EVE New Citizens Q&A

My main character (this is an alt for forum posting) has spent his whole time in eve (10 months) in high sec so I don't know much about low and null sec except for some PvP roams. I have friends who are part of a corporation that rent three systems from Greater Western Co-Prosperity Sphere and they want me to join them out there. I was wondering if someone can explain a few things about that.

1. I picture sov space like this to be filled with blue alliance ships patrolling and fighting back roams coming in, but it is hard for me to picture the sort of safety and stability that I am being told exists. I know in a high sec wardec you basically can be hunted down and killed with impunity and it is very hard to do any PvE content unless you are in a group using cheap ships you don't mind losing. So how does that work in sov space? It is one thing to basically be in PvP mode all the time, but how do you do any PvE when a couple of T3 cruisers can blow up your ratting BS or mining Oracle?

2. Almost all my skill points have gone into core skills and training to fly a Golem, which I will be able to do in 6 days. Do people fly battleships/marauders in sov space for ratting or do you just fly cheap cruisers you can replace day after day?

3. I heard that with the new jump mechanics in next patch that the big sovereignties won't be able to protect their space and it will be the end of renting systems. Should I wait until next month to see how that turns out?

4. I am used to selling loot and buying ships / modules in high sec very easily. How does that work logistically in sov space? Do you have to have everything shipped in and shipped out? Doesn't that additional cost make it difficult to make a profit, especially since you will be losing expensive ships much more frequently?

5. I read that sov space renters are called Nullbears and are enthusiastically hunted for fun and tears by, well, everyone. If the renters are not a strong PvP corp with a 24/7 presence then how "protected" do the landlords attempt to keep the space?

6. Does anyone know much about the Greater Western Co-Prosperity Sphere? What is their reputation?

I am interested in this because I like these guys and I need more danger than *zero* to really enjoy this game. I think I would get more PvP out there for sure, but I also still want to mine, run anoms, etc. Because this alliance has been wardecced by marmite 100 % since Feb, jumping to a clone in high sec to run some missions in a marauder a couple of time a week won't be an option. So if I make this jump it will be pretty much one way.

Thank in advance for your helpful replies.

First off most of null is empty space. Second off, usually you are surrounded by nominal blues and you have to travel some considerable distance to find the possibility of pvp. Third, decent alliances have intel channels which you can monitor. What this all means in practice is that if you are paying attention, you should be able to see neuts coming and get safe even before they hit your system. In fact, many folk consider null much safer then empire. As for types of ships people use for pve - there is always a flavor of the month; but people can and do use bling ships. Hell there are even folk who rat in carriers (not that they should, just that they do). Just talk to your alliance mates and see what they use.

the advice above sounds about right. one point worth repeating: do not assume that there is a player-run space police protecting you from intruders. you will be informed of unfriendlies arriving through intelligence channels and it's up to you and your friends to either dock up and sit it out or get your pvp ships and go shoot them.

1. Your idea of that it is full of patrols is false. However, with the amount of intel channels, a response fleet is likely formed up when an enemy comes and visit you. This same intel system, also means you can be safe long before an enemy shows up at your doorstep.

As for a mining Oracle....Really???


2. What ever you want. Just keep in mind that there will always be that part of Null-sec that you WILL lose a ship. It's not a matter IF, it's a matter of WHEN.

3. Something changes in EVE > People whine and start to spread rumours. It isn't there yet, so we won't know what it will do in the end. It will prevent easy power projection over long distances though.

4.

A. You only lose expensive ships, if you aren't careful and / or in a **** alliance.
B. Selling depends, there CAN be a local market. But in general you will export the majority to high-sec.

How it is done depends, it can be through BR or JF. That really depends what it is, how much it is and how deep in null you are.

5. Not really protected. If you don't like it and leave, the next one will take their place. In general Renters are helped against SOV warfare but general protection isn't that high up the list.

And yes, IN MY OPINION, renters are the lowest lifeforms. They only go to null-sec for own profit and not for what it is intended: Group game play which include PvP and fight for your right to be there. They rather take the lazy and chicken approach and pay people to do the hard work for them.

6. Well, as they are PL renters...see above and multiply by 10. Then again...it means more easy targets for those that like to shoot people.

But as general with renters: They have the space, because someone gave it to them. They can't defend it themself and if it happens that a war hits, they quickly fall and in general just by the sight of a war...Renters cry and run away (usually to the side that has the upperhand in the war, to do it all over again as renters for that side).

Thanks everyone for the information and opinions. (BTW I had meant Orca not Oracle.)

Only a few people wrote, but the consensus seems to be that participating as a renter in Nullsec is not a desirable activity. I have to say I am still confused about why this game mechanic is contentious. Eve is a sandbox and already provides many different game experiences from industry, trading, investing, mining, PI, exploration, missioning, faction warfare, incursions, etc. I have no idea what the relative numbers for what it is that "most" eve players do with their time, but I find it hard to believe that only the "real" eve gamers gain and defend nullsec eve territory and everyone else should "go play another game", as one poster put it.

