Wartime Operations in EVE University

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This page is a consolidation of a number of existing wiki pages regarding wartime operations and EVE University.

There are many contributors for this material.

Wars are prevalent throughout New Eden, and despite operating and maintaining neutrality in High Security space, Eve University, along with it's expanding activities outside of Hi Sec space, receives its share of wars. War declarations and war are a valid game mechanic and war is a significant feature of EVE Online. This is something you are encouraged to get used to.

Whether you are new or an experienced pilot, the University finds its strength in numbers. All University members, especially new, are highly encouraged to participate in wartime activities as the tackling or EWAR roles require only hours of training to fulfill and provide valuable support to the fleet. Even if PvP is not your primary game style you will learn a great deal and have some fun.

The Basics

To prepare yourself it is expected that you take some responsibility and read through this material and any links offered within. If the Uni is currently at war please remain docked if you are active on your Uni character while reviewing this.


Rules & Policies Checklist

Unless stated in the Wartime SOP, regulations not overwritten by the Wartime SOP still apply. For example, you still cannot engage blues even if they are flashing in your overview unless a Fleet Commander directs otherwise.

If you are unhappy with wartime in the Uni or the WSOP you should consider dropping for the duration from the Uni during the war. If you have roles you can simply resign those and you'll be able to quit the Uni to an NPC corporation immediately, and if you're looking to join another player corp you'll be able to accept invites to them immediately. You should know that any player corporation can be war decced so the only "safe" corporations from war are non Factional Warfare NPC Corporations. Please note that depending on circumstances it can take a bit of time to get back into the Uni.

Preparing to Fight

Choosing a Role

For new players, this is the least skill intensive and easiest role to fulfill. The role of a tackler is to immobilize an enemy and prevent them from escaping. Interceptors also fall into the role of tacklers, as their main job is to track and lock down targets quickly.

Another new player friendly role, electronic warfare is of high demand for Uni fleets. Read the guide for detailed explanations on each electronic warfare module.

Generally not recommended for new players, damage dealing requires a good amount of gunnery, missile, and related support skills. It is not about the biggest ship you can fly, it is about what ships you can fly well. At minimum, you must be able to fly a Cruiser and have the ability to work with EFT to improve and understand your ship.

Logistics (Logi) are cruisers that use modules to remotely heal other ships. Like Damage Dealers, this is not recommended for new players, although it is easier to get into. Requires good engineering, fitting, and tanking skills.

Preparing Your Ship

Before fitting out your ship, read the ship requirements and fitting restrictions for wartime. Frigates (Tech 1) and modules (Meta 0) are available at the Uni HQ, Pator Tech School Hangar. If you do not have access, ask in Corp chat for someone to grab the items you require. You should also use the Eve Fitting Tool to test out your fits.

The best place to find fits is on the EVE University PvP Ship Loadout forum. It is important to know how to search the forums efficiently with the Advanced Search feature, see the How to Search the Ship Loadout Forum thread for details.

Example fittings can be found in-game via NeoCom > Fitting > Browse > Drop-Down Menu: Corporation Fittings or on the wiki with these race specific guides:

Please note that any fits are submitted by volunteers and the task of keeping all fits current is very daunting. Don't take the Uni fits as gospel and try to use a balance of other resources. Be sure to ask in appropriate channels

Note that the Uni has a Ship Replacement Program, allowing players to request or replace ships to be used for PVP fleets. Please understand the terms and conditions before you use the program.

Final Preparations

  • Make sure your medical clone is up to date so you do not lose valuable skill points.
  • Clean Jump Clones can help you protect your implants. Create one in advance. The closest jump clone facilities accessible using corporation standings are at minimum 25 jumps from Aldrat.
  • It is recommended you move your combat clone to Aldrat and consider others for any other base of operations for wartime PvP activity.
  • Read the Mumble Guide, and set up Mumble with the proper settings.

