Ankh Lai for CSM 20 - Still wanting to revitalize the NPE

My EVE Story

I joined EVE in 2021 after years of reading the crazy headlines about scams, betrayals, and thousand-ship battles. Like most rookies, I got lost fast. Missions were slow, ISK was slower, and my first PvP attempt ended in a gloriously terrible Stabber fit that lasted about 30 seconds.

That could have been the end of my EVE story. But a training corp reached out, gave me direction, and kept me flying. From there I explored nullsec life, joined big alliances, took part in wars, and eventually made my way back to high-sec where I now run my own training corp and FC public fleets.

I’ve been a lost rookie, a nullsec line member, alliance director, a fleet commander, and now a teacher. That mix means I understand not just the struggles of new players, but how their presence fuels the whole game.

Areas of Expertise

  • New Player Experience & Retention: I work with rookies daily and know what makes them stay, or quit.

  • Nullsec Background: I’ve seen firsthand how fresh blood keeps alliances alive and makes wars possible. More new players = more fleets, more markets, more politics, more fun for everyone.

  • Community Building: I’ve helped players bridge from “what’s a warp scrambler?” to “how do I anchor a fleet?”

What sets me apart? I still remember exactly how confusing EVE is at the start, but I also know how much value those rookies bring to every corner of the game when they’re supported properly.

Why I’m Running

EVE doesn’t have a problem getting players, it has a problem keeping them. CCP’s trailers bring people in, but too many vanish after their first few weeks.

I’m running for CSM because I believe the solution isn’t a giant scripted tutorial, it’s making sure new players can find communities that teach, inspire, and integrate them into the sandbox. More new players sticking around means:

  • More pilots in nullsec wars

  • More activity in lowsec piracy and faction warfare

  • More haulers, miners, and industrialists driving the economy

  • More FCs, CEOs, and future leaders shaping EVE’s stories

Retention isn’t just for rookies, it’s the health of the whole game.

What I’d Champion on the CSM

  • Insurance: Rebalance so new players can lose ships and learn without being ruined.

  • Fair ISK Paths: Opportunities for low-SP pilots to fund their fun without endless grind.

  • Epic Arcs: More accessible arcs to introduce players to EVE’s variety early on.

  • Corp Visibility: Make genuine training/new player corps easier to find, not buried under mass-recruit spam.

What Players Can Expect From Me

  • A voice dedicated to improving retention and community pathways.

  • Practical, down-to-earth ideas shaped by both nullsec and high-sec training experience.

  • Approachability, I already spend my time helping rookies, I’ll do the same on CSM.

  • A focus on how changes impact all of EVE, not just one part of space.

Closing

I nearly quit after my first PvP loss. A community saved me, and since then, I’ve seen how vital new players are to every part of EVE. Whether you live in nullsec, lowsec, wormholes, or high-sec, we all benefit from a stronger flow of rookies sticking around.

EVE thrives when its players stay. I want to make sure CCP helps every new capsuleer find their place, so the whole game can grow.

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