Difference between revisions of "Clone states"
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==== Exploration ==== | ==== Exploration ==== | ||
Alpha characters can do basic [[exploration]]. | Alpha characters can do basic [[exploration]]. | ||
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| + | === Choice of race === | ||
| + | As an Alpha character is limited to flying their race's ships, and using only their race's preferred weapon system, choosing your character's race (Amarr, Caldari, Gallente, and Minmatar) has a larger impact on your gameplay when compared with Omega clones, for whom race choice is a largely aesthetic choice. However, keep in mind that you can always create additional characters of different races to try out other options, or upgrade to an Omega clone. | ||
| + | The factors below affect what possibilities are open to each race specifically for Alpha characters. Keep in mind that every ship in the game has its nuances, and there are always exceptions to the rule; Omega characters in particular have many more possibilities to bend or break the principles listed below. | ||
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| + | ==== Weapons systems ==== | ||
| + | There are different weapon types in EVE: | ||
| + | * [[Turrets|Turret]] weapons, further subdivided into | ||
| + | ** [[Turrets#Energy_turrets|Energy weapons]] (lasers), which use a lot of [[capacitor]], and can only deal two of the four [[NPC Damage Types|damage types]], but have infinite ammunition. Energy turrets are the primary weapons system for Amarr ships. | ||
| + | ** [[Turrets#Hybrid_turrets|Hybrid weapons]], which can only deal two of the four damage types, and can either do very high damage or fight at long ranges, but not both. Hybrid weapons are used by the Caldari and Gallente, with the Caldari tending towards long-ranged combat and Gallente towards shorter-ranged combat. | ||
| + | ** [[Turrets#Projectile_turrets|Projectile weapons]] (essentially, guns) use no capacitor to fire and are very flexible in what damage types they deal, but have a slightly more complicated ammunition selection. Projectile weapons are the primary weapons system for Minmatar ships. | ||
| + | * [[Missile Launchers|Missile launchers]], which fire guided missiles. They can deal all four damage types and use no capacitor to fire, but take time to reach their targets and don't offer the on-the-fly trade-offs between range and damage that turret weapons do. Missiles are used by the Caldari and Minmatar. | ||
| + | * [[Drones]], which are small semi-autonomous spaceships. They, too, can deal all four damage types and use no capacitor to fire, but the drones must first travel to reach their targets, and they can be shot down by enemy ships. Drones are used by the Gallente and Amarr. | ||
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| + | ==== Tank and speed ==== | ||
| + | Ships use two main ways to [[tank]] (i.e. to mitigate incoming damage): | ||
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| + | ==== Amarr ==== | ||
| + | {{main|Amarr Basic Ship and Skill Guide}} | ||
| + | [[File:Logo_faction_amarr_empire.png|left|link=|64px]]Amarr ships use [[Turrets#Energy_turrets|energy weapons]] (lasers) supported by [[drones]]. Energy weapons use a lot of [[capacitor]], and can only deal two of the four [[NPC Damage Types|damage types]], but have infinite ammunition. Amarr ships are [[Armor Tanking 101|armor tanked]] and are comparatively tough, but somewhat slow. Amarr ships are gold-coloured. | ||
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| + | EWAR | ||
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| + | Industrial | ||
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| + | ==== Caldari ==== | ||
| + | [[File:Logo_faction_caldari_state.png|left|link=|64px]]Caldari ships use [[Turrets#Hybrid_turrets|hybrid weapons]] and [[missiles]], and tend to favour long-range combat. Hybrid weapons can only deal two of the four damage types, and can either do very high damage or fight at long ranges, but not both. Missiles are very flexible | ||
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| + | ==== Minmatar ==== | ||
| + | [[File:Logo_faction_minmatar_republic.png|left|link=|64px]]Minmatar ships use [[Turrets#Projectile_turrets|projectile turrets]] (essentially, guns). These | ||
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== Omega Clones == | == Omega Clones == | ||
Omega clones may use any skill, ship and item in the game. Additionally, you may log into the game with more than one account at a time ([[:Category:Eve Lexicon#Multiboxing|multiboxing]]), but only as long as ''all'' the accounts being logged in have Omega status. | Omega clones may use any skill, ship and item in the game. Additionally, you may log into the game with more than one account at a time ([[:Category:Eve Lexicon#Multiboxing|multiboxing]]), but only as long as ''all'' the accounts being logged in have Omega status. | ||
Revision as of 12:09, 14 November 2016
Template:Current Starting with the Ascension expansion (November 2016), there are two different ways of playing EVE:
- You can play for free (i.e. without paying a monthly subscription fee), but you will be limited in which skills your character can train. This is referred to as "Alpha".
