EVE New Citizens Q&A

It is often asked how do new players get into a low / null sec corp and experience the 'deep' PvP side of the game. It seems a daunting hurdle, finding a decent corp and then actually getting there and surviving those first few weeks and then what do you do if things don't work out?

This advice assumes the reader is looking for a null sec, PvP related experience with the ability to rat/plex for income. It also assumes that you have a few basic skills and can get into at least a Battlecruiser, prehaps 2-3 months old. Sure there are other ways, sure you can do it cheaper, quicker and riskier. But this advice is for the player who wants a little more structure than just buy 50 Rifters and go lose them all.

I too preceived this a problem when I was first looking at going to null when about 4 months old. I am a little wiser now and would say that the problem really is in the mind of the new player. I have most experience in FW Low Sec and NPC Null Sec, but I don't believe I would be speaking out of turn in saying that 90% of all corps, wherever located, would accept a new player into their ranks. The problem is matching new players up with a suitable corporation.

Let me start by explaining the problems from the corporation point of view and they begin with these forums. We cannot advertise for new members in the New Citizens, Trial Citizens, General Discussion or any other forum except "Alliance & Corporation Recruitment Center" in the "EVE Corporations, Alliances and Organizations Center" Section. This is quite strictly policed by both CCP and other players who delight in drawing CCP attention to subtle (or otherwise) adverts.

This restriction is essential to the correct working of these forum. Otherwise they would be overrun with recruiting adverts and their real purpose would be lost in the mess. However, most new players usually start with the New Trial, New Citizens and General discussion forums and come away with the perception that nobody is slightly interested in recruiting new players. This is completely the opposite to the truth.

Eventually some people find their way to the "Alliance & Corporation Recruitment Center" and are left bewildered with the choice available. Understand this, that the best adverts are written by the best advert writers not the best corps. You have to take every thing they say with a pinch of salt and that begins with the typical condition such as "Must have 20M SP". Realise this, that they are trying to drum up interest from experienced pilots as well. Of course they will take an experienced pilot over a noob, and making such a condition makes them sound more profession and they think that appeals to the experienced player. But most will still take new players too and you will often see the clause "...but will take lower skill players if they demonstrate suitible merit". Getting on Eve voice and saying hello was all the merit I needed to do to have one corp waive a 12M SP deficit.

So what you need to do is understand your worth! REALLY understand how desperate they are to recruit you! Research them and then grill them in the interview. Don't just accept the first offer you get. Don't fear that if you don't sieze the chance, you won't get other offers, believe me they will come thick and fast. Just don't shoot for one of the top PvP corp on Battleclinic. It is more important that you fit with the people in your new corp, not how they are rated on Battleclinic.

Vital things you need to establish. Most common Timezone. Lauguage spoken on fleet ops. Type of operations/activities usually conducted. Corp Tax. Confirm they have regular Jump Freighter service from HighSec and whether it costs anything. Ask about the local market.

Examine their killboard to confirm some of their claims. Some will claim a great PvP record, but closer examination may reveal that the majority of their kills came about from one pilot, who joined another fleet and got on 40 BS kills in one battle. Whereas in your timezone there is clear evidence of regular individual losses and no friendly fleet activity.

How can you maximise your appeal with so low skill points? Easy, just spend 12 days training racial Frigates V and Destroyers V. These two skills will open the door to Covops and Interdictors. Null is crying out for such pilots. It will take a few more days to get Torpedoes and Cloaking IV to actually fly stealth bombers, but nothing long to train. Their appeal to null sec corps is enormous and you will never regret training Covops. Interdictors you might not enjoy flying, but they will definitely open the door for you.

Now the oft asked question how can I be sure that my new corp won't ship down my stuff then keep everything and just kill and pod me when I arrive? The short answer is you can't! The longer answer is that such activity is not nearly as prevalent as the horror stories suggest. What you need to do is simply minimise your risk. You should have established that their JF service is regular to and from Highsec. On your first shipment, send one Covops ship with fittings, 1 x 5 run BPC for your BC of choice having established that minerals are available on the local market, 3 sets of BC fittings including one long range PVE set up to rat with and that is about it, perhaps a couple of +2 implants. Maybe a 100-150M investment. You should have another 300M Isk in cash reserves as a minimum. If you haven't got that money, perhaps you need to work on your PvE skills in Highsec for another month or so. Sorry, but it takes a bit of money to sent up in Null, if you can't comfortably fund that amount and be prepared to lose it, you aren't ready.

Heheh. Yeah Major. There is one born every minute, isn't there?