Player Features and Ideas Discussion

Hey all. I just wanted to throw this random idea out there for CCP and the EVE community, as a way we can improve skill training and make the game a bit more accessible to new players without giving them too much of advantage.

Basically the idea revolves around skill training. Each character on a single account has a base skill point per hour rate, which is based on the minimum possible attribute level (18). You can only train one character at a time (barring dual char training), however, so it's safe to say that the base SP/hour rate is not just per character, but per account as well. With dual char training you can train two characters at a time, which is the same as doubling the SP rate for your entire account.

That said, I had an idea that would make it easier to train multiple characters, as well as make it possible to train a single character faster, without changing the overall amount of skill points per account that is being received. IT's simple: tie the total skill point rate to the ACCOUNT, not the character.

Here's how it would work:

* Each ACCOUNT would have a pool of SP per hour that characters on that account can receive. The pool would be equal to the base SP rate for a character training a skill with both of the requisite attributes at the minimum of 18.
* You may train one, two, or three characters on that account simultaneously without using a PLEX. However, each character would only be getting an equal portion of the skill points for the account. In other words, training two characters at a time would reduce their base SP gain rate by half, while three characters would only receive one third of the normal base rate.
*A PLEX may be used to double the total SP rate for 30 days. Thus, if you are training two characters, both would receive the normal base rate of SP just as if you were doing dual char training. You can still train one or three characters while the SP rate is doubled, however. Thus, you can train one character who will receive double their base SP/hour for 30 days, or three characters who will receive 2/3 of the normal base rate.
*Any modifications to the base SP rate from attribute points or implants will be proportional to the base amount the character is receiving.

This works because no matter how you slice it, each paid account is receiving the same amount of SP, and spending a PLEX for dual training still allows you to train two characters at the same rate as one character without dual training. However, players with dual training can now choose to cut their training time for a single character in half, as opposed to training two characters at once. Likewise, players can dual or even triple-train characters, but at a slower rate.

I think this will be helpful for players new to the game who wish to do more. I've been playing for almost half a year now (since mid-March) so I remember how frustrating it can be having to wait days on end to finish the skills necessary to use a decent ship fitting. With this, a new player can forego having an alt on the same account and train his/her primary char at double speed. Or, alternatively, they may choose to have multiple characters with simultaneous training.

I'll open this up for discussion now. Honestly, the system is ok as it is, and I really have no complaints, but I know you guys at CCP are always looking to expand the community and this may help attract new players without you losing out on subscriptions or PLEX purchases.