Making Omega
Alpha vs Omega differences
Alpha is free to play. Omega are people gave money to CCP, directly or indirectly through `Plex`. You cannot easily earn omega as an alpha unless you spend 40-120 hours.
The game is perfectly playable as an alpha, but you eventually will hit a wall. It is hard out there for an alpha, but you're not paying money so the game isn't just for you. It's for the omega players who pay the for-profit company to run their game.
https://support.eveonline.com/hc/en-us/articles/213020969-Alpha-and-Omega-Clone has the precise things that they have defined. And that list might grow.
The places that are most common for people fall apart, if you allow people to spin up unlimited free accounts:
Mining barges (Break the ore economy)
Planetary Interaction (Breaks the PI economy - PI=Planetary Interaction)
Level 4 Missiosn (Break the LP economy. - LP=Loyalty Points)
Cloaking (Cannot have unlimited free cloaky eyes everywhere)
Skill points (Cannot build skill point farms for free, 5 mil per character, 20 mil total skill points.)
Tax rates (Cannot get extra sell slots for free)
Contracts (Cannot get extra contracts for free)
T2 ships (breaks the unlimited alts to do things problem)
Two characters at once (Breaks everything, two characters is better than two separte players most times.)
Alpha isn't there to ruin your life, it's there to protect your early days as a new player. All these things I mentioned stop experienced players from exploiting the system even further than they are already doing.
Liking the game? Give them money if you want, but you don't need to. Buying Omega is the only worthwhile investment in dollars for this game. You get a special offer after about a week of playing.
You playing this game, even as an alpha, gives us more content and more fun. Plus, I want to shoot you, come find me and pvp with me!
An example of the skill difference of alpha vs omega. Note, Alpha can use T2 weaponry SOMETIMES, when it doesn't break thing.
How to make Omega as an Alpha player
This is a short one: Don't
Okay fine, I'll explain.
The price of plex is based on a formula in people's heads of 'how much is this worth, effort wise'. Except this effort is based on-
How easy it is for a max skilled player to
... to run CRAB sites in a super
... to afk ratting in an ishtar
... to afk mine in a rorqual
... to run high sec incursions
... to run Tier 4-6 abyssals
... to run tons of level 4 exploration sites.
All of which are based on being omega already. And might be 1-5 hours for them, but will be 40-120 hours for you. Versus getting a part time job and make dollars to pay for it in an hour.
The biggest problem of being a newbean is that you will do something silly. Because eve is a hard game.
There are ways to make isk as a newbro, for sure, but getting to the 2.3 bil it takes to get 500 plex 2023 Q2, plus buying the things along the way, it's uber expensive.
In high sec, you can do:
Trading -Takes a long time to setup, need experience to do (alphas get 11% tax rate)
Abyssals -move away from jita you mango (alphas cannot run t2 ships)
Missions -Crappy but good for standing (alphas cannot run level 4s)
Incursions -Warp to Me is a good group (Alphas cannot run most ships)
Exploration -see tip of the day (Alphas cannot use cloaks)
Wormhole -Horde doesn't have a wormhole group, sadly, but there are a lot of groups out there.
Our guide on null sec areas is here: https://www.pandemic-horde.org/forum/index.php?threads/horde-isk-making-rules-areas-and-industry-areas-v-2-0.3738/ with a map in the spoilers.
In null sec, you can do:
Drone sites - https://www.pandemic-horde.org/forum/index.php?threads/drone-lives-matter-a-drone-regions-ratting-guide-2-0.3340/
Mining -Join Mining standing fleet, moons are okay money.
PVP -Get NBI fit ships, loot when done
Salvage -Follow behind ratters and loot their stuff
Planetary Interaction -clicking mini-game that sucks to setup but long term isk
Don't worry about - Just go have fun.
Edit 2022-04-06:
So, to prove my point, I decided to do some math here.
I ratted in a t2 algos, which cost me 15 mil, with perfect skills for a full hour, doing belt ratting, and managed to make 11.7 mil, which wasn't even enough to cover my ship. Note, the 'free' one is significantly slower.
