What do you think of Eve Onlines real time skill system?

Siamko · September 2006

Eve Online

Skill System Poll

What do you the average masses think of the real time skill system supported in Eve Online.

For those that wish to participate in the poll but have not played Eve let me explain,

Eve Online supports a skill system that allows you to train in skills while online or off, and with good reason seeing as how some of the skills can take up to 30 real time days to complete training.

Point being is this a part of the game that turns people away.

The Poll

A. I like the system

B. I don't like the system

I will try to update this poll daily please start your post A., B., or C. and if you can use corresponding color to make the tracking easier.

Thanks and lets see what everyone truly feels and try to stay on topic

For those who have seen this poll once before please feel free to vote again.

Stratus8 · September 2006

Its an ingenious idea to keep subscribers for a long.. long time.

Elnator · September 2006

It's actually a pretty good system. If you think about it all it does is take the 'grind' out of gaining skills.

In other skill based MMO's players who have tons of time to spend in game gain huge advantages over those who pay just as much, for just as long, but don't have the time to play as often. While *I* personally would prefer to gain my skills from my own efforts I can honestly say that this skill system is more fair to the casual players. Because they can gain just as much skill, just as fast as any other player in the game. It keeps the playing field level.

So while I tend to prefer 'earned' skills I do like that EVE keeps the playing field even for all players, given equal subscription time. Other than a player just flat out NOT training when they can there is no reason that any two players who started playing the game on the same day wouldn't have just as many skill points 2, 3, 4 or 5 months down the road. As long as both make sure they're always training something when they finish a skill they would be almost identical in number of skill points 'earned' over time. They could have COMPLETELY different templates but their total skill points would be nearly identical.

So, from a powergamer's perspective: A effort-driven skill system is preferred.
From a Casual player's perspective: EVE's system is preferred.

Since I'm kind of in between the two I can see both points of view. But in EVE, with PVP being a huge aspect of the game.... I'd have to say they have it right and I wouldn't change the skill system... The only thing I really wish they'd do is let you train two separate characters on the same account at the same time. I really find it annoying that you get 3 character slots but can only train any 1 character at a time.

ssstupido · September 2006

Originally posted by Elnator

I really find it annoying that you get 3 character slots but can only train any 1 character at a time.

i agree. we should have only 1 character slot. and i am serius. alts are the worst thing that happened to the game, right besides bookmarks.

fizzle322 · September 2006

Overall I like the system.

The only bad part is the advanced learning skills which take months to raise. I think that's a little over the top.

It's a good system, you can't powerlevel it, it encourages you to just go do stuff just for fun rather than to grind exp.

NatEVE · September 2006

Well, you don't HAVE to train the advanced learning skills. Its just another option which I think is great for the player who thinks he'll play eve for more than a year. A lot of the older players say they wished they had advanced learning skills in the game back when they started playing. Greate unique skill system especially for the casual player and those of us with busy lives.

lowrads · September 2006

The good point is there is no grinding.

The bad point is that there are too many skills which affect every ship or market functions.

List of bad skills:
Engineering
Electronics
Weapon Upgrades
Advanced Weapon Upgrades
Motion Prediction
Rapid Firing
Sharpshooter
Surgical Strike
Trajectory Analysis
Energy Systems Operation
Navigation
Spaceship Command
All learning skills

All others, though questionable, can at least be cast to facillitate some kind of specialization. Mostly though, I find that they are nothing but a poor gimmick to extend subscriptions. All of these skills just serve to nerf noobs who could otherwise specialize.

Draenor · September 2006

I like the system, it is very conducive to my schedule(college student so I can train skills between classes)

my only complaint is that I think skills should build as you use the various abilities, for example gunnery should go up as I shoot things, mining should go up if I mine a lot, etc.

NatEVE · September 2006

Originally posted by Draenor

my only complaint is that I think skills should build as you use the various abilities, for example gunnery should go up as I shoot things, mining should go up if I mine a lot, etc.

I guess everyone would have Warp Drive Operation, Targeting, and Navigation 5 in no time

How would you train Graviton Physics though? =P

Nicoli · September 2006

They orginally had that type of system and people shot roids for hours on end to raise thier skills, In the end it just comes down to the fact that the system is too exploitable to be effective

GlacianNex · September 2006

Originally posted by NatEVE

Originally posted by Draenor

my only complaint is that I think skills should build as you use the various abilities, for example gunnery should go up as I shoot things, mining should go up if I mine a lot, etc.

I guess everyone would have Warp Drive Operation, Targeting, and Navigation 5 in no time How would you train Graviton Physics though? =P

Solve the following gravitational theory equation: ......... <- some really wierd thing.

You will get 1 level per 100 equations you solve.

chriswsm · September 2006

Its the best thing about the game IMO

Worst thing = Customer services

NatEVE · September 2006

Originally posted by chriswsm

Its the best thing about the game IMO

Worst thing = Customer services

Maybe but, then again, when you compare it to most other MMO's its great, and I'm not talking about petition responses.

Kari_Awn · September 2006

I work 40+ hours a week. EVE's skill system is perfect for me. I can have my skills training on one that takes a couple of days or more if I know I'm not going to be playing for an extended period of time. I love it!

Thargat · September 2006

It's a great system. I really like the idea of having skills trained over time for several reasons.

First: It doesn't matter how much you play, your skills improve over time, no matter how much you play, it's the same for all.

Second: It sets apart the experienced long time players from the beginners (I'm a n00b myself). The world is player driven, and if all players could max out their skills by grinding there would be havoc.

Third: I can go on vaccation and my character would still improve.

Fourth: It's damn hard for ppl to buy "leveled" characters from "grind farmers". It's just not economical or very time-opted for that type of buissness.

