EVE!

[Martimus]

Jump Freighter training takes maybe a week, it is the cost of the Jump Freighter that is the barrier to entry there. I may be selling the training time short, but I remember that training for a Rorqual was at least four times as skill intensive as a jump freighter.

 

[TheVrolok]

Jump Freighter training takes maybe a week, it is the cost of the Jump Freighter that is the barrier to entry there. I may be selling the training time short, but I remember that training for a Rorqual was at least four times as skill intensive as a jump freighter.

JF training takes a good bit longer than a week. JDO V and Faction Indy V aren't incredibly long, but they aren't short either. And that's just to sit in it. Another week or two to "fly it well."

As for the cost, yikes, JFs have appreciated pretty heavily. I bought my 2 JFs for like 5-6 bil a piece a few years ago (maybe 2?) and now they're like 7-10. I really don't want to lose one.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Yeah costs on them have really skyrocketed since the mineral prices/moon-goo went through the roof last year. I might have bought one before and have just been sitting on it somewhere (can't remember... at the currently prices I sure hope I did). I already have most of the skills for them as the character was my high-sec hauler alt (orca, transport ships, freighters). Really just needed to train the jump distance boost skill and jump fuel conservation skill.

 

[Martimus]

JF training takes a good bit longer than a week. JDO V and Faction Indy V aren't incredibly long, but they aren't short either. And that's just to sit in it. Another week or two to "fly it well."

As for the cost, yikes, JFs have appreciated pretty heavily. I bought my 2 JFs for like 5-6 bil a piece a few years ago (maybe 2?) and now they're like 7-10. I really don't want to lose one.

You are right. It has been a while, but once you have capital skills, the only additional skill you need is the Jump Freighter skill assuming you already have the standard freighter skill. It was only like 10M isk too for that skill book if I recall correctly (maybe 100M, I did this about 3 years ago.). I trained for a JF is maybe a week, since I already had the other capital skills trained. It took me three months to train the Rorqual though, because I had next to no mining skills. It was worth it though, since the Rorqual could carry 150,000 m3 of stuff, at a price of 1.5 B isk compared to the 300,000 for 4.5 B isk of the JF. The Rorqual is an excellent hull tanker with something like 3 M hull ehp fitted properly. Used it that way once as bait, it was fun.

 

[Nox51]

Hmmm, I'm keen for a different spaceship game and was toying with the idea of picking this up. I remember playing a couple of years ago for not that long but dropping it. Worth it to try and reactivate that account?

 

[ichy]

Yes, if you're willing to climb a steep learning curve.

 

[ichy]

I'm curious to see how the AI changes in the new patch affect my exploration habits. Right now I use a Tengu to tank and a stealth bomber for DPS, but if the AI will start switching targets then using a glass cannon for DPS may not work any longer.

 

[TheVrolok]

I'm curious to see how the AI changes in the new patch affect my exploration habits. Right now I use a Tengu to tank and a stealth bomber for DPS, but if the AI will start switching targets then using a glass cannon for DPS may not work any longer.

Could have a fair impact on the economy. Can't imagine the amount of people who make isk with similar tank+glass cannon setups.

 

[ichy]

I don't think that the ninja-exploration community is very large. If you don't have a requirement to fit both ships with a covert ops cloak then tanking both ships is much easier.

 

[TheVrolok]

I don't think that the ninja-exploration community is very large. If you don't have a requirement to fit both ships with a covert ops cloak then tanking both ships is much easier.

Easier sure, but you lose significant dps fitting tank on a glass cannon. It's not just ninja-exploration, but ratting, level 5s, etc. While they still may be doable without glass cannon set ups, they'll take a lot longer. Same goals for logi set ups like hospital domi's, etc

 

[Nox51]

I'll give it a shot and see how it goes. This should be interesting.

 

[ichy]

Judging from the EVE devblog the AI changes won't affect me that much. It says that NPCs will try to target ships that are their own size (frigates shoot frigates, cruisers shoot cruisers, etc) so all I'll need to do is make sure I kill all frigates with my Tengu before my stealth bomber warps in. Could be worse.

 

[Dankk]

Hey guys,

Since EVE is on sale right now, I think I'm gonna pick it up and try to get into it. I just want to preemptively state: Yes, I'm aware the game has a very steep learning curve, and yes, I'm aware that it's not for everyone. I played it a tiny bit one or two years ago and didn't get very far.

For $5 and a free month of playtime I think I'll play it again and start over from a clean slate. So I have a couple of noob questions:

1) Am I OK deleting my old character and starting a new one? I won't be penalized or anything, will I?

2) What are my options for playing as a non-aggressive/pacifist character? What can I do? (Not entirely against combat, just want to see what the different classes/character paths are)

3) Do you recommend joining a corporation in order to get the most out of EVE?

Thanks, and sorry about the stupid questions.

My family's dragging me out of town this Christmas so I thought I'd load it up on my laptop and play while I'm gone.

 

[M0rphz0r]

1) Am I OK deleting my old character and starting a new one? I won't be penalized or anything, will I?

