Beacon Mission Update

I have decided to run the Mission on Saturday 30th @ 20:00 MA time.
The position for the beacon is:-
Amethera 9216, 7126

I think it would be best if we meet at Omegatron West TP and run down as a team. Anyone who does not have this TP please contact me and I will do a TP run.

Regards

Tesh

Merry Christmas United Talents

As some of you know I have bought a 23ped robot beacon as my Christmas present to the society.

I would like us to use it over the christmas holiday for a big soc event.
This is an easy mission so all our members that would like to join in are most welcome. We dont just need fighters we need ppl to open boxes for loot.

I know some of you have to work so if you want to go e-mail me teshik@hotmail.co.uk or post a comment with when it is not good to go i will try to organize it when it is good for everyone.

Loadz of Merry Christmas Wishes

TESH

Society Photo

After some little party at Troy, ofcourse many people are missing on the picture...
From left to right:
Acronoid, VinzZ, T'Pol, Caramon, Teshik, Psycho, Malicia.
Unfortunately yesterday Acronoid told us to leave Entropia for good. May I wish her the best in real life. And I will miss all the babbling with you... Hope to see you again anyway.

My "Twist" on Mining -- Pt. 2

Apparently there has been considerable interest in this mining situation, so allow me to elaborate on the unfinished problem along with Psycho's contribution.

First, let me apologize for my tardiness in the reply. I had to apologize to Acro first, and she demanded a weekend-long foot massage from me. Hopefully we're on good terms now, so I can continue with the mining matter at hand.

By using the example given, in simple-to-use 50 meter terms, the whole mystery is unlocked by creating some triangles within key functional areas and recruiting that fine man Pythagoreas to get to work. the key areas are as follows -- remembering that in this example, 50 meters is the standard.

While this may look odd, weird, cumbersome, and the opposite of entertaining, all this really boils down to is a long explanation that becomes a simple set of measurements. While Psycho utilized cosines and so forth, the real beauty of this grid exists in the component triangles being made up of 30, 60 and 90-degree angles. The ratios for the respective sides were again nicely assessed by Pythagoreas, with one side being half the hypotenuse, and the other side being the length of the shortest side times the square root of 3. After a few manipulations, we come up with the measurements necessary to solve the question of how far N and how far E. Psycho, you may check my work:

Now that there are numbers for this situation, the application is actually quite simple (as seen below). For any area being searched (assuming the first bomb/probe is empty), the next one should be 75 meters north and 43.3 meters east (assuming that things start in the southwest corner of the area), with the third drop being 75 meters south (the same latitude as the first) and a further 43.3 meters to the east. Once that is done, the process is repeated over and over and over for as long as you care to go. And of course, this pattern repeats in a north/south way with good regularity.

Now, when applying this to your own personal range, the measurements will come out slightly different unless your range just happens to be precisely 50 meters. In my case it is about 55 meters, while Beni's range is probably beyond man's understanding. But for whatever the personal range may be, there are simple ways to input that figure into an equation and get a sweet result that's easy to work with. Psycho has provided one means to do it, and below I am providing another way to quickly gather those numbers.

If my calculations are correct (Psycho...), this will provide a convenient way to at least map out a area or suspect patch of territory. And yes, VinzZ is right in saying that multiple bombs/probes on an empty spot will all fail -- so keep an eye out for someone mapping out a territory you are trying to map as well. A nice comfy spot far away from civilization and other miners will do nicely.

In a subsequent article I will do a little expanding on questions about the necessity of overlap and on how to incorporate finds into a territory map. this is something that VinzZ knows about as well, so ask him if I haven't blogged it (great minds think alike). Until then, bombs away!!!

Curly Twist Bender

United Talents

I had some time to spare, so...

My "Twist" on Mining

Hello soc! It's me again, here to share some thoughts on the optimum way to mine. While this may be more into Beni's territory, I felt the urge to put forth my 2 pecs of research and experience in an effort to start an enjoyable and educational debate. And on that note...

