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EVE New Citizens Q&A

 
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Alpha/Solo flying
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Sofia Ziyara
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#1 - 2017-04-25 23:16:57 UTC
Basic, simple question (or maybe not, what do I know Roll), but it's not really answered anywhere I can find.

How far in the game I can expect to go as an Alpha, flying solo? I'm not expecting clear-cut answers, though I might be pleasantly surprised, so estimates are fine.

Ideally, I'd like to finish an Epic Arc or two get myself comfortable with the controls/some fights before jumping into the heart of things, going Omega, joining a corp, and the rest of stuff that's recommended throughout the forums. (ie, I want to play an actual, relaxed trial period, and make the Omega jump when I feel comfortable doing so)

I know for the SoE Arc that I need a Destroyer/Cruiser (Cruiser moreso, I believe?), so I don't think that's impossible under Alpha. What about the faction arcs, Blood Angels, or the others?

For those fancy ships (from my PoV, atleast), though, ISK is needed. What can I expect as my mining max? I don't think a Venture is going to cut it in null-sec for obvious reasons (or low-sec without some support, I imagine), so that's going to be a pretty hard limit on that. Trading? Logistics? Manufacturing? With the limited ships, I imagine it's pretty easy to get an estimate on what a casual player can do.

PvP...actually, PvP for alphas is pretty well explored, so no questions here on that. Big smile
ergherhdfgh
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#2 - 2017-04-26 00:22:47 UTC
You should be able to finish all of the pirate faction epic arcs as an alpha. Of course going omega and being able to ignore bubbles in a ceptor would make it much easier. Regardless you should be able to finish them.

There are one or two missions in the SoE arc that you might need some help for. Not sure how strict you are about solo, nor am I certain why you would want to do it.

As far as how far you can go in the game in general... this is a sandbox and there are no hard or fast metrics. There is no pre-set progression path that you must follow.

That being said you can participate in almost every activity in game as an alpha. Of course omega opens up more options with regards to how you participate but you can still participate.

Want to talk? Join Cara's channel in game: House Forelli
Sofia Ziyara
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#3 - 2017-04-26 00:43:28 UTC
Gotcha. Thanks for the clearing up. So, plenty of stuff to do, should be fun.

As for why solo, like I said, I just want to sit back and enjoy the universe for a while before I get into the other stuff. I understand that might be a bit weird, but Eve is gorgeous, the gameplay is fun, the information is vast, and I want to take it at my own pace for now. I'd rather not tie myself down as soon as I get into the game (been there, done that, hated it).

Maybe I'll find my home while I fly around, we'll see. But for now, solo flying it will be. Smile
Vortexo VonBrenner
Doomheim
#4 - 2017-04-26 03:35:23 UTC  |  Edited by: Vortexo VonBrenner
The epic arcs for the Amarr, Gallente, Minmatar, and Caldari are probably roughly equal to level 4.3-4.6 missions. You will not be able to do those yet or access them (one has to have a certain standing with the faction in question or the starting agent's corp) as a solo alpha player. Anyone can access the Sisters of Eve epic arc and it is designed for newer players. (although many older players run it every 3 months allowed to get the nice little faction standings of choosing boost it gives)

Fleet up with someone who can access the empire epic arcs and you can go into it also. Really, any sort of missions are much more fun with others anyway.

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Chainsaw Plankton
FaDoyToy
#5 - 2017-04-26 05:27:16 UTC
SoE epic arc should be easy in an alpha destroyer, I only screwed up as I wasn't paying attention and didn't shoot the elite frigate first and it webed/scrammed me. You can get up to lv3 missions in a gnosis with alpha, also there are a bunch of highsec exploration sites you could do in a cruiser/gnosis.

mining, I wouldn't bother with alpha skills (wouldn't bother with omega skills either)

Trading, I think broker fees would be an issue, also not sure how many orders you can have open, the market discussion forum might have a better idea on that, back before alphas people would try to trade to a plex with just the starting funds. Logi not sure but I'm pretty sure alphas can fly t1 logi ships although that won't be very interesting as a solo. Manufacturing will be pretty limited, I think you can only do one job at a time. Hauling I'd feel safe hauling low priced goods around in a t1 industrial, if you have some high value low volume goods you can use a travel frig with an agility fit + buffer tank

@ChainsawPlankto on twitter
Memphis Baas
#6 - 2017-04-26 13:42:34 UTC
The game isn't a very deep progression (with an epic storyline to guide your character). Instead, it's a whole lot of options available from the start (to Alphas), and you pick which ones you want to take beyond the "dabble" stage.

