RueTiron > when I nailed you lawlzer
[ 2009.03.24 04:29:00 ] ZeitGeisT iL > lawlalwlalw
[ 2009.03.24 04:29:13 ] ZeitGeisT iL > 500 wpm of tears =D
[ 2009.03.24 04:29:19 ] RueTiron > i mean when you bring in a falcon you got to be pretty desperate
[ 2009.03.24 04:29:28 ] ZeitGeisT iL > u didnt see the pilgrim?
[ 2009.03.24 04:29:33 ] ZeitGeisT iL > yer btching about the falcon?
[ 2009.03.24 04:29:37 ] RueTiron > i guess just to save your manhod since I had just raped it
[ 2009.03.24 04:29:40 ] ZeitGeisT iL > and the nidhogger and pilgrim didnt offend u?
[ 2009.03.24 04:29:55 ] RueTiron > that pilfrim was WEAK
[ 2009.03.24 04:29:56 ] Gankis Khan > Oooh, Nidhogger?
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:01 ] ZeitGeisT iL > if your epic tank would of held any longer we would of had to DD
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:03 ] RueTiron > fail pilgrim
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:09 ] Lawlzer > lol
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:13 ] Gankis Khan > LOL, everything’s fail when you die to it, mister.
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:18 ] Lawlzer > You anger makes me so happy you know that.
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:21 ] Gankis Khan > It’s why you’re our favourite kill.
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:28 ] RueTiron > im not that angry
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:30 ] Lawlzer > That thought of you, sitting there crying and screaming in your room.
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:33 ] RueTiron > that is some bitch shit
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:35 ] Gankis Khan > Sure you’re not.
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:36 ] RueTiron > to bring in a falcon
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:39 ] RueTiron > ?
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:39 ] ZeitGeisT iL > like the warcraft kid?
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:40 ] RueTiron > LOL
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:42 ] Gankis Khan > You’re really HAPPY about it.
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:43 ] Lawlzer > and you mom is all like ” Little Rue, what’s wrong baby!”
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:47 ] RueTiron > you just exposed yourself as a pussy corp
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:56 ] Lawlzer > and you are like ” MOMMY THE KIDS ARE PICKING ON ME AGAIN! ”
[ 2009.03.24 04:30:57 ] ZeitGeisT iL > i told u we r
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:00 ] ZeitGeisT iL > and we r bitches
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:03 ] Lawlzer > that makes me feel good.
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:03 ] ZeitGeisT iL > so why r u still going
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:07 ] Gankis Khan > Not just corp, either. Check the alliance name.
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:11 ] RueTiron > a falcon in a fleet fight sure… but a falcon against a noob in a t1cruiser?
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:11 ] Gankis Khan > /emote grins.
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:12 ] RueTiron > lol
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:13 ] ZeitGeisT iL > we r bitches with very nice punanies
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:17 ] RueTiron > that shit is funny
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:19 ] Gankis Khan > Clean ones.
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:23 ] ZeitGeisT iL > very clean
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:27 ] ZeitGeisT iL > glistening
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:28 ] Gankis Khan > High five for clean punanny.
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:28 ] ZeitGeisT iL > sparkly
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:31 ] RueTiron > ghankis you need to change your name’
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:32 ] ZeitGeisT iL > /emote high fives
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:36 ] RueTiron > you are not worthy of that name
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:39 ] Gankis Khan > And you should spell it right.
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:39 ] ZeitGeisT iL > wtf is a ruetiron
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:45 ] ZeitGeisT iL > is that like a ruetcanal?
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:49 ] Gankis Khan > LOL
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:51 ] RueTiron > Bitch Khan
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:53 ] sgt cruz > omg dude just shut up
[ 2009.03.24 04:31:58 ] ZeitGeisT iL > oh no he did int
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:07 ] Gankis Khan > Ohhh, snap.
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:13 ] ZeitGeisT iL > /emote reels back
