EVE New Citizens Q&A

So I've been playing for a little while now and have managed to get myself a Tayra decently kitted (I think). I'm now running Level IV Distribution missions for an NPC corp in The Citadel and Lonetrek, and I was thinking about pushing off into NullSec, but last time I did I was pod-killed almost instantly.

I'm not quite sure where to go from here, at the moment I'm training skills to get Mastery III on my Tayra then I guess train and save for a Charon. I'd really like to earn more money and a little more excitement though.

What do I do?

If your more solo oriented and enjoy trading, you could use this site to find profitable trade routes:

http://eve-central.com/tradetool/

Avoid Jita though. Competition is too steep. And avoid low volume/high value trades til you know what your doing.

There is certainly a lot of isk to be made with that tool!

Do note that PvPers need supplies as well. if you don't mind a bit of risk, finding out where they usually base out of and shipping stuff they need to those markets can often be very profitable.

And if even though you say you are not "big" on PvP and prefer operating solo... I do suggest trying a little PvP within a PvP corporation (or at least get on friendly terms with one). It will allow you to see how "hunters" operate (along with learning what their needs are) so you can better protect yourself and your assets.


Example: My alliance has 2 or 3 industrialists/traders in our midst. These people often ship down or build stuff for the alliance and often sell pre-fitted ships (that we prefer) on contracts for a slight mark-up at our HQs. In return, we escort their hauling ships through low-sec (and sometimes high-sec) and attack anyone who tampers with their operations.

I was using the combat context of "PvP."

Even in high-sec you can be engaged by anyone and everyone... they just pay a penalty for doing so (their ships get destroyed by the NPC police).
And because ~50% of the stuff in your ship drops as loot, if you carry enough stuff of value people may consider it worthwhile to "suicide" their ships in an effort to destroy yours (we call this, "suicide ganking"... and it's a very legal tactic).

Again... the reason why I recommend joining up with with PvPers (at least for awhile) is because you learn how they think... how they prepare... what tactics they may use against people who enjoy doing what you enjoy.

The hardest to kill "prey" are the ones who can think and operate like "hunters" themselves.


No PvP corp will actively recruit an industrialist/trader openly. It just... happens... usually through the most unlikely means possible.

Example: one of my alliance's industrialists often shipped stuff back and forth between high-sec trade hubs and our low-sec station. We didn't know who he was until we caught and destroyed him one time.
The next day, he contacted one of our members and asked if he could have an "escort" into low-sec... in return, he would supply our member with some ships and equipment at trade-hub prices (stuff in low-sec is expensive).
Soon, word got around and we all started using his services. We brought him along on some PvP roams... he sucked but he was pretty relaxed and fun to talk to... and now he has significant industrial operations near our HQ that we defend for him.


So start small and work your way up and into those organizations.
You can easily start by moving stuff to high-sec staging systems for Faction Warfare people (ask around). Ships, rigs, and PvP related mods are always in high demand. Then, when you can use a Blockade Runner (Tech 2 Industrial), start making shipments down into low-sec.

Hmm, I think I have an idea now. I'll start scouring the market for orders to fill for resources available in my area and ditch missions for now. Up the risk and hopefully start dipping a toe into the player pool

If you're keen on exploring hauling and trade as a career, have a look for PUSHX or Red Frog Freight. Both have (or had) branches dealing specifically with hauling out of high sec, so there's a definite career advancement path.