Warfare & Tactics

Although I'm offen solo roaming in lowsec, this is more for loot collection and "cleaning" space of AFK players than fair fights ... but I used to learn frigate solo pvp in FW space against players of similar age. There were plenty of opportunities, you may have to roam a bit and check local vs. killboard, but there are people out there for solo fights. Lowsec has the advantage of gated plexes and easy reshipping in your local trade hub.

Roaming true solo is incredibly difficult.
I think solo as stated by others is: alone, no other characters or fleet mates with you. This is uncommon.

I used to use a Cynabal as my go-to solo ship as it was fast, quick to warp, good at getting out of bad situations (MWD/AB allow you to kite back to gates under somewhat heavy camp) and had a flight of EC-300 drones to jam out targets.
I've personally had a couple hundred kills in Cynabals, and lost just over 30 in the course of acquiring those:
http://www.rotekapelle.com/killboard/?a=pilot_detail&plt_ext_id=781584111&view=ships_weapons

If you're looking to solo yourself, and learn how to handle it there's a lot to know. I'll try to start some quick points below, but let me know if you want me to go on, and I'll try to elaborate as much as I can if you're interested.


Ships:
I'd recommend starting with something very simple. Frigates (t1 or t2) are always a great starting point.
You have strength in your small size, signature and speed. Use this with orbit command to help stay under your opponents guns and reduce their ability to track you.
The small size also allows you to travel great distances relatively quickly, to find and qualify your fight.
As a newbie to solo pvp I would recommend looking into using
- Atron (blaster gank)
- Kestrel (TD/AB/LML kite)
- Rifter (autocannon, afterburner, scrambler, tracking disruptor)


Tips:

* Not every fight is your fight, be careful about picking your engagements;
** are they alone?
** can your ship out-dps, out-kite, out-ewar, or out-tank their ship long enough for you to win?
*** If it seems close, it's probably worth going for it, and being aggressive. This can be very fun and lead to some surprising results.

* What is your exit strategy?
** are you fighting on a gate? can you tank them for 60s if things go bad and jump away?
** are you able to out-run them and warp to safety?

* can you afford to lose your ship?
** if the answer is no, get something cheaper

* why would they want to fight you?
** if you can win a fight, it's likely you won't be attacked by the target. How can you entice them to fight you? Make yourself look vulnerable, etc.?

For a completely different type of solo PVP, check out Polletjepikhaar. His killboard opened my mind to many possibilities...

Brawling in FW plexes is infinitely better than null sec roams, actually. It's much faster to find fights, and you're much closer to resupply when you lose a ship.

My suggestion: Check long range for obvious link ships (Claymore, Astarte, Loki, Proteus), and then hit the novice and check short range D-scan to see what's coming at you. Avoid fights which are obviously out of your league (faction/pirate frigs come to mind here). Frig fights are often over before a blob can land anyway. Besides, links don't play that heavily into scram kiting anyway - especially if you get to dictate engagement terms by virtue of being the first in the plex.

I'd personally roll with an Executioner, but the Tormentor is really a better ship. The Tristan, Incursus, Merlin, Kestrel, Breacher, and Slasher all very powerful as well. I dislike the Atron and Punisher in particular.

-Liang

Ed: Also, Hahbs is the best PVPer (solo or otherwise) I've ever met. https://zkillboard.com/character/410755369/

Kinda, but a webbed OGB+Snake+Quafe overheated AB slasher is only going to be going ~1200 m/s, and still has to get in your face to deal damage. An webbed AB executioner with no implants is going to be going ~700m/s, so the difference isn't all that astounding. As long as you're both playing the same game it'll turn out fine.

-Liang

Ed: I should point out that I'm not just talking out my ass here. Novice plexing against people with HG implants and links in T1 trash is what I do in Eve.

Right, but I'm not sure what is going to be learned from 14 jumps from a market hub to a null sec entry only to be bubbled and instapopped by the entry gate camp. Even assuming you get in safely, how long do you have to roam to find a fight? People learn from doing, and a 10 or more fights could have been had in the time it'll take to find one fight in null sec.

Look, OGB links and implants can make a huge difference in certain kinds of fights - I totally agree. The allure of FW space is that you almost don't have to engage in those at all.

-Liang

Ed: One of the biggest down sides to frigate PVP is that it can be over so quickly. Recording your fights and watching them later is one way to gain maximum experience from them - whether you decide to go to low sec or null sec.

Talk to Dark Magni if you want 1v1s.

He lives in Okkamon and solos all the things.

This is good advice. Before my prolonged break I used to fly a combat Buzzard. It could kill most frigs 1v1 but I wouldnt recommend flying it to people without them getting some experience in standard shipd

gregor noobius

I agree. Old Kane in his Legion was a baddie. Sorry to hear he sold