I have ratted in a vexor before, again perfect skills, and made around 35 mil in an hour, which again, barely paid for the ship.
A gila can make 13-18 mil ticks, so 90 mil per hour best case, and comes NOWHERE close to paying for the ship.
Omega costs 500 plex, which are currently 1.54 billion in Jita. (note date above, 2022-04-06)
So, assuming no accidents, can rat the entire time, everything 100% positive, with zero other expenses:
algos- 131.5 hours
vexor - 44 hours
gila - 22 hours
And if you have an accident, congrats, start over or you are deep in a hole.
Someone demonstrated here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Eve/comments/vsgtco/how_to_actually_plex_within_one_month_of_playing/
This kind of message is the reason I think people quit so quickly. 60 hours of game play, assuming they don't fuck up... :(
(Thanks to Bobby Tarantinooo)
Alpha Skill list
This is a spreadsheet of the alpha skills of a Gallente starting character vs what the max is, along with an approximate time to fully complete all the skills as alpha and omega with no implants. Note, this is not taking into account starting skill skills because they vary from group to group.
There is a 5 mil skill cap on alphas, though you can do Air Career Program and Opportunity farming still. An alpha max trained is about 19.5 mil skill points.
These skills could cost you as little as 157 mil or as much as 256 mil, or somewhere in between. It might take you just shy of 900 days for alpha, or 453 skill points. The ENTIRE skill plan for every skill is about 37 years.
Copy paste this to a spreadsheet to use it for yourself, this is a reference for those of us who have to support new players. :D
Skill Name Group Start Max Rank Skill points Cost Alpha time (Days) Omega (Days)
Armor Layering Armor 0 1 3 750 1,000,000 0.04 0.02
EM Armor Compensation Armor 0 2 2 2828 150,000 0.14 0.07
Explosive Armor Compensation Armor 0 2 2 2828 150,000 0.14 0.07
Hull Upgrades Armor 2 5 2 512000 0 23.71 11.86
Kinetic Armor Compensation Armor 0 2 2 2828 150,000 0.14 0.07
Mechanics Armor 2 5 1 256000 0 11.86 5.93
Remote Armor Repair Systems Armor 0 3 2 16000 100,000 0.75 0.38
Remote Hull Repair Systems Armor 0 2 2 2828 125,000 0.14 0.07
Repair Systems Armor 0 5 1 256000 0 11.86 5.93
Thermal Armor Compensation Armor 0 2 2 2828 150,000 0.14 0.07
Corporation Management Corporation Management 0 1 1 250 30,000 0.02 0.01
Amarr Drone Specialization Drones 0 2 5 7071 10,000,000 0.33 0.17
Caldari Drone Specialization Drones 0 2 5 7071 10,000,000 0.33 0.17
Drone Avionics Drones 1 4 1 45255 0 2.1 1.05
Drone Durability Drones 0 4 5 226274 100,000 10.48 5.24
Drone Interfacing Drones 0 3 5 40000 750,000 1.86 0.93
Drone Navigation Drones 0 4 1 45255 100,000 2.1 1.05
Drone Sharpshooting Drones 0 4 1 45255 150,000 2.1 1.05
Drones Drones 1 5 1 256000 0 11.86 5.93
Gallente Drone Specialization Drones 0 2 5 7071 10,000,000 0.33 0.17