Vanillacream · September 2006

I am pretty new to eve, I am loving the game alot. I love(d) the skill system until now.

I now see the "greatness" of grinding XP in your other classic mmo game. Its the feeling of progress. We all want to progress in the game we play. But now my skills are reaching the 7days++ zone and I find myself not playing the game very much.

Now I know of the good things with it. Its great if you need to go away or cant play due to work, but for people like me that like to play allmost every day its getting frustrating playing for hours and not getting the feeling of getting anywere.

Now I am just pretty much buying any skill I see I dont have just to feel like I am progressing in the game. This is not a good sign for me, as I really really REALLY like the game. And over a month of play I am starting to look at other games....

GlacianNex · September 2006

Originally posted by Vanillacream

I am pretty new to eve, I am loving the game alot. I love(d) the skill system until now.
I now see the "greatness" of grinding XP in your other classic mmo game. Its the feeling of progress. We all want to progress in the game we play. But now my skills are reaching the 7days++ zone and I find myself not playing the game very much.
Now I know of the good things with it. Its great if you need to go away or cant play due to work, but for people like me that like to play allmost every day its getting frustrating playing for hours and not getting the feeling of getting anywere.
Now I am just pretty much buying any skill I see I dont have just to feel like I am progressing in the game. This is not a good sign for me, as I really really REALLY like the game. And over a month of play I am starting to look at other games....

My advice to you is spend time making money. Because skills grow reguardlessly of what you do in game, PvPing, making money or something else. We all went though it, where it seems that only skill hold you back. However that feeling doesnt stay very long (if you are doing an object oriented training as in I want to get into BS so I will do what I need to do to get there). You will very soon realize that you dont have enough cash to do what your skills allow you to do.

Arcken · September 2006

I guess I dont dig it much because I feel like if I work harder at something, ie spend more time online, I should be rewarded for my effort. Who wants to work harder than everyone else around them if you are all getting the same thing in the end?

Nicoli · September 2006

Originally posted by Arcken
I guess I dont dig it much because I feel like if I work harder at something, ie spend more time online, I should be rewarded for my effort. Who wants to work harder than everyone else around them if you are all getting the same thing in the end?

Well the thing is you do get better than someone who only plays ocassionaly. Lets say 2 players both want to get into a battleship that costs 160million with modules. say each mission takes 1 hour and you make 5mil per mission. Both of you it will take 32 hours of playing till you will be able to buy and out fit the ship. Now if you can play 64 hours a week and your friend can only play 16 by the time he has his first BS you'll be working on your fourth. Thats the difference. your SP isn't what defines your reward its what you have or have done. which is ONLY based on how much you play.

Sure we both can have the skills to fly a Freighter but unless you ahve worked to earn the 900mil to build one your not going to be able to fly one.

ssstupido · September 2006

Originally posted by Arcken
I guess I dont dig it much because I feel like if I work harder at something, ie spend more time online, I should be rewarded for my effort. Who wants to work harder than everyone else around them if you are all getting the same thing in the end?

what makes you think you are indeed woking harder than anybody else? do you think the rest of the playerbase dont play at all? do you think that if you could gain exp. points by killing rats there would be people not with 60 million, but with 200 million sp by now? how would you catch them?

Elnator · September 2006

Originally posted by Nicoli
They orginally had that type of system and people shot roids for hours on end to raise thier skills, In the end it just comes down to the fact that the system is too exploitable to be effective

I honestly don't ever remember a time in beta when skills were use based. Maybe I'm mis-remembering... beta phase 2 was clonky.

Nicoli · September 2006

it was brought up a long time a go in the forums by one of the devs. not sure if it even made it out of alpha.

Rattrap · September 2006

I dont like the system (although i can see financial benefit for CCP)

I think EVE should be the first SKILL LESS MMO.

So no limitation on what you can fly or use , if you have credits for it.

This would make EVE a trully dynamic game

NatEVE · September 2006

Originally posted by Rattrap

I dont like the system (although i can see financial benefit for CCP)
I think EVE should be the first SKILL LESS MMO.
So no limitation on what you can fly or use , if you have credits for it.
This would make EVE a trully dynamic game

And those who buy isk would be at the greatest advantage. If everything depending on isk then it would be another grinding game to who can make the most isk. You don't HAVE to grind in eve to advance though which makes it great. Note that I'm making a distinction between grinding isk and making isk. I don't have to spend even 1/2 my time making isk to advance or have fun.

Although, I've had the skills to fly a frieghter for a long time but no where near the isk to afford one, so its dynamic in that sense?

Rattrap · September 2006

True that NatEVE

With eliminating skills you would not eliminate GRIND.

Look at ISK in EVE as some kind of experience points, you would be able to make them fast or slow - depending of how smart you are. You will not have to grind for a month to do reach some goal (as in usual mmo) if you are smart or lucky you would be able to gain lot of ISK in one big heist.

I think economy in EVE would become the true killer.

Anyway the system is not without fault, i agree. I just recon it would become closer to ELITE system

Nicoli · September 2006

Its almost funny that the beneficial side effect of real-time training is also its most hated part. With in some games People slamming characters to max level in relative short time be it through whatever means the number of "uber" max level characters with people with absolutely NO clue how to play thier character are quite previlant in other MMOs, In fact was a huge Turn off for me during my time in both CoH and WoW. You don't find that too often in EVE as people have to spend time playing the game as thier skills go up. That means when you do have people hoping into a Battleship they know how the weapons work, how to setup its tank and how it needs to be fitted. If not they have at least learned who to ask to get that information.

its not perfect and I'd love to see the training times cut by 20-33% but so far I prefer it over and of the other systems I've seen

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