This has been a very busy Summer and I haven't had as much time to write as I usually do. The Summer inside of Eve Online has been its usual slow paced adventure. Some days are busy and exciting, but other days are slow and boring. It happens every year and this is nothing unusual. But it does make for some interesting fights and I thought this would be a good time for another installment of "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly". These are my posts where I am brutally honest about some recent engagements. Even when I screw up.
Attacking a Caracal solo in an Astero takes a bit of courage. You can't be sure what weapon systems they might be using and how much trouble you are going to get yourself into. It is hard to translate the sheer amount of anxiety there is until those first damage notifications start flying across your screen. And the relief you feel when they are using Heavy Assault Missiles and T1 Drones. I know this is hard to believe, but I really do want every engagement to be a good fight. And while I prefer winning those good fights, it is disappointing when it turns out to be easy.
I tried talking to him about his fit, but he wasn't interested.
And in the very next example I call everything I said above into question. I am nothing if not a man of contradictions. I undocked from station in a Rifter, saw this transport ship approaching and docked back up - right in front of them! So here is some good advice, if you see a -10 pilot undock and then immediately dock back up while you are docking your transport ship - maybe wait before undocking again. Also, thank you Loot Fairy!
This is one of the single most embarrassing losses I've experienced in a very, very long time. In my defense it was a very confusing time, we were chasing multiple targets across several systems at the time. But there is no excuse that covers this idiocy. I'm sitting on the gate alone when a Loki uncloaks about 30k from me. Of course I lock it up. Now normally in this situation I have to wait and see if the other pilot chooses to engage me because they are positive sec status and I am -10. If they shoot first I am free to engage. Pretty basic, done it a million times, stuff here. And then the brain fart happens and I swear he engaged me. Insert the "And then I just started shooting" meme here. Gate guns did the rest.
Astero Vs Omen Navy/Condor/Slasher
Remember that Caracal from earlier? Well sometimes that kind of courage does not get rewarded. In this case I fully expected that I might get hammered. Local was pretty busy but this Omen Navy has just slid into its plex and I saw an opportunity for glory. I think this plan would have worked had the other two ships not arrived in support. As I say all the time, "You can't solo an Omen Navy with an Astero, if you never try to solo an Omen Navy with an Astero!" Some day this will work. (In fact, I'm pretty sure I've done it already)
Let's end on a high note. This one took patience and a lot of time. My fleet mates went off into other systems and I stayed behind - mostly because I had a feeling. It sure looked like this pilot was providing logi for his buddy in a Venture. But I couldn't be sure. They kept warping around and being very difficult. So I just sat in local and watched. Looking for the pattern. Then I left grid for a bit and then warped back to where I thought they might be. Sure enough, but they were quick and warped before I could get a lock on them. Except this gentleman warped to a Custom's Office - which is exactly what I did.
The rest is history.
Great stories happen when you try great things. And those things don't have to be combat related. This is just my chosen field of play. And, as always, it is just that. Play. I don't post these fights to humiliate anyone or to cause problems. Only to illustrate the realities of Eve Online.