Twitter Tuesday: Twits from the Tweetfleet

It's time for another installment of Twitter Tuesday!  That incredible moment when I run out of things to post about and beg my fellow Tweetfleeters for questions I can use to fill space!  Let's see what they have for me today shall we?


BuckyOhair
We all know a woodchuck can't chuck wood, but If a wood chuck could chuck wood how much wood would a woodchuck chuck?


Is that a European or African Woodchuck?  Seriously though, "Chucking" wood is an ancient Old English term for stacking. And, as most Woodchuck enthusiasts will tell you, the Woodchuck is exceptionally adapted in the fine art of stacking wood. Fuzzy, the current Guinness World Record holder, chucked 2,237 individual metric "cords" of wood in a 72 hour marathon at the 1993 World Chuck Cup in Bingingham, England. Sadly, Fuzzy collapsed shortly afterward and expired. 


Korgtronix
What do you think of the rumoured bonuses of the new tier 3 BCs? 


I am extremely excited about the new ships! Battleship DPS on a Battlescruiser hull is a very interesting and potentially >cough< game-changing development. It will probably go a long way towards re-balancing some aspects of the Eve universe and I've always been a fan of adding content to balance, instead of subtracting content to balance. Having said that I don't feel comfortable commenting specifically yet, not until we get more specific details regarding the bonuses each ship will be getting. So far though, I am very excited.


RossMP9999 
How is anastasia today?


Thanks for asking. Anastasia is doing very well and is currently on a shopping trip in Dodixie. Yesterday she successfully moved our Providence out of Lisbo and transfered it to the market hub.  After this shopping trip she'll be working to collect our remaining assets and either sell or move them back to a more central location. Ana is hard at work studying for the Amarr Carrier V Certification, which will be the last remaining level V Carrier flying skill she needs. She is also holding weekly support group meetings in Dodixie, look up Pirate Wives on the Neo-Comm if you're interested in joining.


rickypedia 
Does your alt give away free ISK and help new players like Robin Hood and you kill can flippers for them?


Ana has been known to help less fortunate pilots from time to time thru low-interest loans with generous terms, but nothing in this universe is free. We used to kill can-flippers but we got out of that business with the recent changes in our Sec Status.


EVE_Rhavas
When is your next know your lowsec corps post coming?


Soon. I took a break from that given the recent changes to my situation, leaving Burn Away and Lucifer's Hammer and joining Tuskers. There were political considerations that needed to be addressed and I didn't want to add to my troubles by saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Now that I'm firmly in my new Corporation we will be returning to that feature shortly.


DruurMonakh
Why do you guys have to be so chipper in the mornings? Cut it out!


I think this is getting confused with "chucking". Chipping is more the area of expertise of the Beaver, which is a whole other animal.


SindelPellion
If you were trapped on a deserted planet and could only fit two extra things in your hold, would one of them be my corpse?


Nope. I'd leave your rotten flesh where it belongs, on the dirt of some forgotten planet. Bodies are a commodity for us Capsuleers, your true body is already alive and well somewhere else in the universe and this husk with me is only dead meat.


Mel_Bandrom 
What will tonights winning lottery (megamillions) numbers be?


Oh I know the answer to this one!!


KrispyDingo 
Where do we go from here?


I think I'll let Earth, Wind & Fire answer this one: "Past emotions, filling my memories, Lovers potion that hypnotize. Could it be time has rearranged, what remains of the fire that lit our lives? Can it still survive. I felt so alone, though I knew you were right beside me. How could it be so? Will we ever be as near? To the world we held so dear? Tell me, where do we go from here? Where are the thoughts that disappear? Where do we go from here?"


Zama118
Why dont we see the corpse's for all the people who died in a ship, and not just the pod pilot...


You have to remember first and foremost that what you "see" is actually given to you through the neural connection between you and your ship. So much of your perception is censored by the ships computer, sensors, scanners and whatnots. In fact, it is well known that humans exposed to warp tunnels, for just one example, often lose their minds. So there are hundreds if not thousands of corpses floating in space around wrecks, but your ship filters those out to only show you what you need to see. In fact, one of the biggest expenses for the PvP pilot is the cleaning service stations provide, which mostly consists of scrapping splattered corpses from your ship when you dock. It is a disgusting grimy job, but in most areas it pays extremely well.