Renter space is basically highsec without concord.
Your landlords won't protect you. They took the space and now allow you to live in there in exchange for isk. That's about all they do.

EvE has much more to offer than sov nullsec.

For example there is wormhole space where you as a small corp can have your own system. In contrast to null there aren't any of those mega coalitions that control half the galaxy... actually even the larger corps only really hold one main system.
Since there are over 2500 w-space systems most of them are empty and are just waiting for you to occupy them.
A word of warning though: w-space isn't a place where you can just dock up and ignore PvP. While no one expects you to welp your 3 man gang to 20 man T3 gang some entities can get really mad at you when you don't take fights ever. (and as a result might even burn down your home system)

- That really depends who you fly with (both which alliance and which FC) and also about your own attitude. I know people who stayed cannon fodder for years, I know people who became FC in just months...

- Well, it depends, a bunch do require your help when possibly can. There is a very very very small bunch that actually asks you to do drop what you are doing to play a game. The people that actually are on call (as in RL phone) are usually high up in the alliance/coalition. The IM pinging is just to get all people notified and thus as much attendance as possible.

- Yeah there is. You are in hostile space, did you expect you don't have to fight for your right to stay there...

So being in null-sec isn't "a walk in the park".




From what you say, I say...give null a try, but I do expect you won't like it much (but that is judging from personal experience with null-sec + what you expect).

As above, you might also want to look into WH space. It's basically null-sec without all the political BS (hint: not battleship this time) and E-peen FCs/leaders shouting orders.

Or as stated rent (renters in general do not PvP much or at least not as much as the "landlords"). However, many people will look down on you (both from the outside aswel as from your "landlord" alliance). The only issue you might find is that it's common to camp / attack renters and a lot of renters will not even help fight but just dodge any PvP.

I wouldnt say null is not desirable -- what you have to understand is that eve is composed of different factions of players. Null folk look down on empire, empire looks down on null, low looks down on both empire and null, wh'ers think everyone is a carebear, etc. . . I've personally played in null, empire, low and wh, and for me low is the eve life. Others I know, love null and would give up the game if they had to play anywhere else. So my suggestion is to give it a shot and see how you like it. As for renter v. sov - well everyone tends to look down on renters, but its not all bad. Being in a sov alliance for me was terrible - I hated the constant CTAs, deployments, etc. . . While being a renter - there are no ctas. Of course you have to make isk to make the rent - and that can become as demanding as being forced to cta. All in all, if you are a serious pve'er being in a null renting alliance can work out but you have to be able to crunch the numbers and figure out what your time commitment is - if eve becomes like a job then imo its no fun - might as well get a real job, make real money and then plex your account so you can do something fun in eve like shoot other players.

1.
... Mining Oracle? That one i have to see.

Anyway. Imagine you're at war with everyone all the time, but the population of space is much sparser and you have a lot more friends. You do your ratting/mining/whatever like normal, and you also keep an eye out for danger. Whenever hostiles show up, they will usually be pointed out by an ally in an intel channel. When they are reported, you know to be on your toes. Depending on successive reports, you may even be able to chart what path they take, and what they're going for. If they arrive in your system, you should have had enough warning to be able to safely evade them.

Intel channels are also used by defense fleets, who try to hunt and expel any hostiles. The presence of defense fleets varies by timezone and what group you're part of. Some are more effective and more frequent than others. Nullsec rewards organization and standing up for yourself, so contributing by either providing intel or jumping into a PvP ship when there is a need is important.

2.
Cheap cruisers can't easily do most content in nullsec. Battleships and other big/heavy ships are necessary to do some stuff if you want to solo it. On the other hand, the more expensive the ship, the more risk you're taking. It's a trade-off.

3.
It's mostly doomsaying. It will be hectic for sure, but nobody knows exactly how it's going to pan out. It will make defending space harder. Impossible? Hardly. No ratting systems? As if. There's too much profit there. People will figure out a way.

4.
Many nullsec groups have trading "hubs" where people agree to try to sell/trade their stuff. However importing/exporting to empire is important, and corps usually have one or more pilots whose "job" it is to haul stuff around. It costs a bit extra, yeah, so you'll need to keep that in mind. Also, leaving a jump clone behind in hisec is a good plan, so you can quickly obtain stuff that can't be easily obtained in nullsec.

5.
Depends on the landlords. Can't say in your case. I have hunted in Providence though, and their defense is pretty strong due to very bored PvPers. Things may change come next expansion, though.

Also, keep in mind "nullbears" is a term affixed to people who dwell in nullsec but seem to be in denial about the realities of risk in nullsec, and about the fact that "safety" is something you achieve through your actions and those of your allies, not something to take for granted. While this description commonly overlaps renters, it is not equivalent to it.

6.
Don't know much about the Greater Western Co-Prosperity Sphere, sorry. I've been out of game for a while and am only getting back into it recently. The politics are all different.

Its goons renting alliance. Given that NC. recently started to grind down Querious unopposed from Init or the rest of the CFC and the CFC apperently abbandoned Delve too, I'm not sure this is a good time to start a career as a goon renter just now