Community Beat for 25 October

Welcome back, capsuleers, to a special Alliance Tournament XX edition of the Community Beat!

Last weekend, we kicked off the monumental 20th Alliance Tournament with a broadcast live from CCP HQ in Reykjavik, Iceland, joined by a dozen of EVE’s most talented player commentators, analysts, and referees. Their combined expertise and enthusiasm helped us bring the magic of the tournament (and a wall of swords) to CCPTV.

The Alliance Tournament (AT) is one of the EVE Community team's biggest productions, rivaled only by Fanfest, and it actually predates YouTube! If this is your first AT, it might seem intimidating but we’ve got you covered. At its core, the AT is a 10v10, double-elimination tournament. Each team fields up to 200 points worth of ships, with each ship assigned a point value based on its strengths to keep things fair. Every match puts individual piloting skill, teamwork, decision-making, and a dash of improvisation to the test—because in the AT, things rarely go as planned!

But you don’t need to be a pro to enjoy the AT. One of the best parts is the shared experience of watching alongside other players as they debate strategies, predict outcomes, meme outrageous, and revel in the nerdy glory of EVE Online and the Alliance Tournament. If you missed last week’s coverage, our talented commentators have highlighted some must-watch matches, each showcasing the drama and spectacle that make the AT unforgettable.

The Pacifist Victory!

If a team doesn't spend their whole 200-point budget when picking ships to bring into the arena, any leftover points are awarded to their opponents. When White Squall landed on grid and saw that they were already up a point against Genshin Impact Alliance, they decided that one point is really all you need. Yabbiy in the Bhaalgorn did an x-large Hyena impression, keeping angry-but-slow Armageddon Navy Issues at play, while Hillary Kanenald somehow squeezed an impossible amount of repping power out of the humble Oneiros. Worth watching for the clutch plays and incredible saves. - Ali Aras

Heavy Is The Head

Reigning Alliance Tournament champions, Fraternity, took AT XIX by storm. But being the kings of the arena introduces new challenges, as every team is looking to prove themselves by pulling out all the stops to take you down. In the first match of AT XX, Til Doomsday faced off against the champions and—in a huge upset—dethroned Fraternity! In their following matches, Til Doomsday showed that this was no fluke, sending Exodus down to the elimination bracket. Their next match will be against Platinum Sensitivity, a team known for punching above their weight. While in the elimination bracket, Fraternity took out former champions Templis CALSF – so while they may be down, they’re certainly not out!

Dripping With Swagger

Alliance Tournament matches are never easy; even the most novice challenger puts up a formidable fight. But tournament veterans Truth. Honour. Light. somehow make it all look so easy. In their first match they took a dominant 200-30 win and dismantled an incredibly skilled Bright Side of Death squad. How do they make it look so easy? Equal parts tournament knowledge, experience, hundreds of hours of practices, and the confidence to adapt to any situation. Things rarely go as planned in New Eden, and the AT is no different. It’s fascinating to watch a team of this caliber respond to the situation, find opportunities, and execute seamlessly. Truth. Honour. Light. will take on Paper Numbers in their next match – a team which has looked dominant in their own patches, sending long-time veterans Rote Kapelle packing.

Alliance Tournament isn’t the only show in town this weekend! On October 26, EVE Online Partner Schadsquatch is gearing up for a 24-hour Extra Life charity stream, joining Canadian streamers to support the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. This cause is close to Schadsquatch's heart, as he and his family spent time in the NICU after his daughter’s premature birth, receiving invaluable care and support from the Stollery staff.

Last year, the EVE community rallied around Schadsquatch, helping him raise over $6,000 —placing him among the top donors for the hospital and in the top 10% worldwide for the Extra Life event! This year, he's aiming even higher, with a goal of $10,000 USD. There will be plenty of events and giveaways to keep the stream going, and if you find yourself in the position where you want to help out: all donations can be contracted in-game to Schadeck.

Through efforts like this, our players prove time and again that their commitment goes far beyond the game, impacting real lives and supporting causes close to their hearts. It fills us with pride to see you come together to make a positive difference in the world, showing that the friendship machine can work magic in and out of New Eden.

No matter your interests, there's a lot going on this weekend. So sit back, grab some Quafe, and we’ll see you in chat!

o7