# Alpha clones; a menace to eve

**URL:** <https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [December 7, 2025, 12:02pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536 "2025-12-07T12:02:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 19\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![John\_Rochard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/john_rochard/32/373864_2.png) [@John\_Rochard](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/John_Rochard)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2025, 10:03am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/62 "2025-12-09T10:03:01Z")

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You forgot to tell me to calm down, but that’s okay.

Fly safe o7

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**Author:** ![Razor8lade](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/razor8lade/32/469689_2.png) [@Razor8lade](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Razor8lade)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2025, 11:49am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/63 "2025-12-09T11:49:45Z")

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Speculation aside, people need to realize that being habitual alphas denies you so much.

I say it should limit them even more…no more faction fits, limiting to a few noob systems (Hubs are off limits) and no local contact.

This game is overcrowded with freeloading whiners and it makes me sad.

Fly safe 07

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**Author:** ![Shion\_Ishii](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/shion_ishii/32/389684_2.png) [@Shion\_Ishii](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Shion_Ishii)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 2:32pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/64 "2025-12-12T14:32:45Z")

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> [@Andlaust](#):
>
> PLEX has only been a thing for about 20 years, but it’s going to be the end of Eve?

At no point did I say PLEX, in and of itself, is the end of EVE. In fact, I never said EVE was dying. I stated the opposite, citing F2P/PLEX as revitalizing EVE and generating more revenue. I stated the game was in decline (or more aptly, stagnation) in terms of development.

> [@Shion\_Ishii](#):
>
> Now EVE is **NOT** in _financial_ decline because F2P models generate more revenue. A way to eke out a few dollars here and there from even the poors who would normally just pass on the game. There would probably be no EVE without F2P/Alphas.

See the point is that whales (and PLEX) actually **SUSTAINS** EVE, but at the cost of making player input and the development of game design irrelevant. I do love when people cherry pick one thing and blow it out of proportion, ignoring the main point. And you folks just make up strawman arguments and just run with them. It’s truly amazing to see the lack of reading comprehension mixed with being so confidently wrong.

> [@Shion\_Ishii](#):
>
> No, if anything is ruining the game in **terms of its development** it is whales and PLEXers of any ilk. **And people buying Omega in bulk. BUT MOSTLY THE WHALES.** _This is what allows them to ignore players and not feel obligated to earn their sub money._

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**Author:** ![Misty\_Dreamscape](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/misty_dreamscape/32/483092_2.png) [@Misty\_Dreamscape](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Misty_Dreamscape)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 1:13am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/65 "2025-12-20T01:13:03Z")

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Entertainment has always been accessible to people regardless of wealth.  
In ancient Rome, the poor filled the Colosseum. In medieval towns, boxing and contests happened in open markets. Plays were performed in public squares, and today museums deliberately open their doors for free days. Society has long understood that shared entertainment and culture are not luxuries reserved only for those who can pay.  
EVE proudly markets itself as a social game, tells us the best ship is friendship, and celebrates emergent player interaction. Yet suddenly participation is reduced to a subscription fee? That’s a strange contradiction. Social ecosystems thrive on population density, diversity, and turnover—alpha clones contribute to all three.  
Alpha players aren’t “freeloaders”; they are future subscribers, content generators, targets, allies, rivals, and audience. A sandbox without newcomers doesn’t become elite—it becomes stagnant. If anything, alphas keep space alive while deciding whether EVE is worth committing to long-term.  
If the concern is balance or game health, that’s a valid discussion. But framing it as “poor people shouldn’t play” says far more about attitude than about EVE. New Eden has always been harsh—but it’s never been meant to be gated by income.

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**Author:** ![Andlaust](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/andlaust/32/422007_2.png) [@Andlaust](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Andlaust)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 2:30am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/66 "2025-12-20T02:30:34Z")

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> [@Misty\_Dreamscape](#):
>
> Entertainment has always been accessible to people regardless of wealth.

Different levels of wealth have always enabled different types of entertainment.

I can call up the local martial arts trainers and they’d be happy to let me come watch their students spar during their normal class times, but if I pay to go to a UFC fight I’ll see a much better show. The plays on Broadway are (probably) going to be much better show than the plays put on by the local amateur theatre’s Open House night.

In both instances above, the free version is nothing more than an attempt to get me to buy their product. The MA trainer is letting me watch because he wants me to attend his classes. The local theatre troop has free nights because they want people to see what they can do, and maybe attend their regular plays. Along this same vein, Alpha are how CCP gets you in the door to show you what they’re trying to sell you. Nothing more or less.

