With the Council of Stellar Management (CSM) Elections coming up soon we at EVE NT have contacted all the running candidates who have announced their intentions to run and provided them with a standardised interview template. The goal of this is to give each candidate a set of standard questions for them to respond to with the aim of helping you, the voter, to choose a candidate who best represents you and your play style to CCP. The same questions have been asked of every candidate as to allow easier comparison. The responses posted are unedited and will be published in the run up to the opening of the voting period on February the 29th in the order that they have been received.
Today's candidate is Nikolai Agnon
Please start by giving us a short introduction to who you are and your history within EVE Online. Include how long you have been playing and the groups you have been involved with.
Hey-o! I?m Nikolai Agnon, a director in Dirt ?n? Glitter / Local Is Primary, one of the largest corps/alliances in the Amarr Militia, where I've spent more than half of my time in EVE. Before I found my home in FW, I was the industry director for Scope Works (which has moved on to TISHU), and before that, I was the chief organizer for a hisec PVE corp that dabbled in wormholes and lowsec PVP. I've been playing for a bit over two years, but I've explored most of the gameplay types that EVE has to offer, and can safely say that while I certainly understand the fun that each has to offer, I think lowsec FW and/or piracy will always be my home.
Who would you consider to be your key constituents, who you would best represent within the playerbase?
Quite frankly, anyone who lives in lowsec, as well as hisec players who understand that some risks are acceptable, I consider to be one of my constituents. This includes militia corps and alliances, pirate gangs, miners seeking better yield for their fleet ops, and even mission runners who want to push for that extra isk/hr and are willing to go that extra mile, take that extra risk, get that hazard pay. If you want space to be more exciting and rewarding, even if you aren't personally interested in spaceship violence, I?m your guy. And if you?re a resident of sov null, and you'd like lowsec to be a viable vacation from time to time, I?m your guy too!
Please summarise your platform. (Preferably using key bullet points)
- Improvements to FW
- Lowsec content options out the wazoo
- Increased value for lowsec PVE (missions, mining, trade buffs to non-FW lowsec)
- CREST/XML coverage for just about everything currently visible from inside a station
Why have you decided to run for CSM this year?
I aim to help Make Lowsec Great Again, plain and simple. I feel it's been underrepresented by comparison to sov null and hisec, and with Sugar deciding not to run, one of the few voices we had is leaving CSM. I see problems, I see low long-term player retention in FW, I see vacancy in the immersion department.
?We?re not winning right now. Null is winning, hisec is winning, wormholes ar? nevermind them, but we?re not winning. We used to win, but we aren't winning any longer. Vote for me, and we can start winning again.?
Have you run for or been a member of CSM in the past? If so please list each year and if you were elected.
There's a first time for everything.
What makes you a unique representative when you compare yourself to other candidates?
There are only a handful of lowsec-centric candidates, and even fewer that play an active leadership role in FW, which sees a constant influx of new players. FW is without a doubt the easiest way for new players to consistently experience PVP, with the low barrier-to-entry (both ISK and SP). As a (current) director in Local Is Primary, I?m personally responsible, at least in part, for making sure hundreds of new players in my militia have the tools, direction, and leadership they need to enjoy this game.
I?m running for office because I recognize weaknesses in lowsec that negatively impact players of all levels of experience. I feel I have the experience necessary to be able to help CCP simultaneously lower the barrier of entry and raise the ceiling of capacity of exciting lowsec gameplay.
Do you have any out of game experience and skills that make you a good candidate?
When I was young, my father once told me I?m terrible at lying, ?which is a good trait to have.? I've tried the EVE spy-game a couple of times, but never could get anywhere, not out of incompetence, but rather conviction. Even my enemies play the same game as I, and while I fully appreciate the contributions and exciting gameplay elements that spies bring to EVE (same with scammers, awoxers, and many other roles), I don't think I?ll ever be capable of acting with the sole intention of ruining somebody else's enjoyment of this game.
What areas of EVE are you weakest at knowledge wise?
As I mentioned in my CSM candidacy announcement thread, I've dabbled in nearly every type of gameplay. I think the only things I haven't personally sunk time into are incursions and high-end wormholes, both of which I do plan to remedy at some point.
If you was offered one year of unlimited development time - what's the biggest change you would lobby for in EVE?
I would overhaul lowsec. FW LS would be more exciting for participants and feel more warzone-like, and non-FW LS would have better rewards and gameplay elements for daring entrepreneurs - as well as for old-school pirates hunting that delicious booty, without necessarily having to be the top dogs of PVP. At the moment, I feel lowsec everywhere needs improvement.
If you could wind back the clock - what feature or change would you remove from EVE?
I want my old Crucifier hull back. Ewar ships ought to look flimsy, fragile, and eccentric, like the Maulus, Vigil, and Griffin hulls.
If you could pick one candidate to be elected with you, who would they be and why?
A tough choice between Hyde and Edeity. Both of these folks have good heads on their shoulders, and Hyde certainly knows how to call CCP out on their latest trend in frigate conspiracy. Edeity has been a long time player in the FW community though, flies almost exclusively solo, and knows ship balance better than any other player I know.
What is your favourite memory in EVE and why?
Without a doubt, my favorite memories were as a new player, when everything was new, I had no idea what I was doing, and the FC was drunk on comms, screaming obscenities at the bad guys. Not knowing what you?re doing but having fun doing it is a great new player experience. Now that I?m not exactly a new player, the next best thing I can do is help others have the best experience possible, which is just as rewarding by itself.
What platform(s) do you use currently to engage with the wider player base? If someone wanted to contact you what is the best way to do this? (Include Twitter/Emails/Skype/Slack etc.)
The easiest ways to reach me are via evemail (Nikolai Agnon), via email (nikagnon@gmail.com), or via Skype (mr13887513). I?m occasionally on TweetFleet Slack as well, but the archiving system likes eating private correspondence. I promise, I?m not ignoring you if I don't respond right away!
If people wanted to find out more about your platform - where is the best place to do so? (Include blogs, forums posts and podcasts)
The best way to read up on my views is on my campaign thread. I've laid out details on my entire campaign and what my vision for lowsec and balance consists of.
I've also established the in-game channel ?Nik-4-CSM?, where you can reach me more casually in-game. Feel free to come by, ask questions, and hang out!
In short - what is your closing statement (no more than 500 words please!)
I?m the best candidate on the CSM XI ballot this year when it comes to advocating for improvements to the lowsec lifestyle. Join my in-game channel, post on my thread, tell your friends. Spread it around like wildfire! Help Make Lowsec Great Again!
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