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:14 ] RueTiron > Bitch Khan, because he can fight a real fight so he scratches
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:20 ] ZeitGeisT iL > your a bad man khan
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:22 ] ZeitGeisT iL > bad bad man
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:22 ] Lawlzer > Hehehe Rue, let’s talk about something since obviously your not so smart.
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:24 ] sgt cruz > RueTiron is a noob
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:30 ] RueTiron > I am a noob
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:33 ] Lawlzer > Since you A: Had no point
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:33 ] ZeitGeisT iL > me 2
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:37 ] Gankis Khan > LOL, I’m a girl, so bitch fights are COMPLETELY acceptable for me.
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:42 ] Lawlzer > and B: The ishkur you killed had no guns
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:44 ] sgt cruz > lol
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:47 ] ZeitGeisT iL > and me because im very feminine
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:53 ] Gankis Khan > Agreed.
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:56 ] Lawlzer > pardon me, incursis had no guns
[ 2009.03.24 04:32:58 ] ZeitGeisT iL > ./o\
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:00 ] RueTiron > more bitch shit
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:08 ] sgt cruz > ur the one bitching…
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:08 ] Gankis Khan > You’re very in touch with your feminine side, Zeit.
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:11 ] Lawlzer > either A: Your leet sauce pwing a t1 frig
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:12 ] RueTiron > i dont mind 1v 5
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:14 ] Gankis Khan > It’s why we’re such good pals.
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:16 ] ZeitGeisT iL > Rue what are you wearing
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:22 ] Lawlzer > or B: Your a dipshit that got caught ratting in a belt
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:30 ] Lawlzer > *you’re
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:33 ] RueTiron > because obviously your corp is a few cents short of a dollar
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:34 ] Gankis Khan > Ha, dipshit belt-ratting.
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:41 ] ZeitGeisT iL > dont change the subject dude
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:42 ] RueTiron > so it takes a few extras to bring me down
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:43 ] Gankis Khan > That’s for DAMN sure.
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:44 ] Lawlzer > yeah, i’m voting for B
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:44 ] ZeitGeisT iL > what r u wearin
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:50 ] RueTiron > but the falcon
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:53 ] Lawlzer > But pat yourself on the back for that incursis kill.
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:56 ] RueTiron > that was bitch tactic
[ 2009.03.24 04:33:58 ] ZeitGeisT iL > W T F R U WAERRINGS
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:04 ] Gankis Khan > Done by a bitch for a bitch. <3
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:06 ] RueTiron > that pilgrim was going down
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:09 ] Lawlzer > Yeah, bitch tactics that caught us a bitch LOL.
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:11 ] RueTiron > against a caracal
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:11 ] ZeitGeisT iL > what fcking pilgrim rofl
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:12 ] Lawlzer > you said it baby.
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:13 ] Capitan Kidd > what happened? i whent AFK and now someone droped a big steamer in my local window
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:24 ] RueTiron > good thing that falcon Saved you Lawzler
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:31 ] Lawlzer > Rue got killed and he cried.
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:31 ] ZeitGeisT iL > we hot dropped a fleet of dreads on his caracel and hes mad about it?
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:37 ] RueTiron > that would have been twice in 15 minutes you got owned by a noob
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:38 ] Gankis Khan > I know, right?
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:44 ] Gankis Khan > Everyone knows what kind of fair that is!
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:51 ] ZeitGeisT iL > this erection is killing me
