46 multiboxing . . . . . .

I came across this player, twitch channel https://www.twitch.tv/moonpire.

46 multiboxer.

Blimey.  i'll just leave it there.

Free 1m skill points

This is well known so i am not bringing in anything new here

There has always been a recruit-a-friend scheme but what makes this different is that you can still get the 1m skill points today if you were not recruited to Eve Online before.  I.e. free 1m skill points to most accounts, even those that are almost 20 years old.

But some people have asked how they can be recruited by me

The quick and simple way is to click on the image below or use this link: https://www.eveonline.com/signup?invc=9e38b897-c17f-4e5f-808c-abe365242997

You will get a Eve Online page like this - click on the "Log in to become a recruit" to log into your account to sign up:

What do all Parties get from this?

what is in it for everyone is all covered on the Eve Online Recruit a Friend page, and more details on a Support Post

What do you get: 1m skill points per account for all accounts, Alpha and Omega, that have not been through a recruitment scheme before.  That includes your main account that may have recruited your other accounts historically but not itself been recruited.

What do i get: i get awards depending on your progress with respect to upgrading to Omega (i get 15 days Omega for the first upgrade), buying Plex for real money (i get 4 x 24 hour accelerators); and the more recruits i get then additional goodies kick in as they upgrade to Omega (skins, omega and plex).

I think i get the 15 days Omega and 4x24hour accelerators retrospectively (i.e. based on historic actions) - but i am not sure.

Do i get anything from you now or ever: No.

Any catches?

Yes - does not work with Steam Accounts.

The cost of the repeating Scope video in the Captain's Quarters

Anyone who is docked in the Captain's Quarters for longer than 6 minutes will hear the Scope video: "The serpentis corporation has been suffering heavy losses both in ships and materials etc etc".

Technically, there are two videos being shown:

So here are some quick facts:

• They play every 6 minutes, one after the other.
• They use 22mb in total (11mb each)

So, for 1 hour docked in station it costs 220mb.  That all starts to add up if you are in the station updating market orders, working on industry or just have an alt sitting there doing nothing.

And then if you have more than 1 account open . . . . . . . 

If you, like me, have a cap on what you can download and have to pay for additional MB then several hours of playing Eve starts to become a real life financial cost.

It can only make sense to be able to toggle this to play only once per log on session.

Bringing PVP and team based PVE to the masses

Something of a thought for Eve Online here - though nothing to do with making ISK - but all about seeing if we can bring the joys of PVP to the PVE / HighSec community.

I was missing said other game referred to as World of Warcraft.  I was missing the ability of someone like me, a solo player, who enjoys the markets and PVE but also the ability to get into PVP and team based PVE at the drop of a hat for short periods of time (like an hour or so).  So i fired the game back up and started a new alt.

What does WoW do for instant PVP or team based PVE?

Eve Online gives me the great market based game (much deeper than World of Warcraft) but is not as good on the ability to get into team based PVE or PVP almost instantly if i am not in the right location geographically in the game.  Generally, i have to travel to get some team based PVE or PVP.

The way World of Warcraft allows such instant PVP or team based PVE to happen from very early on in the game (i got to that point within 4 hours) is to allow players to queue to form a group that is going to enter PVP or PVE.  Whilst they are in the queue they can continue doing what they were already doing (general PVE etc).  These are called Instances, and the other players on the server can not interfere with them.

The queuing players specify the role they will take (tank, healer or dps).

And once enough people are in the queue to form a group each player gets notified that the PVE / PVP is about to start and, if they accept, they are instantly taken from their current location to the location of the PVE / PVP event.  Once over, each player is returned to their prior location.


How could this relate to EVE?

Clearly, Eve already has PVE / PVP events ready to go but, as far as i am aware, there is no way of being transported straight there?

My proposal is to create PVP events (instances), with set ships and specs (say 5 frigates on each side with set specs and set clone specs) where players can put themselves in a queue to join.  When enough people are ready then the players are notified and transported straight to the event.  Hence, these can happen at any time - just needs enough players to want to play.

