Ernest Shackleton would be proud

I've previously covered my use of the T2 Prospect mining frigate to run Level 4 gas mining missions in null sec. It's an excellent ship, fit as I have it its difficult to probe down and admirably does the job its designed to in the minimum amount of time.

In the December 2015 release, Frostline, a new T2 variant mining frigate called the Endurance was released.

Endurance

The Endurance is the latest variant of the Venture mining frigate from ORE. It has the same basic hull as the Venture and Prospect but a great blue-ish grey three tone colouring. Fitting wise the ship is designed to use the new Mining Lasers that were also released in Frostline and are designed to allow "ninja mining in WH or contested Null Sec space".

It's a great looking ship and I've taken a few images with a maximum resolution client so you can bask in the beauty.

A beauty of a ship I think you'll agree.

I've used every mining vessel in the game, including an Armageddon battleship when I was but a noobie, and they all have different uses but living in Null Sec I've found that the Hulk and Mackinaw are kings for mineral and ice mining in fleets but the slow align time and GTFO location that my ice belts are appearing in are making me look at the Endurance.

Fitting

My needs are reasonably basic:

• tank enough to survive the initial barrage of any belt rats 
• a fast align time; to allow me to escape at the first sign of trouble.
• one (or more if possible) mining lasers; to allow me to collect what minerals/ice I'm after
• low cost; so I can keep several on hand for when I do need a replacement and it won't hurt the wallet when I do

I'd like to say I came up with the following fit but I didn't, I appropriated it from ZGG friend Bex removing the probe launcher as I did not need that as I'll be in systems where I'll have dedicated scanner support.

[Endurance, Meth Addict]

Ice Harvester Upgrade II

Ice Harvester Upgrade II

Ice Harvester Upgrade II

Medium Shield Extender II

1MN Afterburner II

Survey Scanner II

Adaptive Invulnerability Field II

Ice Mining Laser II

Improved Cloaking Device II

[Empty High slot]

Small Processor Overclocking Unit I

Small Core Defense Field Extender I

All up the hull and fittings cost just over 30m ISK and combined with a dedicated mining fleet booster the cycle time per laser is between 30 seconds (with Expedition Frigates V) and 40 seconds.

PROFIT?

The ice will then be used to produce fuel for towers and sold, at discount, to friends and allies for their own use.

So far I've only had two at any one time running, this is the fault of my training queue and this is being rectified as you read this. By the end of the second week of 2016 I shall have four pilots mining ice for me.

This is a great ship, it's meeting a set of requirements I had and means that the slower and bulkier Mackinaw and Hulks I'd normally use aren't being put in unnecessary danger. Sure I'd like the frigates to have more than 1 turret hard point but what I have works and using Fleet mechanics I can squad warp in, mine until rats or a visitor appears then squad warp out leaving my tactical support to deal with rats or unwelcome visitors.

For 30m ISK I cannot recommend this ship and fit for ice mining in all regions of space be they high sec, low sec, null sec or even wormhole space (remember the probe launcher if you go there).

The Type Of Player No MMO Needs

Warning

The following contains spoilers regarding Star Wars: The Force Awakens. If you haven't seen this movie yet and do not wish a major plot point be spoilt, please stop reading and close this window/tab.

You have been warned.

Remember, I have said spoilers are below. Leave now or continue at your own risk.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is Released

Being in Australia I had the option of seeing it slightly before my northern hemisphere friends but I chose not to because I wanted to go with my wife. Being a "Star Wars Nerd" I didn't mind finding out the plot or spoilers before I saw the movie. For one at least people couldn't ruin it for me but also nothing would stop me enjoying the movies.

Still seeing the following notification when I logged on release day was unexpected:

I didn't get angry but I was disappointed that someone in EVE would do this. Other communities such as Imgur and Reddit were discouraging this and, in someways, actively policing to prevent this happening BUT EVE Online is a game so it's slightly different (not to mention my timezone works against me 99% of the time).

I later found out who it was and it wasn't really a surprise, this person has issues with other members of my Alliance and well, shots fired. Still the fact they'd do this said much about their character and the type of person they are to me.

It's fair to say I had respect for the person before this but it's all gone now. Not that they care, they'll laugh it off and say they don't care. So be it, but if you ever needed help in-game or out and I was able to help.... well let's just say that won't be happening now.

Not that they care, like I said.