The lineup of ships available to Alphas is not bad. Frigates and cruisers are basically the most used ships in the game, and used by veterans too. This game doesn't quite have a progression of ships where you discard the earlier ones, because it doesn't have levels. It's all about how good your fitting skills are, and how deep your wallet is (to fit "bling" overpowered stuff).

This game works by multiplying together a dozen or more 5% bonuses from various sources (the ship, the modules, rigs, skills, implants, overheating, fleet bonuses, booster drugs, etc.) so you end up with 200 - 300% performance increase. Someone could have a bling ship with extra performance from using high grade pirate loot drops, and all you have to do to counter that is bring 3 friends in cheapo ships.

T1 ships are versatile; you can fit them in a number of ways, and achieve short or long range, shield or armor defenses or extra DPS, ewar, etc. Some cruisers like the Vexor are so versatile you don't even know what to expect in combat.

Omegas have access to T2 ships, but that just means specialized roles in very expensive hulls. Specialized roles can be countered with generic ships if you fit them ahead of time to match the weaknesses and blind spots of the enemy. Learning the PVP game, and advanced intel about the enemy, are more important than having high skills or some bling ship.
Do Little
Bluenose Trading
#7 - 2017-04-26 17:05:04 UTC  |  Edited by: Do Little
CCP Rise created an Alpha character last fall (before they were available to the rest of us) and spent 3 weeks testing its capability in game. He presented his experience at Eve Vegas last fall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWuk7GDZsqs

As you'll see, Eve is more about player knowledge than character skill. In the right hands, Alphas are very capable!
Earnest Emu
State War Academy
Caldari State
#8 - 2017-04-26 19:09:17 UTC
There are loads of vids on making isk for alpha's. I found this one from abbadon21 very helpful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXKmLqTqT7k&t=858s.
This one on ninja gas mining is also good https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td0EnccM5AQ

Not sure why you would not join a corp, this game like all mmo's is about who you play with. We have a really good alpha corp called special snow flakes, and there is no pressure to upgrade.
Everyone is involved in all that we do. Alpha's go with on lvl 4 missions, to shoot or salvage. We do a fair amount of wh raiding and an alpha can salvage and take out easily 100mil just from that in 1-2 hrs. While there others will gas, ore mine.

If you need to know more, message me and I'll be happy to help.

Emu
Vokan Narkar
Doomheim
#9 - 2017-04-26 19:57:32 UTC  |  Edited by: Vokan Narkar
Yes its perfectly doable to play EVE alone on alpha clone. However, its all about knowledge. You have to know what, where how if you want to get some meaning of it. And nobody will tell you the secrets because if you start doing what Im doing I would no longer be able to make a solid ISKs.

There are lot more activities than I am going to list, but as far as a "profitability" goes on alpha clone:


