Plenty of stuff going down in the universe we call EVE online. All sorts of little things they keep adding to make the game fresh and keep people from taking too much advantage of each other out there. That’s one thing that’s always struck me about EVE is just how laisez-faire it is. In most MMOs you’re encouraged to work together overcoming threats from NPCs, bosses, and other external sources. The devs are constantly coming up with new threats, each more powerful (or ridiculous) than the last. The armor gets spikier and the dragons get bigger, but it’s all stuff that has next to nothing to do with your character. Technically, your toon could just tell the world to take a flying leap and not bother saving anyone. The game wouldn’t really go anywhere for you, but you can.

EVE is just a little different. There are plenty of hazards put in place by the devs, but some of the worst threats come from your fellow players. Pirates are just the most obvious examples of this. While I really hate being farmed by a group (see previous posts), there’s an honesty to what they’re doing. When you see a pirate fleet coming for you, you know what you’re up against for the most part. They want what you have and are going to take the most direct route to get it, that being to blow you up.

More dangerous are your fellow players who are more business minded. They have the same goals as the pirates, but the methods are vastly different. You have no idea where they will come from, how they will hit you, and in some cases who is making your life miserable. Suddenly finding your supply of raw materials drying up? It could be an honest shortage, but it could just as easily be a bit of espionage designed to weaken you for some grand takeover.

Other players can be your worst enemies when you’re buying Eve Online isk, too. If you’re a little careless about who you tell about your buying habits it can get to the wrong ears. This can mean the devs, who would be happy to ban you. It can also mean a player who isn’t above a little blackmail.

Therein lies the rub with this game. Other MMOs lead you by the nose through the game. Here people have the freedom to be as good or horrible as they like.

Be careful out there.

Well, no news to report on the EVE front these days. There’s a minor patch launching tomorrow but it’s mostly some minor tweaks for performance.

On the other hand, no news is good news. Those griefers I was telling you about? Yeah, they had a really nasty little surprise waiting for them the next time they came calling. The reactions were truly spectacular. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone retreat that fast before. They came back a few more times later on but their meal ticket has just expired, along with a large portion of their fleet. It was wonderful.

I have made a few buys since then, but I stuck with Toonstorm since I got a great deal last time, and the delivery times made me really happy. No sense messing with a good thing, right? Although I would never tell anyone, those griefers did a lot of damage to my fleet and my outpost. It took a lot of extra isk to clean up the mess they left behind and rebuild the outpost. They were really clever each time like I said. They would take out my defenses as surgically as they could, then they would steal everything they could. After that they’d leave me alone just long enough for me to rebuild a little and then hit me again. It only got to be a problem after I could only muster enough resources to try and re-establish the supplies I lost but couldn’t make enough to build my fleet again. Thank the interwebs for Toonstorm.

Other than that, not much to report so I’m going to take a minute to remind you of a few little hints you’ll want to keep in mind. Things have finally settled down since the patch, but you still need to be on your guard against scams.

Just remember, if the site looks like it isn’t from your native country, it’s a good indication that something is fishy. If you’re playing the Russian servers, buy Eve Online isk from Russian sites. It doesn’t matter where you live, sites that operate strictly elsewhere are dangerous to you. They won’t be familiar with your dialect or cultural norms during transactions which can stand out really badly if you have to converse. Devs pick up on that sort of thing.

Also remember that good deals are only good if they can be backed up. If you find what looks like a great deal, double check it against sites you know already before buying. There isn’t that much disparity out there, so it should stand out if it’s fake.

Well, we’re only a week away from the next big thing in EVE Online! Seven days from now, they’ll drop the Tyrannis expansion, and the planetary exploitation can begin!

Of course, everyone has been working like crazy to have enough funds to make their first colonies really worth their while. This means hoarding plenty of isk to buy the new stuff with, and also spending some on upgrading their fleet to protect their new investments. The costs are going to be astronomical! I’m just hoping I can have my titan finished in time to make a difference. It doesn’t seem too likely at this point.

Now the big thing that I have to warn everyone about during expansion times is the insane number of scams that start cropping up. More people than ever have a good reason to buy Eve Online isk, after all. So here are a few tips to help keep you safe from the unscrupulous types.