Fleet Operations

  • Configure your overview according to the Uni standard by reading the Overview Guide. This is a must. Keep in mind you can create custom Overview settings for your own use but you will need to have the current standard Uni settings ready to use.
  • DO NOT encourage new members to join fleets until they have read and understand all of the following. Please do not answer simple questions such as "how to X up", instead refer people to the relevant links on the wiki to make sure they actually read them properly instead of simply jumping into a fleet five minutes after they join Uni. Obviously assisting with clarification if they do not understand something is fine ;)
  • Read The Rookie's Guide To Fleet Ops.
    • If you wish to form a fleet, also read Fleet Formation and Intel and How to properly form a fleet.
    • FCs, WCs, and SCs should read the Fleet Checklist and Fleet Leadership - you do NOT need in-game leadership skills to perform these roles. You will however need a microphone and be willing to use it.
    • Keep questions and chatter out of the Alliance channel. Questions should be made in Mess.ILN or Command.ILN. Chatter and questions in Alliance just slow down fleet formation and just make things frustrating.
    • Do not talk about fleet locations (or your own, for that matter) outside of your fleet channel. Yes, that does mean you cannot tell a fleet where you are until you have joined it or the FC has convoed you.
    • Do not ask "are there any fleets running" - if they are, they should not be communicating with you. Wait for a new one to be called in Alliance.
    • Many fleets will use a fleet advert. These will show up as a link in Alliance and all you need do is click on that link and you'll be invited in (unless the fleet is closed or full).
    • If you "X up" in Alliance and are not given a fleet invite, make a polite reminder. If you are still not invited please just wait for the next fleet or consider taking out your own. Many fleets may have restricted space, or it may simply be a new FC who missed your request in the multitude. Also note that FCs are under no obligation to take everyone that X's up. Missing a fleet is not the end of the world. Simply wait for the next, or start your own. Do not get upset or take it personally.

Fleet Formation

  • Anyone may form a fleet during wartime. EVE University and the ILN make no restrictions on who may initiate or lead a fleet.
  • Fleets once formed should avoid being listed in Fleet Finder must not have any Open Fleet Invites as this draws the attention of enemy intelligence. Any wartime fleet adverts should not include information in their names that give away information.
  • Fleets must be held in fleet op rooms or in specific (ideally password protected) On Demand channels in Mumble that restrict access to members of the Ivy League Alliance. Keep in mind that our Mumble servers are very open to the rest of the EVE Online community.
  • Travel Advisories are posted to deter UNI presence in certain systems. Please check your EVEmail and the Alliance Bulletins (NeoCom > Corporations > Alliance > Bulletins) prior to departing with a fleet.
  • Fleet Commanders must set up the key Bindings as needed for Fleet channels as per Key Bindings for Fleet channels on Mumble.

After the Fleet

  • Fleet Commanders should ensure they or a surrogate post an After Action Report.
  • Fleet members should remember to comment on any kills or losses as this is helpful for all and is important for Title progression.

Don't worry if you went out and lost your ship, or if leading, wiped your fleet. This is okay. Learn from it and have fun. Flaming or raging at fleet members or FCs for mistakes will not be tolerated. Failure to repeatedly follow an FC or their delegate's commands will also not be tolerated. This is why it's so important that you have prepared yourself as per the above. This is the Uni and we want to exercise patience with everyone.

Surviving against War Targets

Surviving against the enemy is really just a matter of common sense and taking on some basic precautions and steps which are all pointed out in our Tips For War wiki page. In this section we'll highlight some of the steps you should take. These things are especially valuable to you if you are not partaking in PvP activities or fleets.

Local and Watchlists

You can read up on this link how to identify war targets in local and set up a watchlist. This is an excellent page. If you have followed and set up your Overview to Uni standards you will be able to very easily identify war targets (and other valid targets) in Local with the exception of wormhole space. You will always want to keep a weather eye on Local to minimize your risk. You will note that trade hubs and other high population systems will have large numbers in local and this will make non PvP operations there very risky. If you don't want to risk losing things and non PvP ships while solo or in non PvP groups (and end up looking bad and the subject of light-hearted ridicule) then take Local seriously and avoid obvious target rich environments.

