Header and inset art by Cryo Huren
On the 17th of March, 2021, the iHub in GE-8JV fell. In these unusual times, it is hard to know the importance of such structures, as both PAPI and the Imperium have suggested that some losses like this one are not significant. However, for many, this iHub falling is a most notable event.
In a Galaxy Far, Far Way
Let me set the context. Back in February of 2017, Brave made some big announcements: they would be leaving their home in Fade, due to continued pressure from Pandemic Legion (a member of PanFam). Brave’s destination would be Catch. More importantly, Brave would be joining The Legacy Coalition, led by Test Alliance Please Ignore (TAPI).
At that time, Brave had been battered and their member count had been reduced to below 4,000. Every turn they made seemed to only lead to another crisis or disaster. The situation was dire for Brave and they needed to find security with other friendlies from the terrors of Pandemic Legion. It was common knowledge that Catch was far from the “best space,” not even close. But, it would be safer space for Brave and allow them the opportunity to be a part of a coalition that would be able to assist them. Catch would also provide a constant stream of content, given its position and importance in freight logistics.
Playing a Game of Catch
Catch was not to be occupied solely by Brave. Other members of The Legacy would share the region. Brave would set their capital system to GE-8JV, and that would be their home for the next four years.
From their new home in Catch, Brave would go on to grow greatly. Brave currently stands at 13,500 members, despite being in a war for almost a year. In other words, they have tripled their size since moving to Catch in 2017. During this time Brave would also go on to defeat Pandemic Legion in battle. Capital fleets were made. Life was good for Brave in The Legacy.
But, these four years also saw other changes within the Brave organization and culture. When they entered Catch, they were the “small guy” that had been beaten on for years. As such, they declared very loudly that they were more principled than other groups. “Fun per hour” was a core principle, as was “keeping it classy.” But what people say and what they do can be in conflict at times.
Weaving A Tangled Web
In 2020 Brave joined a “war of extermination” in which the intent – by definition – was to stop people from playing Eve. Had Brave been wronged in some way? The answer to this ultimately turned out to be a resounding “no.” The “war of extermination” had been started, as everyone has slowly come to understand, in order to increase the rental holdings of The Legacy. Somehow, Brave had gone from “fun per hour” to trying to make people stop playing the game so that they, and their allies, could rent out more space.
You may think that stark statement could not be further from the ethos promoted in Brave. There was, however, more to come.
Brave is, of course, a part of The Legacy, and The Legacy is the lead coalition in the mega-coalition PAPI. With odds of 3:1, PAPI set about burning the homelands of The Initiative (INIT), a member of The Imperium. When burning down INIT, Brave maintained in local that this was all meant for “gf.” Good fights; good fun. However, these same comments from Brave members contributed to INIT’s decision to move to the region of Curse, in striking range of Catch and other regions controlled by The Legacy.
You might think that Brave would be gracious in both victory and defeat. But Brave were less than that. In fact, Brave were very vocal in what they thought of INIT. Brave took great glee in destroying the home of INIT. This bravado was also carried over to Brave’s declarations that Catch would never fall to a “dead alliance.” This may seem a little odd given the virtuous declarations of Brave in the past and the motto to “stay classy.”
Robbing Peter to Pay Paul
We also see that many of Brave’s recent membership gains have come at the expense of other The Legacy corporations. Since November of 2020, nine corporations have joined Brave, all of them coming from another member of The Legacy alliance.
So, four years after moving to Catch, Brave has gone from “fun per hour” to assisting in the creation of the largest rental blue donut New Eden has ever seen. In so doing, they have all but abandoned their former home of GE-8. The Keepstar remains, as do many structures belonging to Brave. However, Brave has shown its intent to continue to follow The Legacy in its war of extermination. Reminds me of an old song: “Where you lead, I will follow. Anywhere, that you tell me to.”
This leaves the fate of GE-8 still somewhat uncertain. But, given the many unkind words Brave cast in the direction of INIT, it is not unreasonable to think that INIT will be looking to unseat Brave from their traditional home of GE-8. It would be foolish to make predictions too far into the future. Will INIT use cyno jammers? Will they perhaps use some novel doctrine? Will they just wait for PAPI to be so committed elsewhere that they can strike uninterrupted?
What we can say for certain is that with the fall of the GE-8 iHub, Brave has entered a new chapter in its history. They have chosen a direction and have signalled quite clearly that they consider their future to be with The Legacy, pursuing rental schemes. All their efforts are to be focused on Querious and “exterminating Goons.” This seems to be about as far from “fun per hour” and “new player friendly” as you can get, but what would I know? Time will tell how this plan works out for Brave. But for now, at least in actions, Brave has left Catch.
