CSM Campaigns

Capsuleers,

My name is Xander Phoena and I would like to confirm my candidacy for the 10th Council of Stellar Management.

Before we go any further, if you want to know a little more about me and my work on CSM9, you should begin by reading my candidacy announcement for CSM9. My main goal was to stand for two key things – work on 0.0 and ‘Communication’ in the broadest sense between CSM, CCP and the player base.

Let’s look at a report card for both of these goals:

Communication – My weekly reports have kept the player base informed of what CSM9 is up to on a regular basis with insight to what we are up to as a group, where we agreed with CCP, where we disagreed with one another and what particular issues I was personally focused on at any given time.

I’m very pleased that I have been able to keep these going every single week despite issues being offshore and such like. That said, more could be done both personally and as a collective. I said this last year:

‘The CSM as a body fails if it does not adequately communicate the wishes and thoughts of the player base to CCP, CCP's intentions and plans to the player base (within NDA obviously) and it's own work to both.’

We are closer to the above goal than we were a year ago but the work is not yet complete.

Nullsec – CCP is tackling 0.0 head on. We have had the jump nerf and some tweaks to structure HP but major changes to sovereignty are just around the corner. It is imperative that CSM does what it can to keep CCP on the righteous path they are currently on.

Over the past few months we have seen blocs at war in-game join hands to push CCP for change – 0.0 has never been so unified in ensuring sovereignty is improved for the overall health of the game. I have played some small part in that and wish to continue to do.

Much good work has been done by CCP and CSM9 over the past six or so months. CCP is taking bold and brave steps in breathing new life into New Eden and CSM9 has been a vital part of that. But based on the two goals I set myself for CSM9, the work has begun and is going well but I feel the need to see it through to the end and to do that, I believe I need another term as a Council Member.

I mentioned last year how I had worked very hard during CSM7 and CSM8 to bring the CSM closer to the player base and I can tell you that that doesn’t even begin to compare to the work involved in being a member of the CSM. It is also incredibly satisfying to feel you have made some small impact on the sandbox that is Eve.

Many of you talk about how the CSM does nothing or has no power. I highly recommend you read thisto see how some CSM members worked incredibly hard on feedback received from the community on input automation via third party software and enacted real change in the game. This is a tangible, specific proof that your votes matter.

Last year I was worried that my work offshore would make it difficult to be an effective member of CSM. I can confirm (as I hope can others on CSM9) that it hasn’t proved to be a hindrance. Indeed, it proved to be a huge help during the Summer Summit where I was able to attend every session bar one remotely from home.

I worked hard to bring CSM to the player base before I was elected and I have worked incredibly hard as a CSM member over the past six or seven months. Vote for me and I will continue to do so. Most importantly, even if you don’t vote for me, vote for someone!

Thank you for your time,
Xander

Reserved.

At the time of the last election I did not know Xander personally but he had my vote.

In him I saw a candidate who was not a celebrity FC or held a high-level bloc leadership position, but a representative of the many nullsec line members. Not only that, I also saw someone who did his utmost best to deliver independent quality content for the community despite his demanding work schedule. Here's a candidate who kept his head level and his thoughts focused, never partisan, always passionate about the game and its players and with his moral compass pointing in the right direction.

Since I have become a member of Crossing Zebras staff I only found every single quality I had assumed about him to be true. If you vote - as you hopefully will - then Xander definitely deserves to be on your ballot. Not because some in-game group endorses him, but because the CSM needs people like him.

Also, if he gets elected, he promised he will wear one of those quaint checkered skirts the male natives of his country dress in on formal occasions.

Xander is a great CSM and ill be voting for him. He goes out of his way to communicate with people and try to keep people informed. All you have to do is look at some of his publications and videos to know this guy has passion for the game and community.

Xander has already reached out to me in regards to an interview but for the sake of fairness. :D

Good to hear that you have decided to run again.

As you are aware we at the Cap Stable Podcast interviewed you during your run for CSM9 and we wish to do the same this year for CSM10.

Here is our announcement: http://capstable.net/2014/12/01/council-of-stellar-management-x-call-for-candidate-interviews/

As we stated in the announcement, you can contact us to schedule your one on one interview via any of the following methods:

Email: podcast@capstable.net
Twitter: @CapStable
Or via our contact form

We look forward to speaking to you about your particular skill set and expertise in EVE Online and we hope you success in your candidacy.

Sincerely,

Lanctharus Onzo
Co-host & Writer of the Cap Stable Podcast
Military Director, Alea Iacta Est Universal

Ignore HVAC: this post leaves him with egg on his face. Xander is a good man.

Xander is ok but he still hasn't been able to explain what Irn Bru tastes like.

So take that as you will

Hi Xander!

You and Crossing Zebras are the reason I actually know anything about the CSM. For me your communication and thought processes have been wonderful, so, you do indeed have my vote in YC117.

Having said that, I'd like to ask you some questions I'm asking the candidates I'm seriously considering, if I could.

Space has become littered with abandoned POS structures. What is your position on getting rid of them? I'd like to see, perhaps, a orbital degrading mechanic once the fuel is gone. This, then would open up the moons for pilots that will actually use them. The current mechanic, of course, involves Wardec-ing a possibly abandoned Corp and then sitting there for an extended period of time blapping the structures. I think something better is quite possible.

EVE seems to be popularly seen as more than a game, perhaps moving into the hobby realm. I'm aware that some discussions have been held with regard to finding a way to bring a more casual player or a more casual play-style option into EVE. Would you advocate this? If so, how might this be done without fundamentally changing the nature of the game? Would it?

It seems a given that CSM X and CCP will look at dealing with the SovNull question this term. Beyond that, from a gameplay perspective, what would you advocate as the next priority?

EVE players seem to be quite passionate about the game, yet it is said that the voting rate for CSM elections is lower than that of even the United States midterms. Does this diminish the validity of the CSM? What would you like to do to combat the voter apathy that we see and effectively educate the voters on the reality of what the CSM can effectively do?

Finally, and most importantly, do you like cats? :-)

Thanks so much!

I didn't vote for you last time because I was indifferent to yet another nullsec bloc candidate. But you've distinguished yourself, and you've provided lots of meaty updates and analysis at CZ, so I'm happy to eat crow about last year's judgment of you. You'll be on the ballots.

Xander has demonstrated that he is a great communicator which is an ideal trait for a member of the CSM as they are charged with communicating between the devs and the players.

He is exactly the guy I want the devs to come to when they are trying to decipher the rationale behind our (the players) opinions of game design changes.

He has my vote.