Do you remember the rush? The Shaking? The Panic when you started to take heavy damage?
The rush is what hooks and addicts you to PVP but it also causes you to execute poorly.
In this article I'm going to talk about how you can bring that rush under control and not let effect the outcome of your fights.
I remember one of my first PVP experiences. I jumped into a 0.4 system and started searching the belts for ratters with my Directional Scanner. After a few minutes I located a ratting Thorax and the rush began...
I hit warp to the belt at zero and my hands were already shaking. My heart started racing and I started spamming my D-Scan non-stop as I warped in. When I landed and engaged it only got worse... I felt like I couldn't even control the mouse enough click my orbit button and operate my guns.
Luckily, this ratter was a noob and probably panicking more than I was, he just sat there for the first little while not knowing what to do and no doubt trying to warp out. Then as he was deep in armor he started shooting back, but it was too late, he was dead.
This is a common reaction to PVP when you're first getting started and it seriously limits how well you execute.
These days when I PVP I rarely get that rush and when I do it's never as powerful as it used to be. After probably 5,000 fights, I've slowly desensitized my self.
So how can you be "Calm Like a Bomb?"
The same way I got there... You need to get used to it and you need to put less importance on the outcome of the fight.
One major reason for people to get so excited in a fight is because they are flying an expensive ship and losing it would really hurt. They would have to rat for days or more just to replace it.
That's what makes EVE Online different from other MMO games. You actually have something at risk, and the fights are important. You don't just re-spawn in the same condition as you were before the fight.
So one way to reduce the rush, is to PVP in ships that you can afford to lose and not care about. For most people that means T1 Frigates.
The next secret is to get used to the Rush, which means real PVP (not the test server).
So here's what I tell ever noob (and Vet) I run across that wants to learn PVP...
Go get 20 Fully Fitted T1 Frigates and park them in a station near or in low sec. Now over the course of a few days, lose EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!
Don't try to have a good efficiency or win every fight. Try to get as many fights as you can.
Attack every ship you see. Attack Battleships, BattleCruisers, T3's, T2's, and everything else you see.
I can't count the times that I've taken down Battleships and Battlecruisers with a Rifter.
In fact, I have dropped Battleships while using my less than 1 million SP alt in his Rifter!
More often than not you will over estimate your opponent and end up being shocked by his unpreparedness.
Not only will this help you to "Calm the Rush" but it will also make you a much better PVPer
View Comments (11)
I agree, I still get the rush but I know what I’m getting into, how my ships flies, how they fit their ships from Battleclinic and my exit plan, and the expectation that I could die a horrid death. The most important calming thing for me is knowing the limits of my ship and the limits of the ship I’m fighting.
The rush is what makes the game fun but it’s when it clouds your mind that’s then you freeze or make silly decisions.
Wow the rush! I am still fairly new to PvP and I thought there was something wrong with me when I got that feeling it can be hard to focus and be STRATEGIC while fighting. I will take and use your advise on the T1 frigates and go shoot everything insight till I can master the CALM like a BOMB.
Love this article as it reminds me of my pvp rounds and had this addictive feeling of finding and engaging targets, always solo and always outnumber. Love it! =)
A short video of this would be great, and a rifter fit for doing it. I need as much help as possible.
I'm actually working on something very similar to that right now. Keep an eye on this site for news about it.
Did you ever make that video and fit? Just getting really excited since I'm resubbing to the game after so long, this looks like you're making me a much better pvper already =D Just need to get out and do it!
Once my computer is back from the repair shop anyway :P
I just released my new Frigate PRO PVP Guide which contains quite a bit of rifter footage and some fits.
Here's one of my favorite Rifter Fits:
[Rifter, Shield T1 Ex]
Damage Control II
Overdrive Injector System II
Gyrostabilizer II
1MN Afterburner II
Medium F-S9 Regolith Shield Induction
J5b Phased Prototype Warp Scrambler I
150mm Light AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma S
150mm Light AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma S
150mm Light AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet Phased Plasma S
Rocket Launcher II, Caldari Navy Gremlin Rocket
Small Projectile Burst Aerator I
Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Small Core Defence Field Extender I
Sweet, thanks a ton. I'll definitely have to try it out when I get back in game this week. You rock!
Probably going to get that guide soon, too.
Abbadon, love the info :) I was thinking... Calm like a Bomb shirts are in order :)
Fly by the seat of your pants always :)
Hmmm... Interesting idea. I myself would love a "Calm Like a Bomb" shirt.
I remember the first time I ganked a miner for the first time when it was big at the start of the year. I could barley operate my hands they were shaking so hard.
I just had a fight this week where the same thing happened. I love that it never goes away because you live for the rush - altho in the moment you wish you were calmer