What is the Eve Online Metagame? There are as many meanings for the word as there are capsuleers. For myself, I see it as the expanded Eve Universe created by players beyond the game itself. My definition includes the artist, fiction and non-fiction writers, roleplayers, bloggers, DJ’s, Podcasters, and many more as long as the central aspect of their creation is for the enjoyment and/or education of others centered on the Eve Universe.

Ashterothi

Obviously, I participate in the metagame as a writer of this blog, but I’m also a beneficiary. I read many blogs, gaze on some great art work, study the finer technical details of game play, and I listen to podcast, just to name a few. On that note, I’m very pleased to present Ashterothi as the next interview in my New Eden Explorer Series. There’s around ten or so podcast I listen to, but it’s the newest of the lot that has quickly attained the status of being my favorite and that’s Hydrostatic Podcast of which Ashterothi is one of the host. Interestingly enough, I’d have to say my second favorite podcast is High Drag, which Ashterothi is also a host. Coincidence? Hmm… perhaps. Must be something to it, huh?

Truth be told, both podcast are high quality, always have something interesting to listen to, and if you’re into the Lore of New Eden, then I can’t recommend Hydrostatic Podcast enough. They have an excellent segment on the lore. Give them a listen, it’s all good stuff and you won’t be disappointed.

What attracted you to EVE Online and how long have you played?

I joined thanks to a couple of friends of mine in real life. I was a scout in the military, so scouting and exploring came naturally to me. Cov ops was the first tech 2 I shot for, before that I actually scouted for my null group in a t1 frig for hours at a time. o.O

How would you describe your characters career path?

Exploration has always been a side venture for me. After my very brief stint in null I drifted around high sec corps for a while until I hit on Aideron Robotics. Once we joined FW, and I was promoted to COO, most of my focus has been on that.

What attracted you to explore New Eden? What is your goal and have you achieved it? If not, are you still working towards your goal, do plan to continue, or what are you currently doing?

Have you been out there? Its pretty, and there be gold in them there space lanes. My goal is to become “good” at EVE. I fear I may never achieve that goal, as I keep redefining what “good” is.

What is the name of your favorite ship that you enjoy flying the most while exploring? Why is it your favorite? Would you mind sharing your fit?

Stratios, it brings a tear to my eye. Beautiful, and does exactly what it was designed for. I never feel like I should have brought a different ship.

I experiment with fits, but at this exact moment my fit is:

[Stratios, Ashterothi’s]
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Corelum C-Type Medium Armor Repairer
Damage Control II

Stratios

Federation Navy Omnidirectional Tracking Link, Optimal Range Script
Medium Capacitor Battery II
Experimental 10MN Afterburner I
Cap Recharger II
Cap Recharger II

Sisters Core Probe Launcher, Sisters Core Scanner Probe
Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Heavy Beam Laser II, Gleam M
Heavy Beam Laser II, Gleam M
Heavy Beam Laser II, Gleam M

Medium Nanobot Accelerator I
Medium Capacitor Control Circuit I
Medium Capacitor Control Circuit I

Hobgoblin II x6
Hammerhead II x5
Salvage Drone I x5
Ogre II x4
Garde II x6

During your research and travels, what has been the most interesting fact, amazing sight, or other aspect of New Eden that surprised you?

The lore and how everything in game links to the stories out of game. Realize that all the pieces may mean something, and that we may not understand it yet as players. *the truth is out there*

What have you learned or what advice would you give to someone interested in exploring New Eden?

Never make any decision based on killboard stats. EVER. That is actually good advice for anyone.

Do you have a favorite image that you wouldn’t mind me posting and sharing from your explorations?

I used to have this wonderful image, but I think I lost it. I finally decided to head out to the EVE Gate. While I was there I scanned down a WH. That WH had 9 planets, and was in the proper order to be Sol, except the 3rd planet was Barren. To this day in my heart I feel like I have found the reminance of home. Perhaps a causonary tale of our home.

“As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas…” – Herman Melville, Moby Dick: or, the Whale

11.01.yc117 B-WQDP < GU-JZ1 Constellation < Wicked Creek Region

The Mission

Systems explored map

For those followers who are new, or may not be aware of my mission, it is my desire to explore all of New Eden one system at a time and record my journey with images and writings via this blog. I began my journey in yc111 (2009) and as you can see by the graph, it wasn’t until this last year did I truly tackle the mission. The two years I went missing, yc114 & yc115, I spent grieving for my father whom had passed away from this life. From his passing I truly began to understand what one aspect of being immortal meant… seeing mortal loved ones and friends around you slowly disappear from your life. I spent those years grounded planet side on Saisio, my home system, wondering if my wanderings should continue.

The support, love, and encouragement of my family and friends during that dark time finally lifted my heart and I was able to let go of my grief allowing me to return to my explorations. It is, after all, what my father would have wanted. So with a vengeance, I outdid all my previous system explorations, completing Phase I: Empire space and starting Phase II: Nullsec space this last year ending with 2,959 total systems explored since the start of my mission.

The Past – What didn’t work

Backups

NI-J0B II

One of the first things I had done during my break was to backup my writings and images I had chronicled to that point, thinking if I should return, I would then be able to restore this blog and carry on. As it turned out, the writings portion of my backup was corrupted and I didn’t realize it until I went to restore. This is why you’ll not find any post prior to my return in yc116. Fortunately, the images I had taken up to that point where good and I was able to restore them to my gallery. I’ve corrected this issue should it ever come up again, having more than one verified backup on hand in different locations. I can’t stress enough that if there’s something in digital form that you wish to keep, be sure to not only back it up, but verify it’s good.

Image Processing

QXE-1N I

One of the reasons my exploration was going at such a slow pace before was due to the labor intensive work with the images I had taken. To get them ready for the gallery, due to space limitations and other factors, I would adjust their format and size before uploading them. Upon my return, the first thing I did was to streamline and automate the process of capturing the image and reformatting before upload. This one simple change has saved me countless hours and I’m able to explore more systems with the time saved.

Regions of New Eden

I had started a new series called “Regions of New Eden”, but after doing the first one, I realized it was going to be more time intensive than I had anticipated. That, plus the fact I received no feedback, I’ve decided to not continue it as I’d rather spend that time on the other series I had started that is working well, which leads to…

The Present – What works well

New Eden Explorers

Y19P-1 VI, Circadian Seeker

The series “New Eden Explorers” that I had begun last year has been well received and I will continue with it this year. I currently have at least two more interviews lined up and will more than likely conclude the series something during the first half of yc117. I’ve really enjoyed learning about my fellow explorers and as you’ve learned as well, there are many different ways to go about exploring New Eden. I hope as a reader and follower of my blog, you’ve enjoyed the series, learned something from it, and that it’s encouraged you to explore even more than you have before. I’d love to hear from you if it has and if you know of an explorer I’ve missed that either blogs, videos, or chronicles their journey in some manner publicly, then please let me know. I’d be happy to include them in the series if they’d like.

The Future – Exploration

At my current pace, if I’m able to keep it going, I should complete Phase II: Nullsec by the end of this year, yc117 (2015). At that time, we’ll see if I continue on with W-Space. That would be another 2,498 systems not including the newly discovered Thera system plus an additional 100 shattered wormholes. If I do continue, I’ll be looking for a different way to document and record my visit to each system. I believe my time to scan down wormholes will take away time I would usually visit each planet in system, so at this time, I’m not sure just how I’ll go about my journey, but I still have some time to think about it. If you’re a wormhole explorer and have some ideas, please let me know.

F76-8Q III, RHE7-W Gate