Let slip the dogs of . . .

WAR! We started it, and we're so gunna finish it. We've declared war on Razor and Wildly Inappropriate. They have numerous Titans, a huge capital fleet and the numbers to crush us with impunity. So we're gunna do what we do best, be utterly infuriating.

They might catch one of us from time to time with blobs rolling through, sure, that's inevitable, but we can fly whatever we want against them, we can use drones, and they no longer have the advantage of sentry fire. That's how you even the score, by playing to their weaknesses, we have many strengths we can play to, but they can mass larger numbers, so hit and run, get in and out, enjoy flying the smaller things for a change, it's rare we actually take anything out smaller than a battlecruiser, or without the resistances of a Tech 2 cruiser. If we play to their weaknesses we can run rings around them for minimal losses.

It doesn't sound like much of a difference, playing to their weaknesses as opposed our strengths, but in the eyes of a pirate, it makes all the difference.

At least that's the theory, we'll see how it is in action. Some of our guys are that used to flying the larger ships that they make simple mistakes flying the smaller things. It's a learning curve, but then, what is this universe if not a learning curve. IF we aren't learning we aren't improving our knowledge, and no-one can know everything.

This was brought home to my very recently when I persuaded one of my associates to partake in the dubious art of blowing up NPCs in return for ISK and specialist items in high-security space. The basics are easy, equip a ship with the ability to tank a large amount of DPS for anything upto and beyond 30 minutes without running out of capacitor, whilst laying down enough firepower to destroy the ships whaling on you. The subleties however are far harder to grasp.

I'd like to say my knowledge of PvP has allowed me a deeper understanding than a pilot who has come newly to the idea, but in reality it doesn't help as much as I thought. I can equip ships to tank insane amounts of damage, but then they lack the damage to quickly remove the aggressors. In reverse, it is relatively easy to upgrade the damage potential of a ship using certain modules, or to upgrade the ship as a whole and use heavier weapons systems. Maybe it is because I see myself as a veteran now that I dislike being unable to tank a handful of ships. However, there is only one mission to date that I have had to cancel, so maybe I am doing something right. I was told afterward that very few pilots are able to tank the mission solo, and it requires a large investment of ISK in the form of specialiased ships and faction modules, so maybe I am being to harsh on myself.