Incline Official codex Star Trek Online topic :salute:

[roll-a-die]

Stories about cyberbullying and IRL bullying told by ex-EVE players show up in every commentary on EVE articles on Massively and most other sites nowadays. Apparently Mittani is already coordinating massive raiding of one of the HighSec systems for his return.

Mittani didn't say something that was merely offensive. He publicly told people that they should drive some poor bastard into IRL suicide. There's a world of difference between doing that and posting retarded stuff in /gd/ (oxymoron, any post in /gd/ is retarded). If anything, Mittani did irreparable PR damage to EVE by publicly displaying such sociopathic behaviour with a glee (and being drunk is no excuse, in Finland we say a person shows their true colors when drunk), and from any sane business perspective a perma-ban would be in order... But CCP does not run a sane and responsible business but instead condones this kind of psychopath behaviour.

If people like Goons are supposed to be the minority... How come their leader was elected community representative? How come there's no anti-Goon alliance hunting them if majority of players don't approve? At least on the Codex the offensive people on GD are public laughingstock and an obvious minority. Vocal and obnoxious, but minority nonetheless. Same can't be said about EVE. It's not like we have voted Andhaira or Lyric Suite as the official spokesperson of the Codex, or even GD.

The thing is the alliance panel is not simply 6-8 real life people bullshiting about their alliance, it's people using their E-Persona, PLAYING A ROLE, while bullshitting about their alliance. Was Heath Leger the sociopath that the Joker is?

Also let me state something, CCP did irreparable harm by even broadcasting the alliance panel. You do realize how many other people got their in-game names put on there, and a subtle instruction to mock. The alliance panel is ABOUT NAMES BEING NAMED, and fuck it AND MOCKERY BEING HAD. You know "Cyber bullying" to use the buzzword. What you see is an example of someone making a drunk man who plays a psychopath say something that in character makes complete sense, and out of character is completely stupid.

Also Goons have a heavily fortified space and about 1000 pilots on at any one time to defend it. Attempting to hunt down the goons would lead to instant death. What you need to do to kill things like the goons is to cut the joy they feel from playing the game off. That means stupid people need to get the fuck off EVE, and stop attempting to buy Super Capitals from the goons, this means as soon as Hulkageddon or an ice interdiction goes live, you need to render belts a graveyard with no targets. Simply dock up and let them pass by. This means that a lot of people will have to do unfun things in the name of getting rid of an unfun thing. And is that really worth it? Yes they are assclowns, but EVE more than anything else on the market has a policy of, HARDEN THE FUCK UP. You can avoid the violent assholes in EVE the exact sameway you do in real life.

More than that the CFC brings something that a game like EVE NEEDS AND THRIVES ON. A motherfucking villain that is malevolent and omnipresent.

Also as a hint as to what power bloc I'm from

God forgives.

 

[Random Word]

I take it you haven't seen what he's done for the game. The man gets results, he gets CCP to pay attention to the gameplay improvements the players want and he gets them to settle on fixes that work. He's intelligent, well spoken, and when he's in his public persona rather than his GoonSwarm persona pleasant and personable. The man deserved the job, in other words. Why Mittani did what he did is as complicated as it was stupid - suffice it to say he was trying to top the Goonswarm representative who preceeded him, tried being polite, was told his presentation was boring as fuck, came back next year totally smashed and decided if people wanted mean, he'd give it to them. The 'poor bastard' in question is no longer depressed and is actually by all accounts currently in Russian space and rather unassailable to anyone without a massive armada. This certainly doesn't make what Mittani did 'okay', but thankfully we have things like freedom of speech that ensure that people don't have to be polite all the time, and they're allowed to occaisionally slip up and do something stupid. A permanent ban from the game would be completely nonsensical, anyway. If this were truly the crime you purport it to be, only criminal prosecution would suffice, given the crime wasn't even comitted in game.

