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Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1613	Posted - 2013.07.03 16:12:00 - [1] - Quote 3/07/2013 - Post #1 Well, this is something I wanted to do in a while. With the introduction of Uprising 1.2, and many problems being ironed out with it (like frame rate), I have decided it is time to do it. New players are the lifeblood of this game, without them the game wonGÇÖt be growing, and eventually the existing players will leave, so the game always needs more blood. But how do the new players feel like? I am a veteran of this game, I was playing since the E3 build, I know the game inside and out, and I have over 11.5mil SP and more than 200 dollars invested into this game. Being in my position, where I use Aurum, and have so much SP I donGÇÖt even know what to spec into, might make you forget than someone, somewhere, is struggling to even get his core skills up. This is the point of my project - to remind myself how itGÇÖs like being at the bottom of the food chain. I will create a new alt account, and I will play with some restrictions: 1.I am not allowed to use Aurum 2.I am not allowed to transfer money to my alt 3.I am not allowed to give myself gear (Once that feature comes out) 4.I am not allowed to get into a corp or squad up until I am out of the Academy mode I will be documenting my progress, with a heavy emphasis about how the game treats new players. My first alt will be named Noob Kitten, Minmatar male. I will also try to put myself into the boots of another player, changing my play style. For this alt, I will try to use my speed as a Minmatar to do hit and run attacks in CQC. This will be the most challenging part of this project, as changing playstyle at will is not something easy to do. My original plan was to record each match and upload to youtube the best/weirdest/most exciting match I had that day. However I had problems acquiring a capture card and I refuse to do silly stuff like record with my phone, so until I can get a capture card, I can only document my progress in text form. I hope I will have fun doing this, and be able to give CCP some vital information on how to improve the currently GÇ£mehGÇ¥ new player experience. I have no specific plan on when to end this test with this alt and move on to another alt of another race. I think I will play until I aquire 7mil SP, which is really when you get just enough SP to start being competitive against the big boys.
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1613	Posted - 2013.07.03 16:12:00 - [2] - Quote reserved
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1613	Posted - 2013.07.03 16:13:00 - [3] - Quote reserved
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1613	Posted - 2013.07.03 16:13:00 - [4] - Quote reserved
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1613	Posted - 2013.07.03 16:13:00 - [5] - Quote reserved
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1613	Posted - 2013.07.03 16:13:00 - [6] - Quote reserved Edit: Damn you arkena!
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1616	Posted - 2013.07.03 16:30:00 - [7] - Quote I will be running as an assault, since this is the most likely path a new player would take. Next alt I think will go heavy. After that scout.
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1618	Posted - 2013.07.03 16:46:00 - [8] - Quote Nin Ker wrote: The new player experience can't be accurately measured by an experienced player. Since you know the maps, the weapons and the game modes. If you really want to do a project, meet new players. Speak to new players and group up with them. Hear what they have to say and act on that feedback. Doing a project based primarily on an experienced player creating an alt is as I have said, not a new player experience. Being that I have only been playing a relatively short time and seen not only the amount you post but the average quality of said posts, I don't think you should be a representative of any kind. Why did I say that? I get the feeling you're angling for a CPM position next year. Trying to make yourself an advocate of something. I am putting some limits on myself to mimic what a player would do. For example, I won't be fitting anything until after the second match. I am also giving my sister a go with this game to see how she reacts. I will document this as well, but she is not available right now. And while yes, I post frequently and my quality of posts is, lets say, subpar (:P), that's because I am annoyed with what CCP is doing. I want this game to succeed, so this is my way of trying to help. And no, I do not want to be on the CPM, this is more commitment than I can really take.
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1619	Posted - 2013.07.03 17:08:00 - [9] - Quote Daedric Lothar wrote: This is a very cool post +1 Cat You should also spend half of your skill points in stuff that looks cool, but isn't in your build, like if you are going Mimnatar you should spend a bunch in both armor and shields and vehicles to represent how little a newbie knows about the meta. And I would use builds that have at least 1 slot which is mismatched. Like putting a armor plate on a shield build. I also recommend playing with the DS3 on a sensitivity you aren't accustomed to, to make up for the fact that you know more about how the game functions as opposed to a new player. Even though the aim is better, its still alot different then many other shooters. [Edit]: Oh and don't take anything to 5, I know for a fact Newbies see that giant Skill dump and go.. Ummm next.. That's exactly what I'm doing.
