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⏱️ Delayed Killmails

What Are Delayed Killmails?

Delayed killmails give you control over when your kills and losses appear on zKillboard. Instead of posting immediately, you can configure a delay period that protects your operational security while maintaining the integrity of New Eden's combat records.

This feature addresses long-standing community requests for better OpSec without compromising the killboard's core mission of documenting EVE's conflicts.

Available Delay Options

Choose the delay that best fits your operational needs:

  • ASAP (default) Posts: Immediately Best for: Solo PvP, public fleets, no OpSec concerns

  • 1 Hour Posts: After 1 hour Best for: Quick roams, small gang PvP

  • 3 Hours Posts: After 3 hours Best for: Medium-scale operations, wormhole chains

  • 8 Hours Posts: After 8 hours Best for: Strategic operations, daily fleet activities

  • 24 Hours Posts: After 1 day Best for: Major operations, capital deployments

  • 72 Hours Posts: After 3 days Best for: Maximum OpSec, sensitive campaigns

How It Works

🎯 Priority Rules

The delay system follows simple, logical rules:

  1. Manual posts override delays - Manually submitted killmails always appear immediately
  2. Shorter delays win - The shortest delay among all involved parties determines posting time
  3. One-sided protection - If you're the only entity with an API configured, your delay setting applies

Example: Your corporation uses a 3-hour delay, but you engage a target with a 1-hour delay. The killmail posts after 1 hour (shorter delay wins).

🔒 What Gets Delayed

When a killmail is delayed:

  • ❌ Won't appear on zKillboard's website
  • ❌ Won't appear in API queries
  • ❌ Won't appear in RedisQ feed
  • ❌ Won't appear in search results or stats

When the delay expires:

  • ✅ Posts normally as if it just happened
  • ✅ Appears in all APIs and feeds
  • ✅ Counts toward statistics and rankings

⚙️ Configuration

To set up or change your delay:

  1. Log out of zKillboard
  2. Log back in with your character
  3. During authentication, select your preferred delay option
  4. Your new delay applies to all future killmails

Note: You must re-authenticate to update your delay setting. Existing scopes won't automatically update.

Why Use Delayed Killmails?

Operational Security

Protect your operations from intelligence gathering:

  • Fleet Composition: Enemies can't immediately see your fleet's ships and fittings
  • Movement Patterns: Your roaming path isn't revealed in real-time
  • Target Selection: Prevent others from tracking where you're hunting
  • Force Projection: Deploy capitals without broadcasting your position

Tactical Advantages

Gain strategic benefits:

  • Wormhole Operations: Close holes before your activity is public
  • Territory Control: Complete objectives before defenders respond
  • Doctrine Testing: Refine new fits before they're copied
  • Campaign Security: Maintain surprise for multi-day operations

When NOT to Use Delays

Delays aren't always beneficial:

  • Solo PvP where you want immediate recognition
  • Public fleets with no security concerns
  • Participation in open alliance tournaments
  • When you want real-time bragging rights

Impact on Third Parties

Other Killboards

  • Direct API Access: If other killboards have their own API access from involved parties, they may post immediately
  • zKillboard Feed: Third parties relying on zKillboard's data feed inherit your delay settings

Your Statistics

  • Delayed killmails do count toward your all-time stats once posted
  • They appear in recent/weekly rankings once posted
  • Your character page updates normally after the delay expires

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do all participants need delays configured?
A: No. If you're the only entity with an API configured, your delay setting is used. The shortest delay among all parties always wins.

Q: Can I still post kills manually?
A: Yes! Manual submissions always override delays and post immediately. This is useful for sharing specific kills while maintaining delays on others.

Q: Will my kills "disappear" after posting?
A: No. Once posted, killmails remain permanently. Delays only affect the initial posting time.

Q: How do I check my current delay setting?
A: Your delay is configured during login. To verify or change it, log out and log back in.

Q: Can I use different delays for different characters?
A: Yes. Each character has its own delay setting configured during authentication.

Q: What about corporation killmails with Director/CEO scopes?
A: Corporation-level killmails use the delay configured on the character that granted the scope.

Status

✅ Fully Operational - This feature launched in beta and is now a permanent, stable part of zKillboard.

Questions? Join our Discord for support.