Heavy Drone Operation Drones 0 3 5 40000 500,000 1.86 0.93
Light Drone Operation Drones 0 5 1 256000 75,000 11.86 5.93
Medium Drone Operation Drones 0 4 2 90510 125,000 4.2 2.1
Minmatar Drone Specialization Drones 0 2 5 7071 10,000,000 0.33 0.17
Repair Drone Operation Drones 0 2 3 4243 200,000 0.2 0.1
Electronic Warfare Electronic Systems 1 4 2 90510 0 4.2 2.1
Propulsion Jamming Electronic Systems 1 4 3 135765 0 6.29 3.15
Sensor Linking Electronic Systems 0 3 3 24000 125,000 1.12 0.56
Target Painting Electronic Systems 0 3 3 24000 100,000 1.12 0.56
Weapon Disruption Electronic Systems 0 4 3 135765 100,000 6.29 3.15
Advanced Weapon Upgrades Engineering 0 3 6 48000 1,000,000 2.23 1.12
Capacitor Emission Systems Engineering 0 4 2 90510 75,000 4.2 2.1
Capacitor Management Engineering 3 4 3 135765 0 6.29 3.15
CPU Management Engineering 4 5 1 256000 0 11.86 5.93
Electronics Upgrades Engineering 3 5 2 512000 0 23.71 11.86
Energy Grid Upgrades Engineering 1 5 2 512000 0 23.71 11.86
Energy Pulse Weapons Engineering 0 2 2 2828 130,000 0.14 0.07
Power Grid Management Engineering 4 5 1 256000 0 11.86 5.93
Thermodynamics Engineering 1 4 3 135765 0 6.29 3.15
Weapon Upgrades Engineering 2 5 2 512000 0 23.71 11.86
Leadership Fleet Support 0 3 1 8000 30,000 0.38 0.19
Controlled Bursts Gunnery 2 4 2 90510 0 4.2 2.1
Gunnery Gunnery 4 5 1 256000 0 11.86 5.93
Large Energy Turret Gunnery 0 4 5 226274 3,000,000 10.48 5.24
Large Hybrid Turret Gunnery 0 4 5 226274 3,000,000 10.48 5.24
Large Projectile Turret Gunnery 0 4 5 226274 3,000,000 10.48 5.24
Medium Artillery Specialization Gunnery 0 3 5 40000 5,000,000 1.86 0.93
Medium Autocannon Specialization Gunnery 0 3 5 40000 5,000,000 1.86 0.93
Medium Beam Laser Specialization Gunnery 0 3 5 40000 5,000,000 1.86 0.93
Medium Blaster Specialization Gunnery 0 3 5 40000 5,000,000 1.86 0.93
Medium Energy Turret Gunnery 0 5 3 768000 125,000 35.56 17.78
Medium Hybrid Turret Gunnery 0 5 3 768000 125,000 35.56 17.78
Medium Projectile Turret Gunnery 0 5 3 768000 125,000 35.56 17.78
Medium Pulse Laser Specialization Gunnery 0 3 5 40000 5,000,000 1.86 0.93
Medium Railgun Specialization Gunnery 0 3 5 40000 5,000,000 1.86 0.93
Motion Prediction Gunnery 2 4 2 90510 0 4.2 2.1
Rapid Firing Gunnery 3 4 2 90510 0 4.2 2.1
Sharpshooter Gunnery 3 4 2 90510 0 4.2 2.1
Small Artillery Specialization Gunnery 0 3 3 24000 2,000,000 1.12 0.56
Small Autocannon Specialization Gunnery 0 3 3 24000 2,000,000 1.12 0.56
Small Beam Laser Specialization Gunnery 0 3 3 24000 2,000,000 1.12 0.56
Small Blaster Specialization Gunnery 0 3 3 24000 2,000,000 1.12 0.56
Small Energy Turret Gunnery 0 5 1 256000 30,000 11.86 5.93
Small Hybrid Turret Gunnery 3 5 1 256000 0 11.86 5.93
Small Projectile Turret Gunnery 0 5 1 256000 30,000 11.86 5.93
Small Pulse Laser Specialization Gunnery 0 3 3 24000 2,000,000 1.12 0.56
Small Railgun Specialization Gunnery 0 3 3 24000 2,000,000 1.12 0.56