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**Author:** ![Misty\_Dreamscape](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/misty_dreamscape/32/483092_2.png) [@Misty\_Dreamscape](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Misty_Dreamscape)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 7:39am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/67 "2025-12-20T07:39:52Z")

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> [@Andlaust](#):
>
> Alpha are how CCP gets you in the door to show you what they’re trying to sell you.

That is understood from the get-go. No company does anything for its clients’ blue eyes.  
Also, in Roman times, the games at the Colosseum were the very best there was.

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**Author:** ![Gloria\_Exercitus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/gloria_exercitus/32/509735_2.png) [@Gloria\_Exercitus](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Gloria_Exercitus)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 12:14pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/68 "2025-12-20T12:14:43Z")

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> [@Misty\_Dreamscape](#):
>
> Alpha players aren’t “freeloaders”; they are future subscribers, content generators, targets, allies, rivals, and audience. A sandbox without newcomers doesn’t become elite—it becomes stagnant. If anything, alphas keep space alive while deciding whether EVE is worth committing to long-term.

But a huge number of Alpha players _are_ long term. That’s the point. I know people who have been Alpha for years.

It’s one thing having Alpha available as a ‘free trial’ for a few weeks. It’s quite another when a considerable portion start using it as the ONLY status they will ever have…and on top of that start demanding additional privileges for being Alpha. ‘Freeloaders’ _is_ the perfect description for such…for ultimately us paying players are the ones footing the bill and keeping the lights on.

The whole argument about Alphas keeping space alive is a dishonest one, as these people could keep space alive _and_ pay for it. Its not mutually exclusive !

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**Author:** ![Misty\_Dreamscape](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/misty_dreamscape/32/483092_2.png) [@Misty\_Dreamscape](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Misty_Dreamscape)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 12:27pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/69 "2025-12-20T12:27:14Z")

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That would then be an issue for CCP, not the players. It’s CCP that decided to have Alpha clones, not the players. I don’t really see why you blame the players for something that CCP has engineered.

I understand your argument and I tend to agree but I think it’s very mean to call a player “freeloader” when the company has made it possible to play for free.

That’s all I will say about it.

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**Author:** ![Andlaust](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/andlaust/32/422007_2.png) [@Andlaust](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Andlaust)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 2:54pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/70 "2025-12-20T14:54:39Z")

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By your logic, homeless people aren’t freeloaders, because there are places where people have made it possible to eat and sleep for free.

But let’s look at this a different way. What do _ **you** _ call someone who enters a business with no intention to buy anything, and is only there to get whatever the company is giving away for free? You certainly don’t call them a customer.

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**Author:** ![Misty\_Dreamscape](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/misty_dreamscape/32/483092_2.png) [@Misty\_Dreamscape](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Misty_Dreamscape)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 3:14pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/71 "2025-12-20T15:14:18Z")

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> [@Andlaust](#):
>
> By your logic, homeless people aren’t freeloaders, because there are places where people have made it possible to eat and sleep for free

That’s right, homeless people aren’t freeloaders because those accommodations were made available _especially_ for them. I know it’s hard to imagine but there is such a verb as _to give_ and give to the poor is called charity – another foreign concept.  
I know that for some people money is the greatest thing in the world, but for some others it’s not money, it can be charity, the Arts, Love, Nature, Animals…

> [@Andlaust](#):
>
> But let’s look at this a different way. What do _ **you** _ call someone who enters a business with no intention to buy anything, and is only there to get whatever the company is giving away for free? You certainly don’t call them a customer

I worked in several stores, from grocery to hardware stores and everytime I needed to label someone that wasn’t part of the staff I used the word “customer”, even if he/she was simply there for information or for a complaint.  
I can stipulate that I’m totally wrong on the whole thing but my last post isn’t wrong:

> [@Misty\_Dreamscape](#):
>
> I think it’s very mean to call a player “freeloader” when the company has made it possible to play for free

CCP did come up with Alpha clones, nobody else did so the complaints should be directed at CCP and not insults at the Alphas.

And FYI, I am paying for Omega so just the fact I paid I’m not a freeloaders? What about Ship Replacement Program? Is that welfare or wages?