I do my best thinking in the shower, and that's where I was when the idea of better mining strategy came to me. I very quickly washed up, dried off, thanked Acro for showering with me, and went to the drawing board to write up some general details. Here's what I am putting together.

First, the standard way of mining is to try a spot out, and if it fails, march 100 meters in some cardinal direction -- N, S, E or W -- and try again. This practice creates a grid of sites that are examined with very little overlap. With the range of basic mining equipment stertching out to just over 50 meters, this seems to work out effectively -- but it neglects a key area of potential goods -- and globals!

Now, using the basic assumption of a 50 meter detection radius for mining (to keep the math easy), the 100 meter grid method does cover the north-south and east-west axes very well. However, as the pics below suggest, there is a grey area in the middle that get neglected! Now, some of that space is accounted for when using the actual detection radius of 55 meters or so, but to cover the full grid space, the detection radius would need to be 70.7 meters! And using the grid method with a 71 meter range would create a lot of overlap -- wasteful overlap at that!

Please pardon all the upcoming math -- I do statistics, optimization and research in the boring real world -- and try to appreciate (or dispute) the results. To check out the most area with the least overlap and no neglected spots, the grid method is not the most efficient, and could end up costing extra probes/bombs when mapping out a grid. So, unless you are like Beni and made of PEDs, a little extra efficiency might help. This would be accomplished through a triangular grid system, with some awkward numbers used to determine starting points, how many meters should be marked off, and so forth. In a world of perfect mapping, it would look kind of like the following:
Now, the more precision measurements will be displayed using an assumption of a 50 meter detection range -- with a final conversion equation to allow real ranges to be plugged in and used for real virtual world situations. The key to this is provided courtesy of Pythagoreas -- one of many fine European folks -- who did a lot of geometry, created a bunch of theorems, and founded the classes that I took at University. But in short, the sum of his work created the basic triangular formation below, and established the necessary stuff to figure out the distances given our 50 meter radius assumption (let's see a snablesnot do that!). The result should be the distance required that one has to go N or S, and the distance E or W, to create the perfect (or optimal) grid.


This is a fun, if tricky bit of math and geometry. My next blog this weekend with reveal the wonderful answer, and how it can be applied to the virtual universe. If anyone has any comments, complaints or criticisms, please let me know. And if you can't find me, I'll be back in the shower...and has anyone seen Acro?

Curly "Twist" Bender

The Calypso Post

I came across this Entropia online magazine, maybe interesting for you all.
http://www.euforces.com/CRT/calypsopost.pdf

Go Sweat and Global

Something happened last night that i have been waiting so long for. My first Global. It was so unexpected because I was not hunting but sweating.

I have never liked sweating but not haveing much spare cash I cant deposit much at the moment so with Acronoid as my teacher and guide we set of in search of Snables. And shortly after some hunters blasted their way through our sweating party complaining about bad loot I struck it big 88Ped from a Snablesnot male Young. I only killed it because it was dry.

I was so excited yes!! I finally got my Global!!

Acronoid thankyou very much for all the tips on sweating and for taking me to Camp Caravan.
your time will come.

Big Bags of Loot! (any volunteers?)

Hello soc members and random blog-readers!

The other day, I spent some time hunting anything I could get a hide from, and after about 20 PED worth of ammo, the single-best loot I found was a patch of 65 caroots lying next to a dead Merp (I sold them for 1 PED even -- the Merp had nothing). Is this fair? Is this justice? Is this just me? I think not -- and those who have hunted with me in the past have seen that there are loots out there worth more than a PED!

This entry has very little to do with whining about bad loots, and more to do with asking the soc about their experiences with mobs and how much they pay off. I want to hear from all the soc members about what they each think are good paying mobs. Argos have iron, which as loot is a nice day of work at the office, and they have hides. Robots have gazz and erdo, and occasionally a robot part. But how often do they drop these things and some valuable PEDs? And what mobs (and where) are the most profitable? Yes, I like hunting pluma for the hides, but not when they drop 5 pec after I put 35 pec worth of ammo into them. Argo iron is nice too, but when only 1 in 5 of them has even one stone and the other 4 claim poverty, I end up losing out.

