War Declarations

In EVE Online, there are several different things that may be referred to as "war":

1. Sovereignty Warfare AKA Sov Wars, Null-sec wars, or just "war." These are the big headline-making struggles between player entities that are fighting for control (sovereignty) over space and resources, predominantly in null-sec. Examples include World War Bee and more recently our fight against WinterCo in Pure Blind. There is no formal in-game mechanic for this beyond attacks on sovereignty infrastructure
2. Faction Warfare AKA FW. This is a lore-based series of eternal conflicts between the four empires of the galaxy. Player Corporations can pledge themselves to empire militias so their members can participate in the fighting in low-sec space and earn rewards
3. CONCORD-Sanctioned Wars AKA War Declarations or "wardecs." This is a formal in-game mechanic designed to allow alliances to fight within Empire Space (hi-sec and low-sec) without incurring penalties normally associated with aggressive actions in such space (CONCORD intervention, security status loss)

We will be focusing on #3 in this article, as it is the one that can lead to problems if not understood. "Wardec" is the common term for this mechanic, and we'll be using it for clarity and convenience.

The important mechanics to know about wardecs are as follows:

1. Any alliance which has at least one anchored structure (citadel, flex structure, customs office) is eligible to declare war or to have war declared upon them. Any alliance which has no structures anchored cannot declare war nor can they be wardecced
2. The party that wishes to declare war must pay CONCORD a flat fee of 100 million ISK per week
3. Once CONCORD has been paid, a notification will be sent to all members of both alliances. After 24 hours, the war becomes active and fighting in Empire Space can commence without penalty
4. A symbol (see right) will appear in the upper-left corner of your screen once your alliance is involved in at least one active war, and will remain until all wars are invalidated. Hover over it to see involved parties
5. Members of the enemy alliance will appear as War Targets in players' UI with flashing green coloration, a clear indication that a player is freely engageable. THE ENEMY WILL ALSO SEE YOU THIS WAY
6. The war can continue indefinitely as long as the aggressing party continues to pay CONCORD their fee, and neither side's War Headquarters structure is destroyed
7. If payment lapses, another notification will be sent to all alliance members that the war will be invalidated. After 24 hours, all normal penalties apply for hostilities within Empire Space

Well, we're fighting Sov wars out in null-sec, so why the heck should we care about silly high-sec and low-sec mechanics? The reason is simple: there are alliances who exist solely to take advantage of this wardec system for profit, and it may end up costing you if you aren't aware of it.

Say you need to make a trip to Jita to pick up some niche item that isn't available on the market, or to dump some loot off to sell. If you're a member of a corporation in Brave Collective, chances are you will meet some members of BLACKFLAG. on your way. And they are going to try to blow you up and take all your stuff. Check their killboard to see their impressive resume.

Alliances like BLACKFLAG. pay CONCORD to indefinitely declare war on just about any alliance that has a certain level of activity, strictly for the purposes of catching their members on the dock/undock of trade hub stations, or along trade routes, or while doing incursions/missions, or just unawares out in space. They do this because it has proven to be profitable time and time again. They can employ larger and more deadly ganking ships and tactics because they don't have to fear CONCORD coming to blow them up after the deed is done, nor do they have to worry about becoming outlaws through negative security status. And there are always players who are unaware of these mechanics who make this possible. We aim to remedy that here and now.

1. The first, and best, option is to have a character in a corporation under the Brave United alliance. United was created explicitly as a shelter to avoid these wardecs, as this alliance does not (and never will) own any anchored structures. This makes it immune to wardecs, and leaves you free to travel Empire Space with one less worry. You can switch your main over to United, or simply apply with an alt. United members still enjoy access to ALL Brave services!
2. If you must travel through Empire Space with a Brave Collective character, you will need to be extra cautious. ESPECIALLY around trade hubs, trade routes, and choke points (Ahbazon, Uedama, etc). Scout ahead of yourself if possible. Use any and all intel tools available to you (gatecheck, etc). Utilize bookmarks as safe spots and perches when necessary. Familiarize yourself with piloting mechanics like the cloak+MWD trick
3. Specifically for trade hubs like Jita: ALWAYS have the alliance bookmark folder online with insta-dock and insta-undock bookmarks, or at the very least burn your own for personal use. Docking and undocking from stations are some of the most vulnerable moments you'll have as a pilot, if you are unprepared. Wardec alliances know this and use it to their extreme advantage!
4. The last option is a bit limiting, but failing all of the above, you can simply avoid empire space. The alliances taking advantage of the wardec mechanics in EVE tpyically do not stray beyond the borders of high and low-sec. There are Buyback Services that will assume all the workload and risk of dealing with loot and produced items if you wish to use them, but they do come at a cost