"ProviWar" via Ga'len

LFA "Libertas Fidelitas" Is Folding Under

Whilst we wait for what ever news might spill over from the great “GDC love in” I’m going to return to the subject of massed fleet warfare – really because it comes right off the back of the recently published CSM IV meeting minutes. I thought to start we might look at two examples of how the Sovereignty system as it currently stands might be creating emergent behaviour in terms of strategic thinking in EVE.

First off comes this comment from Luminous Rex on his blog a Scout’s Domain:

“With D-GTMI and 9UY4-H firmly in the hands of the -A- coalition they appeared to take a break from the fighting.  This week though they returned to Providence with renewed vigor.  Their strategy appears to be one of isolation, attrition and eventual invasion.  The -A- coalition have attacked in both Y-MPWL and G-5EN2. Additionally SYS-K attacked R3-K7K and early Sunday 28 Feb 10 (game time) they (SYS-K) jumped a titan + capital fleet in.  By doing so they’ve essentially cut off the logistics pipeline from Domain and Tash-Murkon”.

I really enjoy Rex’s posts and if you have any interest at all in the broader philosophies of warfare within EVE Online you should read what he has to say.  Now compare and contrast Mandrill’s (I am Keith Neilson blogger) comments to an earlier post of mine on the lack of small scale objectives and gangs:

“The reason this kind of thing doesn’t happen basically boils down to 0.0 warfare as it currently stands being a contest to see who can bring the biggest fleet. I’m pretty certain that if any of the big alliances came under assault (or were led to believe they were under assault) on multiple fronts and from multiple directions you would see a lot of smaller fleets set up for fast response times across wide regions of space.

As things stand though I honestly don’t believe that any of the big alliances have the strategic flexibilty (logistically and mentally) to run such an operation”.

There are some close parallels in both comments here I think you’ll agree, which suggests that Mandrill’s correct in the assumption that multiple fronts can emerge, and (I think he’ll forgive me for saying) that this behaviour is already becoming a reality!

Ok, back to Rex again and a previous blog where he reveals his EVE Space and tellingly this comment:

“The colored strips around the monitor are the little ‘flag arrows’ you use to point out signature lines on documents.  I write the names of my scouts on them and then move them around the Ombey map.  Especially useful when I’m managing 20+ scouts during a Large Fleet Engagement”.

Why is this so interesting? Well I think it demonstrates two factors: firstly that fleet commanders are trying to think in a strategic manner in order to secure victory.  Rex is attempting to co-ordinate a far wider battle than just two adjoining solar systems – indeed to manage more than just a ‘big fleet vs big fleet’ approach. Secondly its worth noting that he’s doing so with……some bits of paper!?

Which pretty much brings us back to Mandrill’s comment that fleet commanders dont “have the strategic flexibilty (logistically and mentally) to run such an operation”.

I’d argue they do have the mental capacity (well some of them anyway) to think along such lines.  What they clearly lack are the means. Specifically what is not readily available to the modern fleet commander is a interface in game that allows more transparent command and control over a wide strategic area.  The current universe map is wholly unsuited to this complex task.  Fleet commanders (and their sub-ordinates) cannot edit comments, sketch out battle plans or track the movement of their own forces (let alone those of the enemy) on the universe map.  It’s small wonder then that most FC’s would rather opt for massing their forces rather then divide them with all the command and control problems that entails.  In this way ‘blobs’ or very large fleets are encouraged as a tactic by simple merit of being simpler to control (and therefore less risky).

Now I am confident that there are FCs who either have a good spatial memory for directing fleets or those that are covering their monitors and map books in sticky notes, but they’re probably not the norm.  When Incarna was first mooted there was some excitement over the possibility of Corporate Offices having ‘planning rooms’ with interactive universe ‘maps’ and my fingers are certainly crossed that this becomes a reality.  The other alternative is that we see some sort of strategic tool developed by the community – although quite how that would work is difficult to imagine unless the API reveals much more information than is currently available.

