Difference between revisions of "PVP University FAQ"

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[[Category:PVP University]]
 
[[Category:PVP University]]
 
==Overview==
 
==Overview==
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'''NOTE: This article is under construction'''
  
 
The PVP University has taken on a life of its own such that answering questions and administrating the classes has become a rather large job. In order to minimize the amount of time spent on the forums answering the same questions over and over again, we've decided to consolidate those answers in an FAQ and post big, bold links to it all over the PVP U forum. Without further ado, what follows is a collection of the most frequently asked (and answered) questions.
 
The PVP University has taken on a life of its own such that answering questions and administrating the classes has become a rather large job. In order to minimize the amount of time spent on the forums answering the same questions over and over again, we've decided to consolidate those answers in an FAQ and post big, bold links to it all over the PVP U forum. Without further ado, what follows is a collection of the most frequently asked (and answered) questions.

Revision as of 15:29, 8 January 2009

Overview

NOTE: This article is under construction

The PVP University has taken on a life of its own such that answering questions and administrating the classes has become a rather large job. In order to minimize the amount of time spent on the forums answering the same questions over and over again, we've decided to consolidate those answers in an FAQ and post big, bold links to it all over the PVP U forum. Without further ado, what follows is a collection of the most frequently asked (and answered) questions.

Signing Up For Classes

When is the next PVP BASIC class?

Classes are scheduled as instructors and administrators are available and in such a way that will not conflict with any of Agony's internal events or other classes that may be scheduled (you will probably never see a separate BASIC and WOLFPACKS run the same weekend).

Generally speaking, we are aiming for two BASIC classes per month, one to two WOLFPACKS classes per month and an ADVANCED class every other month at minimum. This will allow us to schedule other weekends for internal operations, specialized seminars and other events.

How do I know when a BASIC class is announced? They fill up too quickly!

There is an ingame mailing list called AU_PVP_CLASSES. An announcement will be posted to this list at the same time we post a thread announcing a class in the Enrollment forum.

In order to join the ingame mailing list follow the instructions below:

  1. Select Channels and Mailing Lists from the menu.
  2. Open the Mailing Lists Tab
  3. Click Join
  4. Type in AU_PVP_CLASSES

Ok, I'm looking at an open sign-up thread for a BASIC course! How do I sign up?

Hop on over and check out this article on signing up! It's pretty simple, really, just post with the proper format in the sign-up thread and send your money to our corporate account!

Wait?! Send money to your corporate account? How in the name of all that is high in DPS do I accomplish that?!

Don't panic! It's really simple, actually.

  1. Open your People and Places window.
  2. Select "Corporation" from the entity types dropdown list.
  3. Enter "Agony Unleashed" in the search box.
  4. Right-click the result and select "Give Money"
  5. Select "Master Wallet" if it isn't selected.
  6. Enter the appropriate amount (7 million ISK for BASIC, for instance)
  7. Copy and paste the class code from the top of the sign-up thread into the "Reason" field.
  8. Click Ok!

Your payment will be picked up within 24 hours by our software and the class administrator will mark you as a student or credit you with a course payment for a future class if the class filled up before you were able to sign up.

Ohnoes! I didn't sign up in time and I've been marked as "Credited", what does that mean?!

Again, don't panic. That simply means that the class administrator has recognized your payment, but you signed up after the class was a) closed, or b) filled. The admin marks you as Credited so (s)he knows you've paid in case a slot opens up or the class is expanded.

Thus, you need to pay attention to the class thread after you've signed up, even if you didn't make it in and are marked as credited. Sometimes people will have to cancel and slots will open up, or the instructor will decide that instead of 40 students, we want 50 or 60, in which case all those who have signed up and are credited will be moved to the student list and perhaps even sign-ups resumed.

In any case, you are free to sign up for the next class at no cost since you have already paid. After the class, the admin will list your credit in an accounting thread on the Enrollment forum along with anyone else who paid for and missed the class.

Preparing for Class

For any class, there is a checklist you should follow to prepare.

  1. Enrollment

Make sure have correctly enrolled in the class, that you know when it is, and that your payment has been made (either by yourself, or through a corporate account on your behalf). Make sure you are aware that times advertised for classes are in EVE time, which is GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). This is the time shown in the lower lefthand corner of your screen when docked in EVE (by default). EVEMon also has a feature that will show the current EVE time in the lower left corner, on the status bar.

  1. Connect to the "AU_PVP_UNIVERSITY" channel

Within your EVE client go to 'channels and mailing lists' and add "AU_PVP_UNIVERSITY" - you'll need to be on this channel during the class, and it can be very helpful when making arrangements or asking for help with things.

  1. Connect to the ventrilo server

Once you gain access to the class materials, visit the Voice Communications in PVP article and follow the instructions there on connecting to our Ventrilo server. This gives you even more options when it comes to asking us for help. NOTE: If you don't have a microphone, you still need to connect to Ventrilo so you can listen to the class. There is no point in attending if you can't hear the instructor!

