Re-post from the original thread.

Coming late to the conversation, but I think that content creation should go into the players hands. Below from a post I made in one of Castor's competitions, but highlights the point.

Question: How do you make veterans lives more interesting?
Answer: Introduce content that gives the power to the players, and allows player made challenges.

This is actually a leaf out of the Eve play book. A lot of content in Eve is driven by the player base, not by CCP. It makes for a constantly changing and evolving world, where there is always something different to try. And thatGÇÖs exactly what we need for vets if you want them to stick around long term.

Currently weGÇÖre in a situation where vet players lack meaningful content that challenges them, or gameplay options which offer risk/reward equivalent with their SP and ISK, outside of PC matches.

Due to this, we end up with vets squads running full proto kit in pub matches against underpowered and under skilled opponents, which really pleases no one, and harms the retention of both new and old players in the long run.

As a first step, IGÇÖd like to see CCP introduce matchmaking options to allow for customised battles. And when I say customised, I mean the whole 9 yards. Everything from number of players, to number of clones, allowed weapons, allowed vehicles, allowed modules and equipment, free for all, corp vs corp, so on and so forth. Make it so that players can put together any matchup they can possible conceive. And then let them set the rewardsGǪ

Oh yes, player set rewards! Obviously you wonGÇÖt be able to give ISK or gear you donGÇÖt have, so everything will be from the players or corps own inventories. Effectively, teams will be able to bet on the outcomes of the match. Want to have a friendly 6 man a side corp vs corp battle, no problem, set the pot at 1 ISK. Want a high stakes match where everyone brings their A game, make it 100 million ISK. If you really want to make it interestingGǪmake it keep what you kill, and take your enemies gear home with you.

This is the sort of freedom that allows the player base to set their own goals and create their own fun, and will drive the longevity of the game. And hopefully, as a by-product, will get vet squads in proto gear out of Pub matches, and into a match that will really test them.