And the archive lives on…

Welcome one and all.

This blog is an archive of all the blog posts from the now closed EVE Online blog, The Wandering Druid of Tranquility.

Why an archive you may ask?  Well, I retired from EVE Online in July of 2011 and since that time, I’ve been pinged from many people wanting to see the old posts.  Unfortunately, in a fit of “bittervet” rage, I simply deleted everything save for the fan fiction The Bleeding Rose.

Almost a year later, I’ve come to understand that wiping everything out may have been a mistake.  So, after much digging through old data backups, I have been able to put all the posts back together, mainly the text.  I no longer have the images for the various posts and I must admit, many of the links to personal killboards no longer work, but the meat of the content is here for everyone to enjoy.

P.S., no, I am not coming back to EVE Online, however, World of Darkness is a possibility for me and the missus.  😛

P.P.S., Well this is long overdue but World of Darkness is dead as it never got off the ground.  😦

Fail Mail Friday for 15 July 2011

Welcome to the our next installment of Fail Mail Friday. This is where we showcase a kill mail that we pirates would call a “failure”.

This one comes to us from SnyperAL.   Here is the link to the kill mail and below is a copy of the fitting that you can use with EFT.

http://eve.battleclinic.com/killboard/killmail.php?id=13176868

[Absolution, gottl’s Absolution]
Warp Core Stabilizer I
Warp Core Stabilizer I
Warp Core Stabilizer I
Warp Core Stabilizer I
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Expanded Cargohold II

10MN MicroWarpdrive II
Warp Scrambler II
Fleeting Propulsion Inhibitor I

Heavy Pulse Laser II,Conflagration M
Heavy Pulse Laser II,Conflagration M
Heavy Pulse Laser II,Conflagration M
Heavy Pulse Laser II,Conflagration M
Heavy Pulse Laser II,Conflagration M
Heavy Pulse Laser II,Conflagration M
Medium Nosferatu II

Medium Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Medium Nanobot Accelerator I

Ogre I x1

Here we have an Absolution class Amarr Command Ship. The high slots are good, mids somewhat, but the lows, well, everything is okay until YOU COME TO THE ABSOLUTE FAIL OF 4 WARP CORE STABS! Ahem, please excuse me, my eyes are absolutely bleeding right now.

So, congratulations to SnyperAL for our Fail Mail Friday submission. As being the selected for this week’s fail mail, SnyperAL will receive a whopping 8, 194 isk for one of the Warp Core Stabilizer I modules that was fitted on this mail.

Have a fail mail that you would like to submit? You can send me an in game email to Ga’len with Fail Mail in the subject line, the fail mail killboard link and why you feel your submission is worthy of being a fail mail. You can also contact me on Twitter @Galen_Druid or send me an old fashioned email to Galen@eve-druid.com and again, use Fail Mail in the subject line and in the message the fail mail killboard link, your in game name for the ISK prize and why you feel your submission is worthy of being a fail mail.

Until next time, have fun and see you out there!

More of Fail Mail Friday

Fail Mail Friday for 8 July 2011

Welcome to the our next installment of Fail Mail Friday. This is where we showcase a kill mail that we pirates would call a “failure”.

This one comes to us from Kalaratiri. Here is the link to the kill mail and below is a copy of the fitting that you can use with EFT.

http://eve-kill.net/?a=kill_detail&kll_id=9533329

[Dramiel, Cadius Niminen’s Dramiel]
Counterbalanced Weapon Mounts I
Small Armor Repairer II

Small Capacitor Battery II

250mm Light ‘Scout’ Artillery I,Titanium Sabot S
250mm Light ‘Scout’ Artillery I,Titanium Sabot S

Small Projectile Burst Aerator I

Warrior I x1

The Dramiel, a great faction frigate. It’s well known as one of the fastest frigates in the game, quite possibly too fast, to the point of being truly overpowered and in need of a “re-balancing”. Yup, I actually said it and I do fly this ship, however, I don’t fit it like this. In fact, I actually do fit it out, completely and in such a fashion that does not cause blood loss through the eyes.