Sadly whilst the universe map languishes in the past we are likely to gain only fleeting glimpses of what can be achieved through strategic thinking.  Meanwhile for the uneducated the best, and only option, will be to blob up for victory.

I've been back from holiday for over twenty-four hours and thus far I've managed to resist logging into EVE. It's not that I don't want to, it's just that I've decided to use my EVE-time as more of a reward after finishing more mundane duties, rather than my excuse for not doing them. Plus I've got a fair bit of real-life admin to catch up on.

Despite this, I have to say my curiosity to investigate the state of all things EVE is steadily building. I've been suffering from an almost complete media blackout (a friend brought a couple of copies of E-ON with him) as foolishly, despite being abroad I thought I might be able to keep tentative contact with New Eden and it's denizens through surreptitious use of my iPhone. But "data-roaming" in foreign climes can cost up to £3 ($4.54) per minute, so I couldn't do any internet browsing, use my twitter app or check the headlines on Capsuleer.

EVE-related events immediately prior to my departure were very interesting. Being the CEO of a neutral corporation in low-sec CVA militia space, my final nervous few hours before leaving were spent packing up our POS due to reports of Against All Authorities and Ushra'khan incursions into low-sec destroying easy POS targets (a low-sec POS six jumps away was getting hammered at the time I recall). They were also mustering a frighteningly large super-capital fleet only two jumps away right on our usual POS supply line. Word had spread that they were building for renewed assaults against the CVA and this certainly seemed to evidence this. I would've loved to have stuck around to see what happened, but there was little sense in leaving a poorly defended POS for them to chew through in our absence (both other active corp members were on the same holiday).

It's all old news to you, I'm sure, but I've not got a clue what I'll log in to find. Will I find my home system crawling with unfriendlies? Will a successful militia defense have been organised? Will -A-, U'K and their allies have concentrated exclusively on null-sec and things will be relatively normal?

Also, the CrazyKinux Blogpack/Capsuleer Headlines furore was in full swing and the community was awaiting a resolution. One of the first things I did when arriving back on home soil was fire up Capsuleer and download the week's headlines. All 150 of them! I'll get around to reading them all soon and hopefully I'll be a little more up to speed on current EVE affairs.

Then maybe I'll let myself log in.

Seems like the initial excitement over the war in Providence has died down (now the interesting initial moves have finished) and there's no exciting and huge battles to talk about so I'll keep this brief.
Continuing after the AM sov fail handed UK 3D-CQU, as much as the servers tried to stop us-

• Sylph disbanded - lol - this gifted N-8BZ6 to U'K
• Combined -A- & U'K forces took the gateway systems of G-5EN2 and Y-MPWL with Sys-K following shortly taking  R3-K7K . This leaves the Provi block 1 gateway out of the region at KBP7-G.

So currently our blues hold the majority of ways in and out of Provi which is a serious setback to the holders and numbers of reds to hunt are dwindling day by day .
I cant really comment on the operations to take the gateways as they generally happened while I was at work (damn you 'real life') but very few reports of battle have filtered through our forums and it seems Provi are opting for a "don't give em fights and they'll get bored" strategy. To be fair the CTA's I have been on recently were almost universally dull which has dampened my enthusiasm to log on till 3am for a good fight, so maybe its working.

Things I learnt
I like Target Painters and flying Ewar frigates.
I can run 2 medium armour reppers on my ratting Hurricane which is kinda cool.

I returned to Providence for one very simple reason, they were finally doing something.  I'd been away for over four months and much had changed that I wasn't aware of when I decided to return.  But I thought I could help with the campaign in Catch, could contribute my portion to the war effort.  And so I spent a good solid week selling my assets in Insmother and hauling what was left all the way back to Providence.  What I found there was not what I had left there.  But for the first two weeks of my return, things seemed to be going well and I put my full effort into Sov warfare.  Killed a lot of SBUs and enemy ships.

I think we all understood that we were riding a dangerous wave.  If -A- ever decided to focus on Providence, there wouldn't be much we could do to stop them.  Not full force.  I've known that fact since I first moved to Null Space over a year and a half ago.