Would seem to be an ideal way of getting different players together and allowing PVE / HighSec players to see what PVP is all about.

And something similar could happen for team based PVE.


But would this not detract from general PVP?

Not really.  It does not in WoW.  It is another aspect of the game that allows solo players to mix with others or those in guilds (corps) to enjoy team based events when their corp is not online.

I have been War Dec'd

Drama and excitement for my corp: Ironforge Commerce Guild.




The Background


So, i log in yesterday to post my sell orders and what do you know, i have been War Dec'd by an alliance called Chicken Wings.  Which is an alliance with one Corp called X-Com.


X-Com has 31 members.


And to be fair, they probably know what they are doing.  Certainly relative to a trader like myself.  I get nervous flying my Interceptor outside of Hi-Sec!


I can easily operate whilst docked and i suspect i could still undock in my interceptors etc.  But lets just say i will not be firing the guns here.


I sent a message to their CEO who politely replied that i would have to wait to see that their aim was.  Held out an option for me to make an offer to avoid all this.




So, what to do?  What offer to make?


It looks like Chicken Wings has War Dec'd a load of other Corps at the same time - so i suspect they are clearing out a system of highsec POS's or something similar.


Personally, i was not doing much with my small POS - just keeping it fuelled really, waiting for some spare time to look into what i can do.  Experimenting on ideas here and there.  Needless to say, i have taken down all the extra items but left the Tower up and fuelled.


Seems to me my options are:


1) Pack up my tower and leave (happy to do that)


2) Do nothing and see what happens


3) Recognise that i have 241bn ISK and hire someone to fight my corner


Lets see what happens.


All advice is greatfully received.

A possible sink for Plex - ganker get out of jail card

So, i was ganked at the weekend at an undock point in Jita.  My own fault, Obelisk carrying 2.2bn ISK if cargo.  For i am a fool.  Ganker let me go with my Obelisk once i had jettisoned my cargo.

I warped to my undock point but the ganker was all over me before i had aligned.  And the rest, as they say, was history.

So, anyway, whilst i was watching the ganker undock ship after ship from the larger ship (i assume a carrier) to attack me whilst bumping me with another ship i did wonder if Plex could not be used to save my sorry self here.

So, lets say i could use one Plex to cause Concord to web any ship(s) that are bumping me?  For say a few mins to let me get away?

In effect, i could carry up to 5bn of cargo, say, and i would be willing to use up to 4 Plex to protect me on my journey, in an emergency.  Clearly, that is not a good business model - but i still come out on top (given the alternative was to lose 5bn of Cargo and a ship and pod).

Now, it would not be long before people like myself run out of Plex so this would be all the rage for a few weeks then die down as surplus Plex is used up.

And, you know, maybe half the ISK cost of the Plex used could go to the ship being webbed by Concord - as a compensation to the (would be) ganker?

Anyway, perhaps a suitable sink for Plex?

Clearly, could also cause Plex to rise if it is seen as a way of getting away from a ganker in an emergency!

But, more likely, i suspect it will use up Plex sitting in hangers doing nothing.

Banking Industry in Eve - just small changes to the Contracting System needed

OK, just glance at the Courier Contract written below and then read on - all will hopefully be explained!

I write the following Courier Contract:

Item i want hauled: <-900m ISK> (yes, negative 900m ISK)
Ship to: <Same station> (yes, not moving it anywhere)
Reward: <50m ISK>
Collateral: <-1 Plex> (yes, negative 1 Plex)
Expiration: <3 days>
Days to Complete: <1 month exactly> (yes, not less than but equal to)


If you accept this then you would receive negative 900m to haul (i.e. give me 900m ISK) whilst the you put negative 1 Plex up as Collateral (i.e. i put 1 Plex up as Collateral) and i put 50m ISK aside as collateral for the fees.