  1. Check your skills

The skills you need to have before the class starts are listed in the enrollment thread for that class. They vary by class type but they are the minimum skills you MUST have trained to attend that class. Generally they aren't that steep at all, being after all minimums.

  1. (Optional) Prepare your jump clone

You're going to want a jump clone at the meeting location of the class. The pod survival rate in our Basic classes is around 95% - most people don't lose any ships, and most people who lose their ship don't lose their pod. But losing all your implants is something we'd prefer you didn't risk. If you are unable to secure jumpclones without Agony's help, we will attempt to get you to a station in 0.0 where you can set up a jump clone. To do this, you will need Infomorph Psychology I and a shuttle. Ask on the AU_PVP_UNIVERSITY channel and we can arrange an armed escort for you.

  1. Set your autopilot for the class meeting location

Nonni is a reasonably major manufacturing center, and is definitely the best place to buy your frigates so that you won't have to haul them. Other trade hubs in the area are Sobaseki (4 jumps from Nonni) and Jita (5 jumps from Nonni). Torrinos (8 jumps from Nonni) tends to be well-stocked, but it also tends to be expensive.

Note: Not all classes are held in Nonni!

  1. Start reading the rest of the articles, browse the PVP-Basic forum

The PVP-Basic articles can be found here. Here's the PVP-Basic forum.

  1. Buy your frigates

Choose one type of frigate that you think you'll enjoy for the duration of the class. Having your class frigates in different types seems like a really good idea in theory, but in practice it tends to be frustrating and annoying. Don't choose a frigate with a mining laser bonus. Don't choose a frigate with an astrometrics bonus. Don't choose an assault frigate, interceptor, or stealth frigate - they require different techniques to fly than a tech 1 frigate, and we won't be covering those techniques in this class. We usually don't use target painters in the BASIC class, so don't choose a Vigil.

Once you've chosen a type of frigate, buy at least two of them, three if you can afford it. Five if you're planning on making a regular habit of travelling into 0.0 or lowsec with the classes.

  1. Buy afterburners

Each of your frigates is going to need an afterburner. For certain frigates, this doesn't give optimal combat performance, but it's the right choice for most frigates. There are a number of training exercises where the instructor will say "turn on your afterburner" - not having one means you miss out on some of the educational value. Don't buy or fit microwarp drives, when we say 'afterburner' we mean 'afterburner'. If you feel like fitting named, t2 or faction afterburners, then go for it. Just remember that in 0.0, the real question is not 'if' you lose your ship, but 'when'.

  1. Buy midslot and lowslot items

Have a look at the recommended modules for BASIC and try to collect the full set. If you've chosen a frigate that gets a bonus to ewar modules (Crucifier, Griffin, or Maulus) make sure you have all the modules from the collection that you get a bonus to using. (Tracking disruptors, ECM varieties, or sensor damps, respectively.) As with the afterburners, feel free to get expensive kit if you can afford to lose it.

  1. Buy highslot items

The midslot items are vitally important to a hydra fleet, so you buy those and make sure you can fit them before you look at fitting weapons. Be aware that different midslot items require different amounts of CPU - don't be afraid to use lighter-caliber guns to make sure you can equip your ewar. (If you're loaded with cash, consider buying a mixture of gun calibers so that you can maximise your punch once the ewar is finalized during the class. Similarly, named modules can help, if you can afford to lose them.)

  1. Buy ammunition

400 rounds per weapon should see you through nicely. If possible, bring an ammunition type that gives you an optimal range around 9km, and as an ammunition type that gives an optimal range roughly equal to your frigate's fastest circular orbit.

  1. Gather everything at the class location

Careful here - there's more than one Lai Dai station in Nonni. Most classes are in Nonni but not all! So check. Also, some classes are held on the test server. If your class is based on the test server it will plainly say so in the booking thread.

  1. Fit out your frigates and insure them

Set up your frigates with identical fittings in every slot and get the platinum insurance on each. During the class, you're reasonably likely to be asked to change your fittings around, but you may as well make certain that there's at least one configuration that works.

  1. Set your medical clone to the class location

In the unfortunate event that you do get podded, waking up 50 jumps away from the class would ruin your evening.

  1. (Optional) Finalize your jumpclone arrangements

You're going to want the clone with all your implants to be in some other station, so you can use an implantless clone for class.

  1. Configure your overview and your graphics settings

Follow the configuration instructions that are a part of the BASIC course material. Yes, you really do need to turn off your sound and effects, and you really do need to set up your overview so that you can't see anything beyond the essentials. If you don't do this and you're lucky, your overview will be cluttered and you might cause a friendly fire incident. If you're unlucky, your client will crash when you jump into a system full of hostiles.