Surgical Strike Gunnery 1 4 4 181019 0 8.39 4.2
Trajectory Analysis Gunnery 1 4 5 226274 0 10.48 5.24
Cruise Missiles Missiles 0 4 5 226274 750,000 10.48 5.24
Guided Missile Precision Missiles 0 3 5 40000 1,000,000 1.86 0.93
Heavy Assault Missile Specialization Missiles 0 3 5 40000 3,000,000 1.86 0.93
Heavy Assault Missiles Missiles 0 5 3 768000 125,000 35.56 17.78
Heavy Missile Specialization Missiles 0 3 5 40000 3,000,000 1.86 0.93
Heavy Missiles Missiles 0 5 3 768000 125,000 35.56 17.78
Light Missile Specialization Missiles 0 3 5 40000 1,000,000 1.86 0.93
Light Missiles Missiles 0 5 2 512000 30,000 23.71 11.86
Missile Bombardment Missiles 0 4 2 90510 100,000 4.2 2.1
Missile Launcher Operation Missiles 0 5 1 256000 0 11.86 5.93
Missile Projection Missiles 0 2 4 5657 250,000 0.27 0.14
Rapid Launch Missiles 0 4 2 90510 60,000 4.2 2.1
Rocket Specialization Missiles 0 3 3 24000 1,000,000 1.12 0.56
Rockets Missiles 0 5 1 256000 30,000 11.86 5.93
Target Navigation Prediction Missiles 0 3 2 16000 90,000 0.75 0.38
Torpedoes Missiles 0 4 4 181019 500,000 8.39 4.2
Warhead Upgrades Missiles 0 3 5 40000 2,000,000 1.86 0.93
Acceleration Control Navigation 1 3 4 32000 0 1.49 0.75
Evasive Maneuvering Navigation 1 3 2 16000 0 0.75 0.38
High Speed Maneuvering Navigation 1 3 5 40000 0 1.86 0.93
Navigation Navigation 3 4 1 45255 0 2.1 1.05
Warp Drive Operation Navigation 1 3 1 8000 0 0.38 0.19
Biology Neural Enhancement 0 3 1 8000 37,500 0.38 0.19
Cybernetics Neural Enhancement 0 3 3 24000 0 1.12 0.56
Infomorph Psychology Neural Enhancement 0 1 1 250 1,000,000 0.02 0.01
Industry Production 1 5 1 256000 0 11.86 5.93
Mass Production Production 0 3 2 16000 200,000 0.75 0.38
Gas Cloud Harvesting Resource Processing 1 2 1 1414 30,000,000 0.07 0.04
Mining Resource Processing 3 4 1 45255 0 2.1 1.05
Mining Upgrades Resource Processing 0 4 4 181019 100,000 8.39 4.2
Reactions Resource Processing 0 1 1 250 1,000,000 0.02 0.01
Reprocessing Resource Processing 0 3 1 8000 75,000 0.38 0.19
Armor Rigging Rigging 0 3 3 24000 250,000 1.12 0.56
Astronautics Rigging Rigging 0 3 3 24000 125,000 1.12 0.56
Drones Rigging Rigging 0 3 3 24000 250,000 1.12 0.56
Electronic Superiority Rigging Rigging 0 3 3 24000 250,000 1.12 0.56
Energy Weapon Rigging Rigging 0 3 3 24000 250,000 1.12 0.56
Hybrid Weapon Rigging Rigging 0 3 3 24000 250,000 1.12 0.56
Jury Rigging Rigging 0 3 2 16000 75,000 0.75 0.38
Launcher Rigging Rigging 0 3 3 24000 250,000 1.12 0.56
Projectile Weapon Rigging Rigging 0 3 3 24000 250,000 1.12 0.56
Shield Rigging Rigging 0 3 3 24000 250,000 1.12 0.56
Archaeology Scanning 1 3 3 24000 0 1.12 0.56
Astrometric Acquisition Scanning 1 2 5 7071 0 0.33 0.17
Astrometric Rangefinding Scanning 1 2 8 11314 0 0.53 0.27
Hacking Scanning 1 3 3 24000 0 1.12 0.56
EM Shield Compensation Shields 0 2 2 2828 150,000 0.14 0.07
Explosive Shield Compensation Shields 0 2 2 2828 150,000 0.14 0.07