As to why there's no anti-Goon alliance hunting them, that just belies an ignorance of the politics of EVE. The short answer: There is. The long answer: It's complicated. The Goons have been kicked out of their territory and migrated somewhere else several times, but they have a very solid intelligence network (Mittani was once Goonswarms' spymaster and oversaw the collapse of BoB, the largest alliance in the game at that point, by spies alone), their fleets are not as awful as they proclaim and the sheer number of them helps, and for a very long time they were in the NAPfest that was the Northern Coalition. Now the Northern Coalition has collapsed after the Russians invaded and Goonswarm backstabbed their erstwhile allies, and the Russians were soundly kicking Goonswarm's asses when they weren't too busy trying to consolidate the massive amount of territory they seized. The problem is this extended campaign from Russian space to the other side of the galaxy is a logistical nightmare, and the Russians can't advance forever. Think of it like Germany invading the USSR and Goonswarm is in Siberia - it's just not going to happen. The rest of the Goon's neighbours are too weak to take them out, but Pandemic Legion gives them hell fairly frequently for the lulz. PL doesn't really go for the whole 'wiping people off the map' thing, though. Regardless, I know you think it's a trivial matter for everyone to gang up on them and wipe them out, but fighting large wars in EVE is very challenging, as just keeping an alliance cohesive enough for a single campaign without it collapsing into infighting and backstabbing is rare. Not to mention no one in nullsec cares what Goonswarm says or does, all they care about is capturing territory and building their empires, and that means you only invade Goonswarm if you'll get something out of it and your neighbours won't take the opportunity to invade you while you're at it.

 

[roll-a-die]

I take it you haven't seen what he's done for the game. The man gets results, he gets CCP to pay attention to the gameplay improvements the players want and he gets them to settle on fixes that work. He's intelligent, well spoken, and when he's in his public persona rather than his GoonSwarm persona pleasant and personable. The man deserved the job, in other words. Why Mittani did what he did is as complicated as it was stupid - suffice it to say he was trying to top the Goonswarm representative who preceeded him, tried being polite, was told his presentation was boring as fuck, came back next year totally smashed and decided if people wanted mean, he'd give it to them. The 'poor bastard' in question is no longer depressed and is actually by all accounts currently in Russian space and rather unassailable to anyone without a massive armada. This certainly doesn't make what Mittani did 'okay', but thankfully we have things like freedom of speech that ensure that people don't have to be polite all the time, and they're allowed to occaisionally slip up and do something stupid. A permanent ban from the game would be completely nonsensical, anyway. If this were truly the crime you purport it to be, only criminal prosecution would suffice, given the crime wasn't even comitted in game.

As to why there's no anti-Goon alliance hunting them, that just belies an ignorance of the politics of EVE. The short answer: There is. The long answer: It's complicated. The Goons have been kicked out of their territory and migrated somewhere else several times, but they have a very solid intelligence network (Mittani was once Goonswarms' spymaster and oversaw the collapse of BoB, the largest alliance in the game at that point, by spies alone), their fleets are not as awful as they proclaim and the sheer number of them helps, and for a very long time they were in the NAPfest that was the Northern Coalition. Now the Northern Coalition has collapsed after the Russians invaded and Goonswarm backstabbed their erstwhile allies, and the Russians were soundly kicking Goonswarm's asses when they weren't too busy trying to consolidate the massive amount of territory they seized. The problem is this extended campaign from Russian space to the other side of the galaxy is a logistical nightmare, and the Russians can't advance forever. Think of it like Germany invading the USSR and Goonswarm is in Siberia - it's just not going to happen. The rest of the Goon's neighbours are too weak to take them out, but Pandemic Legion gives them hell fairly frequently for the lulz. PL doesn't really go for the whole 'wiping people off the map' thing, though. Regardless, I know you think it's a trivial matter for everyone to gang up on them and wipe them out, but fighting large wars in EVE is very challenging, as just keeping an alliance cohesive enough for a single campaign without it collapsing into infighting and backstabbing is rare. Not to mention no one in nullsec cares what Goonswarm says or does, all they care about is capturing territory and building their empires, and that means you only invade Goonswarm if you'll get something out of it and your neighbours won't take the opportunity to invade you while you're at it.

