One thing I have found out since running a low sec pirate corp (and now a low sec pirate alliance) is that pirating isn't for everyone. A lot of players read the blogs and decide they want to go yarr in low sec. After all, who doesn't want to be a scary pilot and pop haulers in belts?
Unfortunately many people don't realize some of the challenges involved in being a flashy red pirate and they quickly get discouraged and leave the corp/alliance. What makes it so tough you ask?
Isk, for one. It's bloody hard to make money as a pirate. Oh sure you can get the occasional ransom and sometimes some tasty loot. I remember once when I was with a small gang that got 700 mil worth of loot from a Loki kill. That was awesome but usually it's crap loot from crap fits. Some people think they will be a pirate and just rat and mission their way into wealth on the side. Well that's an idea but rats in low sec don't pay near as well as 0.0 and low is actually more dangerous than null for ratters. You can try ratting in a belt but odds are you will come back in a pod. While missions are lucrative, you have the same problem as ratting. Of course you can do missions in high sec but if you are actively pirating, your sec status will rapidly put high sec missions out of reach. And speaking of sec status...
Have a low sec status can be a pain in the ass. You will find that the faction police will have a serious problem with you and all of empire is now off limits. If you do research or indy stuff, better find new systemst to use. If you want to buy something in a major trade hub, forget about it. There are guys who spend all day outside of Jita or Dodixie just waiting for flashy pirate to come out. Getting supplies changes from just running down to the store for a single mod into training up a neutral hauling alt just to make supply runs.
Low sec PvP is tough. PvP in low sec isn't like that null sec bullshit of having 200+ ships and just trying to out DPS another 2--+ fleet. Most fights in low sec involve solo ships or gangs of 3 to 10. Anything bigger than 15 in low is a HUGE fleet to me. Smaller gangs require smarter tactics than just locking a target and clicking your guns. And roaming solo or in a very small gang looking for fights is work. You have to really know what you are doing with the directional scanner and you have to be aware of high sec/low sec aggro. I recently lost a Stabber Fleet to Concord because I had my head up my ass. If you are going to come into low sec to look for fights, you are going to have to learn some skills.
All of these reasons are why I often see a pilot join and then quickly decide to go back to running missions in high sec. It's unfortunate because I think low sec is the best place in the game. Fights are fun and plentiful. There are skilled people to fight and noobs looking for skill books to abuse. With a little planning, you can take care of your logistical needs. Isk will always be a problem but if you follow the rule about only flying what you can afford, then you should be okay.
If you have read this and still think you want to give it a try, the Black Sail is still recruiting and the Gray Sail is there for newer/less experienced pilots who need to learn. Shoot me a mail in game if interested.
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