[ 2009.03.24 04:34:59 ] Gankis Khan > I bet Rue could help you with it.
[ 2009.03.24 04:35:01 ] RueTiron > Bitch Tactics
[ 2009.03.24 04:35:04 ] Lawlzer > Rue, you killed a bait frig. and it got us your caracal.
[ 2009.03.24 04:35:12 ] Lawlzer > Who is the bitch now?
[ 2009.03.24 04:35:21 ] sgt cruz > lol
[ 2009.03.24 04:35:22 ] RueTiron > you got my Caracal LOL congratulations
[ 2009.03.24 04:35:28 ] sgt cruz > ok now shut up
[ 2009.03.24 04:35:28 ] RueTiron > with a falcon
[ 2009.03.24 04:35:30 ] ZeitGeisT iL > as dave chappelle would say ” Wrap It Up”
[ 2009.03.24 04:35:31 ] sgt cruz > end of story
[ 2009.03.24 04:35:33 ] ZeitGeisT iL > /emote turns on blinking sign
[ 2009.03.24 04:35:59 ] Lawlzer > Rue you are crying about the ships there. I didn’t cry about my incursis being killed by your cruiser… Like that was a fair fight
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:06 ] RueTiron > lawlzer you better keep that falcon close to you. that falcon is your pimp and you’re the bitch
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:16 ] RueTiron > and im the john
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:16 ] ZeitGeisT iL > LOL
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:17 ] ZeitGeisT iL > LOL
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:17 ] Gankis Khan > Well, yes, that’s how I’d see it.
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:18 ] Lawlzer > That falcon is my wife actually
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:19 ] ZeitGeisT iL > LOL
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:25 ] ZeitGeisT iL > u paid for sex with a falcon rue?
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:29 ] Gankis Khan > HOT BITCH-FALCON ACTION!
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:33 ] sgt cruz > lmao
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:35 ] RueTiron > pretty much
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:40 ] Lawlzer > so i am her bitch.
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:41 ] Lawlzer > I’ll tell you what Rue.
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:51 ] RueTiron > that was cheap man
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:53 ] Lawlzer > Here, before all of Tama. I will 1v1 you in my Vexor in your Caracal
[ 2009.03.24 04:36:58 ] Lawlzer > and we will see who the bitch is.
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:03 ] RueTiron > ok
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:05 ] Gankis Khan > Wait, no!
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:07 ] RueTiron > your vexor
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:08 ] Gankis Khan > We know who it is.
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:10 ] Gankis Khan > It’s ME.
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:17 ] sgt cruz > Rue lmao
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:23 ] sgt cruz > i c something in ur future
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:33 ] Lawlzer > get a new Caracal and let me know when you are ready
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:36 ] Ecky X > rats.
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:37 ] sgt cruz > DEATH… dun dun dun
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:37 ] Lawlzer > we will do a straight 1v1
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:51 ] RueTiron > your Vexor vs my Caracal?
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:54 ] ZeitGeisT iL > ill be cloaked in the deathstar’
[ 2009.03.24 04:37:58 ] Lawlzer > unless you’re scared.
[ 2009.03.24 04:38:01 ] Lawlzer > or a bitch.
[ 2009.03.24 04:38:07 ] RueTiron > scared?
[ 2009.03.24 04:38:09 ] RueTiron > lol
[ 2009.03.24 04:38:12 ] Gankis Khan > /emote readies the carriers.
[ 2009.03.24 04:38:14 ] ZeitGeisT iL > scurred
[ 2009.03.24 04:38:18 ] sgt cruz > lol
[ 2009.03.24 04:38:22 ] RueTiron > im not scared
[ 2009.03.24 04:38:23 ] ZeitGeisT iL > /emote jump stats the cyno
[ 2009.03.24 04:38:28 ] RueTiron > im scurred like he says
[ 2009.03.24 04:38:45 ] sgt cruz > Rue just get another cruiser and get it done already
[ 2009.03.24 04:39:04 ] ZeitGeisT iL > rue party me and warp to me
[ 2009.03.24 04:39:10 ] ZeitGeisT iL > ill reff it =|
[ 2009.03.24 04:39:13 ] RueTiron > i just think the falcon was unnecessary and cheap
[ 2009.03.24 04:39:21 ] Spork’d > Scared of the 1v1 then?
[ 2009.03.24 04:39:28 ] Gankis Khan > Oh, honey, I’m not cheap.
[ 2009.03.24 04:39:34 ] ZeitGeisT iL > she is free
[ 2009.03.24 04:39:36 ] ZeitGeisT iL > its different
[ 2009.03.24 04:39:39 ] Gankis Khan > ~.^
[ 2009.03.24 04:39:42 ] ZeitGeisT iL > >.>
[ 2009.03.24 04:40:28 ] RueTiron > i mean the falcon did what a falcon should do…but its kind of like bring a pipe bomb to a knife fight
[ 2009.03.24 04:40:43 ] ZeitGeisT iL > usually a nuke will suffice
[ 2009.03.24 04:41:06 ] RueTiron > why wasnt that pilgrom doing more damage lawlzer
[ 2009.03.24 04:41:32 ] Gankis Khan > Shh, the grown ups are busy.

