Remember when you used to be able to transport PLEX between stations?

I know of one pilot who left the game in epic fashion by shoving literally all of his PLEX into a shuttle, flying to Jita, and waiting for someone to take him out.

As I recall, none of the timecards actually dropped.

They were all destroyed with the killing blow.

Happy April Fools’ Day!

Ever gotten stuck? Really stuck? To the point that you maybe quit that particular videogame?

For me, it was Sonic 3, Carnival Night Zone, Act 2 – that infamous room with the cylinder that no one could figure out how to move. I’m sure that made a lot of kids cry.

I actually quit playing as Sonic over it and switched to Knuckles when I added Sonic and Knuckles to the console.

It took me 20 years to figure out that you could press ‘UP’ and ‘DOWN’ on your D-Pad to actually move the thing!

In space, no one can hear you scream, but if you dock up, you’ll hear lots of cool station ambience!

I noticed that a number of space station ambience was changed or implemented, and I’ve taken a liking to the Gallente space station style.

Specifically, the one in my home station of Couster, the Gallente Federal Navy Academy headquarters.

Many of the new capsuleers who start their journey into EVE Online for the Gallente Federation find themselves in Couster, which is one of three training hubs for the Federation.

The moment you undock from the station, the ambience unleashes this bombastic ‘grand reveal’ as you emerge from the docking bay and take your first steps into the vastness of space. Nearby transmissions echo throughout the area as instructors coordinate the movements and training of cadets and recruits. The lights of the station blaze brilliantly. The ambience is welcoming with intrigue and a sense of confidence, and is not imposing or intimidating.

Although, there used to be a series of uplifting beeps and tunes to occasionally accompany this, but I can’t seem to regenerate those moments…Hopefully they’re still intact because I really liked those!

You may include this audio in a follow-up reward! Fly safe!

Every corporation starts somewhere – every alliance begins with the first flag planted.

The Astrahus Citadel is Upwell Consortium’s “entry-level product.” Small by comparison to the rest of Upwell’s line of structures, it is a corporation and even alliance’s first step towards staking a claim to the vastness of space.

Astrahus Citadels are deployable structures which require both a Quantum Core and fuel blocks to function. They allow for all non-capital-class ship types to dock and tether themselves, including Orcas and freighters.

Astrahus structures allow for a wide range of services, including manufacturing and resource processing, cloning bays, and corporate hangar storage. However, they do not allow for market hubs to function – those services are reserved for Fortizars.

“Control” of a Citadel is similar to operating a ship, and even comes with a Fitting menu, allowing you to swap out modules and service components with relative ease. An Access List will allow a corporation or alliance to allow or deny access to the structure’s control interface, allowing a single pilot to inject and remove the Quantum Core, fuel, ammunition, and other facets necessary for functionality. The Astrahus can defend itself against attack with missile launchers and even fighters.

The Astrahus, while seemingly small and low-level compared to the more grand and specialized structures of the Upwell Consortium, is an excellent first step towards a greater empire that will undoubtedly expand the stars.

If ever there was an almost impossible question…

EVE Online is a sandbox, as has been described to us over the two decades of its existence. How one acquaints it to a particular animal depends upon what aspect of EVE Online we wish to focus on. A sandbox is not inherently evil, nor compassionate. But, mix in a few barbs, loose pieces of glass, or discarded wrapped candy, and you’ll have either a gleeful time, or ensure a quick trip to Urgent Care. The commonality between all of these is that all these objects are left behind or deliberately injected by other people, not the grains of sand in the box.

But for the sake of this argument, let’s consider one thing that the EVE Online sandbox does provide an opportunity for by the way it is constructed. Let’s focus on one of the most popular aspects of EVE: combat.

Combat, violence, destruction – it’s what makes EVE go ‘round. It’s what entertains us, infuriates us, and motivates us to engage in the market to replace what we lose.

So, if we seek to focus on this particular aspect, then EVE is a wolf.

The wolf is an effective hunter, both alone and when at the head of a pack. It can lurk in the shadows, stalking its target until it strikes from directions unknown and unseen. However, it is most effective when gathering allies to its aid to chase down a vulnerable prey and deliver multiple strikes, bites, and slashes to its target, especially an isolated vulnerable target. The pack will whittle its target down, nipping at its legs and vulnerable parts until it collapses from exhaustion, and is left vulnerable to the killing bite upon the jugular.

Combat in EVE Online is vicious, and can be done solo or in groups of various sizes. Players often make guides on how to succeed in solo PvP, as well as tips on how to properly conduct oneself in a given fleet. Combat can be swift and deadly, as well as long and drawn-out. Freighters unable to shoot back at attackers find themselves ambushed on a gate by large teams of destroyers, like wolves chasing down a large lumbering elk. An explorer diving into a wormhole discovers a vulnerable and unprotected structure, and summons his team to help knock it out. Small gangs of frigates and cruisers bounce around a region, looking for undefended mining barges to devour. Gangs of NPSI fleets like Spectre Fleet emerge from the darkness of space and find opportunities in undefended Rorquals, hungry for the kill, with scouts at the lead identifying these poor souls.

The combat we engage in across EVE Online is akin to wolf packs going to war for resources and territory, as well as the next meal to feed their bellies which starve for content, fun, and violence.

EVE Online is your sandbox – beware the wolf.

Some of the most interesting and amazing moments in EVE happen not on the front lines, but in the homefront areas - behind the wars, in times of peace.

I've had the privilege of hosting the Luminaire Snowball Fight since 2013, and each time, the parties become more and more wild.

It's a real pleasure to see firsthand just how enthusiastic the EVE Online community is when they participate in these gatherings. Even CCP gets involved, awarding gifts as prizes, and providing coverage of the event in the EVE news.

Spring is in the air, pilots!

Sakura cheery blossom trees are some of my favorites, and I was seeking the cheery blossoms and perhaps the greenery of new life and peace with this pattern for the Orca.

Fly safe and enjoy springtime!

If you want to be a leader, start by being a good follower.

 That’s exactly what was taught to me in my early life when I first began pursuing leadership roles.

Those who wish to learn first learn to follow.

Then, when they assume command, they understand all of the special fleet roles, they remain calm under pressure, they remain patient with their followers (especially the brand-new pilots), and they designate a backup fleet commander in the event they go down.

Likewise, one of the best things you can do as a fleet commander is to make sure your fleet is informed of the expectations, fits, form-up times and locations, and goal of the fleet prior to its launch. Of course, OPSEC is important, but so much time and efficiency can be saved and gained if everyone is prepared long before launch.

Major Adam Steiner from Battletech taught us…“Information is ammunition!”

A profile is worth a thousand words or a good laugh.

On occasion, you’ll find something in someone’s profile that makes you laugh.

I remember two entries in my time:

“Flying Minmatar ships is like riding a wheelie chair down a flight of stairs while dual-wielding AK-47s and firing on full-auto!”

“Your EVE Online addiction hits your marriage for 9999 damage, inflicting a devastating blow and resulting in endless alimony payments.”

Most recently, I got to rewatch the “This Is REALLY EVE” video, made in parody of the “This Is EVE” video which gave us a look inside how players play EVE and exchange voice communications. It’s definitely great for a laugh, and should come with a million warnings labels about its level of extreme raging language!

Fly safe and calmly, capsuleers!