Carebears and their ilk

Bold Pilot Log, entry #2

In EVE, there is a strange air around this type of person. Actually, the term Carebear has evolved in quite a predictable way. Originally it way used for the 'why can't we all just get along' type of people. Nowadays you are a carebear if don't have tackling devices or long range optimization fit to your ship. It doesn't matter if you are just grinding to get the ISK for a new shiny toy. So let's narrow down the term 'Carebear' to the people who try to live peacefully.

It's not going to happen. Because of sandbox. Because of other beople. Being safe in EVE doesn't mean that there is no threat. It essentially does not allow a situation where you are not in danger of losing something. That's assuming of course you're not sitting in a station and spinning your favourite ship. What safety boils down to, is that there are no threats that you are not able to avoid. This property fo the game has been cause of much whining in the past. Actually it is one of the things that has kept it alive.

It is simply much more fun to play a fully competitive game than it is with a fully cooperative one. By the latter, I can think of games like Guild Wars. A Guild Wars character is pretty much lost without a guild. Without buddies to play with, it gets old really fast. Not EVE. Being a privateer in EVE has its upsides. You don't have to trust anybody. You don't have to share with anybody. But you also will not get much help. It's no Carebears haven. It may seem like, if you are living in high sec or deep in 0.0 with a nice pvp alliance to protect you. But that, just like safety, is an illusion.

High sec is only safe until you aren't interesting. You start building your way, and then without a way of avoiding the upcoming dangers, you are beaten back to where you came from. Others will want your stuff. They want it because the best way for many things to be acquired is to take it from someone. That is why just can't get along peacefully. You have a moon that I want, I will shoot your POS. You fit shiny expensive modules on your missioning ship, I will find a way to blow it up and take it. Nothing is safe but there is hope. There's a tool that will keep you safe in eve. A neat little feature that comes embedded in all players. Brains. Use them.

A little hint on how might be useful you say? Well, I might try.

• Scout for threats before risking something valuable.
• Don't risk what you can't afford to replace. Yeah that's the correct advice. You maybe can afford to lose your Tengu because you have the ISK to build another. You maybe can afford to lose your Nyx because it's not your ratting ship, just a tool for battle. You might be able to afford risking to fall for a scam because you then just sit back into your carrier and rat for another evening. Got it?
• Research subjects before venturing into unknown areas. Someone has done it before and surely, he was clever enough to leave out the important details. That's where your own brain can help.
• Analyze your losses. What did you wrong? What was inveitable? Did you have a hunch that something's not right? What was helpful? What can you do to make sure it does not happen again?

This EVE online is a computer game. Your brain is inevitable part of the play. It sometimes can make you feel you are a failure. Maybe. Maybe it's just a kind poke to get better. You ain't gonna lose anything valuable. It isn't serious business or anything right? :)

Sessym out