The first banter of 2010 comes to us from CrazyKinux himself, who asks the following: As we begin another year in New Eden, ask yourselves, “What Now?” What will I attempt next? What haven’t I done so far in EVE? Was it out of fear, funds, or knowledge? What steps and objectives will I set myself to accomplish in order to reach my ultimate goal for this year? EVE is what you make of it. So, what is it going to be for you?
Destination : Future by gilderic
I’ve had a rough idea of how I would like 2010 to go (EVE-wise) for a while, at least in some senses though not necessarily others. So let’s take a look…
Skill Training
At the moment, I have my attributes focused on maximizing INT with MEM secondary. Sometime after my neural remap comes available again in March, I will balance them back out a little more to allow for faster training of combat and leadership skills. While I love having such a heavy emphasis on Science, Industry, and Trade, I love the “jack of all trades” approach even more.
So I intend to finish out quite a few core skills. Engineering, Electronics, and Mechanics skills focus heavily on the attributes I already have, so I will keep getting as many of those trained to V as I can. Once those are done, I’ll train up the core tech 1 Minmatar ships to V (Frigate, Cruiser, Battleship) plus Battlecruiser. While this will mean easy access to most tech 2 ships, I don’t intend to fly them very often except in particular situations where they have enough value over the tech 1 counterpart to make the additional risk worthwhile. Tech 2 weaponry also has a high place on my priority list.
Corporate
My goals start to get a little more fuzzy here. While I still serve for now as majority owner and CEO of the Back Alley Trading Company [BKAT], I haven’t yet decided what that will mean in 2010. We recently joined the United Trade Syndicate [TRAMP] alliance. As part of that, the combat wing split off to form the Syndicate Special Operations Division [SSOD], and so BKAT primarily consists today of a very small core plus a number of ‘alt’ characters.
So should I rebuild BKAT, stay solo (perhaps in the guise of my original corp Ecliptic Rift [ERIFT]), or join another corp? I’ve asked myself quite a bit whether the alliances provide enough interaction & support that a solo corp makes sense. This would give me most of the benefits without any (or much, at any rate) of the responsibility. No corp drama (this is HUGE), while still having social interaction and joint ops in the alliance. No problems with standing averages also means a possible high sec starbase.
Of course, I still see the downsides to a solo corp in an alliance. While I can still participate in some ops, they may prove harder to organize. Starbases themselves have less utility. And I’d have less need for social tools like medals and titles or to engage in organizational planning, which I’ve always enjoyed in MMORPGs.
Rebuilding BKAT could prove interesting but I don’t know what I would want for a focus / purpose. See below for more on that…
Focus
Like a lot of other pilots, EVE’s skill-based system (as opposed to class-based) appeals to me and keeps me here. This is especially true because my own interests change with some frequency. I have participated in all of the following to one degree or another:
- Manufacturing and trade (in space of all security levels)
- Booster production
- Exploration
- W space
- K space
- High sec piracy
- Salvaging
- Factional warfare
- Nomadic lifestyle
- Thukker RP
- Intaki Syndicate RP
In 2010, I honestly have no idea which of these will really grab my attention and energy. As long as my playstyle gets driven so heavily by constant interruption, I won’t be able to do much else. And it seems unfair to force everyone else in my corp to try to change their own focus every couple of months. This feeds into my thoughts on a “solo corp in an alliance”, actually.
Storytelling
I have big plans for this blog, of course, primarily revolving around experimentation with various forms of social media and digital storytelling. At least two projects should launch soon, a new podcast focused on EVE fiction (planned to launch late this month, if RL plans work out) and another secret project in this vein. Stay in touch to find out what that last one will turn out to be…
Conclusion
All of this points to a bright future in EVE this year, actually. So much I want to do: exploration, business, piracy, writing… And all thanks to the world CCP Games have created for us.
And definitely check out all the EVE Blog Banter 14 participants via Delicious or Google Reader!
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