Of course I will contribute my recommendations, and I hope everyone else will offer their 2 pecs as well. Allophyl by the river next to Tethys Creek seem to be a nice source of valuable fine wool as well as a few coins, and they're not real shy about dropping it. The allo that occasionally wander into the swamps outside PA aren't as generous, so I usually let them be. The Merps and Snarks N of Echidna are mature enough to carry good loot too, and there are Providers and Guardians to make things more fun. Usually, if I'm desperate for money I go there with an axe and a gun and do what comes naturally. And if snablesnots are your preference, some big snables are outside Argus that have great loots and good, fresh-squeezed hair gel (yick!).

The examples I offer are mostly low-level mobs, and as anyone who has read my past commentaries might have figured out (see article on shooting birds), I still have trouble with the bigger beasts out there. But some of the soc members are much better -- Beni, I'm thinking of people like you -- and some have really studied the topic -- read Quintin's Guide to Argo Loot -- and know a thing or two. So, since we are "United Talents", let's unite our talents and knowledge and see if we can make for some more profitable hunting.

I gotta go -- I'm getting ready for some revenge on an Armax that was taunting me yesterday.

Curly Twist Bender

Awesome picture

I came across this lovely picture!
Enjoy ;)



Cheers, VinzZ 

New VU 8.7 coming soon.

Did you notice the news from MindArk? The new version update will be awesome, atleast the graphics look great. I know every VU has some problems so many people don't love to see a new version update. But I like the progress. There is a special note from MindArk considering the use of amplifiers. Usage of weapons will more look like the usage of tools and amps for mining (if I understand it well). When you max out that particular weapon you can go to use a better one. And i like the idea! Eventhough I have to see it myself. But if it is well balanced we will have some new goals while hunting. Here is the link with more information from MindArk: http://www.entropiauniverse.com/en/rich/6096.html

It is also time to recruit new persons. Our new society is about complete and pretty stable, didn't see one person leave our soc. Recently we recruited Acronoid to our soc, she can be of use to sell some armors. More may join, but it is very important that they are active and that they reach Wolverine (Yes! I know! A little effort won't do them any harm.)

Last weekend was fun too. Acronoid, Caramon and myself went to visit the oil rig... We were the lucky ones to use a wormhole to the rig. I had no oil at all after the trip, but it was worth the visit :)

Later, VinzZ 

My Love of Leather!

Sorry to disappoint, but this entry has everything to do with tailoring and very little to do with my personal fashions and fetishes. Anyone who was expecting something a little more spicy is excused to go to other websites.

I recently engaged in some trade with a tailoring friend of mine who had a nice collection of hides from beasts all around the world. We traded notes, swapped ideas, and I ended up buying a collection of exotic hides and leathers. Now I am the proud owner of leathers from just about all creatures great and small -- from Daikiba to Atrax, Combibo to Allophyl. For All Hallow's Eve, I think I'm going to dress up in Tripudion hides and see if anyone notices.

The one thing missing from this celebration of leather is -- skill. To use most leathers other than Snablesnot I need a higher skill level. How much higher is another debate, but for now, let's just say 'higher'. So for now I can collect all the Turp and Fugabara hides I want (see previous entry about shooting birds), but I can't make them into hats, jackets, shoes and racy underwear. Very frustrating indeed -- especially if you enjoy the feeling of an Armax thong and just can't wait to have one all to yourself.

So for now, I am keeping a stockpile of exotic leathers in storage, and I will gladly sell some for a reasonable offer (Caramon, I am thinking of you in particular, but all tailors in general). Eventually I do want to make an outfit all in Allophyl or something, but I will take the PED instead if it helps a fellow soc member. In time I plan on making all these leathers into gear, so time is limited. And if you see me walking around in a fancy, hot pink Armax thong, you know you are too late.