You should set up watchlists (not to be confused with watchlists used in fleet operations) so that you can get an idea of which war targets are online and which are off. Keep in mind that if all war target pilots are showing as offline this does not mean they aren't watching. Many active PvP corps and pilots will use out-of-corp (OCC) alts to remain online and passively watch for opportunities to spring traps and get kills and tears.

D-Scan

"I'm not actively PvPing - I don't need to use D-Scan"

Sadly that's not the case. D-Scan is arguably one of the most misunderstood tools at your disposal, but with just a few minutes practice you can add D-Scanning to your arsenal of tools to avoid War Targets.

When undocked and operating in space your onboard scanner, or D-Scan, is your best friend. You can read the most excellent Directional Scanner Guide and quickly learn how to use this invaluable tool. There are some great videos on Youtube including a couple of excellent, but dated ones by our very own Donohue. D-Scan will allow you to monitor what's around you in system in space. You'll be able to quickly tell if someone is trying to scan you down.

  • War Targets (just like everyone else) have alt characters, and they can easily be in an NPC corporation. They could be on your Overview right now, providing a warp point for a war target gang.
    • "But I'm in a PvE site. How can they find me?" The war target alt is probably scanning you down with combat probes. So, if you see Combat Probes on D-Scan, warp out and dock. Be paranoid - assume that those Combat Probes are looking for you!!
    • "But there's no War Targets in the system?!?" Are you certain? Maybe that war target IS in the system; he's just not logged in. Right now he's using his alt to probe down your location, he then logs into his war target character, undocks and warps to your location... meaning that you're probably about to be killed.

The bottom line is: You never know. So, as a rule of thumb, if you see combat probes on d-scan, DOCK. Don't wait, don't assume that you're being paranoid - just dock. Remember: Some people think they need to be on grid with you to be able to hunt you down. They don't and they won't be.

Keep D-scanning. Press that button every 5 to 10 seconds.

PvE Safety

You can enjoy PvE activities in relative safety. All you have to do is exercise some basics and precautions. Naturally the risk is there and it complicates things but that is the price of war.

  • Think like the enemy. Consider what they see as a target rich environment. What do YOU see as common sense places to hunt for Uni members?
  • Avoid trade hubs and common routes. Mission, mine, explore, run incursions away from places that the war targets see as target rich systems. This includes Aldrat.
  • Use Jump Clones for travel flexibility from Uni HQ (and other locations) to your favorite "away from home" PvE areas.
  • Avoid hauling on your Uni character. Use an OOC (out-of-corp) Alt Hauler or ask around as many members have them and are willing to help you.
  • Hang out in relevant Mumble channels. This will depend on your activity and location.


Communications

War can be very exciting and many members and others will have questions and other curiosity about war. It's important that you keep your communications appropriate and be mindful of whom you may be talking to.

.E-UNI Channels and Mumble

The majority of official Uni channels are password protected. Passwords only keep out the lazy and uninformed. It is widely known that our passwords are often given out both inadvertently and deliberately. It is very easy for a determined enemy to obtain this information and/or get an alt into the Uni. You should assume that alts are planted in the Uni and guide your communications accordingly. Both Ivy members and alumni have a right to the current password. Never provide anyone the password but rather give them this forum link Password. If they have access then they can get the password. Passwords are also provided in the NeoCom > Corporation > Alliances > Bulletins in game.

  • It can be common to see war targets (alumni) or even known alts in channels such as Chat.E-UNI. They can get a lot of information on what's being said in these channels. It's perfectly fine to have respectful and fun conversations with them. Just avoid war specific chat. You will also find them in our Mumble channels. Again, this is perfectly fine. EVE University is a very open community so just keep that in mind.
  • If you find a war target or war target alt acting inappropriately in a channel or on Mumble contact someone in Management so that they can take appropriate steps.

