The Quest for Cool (Again)

A while back, I wrote about the ultimate ninja salvaging machine: the Republic Fleet Firetail. If you had the nerve, and could afford to place it all on the line, this frigate was the pinnacle of in-your-face, prestige, ninja salvaging frigates. Not only did it look cool, it had the speed and slot layout that was optimal for ninja salvaging.

Due to the changes to faction frigates in Dominion however, the Firetail is no longer the ninja salvaging ship that it once was. It has lost a high slot, gained a mid slot, and has been dramatically slowed down. None of which are good for things for a salvager.

As a result, I have decided to abandon the Republic Fleet Firetail in favor of the Dramiel. While the Dramiel too has changed from its previous incarnation, the speed boost that it received makes it more conducive to ninja salvaging than the Firetail. It is now the fastest faction frigate.

The Dramiel boasts three high slots, four mid slots, and three low slots, which gives you the option of several different combinations of speed and agility in the lows. My recommendation is to load them up with nanos and overdrive injector systems. Stay away from inertial stabilizers as they increase your sig radius quite a bit. A big sig radius = bad for speed tanking those mission rats.

The high slots should of course be fitted with three salvagers, while the mids have room for an afterburner, a small capacitor battery, small shield extender, or whatever else suits your fancy (i.e. target painter, ECM module, warp disruptor, etc.)

Disclaimer:

Everything about this ship flies in the face of using inexpensive frigates to ninja salvage. This is a high profile ship that is used for standing out and giving mission runners the middle finger. If you get popped, you literally WILL be giving the mission runner, the rats, and everyone else within screaming distance the middle finger, go into fits of rage, and most likely be laughed at repeatedly. DO NOT USE THIS SHIP IN A MISSION WHERE THERE ARE NPC FRIGATES STILL FLYING AROUND.

Here’s my current fit:

[Dramiel, The Ultimate Salvager]

Nanofiber Internal Structure II

Overdrive Injector System II

Overdrive Injector System II

Gistii B-Type 1MN Afterburner

Coreli A-Type 1MN MicroWarpdrive

Faint Warp Disruptor I

Small Shield Extender II

Salvager II

Salvager II

Salvager II

Small Polycarbon Engine Housing I

Small Polycarbon Engine Housing I

Small Polycarbon Engine Housing I

Warrior II x4

Because it is now possible to use micro warpdrives in mission deadspaces, I’ve fit both an afterburner and a micro warpdrive. The MWD is useful for covering large distances in a short amount of time. However, keep in mind that when you use a micro warpdrive, your sig radius is going to light up like a Christmas tree, as well as being much less maneuverable when trying to align or orbit a wreck. Use it sparingly and revert back to your afterburners when you can.

The speed increase when using the Gistii AB vs the tech II version is quite significant and definitely worth the price. However, the difference in the price of the Gistii B-Type vs. the A-Type Afterburner is quite extreme, and in my opinion, not worth the cost for a few extra m/s. Stick with the B-Type.

Conversely, the different types of high-end micro warpdrives is not a question of speed but a question of fitting requirements (which shouldn’t be a problem here) and more importantly, signature radius. The smaller you can appear when your micro warpdrive is active, the better. I think it’s worth spending a little bit extra here for a quality MWD.

All said, with level V skills the above fit will take you to speeds of 2669 m/s using the AB, has a sig radius of 34m, and will align in 1.6 seconds (2.7 with the AB activated). Using the MWD, it will travel at speeds of 6802 m/s, has sig radius of 174 m, and will align in 2.7 seconds. That's interceptor speed.

Lastly, one of my favorite things about this ship is its drone bay. It's spacious enough to house four small drones, giving you enough firepower to pew small to mid-sized rats who are foolish enough to engage you in your totally awesome salvaging frigate.

Did I mention that this baby currently costs more than a Raven? Take that, you carebears.

Update on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 6:27PM by Velocity Prime

Thanks to Llyan for making me aware of the awesome changes to the Dramiel. This post was almost about the Imperial Navy Slicer.  :D

Some CSM Candidates Think Your Sandbox Is Too Big for You

The formation of the Sandbox Preservation Party is seen by some a ray of light in a dimming universe, while others view it as an extremist organization, if not utter BS.

And that’s cool.

But what they fail to realize is that there are players and CSM candidates out there looking to do away with what is viewed as “criminal practices” in EVE.

Case in point:

In the latest episode of Planet Risk, the hosts interviewed several CSM candidates, one of which was Stormaxe Titanothere.

51:48 into the show, Quivering Palm poses the question:

“We have seen a lot of suggestions being posted in the Assembly Hall. Has there been a single suggestion that made you think to yourself, ‘Boy, if I were elected to the council, that’s the first thing that I’m going to push', and if so, which one [suggestion] is that, and why?”

56:00 Stormaxe responds:

“One of the things that I know that I really would like to see, kind of at the top of my list, is salvaging thieves.”

He then goes on to talk about how he thinks that salvaging in its current implementation is really just a relic of a mechanic from several years ago, should be considered akin to can flipping, and thus salvagers gain aggro from salvaging mission wrecks.