After 1 month exactly you complete the "haul" and return the -900m to me (i.e. i give you 900m) and i award you with 50m fees, and so i get back my 1 Plex Collateral.

If the contact fails then you get the Plex.


The problem with a Bank today in Eve

At its simplest, banks bring together people with surplus money (savers) with people who want to borrow money (borrowers).

The bank acts as a middle man – it borrows from the savers for an annual fee (called the saving rate) and lends to the borrowers for an annual fee (called the lending rate).  That spread (lending rate less saving rate) covers the cost of loans going bad (defaults) and the costs of the bank and so gives the profits.

As security, the bank takes first charge over assets of the borrower (not collateral per se but the right to take over an asset if the loan goes bad).

The security for the savers is a national Central Bank which guarantees a certain level of deposits and requires the Bank to deposit cash with it plus hold liquid cash.

What Eve does not have is that Central Bank.

Actually, that is not quite true.  Eve does have certain trusted third parties that act as the middle man when loans are taken out, for example.

But you get my drift - currently there is nothing to stop a bank just walking off with the deposits savers have placed in it.


One small addition to the Contracting System could change that

However, with a small change to the contracting system we could have a banking industry up and running.

The small change needed would be for Courier Contracts to be allowed to courier to and from the same station, be able to Courier negative ISK, for negative Collateral and the "days to complete" be set as exact times.

So, lets assume i am a Bank and you are a Saver, and i am offering 50m interest over one month for 900m deposits (=5.6% interest).

So, as a Bank i would put in the Contact system:

Item i want hauled: <-900m>
Ship to: <Same station>
Reward: <50m>
Collateral: <-1 Plex>
Expiration: <3 days>
Days to Complete: <1 month exactly>


A saver would accept that and so receive negative 900m to haul (i.e. give me 900m ISK) whilst the saver puts negative 1 Plex up as Collateral (i.e. i put 1 Plex up as Collateral) and i put 50m ISK aside as collateral for the fees.

In effect, i have received 850m (900 - 50) whilst one of my Plexes is tied up for one month.  I need to turn the 850m into 950m to breakeven.

After 1 month the Saver completes the "haul" and returns the -900m to me (i.e. i give the saver 900m) and i award them 50m fees, and so i get back my 1 Plex Collateral.

If the contact fails then the Saver gets the Plex.

In effect, i have paid the saver 50m interest for 900m 1 month deposit.


That is a Bond, how does it become a Bank?

The above is actually more like a bond (fixed loan with collateral) - turning this into a bank merely requires a series of the above to happen.

The Bank could write new courier contracts every 7 days (i.e. 5 courier contacts on day 1, another 5 on day 8, another 5 on day 15, another 5 on day 22, another 5 on day 29 etc etc giving deposits of 21bn) and so about 20% of the deposits are withdrawn each week (5 contracts complete) hopefully replaced by an inflow from the 5 new courier contacts accepted.

And so we have a bank.

If anyone can see a flaw in my thinking then i am all ears.


Who would want to be act as such a Bank?

Business players (traders / manufacturers) in a corp who had surplus Plex and could give a steady interest income to corp mates who had other things to do (liek blow up ships).  In effect, good traders / manufacturers / business players would be of value to corps looking to provide additional benefits to members.

Anyone who had surplus Plex (like me) and just wanted the fun of being a Bank.


What is the downside for the saver?

If the price of Plex falls below the deposit value - then the Bank would be tempted to take all the ISK to another character and so the contract would fail leaving the Saver with a lower valued Plex.

But the point here is that perhaps we have could have a system in place where Savers are much better protected and so able to participate in a banking system with much more confidence.


How does this add content to the game?

ISK lying around unused would be put to use by the Bank to try and earn the interest to pay the Saver.

Failed banks would see Plex be transferred to someone who is more likely to use it (as game time or to sell to generate ISK).


What will this do for the price of Plex?

If we assumed some banks fail then Plex would be transferred and some likely sold - so, if anything, puts downward pressure on Plex.  Or you could have a load of players wanting to become Banks and so buying Plex for the collateral.

