The Curious Case of K Bifstik

Sugar Kyle just did two blog posts about the EVE bounty system (and added a not so subtle hint that I should stop being lazy and post about what happened) so here it is.

It all started about 1 week ago when Patrick Kasper piped up in the R1FTA public channel.

[ 2013.07.08 09:06:52 ] Patrick Kasper > guys

[ 2013.07.08 09:06:56 ] Patrick Kasper > i need some explanation

[ 2013.07.08 09:06:59 ] Patrick Kasper > anyone here?

[ 2013.07.08 09:09:31 ] Naoru Kozan > sup

[ 2013.07.08 09:09:42 ] Patrick Kasper > so a guy asked me to blow up his cyclone

[ 2013.07.08 09:09:57 ] Patrick Kasper > because he wanted to get rid of 5m bounty

[ 2013.07.08 09:10:16 ] Naoru Kozan > go hard (but have backup waiting)

[ 2013.07.08 09:10:17 ] Patrick Kasper > he was dead serious as he didnt shoot back

[ 2013.07.08 09:10:20 ] Patrick Kasper > http://r1der.eve-kill.net/?a=kill_detail&kll_id=18613253

[ 2013.07.08 09:10:25 ] Patrick Kasper > he is already dead

[ 2013.07.08 09:10:29 ] Patrick Kasper > but explain me this

[ 2013.07.08 09:11:20 ] Patrick Kasper > in my book that is more than 25m isk

[ 2013.07.08 09:11:28 ] Naoru Kozan > K Bifstik

[ 2013.07.08 09:11:36 ] Naoru Kozan > just place a 40 mil bounty on him XD

[ 2013.07.08 09:11:51 ] Patrick Kasper > LOL

[ 2013.07.08 09:11:58 ] Patrick Kasper > best thing

[ 2013.07.08 09:12:04 ] Patrick Kasper > ingame the mail is only worth 85m

[ 2013.07.08 09:12:14 ] Patrick Kasper > IF he comes back and lets me kill him again

[ 2013.07.08 09:12:21 ] Patrick Kasper > i'll give you half the loot

[ 2013.07.08 09:12:48 ] Naoru Kozan > omg he just convoed me

A confused K Bifstik sends me a private convo.

 

[ 2013.07.08 09:12:49 ] K Bifstik > May I ask what this is about?

[ 2013.07.08 09:13:09 ] Naoru Kozan > i think you look like a rather shady character

[ 2013.07.08 09:13:24 ] K Bifstik > And you've seen me where?

[ 2013.07.08 09:13:33 ] Naoru Kozan > saw you in local

[ 2013.07.08 09:13:57 ] Naoru Kozan > didn't like the cut of your jib

[ 2013.07.08 09:14:23 ] K Bifstik > Nautical phrase.  Local where?

[ 2013.07.08 09:14:35 ] Naoru Kozan > oh in the local chat window

[ 2013.07.08 09:15:23 ] K Bifstik > Seems to be a rather capricious use of ISK

[ 2013.07.08 09:15:38 ] Naoru Kozan > kind of

[ 2013.07.08 09:15:47 ] Naoru Kozan > but it did amuse me

[ 2013.07.08 09:16:10 ] K Bifstik > Two can play this game you know

[ 2013.07.08 09:16:26 ] Naoru Kozan > wear the bounty like a badge of pride

[ 2013.07.08 09:17:46 ] K Bifstik > My "hobby" is to help new players get started -- and they won't let me help when I have a bounty.  Your amusement is more important than that?

[ 2013.07.08 09:18:07 ] Naoru Kozan > /emote shrugs

[ 2013.07.08 09:18:16 ] Naoru Kozan > i've given advice to newer players when i have a bounty

[ 2013.07.08 09:18:24 ] Naoru Kozan > didn't make much difference

[ 2013.07.08 09:19:43 ] K Bifstik > Normally I'd offer good luck in parting.  But in this case, it's just thanks for nothing

[ 2013.07.08 09:19:53 ] Naoru Kozan > fly safe

 Meanwhile back in the R1FTA public channel.

[ 2013.07.08 09:18:04 ] Patrick Kasper > i honestly somehow feel sorry for that guy

[ 2013.07.08 09:20:33 ] Naoru Kozan > [09:19:43] K Bifstik > Normally I'd offer good luck in parting.  But in this case, it's just thanks for nothing

[ 2013.07.08 09:20:35 ] Naoru Kozan > awwwwwww

[ 2013.07.08 09:20:50 ] Naoru Kozan > does this make me a bad person?

[ 2013.07.08 09:21:07 ] Patrick Kasper > a bit, yes

I thought that would be the end of this matter....but a few days later I get another private convo from Mr Bifstik.

[ 2013.07.10 09:56:18 ] K Bifstik > good evening.  remember me?

[ 2013.07.10 09:56:24 ] Naoru Kozan > nope

[ 2013.07.10 09:56:33 ] Naoru Kozan > have we met before?