.ILN Channels and Mumble

The majority of our .ILN channels are set for Ivy members only and thus are not password protected. These channels are more ideal for you to ask questions and such about a war or appropriate questions about operations. Mess.ILN is a PvP oriented chat channel and sometimes fleet formation will be directed into here to keep Alliance clear. Command.ILN is also another channel where fleet formation can occur.

  • Mumble ILN fleet rooms. Please be mindful that you're not sitting in a fleet channel when you shouldn't be. If you are not part of a given fleet please get permission from the FC if you want to listen in. Please note that this will be rarely granted. The fleet rooms are set that they will only allow Ivy members into them. On demand channels can be created and given a password if needed.
  • Please note that in fleets often what will happen is that "Combat Comms" may become the norm. What this means is that you can expect swearing on occasion with the excitement of combat. Aside from this occasional swearing please be respectful of the Eve University Community Standards. If a fleet Mumble channel does not get a non-ECS tag please don't freak out if there is the occasional swear.
  • LiveIntel.ILN is a specific channel with a separate password. The purpose of this channel is for members, alumni, and friendly alts to provide specific intelligence on war targets. Keep in mind that the information provided is only as good as the moment before the person posts a report. DO NOT ask questions or request intel in here, and don't provide running commentary, killmails, etc. in the channel. Avoid fragmentary intel as this will not be helpful in a lot of cases. Keep in mind that people keep this channel toggled to blink so unnecessary chat is very frustrating. This channel is not the be all and end all of what war targets are up to. It is only a tool try and be of help as part of the larger picture and practices of surviving war.

Other chat channels and voice comms

War targets may attempt to engage you in conversations and/or invite you into their channels and voice comms. You should not do this for a variety of reasons. It's against the Uni's Rules for one, and you never know what is really the purpose. You may end up undermining diplomatic efforts or other negotiations, and you may provide inaccurate information, etc. If a war target attempts private communication with you just direct them to Diplomacy.E-UNI.

Mailing Lists

Mailing lists are often used to mass communicate internally to departments, campuses, and other groups. Please note that mailing lists are notorious for proper membership maintenance. Be mindful of what you broadcast on these lists.

Forums

The Uni has specific forums where war related discussions can occur. Be mindful of posting anything in the public sections of the forum. This is not so much for security but for keeping the discussion appropriate. The forums are not the place to bitch about wars against the Uni or any perceived prosecution of a war by the Uni. Since the Uni allows each member to determine their own course of action the Uni itself does not form strategies so please don't expect one. Keep in mind that our Rules cover what you can post about in non-Uni forums.

Reporting Intel

Under no circumstances should the location of any Uni Fleet or Wartarget be reported in any of the standard Uni channels (this includes Alliance and Corp). The enemy often sneak an alt in as a new member during wartime to monitor these channels.

All intel should be reported to your Fleet Commander. If you do not have a Fleet Commander (due to not being in a fleet), check your Alliance mail for alternatives.

The only channel that should be considered "secure" during wartime is the Fleet channel for the fleet you are currently in.

Intel may be reported in the LiveIntel.ILN chat channel. The password for this can be found under NeoCom > Corporation > Alliances > Bulletins. Here you will also find information about our current Intel mailing list.

While we appreciate that people may wish to help out by reporting Intel, any valuable tactical information reported in Alliance or Corp channels (or any other method that reaches the entire uni membership) will most likely have the following effects:

  • Nobody will wish to act on said intel, as it is no longer of value once it has been widely disseminated across the uni membership.
  • Any existing operations relying on the enemy not knowing that we are aware of this intel will likely have to be cancelled.

With a membership as large and open as ours, it is usually safe to assume that the enemy does have at least one alt or friend among us. Keeping intel "need to know" reduces the chance of leaks.

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