A Proportional Response

I wasn't angry by this but it did strike a nerve. I wasn't going to speak to the person behind it, they (in true EVE fashion) would lap up the so called "tears" and not care. So I used the game mechanics available to me and I petitioned it.

I don't know whether my petition struck a nerve with CCP but they were aware of this prior to my petition and my ten paragraphs hopefully swayed them and stirred them into action. It wasn't the best I've ever written nor was it the worst but as I said, there was nothing in the EULA or their Rules that appeared to be broken but it was ethically and morally a shit thing to have done.

Outcome

I've been told that something was done, certainly the Corporation setup was quickly disbanded:

The name "removed". CCP's response was 'as expected' and said nothing of detail but something happened.

I was told a few other things but I can't share them here as my word was given I would not repeat them. But still, CCP did quickly respond and clear this up. Kudos to them for understanding the situation and taking quick and effective action.

Know Your Scams: Trade In Station

Setup

The scammer advertises in Local:

Checking the on the market you'll see the price the item is, usually, a couple of hundred million ISK more than what is being offered. In this case the Kronos is 1.27b ISK and the scammer is offering it for a flat 1 billion ISK

What Happens Now

The scammer states a trade in system because this is one way they can con a person by providing as little detail as possible, they can drag/drop a Kronos into the window and wait for the mark to enter the money then quickly swap it out for a Megathron (same hull, vastly cheaper ship at 177m).

By avoiding the use of the contract system the scammer can control the flow and easily show, with one hand, what is on offer then quickly substitute it with something else before accepting. Once complete there is no public trasnaction that shows the con, only the mark having less ISK and the scammer a larger wallet.

Confirming the Scam

There was a small, miniscule, possibility that this was a legitimate offer so I eve mailed the scammer and asked if they'd accept via contract and they said yes:

Except no contract was ever created and all of a sudden they "made a sale" and decreased the number available in their advertisement.

How Can You Protect Yourself

Rule #1 in Jita is: anything in Local is a scam to take your ISK.

If anyone offers you something but says they want to trade in station then this should instantly have alarms ringing in your head. Never, ever, do a trade within a station. Always insist on a contract where the details can be clearly set out showing what you will get in return for your money.

Block the scammer and move on.

What Ever Will I Do Now?

The last couple of days I've been idling in Jita primarily because I'm watching for new scams but also because, occasionally, I can read some interesting conversations or have a laugh.

I've also been posting a link to my Know Your Scams index page when I see an obvious scam appear in local. A couple of people commented with sarcasm or the following image:

This image simply awesome and I've now added to to my Know Your Scams Index page because it's funny.

War!

Someone in the Alliance Archtype. obviously was annoyed with my posting or was looking for corporations to declare war on so at 0015 hours EVE Time today i received a war declaration:

and I then spent the next 15 minutes laughing my head off at the stupidity of this declaration and again at the game mechanics. 

Back around 2011/2012 the war mechanic was to be feared and could be a cause of problems but I've grown wiser. It seems a group of 19 people (according to EVE Who) with a killboard full of cheap and skill-less kills, in only high sec locations or trade hubs, is wasting their time on me.

My Response

It's a wasted war declaration, only two of the characters in my corporation are active and the one I use most has not left a station (except via Jump Clones) since the 30th May 2013.

I shall continue with my daily activities, I shall continue to make money buying and selling whilst using 3rd party services to move assets.

Know Your Scams: Rare Ship for Sale

Setup 

The following appears in Local:

Two billion for a rare ship, let's have a look at that:

Certainly looks different, the Chinese/Japanese/Korean text indicates it may not be normal for this server so might be worth investing in. 

Let's check the contract:

2b ISK for this ship, seems like a bargain as other "rare" ships go sale for at least a hundred billion.

What Happens Now

The ship looks fabulous the foreign characters certainly give it the impression of rare and something not normal on the Tranquility server. Perhaps this is from the Chinese server and it'll be worth investing in.

The use of the images show a story, a story the scammer hopes will encourage a rich player to buy on a whim.

How Can You Protect Yourself

Rule #1 in Jita is: anything in Local is a scam to take your ISK.

If you look closer at the Ship Info it appears to be a normal T2 ship listed, I had a suspicion it was just a localized window for the Ishtar so I looked up the Ishtar and confirmed that the text and bonuses were the same.

Looking at the contract the ship in the contract is a T1 Vexor as opposed to whatever its name in the Show Info window is as well as there is no T2 marker over the ship image, that's a huge clue that this is a scam. 

Block the character and move on.