In this case, I am going to suggest that everyone who reads this post this week head immediately to their local emergency room and let the doctor know that the reason you are bleeding our of your eyes is for the reason of wishing to donate blood. In fact, print this post out and bring it with you. Trust me, the blood bank will thank you.

So, congratulations to Kalaratiri for our Fail Mail Friday submission. As being the selected for this week’s fail mail, Kalaratiri will receive a whopping 340, 000 isk for the mall Armor Repairer II module that was fitted on this mail.

Have a fail mail that you would like to submit? You can send me an in game email to Ga’len with Fail Mail in the subject line, the fail mail killboard link and why you feel your submission is worthy of being a fail mail. You can also contact me on Twitter @Galen_Druid or send me an old fashioned email to Galen@eve-druid.com and again, use Fail Mail in the subject line and in the message the fail mail killboard link, your in game name for the ISK prize and why you feel your submission is worthy of being a fail mail.

Until next time, have fun and see you out there!

More of Fail Mail Friday

Fail Mail Friday for 1 July 2011

Welcome to the our next installment of Fail Mail Friday. This is where we showcase a kill mail that we pirates would call a “failure”.

This one comes to us from Zarrika Khan. Here is the link to the kill mail and below is a copy of the fitting that you can use with EFT.

http://eve.battleclinic.com/killboard/killmail.php?id=13082004

[Megathron Navy Issue, Jeyson Vicious’s Megathron Navy Issue]
F-AQ Delay-Line Scan Tracking Subroutines
Warp Core Stabilizer I
Warp Core Stabilizer I
100mm Reinforced Rolled Tungsten Plates I
Local Hull Conversion Inertial Stabilizers I
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Overdrive Injector System II

Stasis Webifier I
Sensor Booster I
Analyzer I
Codebreaker I

Cu Vapor Particle Bore Stream I
125mm ‘Scout’ I Accelerator Cannon,Iridium Charge S
125mm Prototype I Gauss Gun,Guristas Plutonium Charge S
250mm Railgun I,Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge M
Core Probe Launcher I,Core Scanner Probe I
‘Arbalest’ Assault Missile Launcher,Bloodclaw Light Missile
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher I,Caldari Navy Torrent Assault Missile
Salvager I

Large Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I

Acolyte I x1
Hornet I x1
Ogre I x1
Ogre I x1
Warrior I x1

We have here a Megathron Navy Issue, yet another wonderful variation of the Gallente Megathron battleship hull. This one, well, I am guessing it was fit for mission running as that’s where it was killed. Yet again, we have a classic example of the concept of a jack of all trades fit. Such fits do not last. People, please, stop doing this. Seriously, I am having to spend more and more time in the hospital receiving blood transfusions, my eyes can’t take much more of this.

So, congratulations to Zarrika Khan for our Fail Mail Friday submission. As being the selected for this week’s fail mail, Zarrika Khan will receive a whopping 7, 600 isk for one of the Warp Core Stabilizer I modules that was fitted on this mail.

Have a fail mail that you would like to submit? You can send me an in game email to Ga’len with Fail Mail in the subject line, the fail mail killboard link and why you feel your submission is worthy of being a fail mail. You can also contact me on Twitter @Galen_Druid or send me an old fashioned email to Galen@eve-druid.com and again, use Fail Mail in the subject line and in the message the fail mail killboard link, your in game name for the ISK prize and why you feel your submission is worthy of being a fail mail.

Until next time, have fun and see you out there!

More of Fail Mail Friday

Mmmm…..

…..Archon in space……

Fail Mail Friday for 24 June 2011

Welcome to the our next installment of Fail Mail Friday. This is where we showcase a kill mail that we pirates would call a “failure”.

This one comes to us from Bobthecowboy as he was wanting to entertain us all with a silly fit he actually lost. Here is the link to the kill mail and below is a copy of the fitting that you can use with EFT.

http://moa.eve-kill.net/?a=kill_detail&kll_id=8343641

[Rupture, BobTheCowboy’s Rupture]
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Compulsive Signal Distortion Amplifier I
Inertia Stabilizers II

Compulsive Ion Field ECM I
ECM – Multispectral Jammer I
Extra Gravimetric ECCM Scanning Array I

Miner I
Asymmetric Energy Succor I
Medium Asymmetric Energy Succor I
Medium Energy Transfer Array I
Medium Murky Energy Transmitter I
Small Energy Transfer Array I

Medium Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Medium Core Defence Field Extender I
Medium Core Defence Field Extender I

This fit fails simply from being a combat ship missing any form of weaponry in the high slots, no tackle nor propulsion mods in the mid slots and the lows, well, there is a valid damage module there, but it’s a bit pointless without having any weapons fitted.

