Forums » General

Dealing with unwanted PvP

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Dec 22, 2008 Gilneas link
I'm a new player and I was just killed in PvP. I know this is normal, but it still frustrated the hell out of me. I was just minding my own business in Itani space and the UIT attacker came out of nowhere.

Anyway I want to try to avoid this in the future and just focus on mining. Bots aren't too much of a problem, if it's just holding off a few wanderers.

So what are some good ways to avoid combat?

Clans and escorts spark my interest, but I wonder if other people would really want to bother protecting just a miner.
Dec 22, 2008 MSKanaka link
Guilds can be helpful but it usually will depend on whether your preferred mining areas intersect with where your guildmates hang out.

If you're planning to mostly spend your time mining in Itani space, I suggest you look into joining the Coalition of Itan (website here), as a large portion of their members tend to reside there.

If you're thinking of spending a lot of time out in greyspace, I would suggest looking at TGFT or PA; both can offer support, however, TGFT tends to be more spread out and members frequently "do their own thing" so a request for escort or defense may not be possible when you're in a bind.
Dec 22, 2008 Shadoen link
Never leave your home station...
Dec 22, 2008 Gilneas link
@MSKanaka: Alright so is it common that Guilds help in that way then?

@Shadoen: I presume that is another way of saying "Please uninstall the game"?
Dec 22, 2008 maq link
It's obvious that guild members help each other out, if possible, isn't that the point?

You could theoretically hire escort but that won't really work for continuous mining.

Other then that, keep an eye out on who enters the sector.
There's a plugin or two that display notification in chat when someone does.
Dec 22, 2008 Gilneas link
@maq: OK, so you mention two ways of backup:
- ask for help when a hostile approaches.
-- since combat will be over in a split second I only see this as something to do to get rid of the PK'er from the mining field after you have respawned.

- hire an escort
-- you say theoretical, so no one has done this before? What if a dozen miners stick together with support? (is this how Guilds already mine?) (and it sounds a bit like the bots do it, lol)
Dec 22, 2008 mr_spuck link
Pretend that other players are just smarter bots.
Dec 22, 2008 Shadoen link
Nope, Gilneas. Inside a station you're completely safe from anything. You wanted to avoid combat, did you not?

Anyways...
"I wonder if other people would really want to bother protecting just a miner."
You can ask VPR, they may be of help, even if its just for cannonfodder ;)

Also, dont give out your location on the public channel.
Dec 22, 2008 Gilneas link
@mr_spuck: That's just silly.

@Shadeon:
1. I don't think the proper response to calling out sarcasm is denial and more sarcasm.
2. I have no idea what you mean by and are implying with,
"You can ask VPR, they may be of help, even if its just for cannonfodder"
Dec 22, 2008 Professor Chaos link
Gilneas, good advice if you want to survive on these forums is not to respond to sarcasm by being offended. Ignore it or come up with a witty response, 99% of the time here the sarcasm is meant in a friendly way. Things rarely get out of hand.

I don't mine, but as long as you don't broadcast your position there should be plenty of "quiet" sectors. Otherwise, pvp is a realistic part of the danger. Mining in a group would mean you can pool your money and afford a decent escort or two, whereas an escort for a single miner isn't terribly feasible. Plus, more players mean more eyes, and if you scatter he can't chase all of you. The reason the escort and guild cooperation thing isn't as ubiquitous as it could be is simply small player base. That's why people are so excited about an influx of new players.

Welcome to the game!
Dec 22, 2008 Gilneas link
@Professor Chaos:
1. No, I wasn't replying to his sarcasm offendedly, but seriously. As in, "so you think the game is not for me at all, then?"
The second time I was rather confused why he didn't answer my question.

2. Well I'm glad you think my idea was good. But surely when a few miners of the same Guild are on at the same time, these things are arranged?
Dec 22, 2008 Surbius link
Gilneas, it's all up what is said in guild chat. You can ask to go mining along with another member or mine in your own location. I think when the UIT player (pirate) destroyed you, you were probably within a station or wormhole sector 'AFK' mining or was not familiar with the sector list (default key 'u') and the character sheet (default key 'k' after selecting a target) which would tell you the players stats and nation faction for the three nations. Giving you a hint as to their possible intent.

