I’ve played EVE for a little over two years now. I’ve taken some breaks and come back every time. From my own experiences and conversations with other, “older” players, I thought I’d list some of the secrets to EVE happiness.
Enjoy what you have. The nature of RPGs means that we’re always working on the “next thing:” the next skill, the next ship, the next project. That feeling of accomplishment when you finally reach level V or clear that ISK hurdle or undock that cool ship or fit that module is lots of fun, but don’t forget to enjoy the things you already have in-game. What ship grabbed your attention three months ago and made you train for it? Go fly it and enjoy it.
Make friends. More than most MMORPGs, EVE really shines when it comes to the multiplayer aspect because of the sandbox. Sure, everybody wants some alone time once in a while for a solo roam or while figuring out how something works or just to decompress. But find a player corporation and some friends in the game. Go roam with them, or get advice, or ask about their favorite moment in the game. Come up with stuff you want to do but just can’t quite handle solo. With hundreds of thousands of folks in EVE, we undoubtedly have at least a few people you’d enjoy. Just like other RL activities, EVE can be fun by yourself but it gets way more exciting with other people involved.
Compete. Games typically involve competition. EVE is no different. This might mean pew pew, it might mean market PVP, it might mean trying to get a prized recruit into your corp, or it might mean comparing your skill points with your buddy. Either way, enjoy the fact that competition is everywhere. You don’t always get to choose when to compete, either. Tranquility might only run 23/7 but EVE never stops.
Try more than one thing. You might like mission running, but maybe you’d like fleet fights even more. You might like manufacturing and trading, but maybe you’d like exploration even more. You might like piracy, but maybe you’d like market PVP even more. Try something you haven’t done before. EVE doesn’t have “class respecs”, so buy a few skillbooks and check out another playstyle. Even if you don’t like it, at least you might have some ideas about how to improve at what you know you like.
Don’t take it too seriously. Internet spaceships are not, in point of fact, srs bsns. When the whole thing gets you down and you just don’t feel like talking to anyone or undocking or doing anything but spinning your ship, log out. When you realize that you dread logging in, set a long skill training and go spend some time with people in meatspace. Or maybe go find a book or TV show or something else you like. EVE is a game. A game made of awesome and win, perhaps, but a game nonetheless. Never forget that.
Image credits: Matias Kee, exfordy, kevindooley, Jeff Kubina, jurvetson, and Stuck in Customs (respectively) via Flickr.
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