Honestly, this was really just a long (but oh so amusing!) introduction to my thoughts on the ECM rebalance patch in the works.  *two cents begin*

I’ve been crying about the Falcon’s role in EVE’s PvP for some time.  It feels very WoW-warlock-esque: people shouting ” Overpowered!!” while the devs seem not to hear and continue  to buff ‘locks and stealth-nerf other classes.  I’ve seen a lot of the same forum antics as well.  The warlock class forums (and nearly every other forums where a warlock happened to be mentioned) were full of posts about how warlocks were NOT overpowered and that you were just stupid to have been killed before you got through their three-times-your-life hit point pool.  In EVE’s forums, I read post after post about how you can counter Falcons and though many are somewhat valid suggestions, they just don’t seem to work on a day-to-day basis.  I solved this little dilemma by training into a Falcon myself.  Ta da!  No More Tears™!

Falcons don’t seem balanced when compared to other eWar ships, though.  Their range puts them outside the battle zone and there is no appreciable degradation of jamming power even out over 200km.  The next best range in the eWar ships is the Remote Sensor Dampeners of the Arazu at around 165km with all relevant skills at five.  It has become mandatory to fly with a Falcon in your fleet and the alternatives are nil.  I hate not having options.

It seems the Arazu, though, may have been meant as a counter to the Falcon: close enough to the fight to assist with drones and rails, while dampening the Falcon to bring it in toward your DPS or to get it to leave all together.  Currently, this is completely negated by the extra 35+km the Falcon reaches.

All in all, I think the proposed changes are WONDERFUL and will help give fleets more choices when it comes to tactics.

*end two cents*

Apocrypha has been wonderful so far.  I’ve not run into any of the lag and other issues about which I’ve read complaints.  The wormholes are badass and a nice change from all the pirating we do.  We made some decent money in one and took out a Raven, a Caracal, and a CNR (poor guy had been stuck in there for TWO DAYS).

The Ninja Pirates picked up another new member, Drero, on referral from our alliance pals.  We’re excited to have him and can’t wait to break him in.  *grin*

I’m dying for the data dump so we can get our killboards going normally again.  The cheaty way we’ve got it now makes me feel unclean.  *raspberry*  But I do love the map mod I installed.  It shows our activity for the week with a neato red circle that makes us look terribly menacing.  Don’t go there, it says.  THEMS NINJAS!

I’ve been working on some fiction to post and it’s sapping my will to blog.  I hope to have some of it up here in the next couple weeks.  *crosses fingers*  But who knows how it will turn out.  Another phantom poo, probably.

Ken installed my second hard drive and I was finally able to reinstall all the games I was missing: Bioshock, Rainbow Six: Vegas, The Orange Box, Spore, CSI: Dark Motives, CSI: Miami, Call of Duty 4, and Fallout 3.  I am also bound and determined to get a Darkfall account this next time the store opens.  I must play this game.  I WILL NOT BE DENIED!

*brave face*

I really want to post something interesting and fun but every time I get ready to do it, it never happens.  It’s like those phantom poops where you strain and grunt and sweat beads your brow but then you stand up to check and you don’t see a thing.

Also, I’ve been busy playing the refresh game Adventurine has devised to acquire an account and admiring all the beauty that is killing people in EVE’s Apocrypha.  (I can’t wait for the data dump so we can post the kills.)  It’s win, my friends.  I will be back posting soon!