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**Author:** ![Gloria\_Exercitus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/gloria_exercitus/32/509735_2.png) [@Gloria\_Exercitus](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Gloria_Exercitus)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/72 "2025-12-20T16:39:25Z")

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> [@Misty\_Dreamscape](#):
>
> What about Ship Replacement Program? Is that welfare or wages?

Corporations don’t provide SRP out of the milk of human kindness. Most noobs in fleets, and even some non-noobs, are basically cannon fodder in battles. Your ship is replaced because they need you for the _next_ battle.

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**Author:** ![Andlaust](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/andlaust/32/422007_2.png) [@Andlaust](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Andlaust)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/73 "2025-12-20T16:53:27Z")

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Alphas contribute nothing to the system. They compete in game for resources paying players could use, reducing availability and increasing prices. Meanwhile, those same paying players they’re competing with are literally paying to provide the arena for that competition.

If that’s not freeloading, what is it?

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**Author:** ![Geo\_Eclipse\_Oksaras](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/geo_eclipse_oksaras/32/500781_2.png) [@Geo\_Eclipse\_Oksaras](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Geo_Eclipse_Oksaras)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 5:16pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/74 "2025-12-20T17:16:29Z")

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> [@Misty\_Dreamscape](#):
>
> customer

instead of that word a lot of places anymore use “guest” thats typically the word i use anymore… unless they visit where i work then its “patient”.

previous places i worked, instead of “guest” we also used “client” when they got a membership.

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**Author:** ![Misty\_Dreamscape](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/misty_dreamscape/32/483092_2.png) [@Misty\_Dreamscape](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Misty_Dreamscape)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 5:19pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/75 "2025-12-20T17:19:34Z")

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> [@Gloria\_Exercitus](#):
>
> Corporations don’t provide SRP out of the milk of human kindness. Most noobs in fleets, and even some non-noobs, are basically cannon fodder in battles. Your ship is replaced because they need you for the _next_ battle.

It’s purely for profit, got it.

> [@Andlaust](#):
>
> If that’s not freeloading, what is it?

It’s a way for CCP to show off their game to anyone who’s curious about it. Some people might stay and some may leave.  
Furthermore, the resources that Alpha players “take” from Omegas, they are CCP’s, everything on that server is property of CCP. Omega don’t pay for the ships, the loot, nothing. It pays for _time_ and abilities – skills to use the Omega items, that are also property of CCP.

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**Author:** ![Andlaust](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/andlaust/32/422007_2.png) [@Andlaust](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Andlaust)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/76 "2025-12-20T17:21:31Z")

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> [@Misty\_Dreamscape](#):
>
> Furthermore, the resources that Alpha players “take” from Omegas

Are also dev time and server resources.

There could be less tidi and more content if CCP didn’t have to cater to whiny Alphas always demanding more free sh!t.

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**Author:** ![Misty\_Dreamscape](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/misty_dreamscape/32/483092_2.png) [@Misty\_Dreamscape](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Misty_Dreamscape)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/77 "2025-12-20T17:23:37Z")

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> [@Andlaust](#):
>
> There could be less tidi and more content if CCP didn’t have to cater to whiny Alphas always demanding more free sh!t

There is no proof that the whiners are Alpha or Omega.

As for developer time and resources, they work for CCP and it wants Alphas in the game… for now.

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**Author:** ![Andlaust](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/andlaust/32/422007_2.png) [@Andlaust](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Andlaust)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/78 "2025-12-20T17:24:51Z")

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> [@Misty\_Dreamscape](#):
>
> As for developer time and resources, they work for CCP and it wants Alphas in the game… for now.

Cool, then we can leave that to CCP and end this thread.

After all, you’re going to be right as long as you can point to the fact that CCP makes the final decision.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Misty\_Dreamscape](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/misty_dreamscape/32/483092_2.png) [@Misty\_Dreamscape](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Misty_Dreamscape)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/79 "2025-12-20T17:27:38Z")

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> [@Andlaust](#):
>
> you’re going to be right as long as you can point to the fact that CCP makes the final decision.

I don’t care about being right. I like to debate and laugh. I have my thoughts – right or wrong – and you have yours. I value your opinion as much as I care for mine and thanks for a good convo.

> [@Andlaust](#):
>
> Cool, then we can leave that to CCP and end this thread

I agree 😀

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/original/3X/4/1/41ec4921cbaca7a6f9ea556e7cc20018461eae5e.png) [@system](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2026, 5:28pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/alpha-clones-a-menace-to-eve/502536/80 "2026-03-20T17:28:07Z")

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