EVE General Discussion

I agree with everything in that article. Except maybe for making Jove space Newbie zone because ~lore~. Otherwise, go for it. Make these changes and make them ASAP. It will only be better for the game.

His interest is in this game existing for another 10 to 20 years, because he makes his entire living off of it. He'd have to get a real job again if EVE goes *poof*. There's your ulterior motive.

As a relatively new player, let me give you a clear idea of this new player's recent new player experience.

I've gone through the tutorials, which are pretty boring and confusing, and have started doing the Sisters of Eve arc (which is mostly boring, so far.) But forum posters say you should do it, so I'm doing it.

Now I intend to pvp, and enlist in faction war after the Sisters arc.

And I read the forums everyday. And I read about the war in Huola.

Bingo, just what I want. Big battle. Yippee.

So, 48 hours ago, I decide I'll go to Huola. Sure I'll get killed but what better way to get my feet wet. Much more fun than the tutorials.

First I have to figure out how to get there, that takes about 20 minutes to find the map, figure out a flight path, etc. Because this is not covered, sufficiently, in the tutorials.

Yes, I decide I'll go through low security space, 7 or 8 jumps from Trossere to Huola, probably I'll die on my way there. That's okay, I'm intending to be cannon fodder anyhow.

Start out, on my way, getting there, funky music (in low security space), get to Huola, look around.........

HOW DO I FIND THE BATTLE?

Gack! I can't.

There's a battle going on, I see smack in local.

But I don't know what to do to get to the battle........so,

I turn around, go back to Trossere, park my ship, and go watch a movie.

There, you have it, the new player experience (for one night), in a nutshell.




But, I will figure this out.

Hisec is terrible because of the many, confusing, somewhat contradictory, arbitrary, and capricious rules that a player has to learn to survive there. All these rules were made up to "protect" players from non-consensual PVP and instead are exploited endlessly, and hilariously, by more knowledgeable players. The ruleset governing all other areas of space is vastly simpler and therefore easy to grasp.

Hisec should be the retirement zone for bitter vets who want to sit suspect flagged on a station all day and talk about how the newbros these days have it too easy. Mittani's "newbie zone" should pop you out into NPC nullsec with a very short rule list: If anyone tries to kill you, kill them right back.

I'm thinking Mittani should consult for CCP full-time. That article was fantastic and to hear those things from an ostensibly ruthless nullsec dictator is about as refreshing as it gets.

Just some days ago, his CSM delegate speculated about adding "virtual" PvP arenas without real loss (and no gains).

Goonswarm are experts in new-player experience.
This is actually not a controversial statement at all and only ignorant people like you dispute it.

I am all for a good safari.

People know this.

I will not defend neutral logistics. It is broken. Has been.

Does not, however, mean that I am not going to do it over and over. It is fun.

Logistics mechanics totally need fixed in regard to safaris.

Much like the logistics changes for incursion runners that you literally can thank Psychotic Monk and some of the others for.

However, I do not think a 3 hour safari....or even a 15 day safari need to be done anymore. The pool is growing shallow from the proliferation of the "safari." It can still be pulled from, but...

I would like to see people run much longer, more complex long cons..........awoxing included. However, logistics definitely need a change to be forced to run suspect or LE. Not only that, but a long con offers better rewards in every single department, including tear collection.

I do not think corp aggression mechanics need to change, however. There are obvious upsides to a safari dude, of course, but fiddling with logistics aggression flags will introduce a larger level of risk, as well as force players into more suitable ships for direct safari actions, rather than a three-four day alt with a safari that can be rolled once a week. (Ironically, something that is still allowed according to "paraphrased" GM response, while rolling for sec status is against the rules. Weird, huh? CCP for you. )

The reason I do not think the corp aggression mechanics do not need a change, is not for my own selfish reasons, however. There are a multitude of things that even a newbie can benefit from using corp aggression mechanics. Frigate Thunderdomes, fit testing (for those without EFT or a similar fitting service....something, frankly, CCP should have implemented in-game a long time ago), direct retribution against CEO's that literally have no business being CEO's....doing far worse than any safari dude can ever do...and scamming and scraping a portion of the "newbie's earnings" for his/her own pocket, rather than having to hire "mercenaries" or what have you.

And even as far back as right before the SoR, these things happened to newbies. I have that perspective, because I heisted the bastard that stole damn near 20% of my total earning for the first month I played. So I fractured his friendship with his best friend, and stole every single thing...from our tower, to the Orca, to his playerbase. Even his "market haul" of ore for that "month."

And I did that...as a newbie. So yea, corp aggression is hardly what needs to be changed. It would totally kill any aspect of infiltration in high sec. For new players seeking vengeance, and for older players seeking lulz.

I think rather than attack something that has, and should exist in EvE, CCP should find ways that actually make it beneficial to be in a player corp. This is the core of the problem.

Make x mission rewards x times better if done with corpmates. Not outsiders, just corpmates.

Make corp specific markets. This can add content, not only for corporations, but also for "bad guys" who are interested in a long con scenario. And I am not talking about "corp contracts." I am talking about fully functional corp markets. Station, system, region.........and corp.

Make corp shares matter. Make them something more than a tool in which I can steal a corp.

Frankly, there are a million things that can be done to make corps more interesting. For not only the "newbie," but for older players....both on the "pious, righteous side" and on the "evil space pirate side."

CCP needs to make corporations something other than a tax evasion service, frankly, as currently, that is all there is. But changing the core nature of "infiltrate and destroy" shouldn't change, as it does nothing but hurt the newbie.

I learned properly tanking a ship due to trial and error and corp aggression mechanics. As did many of the newbies that I started with and flew with in my early days. We were able to exact revenge, on our own, without the need for "older players" who ran "merc services."

As for the NPE....I cannot disagree with Glorious Leader, lol.

In 2011, I was handed a noob ship and told to "**** off."

Last year, when I needed an Orca alt, I played through the NPE again, but it still sucked.

I agree fully that a NPE that fully covers everything for basic scamming to actual player versus player combat is very much needed and will (hopefully) lead to less "entitlement."

All in all, good read. Less :smug: than I would normally expect from, say, a GSF CEO Update, but still a good read. And no matter what ends up happening...I am sure many of us will adapt and overcome, as people have done in the game for a decade.

What Goons are actually good at is the cult like indoctrination of the low IQ nerdlings that think SA is the end game of the entire internet. Like any good cult leader, the king bee is charismatic and loved while at the same time enjoying the fruits of his willing slaves.

Sure. You can call it new player experience. And it is. Just not a good kind, in my opinion.

Mr Epeen

A politically charged Eve Thread on Saturday