Hugs and kisses for you all.  <3

Nemesis:  ”A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent.  Personified in this case by an ‘orrible cunt…”

Tonight will go down in TNP history.  We have–for the first time!–vanquished my nemesis:  Ivort, the sniper Apoc, is no more!  (Well, until he fits out another.)    It was an epic battle where I juggled two Falcons in mine, whilst keeping Ivort jammed and a Thorax away.  I felt like Superman when he vacationed on the sun.  The peasants rejoiced and there was a barn dance in our honour!  Ivort was pretty cool about the gang bang and so I must salute him.  Thanks, man!  o7

We also ran in to Spectre and got to hang with him.  We got a couple kills with him and he even visited our vent.  (I was a tad concerned he’d be frightened off by our chatter but he’s apparently just as warped as we are.)  Spectre’s pretty badass and I wish we could win him over to TNP.  *rubs hands together to show formation of evil plans*

Last, but not least, I got our alliance holding page up!  It’s sweet, sweet temporary-ness and links to our killboards as well as the others in the alliance.  Make sure you check our careful chemist in the corner.  He’s win!

Last night we had our first run-in EVER with one of the more famous EVE powers-that-be.  We warped out to a planet in Tama in search of a Brutix.  Boy, did we find him!  And he was a Goon!  I practically swooned with excitement. He gave us some insight on his feelings about our home space and even some words of encouragement for our kill.

[ 2009.03.02 04:59:59 ] Alexander Omega > FUCK EMPIRE
[ 2009.03.02 05:00:08 ] Teni Kanabou > love from repo
[ 2009.03.02 05:00:22 ] Alexander Omega > Hugs 

We picked up a new pilot, Corinva (weirdly enough, he was another acquisition from a fight and has been nicknamed Corn), and helped him get his first kill.  The poor Thorax pilot was confused, but we set him straight!

[ 2009.03.02 05:43:26 ] Alaki Kant > that took awhile :/
[ 2009.03.02 05:43:32 ] sgt cruz > yeah =)
[ 2009.03.02 05:43:39 ] Lawlzer > Letting the new guy get in.
[ 2009.03.02 05:43:40 ] Orthelo > =)
[ 2009.03.02 05:43:43 ] Gankis Khan > LOL, we were letting our new friend get his first kill!
[ 2009.03.02 05:43:44 ] sgt cruz > new guy in corp =)
[ 2009.03.02 05:43:46 ] Corinva > thanks

We even ran into a fellow blogger!  I love rubbing elbows with the blogging elite.  Well, okay, maybe not rubbing elbows.  But we were in the same local!  *grin*

[ 2009.03.01 22:07:29 ] Wensley > gf
[ 2009.03.01 22:07:39 ] Caelum Dominus > jesus christ…
[ 2009.03.01 22:07:42 ] Caelum Dominus > what kind of crazy tank is that?
[ 2009.03.01 22:07:45 ] Caelum Dominus > gf.
[ 2009.03.01 22:07:53 ] Gankis Khan > WENSLEY!
[ 2009.03.01 22:08:02 ] Wensley > \o/
[ 2009.03.01 22:08:08 ] Gankis Khan > I was just reading about your page views.
[ 2009.03.01 22:08:17 ] Wensley > slow night, is it?
[ 2009.03.01 22:08:26 ] Gankis Khan > LOL, it’s kinda morning for me.
[ 2009.03.01 22:08:33 ] Gankis Khan > 3 pm-ish.
[ 2009.03.01 22:17:14 ] Gankis Khan > I see you, Wensley!
[ 2009.03.01 22:17:19 ] Gankis Khan > /emote waves.
[ 2009.03.01 22:17:24 ] Wensley > /emote waves back
[ 2009.03.01 22:17:37 ] Wensley > damn, my cunning disguise to avoid the station security failed
[ 2009.03.01 22:18:30 ] Gankis Khan > LOL <3

The Ninja Pirates are still growing and we’ve added five new pilots to our roster!  Welcome Corinva, Orbit Uranus, Teni Kanabou, Sgt Cruz, and Gaelrond!  Yay!  I love you guys! <3

Welcome to the fifth 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 directedhere. Check out other EVE Blog Banter articles at the bottom of this post!

This month’s topic comes to us from Mynxee of Life in Low Sec. She asks, “Alts and Metagaming: Is playing two accounts who are logged in at the same time and work together (hauler/miner, explorer/combat associate, trade alts in trade hubs) a form of metagaming that is ‘ruining the game?“

“Metagaming is a broad term usually used to define any strategy, action or method used in a game which transcends a prescribed ruleset, uses external factors to affect the game, or goes beyond the supposed limits or environment set by the game. In simple terms, using out-of-game information, or resources, to affect one’s in-game decisions.”

