f13.net

For the ADD crowd who don't read the rules, no podding and no non-consensual combat on the test server!!!

Right, since we seem perfectly capable of getting 30-40 people at once, let's do something a bit different this time.

When: Saturday April 5th 20:00 Eve Time
Where: FD-MLJ in Syndicate. This is on Singularity - The Test server

You can get the devs to move you to Syndicate.  Join the channel "moveme", read the rules then ask to be moved to FD-MLJ.  This means we can get there more easily and shoot stuff.  Set up your connections to the test server in advance!  Get your ships set up in advance!

The devs are fucking around and not answering the moveme channel.  Get in a shuttle and autopilot to FD-.  You can't be ganked on sisi so ending up with your pod doing the last two jumps thanks to rats is the only risk.  Don't wait until 20:00 eve time though.

Edit:
Test Server Howto: http://kb.eve-online.com/Pages/KB/Article.aspx?id=33
Test Server Rules: http://myeve.eve-online.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=253187
With thanks to Quinton

"But Endie, why on the test server?"

I'm glad you asked that.  You see, virtually everything on the test server costs a fixed 100ISK.  That includes everything from civilian gatling guns to dreadnoughts.  So you can fit out half a dozen battleships with those experimental setups you always wondered about and try them out in PvP, and every time you get killed you get ten thousand times the money back you just lost, from insurance.  It is a fun, risk-free way to try stuff out you've always wanted to.

Plus, you only learn Eve PvP by practising, and by either dying or getting away with it.  This is the ultimate in sandbox environments for learning in, yet it uses all the same techniques and skills as the real thing.

We will constitute about 20% of the entire server population at that point, and we'll likely have every system for 5 jumps in each direction to ourselves.   Since we're not in the non-consensual PvP systems, we'll be able to go for it all-out, and nobody can interrupt.

The big boys practise like this on Sisi, working out how to use new stuff and refine their tactics.  That's everyone from AAA and the Goons fighting carrier ops to Bob trying out the latest exploits their dev friends have told them over MSN  :awesome_for_real:

There have been some server copies done recently, so your character should be pretty up to date with live.  Feel free to log on and spend a week training stuff that you fancy trying out, though.

"Sounds OK, but I demand player-provided content: entertain me, Endie!"

Fun will be included in the cost.

We'll play a few scenarios that happen in 0.0 and empire war warfare: each side can attack a gatecamp set up by the other.  We can give each side a shot at warping in on the other, where the defending side is set up in advance.  We might even try a "escort the haulers" scenario, where one side has to rep/defend a target against the other.  Stuff like that: variations on classic online FPS and MMO play :D  We'll also mix the teams up so there's no advantage there.

Anyone who fancies a shot at FCing will get the chance, and this is a great place to try it, since nobody gives a fuck about dying repeatedly.  In fact, some people will probably be frapsing their deaths for comedy lols.

Note that this is posted in the open forum, so all are welcome, and not just BAT/F13 members.

I'll update the thread with instructions on connecting to the test server, but it basically involves copying your client and adding a few characters to the shortcut.  It runs in parallel with your normal client.  Separate But Equal.  You'll also get to try out all the new stuff from each patch in advance, and once connected there are systems where you can jump in and fight any time.

All I need you to do is to log in at some point in the next ten days and set yourself up a few ships to fight in in the target system, when I post the final destination.

"Will it be fun, Endie?  I'm scared, hold me!"

I promise you: it will be awesome.  100% guaranteed fights for as long as we decide to keep going.

PS I just remembered it is my birthday that day so someone can buy me a 100ISK dreadnought or something.

Post here if you reckon you can make it.  Then I'll add a list.  Lists are great.  Slayerik likes pictures with the lists but I am too lazy.  Mainly it's just so i can tell the devs we'll have numbers there so they can reinforce the node.

