EVE New Citizens Q&A

I heard about spreadsheets on /v/, /vg/, or 4chan and decided to check it out for myself. I only subbed cause my roommate showed interest in continuing. The more I play, the more I realize the beauty of Eve. I've been pseudo-scamming for quick ISK intakes while running L1's to fund my second Vexor.



Questions
PVE
Current: farming L1's for Vexor
Q1. I believe there's a stigma against Gallente for pve? What disadvantages are there to Gallente ships and should I change ship race?
A1.) Gallente are fine for PvE. The only real stigma they have are using blasters for PvE, as their range, even with null, is typically too short for many PvE situations. Drone boats have solid dps projection with sentries, and now do even more damage with drone damage upgrades. Railguns are also decent for PvE, even if they aren't "the best". The biggest disadvantage of Gallente huls for PvE: Hybrids only do one damage type, blasters are extremely short range, and in some situations the travel time for drones to reach their target is longer than some people have *patience for. -Gizznitt Malikite

Q2a. I've been leveling drones but I don't want to zzz.afk L3/L4 missions, I want to blitz them quickly. What should I go for?
A2a. Sentry drones are useful for blitzing missions where you don't have to travel far between gates. The reason is you don't have to wait for *the drones to fly between targets. Trouble is that they don't move at all, so if theres 20km to the next gate, you're better off with heavy drones. If you want to ditch the whole drone paradigm, the Minmatar BSs are good for missioning and the Machariel is a God. -Culmen

After a getting a good base with drones skills, train up hybrids - you should be aiming for a Navy Dominix. Sentry Drones and 425mm railguns = 7-800 dps which is, for a tech 1 bs, pretty damn good, (up to 900 with max skills and proper implants). -Shatner19


Q2b. As a rookie, is it worth it to tag along to L4 missions?
A2b. tagging along with lvl 4's gives you access to higher bounties if split, and faster standings gain - i used to do this for a couple of noobies a while back. -Shatner19

Q2c. If I tag along L4's, should I use combat drones?
A2c. Yes, use combat drones: if they can do lvl 4's then they can probably tank the room - extra dps is worth it.-shatner19

Q3. My current plan, good? Farm for L2, Farm for Tengu for L3/L4. At L4, use consistent, safe income stream to fund PVP.
A3. Current plan is okay..., Tengu not avisable (3) can start PvP earlier (-Culmen), 'lvl 4's are nice quick income, but you need something in the background making yourself isk, whether its data cores (even with nerf), planetary interaction, or station trading'(-Lyric), Navy Dominix/Machariel


PVP
Current: None at all, planned for later
Q1. I feel as though I need to go through L1-L4 farming to get enough ISK to fund this. Is there something I'm missing? It seems like people are just recommending new players interested in PvP to join Red vs Blue. I feel as though I would never be able to make more money though?
A1 Can go to PvP any time, cheap in frigate gang/fighting.
Q2. What is the current status of nullsec/lowsec? I want to be eventually be part of something bigger but from the sounds of it (/vg/), there's just one major alliance holding everything..
A2. It's a peacefest right now but may start up soon

Corp
Current: In a corp, but looking to be part of something big when I get more SP
Q1. What's a good, upcoming corp that will rival the more established eventually?
A1. Who knows... I think goonswarm, test, and friends will definitely be involved in the future asshatery of EvE, but joining them is basically declaring yourself a bad guy in the eyes of much of the EvE's populace. Don't EVER give them money to join up, as that's a popular scam they run. Joining as a fresh newb with nothing of value is probably one fo the better times to join them. -Gizznitt

Q2. What's better for constant ISK stream for the purpose of funding PvP than L4's?
A2. LOT more ISK in money trading, you can spend much less time and still earn decent isk doing PI, you can earn passive income with RP agents, you can make lots of money farming belts in nullsec, plexes can net you a ton of isk (although that's more of a slot machine "jackpot" type of stream), industry can be steady income source, Incursions still pay better than LvL 4's, WH's pay extremely well, and you can even make money shooting other players and salvaging/collecting loot.. -Gizznitt


Thanks,
Adoreck Adoran

..out

I do RvB on my main because I haz no friends :forever alone:

*Edit: Except for the people in C&P channel, Arvald, Karishnikov, Quake*some numbers go here,* and a few others

PvE:
1.) Gallente are fine for PvE. The only real stigma they have are using blasters for PvE, as their range, even with null, is typically too short for many PvE situations. Drone boats have solid dps projection with sentries, and now do even more damage with drone damage upgrades. Railguns are also decent for PvE, even if they aren't "the best". The biggest disadvantage of Gallente huls for PvE: Hybrids only do one damage type, blasters are extremely short range, and in some situations the travel time for drones to reach their target is longer than some people have patients for.

