EVE New Citizens Q&A

How do so many players end up battling at one place at the same time? Does each player go there manually, or certain leading players can control other players' ships and go there in large groups?

Causal factors vary but I would put Ego at the top of the list.

as to how they get there? pings go out, external comms are activated and fleets form and proceed to objectives. Once a battle starts the crows and third parties circle, looking to get in and make kills. gates are camped. If it escalates then a game of chicken ensues. will each side bring the bigger better ships and will the other side respond?

IF there is a screwup then both sides escalate even though one will be outclassed.

IF both sides properly evaluate? Well the side that would have lost avoid battle and claim some minor secondary to salve their shame and claim moral high ground. Nobody except those with koolaid staing around their mouths believe it and the game continues on waiting for the right mistake and the the wrong decisions.

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This is a few questions in one.

- How do massive wars start?

Alliances (groups of corporations) can 'plant their flag' in various areas of nullsec. Doing so provides a number of bonuses, and generally the more space your alliance controls, the more profitable you will be.

Wars start when one alliance decides to rip up someone else's flag and plant their own.

The catalyst can be one side sensing weakness in the other, or even something out of game like alliance leaders insulting each other.

Often game mechanic changes impact this too. I expect we will see a big shakeup of nullsec when drilling platforms are introduced, as some space will get better and other space will get less valuable.

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- How do big battles occur?

Fights over structures are done at set times, known in advance to both sides.

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- How do players get to the big fights?

The defenders will generally move their defensive fleets into position in advance of the timer.

Aggressors will usually mass up in one place, then use the short-range mass teleportation ability of a Titan jump bridge to jump in from a few systems away. A skirmish might be required first in order to shut off 'cynosural jammers' in the target system first.

Fleet commanders have a limited ability to control other players' ships but not much.

It's generally very hard to get into a system where a big fight is taking place by stargate. Defenders will at least have scouts, if not combat fleets, on all entrances.

Lastly, wormholes are a great way to sneak a fleet into a system where a medium-sized fight is taking place, although large fleet battles will have someone on each side probing down wormholes (and other places players might hide)

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And the question you didn't ask. How do you, as a new player, get involved in big fights?

You may or may not want to. There are a number of player organisations based in nullsec that accept new players. Karmafleet (aligned to Goonswarm) is the one I know the most about, but you can ask around and find others.

These groups will have regular medium sized PVP fleets looking for fights, and will mobilize for any major battles in sovereignty wars that occur.

The other option is to look into wormhole space. Wormhole mechanics tend to be a bit more hostile to complete newbies but if you are willing to learn, wormholes will get you into a lot of fleet fights where players have much less capability to replace their ships, which totally changes the dynamics of a war.

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I've played 5 years and never fought in a big battle. I instead play war profiteer.

If I hear that Goonswarm lose a Rattlesnake fleet, I'll buy Rattlesnakes quickly, then resell them to the Goons at higher prices when they look to replace their fleet.

If Pandemic Horde lose a lot of Ninazus (a capital ship), I'll sell them blueprints to build new ones at ripoff prices.

Etc etc.

There's lots of ways to experience nullsec wars whether you are there or not. Do what you find fun.

Wars start for a wide variety of reasons, as stated.

Here's an analysis of a war that took place in 2013:

http://jestertrek.blogspot.com/2013/08/of-sound-mind.html

As a result of what took place, I ended up seeking out one of the parties involved and flying with them for a while. So, wars, even those you don't directly participate in.....can have ripples, that will affect you in ways you cannot imagine.

Ban anime from internet spaceship games

Wars can start due to literally ANYTHING. A few years ago , two corps waged war on each other because a corp pilot trespassed into the other corp's territory carrying a PEACE TREATY.


LOL

Its a serious matter! Those people need anime! And waifus!