Many go in, only one comes out:
Endie
Mook
Llyse
Nerf?
Sanctuary
Der Helm?
Quinton
Stephen Zepp
Hoax
Rath
Ateryu
Tragny
Kristie
Lac

You Sir, are a God amongst men.  :heart: :heart: :heart:

I'm definately be there. Just a quick question though, are you restricted to flying what you have skills for? A 100ISK command ship is all nice and good, but if I still have to spend better part of half a year training for it that'd be pretty  :cry2:

Books are 100isk but skill train times are still normal, and anything you started on sisi gets wiped next time they do a data dump onto it, so unfortunately you're stuck doing what you could do on tranq, just for free.  Which is still totally awesome.

Does this include sweet baby jesus faction gear on the market at 100isk?

Time to make that 10km/s crow....  :pedobear:

Unknown on faction gear, although I hadnt even thought of this to test out suicide gank setups vs. different ships and different security status systems.

To the test server!

No, faction gear isn't seeded at 100 isk. All T1 and T2 items and all implants and hardwirings. High grade snakes anyone  :awesome_for_real: Not sure on boosters, I haven't trained for them.

Endie I would like to join you guys, Joran Nexus is my ingame name.

hell yeah!

hmmm SSSsss-Snake!  :pedobear:

Awesome idea, mad props Endie  :awesome_for_real:

I'm in.  Sounds like fun times.

Actually, we in BoB 'play' on Chaos, the dev server.

Hey--if we push this past midnight, it'll be my birthday too :)

Yow.  Getting setup on the test server was easy, but I have almost 1M fewer SP there.  I still expect to have fun, but it looks like I may stay in more of a frigate/tackler role on Singularity for the time being...

Some information that got me started:
Test Server Howto: http://kb.eve-online.com/Pages/KB/Article.aspx?id=33
Test Server Rules: http://myeve.eve-online.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=253187

Quick answers:

No, faction stuff isn't seeded, though stuff like faction ammo is often found around the main areas in Syndicate.  You can try out some pretty nano and other end-game stuff, however, by using implants and boosters.  It's also a good place to train up thermodynamics and try out heat.

Yes Sanctuary, this is open to all so it would be great to see you there.

No, Mook, unfortunately you are stuck with what you had in skills the last time they did a server copy, which is every few weeks in general, plus whatever you trained specifically on the test server since then.  The devs announced a "everyone is level 5 in everything" day about 6 months ago, and of course everyone tried to get onto the server which crashed and burned spectacularly*.  The test value of everyone being in a dreadnought was probably limited anyway (insert "Eve: Capitals Online" joke here).

*Meanwhile, sneaky Stimulus put our first POS into reinforced without being noticed.

in.

Some other ideas for scenarios we can play:

Capture the Flag:
An anchored can somewhere in the system that must be probed down.  The winners are the ones who can unanchor it and deliver it to the ref (me!)  This one would need good offence, defence, the need to protect a hauler to retreive the can, probers doing their stuff, everyone running around scanning from planets and fighting each other etc...  An even split of people in BAT on each side who can unanchor the can is needed.

Last Man Standing:
What it says on the tin, and maybe a good one to do last.  The fact is, however, that by the end there will be a drake, a tanked abaddon and a crow, none of whom is capable of killing the others  :awesome_for_real:

We'll not get a chance to do all of these, of course: I reckon four scenarios will be the most we'll have time for: a couple of practice gang fights like the gate-battles, and one each of two FPS-type scenarios.  I'll probably schedule them to start on the hour each time, and people should have lots of ships set up in advance so that dying just lets you jump into your next remount.

You can't probe down cans, can you?

I thought you could, as of the last patch.  I'll double-check that, though, before running an impossible scenario :D

I can confirm that you can, indeed, probe down GSCs in safe spots.

Wops, my bad, I'll start practising right away :)

Careful about the no podding rule for the test server.  There's a sticky here (http://myeve.eve-online.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=734036) that says they will just ban if they see it or if the logs indicate you've done it in the past.

So if there are gatecamp scenarios etc., care must be taken with the smartbombs.

Really? With Spooks and Fathoms? I don't think I've ever had one show up, but I think I limit myself to ships and drones when I scan.