- Paying a monthly subscription to play the game, which allows your character to learn every skill in the game. This is referred to as "Omega".
In game this system is referred to as Clone States. Characters on Alpha accounts are referred to as "Alpha clones", and characters on Omega accounts are referred to as "Omega clones". If you pay for a subscription (paid for with time cards, monthly payments, PLEX...), your account (and all the characters on that account) receive "Omega" status until your subscription runs out (or you cancel it), at which point they revert back to "Alpha status. There is no way to tell an Alpha from an Omega clone in-game. The conversion from Alpha to Omega or vice-versa will always happen at the start of a new game session.
If an Omega clone is downgraded to an Alpha clone (because the account's subscription has run out), any skills that character has trained which are not part of the Alpha skill set are locked and become inactive, i.e. they cannot be used, but the invested skill points will not be lost. Any items or ships which require the locked skill become inactive, and the skill training queue will be paused (but can be resumed by logging into the game). If the account's subscription is renewed, then the character is automatically upgraded back to an Omega clone and can once again use all the skills they have previously trained.
Alpha or Omega status is tied to your game account. If you have multiple accounts, then you can choose to pay for a subscription for some, all or none of them, and each account (and the characters on that account) will have the corresponding Alpha or Omega state.
Alpha Clones
Compared with Omega characters, Alpha characters are limited in the following ways:
- They may only train certain skills
- They train skills more 50% more slowly and have a shorter skill queue (24 hours, as opposed to years for Omega characters)
- They may not use skill extractors to extract skillpoints from the Alpha skill list (see below)
- If you are logged into the game with an Alpha character you may not log in simultaneously (multibox) with any other character (on any account)
Alpha skill set
The set of skills that Alpha characters may train limits them to:
- Their race's preferred weapon system and ships, This means that, for instance, an Amarr Alpha character can only fly Amarr ships and can only use energy weapons and drones, but projectile or hybrid weapons.
- Combat ships up to cruiser size, as well as basic industrial ships.
- Tech 1 modules and ships.
They may only train the following skills:
Gameplay
While they are well suited for getting introduced to EVE Online, Alpha characters should be seen more as an "indefinite trial" rather than as a "free-to-play" option.
Combat
Alpha characters are perfectly viable in low-level PvP and PvE, and in support roles in larger-scale PvP (such as EWAR or tackle for a fleet). However, their performance will not be on par with Omega characters once the latter has trained the skills to start using Tech 2 modules and ships.
Industry
Alpha characters can mine (ore or gas) in a Venture (but not use more advanced mining ships), and can perform basic (only Tech 1, no invention) manufacturing. While they will not be as efficient as an Omega character (who have access to more advanced ships and skills which improve mining and manufacturing efficiency), they can nonetheless participate in basic industry. They can salvage wrecks, but they cannot, however, do Planetary Interaction.
Alpha characters can trade, but they will pay higher taxes on their transactions and have fewer options at their disposal (e.g. they can only sell items located within 5 jumps, whereas an Omega character has the option to train skills allowing them to sell items anywhere in the current region). Alphas cannot create new contracts, but they can accept contracts.
Basic hauling is an option for Alpha characters as they have access to their races' Tech 1 industrial ships.
Exploration
Alpha characters can do basic exploration.
Omega Clones
Omega clones may use any skill, ship and item in the game. Additionally, you may log into the game with more than one account at a time (multiboxing), but only as long as all the accounts being logged in have Omega status.
External links
- Dev blog: Introducing Clone States (August 2016)
- Patch Notes for the Ascension expansion (November 2016)