If you want to avoid this mishap again, you have a few options. You can mine not in station sectors or wormhole sectors but in 'off the beaten path' roid fields which may or may not contain bots. You can be more observant and 'get the hell out of Dodge' so to speak when another player you would assume is hostile is within the same sector. You can just deal with the fact about PvP since you are never 100% safe from any form of attack. Lastly, you can say you gave it a shot and call it quits. It's really up to, but if PvP and dieing really turn you off, well, that's your issue and a fact of life in VO.

Safe travels. :)
Dec 22, 2008 FatStrat85 link
Gilneas, Shadoen was referring to requesting escort from The Vipers, which is free.

http://www.viperguild.com/wiki
Dec 22, 2008 JestatisBess link
Gilneas: Exactly how did you get killed? Who killed you? What Itani system were you in? Deneb?

Even in these times of +100 players on at a time, its still hard to find another player, especially in nation space.But if you want no combat take the other players suggestions and make sure you don't give your location out on chan 100. Also you could look for hidden roid fields in a system. They shouldn't have any bots and most people don't know about them because they aren't on the map.

Good luck to you
Dec 22, 2008 CrazySpence link
sometimes it is fun to give out your location or yell out "Dont chase me I'm full of cargo" then turn and kill whoever comes near you :D
Dec 22, 2008 Yuutuu1 link
The more you play, the more it becomes apparent where pirates are located and who they are. Learn tags such as CLM, THC, SYN (if there are any Syn around) and learn hotspots.
Dec 22, 2008 LeberMac link
Gilneas: It is possible that you were intruding on this pirate's territory.

While it is hard to believe, many pirates return to their nesting grounds in Itani space for the winter. During this time, if you get between a pirate and a goal, it is possible, however unlikely, that you may be shot and killed.

It may appear to YOU that you were killed for no good reason. However, this is rarely the case if you take the time to look into why the pirate was shooting you.

Perhaps you were in his sector (pirates are very territorial), perhaps you were too close to his asteroids. (Pirates claim large swaths of asteroid fields as their own, oftentimes multiple systems.) Or, perhaps, you were just between him and his destination.

When confronted with an angry pirate, be cautious: they may charge. It is usually best to back away slowly, dropping cargo to distract him (the more valuable, the better), or even offer credits to distract him. Once you have put enough distance between yourself and teh pirate, it as advisable to travel to the nearest station and seek shelter inside until the Pirate has left the area.

I hope this helps, I am composing a field guide to pirates which will help the unitiated discover the rewards of knowledge that comes with dealing with the Pirate species.

(Seriously, this game is all about the drinking and the nonconsensual PvP, it takes a while to get into it, but when you do, you're hooked. Remember: Death Means Nothing.)
Dec 22, 2008 Dr. Lecter link
Don't listen to Leber: you can back up, drop cargoes, and throw credits at me all you want. I'm still ripping out your liver with a jagged chunk of charred hull-plate.
Dec 23, 2008 Kamui link
Gilneas, what Shadoen said is correct and not sarcasm. If you never want to engage in PvP then don't leave your home sector. You can mine asteroids near many bases in the safety of the 'No Fire' zone. However, if you DO make the conscious decision to venture out into the 'wilds' as it were, then you have to accept the fact you may come across pirates. The goal of a pirate isn't to leave you in peace, but is to destroy you and take what you have.
Dec 23, 2008 Dr. Lecter link
You can mine asteroids near many bases in the safety of the 'No Fire' zone.

This is not what Shadoen said. He -- quite correctly -- said that one who does not want to engage in PvP should never leave their home station.

I cannot begin to count how many miners -- n00bs or otherwise -- I have gutted for fun and profit right outside a station's docking ports.