Dripple
After constantly reading about “exterminating Goons.” “war of extermination” over and over, from Goon drama queens, even as old Goon member I’m starting to believe and wish it was the war goal.
March 21, 2021 at 9:31 AMHave to give it to INN and Saturday show, they know how to keep PAPI morale and will to fight high.
Moomin Amatin Dripple
“Extermination” is a war goal for PAPI. It was set out by PAPI leadership at the start of the war. PAPI linemembers then shouted for months and months about it. Thankfully the internet remembers and you can search for what PAPI leadership said yourself. You need a link to the Polygon article or the numerous things said by PAPI leadership and line members?
March 21, 2021 at 9:56 AMNoob Moomin Amatin
I don’t think anyone in Japan would venture to say they “won” WWII because they got to keep the Emperor so it wasn’t technically an “unconditional” surrender.
Repeating the “extermination” trope ad infinitum is as retarded as saying goons are here to ruin your game because some goon said that years ago.
But in tough times such as these, the Kool-Aid must be served, I guess…
March 21, 2021 at 12:30 PMRammel Kas Noob
Wow… soooo much denial there. Sure you’re ok dude? Blink twice if they got kidnapped your prize plushy or something? So what happens if Moomin gets around to linking both the articles and the VODs of Talking in Stations etc for source?
March 21, 2021 at 1:05 PMHavish Montak Rammel Kas
Added the polygon article. https://www.polygon.com/2020/9/15/21436851/ever-online-world-war-bee-2-interview-the-mittani-vily Use it at will.
March 21, 2021 at 1:58 PMGuilford Australis Noob
And here’s the PAPI clown-nose routine. “Despite our leaders specifically stating this is a war to exterminate Goons, they didn’t really mean it, and I, a nobody line member, will now reinterpret that statement as Goon spin despite it coming straight from the lips of my own leaders.”
March 21, 2021 at 1:09 PMDripple Guilford Australis
I remember deployment launches where Mittani talked about skull fucking enemies and hurting them so bad that they don’t want to log back into game.
March 21, 2021 at 3:59 PMNot 100% but I think this was when we attacked Culture and smacked their keepstars.
Should these be taken literally aswell? AND, here is a suggestion, maybe don’t beg for something you might not want, I would like to remind, that Fortress Deklein was also impenetrable.
Anyhows, I know you guys are salty and all, just try to keep some dignity, its just embarrassing to see how SOME people wroth over this war.
Moomin Amatin Dripple
So you made a comment which I refuted. You then skulk to a comment where you think you have a chance of making some ground?
I am not keen to trust your memory of events, they seem somewhat jaded. So show me the Polygon article with that all in and you have at least something similar to what PAPI have already done months ago. I mean like for like right?
As for being salty? Well it seems your mind reading capabilities are as good as your memory. This is the very best thing that could have happened for The Imperium. It proves what they have said all along. You just need to open a map to see it.
March 21, 2021 at 4:26 PMDripple Moomin Amatin
“So show me the Polygon article with that all in”
“As for being salty? Well it seems your mind reading capabilities are as good as your memory. “Like wow, way to prove my point. #NoPolygonNeeded
“This is the very best thing that could have happened for The Imperium. It proves what they have said all along. You just need to open a map to see it.”
March 21, 2021 at 5:05 PMI mean… sure it does prove Imperiums point, I don’t think jumping under a bus just to prove that it hurts is worth it, but atleast you are “right”.
Its not like you had choice, but I can see your point if I squint my eyes enough.
Moomin Amatin Dripple
I was only asking for a similar proof as to what has been linked in the comments by Havish. Again you just reply avoiding the original point and make up some more stuff. Meanwhile the map and the numerous recordings of PAPI leadership still exist. Anyhoo you know where 1DQ is by now I am sure.
March 21, 2021 at 5:55 PMDripple Moomin Amatin
Nobody is denying that Vily used term “war of extermination”, I’m simply implying that maybe, just maybe the term was used as moral boost/overexaggerating/”just a war talk?”
March 21, 2021 at 6:47 PMIF you are claiming that literally EVERY other nullsec entity wants to “exterminate” you…. Either take it with pride and quit the disgusting demeaning of your fellow EvE players or have long whiskey fueled self-reflection session, that why others dislike you so much that they want to “exterminate” you.
Moomin Amatin Dripple
I think I understand your confusion now. You see it is very funny to The Imperium as The Legacy asked us The Imperium to team up to throw out panfam from their space. Would the same lines be used then? “Too big and dangerous and bad for the small guy” would be touted to justify that land grab. You see this is a land grab and that is all. For the small guy? Not a chance, for renting.
So you see we are not letting go of the “extermination” bit, or the rental stuff or the fact that PAPI is planned to exist for a lot longer than people expect.