I have to say, this fit is best summed from a comment that BobTheCowboy shared from his former corpmate, “After linking his fit in corp, it was agreed by both parties that this ship must be euthanized.” Props to BobTheCowboy for linking me this fit. It just goes to show you that all of us have our moments of Fail Fits.

So, congratulations to BobTheCowboy for our Fail Mail Friday submission. As being the selected for this week’s fail mail, BobTheCowboy will receive a whopping 9, 000 isk for the Compulsive Signal Distortion Amplifier I module that was fitted on this mail.

Have a fail mail that you would like to submit? You can send me an in game email to Ga’len with Fail Mail in the subject line, the fail mail killboard link and why you feel your submission is worthy of being a fail mail. You can also contact me on Twitter @Galen_Druid or send me an old fashioned email to Galen@eve-druid.com and again, use Fail Mail in the subject line and in the message the fail mail killboard link, your in game name for the ISK prize and why you feel your submission is worthy of being a fail mail.

Until next time, have fun and see you out there!

More of Fail Mail Friday

What does CCP stand for?

I will admit, I was looking forward to being able to walk in stations and the Captains Quarters is a good start for that, however, recent events today make me wonder.

I am not going to engage in a bitter vet rant fest, many others are doing a far better job than I can, but the recent expansion and the recent outing of an internal PDF from CCP makes one wonder what the hell is going on.

I asked, jokingly on twitter, does CCP now stand for Crap, Crap, Poop as it’s clear they want to turn our beloved game into another shitty micro transaction game.

I applaud any business in attempting to develop new revenue streams, but I honestly think that CCP has missed the mark here.

Seriously CCP, wake up. Your community, the best asset and stakeholder you have, is talking to you. Listen up!

Incarna, here we come…

Yup, it’s that time again. It’s Patch Day for the latest expansion, Incarna, is scheduled for Tuesday, June 21.

So, as always, there are a few things to remember. SET A LONG SKILL NOW!

Some things to do while you are waiting for Patch Day to complete:

• Review the latest Patch Notes.
• Visit the Incarna expansion website.
• Read about upcoming player meet ups in Las Vegas, London and Nashville!
• Share with us what you are doing in the comments!

See you on the flip side!

Fail Mail Friday for 17 June 2011

Welcome to the our next installment of Fail Mail Friday. This is where we showcase a kill mail that we pirates would call a “failure”.

This one comes to us from Minime92. Here is the link to the kill mail and below is a copy of the fitting that you can use with EFT.

http://eve.battleclinic.com/killboard/killmail.php?id=13047408

[Vindicator, Jeffro Andedare’s Vindicator]
Medium ‘Accommodation’ Vestment Reconstructer I
Medium ‘Accommodation’ Vestment Reconstructer I
Fourier Transform I Tracking Program
Magnetic Vortex Stabilizer I
‘Pandemonium’ I Ballistic Enhancement
Local Hull Conversion Expanded Cargo I
Local Hull Conversion Expanded Cargo I

Barton Reactor Capacitor Recharger I
Barton Reactor Capacitor Recharger I
Barton Reactor Capacitor Recharger I
LiF Fueled I Booster Rockets
Heavy Electrochemical Capacitor Booster I

350mm Prototype I Gauss Gun,Uranium Charge L
350mm Prototype I Gauss Gun,Thorium Charge L
425mm Prototype I Gauss Gun,Antimatter Charge L
425mm Prototype I Gauss Gun,Tungsten Charge L
425mm Prototype I Gauss Gun,Plutonium Charge L
XR-3200 Heavy Missile Bay,Havoc Heavy Missile

Large Drone Durability Enhancer I
Large Drone Speed Augmentor I
Large Sentry Damage Augmentor I

We have here a vary capable variation on the Gallente Megathron battleship, the Vindicator. These ships are very much sought after and are very expensive. They are so expensive that when one buys one, one should always take the effort to properly fit one.

