So maybe it's not clear to everyone but I'm a little obsessed with EVE Online. I've played almost every day for 8 years now even if it was just to log in and check my mail.
As a result I've nerded out on Strategy and Tactics texts many times. Things like the obvious Sun Tzu, but also others like Clausewitz and even US Army Manuals.
In fact for Christmas one of my gifts was the book The 33 Strategies of War (Joost Elffers Books)
The clear winner of them all is Sun Tzu due to the depth of his text. Many of the sections don't seem profound until you have become skilled enough to understand them. As such the text can be read over and over without being exhausted.
On a practical level, I like to read random sections for inspiration. I'll read something and instantly make a connection to something I'm doing in game. Recently I read this bit:
1. Sun Tzu said: The good fighters of old first put themselves
beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an
opportunity of defeating the enemy.
2. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but
the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy
himself.
I read this after a nasty string of losses and it had a strong impact on my thinking. I was too desperate for a fight, I wanted a great fight, I needed a rush... As a result I did stupid things that in hind sight were doomed to fail from the beginning.
The parts that stood out to me were "good fighters put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy" which when paired with this next bit "the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself" is profoundly what I do every time I PVP.
I watch, I wait, and most of all I encourage the enemy to make mistakes and give me opportunities to defeat him.
Lesson: If your enemy won't give you good fights, why should you give him good fights?
Example: There are several groups in the game (I won't name them but they know who they are) that consistently fight in a dishonorable manner even when fighting against a solo pilot. They blob, use falcons, cyno, etc. One I can think of never fights unless they have two falcons on field and another won't fight you until they have you countered (Curse for Brutix) and even then blobs 20 to 1.
My solution... I don't give them content. If they won't offer good fights, I will go solo pvp somewhere else or should I decide to I will play dirty and get my Pilgrim then move in to their home system for a week to cause all kinds of havok. In fact, the best way to handle groups like this is with the Strategies and Tactics I teach in The Ninja Pilgrim Guide.
So if you find your self getting a long string of bad fights, stop and take a look at yourself.
Are you taking dumb risks? If so play more conservatively for a while and take easier fights to rebuild confidence.
Are you getting ECMed and Blobbed in every fight? Try PVPing in a new area and study new ways to isolate targets.
Didn’t they nerf the pilgrim to hell and back years ago? What makes it viable now, did something change? I have always loved that ship, especially for ganking ratters….I have been eyeing the pilgrim guide, but mainly held off due to my doubts about it’s effectiveness….
NO… They buffed it hard by giving it a range bonus to neuts. The new Pilgrim can neut out past 30km, move pretty quickly, and warp cloaked. IMO it is the best solo PVP Ship in the game in terms of capability. In terms of fun I am still a little partial to the Taranis but that dies alot, where the Pilgrim is much more survivable and can take down large game.
I subscribe to this. Since the Pilgrim guide came out it is the only way to fight. The bubble works perfectly. It forces solo fights. It catches the stragglers or pilots heading home for the night or just waking up heading in. It allows me to pick my fights. It allows me to fight on whatever level I choose. It also greatly upsets the locals which in turn forces mistakes. Do I win them all, no not even close. It can become boring and I jump on the obvious bait to see what happens but bottom line I fight on my level, when I want against what I want and it is fun.
Wow, nice to know…I trained Recon V years ago just for the pilgrim… Glad to hear it’s still an awesome ship… Time to research some newer fits and load up a bubble in the cargo bay )))….fun times
I love Sun Tzu and how his simple strategies apply so well to Eve. Even things which you might consider arcane are relevant. Like what he refers to as haven or weather and cycles would be things outside your control like lag, downtime, DC etc. Which you need to learn to take advantage of.
Before Abaddons guide there was a word document that was passed around between players which at the time was kind of like the PVP bible.