[ 2013.07.10 09:57:30 ] K Bifstik > seems so -- you put  a bounty on me several days ago -- and I could not remember encountering you

[ 2013.07.10 09:58:29 ] Naoru Kozan > ah ok

[ 2013.07.10 09:58:53 ] K Bifstik > and I'm still trying to understand that whole affair

[ 2013.07.10 09:59:12 ] Naoru Kozan > have you seen "Batman Begins"?

[ 2013.07.10 09:59:27 ] K Bifstik > nope

[ 2013.07.10 09:59:38 ] Naoru Kozan > or was that the dark night? sec let me check google

[ 2013.07.10 10:00:08 ] Naoru Kozan > anywho there is a really good line from Alfred in that film

[ 2013.07.10 10:00:12 ] K Bifstik > i understand who the dark knight is

[ 2013.07.10 10:01:04 ] K Bifstik > and the quote is?

[ 2013.07.10 10:01:46 ] Naoru Kozan > Some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.

[ 2013.07.10 10:02:29 ] K Bifstik > ok, i understand the concept.  to whom are we referring?

[ 2013.07.10 10:02:53 ] Naoru Kozan > you were wondering why i put a bounty on you

[ 2013.07.10 10:03:02 ] K Bifstik > still am

[ 2013.07.10 10:03:26 ] Naoru Kozan > i did it because it amused me at the time

[ 2013.07.10 10:04:29 ] K Bifstik > see, when you did that you said we had encountered each other during a chat session.  but we had never chatted directly so it means you were present during my public chat with someone else

[ 2013.07.10 10:05:00 ] K Bifstik > and i thik i recall when that might have been

[ 2013.07.10 10:06:17 ] K Bifstik > the really curious thing is that numerous bounties are loaded onto my character at the same time by people whom i do not know or have not directly encountered

[ 2013.07.10 10:06:34 ] K Bifstik > like you

[ 2013.07.10 10:07:01 ] Naoru Kozan > mmmhmmm

[ 2013.07.10 10:07:35 ] K Bifstik > see why i'm so curious?

[ 2013.07.10 10:07:53 ] Naoru Kozan > does it really matter?

[ 2013.07.10 10:08:51 ] K Bifstik > well, yes it does.  implies that someone is affecting my game play for reasons unknown or not understood by me.

[ 2013.07.10 10:09:27 ] K Bifstik > and i think you know who that person is

[ 2013.07.10 10:11:22 ] Naoru Kozan > have another 10 mil bounty <3

[ 2013.07.10 10:12:07 ] K Bifstik > and the game continues

[ 2013.07.10 10:13:48 ] K Bifstik > so here's my game plan.  the bounties now come from people who already have high bounties on them, so they are immune from retaliation

[ 2013.07.10 10:14:30 ] K Bifstik > but you, and a couple others who originally participated, have none or low bounty levels

[ 2013.07.10 10:14:50 ] Naoru Kozan > yeah i lost a few ships last night which wiped out my bounty

[ 2013.07.10 10:15:11 ] K Bifstik > so whenever i get a new bounty, i'll add an equivalent amount to your total and those others

[ 2013.07.10 10:15:47 ] K Bifstik > since, of course, it does not really matter to you

[ 2013.07.10 10:16:30 ] Naoru Kozan > nope

[ 2013.07.10 10:16:37 ] Naoru Kozan > having a bounty does not worry me at all

[ 2013.07.10 10:16:59 ] K Bifstik > the bounty system in this game is really deficient and subject to abuse.  but that's the way it is

[ 2013.07.10 10:18:10 ] Naoru Kozan > ok

[ 2013.07.10 10:18:19 ] K Bifstik > bye

[ 2013.07.10 10:18:24 ] Naoru Kozan > o/

Ok, now this is starting to verge onto EVE stalker territory. Two days later I recieve an eve-mail from El Bifsticko.

Congratulations

From: K Bifstik

Sent: 2013.07.11 17:08

To: Naoru Kozan, 

Even though you state that bounties are no big deal, you have eliminated yours.  But if I get another one I'm going to share it with you until I  find out who is at the bottom of my "infestation"

My reply:

Re: Congratulations

From: Naoru Kozan

Sent: 2013.07.12 01:39

To: K Bifstik, 

/shrugs

Losing ships is a hazard of the trade when you pvp. Since the bounty seems so important to you I put another one on you :)

<3

Fly safe o/

5 days later:

 

Hello Again

From: K Bifstik

Sent: 2013.07.17 03:34

To: Naoru Kozan, 

Everyone who contributed to my new bounty load got the same bounty I did.  You're welcome

Then another private convo:

[06:49:30] Naoru Kozan > o/

[06:49:50] K Bifstik > Please let me know when you're ready for more bounty

[06:50:10] Naoru Kozan > have another 30 mil

[06:50:14] Naoru Kozan > ^^

[06:51:03] K Bifstik > Believe me, you will if I will

"He Mad" doesn't really apply anymore. "He unstable" seems way more accurate. I've also learnt through supa sekret intel channels that a certain Tusker has a deal with K Bifstik to help clear his bounty by blowing up his ship. But this unscrupulous individual has been bountying Mr Bifstik on a neutral alt. Guess there are bad apples in every pirate corp :)

Sugar seemed bemused at how easily I throw ISK away. But those few clicks have provided heaps of entertainment. Sure that 100mil or so could have bought a pile of frigates or cruisers....but you can't attach an ISK value to the random human drama you can provoke in this game with a simple mouse click.

