Public fleets
A number of groups in New Eden host publicly-accessible PvP fleets that fly on a "not purple, shoot it" basis ("NPSI"), that is, set out to engage any target they can find which isn't part of the fleet. EVE University members are welcome to fly in such fleets, subject to the considerations listed at the bottom of this page.
This is a list of several groups that periodically host NPSI PvP fleets.
Bombers Bar
As at 2022, the Bombers Bar (BB) is in full swing. There are a number of people in specific corps that devote a lot of their game time to leading and supporting BB.
BB flies public Stealth Bomber fleets in which all are welcome. There is minimal/no politics and the fleet flies NPSI (Not Purple Shoot It aka anything outside of the fleet can be shot). Some fleets include more than 100 attendees so it often creates some ethical issues if the fleet goes into allied space of one or more fleet members and the individual needs to decide whether they can engage allies/friendlies/blues.
BB runs some different fleets from roaming through space to using covert cynosural fields and black ops ships to drop into Null Sec and Wormhole space to blow up expensive ships and fleets.
Generally, the essential skill to join a BB fleet is to be able to use a Covert Ops Cloaking Device II which requires Cloaking IV. The ability to fly a bomber that can deliver bombs and torpedoes is also a mainstay of the fleet. However, fleets tend to require hunter/scouts, tacklers/bubblers, ECM, loot ships and more. More advanced pilots might fly Black Ops and other ships in support of fleets. Just make sure that you have the right doctrine/ship organised early for the fleet that you are attending.
Details on upcoming fleets, fittings, fleet instructions, and joining comms can be found in the in-game channel (join 'Bombers Bar'). Usually, each fleet will specify a form-up system and time. At the allotted time, the FC will update the channel Message of the Day (MOTD) with an extra channel in which to X-up to join the fleet. This involves entering the temporary channel and sending an X in the channel chat - someone will send you a fleet invite. Roams may start from the form-up point, other types of fleets might specify a staging system to start heading to as the FC starts to provide more instructions.
It is essential to be in comms to hear, sometimes at very short-notice, instructions from the Fleet Commander if a target has been found by hunters/scouts. Sometimes a blingy ship is found and the time to bridge/jump and engage the ship is very short. New pilots are always welcome but should expect to spend the first fleet getting used to the fleet mechanics to master landing effectively, delivering bombs, getting in on big kills, and getting out safely. The environment is often very friendly though and worth attending.
Ship replacement, through Obombercare, is generous and funded by blingy loot that is regularly collected from wrecks during fleets.
BB is often an excellent opportunity to build killboard stats - to get involved in small or large-scale kills but also to build knowledge and skills which contribute to EVE Uni titles. It is also a chance to operate in a larger scale fleets and enthusiastic capsuleers.
Spectre Fleet
Spectre Fleet (SF) is a public NPSI fleet (Not Purple Shoot It - meaning anyone not in the fleet is a potential target). The previous link to the Specter Fleet calendar identifies the time/date for upcoming fleets and provides links to the appropriate additional information as needed for each fleet. Many of those resources are in-game via the Specter Fleet chat channels where the MOTD will guide prospective pilots to the right places.
Having spies (spais) is an unfortunate part of public fleets but it is generally kept to a minimum. If a fleet is spending time in an area blue to one or more fleet members, there is an unwritten rule that fleet members won't give the game away (whether or not they participate in battles/kills).
SF flies many different doctrines in regular fleets and can be a lot of fun and a supportive environment. As with other public fleets, some SF fleets move quite quickly and are not a good choice for your first fleet; however, once you have basic fleet commands down they are not hard to participate in and are highly encouraged. Any experience in basic fleet mechanics, coupled with the essential SF (or BB) fleet instructional videos, is quite helpful, as are the EVE University CORE classes. It is important to note that the EVE University Ship Replacement Program is not standard on SF fleets but that SF FCs SRP their own fleets in most cases. Verify with the FC prior to undocking to be sure you are comfortable with the risk potential.
