Crepitus wrote:I would really *LOVE* for some of you "EP makes no difference" people to explain how it's possible that someone who has 5x as much EP as you isn't stronger in spades.
Cerp,
Yes of course EP matters. If it didn't there would be no reason to even earn EP; so I am agreeing with you that EP _CAN_ make a difference.
This arguement has been gone over 100 times, probably a million times if you count the eve forums.
What you can't expect, since this game is an MMO and not a console game, is to be equal on day 1.
Skill costs go up for each level, as you know, and the EP is dependant on which corp and spark you choose.
The idea of competing is valid regardless of if you talking about PVP, Industry, or Mining.
First, the math.
Starting EP: 20,000
EP per day: 1,440
EP per 30 days : 43,200
Total EP at 30 days: 63,200
Which means, that anyone 30 days ahead of you will never have more than 63,200 EP. I'm not going to talk about EA accounts, it was a special promotion and there is a fixed number of accounts with that EP bonus, and the general principal of Skill gap closing remains valid with EA account, its just a slightly longer time.
Which means at day 1, a combat pilot with 30 days more EP is likely to have Skill level 5 in a number of appropriate skills, which will make them much more effective than the new pilot.
To keep the example balanced, lets assume that you follow the EXACT same progression path, that is you took the same skills as this other pilot (which never happens, but this is just to show how the gap closes).
Now, at day 30 you have the same skills as that pilot did, but they now have 43,200 more EP spent. Lets see what they can get in combat skills starting from level 5. This is also assuming they didn't spend any EP on assignments, market, etc - or that you spent the same EP up to this point.
Advanced weapons (Medium any style) level 7 : 7,392 EP +6% damage
Rapid Fire from level 5 to level 7: 6,881 + 6% firing speed
Target Analysis level 5 to level 7: 7,392 + 2% damage
Advanced Robotics Level 5 to 7: 15,593 * 2 robot bonus
Crititcal Hit from level 5 to lev 7: 11,088 + 2% critical hit
Sharp shooting from 5 to lev 6: 2,430 + 3% distance
With 3,512 EP toward sharpshooting 7.
Now, at day 30, I would say with all those additional skills that they would still have a distinct advantage over you.
*Don't worry about skill selection, this isn't about which skills to choose, its about how the gap closes.
Now, here we are at day 60. You have all the above skills. But the other player has now spent 43,200 (+3 512left over) on skills.
Critical hit from 7 to 8 : 10,752 +1% critical
Sharpshooting from 6 to 8 : 10,733 + 6% range
Advanced Weapons from 7 to 8: 7,168 + 3 % damage
Rapid fire from level 7 to lev 8 : 6,672 + 3% weapon speed
Target Analysis from level 7 to 8: 7,168 +1 % damage
With 4119 EP left over
So, still an advantage, but the gap is closing enough that the difference is 2 or 3 weapon cycles.
Now, finally at day 90, you have all the above skills, and your opponent has...
Advanced Weapon 10 + 6% dmg: 32,480
Sharpshooting 9 + 3% range: 9,112
With 5,727 left over but the above skills are more than that for the next level.
Here we are, you and your opponent are just 1 volley difference at most. Because no EP was spent in non combat stuff, you still both can only fit the same gear, so at this point your 100% competitive, and the only difference now is the PVP skill.
Yes 90 days is a LONG time, but the idea that you can NEVER catch up is totally false.
TL;DR - On the flipside, it also doesn' seem fair that someone only playing the game for a few weeks should be able to gank me if I have been playing for 45 days.