Kinetic Shield Compensation Shields 0 2 2 2828 150,000 0.14 0.07
Shield Compensation Shields 0 4 2 90510 150,000 4.2 2.1
Shield Emission Systems Shields 0 3 2 16000 100,000 0.75 0.38
Shield Management Shields 2 4 3 135765 0 6.29 3.15
Shield Operation Shields 3 4 1 45255 0 2.1 1.05
Shield Upgrades Shields 2 4 2 90510 0 4.2 2.1
Tactical Shield Manipulation Shields 2 4 4 181019 0 8.39 4.2
Thermal Shield Compensation Shields 0 2 2 2828 150,000 0.14 0.07
Connections Social 0 2 3 4243 200,000 0.2 0.1
Criminal Connections Social 0 2 3 4243 200,000 0.2 0.1
Diplomacy Social 0 3 1 8000 200,000 0.38 0.19
Distribution Connections Social 0 2 2 2828 20,000,000 0.14 0.07
Mining Connections Social 0 2 2 2828 20,000,000 0.14 0.07
Negotiation Social 0 2 2 2828 60,000 0.14 0.07
Security Connections Social 0 2 2 2828 20,000,000 0.14 0.07
Social Social 0 3 1 8000 30,000 0.38 0.19
Amarr Battlecruiser Spaceship Command 0 4 6 271529 2,500,000 12.58 6.29
Amarr Battleship Spaceship Command 0 4 8 362039 7,500,000 16.77 8.39
Amarr Cruiser Spaceship Command 0 4 5 226274 1,000,000 10.48 5.24
Amarr Destroyer Spaceship Command 0 4 2 90510 100,000 4.2 2.1
Amarr Frigate Spaceship Command 0 4 2 90510 50,000 4.2 2.1
Amarr Hauler Spaceship Command 0 1 4 1000 500,000 0.05 0.03
Caldari Battlecruiser Spaceship Command 0 4 6 271529 2,500,000 12.58 6.29
Caldari Battleship Spaceship Command 0 4 8 362039 7,500,000 16.77 8.39
Caldari Cruiser Spaceship Command 0 4 5 226274 1,000,000 10.48 5.24
Caldari Destroyer Spaceship Command 0 4 2 90510 100,000 4.2 2.1
Caldari Frigate Spaceship Command 0 4 2 90510 50,000 4.2 2.1
Caldari Hauler Spaceship Command 0 1 2 500 500,000 0.03 0.02
Gallente Battlecruiser Spaceship Command 0 4 6 271529 2,500,000 12.58 6.29
Gallente Battleship Spaceship Command 0 4 8 362039 7,500,000 16.77 8.39
Gallente Cruiser Spaceship Command 0 4 5 226274 1,000,000 10.48 5.24
Gallente Destroyer Spaceship Command 0 4 2 90510 100,000 4.2 2.1
Gallente Frigate Spaceship Command 3 4 2 90510 0 4.2 2.1
Mining Frigate Spaceship Command 0 4 2 90510 0 4.2 2.1
Minmatar Battlecruiser Spaceship Command 0 4 6 271529 2,500,000 12.58 6.29
Minmatar Battleship Spaceship Command 0 4 8 362039 7,500,000 16.77 8.39
Minmatar Cruiser Spaceship Command 0 4 5 226274 1,000,000 10.48 5.24
Minmatar Destroyer Spaceship Command 0 4 2 90510 100,000 4.2 2.1
Minmatar Frigate Spaceship Command 0 4 2 90510 50,000 4.2 2.1
Minmatar Hauler Spaceship Command 0 1 2 500 500,000 0.03 0.02
Spaceship Command Spaceship Command 3 4 1 45255 0 2.1 1.05
Anchoring Structure Management 0 1 3 750 75,000 0.04 0.02
Long Range Targeting Targeting 1 3 2 16000 0 0.75 0.38
Signature Analysis Targeting 1 3 1 8000 0 0.38 0.19
Target Management Targeting 2 4 1 45255 0 2.1 1.05
Broker Relations Trade 0 2 2 2828 125,000 0.14 0.07
Marketing Trade 0 2 3 4243 3,500,000 0.2 0.1
Trade Trade 2 3 1 8000 0 0.38 0.19