Upon my return I resumed my self-appointed role as Minister of Propaganda and had already issued several pieces on the forums.  I believed, and I still do, that such efforts actually do help.  And so it came to a few days before January 28, 2010.  The day -A- would invade D-GTMI and we would finally go toe-to-toe with our neighbors and be completely pwned.  You wonder about me saying that?  C'mon now, hopefully you know me better than that by now.  Let's be realistic here.  We all knew what would happen, at least the grunts did, I can't speak to the leadership since I had given up my part in that process when I had left the last time.

Having said that, we were all more then willing to give it the 'ol college try.  My ships were fitted and standing ready to be sacrificed.  And I issued this Propaganda poster a few days before to get people ready.


Click HERE to see the full-sized version.


Obviously that day turned out to be a slaughter.  Of Providence.  For my part I gave four ships to the effort, but I didn't shoot anyone.  The first ship was lost that morning to bad intel, jumped right into an unreported red gang.  I made it back to the gate and jumped right into another red gang.  Lol.  It happens.  The worst loss was the last one, I had waited in a nearby system for almost two hours sitting next to a Titan waiting to be bridged into battle.  When it finally happened, my ship was caught between two systems.  The original system showed on the overview, the new one in local and my ship was invisible... for almost an hour.  Finally, in frustration, I logged.  When I re-started I was in my clone.  Apparently my ship hadn't really been invisible after all.  Imo this was a horrible example of game mechanics gone wrong, and not the only horrible example that day, but CCP doesn't see it that way. Whatever. No sour grapes.

The next day I issued the following version of the above:


Click HERE to see the full-sized version.


The rest, as they say, is history.

G-5EN2

Providence.

I guide my Curse class recon into the docking bay my camera drones picking up the Vagabond class assault cruiser on my flank.

I dock and as I disembark I see the pilot of the Vaga is who I thought it would be.

Karn Mithralia...... A foe I have always respected now a allie and one of the few I know still holds some respect for me.

He gives me a curt nod and we exit the hanger in silence the assault rifles over each of our backs sign that the station wasn't quite secure.

We head deeper inside going down to where the old “re educational” facility was the marines we pass given Karn a quick salute. I follow the other Brutor silently tensing as we exit the lift at the sound of small arms laser fire.

I chuck a glance to my left and see Karn already bringing his rifle to bear, I do the same knowing the marines hadn't got this deep yet.

As we round the corner still yet to say a word to each other I see 2 figures in Amarr uniforms pouring fire into a group of slaves crowed against the bulkheads.

It comes without thinking the rifle comes up and the two figures fall. Looking closer I see their Brutor and hear Karn mutter “Fucking Ammatar.” he makes a call and soon a squad of troops arrive to take care of the survivors and we continue.

We turn a corner and I stop there in front of us is the great doors of the “Re-educational” facility.

Without a word me and Karn head to the doors and standing on opssite sides push them open.
After a few barges they give way and a foul stench Emerges.


Ten months earlier

I check my weapon and head in the slaves lining the walls all securely tied. The two guards behind me point me towards the back. “She's over there.”

I nod and head over to the back ignoring the glares I'm getting from the Matari salves and reach my target.

I saw the vherokior blue eyes staring into my own silently asking for mercy. But I had my orders I put my pistol up against her head and fired.

The guards moved forward to remove the body but I wave them back. “No leave it that's what terrorists get.”

Present day

I lean against the wall and see Karn moving to support me I wave him back “I'm fine.”

I gather myself and head inside.


To be continued.........

