EVE Online

                       In my time reading posts on the these forums a certain topic has come up fequently. Its about the myth that Old Players are greater then new players.

             Im not trying to debunk the myth because in soe cases its somewhat true and in others its not.What my real problem is that I cant seem to figure out what peoples problem with this is. What I'm trying to say is,Shouldent a EVE Vet, whoes been playing for over 2 years, be better then someone whoes been playing for a couple mounths.

              I Personaly have no problem with my corp mates being far more advanced in the game and it staying that way. They have been in the game much longer then me so they should remain better then me.

Let me give a real world example:

 -             Lets say your the CEO of a big company and your making billions. You feel that you have done such a good job that you deserve a vacation on some tropical paradise of your choosin.You take your trip there and you come back a week later to notice your now sharing your job with the new employee that just joined last week from previusly working at Mc' Donalds just because he worked that week and you didnt even though that was your frst breakin over 30 yeaars working for the place.                                 -

               So basicly Why should new players be able to catch up to older players just because the older player takes a little vacation? My mind is open for your great wisdom!

I know what you mean im just about to break the 40mill mark. I constantly see this topic on a number of forums.

In truth the issue has nothing to do with EVE but with other more classical grind style games. Players come from those games being taught that you can't compete unless your at the max level or very close to it Because in those games its true. they stack 80% of the content to where its only open to the people at the top. So they come over to EVE with that mindset and get upset when they are told you cant catch up in SP. And since this has been the way MMOs for YEARS have done it they cant seem to unlearn it and understand that EVE is designed so that EVERYONE has the opportunity to experience the content without having to be the top echelon of the players

and I agree 100% a player who started 6 months ago should not be able to bypass a 3 yearold player simply because he has no life and can play 14 hours a day

It is a complete myth that you can catch up with veteran players in games like WoW anyway. Start 1 year after release and you will never, or if you do it will be very hard, to catch up. The end game guilds would always be +5 or more 'levels' above because of their gear, and you would not get access to that gear unless you already have good stuff.

Besides as a 3million SP player in EVE I don't feel that limited. Ok I can't be that effective in 0.0 which some view as 'endgame' but why should I be able to do that after 2 or so months of playing time?

Well, I've been around for around 2 1/2 years on my character personally, and another year on another that i sold to another player.   The sp is very important to your actual skill, but the big difference is, is if you specialize in one thing, you do have the ability to beat some vets.  I personally, am split 50/50 on combat stuff and research industry stuff.  Now someone that may have 5-10 million sp in combat only would more then likely kick my butt.  Why you ask?  One, I don't practice enough to be good at pvp.  2.  When specializing, you get good with a ship and you make it the best it can be.  So in doing that that ship is more then likely going to be better equipped, better stats then any one of my ships as I'm not specialized in anything really.  It isn't to say I couldn't beat you as well, but it is more of a fair fight then you would imagine.  If your really into pvp, you need to specialize.  Work with one ship you want to start in, and work your way around.  Make sure you can fly it very well, max damage, best repair rates, that kind of stuff and you will be equal with everyone else.  I mean there is like 350 or more skills in eve, only to level 5 on each.  It doesn't take forever to get somewhere.

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What I'm trying to say is,Shouldent a EVE Vet, whoes been playing for over 2 years, be better then someone whoes been playing for a couple mounths.

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Yes, they should.. if they are playing. The problem with the EvE skill system is that you can spend exactly 1 minute a month, or even every 6 months or so, in the game.. and you'll come out ahead of someone who put in 24/7 for the same amount of time. Should a 2 year player be more skilled than a 6 month player? Of course. Should a 6 month player be less skilled than a (lets say) 5 minute total player? Thats just silly.

2 reasons why it doesn't change: 1) those vets dont want it to change.. of course its a great system for them, it makes them more powerful than everyone else and gives them an edge that will never get surpassed.. assuming the skill system doesn't change.

2) You have to pay ccp to be able to change your skills. Your skills are directly related to the length of time you are subscribed for (or at least you have to be subbed to change skills), not the amount of time you put in the game, etc. That business model they very much like, especially as they know players will pay out of their behinds just to get a tiny edge, let alone pay for an account to idle for years just to get skill training on it done. Players fall for it and pay. CCP is happy. The system stays the same.

Eventually some other dev will clue in, and make us a nice space scifi mmo thats eve like in scope/structure (sociopolitical and 0.0 space claiming etc) with a better skill system that rewards player activity/effort, not amount paid to the developers.. and ccp will have a problem.. except for the vets with their killer 4 year old skill sets that they will sit around alone comparing.

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Originally posted by randomt
Should a 6 month player be less skilled than a (lets say) 5 minute total player? Thats just silly.

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Lets assume that both players are equally spec'ed in combat. Now put them in a fight with each other. You'll be lucky if the "5 minute" player has the money to buy a ship let alone to fit it. Then they would have to know how to fit it, and once they get into combat what to do there.

If you really believe for a moment that the two would be even remotely evenly matched then I suggest you fulfill your own reasoning and put more time into the game. The experience will be revealing.

In game experience counts for at least as much as Skill Points and ISK combined.

Its a 3 way thing in my experience a players competence comes down to player skill combined with SP and ISK, take 2 players with 30 mill SP and equal pvp skill and place them in the exact same ship but fit one with officer mods the uber pimp ship will win hands down, of course in reality you need a lot of player experience to pull that off still take a 3 month old player and give him access to a 40 mill SP char with a super nano mach and it will be a spectacular disaster, likewise put an experienced pvp vet in a 3 month old char with a 10 mill ISK ruppie and you have a whole lot of whoopass but aside from some impressive ganks hes not going to turn the tide in many wars like that.

A player needs SP and experience to make ISK and you need experience to make the most of the SP and the ISK and to fulfill their full potential an experienced player needs the SP and ISK.