2) What are my options for playing as a non-aggressive/pacifist character? What can I do? (Not entirely against combat, just want to see what the different classes/character paths are)

3) Do you recommend joining a corporation in order to get the most out of EVE?

1) No, you won't be penalized in any way. You can have up to three characters on one account, though, so there's no need to delete your old character unless you really don't want it any more.

2) There's lots of ways to earn money without using your ship's guns. Hauling stuff around, manufacturing, mining, trading. I've found mining to be a rather boring experience, but AFAIK recent changes have made it pretty lucrative. They've also introduced Planetary Interaction, where you harvest (and process) materials on planets. But you always have to be aware of one thing: You're not really safe anywhere. It doesn't matter whether you're peaceful or not. EVE is full of nasty bastards. When you leave the safety of the station, other capsuleers of the ill-minded kind might try to make your ship explode, either for profit or just for fun.

3) Joining a corporation is definitely a good idea. There's a few help chat channels for newbies, but if you want to learn the ropes, I'd recommend a training corp like Eve University.

 

[ichy]

Ho hum, one thing the new expansion has changed is that if you get NPC aggro you will now stay in space for 15 minutes after logging off. This will be slightly annoying for ninja exploration.

 

[TheVrolok]

Hey guys,
... snip ...

Some good advice was listed above, but if you want some more information (incredibly well written/organized for new players) then grab a copy of ISK (Industrial Sized Knowledgebase).

Direct link for English PDF: http://www.isktheguide.com/downloads/ISK_Vol_1_Incursion_1_4.zip

It hasn't been update for Retribution (the latest expansion that deployed yesterday, so there are a few moderate changes, but you will get a very good idea regardless). If you're scared of a random zip, just check the host site first. I'm sure the other EVE players here will confirm it's a well known/used site/guide for newer players.

 

[Red Storm]

Anyone have a link to a page that describes sleeper AI and how it compares to standard AI? Wondering how the mission AI changes are going to effect drone ships (Vexor, Myr, Domi, the new Algos, etc.).

 

[Martimus]

Sleeper AI will prioritize drones and logistic ships, and they switch targets every 30 seconds or so as well. They do not deal well with ECM though.

 

[ichy]

Anyone have a link to a page that describes sleeper AI and how it compares to standard AI? Wondering how the mission AI changes are going to effect drone ships (Vexor, Myr, Domi, the new Algos, etc.).

CCP *claims* that the changes will be modest. All NPCs now use the same AI model as Sleepers, however not all of the Sleeper features have been turned on for regular old NPC rats. I suspect they're just trying to make it impossible to farm missions AFK.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Oh man, I read the general forums and the whining is freaking hilarious. The NPC AI is lobotomized sleeper AI, with weapons that might as well be rocks, and people are whining like crazy.

People are going insane that they actually have to pay attention to what their drones are doing and can't just ignore them 99% of the time.

The tears. I love them.

 

[Genx87]

That is kind of funny. I run lvl4s and most of the time it is pretty brain dead activity. It can also be exremely boring.

 

[Fallen Kell]

They do not deal well with ECM though.

Yeah, they go ballistic on ECM. If you ECM or pop ECM drones, everything in the site will auto-agro you/them (but not always drop warp scrams on your ship).

I need to read up on the changes. Did they do the skill changes yet for ships (i.e. it is now racial frigates lvl 4 -> racial destroyers lvl 4 -> racial cruisers lvl 4 -> racial battlecruisers lvl 4 -> racial battleships lvl 4 -> racial captial ships)?

 

[TheVrolok]

Yeah, they go ballistic on ECM. If you ECM or pop ECM drones, everything in the site will auto-agro you/them (but not always drop warp scrams on your ship).

I need to read up on the changes. Did they do the skill changes yet for ships (i.e. it is now racial frigates lvl 4 -> racial destroyers lvl 4 -> racial cruisers lvl 4 -> racial battlecruisers lvl 4 -> racial battleships lvl 4 -> racial captial ships)?

No racial dessie/BC yet, still time for you slackers to train dessie/BC 5!

 

[power_hour]

Oh man, I read the general forums and the whining is freaking hilarious. The NPC AI is lobotomized sleeper AI, with weapons that might as well be rocks, and people are whining like crazy.

People are going insane that they actually have to pay attention to what their drones are doing and can't just ignore them 99% of the time.

The tears. I love them.

hehe, ain't it great? But you know, CCP Devs, most of them are pretty drunk half the time. They waste time on stupid shit like this. Bounty hunting? WTF? Buffing Destroyers? (yeah lets go cruising in our Dessies! LOL) Game is getting really lame.

Fix Low Sec. Add more contested Null Sec space. Give us Jove love. Bring back Nano ships. And get your mitts off the Cane FFS.

 

[ichy]

Oh man, I read the general forums and the whining is freaking hilarious. The NPC AI is lobotomized sleeper AI, with weapons that might as well be rocks, and people are whining like crazy.

People are going insane that they actually have to pay attention to what their drones are doing and can't just ignore them 99% of the time.

The tears. I love them.

The whole glass cannon stealth bomber tactic is officially dead. I lost one in null sec last night when every cruiser in a plex switched aggro from my Tengu to my Manticore at once. Time to figure out a new way to do this...