Thursday, February 23, 2012



How I Became a Capsuleer

YC114.02.23

I really need to quit eavesdropping in these station bars...

Like mana from Valhalla (yes I know I'm mixing my religious metaphors), the recent Dev Blog by CCP Legion asks questions which make for perfect Blog Bantering. To quote him,

"...we want to make the first days, weeks and months in EVE enjoyable and not just something ‘you have to plough through in order to get to the good stuff’" and the newly formed Player Experience team will focus on "...where and why people lose interest in EVE...".

"We invite you to pour your heart (or guts) out and tell us what you think is good or bad with the current new player experience and what you think could be done about the problems."

- Seismic Stan, Blog Banter 33: The Capsuleer Experience


This got me thinking back to just what path I took becoming a capsuleer.  It sure as hell wasn’t a spur of the moment thing - I’d been considering taking this path for a few years, anything to escape this rock I was on and get into space. However, the time just never seemed right; and if we're being honest, the learning curve scared me off too!


Even at the bottom of a gravity well, I'd been hearing rumors of the epic lives being lived over my head.  Guiding Hand hitting the big score, and pyramids being built among the stars bankrupting medium-sized planets.  The thought of all that action going on, and me missing out on it, finally got me moving.

I did over 3 months research before I signed up, joining CAS for my formal education.  Before I ever stepped foot in a pod, I had already read the manual.  I knew my existing hardware couldn't handle the demands of a pod, and upgraded.  Even the fact that pod pilots tended to be graduates of the Corp schools attracted me - no sniveling little brats to deal with.

Of all the MMOG I've played Eve appears to have the oldest player base I've seen. Most in my corp are 30-something with wives and kids. Why? Because there isn't the instant gratification that comes with many games and therefore younger players tend not to stick with it.


I knew this was where I wanted to be.  Getting resources, refining, building, and selling, selling, selling!  Oh sure, some people are flitting about throwing things at each other.  But real capsuleers know the battlefield is in the board room.


With these bright stars shining in my eyes, I submitted my application to CAS.  (Has it really only been 16 months since I did this...?)  I was so excited to start my classes!  


What was first?  Oh, how to fly?  Well, I guess that makes sense.  And how to blow things up?  OK, fair enough.  Finally!  Industry!  Mining, building, selling!  


Wait?  That was it?  Now we're back to shooting?  Scanning?  I guess scanning could be useful - help me find new materials or markets...  But when are we getting back to the stuff that matters?


Huh?  I've graduated?  And now some biddy wants me to help her?  She ain't my Sister, forget that! 


Why the hell did I even bother attending CAS?  Everything I needed to know, I'd already researched before I ever left home.  If my course load is any indication, this is one blood-thirsty universe...


*********************************************
OOC


Other than the In Character flourishes, the timeline, research, and thoughts above represent my time leading up to- and signing up for- EVE.  I'd heard the crowd was older, more mature - and that's what I wanted.


As well, CCP has done a very good job getting out the word about the Learning Cliff.  Perhaps too good - it may scare off people who would otherwise love the game.  For me, this cliff is what attracted me.  Anyone can hack-and-slash, but to bankrupt an entire corporation?  That takes actual skill, and not just a +5 Sword of Shiny.


CCP, and the gaming media, market EVE as the sandbox to play in - and that's certainly true.  But they also make a huge deal out of the player-driven economy, and the fact that CCP has an actual economist on staff!  This is one of EVE's key differences to other MMO's, and something they market very well. 


The message gets lost once you actually start playing the game.  Everything is set up for pew-pew.  Either I'm blowing up the environment, or blowing up other players.


Rather, getting blowed up by other players.  I can barely spell PvP, let alone conduct it.  But you know what?  That's the way I want it.  I'm an industrialist.  As I said before, things must burn or I won't have a job.  That's cool - I'll sell you the matches and you can actually strike them.


The New Player Experience - at least when I did it in Nov and Dec 2010 - gave me very little to become the tycoon to which I aspire.  The research I did before hand, especially reading the ISK Guide, is what helped me.  I knew there was a grind to get through - and I'm masochistic enough to enjoy those grinds.


The great thing about our sandbox is there's room for everyone, even those of us that don't PvP.  I just wish there was more in the NPE to show me why CCP even bothers to have an economist.  


Unfortunately, in this case I'm a critic rather than a creator.  I know what's missing, but I have no clue what would effectively fill the gaps...

Tuesday, February 14, 2012


Vagabonds, and the Never-Ending Ladder to Climb

YC114.02.14

Two years ago, I despaired even getting off that damn rock I called home - or at least where I was born and my family called home.  Little did I know what was in store for me - coming through the wormhole, as it were...

I can’t even remember the last time I set foot on a planet now.  Likely when I was still a student with CAS.  I’ve lived in a tower in a wormhole, cut off from everything (everything that matters, that is - like my beloved markets) for weeks at a time.  I’ve bounced around regions, from Verge Vendor, to Sinq Laison, and now to Essence...

I’ve hitched my Iteron to James’ fortunes; and while my liquid ISK doesn’t show it, the assets I’m collecting, and market orders I have pending show that’s a good thing so far!

I still don’t have enough to stay safe, secure, stable, in space, and not stuck on some small, stupid, insignificant speck of a planet somewhere...  But I’m getting there... assuming it’s a catchable target...

And hey, the ladder I’m climbing with RECLT is getting me further from the surface every day - even the alliance is noticing:

Meet the new Communications Director - Diplomacy and Business for Federal Consensus Outreach!

I think I’m gonna need a bigger business card...

Kat Robspierre
Production Chief, RECLT
Chief Operating Officer, RECLT
Communications Director - Diplomacy and Business, Federal Consensus Outreach

Kinda has a nice ring to it!