Naorus Nullsec something and the Gods of RNG

Dread Gurista Fleet Staging Post.

Found one of these, it escalated all the way to the end. The fucking escalation sent me to an NCdot staging system again. One and a half hours of plexing, 34 jumps, frayed nerves from mashing d-scan and triple boxing through null and 122 million ISK drops.

FUCK YOU GODS OF RNG/LOOT FAIRY!

Rage rage rabble rabble etc etc.



...




So, obviously this is not quite working out how I hoped it would. So what did I learn?

Citadel Torp in the high end gurista plexs ia fucking joke for tengus to tank.

Escalating plexs are a fucking pain in the ass to run when they send you over null.

Radars and mags are good when your salvage ship does not get killed by the locals
(but I managed to kill quite a few of them XD)

Null is pretty damn lonely and the lack of dockable stations is a pain if you are not in a big alliance.


Enough raging, what did I take away from this experience?

Radars and Magnometric sites (prior to the Odyssey changes) could be easily run with a dedicated probing ship with salvagers, code breakers etc paired with a DPS ship.

Unrated plexs feel like to much effort without access to a jump bridge network and stations for refitting.

The Citadel Torpedos are a joke VS small signature Tech 3s.

I may make another attempt in Great Wildlands since it's much closer to home and will make logistics much less of a pain. Not to mention it's empty most of the time and if I get bored it is only a short trip back to Bosena for camping the Teon gate.

I shall post further updates (and shall endeavour to post on a more regular schedule).

Damn she has got a fat ass!

Yes the Interdiction Nullifier makes your ass look fucking huge.

So yeah, lowsec exploration was getting stale. The ISK is pretty damn nice, the sites are quick to run and aside from that one "incident" with Hashi Keptzh, everything was running smoothly. But it was not holding my interest.

HEY! Why don't I run off and try exploration in null-sec! Great idea! Let's get all the ships packed into the carrier select a quiet area and we are off.

Except, each time I prepped to head out something made me hesitate. After a few days it clicked: I was still nervous about null-sec. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those players who cowers in fear at the mention of 0.0. I do the odd solo frigate roam through null, duck in to finish a plex escalation and so on. But the prospect of actually living there is something new and unsettling. Different mechanics, new faces in local, the prospect of much larger fleets rolling through.
The flipside is a whole new host of sites and plexs to run (plus the sites should be much more profitable than lowsec).

Fuck it, let's go. Carrier jumps went smoothly. I found a 3 sites FDZ4-A, ploughed through them and then the locals started combat probing. I cleared the last NPC's and sat in the site waiting to see what they would bring. Time passed and nothing appeared on d-scan so I warped back to station to restock on ammo. Mid-warp I spot their fleet heading the plex lol. Quick turn around and I warp back to the plex and land on their cloaky tackle Tengu. Lock him and let the missiles fly while frantically mashing D-scan to see what else they are bringing. Tengu starts to try and burn away, as he drops into deep shields as backup arrives. Abaddon, Legion, Tornado and a Loki. At this point I should have just bailed. Trying to hold onto the Tengu lets the Loki get webs on, my tank takes a beating as I frantically try and pull some range. Tengu is in deep armor, the mid rack is nearly cooked from heat damage as a Tristian lands. Quick swap and he vaporises. Damage back on the Loki, align for the sun and try to shake him. Heat the web to try and shake him off....then the AB melts. Game Over.

Very fun fight regardless of the outcome.

Back to exciting PVE content!

One site escalated. Then I ran into a warp disruption bubble and 3 bombers decloak. Brief moment of panic as I turn off the MWD in anticipation of getting bombed. But they point my Talos. Umm ok, I align out, heat the guns, drop the drones....then the Talos pops (lol I always forget how paper thin these things are). Reship to Ranis, kill their bubble.
Some local chatter:

[17:22:41] Deadmino4ma > so mad xD
[17:23:45] Deadmino4ma > take ammo and go away)
[17:25:03] Dead Mozay > angry taranis
[17:29:02] Naoru Kozan > russian camp without falcons is quite a suprise

(No I wasn't mad, was just trying to get them to fight)
They decide they don't want to decloak :(

The plex escalates again. 12 jumps later I reach the system and there is a slight problem. Turns out it is a NCdot home system. Local count is a 80 and they are active. Quick game of tag and I head home.

Flycatcher decides he wants to play a few jumps from home.

Derping around on a gate and a Purifier has a crack at my Cynabal... heh sure thing mate. Pop and pop.

Not the best start to the null holiday. But it was bloody interesting and fun regardless of losses. Hell anytime you try something different in EVE it takes a bit of time to wrap your mind around it.

Pretty nebula is pretty!