Eve is basically a P v P game. The players compete against each other for supremacy, each making his impact on the Eve Universe in his own unique way. The combat style of Eve may differ from the usual MMORPGs but the thrill of the fights is far greater because of the mere consequences of winning and losing a fight. Though most players prefer P v P fights, there are NPCs and NPC pirates around Eve as well who are usually confronted by the game's newbies.
In EVE, combat can take two different forms. First, there is the tried and true system of fighting computer controlled non-player characters. These NPC's are usually easy prey, as their level of intelligence is rudimentary. And they don't employ the, sometimes demonic, cleverness of some human players. When you first start EVE, you can take on NPC pirates, or go on NPC quests in order to earn the ISK you need to move up in the universe. The benefit of sticking with NPC combat is that you don't have to step outside of the high security areas, which means that you are relatively safe from other players. Who, by the way, need no specific reason to blast you to smithereens!
When you step into the low security areas in the EVE universe, you are stepping into a place that is truly lawless, and where scruples and consideration don't really exist. Many players describe feeling a thrill when entering these areas, because the stakes can be staggeringly high. When you kill a player in combat, that death is not just an inconvenience, sometimes it means a truly crippling setback. In some online games, when your character resurrects, there may be a loss in cash or experience points, but you still retain the items, skills, and weapons you worked so hard to obtain. In EVE, if you emptied your pockets to pick up that new battlecruiser, and ended up on the wrong side of an engagement, your ship is gone, for good.
The absolute consequence of mistakes and irrational actions is one of the things that makes combat in EVE so compelling. Plus, the incredible speed of combat heightens the thrill, and horror, of the combats. You might be happily sitting back, taking in the amazing view of a local system when, out of the black, some unhappy people are making your acquaintance. At this point you are like a fighter pilot in the true sense of the term. You have, at most, seconds to decide what to do. Should you fight or fly? There is no room for error or miscalculation. If you hesitate incorrectly, you will see your ship's shields peeled back like the thinnest of skins, as countless missiles and lasers go about reducing you to scrap.
If you relish combat with other players, then there are some things you can do to make your profession less risky. First you can take out an insurance policy on your ship. While this is pricey, it guarantees that you can get back into the game in short order after taking a beating.
Secondly, unlike most MMORPGs if you die during combat you can't just hop in back from the nearest churchyard after being resurrected, you make a logical comeback through cloning. If you make sure that you have a fully updated clone of yourself prepared, then your character won't have to suffer the large skill loss associated with dying. Your character will have the levels you upgraded you clone to. So if you have been paying attention to your clone and insurance, you'll lose nothing more than ISKs, which is punishment enough for Eveians.
There is a reason for the varying levels of security given in different areas. What these numbers (from 0 to 1) represent is the strength and likelihood of the response you will receive from the law enforcers, if you commit a crime in an area. In an area with a security level of 0, there technically are no crimes, because there are no laws. Hence these areas are labeled 'lawless'. And guess what? Most of the big guys with big ships and potent weapons will be found in these areas!
However, should you decide to kill an innocent bystander in a high security area, you'll be in deep in trouble. The law enforcers don't take people who initiate fights very lightly, so the offenders usually get podded.
Eve newbies often make a brief, and distasteful, first acquaintance with a concept of 'ownage'. The term refers to the fact that the person who 'owns' you can actually destroy you as easily as he can breathe!
In high security areas the law enforcing body is known as the CONCORD. If you break a law, they Warp in within a matter of moments. So if you do transgress, the idea to make a run for it wouldn't be bad at any cost. Because sticking around to see what happens will be the end of your ship. After once offence, you'll know all about 'ownage' you'll ever need to know!
Combat in EVE, in a tactical sense, is simple. Hit hard, hit fast, and don't hold back. If extorting cash is what you want to do, make sure you only use enough force to scare, but not destroy an opponent. There are no real tactics of coordinated maneuvers of the like used in games such as Homeworld. All there is to it is to point and click. Assign a target, and fire your weapons. Strategy, on the other hand, can be endlessly complex, ranging from the basics of one on one combat, to multi-alliance/coalition warfare!
