[AAR] [Sept 16, 02:00] PVP Basic Roam

In Agony we usually do After Action Reports (AAR) after a roam. This past weekend I ran the roam for PVP-Basic class offered by Agony Unleashed. It has long been a goal of mine in EVE to run of these class roams. They are a total blast. Below is my AAR.

This roam was definitely a challenge. It was the first Time I was primary FC for a class roam (I had in the past taken over a BASIC roam half way through) and I was looking forward to it. Unfortunately we got off to a poor start. Providence was our first entry point and although things looked good as we set out, good engagements proved hard to find. I made a mistake and lost a bunch of rifters sent in as bait to a bomber gang. All I can say in defense is that at least I only lost a handfull of ships, and not the entire fleet. Between Providence and Catch all we could scout out were a couple of 30 man battle-cruiser gangs with full support that I didn't particularly want to welp the fleet up against. We did manage a few ganks including a loki and a rapier. Sometimes you have to take the fight that is handed to you (it was well into the second hour of the roam) and when I had one of the BC gangs split up I took the chance to see what we could kill. We didn't get much.

At this point half the class ended podded back in tanoo, and the other half was stuck in ESA, 25 jumps through hi-sec/low-sec away. It took about half an hour to re-unify the fleet and now with significantly diminished numbers we set out again.

This time we concentrated on Curse first burning into catch. Surprisingly things were much better. The big gangs were no more and we had a good time in SV5 taking on a BC heavy gang. It was beautiful watching them cut down and killed piece by piece. This is what the class is all about. Afterwords we ended up welping in providence (details are hazy in my memory). I proceeded to call it quits after just over 5 hours of roaming. GG took some remnants out again but apparently targets were few at that point.


We killed about 30 targets (mostly T2 cruisers and BC with a BS and T3 thrown in), and whelped our 60 ship frigate fleet twice.

I would like to thank all of those who supported the roam. Especially Greygall who is clearly some sort of PVP-University cyborg.

I think the students had fun which in the end is the most important thing. About a dozen students popped their PVP cherry on the roam :)

R.I.P. Vile Rat

Ever since I started playing EVE there has been one dark thread that has permeated the game. As a Canadian living a middle class lifestyle working in IT I am about as far removed from the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and the trouble in the Middle East. Although the Canadian Military went to war, the rest of Canada did not. Yet in EVE those wars are always in the background. I remember learning that two of the five members of the first Corp I was in were ex-us soldiers living on disability due to injuries and EVE was the only place they could hide from their broken bodies and PTSD. In my own current corp several  members have had to go AFG due to various deployments. I am sure there are many who have either blown my ship up, been on the receiving end of my autocannons, or just passed me in the night, whose accounts have gone dark, not because they got bored with the game, but rather they were killed in action or, sadly more likely, taken their own life due to the horrors suffered 'Over There'.

Hearing about the recent death of Vile Rat in a very troubling incident in Libya reminds us that while EVE is a pure dystopia, we all share a common bond. My heart goes out to his family, especially his children. It also goes out to the families of all EVE players who have died due to the events in the Middle-East and Asia over the last ten years. For those of you who are serving, have served, or live in those areas I would like to say that although I will try blow up your ship and pod you any chance I get, I consider you all my best of friends. I know that you all feel the same way.

Donations to his family can be made here...

PVP-BASIC Class from Agony Unleashed this up-comming weekend

I thought I would give a quick mention to the upcomming PVP-BASIC class being offered by Agony unleashed next weekend. Have a look at this link to find out about the class and to register : PVP-BASIC September 15th/16th @ 02:00 hrs. This is a Friday night class with a Saturday night roam for the North American Timezone. These classes are great for new and old PVPers alike. They cover the basics of fitting and flying ships for PVP in EVE Online. And then once we get 50 or so students up to speed, we have a roam the following night. Great fun.

I am a little nervous this time as yours truly is going to be the primary FC for this event. So bring at least three ships for re-fitting over the course of the night. I don't promise that your pod will survive, but I do promise that many good fights will be had.