I uh, well, yeah. My eyes are bleeding so much, that I am choked up for words. This is to say the least, well, horrible. I am not going into this, no, I am not. It’s just too painful.

So, congratulations to Minime92 for our Fail Mail Friday submission. As being the selected for this week’s fail mail, Minime92 will receive a whopping 701, 000 isk for one of the Local Hull Conversion Expanded Cargo I modules that was fitted on this mail.

Have a fail mail that you would like to submit? You can send me an in game email to Ga’len with Fail Mail in the subject line, the fail mail killboard link and why you feel your submission is worthy of being a fail mail. You can also contact me on Twitter @Galen_Druid or send me an old fashioned email to Galen@eve-druid.com and again, use Fail Mail in the subject line and in the message the fail mail killboard link, your in game name for the ISK prize and why you feel your submission is worthy of being a fail mail.

Until next time, have fun and see you out there!

More of Fail Mail Friday

Do We Call This "International Lamer Wannabe Hacker Week"?

I guess many of us missed the memo or text message about the flash mob letting us know that that is week is the “International Lamer Wannabe Hacker Week”.

All kidding aside, for those who are not up to speed, EVE  Online was one of the latest targets for a “hacking” group known as The Lulz Boat, details can be found on the EVE Online forums.  They were very effective in engaging in a DDoS attack on Sony and in turn compromising Sony’s gaming product offerings by obtaining massive amounts of customer data.

Unfortunately, this is not over as in grand wannabe hacker fashion, we are now seeing the good old phishing emails.  Please note, THE EMAIL QUOTED BELOW IS NOT FROM CCP.  If you receive an email similar to the one quoted here, please forward it to security@ccpgames.com.

A message from our COO.

At 17:00 UTC today, CCP became aware of a distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS) against the EVE Online cluster and web servers.

Our policy in such cases is to mobilize a taskforce of internal and external experts to evaluate the situation. At 17:55 UTC, that group concluded that our best course of action was to go completely offline while an exhaustive scan of our entire infrastructure was executed.

While some may feel that such a drastic reaction was not warranted, it is always our approach to err on the side of caution in order to ensure the best possible service for our players and the security of their personal, billing and account information.

We understand the effect this disruption has had for our players and apologize for not having been able to explain fully to the community what was going on. In these cases it can often be counterproductive to containment to give out information while we are in the process of evaluating the scope of any potential problem.

Our taskforce concluded at 22:05 that neither the game servers nor the CCP infrastructure had been breached. Further, we can also confirm that some personal details such as users’ credentials or credit card numbers were exposed through this incident.

Please check yourself if your personal details was compromised by visiting Account Management page. (link omitted).

The servers were brought back online at 23:00 and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Again, we sincerely apologize for this disruption.

Regards,

Jón Hörðdal

Chief Operating Officer

I tell ya, this is just so lame it makes the lame llama just roll it’s eyes.  So, quick review of things you can do to protect yourself in our online world.

• NEVER blindly click on links in emails, especially those that are linking to an ‘account management’ website.  NEVER do this, regardless of the source.  Instead, copy and paste the link into a web browser and look at where the url is sending you before you go to the site.  This will help to keep you from being victim to “hidden” information within the link in the email.
• ALWAYS keep your antivirus AND operating system software up to date.
• ALWAYS change your passwords on a routine basis. NEVER use the same password twice and NEVER use simple words in passwords, make them complex with both upper and lower case characters and with numbers.  Punctuation is a plus.
• ALWAYS use a different email account for all your financially related activities versus your other online activities.
• ALWAYS think about how you can insulate your bank account from attacks.  Use things like a separate account for online activities that has it’s own separate credit card or use a third party pay service like PayPal.  The more “hops” it takes to get to your checking account, the better chance you have to keep your money safe.
• NEVER think that you are doing everything to keep yourself safe.  Someone always has a better idea of how to get to your money, be flexible and adapt your strategies.

So, take care everyone, be safe and see you out there!