2.a) I don't blitz missions, so I really don't have much feedback here...
2.b) The bounties for kililng an NPC are shared with all members in fleet at the time of the NPC's death. The bounties in LvL 4 missions are Significantly higher than in LvL 2 missions, so your corp mate is perhaps offering you essentially free isk. Secondly, if they let you salvage/loot, you can make significantly more isk than you can from lvl 2s. Finally, if they share the mission rewards with you, the reward includes both loyalty pts, isk, and STANDINGS. Teaming up with them to rush through lvl 4's will earn you standings very quickly with the corp giving otu the missions, meaning that LvL 4 agent can become available to you without having to grind through LvL 2 & LvL 3 misssions.

3.) Tengu's are fairly expensive, but run missions very effectively. Training into a tengu to solo LvL 4's is alright...

PvP:
1.) There are many, many ways to make isk in EvE. LvL 4 Missions are just the tip of the iceburg. Read the isk guide:
http://www.isktheguide.com/
Having a missioning boat that can you can go run LvL 4's with is a nice fallback for earning isk, but don't feel pigeon-holed into running missions for your isk. Most people in EvE have many streams of income!! As for funding PvP: PvP can be expensive if you fly big or blingy ships. It can also be fairly cheap if you stick with smaller hulls (especially frigates). Focus on what you enjoy... it's easy to burn out if you're running missions for 3 hours so you can pew pew for 10 minutes...

2.) The current status of Nullsec is fairly complicated, but not terribly exciting. Many nullsec alliances are focusing on the Alliance Tournement at the moment. There are a few major coallitions that control most of nullsec, but no one entity controls anywhere near everything.... Also, there are several regions of NPC nulsec, that big alliances cannot conquer, and have fairly good for non-sov oriented PvP. Nullsec will probably get some significant revamp come Winter, and I expect Nullsec activity to increase then.
As for lowsec, they are making major changes to Faction Warfare at the moment, and many small-to-medium sized PvP oriented groups are getting involved. Inferno has some major boosts to Lowsec.

Corps:
As for up and coming corps? Who knows... I think goonswarm, test, and friends will definitely be involved in the future asshatery of EvE, but joining them is basically declaring yourself a bad guy in the eyes of much of the EvE's populace. Don't EVER give them money to join up, as that's a popular scam they run. Joining as a fresh newb with nothing of value is probably one fo the better times to join them.

Finally, how do you define "better"? You can make a LOT more money trading, you can spend much less time and still earn decent isk doing PI, you can earn passive income with RP agents, you can make lots of money farming belts in nullsec, plexes can net you a ton of isk (although that's more of a slot machine "jackpot" type of stream), industry can be steady income source, Incursions still pay better than LvL 4's, WH's pay extremely well, and you can even make money shooting other players and salvaging/collecting loot..

My alt is looking at converting his currently 757 dps armor tanked domi, into a ancillary shield tank 1050 dps monster for blitzing missions so no problem there for gallente.

Outside of missions you also need to get your isk other ways, well done on the scaming by the way. I was never clever enough to figure out a good angle on that myself.

lvl 4's are nice quick income, but you need something in the background making yourself isk, weather its data cores[yes i know about the nerf :( ], planetary interaction, or station trading.

That way if you keep doing pve you can have lots of cash for a shiney ship for incursions which is what you should be aiming for

or

You'll have lots of disposable income for when you decide to start pvping with RVB or who ever.

Once you can fly a tech II frigate if your still interested in learning pvp you can apply to Noir academy.

Noir. doesn't challenge the established null sec alliances because we do not hold space but we do get hired to ruffle their feathers on a pretty regular basis. You'll see plenty of nullsec and wont be tied down to just one area.