EVE General Discussion

Instead of the usual "boo hoo now my Hoarder looks like swiss cheese" topics about getting wtfpwnd in lowsec, I wanted to ask a more positive question to my actual co-denizens in the slums of the Eve universe. I want to know what KEEPS you in lowsec!

For me it's the thrill, measuring each other up at a gate unwilling to take the first shot. Using the 60 seconds you get when holding cloak to make a split decision. Getting out alive, with the money, the prize AND the girl. Throwing t1 stuff for the wolves and not caring about it to much. The occasional shiny in radar sites, with the promise of a gang of weekend warriors dropping on your head. The contact with low-sec-standing people and their unsavoury buddies. Farting out a few scan probes to draw a treasure map for your friends. Shady deals and silent vows of vengeance.

Not being told what to do by some bigshot FC or CEO, but to carve out an independent existance unhindered by the fetters of hisec's law and order, or the bureaucratic machinations of 0.0 sov babysitters. Getting into drunken brawls with Brutors, and sticking a cane towards anyone who looks at me funny. Lowsec is where the party's at!

Nullsec is where the party is at.

Unfortunately null-sec is pretty boring and has been for the last couple of years. Yeah yeah yeah I'm in Raiden yadda yadda yadda but wearing my "unbiased TM" hat 0.0 has been boring for a long time even when it was good for "us".

I personally love the "cat and mouse" games. Sometimes I'm the cat and sometimes I'm the mouse. The awesome part is that on rare occasions, you think you are the cat but your target turns out to be a bigger cat.

Skills I had to develop include:

- Dodging chokepoint gatecamps
- Using covert haulers
- Understanding aggression mechanics/cross tackle on stargates
- Positioning and/or blitzing pirate plexes
- The 360 scanner (defensive)
- The directional scanner (offensive)
- Scan probe mechanics/tactics
- Favoring ships with more agility over more tank/DPS and why this is relevant in lowsec
- Recognizing obvious bait ships
- Learning about the locals or new rivals
- Understanding the advantages and the limitations of covert ships (lower DPS/tank, flies slow when constantly cloaked, lands inside complexes the same way non-covert ships do, etc, etc.)
- Observing and gathering intel on other players. Proper intel is extremely crucial, all the time.

All these points always help me during non-consensual PVP moments. In lowsec, you must acknowledge there will be hunters. Even if you don't want to be a hunter yourself, you must come to terms you will be hunted from time to time. The trick is to do one of two things:
- Kick ass so hard at the beginning people won't bother going after you.
or
- Be such an elusive prey people will just abandon the idea of trying to hunt you.

Oh, and one last thing:
- Never assume anything. Be ready for everything. Sometimes this may even mean losing a ship.

BOOOOOORIIIIIING !
BOOOOOORIIIIIIING !!
BOOOOOORIIIIING !!!!!

Doing industry in low sec. Knowing that there are pirates a'plenty ready willing and quite able to pop my ships and take my stuff.
The raw isk rewards are only a bit better than you might find in High sec, but the rewards in entertainment value make it all worth the risk.


It makes me be a better industrialist. I have to actively factor in risk and loss into my profit margins and be very vigilant about how I go about my business knowing that a moment of sloppiness could cost me. While some might cite that as a reason for an industrialist to stay OUT of low, I say it is the reason why I'm as engaged and interested in EVE as I am now.

Lowsec would be a lot better if gates and stations didn't shoot at me

Come use our POCOs then, we left them at the base tax rate or even reduced them in certain cases.

oh okay, gotcha.

Thanks for your insights, It's good to see some entrepeneurship concerning lowsec. I do a little industry on the side there too, and I like the whole political game (fishing for better standings and taxes, tinkering with your sec stat) that comes with it. Also, lowsec is probably one of the few places you can meet a fellow soloist in a comparable fit, "greet" him with a respectfull lock, and tail back to the gate without a scratch.