Speaking of which -- my grand total is now something like 10 Hob 2s, 10 Hammer 2s, a slew of T1 drones of various sizes, and several pieces of T2 loot (including an Invulnerability Field II that just sold for 2.2 million ISK) that I took off the corpse of a poor mission runner who wasn't quite as good as his mission. I also took his drones, and salvaged his wreck for good measure.

What? I had a Helios+fittings to repay. It wasn't like he was using it anymore. :)

I will try to get on, but this...

http://myeve.eve-online.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=601088

...says the test server database was last updated on 17th Jan.

And I didn't have a character at that point.

 :ye_gods:

Maybe we'll get lucky and there will be another update before the 5th.

Isn't that JoeTF guy in BoB?  Could he ask the devs to do an update this week?  ^^

If you ask nicely he will do the update himself :)

Zing!

How does eve time relate to say central or eastern timezone?

CST is currently 5 hours behind EvE Time.
Eastern would be 4.

20 EVE time = 3 PM CDT

Good news: there seems to have been an update to the test server in the last few days, so everyone with a full account should be on there now!

Locations will be posted tomorrow night.

Why haven't more of you slackers signed up for this?

The man promised us it will be awesome!  What more do you need?

- Q

I plan to be there. Maybe with bells on.

Many thanks to our BoB members. Who said dev connections were bad.   :awesome_for_real:

Oooh.  The update is nice.
Zelle has 2,526,780 SP on the main server, 2,362,646 SP on the test server now.
Much, much better.

Thank you, BoB!    This gives me a lot more options.

Well, it does sound good. I'm just not sure if I'll be available on that saturday. I'll make it if I can but the chances aren't high.

yeah I'll be there, now that they updated characters and I'll be able to actually fly stuff.

Remember you can use your GF character if you like: test server means no ganking, so nobody will shoot you (any more than they should in the scenarios).

This thread is sorely lacking in Mad Max references.

But I'll try to be there anyway.

I AM talking about my GF character. Last I heard, the sync was mid January. My character's birthdate was mid December and I didn't actually start training any skills other than learning skills until New Year's day.

I'm a newbie! :)

OK, I'll update the OP, but set yourselves set up with at least two ship types.  One is the thing that you'd like to fly in PvP at the moment, and that you could reasonably afford to do so soon.  This will be for the bits where we are trying out scenarios.  So if you want to fly an interceptor, fit out an interceptor, and don't use stuff you wouldn't normally use - snakes and so on.  You should probably fit out a few of these, so you can try stuff out, discove it gets you killed, dock, jump in the next one and try it out.  Maybe get long and short-range fittings, too, so you can see how they vary.

Then, for the last part, fit out your stupid-mobile ship, using the best of everything that you can.  We'll have a last-man-standing thing where you can fight with or against anyone.  That BS might be great, but not if all the little stuff gangs up to kill you, and so on.

If you need money, buy the biggest ship you can fly, undock and self-destruct it.  The minimum insurance payout will be enough to buy you everything you need.

I am planning on making this, I just hadn't posted yet because I have a tendancy for stuff to jump up on Saturdays lately.  :oh_i_see:

One thing I actually really want to do is fit a Badger II with as much passive tank as  I can and see how hard it is for a couple of you to pop me quickly (e.g. in the time it would take Concord to show up and pop you.)

I'll shoot you!  I'll even taunt you in local if you like.

Now I can live out my sick suicide ganker fantasy. 

Sorry Endie, I have flown out and have a very expensive hotel internet connection. Have fun.

Location will be FD-MLJ in Syndicate.  The advantage of this is that you can get the mods to move you there instantly.  We'll then shift to the next system over and work there.

How do we get moved, exactly?  Petition somebody or something?
Should we fit out ships and then asked to be moved or does FD-MLJ have stations with stuff to buy?


EDIT: Orvolle has medical available and the Inner Zone Shipping Storage stocks plenty 'o stuff.  I'm setting up shop there.

There is a channel - moveme - if  I recall?  Once every fifteen minutes or so they will move you to your requested destination.



It is hella fun and a great place to play.

Syndicate is NPC 0.0 space, and the stations there are fully stocked, with everything at 100ISK.

