Sarrian Calda
Caldari
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Posted - 2009.02.25 12:35:00 -
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Reading through some users' posts at the first 2 pages.. I have two points to stand with. I'll just talk about some of the pros and cons.
-= 24 hours =-
Pros - 24 hours to plan ahead is good for players who're actively playing every day or two, and that they have a full-time job or studies. It's also good for new players since they'll most probably be more active than some of the veterans, being that new players have more short skills to train, and veterans generally have lesser short skills to train(or they just don't want to train those short skills that are useless to them).
Cons - This Q system is time frame-based type of Q-ing system, so we're limited on how many skills we can Q up within that short amount of time, given that EVE skills get longer as we hit levels 3 to 5. So it does not help much for the veterans, nor the players who have irregular access to EVE-Online. But from a business standpoint, business is always business. The larger pool of fish always get the attention of the fishermen over the small group of fish, no matter how tasty this small group of fish is. Larger catch, more harvests. Smaller catch, no point. Especially when the large to small ratio is over 100:1. Businessmen, agree? Just figuratively speaking, of course.
So, why not a Q system that is without limits instead?
As we all know that skills will still continue to train even after player's subscription has ended. A 60d skill can still be completed even if you start it on the last day of your subscription. But you need to be able to log into the game in order to start the training of another skill, and that means a minimum of 30d subscription must be purchased.
Since we already have this 'natural' limit on skill training, why not just work off that?
How: Player can Q all the skills he want to train, in the order he wishes. Maybe you can put a limit to number of slots, like not more than 100 slots, counting each skill level as 1 slot. A skill has 5 levels. So a limit of 20 slots will make it possible to max out 4 skills to level 5 at one go. Not too long, not too short, and can still get the players to come log into the game every now and then to "socialise" and "interact".
When: The skills will be trained in time, so long as player maintains an active subscription at the time when a skill finishes and the next skill in Q begins. So if the player goes unsubbed and his currently training skill ends, the next skill in the Q will not be triggered. Maybe simply "deactivate" the Q system the moment the player's subscription ends, so the Q system won't trigger the next skill after the current skill training ends.
The player must sub again in order for the Q system to activate the training for the next skill, and this activation should be done automatically upon re-sub so that the player do not have to log into the game. The player can just simply purchase a subscription via EVE website. This will help players who can't access the game, but still have internet access, to continue skill training without logging into the game.
Having internet access != able to log into EVE
IMO, this method is a win-win situation for both CCP as a business and players as the customers. Player can still Q up their skill training, so long as they have active subscription. CCP won't lose any business at all with this kind of system.
I agree with some players' view about "socialising" and "interacting" for those who only log in to change skills. There's almost no socialising at all. I'm also one of those that log in once a while just to change skills, and I don't socialise. What is there to talk about if I only have 1 minute to sneak into EVE to change skill, then log out and continue with my super-busy RL? You guys at CCP are busy too, right? You guys should know how it feels. So why bother about us not "socialising" and "interacting"? There's forums, you know.
Just my 2 cents. 
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