Curly Twist Bender

"Twist"ed Behavior

Yes, soc fellows, I am still in pursuit of the All-Time High HoF. However, I am trying to go about it through another route -- one so brilliantly clever that I may be the only one pursuing it.

While everyone throws their biggest weapons at the biggest creatures in hope for the biggest rewards, I am taking a different approach. I have chosen the approach of the ninja, the assassin, the professional sniper. One shot, one kill, one loot. My prey -- little birds.

Okay, it's a little disturbed. SoothingMist was kind enough to point this out on our hunt Thursday night. But with one shot from my amped A3, I can kill an Old Turp. 7 ammo investment, so even a few pec is profit. A Fugabara Guardian can't get away fast enough. Chirpy -- what Chirpy? One shot turns a Gibnib into one Gib and one Nib. I am undefeated.

Now I have never seen a global saying, "So-and-so killed a Chirpy Stalker worth 471 PED and has been entered into the Hall of Fame." But for the minimal investment, the payoff is nice. Therefore, what I am going for is the record cash-in for a Chirpy. My record -- 13 PED and 74 PEC. It was an old Chirpy, so all that cash was probably its pension (and the reason it couldn't fly away). Cha-ching.

And who knows how much those Old Turps carry...

Curly Twist Bender

A "Twist" of Fate

Let me tell every soc member a very valuable piece of information -- whining works.

My last entry described the frustration I was having from not getting a Global since a year before the Crimean War. Well, someone at MindArk must have felt sympathy for me. Yesterday I went forth and killed a bunch of critters by Echidna, and one of them -- a SnarkSnot Mature -- happened to be carrying 221 PED! Obviously the Snark wasn't that mature, or it would have known not to carry so many PEDs in a bad neighborhood like Echidna. But, long story short -- I got my global! All I had to do was cry and pout and complain about not getting a global and is showed up! How about that?

My next entry will be an extended complaint about how I've never ever claimed an All-Time High Hall of Fame winner...

Curly Twist Bender

At the foot of the mountain

We regrouped our previous society to our new one "United Talents". The society's name can cover more of our skills and talents than the previous did. I want to elevate our society a bit with some more and better organisation. I know we leave our real life to get our dayly chains off and do what we want. But I am sure a well organised society has more to offer than just a bunch of recruits that walk around Calypso not even knowing something exists like a soc-chat, I don't even mention those socmates that just walk in front of you forgetting to say the "hi"-thing.

You know I like organisation, and the more we are organised the more fun we will have. I am sure of that.

Those that are discussed and everyone should do:

1. Search and find the Wolverine Hope Teleport
Here we will use the storage, will refine our materials to put in storage or auction, use auction, craft, tailor, buy and sell thing at TT, repair our items. And meet other members as more of us try to use Wolverine.
One good thing about Wolverine is that everthing is very nearby the TP. So if you are at PA and need to get some stuff to sell at streets, it is quicker to TP to Wolverine to get your stuff out of storage.
Coordinates can be found at society terminals.

2. Enter your last month of activity at society terminal.
If you operate the society terminal, on the main window you will see an "i" icon. Press that one and fill in your latest active month. Do this everymonth! I know many people are much online as we know that by ourselves, but if newbies enter we should be an example. And if we fill in that info, it will be a motivation for the new ones to do it theirselves. The info is very important for new people. If we come at a time that people aren't active for months and months we can decide to clean up our members and boot those who didnt update that information. Ofcourse you can tell some members you will be inative for certain months. But for new recruits this is very important.

Things I am thinking of:

1. Like Curly said earlier, we could share and exchange blueprints with eachother to skill on or craft useful items. Maybe we use the "Personal Info" again for BPs you have available.

2. Skins, hides, gel and other stuff could be stacked by one person. Let's say I buy all the hairgel at a reasonable price from all soc members. After that I sell a big (or reasonable) amount at auction. Another member gathers all soft hides and again sells it at auction or maybe use it themselve. Or Curly gathers all dung! That would be something ;) No kidding, but such kind of organisation give a win-win situation. We get rid of our stuff without shouting our longues to damage at PA. And the buyer can sell at higher price in auction. Same goes for crafted items.