It seems ridiculous to me to confine the information on which you make decisions for your gaming experiences to only what you can find in-game. I’m the type of person who reads every bit of literature I can get my hands on for whatever I’m interested in at the moment. I’m all about using any resource available to get the most out of life and of course that includes my gaming.

I’ve always been an alt whore. I love playing each class, exploring each race, and seeing what it’s like to be something other than what I began. In World of Warcraft my guild was named “You Killed My Alt” and I had a max-level toon of seven out of the nine classes. Of course, in World of Warcraft, it didn’t really make much difference that my characters weren’t online at the same time. Things are much different in EVE.

I can use my combat character, Gankis, to run a mission and my alt, Anyka, to salvage and loot as I go, stymieing the efforts of Freelance Salvagers (I feel, since it’s been recognized as an actual mini-profession, “ninja salvaging” just doesn’t fit any longer). I can probe down targets with Anyka and warp in with Gankis to pirate their guts out, avoiding anti-pirate belt traps. I can mine ice with Puriel and haul it off with Anyka, sticking it to those pesky can-flippers. But is this unfair and ruining the game?

Of course it’s unfair. Many of the arguments are for the have-nots versus the haves. “Some people don’t have the money to run more than one account.” “Not everyone wants to have to run two clients.” “You shouldn’t have to mine all day to pay for a second account.” Those are not my problem, fault, or business. Some people don’t have the money for a 22” flatscreen with a 2 millisecond refresh rate either. That doesn’t make my owning one unfair. Some people don’t have a comfy house with children primed to do their bidding. Or the charm and wit to land a great husband with a kickass job who’ll let them stay home to play Queen for a Day, bossing about said children. Again, not my problem, et cetera. However, I don’t believe those things I have access to ruin the game for anyone else.

I believe that as long as the opportunity is available to everyone and breaks no rules set forth by the game’s designers, it is not unfair. Whether every single player knows about it or can afford it in time or money is moot. Once we start trying to make things “completely fair for everyone,” games might as well ship with standard hardware required to play and software to check that we’re all using it.

Harrison Bergeron on a smaller scale?

 
Participants:

• Epic Misadventures, This is my Alt – There are many like it but this one is mine.
• Inner Sanctum of the Ninveah, I Missed This Month’s Blog Banter!
• A Mule in EvE, Meta what? Is it hurting EvE?
• Morphisat’s EVE Online Blog, Me, Myself and I
• One Man And His Spaceship, Me and My Shadow
• Ombeve, Blog Banter edition 5
• Diving into PsycheDiver’s Psyche, CK’s Blog Banter #5: Everybody Needs Somebody
• Dense Veldspar, Blog Banter
• Ecliptic Rift, OOC: Blog Banter #5 Metagaming
• The Ralpha Dogs, Me, Myself and I
• Mad Rant, “Blog Banter – It’s my party, and I’ll alt if I want to….”
• EVE Chick, The Handicapper General
• The Wandering Druid of Tranquility, “…you see mate, it’s a matter of leverage, savvy?…”
• New Eden Diaries, It’s only a game
• Oz’s House of the Evil Dead, If You Can’t Ride Two Horses At Once, You Shouldn’t Be In The Circus
• Diving into PsycheDiver’s Psyche, Everybody Needs Sombody
• CrazyKinux’s Musing, Leave what you know at the door please!
• Diary of a Pod Pilot, [OOC] EVE Blog Banter #5 Metagaming
• EvE – Wotlankor, [OOC] Alts and Metagaming
• Roc’s Ramblings, February Blog Banter – Meta Me
• Drunk in Space, Metagaming….so that’s the name.
• X1376′s Space Odyssey, Blog Banter #5: Army of One
• A merry life and a short one, EVE Blog Banter #5: Uh…
• Zero Kelvin, Are alts ruining the game?
• DeafPlasma’s EVE Musings, Blog Banter #5: Alts & me!
• I am Keith Nielson, EVE is All About the Metagame
• Everyday EvE, Two Accounts Edition
• Blogging from inside the pod, EVE Blog Banter #5: Arletta and I
• Speed Fairy, Meet Paul
• More coming as the articles post!…

I took out the shiny new Falcon, Sand Vag: A Prequel (don’t ask, you probably don’t want to know), last night and it was everything I imagined and more!  I jammed every Falcon I ran up against, kept entire fleets we fought jammed, and generally made our opponents’ lives hell.  We even had the following exchange due to my “skills of an artist!”

