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.

- Drackarn,  Blog Banter 33

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...


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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...