My fascination for EVE Online started when I read the stories on how the great wars on EVE began which took years to plan and to execute, not to mention the massive resources utilized in waging said wars.
The aforementioned wars were comparable to Greek mythology, ancient wars, and to the various epic space opera novels, I have read (i.e. Dune, Foundation, and the Expanse). Further and unlike the above stories, EVE allows anyone to take part of said space opera which is way better than simply reading it. I was blown away and got hooked in reading all the EVE stories I could google on the internet.
However such fascination did not push me to play EVE much less pay the subscription fee until I saw this:
As a new capsuleer, allow me to share my insights as well as lessons learned as a total beginner of the game. They are as follows:
INSIGHTS
1. Join a player corporation as soon as possible.
I, however, did the opposite. I started grinding all the career agent missions with the goal to reach Level 4 missions. Grinding missions or as is known in gaming lingo, doing PVE, was a bad idea, mainly because I got lonely, literally speaking.
EVE Online, like real space is a pretty lonely place to live in. I can feel the vast emptiness of space as I jump from one system to the other, and I felt isolated and a bit down. A perfect recipe to quit the game.
To counter it, I started talking in local and NPC Corp chat but it was of no use because there was no real conversation taking place. It was distant and it seems that all are trying to scam each other. Hence, it was a futile exercise.
So, I decided to look for a player corporation (as advised by most of the veterans in the game) that I can join and have fun with. I joined EVE University (“EVE UNI”).
EVE UNI is truly a University. It holds classes and various activities to assist the capsuleers in learning the complexities of EVE. Further, it also provides resources such as skillbooks, ships and other various types of resources that a budding capsuleer may require. Further, and what is exceptional for me, is the mentorship program that the EVE UNI offers to those who require guidance and assistance in-game.
However, the very reason why I am staying in EVE UNI is the people. They are helpful and supportive. I felt welcome and accepted. Hence, a good place to have fun while learning the game. EVE UNI was a perfect match for me.
To be fair, there are other newbie focused corporations that will also support and help new capsuleers. To name a few there is Pandemic Horde and Brave Newbies Inc.. The said corporations are also equally a perfect match for any newbie.
What is important herein is the lesson that all newbies should join a player corporation as soon as possible because EVE can only be enjoyed completely within a community, it is after all a socially driven game.
2. Read, read, read, and read.
I will be honest and say that EVE requires any new player to read and I mean read a lot of stuff because the game is truly complex. It is after all a thinking man’s game. I also can confirm that you may one way or the other will require a spreadsheet to track all your resources and/or the usage of a 3rd party app(s) to optimize and maintain your various Toons.
However, it does not mean that because you are required to read and to learn a lot of new stuff that the game becomes tedious and boring. On the contrary, it is quite fun and pretty much a time sink. I can spend literally countless hours reading on ship fittings, industry guides, market PVP and the current meta of the game.
All of this fun I felt is founded on the fact that I truly love the game. I love the fact that it is a sandbox and due to such, I can do anything I want in-game. Because I love the game then the above is no longer a burden that I should do in order to advance in EVE.
The take away herein is that if you truly love the game then it is not difficult to subscribe and become a part of EVE. In order to be able to love the game is to first have an open mind to know, read, and play the game. Let EVE grow on you, and if you decide to subscribe and commit to playing EVE then I can assure you that it is all worth it.
3. EVE being a “Sandbox” MMORPG.
I always encounter the word “Sandbox” in most EVE forums when EVE is described to a newbie. At first, I did not get it and I was also under the impression that, just like the other MMORPG out there, there is a story line that I should finish first in order to get ahead of the game.
As such, I started grinding missions. As I progress, I realized while talking with my corpmates that it is not really necessary to first finished the various missions in EVE before doing any other stuff like PVP, Industry, or any other stuff that I like to do.
Rather, it is the opposite to the above, I can do anything I want. I can set my own plans and execute them in any way I can or any order I want them to be executed. At this point, I slowly understood that EVE is like a room full of toys that I can play with in any manner I want. Hence, it is truly open and free.
However the above setup, will either appeal to a newbie or will simply force the newbie not to subscribe because what EVE demands out of its players is for the players to generate their own content, to write their own stories, and to make their own fun within New Eden. This is a tall order that most newbie can’t comprehend. Hence, the perception from most newbies that EVE is boring and monotonous.
Therefore, to truly enjoy the game, is to be a creator of content, be creative and courageous to try out things in EVE. In essence, be bold enough to chart one’s own destiny in the far reaches of space and you might end up being the next Emperor of New Eden.
PARTING SHOT
To wrap it up, I will always consider EVE a game of patience much like the ancient Chinese board game of GO. Hence, the ancient principles of Sun Tzu’s Art of War will surely apply in EVE especially the quote:
“If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
On that note, I hope that my article has given all newbies (like myself) a holistic view and understanding of EVE. As such, it will move them to subscribe and be a part of the most thrilling, exciting, epic, and living Space Opera in the world of MMORPG.
Fly Safe, and thank you for taking the time to read my post. Please do post your comments below or add me in twitter: Ian Tucenghi (@IanTucenghi). I highly appreciate the same.