  • Ore mining - forget on mining, unless you need some tritanium to craft something I wouldn't waste a time with it, there is only one efficient ship you can use on alpha which makes it even more boring as there is no progression in this activity. Mining in lowsec/wh doesn't give any better income than mining in highsec either. Especially for the risk involved so don't bother. And btw mining missions are even worse.
  • Gas mining - waste of time in highsec, however gas mining in lowsec is probably the most profitable activity you can do on alpha clone. It involves a lot of risks as you have to travel through lowsec, scan the signatures and then mine for around 45 minutes, but the payout is high. Also you can mine gas in wormhole, but to my experiences thats even more risky for lower profit.
  • PvE - as was said, Epic Arc, lvl 1-3 missions, and all highsec spawned combat sites are doable in cruiser/gnosis. However missions starts to be profitable only from lvl 4 so its waste of time. You cannot do 5/10 sites (not even in fleet of alpha clones) so going rat into lowsec is pointless either. The only profitable sites then remains 4/10 DEDs which too many peoples look for so even if you start one most likely someone in better ship will steal the loot from you and you can't do anything about it. Unless you find a player-less sector/region you will not have much luck with them.
  • Industry - you can only copy blueprints and only one at the time. You can only craft basis stuff that has little to no value. Reprocessing is too lossy on alpha clone. Basically pointless although you might find a goods that you can craft on alpha and make a profit.
  • Trading - stationg trading is not worth it, but otherwise activity that can get you more profit than other options on alpha. You just need to be active-trading and hauling the goods between regions. Another possibility and the basic one is to trade with NPC goods.
  • Hauling - actually quite option rich activity, especially if you are gallente you get many options what to transfer and in which ship. Also lvl 4 distribute missions aren't so bad - I think the LP payout is very nice if you do that in lowsec and train Distribute Connections to 2. Also you can haul player-made courier contracts however there is rarely a contract that could alpha clone finish and if its there its very very low reward or its a gank bait.
  • Solo PvP - no chance to compete against veterans in lowsec. Your best bet is to suspect-baiting in highsec if you acually want to be on the good side of the killmail. Or you can be a suicide ganker - yes even alpha clone can do that, you just need to fund this activity from another character as its usually not profitable (as alpha clone you look to alpha-strike autopiloting frigates, capsules or shuttles, it might be possible to sucide gank untanked t1 industrial but I have not tried that yet - you need to scan it beforehand).
  • Not a solo PvP - that would probably be the activity that gives a most fun. You can participate in fleets, gatecamps, blobs or suicide ganking. Everything works just fine as long as you fly with experienced players who will prepare a fit and task for you.
  • Scamming - meh, even alpha clone can do that... Dishonorable profession if you ask me but its legit...


Keep in mind this is not a complete list. There are way more things you can do even as alpha clone. But you have to find on your own. Send me an email if you want to hear more about one of the activities I decribed.
ergherhdfgh
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#10 - 2017-04-27 21:42:34 UTC
Sofia Ziyara wrote:
Gotcha. Thanks for the clearing up. So, plenty of stuff to do, should be fun.

As for why solo, like I said, I just want to sit back and enjoy the universe for a while before I get into the other stuff. I understand that might be a bit weird,

That is not in the least bit wierd to me but it does seem a little ill-informed.

When I first started playing Eve I felt much the same way that you did but that was mostly because I assumed corporations in Eve were similar to guilds in the fantasy / themepark MMO genre.

Corporations in Eve are typically laid back. I am sure that you can find some up tight group that could not drop the raiding guild mentality but those are few and far inbetween and I would guess exist almost exclusively in high sec. The majority of the corps that I have heard of are fairly laid back.

More to the point just because you are not looking to be in a corp right at this moment does not mean that you should not start looking. Find a corp that is right for you might take some time. Also spending time in perspective corp's public chat channels not only gives you a chance to get to know them but also gets you access to vets who are eager to help.

Want to talk? Join Cara's channel in game: House Forelli
Ranzabar
Doomheim
#11 - 2017-04-30 00:53:25 UTC
Sofia Ziyara wrote:


As for why solo, like I said, I just want to sit back and enjoy the universe for a while before I get into the other stuff. I understand that might be a bit weird, but Eve is gorgeous, the gameplay is fun, the information is vast, and I want to take it at my own pace for now. I'd rather not tie myself down as soon as I get into the game (been there, done that, hated it).


Go get a cheap Frigate and plant yourself around 20KM from Jita IV - Moon 4 - Caldari Navy Assembly Plant station and just watch the ships come and go. Poke around the area and see what's there. You'll be amazed. You might get shot at if you're lucky. What's the worst that can happen? You lose a cheap ship, some equipment? At worst you get podded, but you're so new it won't set you back.

The gameplay IS fun, but don't spend too much time staring at the sights and not getting involved. I made that mistake early on, so I'm here to help you have the most fun you can.

Take your time in awe, but not too much time.

Abide