Getting to know your surroundings is crucial after a move!

Having recently moved about 30 jumps from Heimatar to the Tash-Murkon region, I'm now settling in to my new home base system of Pimebeka. It's where Phoenix Labs has made it's HQ, though we're still listed as being based out of Khanid Prime. A system and region I'm much more familiar with. Stuck between DOMAIN, KADOR and KHANID, TASH-MURKON is a region I've never really gotten to know, despite my 7 years of EVE. Getting my bearings quickly will be crucial.

That's something I always like to do when I establish myself in a new area of New Eden which I'm not familiar with. And whether you use the EVE Strategic Map like me, or @Wollari's DOTLAN EveMaps (which I also use by the way), learning all you can about the systems, belts, stations and surroundings is essential to safely navigating space.

I haven't had the time or opportunity to join any corp events since moving back to PPL, but I have taken a few trips beyond Pimebeka, learning various routes and getting to know a few agents. Hopefully, I'll get to know the neighborhood well rather quickly.

What about you? Have you moved around a lot, or have you stayed within the same region within New Eden?

EVE Strategic Maps - Never undock without it!

With Tranquility being upgraded to the Empyrean Age expansion, I thought I'd take some time to review Serenity Steele's EVE Strategic Maps (ESM). As I mentioned in the last episode of The Drone Bay, I got my copy of the ESM about 2 weeks ago.

When I first got it, I spent about half an hour going regions where my corp (Phoenix Labs) has been active, looking at the various systems we're mining in, to see where they connect to other regions, trade routes and what not. I have to say that it's quite an eye opening experience to finally wrap your head around the geography of the systems around your main base of operation.

Since then, I've used it to help see where I was going when accepting various missions and allowed myself to drop by systems on the way to my destination to see what was out there. It's a weird feeling. I mean I know a lot of these systems, having had to visit them either for mining operations or missions. But to actually see then on a map, is a different thing - to me anyways.

The ESM comes to you very well packaged, in a sturdy cardboard box. So for those of you like me who are a tad picky, you shouldn't be worried about it being damaged when it gets to you. With the ESM, you'll also get the typical EON insert (shown above) and a pad of little yellow stickers (140 in all) used to track outposts in the systems you visit. Buy subscribing to the 'Outpost Alert' and using the stickers, your maps should always be up to date.

On the flip side of the cover is the Legend. You'll need to learn it in order to take full advantage of the maps. It'll take some time to familiarize yourself with it though, as it is filled with a ton of information. From the types of jumps (system, region or constellation), to the number of stations in a systems and it's security level. You'll also have a way to quickly know the types of services available at these station, just by a quick glance. And there's a lot more information in there. The bottom-half of the Legend has a few examples which were very useful.

The Table of Content follows with all the regions, including the new Black Rise region that sits between the Caldari and Gallente Empires.

The Universe map will allow you to quickly see the placement of the various regions as you jump between them.

Finally the region maps starting, in alphabetical order, with Aridia. This is where the meet of the ESM is and where all the fun begins!

Serenity spent almost two years working on the ESM, and his efforts clearly show. A job well done. Call me old fashion, but there's just something about holding a 74 page atlas in you hands - something that a PDF can't compete with.

So, if you were thinking about getting a copy, use the downtime to order yours. With all the flying around we'll soon be doing for our respective factions, I know my copy will come in handy!

EVE Strategic Maps is on its way!

This morning I got wonderful news that my copy of ESM had shipped and was on its way from across the pond. From what I've been told the pre-orders were very numerous and the guys at MMMPublishing were busy packaging each copy to be sent to their proud owners!

Just to let you know that (finally) your copy(ies) of the long-awaited EVE Strategic Maps has (have) now shipped. Yes, your EVE experience is about to
become a whole lot easier...

When you receive your package you will, we hope, appreciate the reason for the delay - a completely new region coming in the Empyrean Age expansion - Black Rise. EVE Strategic Maps includes this new region, and you are one of the first to have this advance information for an area of New Eden not yet open for business. Use that knowledge wisely...

Suffice to say, thank you for your patience. It is not possible, or realistic at least, to email every buyer individually, hence this 'form' email. Some of you only ordered in the last 48 hours - but for some it is nearly 48 days ago that EVE Strategic Maps became the most eagerly awaited drop from the mailman.

We hope you like it. Serenity Steele has worked tirelessly for many, many months to bring you the ultimate in EVE geography. We applaud his efforts, as will you. Here at MMM Publishing, we are now delighted to bring it to fruition. Now, time to wait for that thud on the door mat...

Cheers

The E-ON / ESM team

Now if Canada Post can do it's job properly and not butcher the package, I'll be ecstatic!!

EVE Strategic Maps will ship late, and that makes me happy!

Why you may wonder? A worthy questions which deserve an explanation. Last week, while waiting for EON issue #011 to arrive, I ordered Serenity Steele's EVE Strategic Maps.

I hadn't planned to order it so soon, but when I got the MMM Publishing newsletter, I just couldn't resist.

I had to get it.

Since then I did receive my EON issue (and will be posting the ToC soon), but I was still waiting for my ESM.

Well it seems I'm going to have to wait a bit longer then expected. But it's for a good cause. Earlier today I received the following email from MMM Publishing:

Thanks for ordering EVE Strategic Maps, which we were expecting to begin
shipping within the next 10 days.

However, we have just returned from CCP’s Iceland HQ where we discussed some exciting new content which will slightly delay the shipping of EVE Strategic Maps, but will in fact put you well ahead of the rest of the player base.

Why? There is, as you may know already, an expansion coming in a few months, which will introduce completely new content to the world of EVE. So although your copy of ESM will arrive a couple of weeks later than planned, it will now contain advance information, allowing you totake advantage of the knowledge of this new content before anyone else. CCP has agreed to exclusively reveal this data to us now, wellin advance of it ‘going live’, in order that we can ensure the first run of EVE Strategic Maps includes the most accurate information possible.

As you read this, Serenity Steele is busy exploring this new contentin his Polaris Frigate, plotting the data and mapping every system,planet, moon, asteroid field, ice field and jump gate. With EVE Strategic Maps on your desk, you can be ready to take control. We will email you again to let you know when your copy of ESM is on the way, but for now thanks for your patience. We promise you will not be is appointed.

Regards The E-ON / ESM team

Priviliged information eh! Well I can certainly wait a bit longer for that! If you haven't ordered your copy, now's a great reason to do so. Or else you can wait for my review once I receive my copy.

Cheers!