“Yes, I am a pirate two hundred years too late. The cannons don’t thunder there’s nothin’ to plunder. I’m an over ‘fifty’ victim of fate.” – “A Pirate Looks at Forty”, Jimmy Buffett

14.06.yc116 Yeeramoun < Chardu Constellation < Domain

OOC: In my 11 years of playing EVE off and on (June 8th, 2014, was my oldest character’s 11th anniversary), this last week has to be the most fun I’ve ever had. It started off with my first solo kill… ever. Then I danced with the Hellcat in the pale starlight as part of our 1v1 Alliance Tournament only “A Band Apart Summer Frigate Smackdown”.

First up, why I love Stay Frosty. For me, when I’ve thought about joining PvP corps in EVE Online, I’ve had this preconceived notion that it required an extreme gaming commitment from the player. Which is something, as a married, with teenage son, full-time+ working individual, I just did not, cared not, had no interest in whatsoever. I believed from the things that I’ve seen, read, corp/alliance requirements, etc, that you had to have “X” minimum skill points, “X” kills to qualify, “X” minimum kills per week, “X” Ops participation each week, and “X” and “X” and “X”… and yeah, you know, you get the idea.

Rixx Javix

Katia Sae is my main, and she will always take priority until her quest is done. So, not only was I dealing with “X” requirements, I was also dealing with the fact that no corp would want an Alt PvP character that wasn’t committed, a character that would be a casual PvPer. Yet, I really wanted to participate in that aspect of EVE Online that I’ve never been a part of. I created Stray a few years ago with the intention of trying it out solo, but never garnered the courage. When I returned from my recent absence from the game, I was catching up on my favorite blogs and started reading about Stay Frosty on EVEOGANDA, a blog by Rixx Javix. This post, “Why Join the Navy, When You Can Be A Pirate?”, was the tipping point that convinced me there really was a PvP oriented corp where you could be casual, be a noob, no requirements to join, and no requirements to stay in. Two days later, I submitted my application and joined up. I’ve not regretted the decision once.

Ana VII, Moon 3, Ducia Foundry Mineral Reserve

My time in Stay Frosty has been a pleasure. There are no egos here. Do what you want, when you want. Solo if you want, group if you want. Got a question, there’s no fear in asking. The corp really is the most casual and friendliest atmosphere I’ve ever been a part of in any game. It has been the perfect fit for my play style and for my multiple character priorities. If you’ve ever wanted to step out of that carebear playstyle, learn and dabble in EVE Online PvP, and enjoy another aspect that the game has to offer, then I highly recommend Stay Frosty. You won’t regret it.

Yeeramoun VII, Moon 2, Amarr Civil Service Bureau Offices

Booty Call! So, I’ve been in Stay Frosty a little over a month, flying, listening, and learning about solo and small gang PvP. These last couple of weeks, I’ve been flying solo for the most part, not having any success finding targets or too slow to react to a potential target ((or perhaps scared), that I was wondering if I was really cut out to have that pirate mentality. My explorer’s carebear heart was just too nice to pull the trigger on some unlucky target. Granted, more than likely my unlucky selection would be my own undoing! In steps a corp mate after seeing a Tweet where I jokingly said I was the worse pirate I’d ever seen. Skir Skor took me under his wing for an evening and we went hunting. It took a little time, again, either targets would run, or I was too slow, costing Skir one ship, but towards the end of our romp, we nailed what I consider my first kill! The ship blew up, the pod just sat there and as I looked at it, in semi-shock mind you, Skir ask… “Pod?” And my carebear heart kicked in and I said, “Naw, I’m just too nice”, lol. I had fifteen minutes left to my evening and asked if he thought we could get another one in, and low and behold we did. Kill two for the evening. Thanks Skir! What a great romp and from it I’ve learned that duo fits my pirating style more so than solo. It’s just more fun when another friend is along.

Skir Skor

Encouraged, two days later it happened. I had actually spotted a Merlin on D-Scan at a Novice Plex in Uuna. However, when I landed on the warp gate, there was a Slasher sitting right there within range and… I got my first solo kill! and my first tears, ack! I said “GF” (Good Fight) in local and they replied in a language I didn’t understand and had to use Google Translate to find out — F*** off…. Well, the joke was on them in the end, because I had planned (again, that carebear heart) to award my first solo victim a PLEX. So, next day, I did just that, contracted a PLEX to them in Jita with no isk or trade requirements. They didn’t even say thanks, pfft! LOL, but no worries, it was great fun! I loved it and now I feel like a carebear pirate, if that can even be such a thing. Obviously I can’t afford to always do that, but I have made the following pledge in Stray’s bio…

Not your ordinary pirate…
•Combat capable vessels are fair game
•Miners and haulers have nothing to fear, you work hard enough for a living

1v1 and you’re destroyed…
•Pods will not be shot
•Your ship loss and destroyed modules will be compensated for
•Dropped items will be contracted back at the nearest station or compensated for

Gang vs 1 or Gang vs Gang
•None of the above apply

So what’s to fear? Stay Frosty and enjoy the experience…

Raravath IV, Amarr Navy Assembly Plant

ABA Summer Frigate Smackdown. What a great fight! My first tournament and I’m paired up with Mynxee, a recently returned, veteran pirate PvPer. Oh my! But, my attitude going into the tournament was to have fun, learn something, and enjoy the experience. What can I say, Mynxee is one classy lady. She gimped her fit for the fun and to even the odds. The fight was simply the most fun I’ve ever had in EVE. We warped to our local safe spot in Ish, rushed at each other to close range. I scored first hits, watched her shields start to fall while not taking any damage myself. I began to wonder what was up. Then realized she was getting hit with some severe lag. It wasn’t long, however, before I started feeling the return hits.

Then I started seeing some of the craziest lights, and was like what kind of weapon is that? When I realized it was fireworks! LOL! So, it was quite a show! Both of us were deep in armor and hull when I thought I had her, she vanished, but no wreck. Then I saw she wasn’t in fleet anymore either, she had lost connection! Ack! So, I turned off my armor rep, stopped, and waited for her return.

Mynxee

After a little bit, she popped back in and we went at it again. At this point, my guns were already burnt out, but I still had my drones, but it didn’t take long before I was running out of cap. It came down to who was going to get the last armor rep in. She was down to 13% armor, 6% hull and I was down to 52% armor, 8% hull…. After I got my rep in and won the fight! I particularly love “A tank of honor” that survived from the cargo hold. I humbly bow to Mynxee, a wonderfully talented and great pirate corpmate with an explorer’s heart. Thanks Mynxee for a great memory and a fun fight.

Overall, this last week was a blast. Katia completed another region fully explored, Domain. She crossed over the Star Trek threshold of 1,701 systems explored, which puts her well on her way of finishing Empire space by the end of the month. Now, I really am getting nervous. Next week, I’ll post my next interview in my “New Eden Explorers” series. Thanks for stopping by!

Herila I, Caldari Business Tribunal

*Images this week are from Domain