3. We are in need of merchants. As low-end armors aren't stackable to sell in auction, it is quite useless to try to sell them at auction. Therfore, we could use a member (newbie?) who sells our looted armor and guns (even other stuff) on the streets. With this newbies have the opportunity to get knowledge of prices, and can do different things than sweating all the time. A system has yet to be found how to trust those newbies, but I am thinking of always asking My2Pec price minus something. All that the persons sells above is good for him.

4. Make use of eachother skills! If I want new pants, and I know a person is capable of, it should be possible to collect all needed items and ask them to try to tailor them. Good for you (higher success rate), good for the tailor (earns some skills). Same goes for crafting.

5. Recruiting! New people make new fun in our soc, but not too many at the same time. We don't want to be the biggest soc!

6. Occasionaly society-hunts with same level weapons and damage decides order in Team. This is great for the teamspirit. Again Wolverine would be the meeting place.

More things and thoughts coming up later :)

Feel free to comment
Cheers, VinzZ  

Twist's Global Conspiracy

Hello soc! After a three-day, insomnia-induced spree of hunting, I think I killed about half of the mobs on Eudoria (the weaker half) and found every kind of interesting thing around. I skinned and deboned an atrax (after it was dead), brought the Faucervix hodres to near-extinction -- thanx VinzZ -- and took out a Tantillion that was carrying a gun -- I guess it didn't have ammo or I'd be in trouble. I found some people who might make nice recruits, explored new areas, and did some power skilling. But the most amazing thing about this entire time out was...NO GLOBALS!!!

Not even a silent global -- nothing! The biggest, fattest mobs out there had apparently spent all their cash and dumped off their valuable items, leaving me to find stuff like hair spray, a can of paint, or a half-eaten bombardo. During the marathon, someone scored a crafting HoF worth 14k -- and my total globals were zero. Nil. Zip. Nothing. The null set. Zilch.

This is where the conspiracy thing comes in -- as an American, I naturally think that if anything goes wrong for me it has to be a conspiracy rather than bad luck. Anyway, I know our soc is very diverse and worldly, but can anyone testify that they have seen an American get a global? If they can, I need to find another excuse for my misfortune. For now, I'm blaming everyone else -- just like an American.

On a more serious note, as 'United Talents' I think there's something we might be able to do to really 'Unite' our skills and help one another build our 'Talents' as well. Since a number of us craft things, perhaps it would be of benefit to share BPs. If I loan my tailoring BP to someone, that person would be able to have more successes while skilling and possibly make money, and they might just raise the QR of my BPs. Of course this would be on the honor system, so trust is important. But it would allow a sharing of resources to potentially benefit the entire soc. Opinions? Comments? It might make us sound like a crafting guild, but maybe that's a benefit we could use.

Curly Twist Bender

Arm-"Twist"ing

Hello, humans and others! It's going to be a small post this time -- I'm still tired from the long hunt with Quentin and Alu from Atlas Island N. to Argus. If anyone notices that the area is very short of mobs and filthy with laser burns and BLP casings, that was us. It was a great hunt -- no globals, but we definitely showed most of the creatures who's boss. (There was a bunch of 'troxes -- a troxtet -- that jumped us, but otherwise we rocked)

As to the joys of things other than hunting, I have dabbled in finding the best BLP weapons to skill in that don't cost an arm and a leg (the 'trox took those). While the Maddox I is nice, can be made with a lvl. I blueprint and some patience, relatively inexpensive, and sturdy, it burns 4 for 16 pts. of damage. The FreanD Beta BLP burns 4 for 24 pts. of damage, but isn't as sturdy -- as i found out at the end of yesterday's hunt when i had to switch back to the Maddox. The one thing this taught me is that I know very little about what BLP weapons are good and which ones are...less desireable. Since I plan on using BLP weapons more and more against drones, etc. for the damage benefit, I would appreciate knowing where I should put my PED. Any info is appreciated.

