General Updates

Due to the article-like nature of my blog posts, there isn't really much room to talk about the little things you might find in other blogs - updates on what I'm doing, plugs for other bloggers, and stuff like that.

And so, this post is dedicated to exactly that!

Ship Spotlight - The Merlin

Note: Due to rebalancing, the information in this article is now out of date.

I know I've already talked broadly about many different ship types, but today I'd like to spend a little more time on one ship in particular. The thing is, I've seen a lot of new players recently asking how they should start get involved in PVP - almost every one of them was quickly told to train minmatar and fly the rifter. This advice probably won't steer them wrong, but a PVP environment where everyone flies the same ship is more than a little boring, and more importantly in my opinion, does not do some of the other combat frigates the justice they deserve.

Don't get me wrong, the rifter is a really good ship - it's fast, it's flexible, and it packs a punch. It's also a ship that I'm personally very fond of - I've had some of my most memorable kills in a rifter, as well as some equally memorable losses. I just resent the idea that it's the only viable option, and that somehow by flying any of the other t1 combat frigates, you're doing it wrong.

Know Your Enemy - Heavy Assault Ships

Commonly known as HACs (short for Heavy Assault Cruisers, their more common if unofficial name), Heavy Assault Ships are the primary damage dealers of the t2 cruiser lineup. Despite their reputation as the warhorses of elite PVP, HACs are actually outperformed by their cheaper rivals the t1 battlecruisers in terms of damage output and tank. What HACs do offer is significantly better speed and range, and it is these properties they are generally used for (it's interesting to note that HACs are generally slightly faster than their t1 equivalent, unlike AFs which are usually slower than their t1 counterpart). HACs also offer increased resists, which makes them very effective in gangs employing t2 logistics ships.

Quick Tips - Undock Punting

I'm sure you're familiar with the following situation - your gang is docked in station, and there's a hostile camp on the undock. Maybe you don't all have undock bookmarks, or maybe the other guys just have fast lockers and you're not confident you'll be able to slip their grasp. Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to get your whole fleet out, risk free?

Well, I have some good news for you: There is!

Know Your Enemy - T1 Cruisers (Part 2)

Note: This article is now out of date. Head over to the Article Index page to see the updated list.

In the last article we began looking at t1 cruisers, covering both the minmatar and gallente lines. This post will continue where that one left off, by looking at the caldari and amarr equivalents.