Skill Discussions

these games where skilling involves actively doing something are classically plagued with exploits and bugs. How many xp exploits can you think of when it comes to wow and it's clones? Most recently I can think of was world first 90 which was removed and then given back because even the freaking game developers can't decide whether or not the player exploited the game mechanics.

The eve skilling system is not possible to exploit, all skill queues are stored server side and there's no artificial way to speed it up apart from the given methods of implants and remaps, all again stored server side. It's just not worth the grief that comes with "active skilling" to implement it when the existing system already works so well.

subs != players

Of course if you wouldn't have wanted to force a point, you could have replaced the 'grind' to lvl 90 by playing a bunch of characters to max level in different areas, checking out the different stories told there and thus actually having fun palying them.

I'd agree about the grind when it comes to getting the top levels of gear, but leveling ONE char is only a grind if reaching max level is your only purpose.




So you're saying the SP system is ideal for the aprpoach of a five year old towards the game.

That's pretty much repeating my sentiment, that the current implementation of the SP system is catered towards mediocre players.

But the number of subs per player has gone down

Source?

Why not?

Malcanis's comment sounded like it was based more on real numbers than on unfounded assumptions. I'm interested in hearing his source as well.

Adjust your expectations.

What are you doing that you need a T2 BS with good skills for?

The thing about ISK is that you only need as much ISK as is required to buy your next thing, or replace what you lost.

If you've got a corp with a bunch of new players, how about designing some fleet doctrines with quick trains, not biting off more than you can chew, and not expecting to barrel right in to L4 missions, SoV wars, etc.

Our corp is comprised of mostly brand new players, we brought those players from other games, we're good as a team, and only a few corp members could be considered "old" EVE players.

Thing is, we're having fun. We're setting goals within our means, we're achieving them. We're doing this by acknowledging the limitations we face, developing a long term plan, and following through with it.

If your benchmark is "Get a bunch of dudes in tricked out T2 battleships" the game plan shouldn't be "rush battleship skills" as much as it should be "Figure out what we need to do to maintain a fleet of battleships while we skill for them." Sure, you can rush straight there, but after the first month of losing battleships, where are you? Selling PLEX to recoup your losses, or back in frigs and cruisers anyway. Why? Because you didn't expend the effort to ensure your way of life was sustainable. If its just you, solo, guess what, your corp or mission NPC has jobs for you to do while you skill for that battleship, and a lot of those jobs make the fitting and equipment skills you'll need to fly that battleship properly just as important in the frigs or cruisers you'll be flying along the way.

If you think you need a blob of T2 battleships, the larger question is why? Wardecced for no reason? Sounds like you stepped in it and need to move somewhere less hot. Actively looking for PvP? Sounds like you should start looking for targets you're actually capable of taking down.

The SP system is designed specifically to impart progression and a sense of a career. You start in T1 frigs because they are easy to fly, easy to afford, and easy to replace. You can gain about as much ISK with a gang of them as you actually need to maintain that fleet whilst making a profit. Recent rebalances have actually created really great opportunities to start playing around with fleet doctrines and letting people gravitate to roles they enjoy from day one. A T1 frig fleet is actually capable of doing stuff other than tackling these days and that's really cool.

If you're looking for a shortcut, there isn't one, and honestly I don't think there should be. If I had the option of handing our in-training pilots full T2 fits on day 1 I wouldn't simply because they don't have the breadth of experience that comes from the time spent training, or the limitations of their T1 fit ships. If you're new, or coming back after a long absence you should really stop viewing vets as targets or competition. They aren't. You are not in that arena and there is no reason to enter it. In most cases, unless you do something to provoke that world, it doesn't care about or target you.

Or you could just get it in your head that not having that Drake or Raven or whatever means you can't play the game. It's really up to you.

Fixed that for you.

Fixed that for you.