Archive:Operation: Fortress

History

In a reaction to less-than-satisfactory performance in a series of wars against the University, Director Emeritus Korr’Tanas proposed a solution. On September 4th 2012, he created a general discussion thread titled Operation: Fortress and encouraged Ivy League members to read and participate in the discussion. Korr’Tanas’ original post included his reasons for proposing the operation, and suggestions on how to create a continuous corporation-wide fleet for everyone in the University Headquarters of Aldrat, as well as the surrounding systems. The interest of members was strong with both supporters and detractors joining in on the discussion.

The Operation: Fortress fleet was soon created in game, and over the course of only a couple of days had various encounters with War Targets - some successful others less so. On September 6th 2012, Director Emeritus Korr’Tanas created a secondary thread explaining the nuts and bolts of the Operation: Fortress fleet as not everyone would necessarily have fleet formation experience.

Purpose of the operation

Korr'Tanas' stated goal was to get everyone around Aldrat (not just the Aptetter constellation, but anything within reach) into one fleet to be able to react to War Target attacks as quickly as possible and provide fewer easy targets for roaming hostiles.

His hope was that the Operation: Fortress fleet would be running around the clock, each day.

PLEASE NOTE: The Fortress fleet is not intended to be an all-purpose fleet. For operations other than local intel and security, such as a general roam or anything else more than a few jumps away from HQ, a new fleet should be formed, and a new Mumble channel used for that operation's comms. Doing this keeps the Fortress fleet active and aligned with its purpose.

How to create the Operation: Fortress fleet

Each day during scheduled maintenance any existing fleet is automatically disbanded. If you log in and search for fleets but are unable to find the Operation: Fortress in fleet finder, feel free to create one. Please ensure that there is only one Operation: Fortress fleet running at any given time.

The actual formation of the fleet is straightforward.

• Right click on your name in any chat window and select “Form fleet with . . .” and the fleet window opens.
• Set up additional squads and wings, at least 2 wings with 5 squads each, although it doesn't hurt to just set up 5 wings with 5 squads each. This way there will always be enough individual squads for the separate groups.
  • Set up squads in the PvP wing(s) so they include Tackle, DD, Ewar/Logi.
  • Create one wing for PvE, for people that want to mine or do missions.
  • Make sure to enable the "free move" option so people can move themselves within the fleet.

• Create a fleet finder advert.
  • In the Fleet window, go to the tabs labeled “Fleet Finder > My Advert” and click the bottom button labeled “Create Advert”.
  • Change the fleet name to “Operation Fortress” so that it can easily be found by your fellow Unistas.
  • Change the description to: “Aldrat Quick Response & Missioning Fleet”

 Old: include at minimum a link to http://forum.eveuniversity.org/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=58485&start=0 and
 http://forum.eveuniversity.org/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=58427, the two threads created by Director Emeritus Korr’Tanas. 

• • In the “Open Fleet to” section make sure to only allow corporation and alliance members and check “Hide details”.
• Create a mesage of the day (MOTD) for the fleet
  • Copy the following text (please improve it, if you can do better)

  If you are new to the way the Fortress fleet works , please read in the wiki "What to do once you are in" 
  http://wiki.eveuniversity.org/Operation:_Fortress

If you need help with any of this please ask in Chat.E-Uni or Q&A.E-uni.

You do not need any ingame skills for any of this. The Leadership skill is solely used for the passing of fleet buffs to squad members, not the actual formation of the fleet.

How to join

Assuming a fleet has already been created correctly you will be able to find it in the Fleet Finder. Click on the fleet button (Neocom > Eve menu > Social > Fleet) and look for the Operation: Fortress fleet. The leader should be a University pilot and the name should be 'Operation: Fortress' or something similar. Alternatively this fleet might be advertised in Alliance channel (and possibly some other channels as well) with a link you can just click on to join the fleet.

After that please join the mumble channel for this operation, under Special Projects and Events.

If you haven't already, be sure to read the Rookie's Guide to Fleet Ops, which covers fleet terminology, how fleets operate, fleet member discipline, and other information you'll be expected to know if you join a QRF (Quick Response Force).

What to do once you are in

Do what you want, within reason. Joining the Operation: Fortress fleet does not in any way supersede or invalidate the Wartime Standard Operating Procedures. Fly smart.

• Check the "My Fleet" tab to see in what Wing/Squad you where placed.
  • Move yourself to a squad that describes your current function or activity. (Right-click your name and use the option "Move member".)

• Listen to the Fortress mumble channel and pay attention to War Target reports in fleet and LiveIntel.ILN
  • When there is no immediate hostile threat you can conduct business as usual. And of course you can ask in fleet if someone wants to join you in whatever you are doing. For example you could fly with a few people and run missions together, possibly higher level mission than you could do on your own. Or you could set up some miners with some fleet boosts and mine together. Free move should be activated for this fleet, so your group can move into its own squad or wing and set up your fleet/wing/squad boosters as desired. Or at least have someone in such a position so that they can warp the entire group off when needed. You can use a separate mumble channel for your group and set up a separate chat channel ingame as well.

• War Target(s) heading over to or in Aldrat (or wherever you are)
  • Alert the fleet, if your are the first that sees the WT (scout or LiveIntel.ILN)
  • Put the info in LiveIntel.ILN if it's not there already.
  • Be smart and dock up: don't hang around in your mining ship, instead get out of harms way.
  • Optional: switch to a combat ship ( Tip: put a combat ship outside Aldrat, like Erstur. So you can always get to it)
  • Change your squad, if you switched ships, and be ready to join the rest of the combat pilots if they try to attack the War Targets. Do so in an organized manner only, either following the direction of a brave leader, or stepping up yourself!

 Keep in mind certain T1 ships can be reimbursed by the University if lost while PvP-ing in a combat fleet.  

• You get attacked by War Targets.
  • Call for help in the fleet channel (Mumble would be best, but at least put something in the fleet chat channel). Let people know where you are and who is attacking you (especially how many and what ships). Any combat group of the fleet can then react and hopefully destroy the hostiles or at least chase them off so you can get out.

Proper Use of Mumble

In Mumble under "Special Projects and Events" you'll find the fleet's main channel, "Operation: Fortress", along with several subchannels under it: "Command", "Red Squadron", "Blue Squadron", etc. For optimal use and efficiency, especially when a QRF (Quick Response Force) is active, please adhere to the following guidelines for proper comms use. These have proven most effective and should apply under most circumstances.

• The main Mumble channel "Operation: Fortress" should remain manned at all times so fleet members (who may or may not be involved in a QRF) can benefit from local intel and security.
• When a QRF is active:
  • Because operational security is often a concern (spies), the QRF Fleet Commander -- whoever is leading the operation at the time -- may want to use the Command subchannel and invite wing and squad commanders and scouts there to coordinate the operation without broadcasting details to the general fleet.
  • Only join the Command channel if the FC invites you (otherwise you will be kicked and possibly banned from Mumble).
  • Standard fleet comms displine should be observed. Of course, as with "regular" fleets, the FC may relax comms at his/her discretion.
• Please avoid inappropriate language. This is a general University rule anyway, but it's a bit more important in the Fortress because it's an open fleet and members of various ages and disciplines frequently join and participate.

You just got boss - now what?

• When someone gives you boss - whether intentionally or as a result of a disconnect/log-off you need to re-advertise the fleet.
  • The easiest way is to just hit Yes when you get the pop-up, verify the settings, and submit.
  • See above for what the fleet advert settings should be
• Don't Afk for any length of time without passing boss to someone who is active first.
• Before Logging-Off or leaving fleet, pass boss and briefly explain these steps as necessary.