The EvE Online Community

I debated long and hard about starting this blog back up after being gone for so long. Having recently returned to EvE, I was not sure if I wanted to put forth the effort into keeping a regularly updated blog, writing fiction, and staying in touch with the ongoing changes in the game. After spending roughly a month playing again, I decided to give it another go.

Upon returning, one of the first things that I noticed was how many of my favorite bloggers had moved on much like I myself had. Mynxee is gone, though still keeping tabs on the game. (I see you lurking on various forums.)  Shae Tiann is, hopefully, enjoying her new job and I wish her the best of luck. Escoce seems to have fallen off the face of the universe. Crazy Kinux moved on as well with a new job and I wish him the best of luck (even though it is late in coming). And soon to be, the Eve Players Blog portal will be coming down. It will be missed by many I am sure. Myself being one of them as it kept me in touch with the game even when I wasn’t playing. These are just a few that have moved on to other things.

I also realized that a lot of those blogs I loved to read are still here and ultimately helped me decide that returning to writing was something I should continue. Not for the readership per se, though I hope they enjoy what I write, but for myself.

Recently, there were a couple of occurrences which brought to light perceived favoritism CCP had towards the various player media outlets (blogs, podcast, and websites) which caused some rumblings within the community.  One question came to mind when I read the various posts and comments about it. Who do you write/podcast/v-cast for besides yourself? Those are the only people you need concern yourself with to my way of thinking. If CCP decides to turn the spotlight on you for whatever reason then awesome. If they don’t though and instead highlight someone else, does it really matter to those who regularly read, watch, or listen to you? Being one of those unknown listeners/ readers/ watchers myself I can tell you it doesn’t. You do not lose any credibility because of it. We the audience will not lessen our appreciation of your works for lack of a spotlight from CCP. We enjoy everything you put the effort into creating even if we do not necessarily agree with the message contained therein.

I guess what I am trying to say is keep doing what you are doing. It is the vibrant community of EvE that brings a lot of us back and keeps even more of us still playing year after year. Every time we lose an active member within the EvE online community it diminishes us as a whole. The only thing I hope for is someone else will be there to pick up the torch and keep the light shining.

Exploration Loki

Having had a couple days to play around with the Loki, I decided it was worth the isk. As a exploration vessel, the Loki performed admirably with any task I gave it  from dodging lowsec gate camps to handling a 6/10 plex with only a couple warp outs. Those warp outs were due mainly to my nervousness about getting a brand new expensive ship blown away by rats more than anything. Here is the fit I decided to go with while exploring in Bloodraider areas:

[Loki, explo eft]
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Republic Fleet Gyrostabilizer
Damage Control II

Codebreaker I
Corelum C-Type 10MN Afterburner
Pithi B-Type Small Shield Booster
Large Shield Extender II
Invulnerability Field II

Sisters Expanded Probe Launcher, Sisters Core Scanner Probe I
Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet Fusion M
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet Fusion M
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet Fusion M
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet Fusion M
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet Fusion M

Medium Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
Medium Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Medium Anti-Thermal Screen Reinforcer I

Loki Defensive – Adaptive Shielding
Loki Electronics – Emergent Locus Analyzer
Loki Offensive – Covert Reconfiguration
Loki Engineering – Augmented Capacitor Reservoir
Loki Propulsion – Fuel Catalyst

With my skills and implants:      DPS: 403 close / 321 Barrage   Tank: 242 omni / 337 bloodraiders      Capstable@ 37% w/o the codebreaker    Probe scan strength: 95  Speed: 750 m/s   EHP: 47232

I juggled between an active and passive shield fit for a few days before putting this together. I could find no way to make a passive tank work while still dealing adequate DPS. The low slots had to be moved from gyros to SPRs. That coupled with the blooming signature meant the trade offs were to great for me. I opted for a large extender over a boost amplifier for the increased shield hitpoints as I felt 3000 some odd just wasn’t enough. The 220mm ACs help deal with tracking problems of frigates versus medium turrets without the need for a web or TE.

If anyone has ideas about how to improve the overall performance of this loadout please let me know.  ( Aside from upgrading some of the modules to faction or better deadspace as appropriate. )