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1620	Posted - 2013.07.03 17:10:00 - [10] - Quote Nin Ker wrote: Cat Merc wrote: Nin Ker wrote: The new player experience can't be accurately measured by an experienced player. Since you know the maps, the weapons and the game modes. If you really want to do a project, meet new players. Speak to new players and group up with them. Hear what they have to say and act on that feedback. Doing a project based primarily on an experienced player creating an alt is as I have said, not a new player experience. Being that I have only been playing a relatively short time and seen not only the amount you post but the average quality of said posts, I don't think you should be a representative of any kind. Why did I say that? I get the feeling you're angling for a CPM position next year. Trying to make yourself an advocate of something. I am putting some limits on myself to mimic what a player would do. For example, I won't be fitting anything until after the second match. I am also giving my sister a go with this game to see how she reacts. I will document this as well, but she is not available right now. And while yes, I post frequently and my quality of posts is, lets say, subpar (:P), that's because I am annoyed with what CCP is doing. I want this game to succeed, so this is my way of trying to help. And no, I do not want to be on the CPM, this is more commitment than I can really take. It's a comment issue, your sure? As not five hours seems to go passed without a new thread. If you really want to improve the new player experience, truly want to do it. Then I'd be happy to help but I'd strongly suggest over hauling the idea. Make a channel for new players. Promote it here on the forums. See if we can't get a Eve Dev to make it a community spot light so people know it exists. CCP Mintchip might even help with that, community liaison and all. Play some matches with them and take notes on what they have to say. It may sound like a lot of work but split between two or three people (especially if they happened to be in different time zones) would make a project like this remarkably easy. Organize meet and greet events. See if we can't get representatives from established corporations and alliance to pop in and lead a squad or just tag along. Offering advice on fits, suits, play styles. All of this would help make the game more welcoming, more open and hopefully give people a desire to keep fighting. I had a plan like this, actually. This thread is one of many plans I had. I'm thinking of making a document containing them, and asking the community which seems the best to go for first.

Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1621	Posted - 2013.07.03 17:21:00 - [11] - Quote BMSTUBBY wrote: Will you just play on the alt or will you bounce back and forth? This will impact your experience a great deal. Get pwned on this noob alt get frustrated Then Jump on 11.5 million SP Vet character and deal out the pwning Remember noobs don't have the latter choice, they have to endure 6-8 months of grinding for SP and ISk to get to 7 million SP's Also try doing this little experiment in true F2P fashion and use no boosters. Run this experiment in the correct way and then and only then will your feedback to CCP be creditable. Yes, I won't be touching Cat Merc. (Well, except for this week, I ain't missing out on the 3x SP week. But I will be AFK'ing, because of the reason you explained) And I already explained in the rules, no Aurum, which means no boosters.
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1623	Posted - 2013.07.03 17:42:00 - [12] - Quote Daedric Lothar wrote: Cat Merc wrote: But I will be AFK'ing LOL, already boosting the new player experience. AHAHAHAHAHAHA I don't know why, but I can't stop laughing. Sorry mate, I don't want to feel like a bad ass in my 12mil SP char right after I felt weak in my 500k SP char. Probably bad timing from me starting it now, but oh well.
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1623	Posted - 2013.07.03 17:44:00 - [13] - Quote First part up.
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1626	Posted - 2013.07.03 18:30:00 - [14] - Quote Poplo Furuya wrote: It's a good thing for perspective to go back to having no SP, no ISK, no gear. Recently started up an alt that's going to spec into Lasers, Amarr Assault and SMGs. Initially skill book costs restrict you from investing SP. Had completely forgotten that. Actually kinda nice to be tight on ISK rather than having it be trivial, er, though that won't of course be the new player perspective. Going to stick with it rather than transfer ISK down to 'em. Never really done SMGs before but the T3 is beastly. Better range and accuracy than I figured. Would of course need smart flux use for close encounters with 700+ EHP shield-stackers... don't have laser rifles or grenades yet though. Assault SMG is going to be incredible if it has even more range and damage output. Main problem is you can't really turn off your own ingrained player experience. Even so, lots of perspective to be gained from returning to the basics. It's not actually impacted combat performance out of the academy like I'd expected, the basic suit holds up and guns still kill people. Then again I'm not used to running Complex Extenders all day every day, naturally gauge my durability as in the 340-460hp range. Chief thing I miss is proper AV. Militia swarms don't cut it for anything past free LAVs or badly fitted/driven Somas, nor should they. Back to the skillbook system, what precisely does it achieve? Primarily it's a limiter for new folk with no ISK on their starting character and not much else. Must admit I didn't give the tutorial a proper look, really should have done. I believe skill books are a relic from EVE.
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1626	Posted - 2013.07.03 18:43:00 - [15] - Quote TheAmazing FlyingPig wrote: I've run this experiment myself (still use my alt to this day). To sum it up- 10k WP > - Positive games 10k WP =< - Negative games, slowly gets better I think the bar should be upped to 50k or 80k. You get 10k extremely quickly.
Cat Merc Oculus Felis 1627	Posted - 2013.07.03 19:01:00 - [16] - Quote Daedric Lothar wrote: Shitballs McGee wrote: I'm interested in this project. I made a Gallente just over a month ago as my first character and have about 2.6M SP with that one. Have gotten my ass handed to me on a regular basis, usually by snipers or heavy suits with heavy MG. I just made an Amarr last night and, within a few battles, had enough SP and ISK to use heavy suits and heavy MG. Me likey. With the Gallente, I have the means to make more WP in more ways but the Amarr seems to be harder to kill out of the box. Looking forward to checking out the Commando dropsuit. Woot got another Cherry, Maybe I should make a little alt and come play to. I will pop ze cherry.