EVE New Citizens Q&A

Hello!

I've had a long and bittersweet history with Eve Online going back about a decade. I've come and gone, and I had one long stint in the game where I was really able to participate in some of the biggest things EVE can offer (during the Northern Coalition war, I finally saw Titans!)

But in all that time I don't think I ever really got out of being a noob. I was lucky enough to get to participate in a great war with a great alliance in nullsec, but I know that I didn't really belong there. I barely knew what I was doing. I lost ships stupidly. I never settled into a rhythm of understanding how to fly well, how to make enough isk to support myself, how to fight and be competent in solo, gang (or honestly even fleet) PvP.

But it gets worse.... with all the hiatuses, things have changed so completely that I hardly even know where to begin. I think its even harder because I know a lot of basic things about EVE. And yet there are these HUGE gaps in my knowledge.

I sold all my assets scattered around space, kept on covert ops frigate and flew back to high security space. I'm thinking about starting almost all over to relearn everything - keeping my skills but basically getting a frigate and acting like I'm a brand new player.

Does anyone have ANY advice on what resources to read, tips on the best ways to learn about all the things that have transformed in EVE over the last 2 years?

I want to make EVE work, because I really do love, or want to love this game. I'm sure I've rushed things in the past which is why I probably walked away frustrated. Now I think I'm ready to take it slow.

(I'm not committed to any one goal right now, so that means I'm open to considering all sorts of long term goals that dont necessarily mean living full time in nullsec.)

In a similar situation as yours though not as bad - I found that having time invested prior to leaving and coming back makes it in fact harder to regain your footing once you're back in the game due to the lack of tutorial systems. This being said, short of creating a new character and getting your bearings that way, I found redoing the S.O.E Epic Arc a good way to refresh myself with the game and it's subsystems.

Best of luck!

I would suggest that you start a new character and run them through all of the usual new player things like the tutorials, epic arcs etc as a way of familiarizing yourself with the game again and then work on what to do with the main character.

Just do what you say. Take it one day at a time and don't really go with any sort of grand plan. I've been going this whole time on a no plan plan and so far it's worked out for me. I like to get caught up in the backstory of the different races and regions of the game while looking up information on the sites I've just come across. I like to play in character too so maybe that would help you?

Keep an open mind and don't lock yourself to one style of play. There's so many things you can skill to III instead of have one thing at level V.

It's been my experience that learning to be a better combat pilot depends on your learning style. I'm someone who likes to research and read, practice, then analyse and try to put the learning points into the next action. Ideally, I like the analysis to be mentored with an expert. Going out to nullsec with a large newbie corporation with mentors, online resources and tutorials - as well as several types of fleet/small gang/solo ops every day suited me perfectly. I learned that I very much like support roles such as logistics, scouting and EWAR, the ships for which also suited my wallet and earning potential (i.e. I'm relatively poor since I get seriously bored by ratting/mining, just about coping with the odd hour click-fest of PI to supplement buying a PLEX now and again).

Many pilots enjoy experiential learning, i.e. try it and see. I think faction warfare - from my short time there - is very good for this, since you can earn decent isk and fly all sorts of ships. Just be comfortable being killed very often. This is an excellent habit to cultivate. I can't tell you how different my attitude to loss is now, having lost ships so often it's not remotely an issue. (I sometimes feel regret nowadays if I do return from an op, reflecting that maybe I didn't take enough risks if I survived!)

The advice usually given here is find a good corp, as this can be a miserable game solo. I'd add that if you want to improve as a combat pilot, you need to find a corp that suits your learning style, gets you into lots of varied fights, doesn't stress you about your killboard, and understands real life has priority.

Run a couple security missions, then join a FW pvp group that lives in black rise/placid and has at least a few good solo and small gang PVPers.

Force yourself to manual pilot.