Player Features and Ideas Discussion

Skill Queues then.. A good idea, well implemented but unfortunately impacts on players who spend a lot of time away from any computers capable of running Eve.

I'm in the military and I've just spent the last three weeks overseas. I set up my SQ to get maximum return for time whilst I've been away but my SQ has been sitting empty for at least two weeks and there's nothing I can do about that.

Now, arguments for and against are plenty, but surely it would make sense to have either a mobile Application (Doesn't have to be free) that would allow you to add to your SQ on the move?

Alternatively, a SQ program external from the Eve client that you could perhaps install to a USB and take around with you, using it where you happened to be at that moment in time.

I agree with the argument that:

"If this were a normal MMO then you'd wouldn't be levelling up either whilst you're away."

but at the same time, Eve doesn't have to be like a normal MMO and quite clearly isn't in so many respects. So why not take a logical step to improve this one?

I think it'd be a popular move, it wouldn't adversely affect anything apart from perhaps less people actually going in-game seeing as they can SQ from their mobile or external program but I doubt the numbers would be that great. If it were limited purely to SQ adjustments then the majority would still have to log in to deal with other matters.

The biggest benefactors of something like this are those like myself who spend long, often obscene amounts of time away from a computer, internet or anything capable of playing Eve (Local security restrictions primarily, never mind hardware capability).

I'd happily pay £5 - £10 one off for such a program or app.

Thoughts?

[Edited to add] - Looking at my schedule for the next six months I'd be away from Eve access for approx: 15 weeks. Skipping to 2012 I'll be away from Eve for 24weeks. It's a long time to be paying subs when nothing's happening.

Unfortunately no, and whilst it is a solution for a lot of people it's far from ideal.

You say it's more work than it's worth. Do you really think so? I can't help but feel that the uptake would be huge and if CCP were to charge for it (As long as it were a reasonable, app priced amount such as £2 up to £10) I'm willing to bet there'd be a substantial return on the investment and it would make life a lot easier for a lot of people.

I've seen some hard against comments for people not wanting the SQ to be made longer than 24hrs, so this in my eyes is a compromise as people still have to make the effort to log on to the app / stand alone prog and it doesn't have to be at all complicated. I'm no programmer so can't understand what's involved but it would only need to be something as simple as you can only train up what Skills you already have, no adding new skills from books, so keeping it as simple as possible.

Depending on the outcry (Which I don't see why there should be one on this issue) there could even be limits to the app / prog such as you can only log on twice a week to update your SQ which means it wouldn't take away the numbers actually logging in to Eve.

I think it makes sense, I believe it would be do-able, it could be charged for and people would pay and it could be restricted so as to prevent 'abuse' if you like.

Just interested to know other peoples thoughts.

I commented a while back somewhere else on here about the lack of conversation on the SQ being increased as I hadn't played the game properly since launch back in, was it '03? I've only briefly been back between then and now and am surprised the SQ hasn't been pushed past 24hrs.

Some people were quite vocal about it with arguments which, to be fair, don't really hold up. If the SQ is 24hrs, 48hrs, a week, what does it really matter? If someone wants to (and can) they will log on at every opportunity to ensure their SQ is full. People with full time work or that travel or struggle to maintain connected through whatever reasons, will be the ones who may lose out.

However, I don't want to divert this into how the SQ should or could be increased, apart from saying that perhaps an idea is that once you've filled your 24hrs out you can stack one final skill on top, regardless of its length.

So you could have lots of skills to take you to 23hrs Q'd up, then stick on an eight day skill (Filling that last hour and pushing you over) and then stack one more skill on top of that.

Anyway, I digress.

The concept of charging for the prog/app is purely suggestion, it doesn't have to be but it could be and people would pay it, and as I say, if it's reasonable (A few pounds, no more, no less) then it's something the majority of people paying a sub could afford (£3? A pint of beer or some snacks). That's just to illustrate that it could be a pay for privilege though.

I understand the concern over hacking but I suppose that's something that would need to be worked out and would probably be aided by the simplicity of the function. The less it can do the less any malicious acts can do, so to speak.

I'm just trying to find a middle ground between people that want a longer SQ and people that don't. This to me is the obvious answer.

Increasing the SQ with some restrictions is the easiest answer though and really, I just can't see why people don't want it. With properly thought-out restrictions it could work very well.

I think you should all take a look back into the last Eve Fan Fest

It was mentioned in a Q&A or some other presentation...

Skill Queue management would come to Eve Gate in future, and they weren't talking about just being able to see what you are training, they actually said that you would be able to modify your queue from outside eve. It's going to be Web Based and I expect it will be added to the API for developers to use in their programs.

I do IT support for the UK Military so it would be handy for me, but they have said they will be doing in future, you need to wait

Extend queue to 180 days.

Problem solved.

I'm surprised EVE Gate doesn't provide this functionality already, they have it planned though no?

Yes, it's planned. Although I'm not sure if they want to include it in EVE Gate (very likely) and/or the API (unlikely).

Actually, I'd like to see SQ functionality enter EVE Gate; which would allow you to adjust your skill input with just a browser. Could access that on pretty much anything.

I've noticed CCP has been beefing up security, and has seperated EVE Online site from EVE Gate for that purpose. Forums and Account management and security are now completely seperated and use different databases. Account management also no longer stores your CC details; which, though annoying, is super nice for personal security in some respects.

CCP still retains this info of course; which means it's just an issue of password access to account they've protected against.

Maybe they have plans for it; but I could have used it last year. PC crashed and I had nothing that would access EVE to change my SQ. I've actually petitioned the Skill Reimbursement; but I have no expectation that I'll get it.

Updating my skill queue through EVE gate would be phenomenal. The only reason I brought up the "hybernation" item is that I have seen other players complain that being able to update your skill queue would allow some sort of advantage over other players. I personally see no reason why we shouldn't be able to update our skill queue through EVE gate.