Anyone who has played this game long enough can see what is happening yet again. The Legacy simply could not utlise their space well enough so then ended up being lazy and renting it out. They got greedy and hoped that we would kick Panfam out of what Vily considers the best space in the game. We said no to the rental desire of The Legacy. But Panfam, FIRE, Legacy and Winter Co are happy to come to a rental agreement.
March 21, 2021 at 7:56 PMGarreth Vlox Dripple
“Nobody is denying that Vily used term “war of extermination”, I’m simply implying that maybe, just maybe the term was used as moral boost/overexaggerating/”just a war talk?””
Then he shouldn’t have used it as much as he did while giving interviews that resulted in real world news articles.
“IF you are claiming that literally EVERY other nullsec entity wants to “exterminate” you”
March 22, 2021 at 2:22 AMLiterally no one has said this, it was clearly stated vily set that goal, everyone just piled on the lets go shoot gonns bandwagon.
Carvj94 Guilford Australis
Reminds me of a Trump supporter. “he was being sarcastic”
March 23, 2021 at 9:35 PMMoomin Amatin Noob
An interesting take, one that does not seem to stand up to well.
“Extermination” was a goal presented by PAPI leadership for World War Bee. I agree that statements bought up by ex goon leadership who were last spotted in the Casino War in PL from well over a decade ago are foolish. So why do you bring it up? It has nothing to do with this war aside from being used as justification for the PAPI “extermination” of The Imperium.
The most telling thing is that comments trying to defend PAPI’s objectives have nothing substantial to offer. I mean you seem to be relying on “kool-aid” now, what is it next, “UR MOM” lines?
March 21, 2021 at 1:38 PMHavish Montak Noob
https://www.polygon.com/2020/9/15/21436851/ever-online-world-war-bee-2-interview-the-mittani-vily
Read quote from article. Then see the extent to which hostiles cannot back pedal.
March 21, 2021 at 1:57 PMRobbie_Gluon Dripple
It was the war goal you fool.
March 21, 2021 at 1:54 PMHavish Montak Dripple
https://www.polygon.com/2020/9/15/21436851/ever-online-world-war-bee-2-interview-the-mittani-vily
Read article. Look at quotation. Grab your ship and make the last stand in 1DQ1.
March 21, 2021 at 1:56 PMCarvj94 Dripple
It was explicitly stated as a war goal as recently as last month. Maybe you line members don’t listen to your own leadership? That’d explain all the poor formups that are leading to even fights against the Imperium despite your significant numbers advantage.
March 23, 2021 at 9:34 PMchimpy
The irony of this war is that Goons could hasten the implosion of papi simply by giving up 1DQ. The Goons have already announced their plan if 1DQ falls, NPC space. At that point all that’s left to papi would be a hellcamp, and we could then see just how long papi members would be prepared to do that. Could they stick it as long as the Goons have? But as the hellcamp dwindled something else that’s been held at bay would be unleashed. What happens between papi members after the war? That will be very fun to watch. Mittens on the meta last night talked about asset safety. I’m sure Goons will try and hold on for another M2- in 1DQ especially because they have the server weather advantage, but they are openly and logically planning for after 1DQ. I wonder just how well prepared papi is for post 1DQ? Maybe some parts of papi are far more prepared than other parts, and this is when the fun will start. To fight each other from the state they were in at the start of this war would be much easier and comfortable than to fight each other from the state they are in now. For “winners” some of them look very much they just lost a war in terms of what they have left. Brave looks more like a bunch of refugees fleeing a war trying to survive than victors claiming a field to stamp the infinity boot down on the local population. How could they hope to defend themselves in their current state? Goons will sit by and rebuild as papi tears itself apart, and then Mittens will send his regards.
March 21, 2021 at 1:33 PMMoomin Amatin chimpy
You are probably right. But you know what goon humour is like. The Imperium is more than happy to hold out as watching PAPI build this rental donut while being in denial about it is just too funny.
This is nothing like The Casino War either. Back then The Imperium was effectively pinned into Saranen for 3 months or so. The Imperium is seemingly many months away from that situation. Arguably never given the NPC space in Delve.
March 21, 2021 at 1:49 PMMichael Porter
Ummm…the systems still owned by BRAVE….?
March 21, 2021 at 8:04 PMOh, wait DotLand didn’t update it.
Moomin Amatin Michael Porter
Hi there and thank you for your comment. May I redirect you to the very first paragraph of the article. I should also note that the current iHub owner of GE-8 (which is not Brave) defended it yesterday.
Stay tuned to INN to make sure you keep up with all the latest in New Eden.
March 21, 2021 at 8:53 PM