More SP?

(thanks to Yukamo Kido on the forums for this :D)

Now, a bit deeper into the skill system and you may start to notice that "hey, what about those who trained before us? They'll be uber! I cant beat them!".

Wrong.

Flat out wrong.

Why? Well its simple.

In EVE, there's a counter to nearly everything (except stupidity, which of course, I wont go into), and so is with higher-trained (and thus more skill points, or SP) characters. Just because they have more SP's doesnt mean they can do something better than you. It just means they can do more than you can at the start at least...

All skills have a lvl5 limit to train to so that means you can be as good as they are if you train as well. Most people leave it at lvl4 unless its a prerequisite and is required to be lvl5. Reason being is that the time gap between levels increases exponentially. So sure from lvl1 to 2 is just an hour or two, but lvl2-3 may take 6, or even 12 hours. Lvl4-5 is days, usually.

Take solace in the fact that older SP characters have to contend with skills that take literal months to train, so you're never going to be left behind.

But wait, that involves time right? True, which is why the practical EVE advice is to specialize. Specializing means that you only focus your training on one segment of something, at a time. When you do you'll be just as good as the older guy in that department.

For example: I want to train interceptors (more advanced frigates, really fast little buggers, deadly in packs). Simple, I just go train the relevant frigate skill, then the evasive maneuvering skill, and then support skills to speed up my little interceptor into a deadly quick bee. For sting, you train weapons of course. You can easily do this in 2 weeks if you train fast, and not detract yourself by training something else.

The older SP character would have access to interceptors, but it doesnt mean he'll forever be better at handling it skillwise than you (though interceptors require a bit of actual player control to pilot effectively, this can only be learnt through practice), since the limit is lvl5.

Another thing is that even small easy-to-train-for frigates are a nightmare to bigger ships. Reason being is that they're small, fast, hard to hit, and if in numbers, can really put on the hurt. If you cant beat him alone, get friends. No, seriously, get friends.

Trust me, its more fun doing stuff with buddies than alone. You dont want to be playing with yourself now, do you?