[ 2009.02.20 06:59:34 ] Thingymawotzit > omg how many falcons do u need for one hac?
[ 2009.02.20 06:59:43 ] Gankis Khan > LOL, we just have one.
[ 2009.02.20 06:59:44 ] Pennyloafer > gf
[ 2009.02.20 06:59:49 ] Thingymawotzit > not a gf
[ 2009.02.20 06:59:58 ] Thingymawotzit > ecm gay
[ 2009.02.20 07:00:10 ] Gankis Khan > LOL, no more than sniper Zealots, baby.
[ 2009.02.20 07:00:13 ] Thingymawotzit > ur getting nerfed did u hear?
[ 2009.02.20 07:00:14 ] Gankis Khan > Don’t go away mad.
[ 2009.02.20 07:00:24 ] Pennyloafer > go away in a pod!
[ 2009.02.20 07:00:26 ] Gankis Khan > Good thing I can fly more than one ship!
[ 2009.02.20 07:00:36 ] Thingymawotzit > ecm strength bonus is going away
[ 2009.02.20 07:00:53 ] Thingymawotzit > good thing u have no other tactics
[ 2009.02.20 07:00:58 ] Spork’d > Whatever makes you sleep at night.
[ 2009.02.20 07:00:59 ] Evienia > also zealots going to lose damage bonus
[ 2009.02.20 07:01:05 ] Gankis Khan > LOL
[ 2009.02.20 07:01:17 ] Spork’d > Don’t be a cry baby, I didn’t complain when you used a Zealot to kill my t1 cruiser.
[ 2009.02.20 07:01:22 ] Thingymawotzit > not according to dev blog
[ 2009.02.20 07:01:27 ] Gankis Khan > For reals.  Be a good sport, Thingy.
[ 2009.02.20 07:01:30 ] Kahran Ramesus > you guys are my new favorite corp
[ 2009.02.20 07:01:43 ] Gankis Khan > Oh, Kahran!  YAY!
[ 2009.02.20 07:01:44 ] Thingymawotzit > honestly mate i just dont like ecm
[ 2009.02.20 07:01:44 ] Spork’d > Kahran, you should just join us.
[ 2009.02.20 07:01:55 ] Thingymawotzit > thats all
[ 2009.02.20 07:01:56 ] Gankis Khan > For reals!
[ 2009.02.20 07:02:03 ] Kahran Ramesus > my current guys would be pissed but they are mostly carebears lawl
[ 2009.02.20 07:02:07 ] Spork’d > Honestly mate, I just hate complainers.
[ 2009.02.20 07:02:26 ] Gankis Khan > Yeah, well, you don’t want to sully them with your piratistic intentions.
[ 2009.02.20 07:02:28 ] Gankis Khan > JOIN US!
[ 2009.02.20 07:02:36 ] Thingymawotzit > didnt complain just couldnt agree with you that it was a good fight when its not
[ 2009.02.20 07:02:53 ] Gankis Khan > We could say the same thing.  It’s all in the perception.

I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t want to fly a Falcon.  I felt like it was giving up on the underpowered class to play the OP King (warlocks anyone?).  But after last night, I can say that OP is sweet.  

Yes, Falcons are overpowered.  But I don’t give a shit any more ’cause I have one now.  HA HA HA!

Today’s the day, folks.  My Falcon training is done!  I will fill you in on all the gory details …as soon as I have gory details to reveal.  But one thing’s for sure:

I’m ready to Falcon YOUR EYES OUT!