_noise_
Buffy, Willow or Faith?


Buffy. I'm such a sucker for those eyes. Although honestly, why do I have to choose? Isn't this my fantasy world here? I want all three.


Drackarn
Following my pic yesterday of the Hurricane/Tengu hanger bug. What would be the bastard child of those two ships?


I think we just saw that baby this morning.



webspaceships
Who wins: Enterprise-E vs a Drake?


I've never been fan of the rate of fire on the Enterprise, it sure seems to take forever between blasts. Of course they can also lob those shiny Photon Torps at you, but they seem slow and I wonder what type of damage they do?  Plus the Drake would get a free run for about five minutes, while the Enterprise crew works its way thru those confusing Starfleet regulations.  Opening advantage goes to the Drake, the Enterprise gets into structure early, but then someone on the Enterprise figures out the Drakes weakness at the last minute and BOOM. So winner Enterprise, although lots of scenes of the carnage onboard and that one genius kid that always gets killed. So sad.



HarlonMathuin 
In your opinion, should we be excited for the winter expansion?


After everything that has happened since Incarna was released, I believe we have no other choice but to be extremely excited regarding the Winter Expansion. It is the stake in the ground, the planting of the flag, the course changing expression of all that has been promised. Should it fail it would be catastrophic for us, for Eve and for CCP. So let's hope that it will be all that it needs to be. Not over hyped, because that always leads to disappointment, but a great start on a new road.



Thansoli
Why do alliances argue about silly things?


First of all your thinking is backwards, these 'things' are not silly at all. They may seem that way to you, but believe me, these things are extremely serious, important and worthy of arguing about. In point of fact, there is little in the whole universe more worthy of debate, fighting and arguing than these things you speak of. All of Null Space hinges on these things, and without these things, things would never happen. Things wouldn't be getting done and things would settle into a thingless existence. Things. We need 'em.

RJ's Journal: Entering Providence

Entry B-217

Rixx Javix

Capsuleer - Phoenix Industrial 

Choonka

"Only two weeks since undocking from Todaki and already I'm breaking my pledge to go it alone. Angor was insistent however and you already know how he can get. I admit to a certain loneliness and the prospect of further rock banging doesn't sit well with me. We shall see how this goes, but so far the Corp seems friendly enough."

"My meager supplies and what ships I have already transported into Null Space. I looked out from my office in the Choonka station and wondered if the Merlin was sturdy enough for the trip ahead.  She is a fine ship of course, Frigate class and much better for the journey than the Cormorant.  Especially since I can't properly get that damn ship fitted anyway.  Cul says he'll be scouting me all the way down the "pipe" to PI-5, but still, the thought of leaving Empire for the first time..."

"I still get the shivers. Despite the training, the "modifications" and the endless conditioning, the first touch of the Hydrostatic fluid starts my lizard brain running in the wrong direction. Something horribly inhuman about being jammed into a cybernetic cortex, breathing fluid and seeing thru scanners. At least I haven't been podded yet. I checked on my Clone this morning, creepy goddamn thing..."

"I'm embarrassed by the size of my Merlin next to Cul's Rapier. Someday I'll fly the majestic ships, the tantalizing glimpses I've 'seen' thru the scanner and optical relays of city sized Battleships have left me wanting that more than anything. And I know there are bigger beasts where I am headed. The Academy was full of whispers about Titans and Capital Class ships of every description. The Holo-Vids don't do space justice, you have to BE in it to appreciate it. I squirm in my pod, that itch is back on the bottom of my feet. Driving me crazy. The Doc says it is subconscious planet-side ghosting, nerve tricks. Newbie problems."

