I started in 2004, and played semi seriously for big bouts until probably 2012 or so. Every year or news story would get me back in...and i'd recognise less and less. I stopped myself reading eve politics not that long ago, as that was the bit that most interested me really. After the glory days of roaming in small fleets.

The last time i logged in, a couple of years back. I contemplated moving my shit to somewhere else to where one of the few people i knew was still playing but the jump fatigued meant that would take half my life. I get the whole point of trying to limit force projection cos it was very daft with every encounter in 0.0 finishing with PL, NC or Goons dropping in their super fleets. But logistics for the common player is awkward :( It would likely take me many days of gathering and moving shit to get into a position to actually play the game again haha. not fun.

Just last week we got a patch were they capped the jump fatigue significantly. I don't know how much as I don't use jump drive, but it should be better now.

Also just sell your stuff and rebuy it. You don't need many ships to have some fun.

Roaming is .. not that common any more. What we do is live in a Wormhole, jump into 0.0 and try to tackle something big and hope they form a defense fleet.

Roll the hole to get a new 0.0 exit. Rinse and repeat

> Roaming is .. not that common any more.

Nor is gatecamping because some genius decided that instawarping bubble immunity (with optional covops cloak functionality) was a good idea so people could move through null in virtually perfect safety.

There have been so many changes which I find fundamentally stupid that it's hard for me to engage with the game these days. One day I'll probably play for a bit again though

Most people gate-camp to try to get actual kills, not empty capsules from people just trying to get from point A to point B. And there's plenty of counterplay for insta-warping bubble immunity (i.e. smart bombs). Gate camps are still very common.

Was killing ceptors and pods fundamental for your eve game play?

Edit: Also people stil gatecamp.

I think he's talking about the luxury yachts... interceptors can't covops cloak. (And t3's can't instant warp _and_ have bubble immunity)

I struggled to get in because character progression was based solely on account being active, not play time.

And every guide for the game basically starts with "Subscribe, and don't log in for 3 months while you get your newbie pilot some basic skills, or if you do log in, don't do much because you're useless anyway"

Three. Months. How can a game be basically unplayable for newbies for ninety days?

Meh. Time gated games are never fun. The only thing worse than grinding in the game is having to grind hours out of the game.

>> And every guide for the game basically starts with "Subscribe, and don't log in for 3 months while you get your newbie pilot some basic skills, or if you do log in, don't do much because you're useless anyway"

This really isn't true (at least it wasn't some years ago when I last played). What's true though is that the game is complex and does a terrible job of explaining itself. Unless you already know experienced players, the activities immediately available to you as a new player have no resemblance to the "real" game.

It's up to you to explore, get yourself blown up (a lot, ideally), figure out what you're doing, and find a niche. There's plenty to do as a new player that doesn't require months of skill points.

If it winds up speaking to you, the game is absurdly fun and absorbing. I burned out on it years ago, and still remember specific fights and weird adventures I got into.

Edit: My experience as a new player is years out of date, hopefully it's better now. But the real learning curve is always going to be steep.

It's better now. You have more skill you start with, they removed some stupid skills and there are tons of corps that accept free to play chars.

The basic concept is still the same though. You skill with time. Which is nice, because sometimes I don't play for weeks. No "I have to grind X hours" to be on pair with my friends.

Any guide that said that was wrong. In-game skills help, but actual ability and knowledge matters a lot more. There were guides like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de1hwoFYA_k where people used brand new trial accounts to go get good kills.

But yes, they've made it a lot easier to just hop in without the need to train for anything.

There were some pretty significant improvements to the new player experience. Within a few hours you have enough skills to participate in faction warfare or other small scale pvp as a tackler.