It is indeed full of low, low prices.  I've got a few different ships fitted out (2-3 of each) now.  Whee!

When: Saturday April 5th 20:00 Eve Time
Where: [size=18]FD-MLJ in Syndicate[/size]. This is on Singularity - The Test server

You can get the devs to move you to Syndicate.  Join the channel "moveme", read the rules then ask to be moved to FD-MLJ.  This means we can get there more easily and shoot stuff.  Set up your connections in advance!  Get your ships set up in advance!

PS Remember that a skills update was done this past week, so you're just about current on the test server.

PPS It can take ages to get someone from the support team to move you if they're not watching the channel.  Don't be in chat for an hour apologising for not being there...  Move in advance!

Endie delivers. Thanks, again.

First off, thanks to everyone who came alone: in no particular order, Cantine, Irek, Daala, Uriq, Mithranda, Weltschmerz, Tragny, Nelke, Taveran, Zzelle, Draken, Kra Ra and Ca'adwin.

First off we ran a couple of gatecamp fights, with each side taking it turns defending and attacking a fixed position on a gate, the attacker having unlimited remounts of ships with which to wear down the defenders (pretty realistic: one side trying to hold a system, the others close to their base trying to break a fleet in).  Nelke and Nerf took over FCing each side for the evening and each did really well, picking up loads of stuff really quickly and each massively improving as they got relaxed and into it.

By the end of each gatecamp scenario, the side that should win was winning, and there were interesting changes of tactics from each side, as they tried out varying approaches - tanking, ewar, dps etc.

Then we ran a "catch the pigeon" scenario, simulating a valuable cargo being jumped into a gatecamp and trying to get out.  I jumped into system in a bustard (a deep space transport ship) and had to burn back to the gate.  The trick was that I had fitted a cloak, and got out but at the cost of all my escort ships, so it was a tactical draw.

Finally, the prestige event of the night, and the one everyone was waiting for: the Ca'adwin Shin Memorial Prize for Extreme Ca'adwin Shin-ness*.  Everyone picked a ship, jumped into a system and fought it out to the death.  Despite some unsporting warping out and running away, only four were left by the end: Der Weltschmerz, Nelke, Zzelle and Ca'adwin Shin himself, making a late (what else?) play for the Ca'adwin Shin Memorial Award for Extreme Ca'adwin Shin-ness.  Given that two were in command ships and one was surviving by running away, the unanimous decision of the judges (me) was that Nelke in his hurricane should be allowed to take home this much-coveted piece of silverware.  Always assuming he could make it back to the gate in the face of overwhelming and jealous fire from the jilted competitors.

A big thanks to everyone who had taken the time to get there in advance, to get ships fitted and so on.  This meant that we spent most of the 2 and a half hours actually fighting or planning fights, and we got a lot done.

I think it was a success, especially for blooding new FCs, as well as giving people and idea of what worked and what didn't in ship setups.  I'd be intrigued to hear what people took away from it, and what they feel I could have done better (first time i've run this sort of thing).  One suggestion was a separate killboard set up for test server ops, so that we can take a look at who was doing the damage, what was ineffective, what took huge damage to kill, what was hitting for zero dps on fast ships etc...

Do people think this is something we should do again at some point?  If so, what should we focus on?  I'd like to try hunting Nerf in his vaga, trying to fight him and the two ishtars in order to refine tactics versus nano ships (probably good practice for the targets in tactics, too).   As it was, he knew very well that he could have had the Ca'adwin Shin Memorial Award for Extreme Ca'adwin Shin-ness just by turning up and flying around everyone, laughing.

-----
*warded for at least being there at the end.

I had fun, it'd be good to do it again sometime :)

I learnt that I don't know how to effectively fly a blasterax, that a myrm doesn't last long against two BSs and most importantly that I need to do a lot more PVP...

In the future, speaking personally, it'd be more useful to run one scenario a few times than several scenarios once as I felt things were moving too quickly for me to pick up much in the way of tactics, it'd be nice to go back through a scenario while lessons learned were still fresh. So, more useful but probably not as much fun...