"Already the Sansha lurk in the dark and we're only one jump into our 17 jump journey.  My Mother told us scary bedtime stories about the Sansha, morality plays to teach us good from evil. If only she were alive to see me dive straight into their home. But no, my attention is riveted on nothing, and yet everything. My 12 AU bubble of consciousness extends and waits for the all clear. There is much to fear here outside the arms of CONCORD.  I have no love for the Empire's police, but they do maintain control. And without control? Chaos. Which is where I am warping to now."

"The threats are numerous. Bubbles, cloaks, gate camps, reds, blues, Alliances, friends and foes and... who knows really. I've been told by everyone in the Corp that there is real isk to be made in Providence. Isk and adventure.  Which is all I want. To make my mark and... avoid complication.  We'll see how well that goes."

"Couple of close calls. But finally arrived safely in PI-5. The station is nothing at all like an Empire station, dirty, dingy and full of undesirable types. Some rough characters here, along with the Holy sheet covered ones. I could do without them, Amarrians give me the creeps."

"Spent the day ratting and hiding from the "reds" that often jump into system. I don't enjoy killing the Sansha, they seem, despite my youth, ill prepared even for my Frigate. I'd much rather be hunting those "reds" and those that live deeper into the unknown.  Already Angor, myself and a few others have started talking about combat. Soon I'll be ready for my first Battlecruiser, probably the dreaded Drake. Then, maybe then, I'll teach these "reds" a thing or two."

On Going Solo: A Year Later

About a year ago I wrote a post called "Going Solo" in which I responded to comments on another post called "Newbie Mistakes", in which I had argued that Newbs/Noobs shouldn't be flying solo.  Follow all that?


Don't worry, while it is an interesting post for a pilot that had spent the majority of his time in zero space up to the writing of it, it simply manages to be the springboard for today's post.


Towards the end of last year things started to unravel in Eve for me and the idea of restarting my own personal efforts towards being a better PvP pilot were born. This was a personal journey that I had been on since day one, when at two weeks old I flew into Providence to live.  And while being a part of fleets, gate camps, wars, POS bashes and long-distance roams was fun - it is more of a group effort. Before that time last year the majority of my kills were in gangs/fleets of 5 or more pilots.


Since then however, the majority of my kills have been in gangs of less than five pilots. Small gang PvP continues to be my favorite and probably always will. While flying solo is awesome, nothing beats a few pilots working together.


But back to that personal journey thing. One result of all this history is that I suck at flying solo. I'm good at large gangs and small gangs, but when it comes to solo, I suck. The other day Swearte came down to fight me in his Taranis, I was flying my Malediction. He was blaster fit and I was Rocket fit, given my speed advantage I should have won. But I bumped my prop mod during the initial dance and it de-activated, allowing him to close range on me. Stupid mistake and I paid the price. It was an excellent fight and he deserved to win, no sour grapes here. Just sayin'. That kind of thing happens to me all the time.


Not that I'm horrible or anything. Since November I've been in (not counting pods) 138 solo fights, of which I have won 108. So I've been winning 78% of the solo fights I get into, which isn't that bad. Of those 108 kills there are about a dozen that are really good fights, so my odds on the good fights hasn't been as stellar as I would like. More like 40/60 would be my guess.


I want to get better. For personal satisfaction alone really, I need to continue to get better.


For some reason I get sloppy when it comes down to one versus one and I don't know why. I'm not sloppy when I'm flying in a small gang, or FC'ing a group of pilots, or doing anything else in Eve. There is a mental block inside my head that only I can overcome.


And the only way to do that is to get back on the horse, as often as possible. Work thru it and get past it.  And maybe I won't, maybe, just maybe I'm not meant to be a great solo pilot. That is certainly possible. But I will continue to try until that becomes apparent. So far, I don't believe that to be the case. 


Onward and upward.

Blog Pack UPDATES

It has been about a month since the last Blog Pack Update and that is way longer than it should have been. My apologies.  So today I've cleaned up several inactive blogs, added a few new ones, updated the link for another and also created some spiffy NEW badges that you can use on your BP Blogs!