THIS, JUST FUCKING THIS.

 

[Yaar Podshipnik]

Random Word: Good post man!

@Vaarna: You totally don't get EVE. There is an excellent and supportive community inside the corps. I haven't seen a corp that was able to survive a year that wasn't taking care of its members. Corp I'm in is extremely supportive in training, ship supply, reimbursements and community. We are good to each other, even if we are sometimes mean.

To the people outside the corp, alliance and powerblock you SHOULD be an asshole. It's part of the warfare. The more angry is your opponent, the more you've pissed him off, the more likely he will want to kill you and will disobey the FC. Creating chaos and discontent in enemy camps is something you want. If that requires looking like a total douche then you do it. The only people you need to be good towards are your own, so you can keep all the huggy-feely to corp chat and voice comms.

About cyber bullying - bull fucking shit. If you are not capable of withstanding insults or threats done by someone you don't know, who is most likely hundreds of kilometers away from you, and is most likely a fat nerd incapable of acting on any of those things he says, then you are not fit for this life. Seriously, dealing with psychological pressure is part of life. You will have it even worse at school or work. You need to be able to deal with it. If you can't then seek professional help. Or get out of your basement and talk to your parents about mean dudes in the internet spaceships game.

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Oh fuck. There's a 15% more CP sale, so you get 15% more points for your money. On top of that, there's a 20% off sale on everything in the store except keys and the two newest ships. I... Might have to spend some money. Have to think about it a bit, but maybe.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

I'd say the best stuff in the cash-shop are VA tier premium ships, DOFF slots, and inventory slots.

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Speaking of DOFFs, did they rejigger the doff cadre missions so they're way rarer now? Last few times I've signed on I didn't see a recruit mission (Either for "Class specific" or generic booster pack) on Earth or ESD. Seems like turning in contraband is less common now too.

I guess it's fortunate I had like 15 boosters stuffed in the bank if they're drying up on them now. Would help for any new characters I make.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

You turn in Contraband with your Tactical or Security officer assignments, IIRC.

I guess they lowered rates on most recruitment missions. The Officer Exchange Program assignments for example have something like a 10-day cooldown now for example.

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Wait wut? Did they rearrange turning in contraband? Used to be a DOFF mission you'd get in space, under the "Trade" category IIRC. What do you mean tactical and security officer assignments?

 

[Drakron]

Wait wut? Did they rearrange turning in contraband? Used to be a DOFF mission you'd get in space, under the "Trade" category IIRC. What do you mean tactical and security officer assignments?

They rearranged DOFF assignments, turning contraband is by a contact now ... the whole system is now more annoying as many things are now shipboard contacts, it wouldnt be bad if they did not dump a lot of things that were Sector (like, most of the Diplomatic assignments) into shipboard and of course not actually test the thing properly (AKA it hit Tribble about 2 days before Holodeck) that created a lot of problems as things not firing up as they usually did (pretty much all the 1 Hour Diplomatic assignments got hit by it and were never available) and, surprise, surprise, a lot of people hate because instead of just travel sector by sector and see what was available, they now have to travel sector by sector, go looking at EACH department head to see what is available and then visit the interior (and being forced to see the Baseball Stadiums Cryptic call Bridges) just to do them.

The only plus side is you can turn 5 common into 1 uncommon (and 5 uncommon into 1 rare) with some Dilithium cost that is kinda nice, except the system continues to be too random, if you are trying to get a specific DOFF class (Medic, Bartender, Adviser, etc...) you are still pretty much screwed and the commendation shop (you know, the ones that cost 1000 Dilithium) continues to have holes (I dont think I ever seen a cook there).

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Oh, what the hell. DEPARTMENT HEADS have DOFF missions now? I didn't know that at all. Shit.

