EVE-Mag.com

by Sam Guss

I really get into some games. When I do, I start exploring guides, articles, fan sites, FAQ’s, ect I tend to print them off to read offline, like at work or on the couch while watching television. I’ve been known to buy the guidebooks, pick up magazines that have reviews, and any other source of input into the game I can find and digest.

In Eve, there is a lot of information to be found on the web about it. Finding it however, can sometimes be a pain. However, I have 3 1.5” binders now full of printed material on guides and such, with another binder full of issues of Eve Tribune and Eve-Mag. It didn’t all happen overnight though.

What I am trying to get through in this article is how to setup your very own personal Eve Library, that can be used as a handy reference source while your in-game or provide reading material for you when you’re not in game. What you will need:

• Let’s start with 3 binders but you may want more or less. Any size will do – though I suggest 1-1.5” 3-ring.
• A magazine holder, the cheap plastic one from Wal-Mart will do.
• Some 3-hole tabs
• Access to a printer, the internet and a 3-hole punch.

I like the 3 binder approach to begin with and then add more as you need them. I mark one as “Character Knowledge”, the next one as “Game Knowledge” and the third as “Interesting Articles”.

From here, it is basically doing your own research on what you want to know about the game and then placing them in the appropriate binder. I consider “Character Knowledge” as anything that will help my character out. For example, for my Minmatar fighter pilot, in the binder I place articles and info on Minmatar ships and setups, an article on EW, another article on PvP, and some information on skills and character optimization.

For “Game Knowledge”, this is where you put good information that you find that may not necessarily apply to your character – either right now in the game or even as that character. For example, in my binder this includes Ombey’s maps (yes all of them printed out), the Miner’s Guide, a POS setup guide and some other articles and guides that as you see is not necessarily central to what I “need” to know for the survival of my Minmatar at the moment.

The third binder is where you should put in all the interesting articles you read about Eve online – such as this one here that you are reading! Personally I just print out entire issues and put them here, with interesting, specific articles printed in addition to be placed in the other binders. Then again, I can be a tad OCD.

There a couple of magazines that you should be aware of and check into. One is called Massive Online Gamer, which sometimes has articles pertaining to Eve in it, and of course Eve Online’s own magazine called EON. I just personally got my first issue of EON a couple of days ago and plan on buying back issues and future issues as they come out. These you put in that magazine holder that was on the list of supplies to get.

Your Eve Library though doesn’t stop here. You still need to bookmark sites that are of interest. These include forums, guides, tools, podcasts, etc. These become invaluable during downtimes and when you need to find something in particular but can’t remember where you saw it – as long as you have it book marked you can and will find it again.

To help you get started, here is a list of things you should have to get your own personal library going:

Binders:

• Ombey’s 2D Maps
  http://www.ombeve.co.uk/

• Miner’s Guide
  http://myeve.eve-online.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=434899
• Eve Wiki Ships (per your race)
  http://www.eve-wiki.net/index.php?title=Ship

Podcasts:

• Warp Drive Active
  http://www.virginworlds.com/podcast.php?show=9&ep=40
• WDA: Industry
  http://www.virginworlds.com/podcast.php?show=18&ep=7
• The Drone Bay
  http://www.virginworlds.com/podcast.php?show=17&ep=15

Newsletters and Mags:

• Eve-Mag
  http://www.eve-mag.com/

• Eve Tribune
  http://www.eve-tribune.com/
• EON
  http://www.eve-online.com/eon/

Programs:

• EFT
  http://www.teamati.com/showthread.php?t=4325
• EveMon
  http://evemon.battleclinic.com/
• EveMap
  http://evemap.vansante.net/
• EveMeeP
  http://www.eve-meep.com/

Just with the above, you are now well on your way of having a great Eve Library with the various information you need to not just play the game but excel at it. Enjoy and remember – fly safe.