Ok today I’m going to houner people in eve who are often overlooked when it comes the grand scem of things

They never appear in Eve alliance reports. They are not CEO's (tough some of them are), they are not major FC's in battles long remberd by them who take part, they are not major Mining and production tycoons and they are not the well know pirates around me shooting me

But get this
They could be every one of these as well (Inc... pirates)

So who am I talking about?
Well I’m talking about what is problem the smaller majority of eve players
Each corpation has them
Each alliance has them
They and very low key and don’t show up a lot (in things such are agreements) but they achieve so much
They keep their heads when things become unresnalbale
And most of all they give and keep on giving to everyone around them
They give their time and their money to help people who have less than them
These are the people who would give you there very last ship (or a hanger full of ships) just so you can buy that 1 last mod or get back in to the fight

I have known a lot of these kinds of people in my life on eve
From the very 1st day I played I had someone give me advice and then help me again once I messed up then helped me when I really messed up in to a gate camp in low sec
He gave me money and more inporatily the teaching on how to use it

When I joined my 1st corp there where a whole bunch of them who were willing to spend that extra hour helping me understand the complexity that is eve

as iv built up in my alliance I have meet some very knowalgeble people who give me advice or even a loan with no strings attached for 500mil (I gave it back the next day :P).
Also give teaching lots of advice (again)

So who are the heroes of eve?
They are the people who help, give and spend time with anyone (noobs or even experienced players). They basicly the people who teach to newbie’s so that they can become the big players in eve.
I know of many people in eve but only some do i think of that fit this group. Some of them have shown me the harsh way of eve (shooting me and convoing me after telling me my mistake), others have givening me things and shown me the kindness some players have, some have loaned me stuff and some have just sat around and told me how it works.
I don’t think this game would be worth playing without them. I don’t think any major alliance would be worth running without them. They are the heros of eve and i don’t need to name even a single one of them coz they know who they are.
My news for this blog
Watch us Swarm out of the station maby we cant match AAA numbers on there CTA's but we sure can kill anyone who thinks they going to bully us around 
VVA is not done not even close in fact I only see us getting stronger off this.

in eve iv always stod and fight
my 1st ship loss was in a war we never able to win and my frist kill was the same i will stand in the face of death and shoot it in the face till im dead or they give up

Ok today I’m going to houner people in eve who are often overlooked when it comes the grand scem of things

They never appear in Eve alliance reports. They are not CEO's (tough some of them are), they are not major FC's in battles long remberd by them who take part, they are not major Mining and production tycoons and they are not the well know pirates around me shooting me

But get this
They could be every one of these as well (Inc... pirates)

So who am I talking about?
Well I’m talking about what is problem the smaller majority of eve players
Each corpation has them
Each alliance has them
They and very low key and don’t show up a lot (in things such are agreements) but they achieve so much
They keep their heads when things become unresnalbale
And most of all they give and keep on giving to everyone around them
They give their time and their money to help people who have less than them
These are the people who would give you there very last ship (or a hanger full of ships) just so you can buy that 1 last mod or get back in to the fight

I have known a lot of these kinds of people in my life on eve
From the very 1st day I played I had someone give me advice and then help me again once I messed up then helped me when I really messed up in to a gate camp in low sec
He gave me money and more inporatily the teaching on how to use it

When I joined my 1st corp there where a whole bunch of them who were willing to spend that extra hour helping me understand the complexity that is eve

as iv built up in my alliance I have meet some very knowalgeble people who give me advice or even a loan with no strings attached for 500mil (I gave it back the next day :P).
Also give teaching lots of advice (again)

So who are the heroes of eve?
They are the people who help, give and spend time with anyone (noobs or even experienced players). They basicly the people who teach to newbie’s so that they can become the big players in eve.
I know of many people in eve but only some do i think of that fit this group. Some of them have shown me the harsh way of eve (shooting me and convoing me after telling me my mistake), others have givening me things and shown me the kindness some players have, some have loaned me stuff and some have just sat around and told me how it works.
I don’t think this game would be worth playing without them. I don’t think any major alliance would be worth running without them. They are the heros of eve and i don’t need to name even a single one of them coz they know who they are.
My news for this blog
Watch us Swarm out of the station maby we cant match AAA numbers on there CTA's but we sure can kill anyone who thinks they going to bully us around 
VVA is not done not even close in fact I only see us getting stronger off this.

in eve iv always stod and fight
my 1st ship loss was in a war we never able to win and my frist kill was the same i will stand in the face of death and shoot it in the face till im dead or they give up