And WHAT THE HELL WHAT THE HELL, I have to actually run around my ship for DOFF missions now? Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

No, you don't. You can just open your DOFF window and go to Department Heads there to open up the assignments they have available.

 

[Deleted member 7219]

K bros since you all seem to be active I want in on the action. Downloading STO again. I have a character who's got a few levels on him but not much. Think his name is Thumper or something. How do I get in touch with you lot?

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

Post your EXACT username and charname here, you'll be sent chat channel and fleet/friend invites after that. By Monday if I have to do it myself.

 

[Drakron]

No, you don't. You can just open your DOFF window and go to Department Heads there to open up the assignments they have available.

There are some exceptions, Culinary and Bartender assignments still requires you to go over there but, yes ...you can just start the assignments offered by Department Heads by just being inside the ship and go to their windows.

This is why I did not mentioned having to walk to them, you still are forced to go inside the ship ... my annoyance is the only good bridges (meaning, something that is not designed for whales) are pretty much all pay bridges and of those, 2 are for Escorts (Belfast and Prometheus), one is more at home at a orbital museum (TOS Constitution interior) and Aquarius Bridge (C-Shop Odyssey) still have too many issues, not to say the only good interior is the Belfast and the Constitution (again, C-Shop).

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Checked out that department head nonsense. So THAT'S where all the goddamn generic diplomacy missions went. Didn't see one to turn in contraband yet, but since now I know that's where it's hiding I'm sure it'll turn up eventually.
At my cap of 100 DOFFs. Probably should sell some of my whites and burn up those free tokens for greens and replace them. Might have a single blue for diplomacy since IIRC I hit diplomacy 3. Whatever the first rank of that is that lets me fly to Klingon space and sabotage them constantly.

 

[Drakron]

Should have told you, Contraband is now on ESD for Fed, no idea were the KDF officer for that is.

Some of the assignments contacts were put in stations, DOFF recruitment is now handled in the Academy by contacts.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

I do recommend increasing your DOFF cap, it makes being ready for assignments a LOT more likely.

 

[Szioul]

The General Recruitment and specific Department Recruitment assignments are now gotten from NPCs in Starfleet and Klingon Academies. They're always available, unless you're on a cooldown, in which case they'll be greyed out.

 

[Deleted member 7219]

Ok, my exact name is Thumper@Matt125.

Character is Thumper, username is Matt125.

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Should have told you, Contraband is now on ESD for Fed, no idea were the KDF officer for that is.

Some of the assignments contacts were put in stations, DOFF recruitment is now handled in the Academy by contacts.

The General Recruitment and specific Department Recruitment assignments are now gotten from NPCs in Starfleet and Klingon Academies. They're always available, unless you're on a cooldown, in which case they'll be greyed out.

Jesus, all this changed stuff. On one hand these changes are a bit more of a pain in the ass than what it was before, but on the other hand they seem to have expanded DOFF missions quite a bit which I like since they're kinda cool.

And after looking at the prices I think I might not buy anything, except the 2 character slot expansion which I can afford with dilithium. Even with CP selling at 261 (!) dilithium per point I believe that works out cheaper due to the sale. I'd like a TOS Enterprise and mirror universe and TOS uniforms but the price makes me twitch for cosmetic goodies. And since I don't PVP much beyond occasionally that borg thing in contested Klingon space, vice admiral ships aren't really a big deal to me. And DOFF expansion would be nice, but eh. Might just be a cheap bastard and keep playing for free.

 

[Drakron]

Got myself a Federation Space Cadillac.

 

[Deleted member 7219]

My new ship, the USS Illustrious.

 

[Jarpie]

New Ferengi Lockbox is even shittier than I expected: http://www.startrekonline.com/node/3065
Reactions in STO Forum were not very positive, at least on the first glance.

Haven't been in STO a lot lately, but will be probably on upcoming weekend.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

Well at least it's a canonically accurate Ferengi product.