Duke Garland
Solar Vista.
The Anubis Accord
23
   |
Posted - 2016.09.01 15:16:30 -
[1] - Quote
My two cents on the new character sheet/skill window: it's uncomfortable having to tilt my head to the left every time just to read what each category icon is labeled like it is now in the WIP. Instead you might consider adapting to a pattern more towards this crude paint shop job I hammered out. It's easier to read and thus access and overall feels more natural and true to the rest of the UI.
To avoid that blank space you could either have the skill categories take a pattern that best adapts to the size of the designated area in the skill window or set some hard cap numbers on the displayed rows + columns and add a scroll bar like the training queue area has. The latter solution could work better for people who don't have their character sheet consume half their game window when opened too.
Onwards while I very much like the idea of offering a "truly free" EvE you, CCP, need to be aware it'll be mainly your own, currently paying customers that will find most creative ways to eXploit alpha state clones. Some few concerns and questions of mine on that matter:
Quote:Q: Are there restrictions on simultaneous log on for Alpha Clones?
A: We have not decided whether the simultaneous log on restrictions from the current trial system will apply to Alpha Clones. The decision will partly depend on your feedback, as well as our technical investigations over the coming months.
I don't know what the current trial system restrictions are but some possible issues (disposable ganking fleets, Venture fleets, server load etc) can easily be avoided with the single limitation that when you log in an alpha clone you are unable to log in anything else. Basically restrict simultaneous logins strictly to omega clones and restrict alpha level clones to one per machine - not IP since I presume you could easily circumvent that with a proXy, but rather by the use some sort of hardware identification magic.
(If anyone decides to invest 1500Gé¼ into additional sets of cheap desktops/laptops just to squeeze another alpha clone in that'd be fine with me, as I imagine that'd be a pain to multiboX.  )
Quote:Q: Can other players see my clone state?
A: No, only you will be able to see your clone state. We think that seeing the clone state of other players would provide too much strategic value to make it public.
Will that info be visible in any API check available to corp or alliance recruiters so they can get an idea of what to eXpect from an applicant?
Will alpha clones be entirely restricted to t1 modules or will they be able to use faction/deadspace/officer modules too? (Because in my opinion they shouldn't be able to use the latter groups.)
The same question applies to navy grade ships, which, since you rule out pirate hulls, should also be restricted. You need baits to get them into subscribing wherever you can.
Also what about PI - let's say the alpha clone aquires a PLEX or subs for a month, then solely trains that month into PI and sets up colonies, those would be - especially in nullsec and w-space - an everlasting ISK farm unless you've the technical option to deny access to PI administration on alpha level?
Alpha clones should not be able to:
cloak (didn't go through the skills list so maybe they already can't in the first place)
use any module or ship that is regarded meta 5+ (ammo is fine - possible bait!)
log in more than one account at any given time or combination (simultaneous logins restricted to omega only)
My biggest concern however about that DEVblog is the question about how you actually intend to entice those alphas into subscribing. EvE is a game that already requires a lot of patience, especially when it comes to skilling. Though you didn't outline how much slower an alpha clone is going to skill it'd be quite interesting to get a figure on how long it will take for one to skill to the cap (which from the skill window WIP I assume to be ~7mil SP) to properly give an opinion on this figure.
Depending on implants and mapping you currently already need to skill around or even more than 4 months, if you consider treating the alpha clone as some sort of "eXtended trial" not many people will sub if they train even slower than that. ("Why bother...?" - many people) Of course you've the option to make it crystal clear on any skill you look at as an alpha to have it say "you could be [THIS MUCH] faster if you were subscribed" but I doubt it's much of a lure for people not convinced about subscribing (or aquiring a PLEX).
Overall and especially if you do not restrict alpha clone login you will get an increased workload (even if you do restrict them to one alpha, just to a lesser degree) on both hardware and employees, all the while without outlining on how you actually want to lure them into subscription. A simple F2P addition on top of the eXisting subscribers could backfire hard I'm afraid and while I understand that you cannot share much info in that regard I would feel much better if you had things planned along to the clone state (and maybe elaborate just a little bit on that).
regards
Duke Garland |