There were two sites in the Pack that had not updated in over 2 months, without any word on their sites about when they might be back. I'm sorry but that is grounds for removal.  Should the blog authors in question return they can ask to be reinstated to the Pack. But the idea of the Pack is to present active, engaged community Blogs.


Marc Scaurus changed his blog from Wanderlust to Malefactor, so it has been updated on the list and the feed.


Welcome Nashh Kadavr back to the Blog Pack! When I took over the pack from CK Nashh had been inactive for awhile, but he has been back at it full steam for almost two months now and is welcomed back into the Pack.


And we also welcome Helicity Boson back to the land of the living! Helicity is a long time member of the Pack and I'm glad to see her back to blogging again.


That is it for new Blogs for today, there are several other ones that may be included in the next update two weeks from now, so keep your eyes open for those. I decided not to add them today because I am honestly not sure which of them will be added yet, so I'm going to keep an eye on them for the next two weeks to see if a few rise to the top.


As always, clicking on the graphic under the banner will take you to the Blog Pack page with links to all the sites and a link to the Blog Pack Feed.


It is amazing how quickly things change. I went thru so many blogs the past week that are gone, inactive or otherwise dark. But there are also tons of new ones rapidly taking their place. As always, I am only one dood, so if you want your blog to be considered please feel free to send me a link, leave one in the comments, or otherwise make sure I know about you! Enthusiasm counts in the Eve Community.


Keep the courage.

6 Absurd Pirate Myths Everyone Believes

Cracked has an excellent run-down on Pirate Myths. Check it out.

AFK

Rixx is trapped in a station for the next few days while his User travels. Rixx is not happy about this turn of events, but his User needs a few days to recover from a rather brutal, stressful week.


When I return there will be Blog Pack updates, new art and lots of exploding ships to talk about.  Until then, stay frosty.

You Don't Know Me

@RockCalledSteve (or Moose) twitted this morning looking for a blogger that happened to be on. GIven recent events he felt compelled to record a bit of a rant regarding the CSM/CCP debate and the changes that Eve has undergone.  Here is the message in his own words:



"Greetings Bloggers of #Tweetfleet.


I come to you as a third party, essentially on my knees, asking you to consider sharing something of mine to the community.


I have found a lot of the current grief the CSM is getting is from people in EVE - mainly in Empire - who have not been around long enough to understand what EVE once was, compared to what it is now.


With this in mind, I have created a 22 minute long explanation of what's happened and why, with a bit of history thrown in, for people to listen to.


I am not using this as an advertisement for a podcast of any kind - this is a one off recording that, bar maybe a single new recording answering criticism, won't have a sequel to it. Or rather, that is the plan.


I would like you to have a listen to it. If you're willing to post this to your blog, I would be very much in your debt. Feel free to post any negative or positive comments you have for it as well.


I will leave it up to you."


- Moose


You can listen to the recording by using this link.


NOTE: There are some potentially NSFW moments of profanity, mild by most definitions, but perhaps not by all. Worth mentioning.


I just finished listening to it myself, I felt I should hear the whole thing before I post it obviously. And while it is a bit of a ramble, the general thrust is simple enough. Eve was a different game when it first started out, and while my own experience only goes back three years, others were here from the beginning. This does provide a unique perspective, having been there from the beginning, and a worthy one.


I think we can all agree that CCP has dropped the ball in many, many instances. Promised iteration of various game mechanics that never developed further, abandoned areas of opportunity, have become more and more commonplace. This has sadly become more and more true as time has gone on. The recent "Straw that broke the camel's back" moment this Summer was simply the culmination of years of this slow, rotten decay.


And Eve began to smell. And while Moose and I may differ slightly on some of the details and levels at which we may give praise and/or blame, one thing unites us - and that is the power of the Eve Community.  A power I tend to place more squarely in the hands of the masses and which he seems more likely to place in the hands of the CSM. Ultimate responsibility matters little in the face of success however, the important thing is that CCP has changed direction and re-focused efforts on FiS and other areas.  Before it was too late. Hopefully.


I encourage you to listen. This is one voice that has been here since the beginning. And while it is only one voice, so am I, and so are you. But together we can have meaning and power.