The Sandbox Preservation Party supports salvaging in its current implementation, meaning the salvage found in a wreck belongs to the first person that gets to it, for the simple fact that it is more conducive to an open-ended universe. We do not support mission runners having ownership of the salvage.

Personally, I pray to be shot at when I am salvaging a mission (as I loot every single mission that I scan down). That's my playstyle though, and not all ninjas will loot. I just like to kill mission runners. Some ninjas will only collect salvage from the wrecks - again, salvage that has no legal owner until it is in your cargo hold.

The fact of the matter is that given the opportunity, 95% of mission runners will not shoot at a ninja salvager, even if they do have aggro rights. They simply won’t do it. I wouldn't expect them to start shooting if the salvage ownership mechanics were changed.

Anyway, yes. CSM candidates are working to change the mechanics of salvaging. Stormaxe is not alone in his thinking however, he’s just one of many that think the same way. All you have to do is browse the EVE –O forums a bit to find an instance where someone is working to take away your options in the sandbox.

Save the Sandbox. Power to the Players. Logit Probit for CSM4.

The Time Is Now! Exercise Your Right to Be Awesome

This is just a quick reminder to exercise your right to vote for the candidate of your choice for the Council of Stelar Management.

As stated in my last blog post, this time criminals and ninjas everywhere are supporting Logit Probit, and we are asking for your support as well, should you be so kind to give it.

Getting someone onto the CSM with the reputation of being a ninja salvager is a tall order, but one that I think is worthwhile. In other words: Your vote is important!

You can place one vote for each account. Vote here:

http://www.eveonline.com/council/voting/

 Save the sandbox. Power to the players.

Criminals of New Eden, Your Game Needs You!

In keeping with my tradtion of “playing outside of the box”, I would like to give my official candidate endorsement for CSM4.

While many players will choose to vote for the candidate that they can best identify with, I want you to take a moment and think about the game that you love so much. In no other game other than EVE, are you fortunate enough to be able to forge your own path on such an epic scale, yet there are those out there who would insist on you playing the game as they would have you. A game with boundaries and restrictions that work against the very nature of the sandbox. A game on easy mode. A game where carebears rule and all others must bow to their prefered play style because, hey… they’re the loudest and most vocal, and to hell with anyone else who has other ideas of how to play the game.

While my preference for CSM candidate and fellow ninja salvager, Logit Probit seems blatantly obvious on the surface, it goes much deeper. I am here to say that a vote for Logit is a vote for keeping your game as the sandbox that we all have come to know and love. And while some of you may not agree with the practices of ninja salvaging, suicide ganking, and the general creation of chaos, you have to respect the fact that such practices are even a possibility, and that you’re not stuck in the internet spaceship version of WoW.

The big 0.0 alliances have their representation. The carebears have their representation. The pirates, god love ‘em, have their representation - these groups will always have representation. However, no other candidate beside Logit Probit is willing to stand up for the rights of players in the sandbox who choose to play the game differently – players who are able to see outside of the box that so many have become trapped within, players who strive to take the galaxy by the balls and give it a little twist. This is why I choose to endorse him and why I have formed The Sandbox Preservation Party, to support candidates who seek to rise up and defend against the degradation of our beloved EVE into a carebear ridden hell.

Believe me when I say that there are people out there that want to turn this game into WoW with spaceships. There are people sitting on the CSM who feel that way right now, there is an abundance of them running for CSM4, and there will be plenty of them elected and given a seat on the next CSM. Do not let their biases ruin your game. Let's change it up a bit. Let’s get a player on the CSM who will support the criminal element of EVE. The real criminal element. I’m not talking about the pirates that pirate other pirates, I’m talking about players that will suicide gank their own mother while she runs a level 4 mission, flip her cans, loot her faction mods, and then salvage her wreck if the price is right. 

Here's a link to Logit's CSM platform. Read it for yourself, wade through the sea of trolls and decide. It's a rare opportunity to be able to stand up, vote, and take action on something that you believe in.

Save the sandbox. Power to the Players. Logit Probit for CSM4.

Velocity Prime

Chairman of The Sandbox Preservation Party

CEO, Tear Extraction And Reclamation Service

CEO, Suddenly Ninjas

Hot Off the Presses: Ninja Salvaging Is Not A Crime

It's not a secret; people hate ninja salvagers and they hate when we salvage their wrecks. It is a constant subject that is heavily debated in the EVE-O forums and all across New Eden. However, despite the denial that mission runners cling to, CCP continues to hold firm to their vision of a competitive universe, and whether you agree with the practice of ninja salvaging or not, you have to respect the fact that it is even possible and that you're not suck in another version of World of Warcraft. 

The latest quote from CCP Incognito:

"Had a chat with some designers this evening. 

"Ninja salvaging is intended game play. It was always intended that the wrecks are public, the loot is private. 

"They do not see it as a problem if others salvage your wrecks."

Can I get an "Amen"!