Also, if anyone wants to go on a drone-bashing hunt, let me know. I'm not sure I'm ready to go alone, and I'd want a skilled medic around for when a Gen. 5 decides it wants to terminate me. Perhaps a big hunt would be best. After seeing a Warrior gen. 5, I think about a battalion of soc members would be good...

Quik note: As buggy as the new patch is, there's one ebnefit I noticed -- I can jump from a high spot and not start blinking about in mid-fall. At the request of a female I know, I took a running leap off the highest point of the New Oxford Center for Fine Arts, and it was one clean plummet. Smooth, graceful, and 9 stories of uninterrupted and damage-free descent. If only I could've done that a few times in college...

Last note: I was chatting with a feffoid the other day, and it explained why those things are so mean -- they're lonely. Even when they're in groups, there's little social activity. So, in my effort to bring peace to the continent, I am posting a personal on behalf of this poor, sad feffoid (if I don't do this, it's going to eat me):

Single White Feffoid seeking happy-go-lucky Maffoid. Must be good role model (no Outcasts), be very fat and have own loot. The ability to do that flying kick thing is definitely a plus. Must enjoy quiet walks through PvP zones, mutations, trading with humans and eating anything that moves. I know you're out there...let's make some sparks. -- Fun-loving Feff

Curly Twist Bender

United Talents is formed

Due to the inactivity or absence of our previous leader we decided to form a new society called "United Talents". Some members prefered me for being the soc-leader, despite my lack of experience. Anyway, today I showed that I was worth it :) (later on more about that).
Our new soc will have its home base at Wolverine Hope on Amethera. Old members of the Hunters klan are very welcome and will have their same rank in the society. For more detailed and some very important info read soc-info at society terminal.
Oh, yes, I said I proved to be a good leader, check my two globals below in one day. (and two globals on one day isn't usual for me). While mining I picked up a strange signal...

What a day!!

Today I became father of our fresh daughter named "Ine". I am soo happy everything went good eventhough she is born one month earlier than expected.
This morning I even played EU, Twist was online and had a "silent" global while I was sweating some longus to sell my ME. After that I went on a minor Enmatter run with only 20 probes, discovering new areas... and BANG! I hit a global!
And again thanks to Cara for lending his MF102, because without it I would never reached that depth. I also found some Magarian mist so, again, I can't complain :)

A great day! And I am sooooooo exteremely happy with my daughter, and my wife did it so well! Maybe I won't be so much online in the next days, so forgive me about that...

Cheers!

"Twist" and Shout!

Unfortunately, everyone else is getting globals and I'm just getting beaten up. Good for everyone else...bad for me, butit gave me a chance to think...

Does anyone here have a habit of aiming at a particular place on a particular mob? Does anyone have a pattern of shooting right at the Daikiba's face, or at the belly of a snable? I started a little experiment, and I must admit, the results are interesting (if not official).

Back when I only had a couple of pieces of armor, I could tell when I was hit on the harness versus an unblocked hit to the face -- harness shots cause much less damage. Pretty obvious stuff. But then I got thinking about whether the various beasts have different armor in various places, and whether they could soak up more damage in the face or have a weak spot in the belly. My results -- I think I'm right!

The little monster health bar doesn't drop as fast on a 20-point hit to a Daikiba's face as it does when the shot is to the legs. And the dreaded caudatergus hates getting hit on the hump above its head (and perhaps the legs as well). Armored beasts seem to have weak underbellies, and the tall Faucervix does not like taking a high axe swing -- neck/head region.

Maybe these creatures do have different armor ratings on different body parts -- I know I do. But if finding out about these little gems can make the difference between living and reviving, it might be worth a try.

(and on a curious note, it seemed like whenever I went for "weak spot" shots, I was more likely to get some skill on Anatomy. Coincidence? I dunno. But Anatomy is one of my top-three skills now -- you do the math)

Curly Twist Bender