EVE General Discussion

Let me preface this posting with a few points,

I love Eve and have loved Eve since 09JAN2006 when I started. It has been an honor and a privilege to have had the chance to talk with CCP Guard, Interview CCP Soundwave and Flying Scottsman and Interview CCP Torfifrans. Now that those statements are out of the way, I'd like to open this thread to "Discussion" and I know there are those that will cause trouble, but I have faith in the rest of this community that there are those willing to do just this.

What is the topic of Discussion? It is two fold really, "The New Player Experience" because we do want new players to come and join in the greatest gaming experience on the market with us. Also, it's about Charter creation, or rather "Customization." No this is not an "I hate Incarna" thread as it goes deeper then that.

So let's get started shall we?

Those of us that have been playing a long time remember when bloodline dictated your starting attributes, that could be improved later by training the learning skills. This whole process of picking a bloodline with the starting skills that fit what you wanted to do in eve, as well as improving those attributes was abolished in favor of a system where all starting characters have the same attributes.

In my opinion, removal of the "Learning" skills was the correct course of action to take, though I was not sold as such when the change was made. As for Race and Bloodline no longer having any affect on your starting experience other then the region of space you start in, the frigates you can fly, and what you look like...this is a decision I have serious disagreements with. Now that everyone starts with the same attributes, everyone is for lack of a better way of putting it. "The same." When they start the game, and this is wrong. It seeks to dumb eve down in my opinion, something CCP have sworn to high haven they would never do. What point is there now in picking a race, and a bloodline? Especially since at fanfest they spoke of "merging bloodlines" in the character creator.

Now we move on to actual player background, something that used to dictate your starting skills and no longer does. Something that is now, like everything before it, "Simple flavor" that has no real meaning and baring on who you are in eve at the start, and in the future. Now why do I talk about this with such disdain if Eve is a game based on choice?

Simple really,
Because the old system, allowed people to custom tailor their starting experience to their game-play style. It game them a head start in that chosen game-play style. For example, there were several bloodline + race + school/background combos that made you a decent trader, or a combat pilot, or a what ever else.

Removal of this system and these bonuses and "head starts" in favor of a more dumb-down approach that is "Communist" in nature, based solely on the sentiment that "All are equal" was a mistake. Though let me end this first bit of my discussion by saying, "This is purely opinion" and I'd love to get your opinion on it. Both from the new player perspective and the "vet makes an alt" perspective.

At one time, if you wanted an industrial alt? You could choose the right race, bloodline, and background combination and get an alt that head a pretty decent head-start in that career field. Anyway, your opinions?

Is there a way to bring back the old system and make it worthwhile?
Are you glad it's gone and everyone's the same now at the start of game?

Let me know.
-DR

Flawed Argument.
Yes everybody is now "The Same"

Back then every one was also "The Same"
They were "The Same" Bloodline, Achura.

This is not "Discussion" mate, but thank you for your opinion.

I think the psychology of character shaping is a little over the heads of most here. You have to lay out a groundwork or peoples traits and agree on it before you can say our character design system lacks the ability to fulfill the needs of the customers.

Even without a defined framework I'll agree taking away significance of bloodlines, schools and other backgrounds seriously hurt the immersion experience. I think the old system did a pretty nice job of giving people variety in areas essential to them defining themselves and/or their characters.

I don't really think I could come up with a better system or descriptions.

"The Khanid female tends to be fiercely independent and resourceful, long accustomed to fending for herself. She backs down from no one, and is very much the mistress of her own destiny."

That is from the Lore of Khanid. When I made Ocih, that's what I saw.

- Ioci was chosen for the Gallente democracy. When I made her the stats were high Memory, low willpower. So with Ioci I gave up easy. Move along, next adventure awaits.

- Sisohiv is Jin-Mei and they have caste society. She is a miner through and true. While she can fly a Nyx, I seldom do anything with her that doesn't influence her ability to mine and refine. It his her role and she is strict in meeting those obligations. Lock her and I will dock her up and go get Ocih. That's how I play her.

- Skydell is my Caldari. She runs all the market stuff. She is stingy, she is always looking for a bottom line. It's her niche.

Min/Max will get you min/max. Expect no more if thats all you are seeing. My EVE cast was selected for what I was aiming to do in the game.

new players are ghey and show be poddded

The old system only made you choose archura, min-maxing ftl. If that is what you call interesting....
And neural remaps takes care of the difference in starting attributes.

I say: who cares.. Sooner or later you end up training allmost everything anyway and different starting attributes doensn't make for new player experience - other players and tutorials do.

Original system = oh Look Caldari Civire are mercs!! i wanna be merc too!!
old system = oh look Caldari Achura are min maxer winners let's all go Achura!!!

Now you wonder why there is so mun Caldari players ingame

Some racial & bloodline differences would be cool, they are meaningless as they are. I feel the lore is somehow badly sidelined in many other aspects, too.

It would be interesting to have for example some taxation differences- Gallente citizens have lower taxes in Gallente space, import to Amarr from Minmatar space having higher customs etc.

Standings should reflect the political tensions between factions, and what about a small bonus to flying your racial ships?

Just some loose ideas, point is that differences are interesting, homogenic mass is boring.

Yeah, that would be boring. Pretty cool that we have lots of variety now