3rd Party Utilities for EVE Online Links

I saw this question at Reddit and it's something I've never really assembled in one place but I've added to the right side navigation window a new link to the EVE Online Guides for useful 3rd Party Utilities.

If I've missed any or you have one you'd like me to list then please contact ZGG Business Associate in-game.

Communication

I've just finished my reading of the Minutes from Day 2 of the CSM Summit. My blood isn't boiling with frustration but there is certainly an increase in temperature. Once more it was the, apparently, liberal use of "under NDA" that really pissed me off.

The one thing I really wanted to know more about is how CCP think they are progressing with EVE online within the Roadmap session and instead we get a (admittedly cute) picture of a bloody kitten. If there has been one thing I've read more than anything else is that there is no visible accountability for what is happening in EVE Online.

Finger Pointing

CCP Fozzie and CCP Falcon are the two most common names I see in posts on Reddit and they cop a huge amount of finger pointing and abuse. Nearly all unwarranted.

Fozziesov is a derogatory term used to name the sov changes introduced in Aegis. I've not seen a SINGLE positive use of this term, all has been negative and a lot of people have demanded Fozzie be sacked for this not because he's done a bad job, he hasn't, but because of who he was before he joined CCP.

Stupid. Just bloody stupid.

Accountability

This brings me nicely to something I've been thinking of for quite a while. It was proudly announced in July 2014 that CCP Seagull had been "promoted" to Executive Producer and was now responsible for "the full overall direction" of EVE Online.

This image seems to be apt for the communication we've had

Communication is critical to success, we players have said that. The CSM have said that and CCP have said that. But where is communication from the Executive Producer CCP Seagull?

  

As far as I can tell she hasn't posted to the public forums since May 2014, nothing since and I could not find any posts on Reddit since her AMA in 2014. Well either that or she's extremely good at delegation and it's CCP Falcon and CCP Fozzie who are communicating in her place and taking the brunt of player feedback/frustration instead of her.

The CSM Summit Minutes show that CCP Seagull has been interacting with the CSM and has been quoted in the minutes but where is the communication, that CCP are known for, with their extended community and players from the Executive Producer?

The Leader, the current Visionary behind EVE Online is nowhere to be seen or heard from. To me, and I hope you, there is something seriously wrong with that.

All Quiet On The Northern Front

With so much anger about Aegis Sov why have we not heard from Executive Producer CCP Seagull about the what changes, why they are needed, and how they fit into the future. A year ago Player-built-stargates were a thing, nothing has been said since then.

The Jove are dead and we have had an excellent story (including the Drifter introduction and death of the Amarr Empress) but we are no closer to knowing what else is to come or how we (as players) fit into it.

I'd certainly be a lot happier and confident to remain a player should I know more about where things are currently and where we're going on our journey. CCP Seagull, what do you think?

Surprise!

It's now January 1st 2016 and this was posted on the 5th October 2015. Three months ago nearly and since then nothing else, not in a dev blog nor even the forums. In fact I still can't see any posts since May 2014 from CCP Seagull on the forums.

I've sat on this article for a little too long, #reasons#, but as I was writing it CCP Seagull did post a Dev Blog where she outlined (briefly) the state of EVE and the roadmap for Fall 2015 and Spring 2016.

You can watch the video and it does appear a lot of good things are covered and are coming.

The Future

Summer 2015 has not been an overwhelming success for CCP in my eyes. It has been stagnant and the draw to the game has been missing. Bitter-vets are starting to grow in numbers and new players either aren't being retained or are finding it hard to get a start.

We've had some great new ships released, more skins (yawn) and lots of minor features and tier-icide. But communication is one thing that we're not getting. We know what the plan is for late 2015/early 2016 but what about (for instance):

• late 2016/early 2017
• is walking in stations "still a thing"
• how are we progressing on captial re-balance (this has been partially answered)
• what is the future for the rorqual
• where are we in terms of "player built stargates"

These are all things that an EP should be able to address. I'm not saying CCP Seagull should do a regular dev blog on how the game is progressing.... Wait yes. that's exactly what I'm saying and want.

We need communication but we also need communication from the right people, we usually get it from the (excellent CCP Falcon/CCP Fozzie and a few others with "silly team names") but its the EP who ultimatiely is responsible for the vision, the direction and making it happen.

We need to hear more from CCP Seagull on HOW things are progressing, what she things of the game and more importantly get visibility for a person who, until October 2015, had disappeared from public view.