EVE New Citizens Q&A

So, it’s just turned two months since I started EVE. I think the overwhelming impression at this juncture is that knowing a little more, I now know how much I don’t know. It’s such a complex and at times, still overwhelming game.

On the one hand, this is very appealing to me. I am somewhat of a ‘reflector’ - someone who likes to read, consider and develop an understanding before acting. The learning curve is steep, but actually can be remarkably structured. The skill points system works well for this, in my view - one can read and learn about skills and the effects they have on one’s gameplay at much the same rate as the skills themselves train. I like this.

Unexpectedly, I enjoy mining. The techniques and various harvests are interesting, and the activity itself is rather Zen. Watching the asteroids and the solar system with suitable music allows a time for clearing the mind, which is very relaxing. At other times, the social aspect of chatting to other miners has yielded some of the best interaction I have yet had in EVE. One gets to know the systems and regulars, which I believe is good practice for more risky activity. And the opportunity to switch up to an adrenalin rush by flying into low or null sec systems is rather good fun too. I can see how one may tire of this long-term, but when I just want to relax, it’s a good game choice.

However, overall I like the combat (PvP) aspect the most. It hasn’t worked out too well so far, and this is down to some poor choices on my part. As noted previously, I was lucky to be found by a decent corp early on, and get into faction warfare. Sadly, timezone issues meant I had less and less time with them, falling behind. In addition, FW seemed to consist mainly of plexing for LP, or running like a flock of terrified sparrows as the fleet lead spotted a ship come into system that would eat us all for breakfast. I got a little tired of being told that ‘we can’t do that yet’. It wasn't really working out, so I thought it best to leave.

My biggest mistake was to then invest in some +3 implants to speed up my structured skill plan for Assault Frigate competency. These were stupidly expensive (in my newbie terms of reference). Beforehand, I couldn’t care less about losing ships - now, knowing I am unable yet to reliably save my pod, I have been wary of PvP combat, and have stuck to NPC missions for some ISK and standings. ("Don't fly what you can't afford to lose", yes, yes, a thousand times yes, and this includes chips in the head). For a month, OK, but once my AF plan is complete, I’ll go out and start being killed again and lose the implants if I must, and practice pod escape technique (the kind folks at Ammamake gate should help there ). Otherwise I will be stuck forever in a risk averse mindset, sapping my enjoyment of the game. It was a foolish choice.

I’ve been able to make some good contacts, but not find the right corp as yet. I cannot stress enough how much I would agree with the advice in this forum, that EVE is a social game and that finding the right corp is the single most important thing for any new player. The corporation search tool is the one thing I would improve if I were CCP - it is largely useless for this task. I read lots of player profiles and their corp info (mining is good for this too). However, it may well be that null-sec is where I ought to be, and of course, one rarely gets to meet with those players. Irritatingly, all the (publicised) large role-playing guilds appear to be Amarr-based. The search continues, but if I do leave the game, it will be because I couldn’t find like-minded people with whom to have fun.

So, I am at a bit of a mental wall, but still pretty enthused, and with enough understanding (I hope) of what I did wrong to anticipate a way out. I love flying my Firetail - it may not be the New Eden's best PvP ship, but it looks great to me, and I get a thrill from speed tanking, manual manoeuvre and getting under the guns. I’m enjoying the RP with a few new contacts. I enjoy reading all there is to read (sometimes in preference to playing, which I ought to pack in!) and looking at a myriad of fits trying to understand what has been done, and why - and having to adapt the best to my developing skill set by comparing meta grades. I like blowing things up, and miss being blown up myself.

I just need to find some like-minded souls with whom to do this. I'm sure this will happen, and I know I am picky and too demanding, but there it is! Early days indeed.

Awesome. Good to see you've stuck around Haruchai.

Quick note on implants, +2s are a great compromise when it comes to performance vs price. At any given time, I've only got 2 of them plugged in (Per/Wil for my current plans) and a couple of extremely cheap skill hardwires: 1% CPU or PWG and maybe an Optimal range 3% hardwire. In total my pod is worth approximately 10 mil. Even if I did lose Implants all the time, it's still only the price of a meta4 + T2 fit frigate. Not a big deal. Plus, while I do technically train more slowly, it's not by THAT much. Do consider it (once you lose the current ones anyway).

o7

I enjoyed your post and your positive attitude towards Eve. There is a zen to mining and it's a good activity while you read about Eve in another window. But it's low on the isk/hour for a single character. Try to get to know any orca pilots that are around as a boost will give you a big increase in yield. Don't bother training for an exhumer since there are other activities you like in Eve. You might also have fun learning some scanning skills and diving into a WH to mine gas using a venture which pays out better than ore.

Since you like PvP you also might want to run some combat PvE missions for isk as the skills sets are a good match.

Isk has been sent so your PvP isn't limited while you build your earning ability -- even if you are Minmatar. ;-)

Bravo! And the odd suggestion: don't worry too much about Isk.

As a newbie, the two great isk making activities I found:

1. Combat exploration: I recently cribbed that there weren't enough low-sp oriented sites in low-sec. Perhaps I was heard (!) or it was just a lucky happenstance, but now there are a lot of DED 3/4, Haunted Yards, Desolate Sites and what not in low sec. It can be exasperating (my last 20 Mul Zatah monasteries have yielded just one site with 10M+ loot) but also a lot of fun (because you never know what you get).

Vis à vis isk: Haunted Yards and Desolate sites don't get a lot of competition. Neither do lookouts and hideouts. Every 3-4 days, I get a nexus chip for astero in one of those drone unrated sites. They are darn easy. But it is 60M isk and takes care of your pod.

Do it in hi-sec while you build a bit of cash. Do it in low-sec for twice the fun as well as learning basic pvp (or at least, getting knowledgeable about running away through the use of d-scan, watching local etc.) Yesterday, I got hunted by someone running three alts in ships I couldn't handle in my confessor. It was great fun just evading his combat probes, getting my loot, and generally being a pain in the ass of a hunter. Added advantage: you can hunt yourself if you so wish.

2. Clone soldiers in lowsec: Dessies are good enough to get them, and it is a 15-20M payout per clone soldier in 0.2-0.1 systems. And again, it is a lot of fun because it is lowsec and everyone's out to get you. (you can do them in T1 frigates too - it just takes longer. I killed my first few in a Punisher and an Executioner).

And a suggestion:

I currently have 4 assault frigates just lying around in little hubs I've built all over Amarr space and I don't use them anymore since I upgraded to a confessor. The skill train to a T3D isn't all that longer from the train to an Assault Frigate. And they are better in every way while also being more fun to fly (which is a pity - I would love to fly assault frigates still)

Neither of the activities I mention is particularly "zen". But they do allow you enough isks to not worry about money any longer. And if you do them in lowsec, can be a lot of fun.

What's with this future tense BS? Already does based off the posts I've seen.

If it makes you feel any better I usually still panic a little when I hear the structure alarm,
the trick is to train yourself to think "POD!" when you hear it.

It doesn't always spell doom and with time you should get a feel for when it doesn't.

)
You are most welcome, as has been emphasized, your attitude is encouraging so you're unlikely to find issue with acquiring help anywhere here.

And yes it could.

It does sound to me like you might want to give null sec a try. You can mine null sec ores with Rorqual boosts and then go on roams or join defense fleets. When red come to interrupt your smurf party you can switch out to a PvP ship and help defend your system.

You might want to try out the Providence thing. There are several different sov holding corps as well as non-sov holding residents that you can look into. You can even go there solo ( so long as you are not red to them ) and check things out for yourself.