Don't forget to collect your free 20 days dual training time

As part of the Christmas gifts CCP gave each account 20 free days of dual training.

This must be claimed by 13 January 2015 - which is getting very close!

You don't even need to log into the Eve game to do this, just your account via the internet browser.

To claim the 20 free days you need to log into your account and click on the Multiple Character Training box:

Click on the sign offering the free 20 days. 

 

 and then press on "Open Queue":

and in-game you can start training on a second alt in your account.

Its free 20 days of training, makes no sense to miss out.

Some nVidia Graphics Cards struggling

If you are like me and have a humble GeForce GTX 260 then you may be struggling when you go through some warp gates.

My screen starts glitching, flashing and eventually gives out.  The screen then goes off and then comes back on again with the message "Nvidia display driver has stopped working and has recovered".

Well, the player "IBIS BANDIT MASTER" over at the Eve Forums has found a temporary solution: it appears that if the Shader on turned down the "Low" then that will solve the problem.

Indeed, back in 2012 there was a similar problem with a similar solution.


To turn the "shader" to low:

1. Press the escape key to bring up the Settings Window
2. Select the "Display & Graphics" Tab (it is on the far left)

3. On the right hand side, Set the "Shader Quality" to "Low"

Works a charm for me.

Keeping a Youtube video always on top

If you are like me and want to keep the youtube video you are playing as the always on top window whilst playing Eve (or indeed any window always on top) then the below may be of help:

required:

• Google Chrome Browser (we can download that)
• A Chome addon called "Picture in Picture Viewer" (we can download that)
• Adjustment to the Chrome Browser settings (we can change that)

Steps:

1. Download the Google Chrome Browser if you do not already have it

You can download if from this link http://www.google.co.uk/intl/en_uk/chrome/browser/ or just search for it in google if you are not in the UK . . . . . . . . . 


2. Download the "Picture in Picture Viewer" addon from the Chrome Web Store 

If successful, you will see the below in the top right corner of your Chrome Browser:

3. Make an adjustment to Chrome

In the address bar type chrome://flags/ then press enter.  That should bring up Chrome’s experimental features window, complete with suitable warnings:

Now find the Panels Feature, as shown below.  Best way to do it is to search for Panels on the web page.

When you have found it, click the link to enable it (the link will change from "Enable" to "Disable".

From now, when you load up the youtube window in Chrome, you can press that icon and it will sit in the bottom corner of your screen and play as required.  To always be on top, it has to stay in that bottom corner though you can alter the size.  If you move it, it will no longer stay on top and you will need to move it to the bottom again.

Bringing the Game into Disrepute

Brace yourselves, a totally non-trading post but CCP / Eve Online related.  No ISK to be made or lost here.

I suspect Eve Online would benefit with such a rule "Bringing the Game into Disrepute".  Actually, i suspect this already exists in practice.

In real life, i am part of two professions.  Both are part of the career path i have taken.  Accounting and Investment.

Both have professional organisations with i join for an annual fee (combined total about $1000 - tax allowable).

They both have rules.

And they both have one rule that can see me expelled / fined for "bringing the profession into disrepute".  Effectively that would see me ending my career.

"Bringing the profession into disrepute" is a very hard to define but most reasonable people know it when they see it.  It is very much like trying to define pornography.

The beauty of such a rule is that it keeps up with accepted society behaviour.  What would be deemed to be acceptable before may not be acceptable today.

The double beauty of this rule is that if anyone on a vindictive trip deploys this rule against another member and the rest of the profession turn around and say this is not the case - then the vindictive  person themselves can be hit with the rule.  Maliciously deploying the rule for ones own purpose is clearly "bringing the profession into disrepute".

If this rule was in Eve Online then suddenly you can catch events where the community goes down the line of "i agree with the banning of XYZ but it is hard to find the line in the EULA where it was caught".

It's a catchall but only works with the consent of the community.

Cyberbullying springs to mind.