First off, remember to do your research before picking a site. Check for any third-party reviews you can. Not the reviews right on the site. Those can be faked way too easily to be considered reliable. Check out Bizrate or other sites for some independent opinions, too.

Don’t get suckered into sending money orders. Scammers like to claim this is the only way to avoid getting caught buying isk, but instead it’s really just an easy way for them to walk away with your money. After the order gets cashed, it’s as good as gone. The EVE devs can’t pull your credit card or paypal transactions without tons of probable cause, so don’t sweat it.

I pity the fool who don’t have a money-back guarantee! These are the best thing to see on a site. They indicate a site with longevity in mind. Plus you know they’ll take extra precautions to ensure you don’t get busted because their money and reputation is on the line. If you need to see what a good example of these things look like, head over to Toonstorm.com. Theirs is worded really well.

Finally, use your common sense. Bad sites have a tendency to make really ridiculous claims to try and get people in the door, so to speak. Check with sites that you know and trust, then compare what they offer to the other site. If it all sounds too good to be true, then it is. If it’s more in line with reality, then I’d go ahead and consider it.

Hello again everyone.

I hope everyone had a good time over the holidays! I sure did, especially since my Isk order was delivered the day after Christmas, 2 days ahead of schedule. I love it when things work out.

Anyway, I thought I’d ring in the new year with a remedial lesson about how to safely buy Eve Online isk. It’s been a while, so I figure any newbies could benefit from a crash course.

So, without further adieu, here are some basic do’s and don’ts.

DO make sure that all payments are made over a secure connection. Be suspicious of any place that wants the money through non-refundable places like MoneyGram or Western Union.

DON’T talk about the fact that you’re buying Isk. Personally, I feel that anyone who blabs about buying isk in open chat deserves to get banned. Either the GMs will catch you while they’re trolling, or another player will take offense and report you.

DO use common sense. Outrageous claims about pricing and delivery times are a sure sign of a scam. Does anyone really think that someone can deliver 1 trillion in under 10 minutes? It’s places like this that have caused the purges I mentioned last time at Toonstorm.com. Dishonest practices hurt everyone in the business.

DO double-check the reputation of a site before making a purchase. bizrate is a good place to check for reviews and ratings. For example, they gave Toonstorm.com an excellent rating in all categories.

DO look for a money back guarantee. I won’t buy from any place that doesn’t. It means that the site is willing to put you before your money. They won’t take any stupid risks when delivering your product, because they value you as a customer and want to see you come back again. I’ve noticed that places without a guarantee tend to let the customer come last in the transaction.

These little tips are just a few of the words of wisdom that many people who like to buy Eve Online isk have shared with me over the years. Keep them in mind, and you’ll never have to worry.

Until next time!

Hello again,

Last week I said I would work on some tips and hints for buying Eve Isk safely. So, as promised, this week I wanted to give you a rundown of some of the mistakes people make when trying to buy Isk… and hopefully help you avoid some of those pitfalls that can occur. Some of this may seem obvious to you if you’re a veteran buyer, but much of it bears repeating anyway. And for those of you looking to buy Eve Online Isk for the first time, it’s definitely worth a quick read. So, without further ado, the DO’s and DON’TS of Isk buying:

DON’T  be fooled by outrageous claims. If it looks way too good to be true….well, you know the rest. Sites offering 1000 gold for $5 are probably out to scam you and take your money. Sad but true. Also look at their delivery time claims…..think hard about what is humanly possible.

DO run any sites you’re interested in through a google search. Often the worst scammers will have been labeled by now and discussions and warnings will pop up in a search. There are also sites dedicated to exposing scams, try those out as well. It’s worth the extra few minutes of your time to be sure. 

DON’T send any money unless you know it’s being sent over a secure connection. I won’t go into details here, but if you’re not sure how to tell if your transaction is secure, there is plenty of information out there, just Google “how do I know my transaction is secure” or something similar. This is so important when you’re giving out your credit card number.

DO look for a money-back guarantee (such as the one offered by Toonstorm.com.) Any site worth its salt will offer you a full refund or equal credit if anything goes wrong. If they can’t promise you that, don’t waste your time or risk your money.

So that’s just a few quick things to keep in mind next time you go to buy Eve Online Isk. Wishing you best of luck and happy gaming!