Due to EVE Online being one big sandbox, you can really accomplish whatever you set your mind to. Want to become a rich trader? That’s cool. A miner looking for that precious ore? Alright. A pirate armed to the teeth? Kickass! Whatever you want, you can be. But you’ll have to put some time and research into your first character when you’re going to create it. Of course trial and error works fine as well. But if you really want some help with it, you can best just make a character, find an outpost where you can apply to join EVE University. They help and educate new players in the world of EVE, and you will need it!
Every game has a learning curve. No matter how long you’ve been playing MMORPG’s, the first time login in a new world, you’re starting from square one, you’re a total noob. Some games, like World of Warcraft, have a much gentler learning curve, which allows players to learn in small steps. Also if you’ve played a particular style of game in the past, and the new game you’ve decided to play begins the same way, you’re already several steps ahead
of the learning curve. But if you’re totally new to the whole experience, even the simplest game’s learning curve may be a struggle to understand. Now, EVE Online has a very distinct learning curve (see picture). And sadly enough that’s a reason why so many people don’t stick to it.
For exemple, PVP in EVE is not just strapping on some random guns to your ship and shoot at some other people’s ships. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the style of combat in EVE: you’re playing a game of strategic resource management. Your ship has a set CPU output and power grid that it can generate which allows for a variety of weapons, warp disruptors and more to be outfitted onto your ship. However, each of these weapons and other upgrades use a part of that CPU and power grid, which forces you to really think about what kind of equipment you’ll outfit your ship with.
Once the weapons and upgrades are fitted, you then need to fly out into the vast universe to find your next target. If you wish to be a pirate you just go into low security sectors.
Though if you don’t want your security status to drop, you’re better of joining faction warfare, or go into 0.0. When I started I was in 0.0 in only a month time, I joined YouWhat. Sadly enough they lost all their space 1-2 months later to Triumvirate when they lost the war. Later on I joined IRON (Imperial Republic Of the North), and even had to pleasure of fighting in the MAX campaign-War against BoB (Band Of Brothers).
Anyway, so once you fly out the station, you find a system with potential targets. As you intercept your target, you need to first lock on to the target. Since EVE plays out in space with distances reaching kilometers apart, you don’t simply click on a target to lock on. You have to get close within range first before you can actually start to lock your target; the range will depend of the ship you’re flying. The weapons in EVE also have a range limit, and so a player’s best bet is to orbit a ship at range then unload on them with your guns. Though again you have to watch out, some weapons do better when you’re orbiting your target at their optimal range, while others are better used on their falloff range.
While that sounds simple, it is anything but. If you have more than one ship that you’re attacking, you may end up in a boat load of trouble in a hurry. Most ships only have a limited number of targets they can lock on to at the same time. Also, as your ship continue to get bigger, more badass and nastier, you’ll have a whole mess of weapons and boosters that you’ll need to keep track of. But I suggest you do that in advance as you will need to know pretty much what everything works, from how certain ship types are generally fitted to how you have to deal with them with the ship you got. Well, you don’t need to, but it’s pretty useful to know what you’re fighting, or what you can or can’t.
After 2 weeks of hiding in high sec and running normal missions, I thought I had everything well in hand to venture for the first time into low security; my rifter was loaded to the teeth, ready to fight. Damn was I in for a surprise. So, I sat there waiting for a target in a belt. Then all of a sudden an Omen (Amarr Cruiser) dropped out of hyperspace and boosted into my direction. So my first attempt of being a pirate out in the wild harsh space, turned out really bad… I was dropped to half armor, barely warped out of the area with my ship intact. I still wonder how I got out there alive because later on I flew quite often with the pilot of that Omen (Kane Rizzel was his name and one hell of a pilot).
If you enjoy role-playing and don’t think it’s possible in EVE Online, then think again by the way. I suggest you check his blog out! http://novakaneinc.blogspot.com/
Of course PVP is just one aspect of the game, but I didn’t find it interesting to talk about mining. And if I were to talk about manufacturing and stuff, it would take me too long. Anyway, for those of you who want to see some PVP or other things, you can just search a bit on YouTube, enough video’s and 101’s to find there.
Oh yes, this I forgot to say. EVE has this great Alliance Tournament on EVE TV. Even though I am not playing EVE anymore, I still watch the AT. So, big shout out to all there! :D And then I give you a video of last AT7: Semi Final - Pandemic Legion Vs. Manifest Destiny, to show you how fast things can go, and how tactics play a big role in PVP in EVE Online. If you don't want to watch it all, you can just go to minute 6:00 to 6:10 where you’ll get a nice quick reply of the match (rofl). Have fun watching!
That all said, good luck if you decide to try this game out. It’s really worth it!
