SI Radio Member Report: Agatir Solenth – 2101.08.10

Greetings my fellow corp men, women, & blog readers!!!

There appears to be this general lack of enthusiasm of late.  Some folks are upset over recent CSM reports of CCPs lack of resources devoted to their concerns.  Others are upset at the general lack of activity due to the summer month slump of the online population.  Others just can’t seem to find the “fun” often described in blogs.

First let us understand… anyone that takes the time to spend hours upon hours playing a game, has to be a fan.  If not, then you’d have to be a masochist.  If you are not enjoying the game, then you have to ask yourself two questions:

1. Do I like the game?  (Is there something in the game that makes me want to play it?)
2. Are there things I think that are fun, but I am not doing them? (ie You are not having that much fun, but you think you could be having a lot.)

If you answered “YES” to both, then continue to play EVE…  and ask yourself the next question:

What corporation am I in and what is it they do to provide me fun?

If you answered, “I’m not in a corp,” then you need to get in one ASAP!

If you answered, “I’m in corp *insert corp name here*, and they are doing nothing that makes my gaming experience more fun. “  Then you need to make a change.  Unless you are one of those folks that join a MMO to play by yourself, and seek no interaction with your fellow players, a corporation is the quickest way to enjoy and experience the most in EVE.  I bumbled my way through EVE until I joined my first corp.  It was amazing.  I finally had an actual people I could talk to about the game.  They could explain the game mechanics, and how the hell to do things, like the best way to keep my ship from getting blown up.  I even found out that the guys in the corp were pretty decent guys.  They were much like me, even if they lived in different parts of the world.

I can say I didn’t do a lot research prior to joining my first corp.  I was just happy someone would have me.  However, that can be one of the first mistakes a player can make in EVE.  You join a corp, get to know the folks, and determine you like them.  They help you learn the game, and then you realize they aren’t doing the things in the game you enjoy.  You then spend a lot of time either doing things without your corpmates, or doing those things you don’t enjoy.  Either way you are defeating the purpose of playing a MMO…  TO PLAY A GAME YOU ENJOY WITH OTHER PEOPLE!

I can honestly say that once you find a group of guys (or gals) that are of like mind in the game EVE really begins to shine.  However just like everything else in EVE that can be difficult to do.  Look at my corp history… it is a testament of my trials and tribulations over the years.  What I found consistent in all those corps, was that they were all good bunch of guys (even those I butted heads with), but they lacked or were not in line with my ideas of what I wanted in a corp.

SO without anymore explanation, here are some things you should consider before clicking the Submit Application button to any corp:

Corporation Focus & Level of Professionalism – What is it that the corporation does?  Some corporations are very specific in their focus.  There are corporations that are solely dedicated to mining, production & markets, PvP (pirates, mercenaries, small gangs, large fleet), wormhole exploration (PvE & PvP), missioning/ratting in High Sec.  Then there are other corporations that dabble in the various aspects.  Some corporations are based on Role Playing.  Other corporations focus simply on the social aspect of EVE.  You must first decide what is it that YOU want to do in EVE.  That way you can at least align yourself with others doing the same thing in the game that you enjoy.  If a corp has a particular focus you have to ask, “What is their level of professionalism or commitment to that focus?”  This will determine what their expectations will be of you as a corp member.  A PvP focused corp will often expect a certain level of killboard efficiency.  A mining based corp could expect you to take part in a certain number of mining operations per week.  Role Play focused corporations often establish what ships you can and cannot fly. (No self-respecting Amarr would be caught dead in a Minmatar ship!)  If you aren’t willing to meet those obligations, you better move on.

Alliance – Often overlooked, but very important!  Being part of an alliance has its pro’s and con’s.  Alliances can offer a corporation and its’ members additional number of pilots to fly with and other benefits if run correctly (0.0 access, jump bridges, stations).  But a new alliance or poorly run one can be a drain upon a corporation.  If those additional pilots aren’t willing to add their numbers in a War Declaration, then you may find yourself getting podded in High Sec, as weak alliances tend to bring multiple and repeated threats of war from PvP minded corps.  I found myself dodging more folks in High Sec due to another corporation in my alliance getting War Dec’d, and losing more ships trying to fight off those attackers, than the corporation that brought the War Dec to the alliance.  In addition a new alliance trying to claim SOV or with poor SOV defenses may not be able to offer those 0.0 benefits for too long.  I have had to move my stuff across 0.0 more than once because of “FAIL Alliances.”

Membership Size, Activity Levels & Time Zone Presence – Let’s face it, you want to play with your corpmates!  If no one is online when you are…

Maturity Level – I try not to ask what the average age of the corporation membership is, but it can be a factor.  I am an older player.  So some of the games or the antics a younger player will engage in does not interest me.  (ie smack talk in local, griefing new players, etc)  Now notice I listed maturity level.  There are older folks that have the maturity level of a nine year old, and there are plenty of teenagers wiser beyond their years.  Do you want to play with adults or children? ***Tip – Avoid the Emo Rage***

Leadership – The greatest thing that will make or break a corporation (or alliance).  You have to have and active leadership element. If only to insure all the functions of the corp are done.  Such as paying rent, accepting new members, insuring the day to day functions of the corp are met, getting and keeping members involved.  In every corp, that I have been in, where the leadership took a break from the game the corp began to suffer and/or failed.  Another aspect is how those leaders run the corp.  There are dictatorships, democracies, councils, and free for alls…  Which leadership style do you work best with, and are you willing to live by their rules?

Corporation Assets & Income – What does the corp have to offer?  Do they have a ship replacement or discount program, killboards, forums, ships provided for corp operations, SOV in 0.0, POS’s, etc?  The more a corp can offer is usually a sign that it is a well run and active corp.

If you have any suggestions or criteria you think folks should consider, please feel free share them…

One last thing…  Changing corps isn’t the end of your friendships with your old corpmates, you’re just moving on to make more!

Fly Safe… Stay Profitable…

Ag