Details on upcoming SF fleets, fittings, fleet instructions, and joining comms can be found in the in-game channel (join 'SF Spectre Fleet'). As with BB, carefully check the doctrine/fittings and the staging system to ensure that you are there on time in the right ship (and not being 10-20 jumps away as the fleet starts moving).
Vulfpeck Fleets
Vulfpeck Fleets is a group PvE fleet organization that operates small fleets in C5 and C6 Wolf-Rayet Wormhole systems, taking advantage of the Wolf-Rayet system effects to take on the highly dangerous Sleeper combat sites using Confessors and Guardians. Due to the unpredictable nature of Wormhole space, Vulfpeck tends to only run one 11-pilot, 4-hour fleet per week, however, those fleets can reach 200 million ISK/hr/pilot, using surprisingly inexpensive ships.
On rare occasions, due to the dangerous nature of wormhole space, Vulfpeck fleets may engage in PVP as well. Vulfpeck does offer SRP in situations where combat goes poorly.
FUN inc / Even Better With Friends [EBWF]
EBWF is another public fleet option with different NPSI fleets.
Founded in 2018 as a safe haven for small gang PvPers after the demise of Agony Unleashed FUN inc / Even Better With Friends is an EU TZ Nullsec PVP corp and NPSI group, specialising in nullsec solo, small gang, and microgang combat who fight almost entirely in Nullsec.
They are a corporation in their own right and when the NPSI roams take place they roam freely, engaging whoever they like, and have created a no drama PVP community that roams Nullsec looking for good fights.
FUN inc / Even Better With Friends has an active Discord community server that affords the community opt-in sub-channels for ship fittings, for timezone specific and NPSI roles which allow you to team up with other likeminded bloodthirsty PVPers and roam with FUN inc.
'EBWF NPSI calendar' The aim of the FUN inc NPSI community gateway is to showcase some of the best NPSI PVP content creators out there. This site will act as a springboard for community engagement and cross harmonisation of groups, with the sole intent of promoting variety and visibility of content, focusing on developing new relationships within EVE online.
Join the 'EBWF public' in-game to get involved.
The Ancients
The Ancients is a new collaboration between various NPSI Fleet Commanders and potentially brings together a number of fleets.
Arataka Research Consortium
ARC (in-game channel 'Consortium Operations') are a public group of xenological researchers. Their more core members are consistently active on the Roleplay forums, gathering and reporting information on the Drifters and the Triglavian Collective.
During the Triglavian Invasion, ARC hosted EDENCOM-friendly public fleets, using heavy armor to run Major Conduits and Observatory Flashpoints during Chapter 2, and using a variety of fleet compositions to engage Emerging Conduits and various Triglavian infrastructure during Chapter 3. With the end of the Invasion, and the creation of Pochven, ARC began hosting "Dual-Standings" fleets in Pochven, entering and exiting via Filament, and hunting Drifters and Rogue Drones to gain positive standings with both the Triglavian Collective and EDENCOM. At present, ARC's dual-standings fleets are based on Muninns. Due to the unpredictable nature of Filaments, dual-standings fleets are not drop-in/drop-out, and pilots must be in the fleet from when it forms to when it disbands.
Prior to the Triglavian Invasion, ARC made a name for themselves as being one of the only organizations in New Eden to host periodic Drifter Hive Fleets, in which groups of ships fly into Drifter-occupied Unidentified Wormholes and attack their inhabitants head-on. These fleets are still held periodically, using mainly Confessors.
Considerations
Remember the EVE University Rules, including restrictions on attacking structures and involvement in any wars or pseudo wars. If in doubt, err on the side of caution so that all of our unistas don't inadvertently become war targets outside our rules.
Although the fleets are NPSI, it is still very important to follow the rules and minimise engagement with our friends and allies (+5 to +10 blue status with EVE Uni or Ivy League). NPSI fleets are generally quite aware and supportive of fleet members not engaging their allies. In short, Unistas and Unista alts should not shoot Unistas (unless permission is given).