Friday, February 10, 2012


My God, It’s Full of Customers

YC114.02.10

This political stuff is not a simple path to navigate, that’s for sure...

FCO has made it official - we’re Faction Warriors!  So far, this hasn’t impacted me much.  I’ve had some new allies pop up on the overview - but we’ve just passed like purple ships in the night.  Certainly no threats yet.  And no new business either - yet!

The strangest thing was the hoops the alliance had to endure to prove our worth to the Federation.  Apparently Col Nardieu’s past work was not exactly official - at least not in any way the authorities are willing to recognize formally.  He and his folks are off running some more publicly-palatable work for the Federation.  They’ve assured us they will return...  It’s interesting - the thorniest branches are the ones that needed pruning to prove FCO’s worth to the Federation.

One wormhole closes, another opens...

Looks like FCO is getting some traction, we’ve had a group apply for membership.  They’ve got some history that makes a few in FCO uncomfortable - at one point some of them apparently had anti-Federal leanings.  This is prompting a discussion among the bosses that raises a few interesting thought with me:
  1. Us capsuleers are effectively immortal.  Given a long enough time span, we’re all going to get bored and try many different things.  Those million monkeys banging on a million typewriters got nothing on the variety of things we’re going to produce...
  2. Employment history is just that: history.  I mean, look at mine - Advent was closely aligned with Sansha sympathizers.  Hell, Kiruss is aligning extremely closely these days.  By the concerns raised about the new organization, that kind of thinking may have kept me out of FCO.
  3. FCO is very open about our policies, thoughts, and goals.  The fact that they’re applying shows me that whatever leanings they may have had in the past, it’s the past.  That’s the great thing about people - they change their minds, and that should be allowed.  (Except on contracts!  You signed it, you live by it!  Kat’s gots ta get paid!)
  4. If we reject those who may think differently, then how will we ever have the chance to change their minds, show them the errors of their ways, and sell to them?


Speaking of selling, my first Tornado sold!  

Wednesday, February 8, 2012


The Gears Are Turning

YC114.02.08

Guess who’s qualified on a freighter... This guy!

Things are starting to tick along nicely.  Moved all my assets to the new shop yesterday, just some straggler ships to get hauled over.  Started building my first ship to sell - a Tornado; I may not be able to fly it, but I’m sure willing to soak some poor fool who is able!

Ammo sales are going well too.  Not much margin, but a reasonably steady income there.

Next I gotta start upping my status with FIO...  I really need some jump clones for what James and I have planned.  Specially if the alliance joins up fighting FW.  Great sales opportunities, but a lot more bullets flying at us too.

Met a chap in Gallente Lounge last night - might have some business for us too.  He may need some items built, and other items hauled - no questions asked.  Those are the best kinda questions - the ones not asked cause the cheque cleared!

Even better - the ISK is starting to roll in on the custom build...  Everything’s starting to mesh - time to stop chasing and start catching that ISK!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012


Second Verse, Same as the First

YC114.02.07

Octirant was quite the problem for us, riling up people and likely getting us into a war with SASPR.

Looks like his replacement thinks a bit bigger...  Nothing like insulting an entire civilization to start things off.  Not to mention pissing off an entire customer base!

All I can hope is that everyone realizes the good Colonel speaks only for himself, and not the entire alliance.  I don’t know if I can handle another interruption to business.  

Monday, February 6, 2012


Time to Rent a Van, I Gotta Move

YC114.02.06

Well,  we’ve escaped relatively unscathed from the war - meaner, leaner, and ready to profit!  As part of this, we’ve realized Ney was not really the best spot for our operations.  Our supply routes to refineries, markets, and customers were just too long.

James has found us a perfect location: Ignebaener.  Lots of material in-system to pull, FIO stations to base out of, manufacturing not too far away, and a few easy jumps to our customers.

Speaking of customers, I hope they can streamline operations soon.  I’ve got a few contracts pending acceptance right now, which unfortunately means I’ve got a lot of non-liquid assets at the moment.

Kinda tough to build more things to sell when I can’t buy raw materials!

Tangled Webs

YC114.02.06

Good lord, is James really this tricky?  He’s been playing things close to the vest lately, but actually taking a hand in offing Octirant?  And worse yet, involving me?

And worst of all, doing it for free and not sharing with me?

I’m not sure if I want to know the truth or not.  I don’t think I could handle knowing that about James...  I mean, is he really that cold blooded?  That ruthless?  To actually do something like this for no profit at all?

I don’t know if I could work with someone like that!

Thursday, February 2, 2012



Promotions

YC114.02.02

Speaking of more competent than Octirant, FNP has elected a new Chairman.  Col. Hans Nardieu seems like a good chap so far.  He’s distanced himself from the past very gently and smoothly, ruffling a minimum of feathers - something of which his predecessor was incapable.

More importantly though - I GOT A PROMOTION!

Meet the new Chief Operating Officer for Reclamation Technologies!  

I’m not sure what will actually change, but it’s nice to be recognized for the work I am already performing.  Plus, this should make it easier to deal with other corporations - titles open doors, I tend to find.

I’m not sure if Loreael is going to come back to us now that the war is over, but I hope this doesn’t make things weird if he does...  It can be tough when people get left behind.


Peace in Our Time

YC114.02.02

Find me a nurse to kiss, the war’s over!

Looks like Luc Saldissot has managed to negotiate an end to the business interruptions.  As usual, there may be some lingering “border incidents” over the next few days as people get word; but it’s reasonably safe to start plying the spaceways again.

Which is good - a couple more days and I would have been completely strangled in my ability to produce anything.

I must say, it’s nice to have someone more competent than Octirant dealing with issues that impact the whole alliance.