I'll echo that -- it was a lot of fun and I'd be up for more exercises on the test server in the future.

I think the "run one scenario a couple times" suggestion makes sense in that it's a little easier to prepare for in advance (allowing for nice fast starts) and lets you try different things.

Thanks again for organizing, Endie.

I really enjoyed this and learned a lot.  We did a lot in a short amount of time.

The biggest points I probably learned -

If you want to get into your pod before anyone else, fly an EWAR ship.  I flew a Scorpion for two of the gatecamp scenarios and it seems to paint a big target on me.  Even with 3 1600mm plates fitted I didn't last long.  :awesome_for_real:

A torpedo Raven can throw out a pretty scary amount of dps, but the 20km missile range really sucks.  With my meh missile skills I almost pushed 450dps when I fitted a Raven and still had some tank.  (T1 launchers, standard missiles, T1 BCS)  But when the FC called primaries they were all way out of my range so I picked the nearest ship that I thought was a big threat.  I think it was Endie in a Rokh.  :ye_gods:

Was a ton of fun, thanks Endie!

Every ship that blows up is a lesson. I've had over a dozen melted today. Massive ease on FCing knowing others ships aren't worth anything, but still quite exhausting. I seem to lean wrongly towards taking out an enemy DPS ship as soon as it looks like it's a good time to do so, yet with the second run at breaking the gatecamp the K/D ratio tripled as I got suggestions for primaries from Endie. I'm still more inclined to take out Drakes when there's just Battleships and painfully annoying cruiser sized T2 ships around. Also, with the Drone Assist command I should always make a strong mental note to tell everyone to put on a new assist or give a new order to drones as the person getting drone hugged gets popped.

Attempts at breaking gatecamps will likely fail if you haven't practiced, it seems. The bubble was a nice touch on the opposing team's side. It will be times hard on Tranquility not knowing the gatecamp's composition before jumping in.

And I was in a Myrmidon, as I'm Gallente. Command ships are uber though, but this is coming from someone who can do a battlecruiser at best and still get beaten by a Maller. During the Battle Royale I was sure I was going to blow up in the middle of it, but I just kept shooting drones until there was none on me. Had my capacitor empty on many occasions.

Thank you for the colorful writeup. SiSi has more opportunities than I first imagined it have. Actually being on it seemed quite dull at first. Hope we'll do it again soon, as the commentary from both sides helps.

Sounds like a lot of fun. I got my sisi eve version set up and I'll hope I can make it next time.

I had a great time.  Much learning was had.

The only thing that I would suggest, purely for fun and a more interesting FFA, is an arena tournament.  Each round's opponents are decided by the two FCs who pick their teams beforehand. 

If we do it again, that is.

I learn something every time I fight, and this is certainly no except - in this particular instance, I learned a blaster Eagle with a MWD doesn't move very fast nor is very useful in a warp bubble.  :awesome_for_real:

We were a little suprised to jump in and find the Rokh and Eagle both withing 20km of the gate.  Were expecting you both to be like 100km off sniping us.  :oh_i_see:

Alot of fun, some lessons learned, although my biggest problem was my overview, background colors seem to randomly go very fucko on me and that can make it incredibly hard to call targets, even worse when your fleet members are in the corp as the attackers.

My only complaint was during the 2nd round, someone else starting calling targets, I think everyone got confused and targets weren't going down.  You're not going to bust a gatecamp unless everyone listens to the FC and primaries the primary, I think how long the FFA took is proof of that, focused fire is key.

Also, not even honorable mention for the Militant Mammoth? Or that your prize winner nelke could'nt bust my tank? That contest was RIGGED!

I thought mentioning that you declined to win a contest that you could have by not flying the vaga was honour and glory enough.  But yes, the tank on the mammoth was impressive.

awww man. i completely forgot about this thing :sad: o well...ill just have to make it next time...would have given me a good chance to test out my flycatcher for the gatecamp since i just got it on TQ and haven't used it at all yet...

definitely gotta do it again endie