Democracy is the worst form of selecting player representatives, except for all the others.

I have a plan.

• I love the idea of player representation bringing ideas, thoughts and fears to CCP.  
• We know in huge groups there is a low 'signal to noise' ratio.  Somewhere between 10 and 20 people still make a very large group on a day to day basis, but we probably need this many pilots to represent diverse groups
• CCP should talk to this group 'in confidence'.  Nothing earth shattering if it gets leaked, but still sanctionable if someone should step too far out of line.  It doesn't matter the game, there is always the 'but you promised me a pony' crowd to upset.  Making a pony is hard, and not all attempts work out.
• The largest groups in the game should have people stand up to represent them.  Some of these groups are called 'bears', others have less savoury names.
• Democracy is a the worst way to elect representatives, except for all the others.  (Well, you could vote me in as benevolent dictator, but I am not entirely sure I would return the favour)

If other players see the value in such an organisation, they should support it, and support the candidates.  I know that such an event will be work, and tempers will be exposed, and sometimes people will get inappropriately passionate about this game.  I still support such a body.

Some are even asking that the 85% be represented on such a body.

I might even call this body the Council of Stellar Management.  However the name is unimportant. The number of seats or length of service are also less important than giving the feedback.

I ran for CSM.  Other very worthy highsec and lowsec candidates of various stripes spring to mind. Steve of course who was elected.  I thought other candidates here were also worthy; ranging from bear though lowsec pirate, all the way to highsec wardeccer.

High and lowsec had an opportunity to have more voices.  My initial response to seeing this year's representation was ... to use an eve phrase: salty.  I would love to see a wider representation this year's CSM, and I suspect CCP would too.  If you want a better representation, promote the best candidate you see, or even better run for yourself.

Sorry Rixx, if you read this, reserving votes for some sections of the game won't work.  I might prefer different results for the CSM, but highsec has 85% of the population, and lowsec has been well represented in the past.  Carving off quota's either ends up where 3% of the voters get 30% of the representatives, or it ends up being meta-gamed into pointlessness.  I do endorse one thing though:
In addition CCP needs to help bring the election to the game itself. An active and participatory player base is good for everyone. So I'd like to see more log-in screen support, in-game notifications, billboard and hangar ads, etc., next year.  I want voting for player representing groups to be an 'in game' activity.


Highsec, lowsec and even WH groups can be motivated, and it is up to the bloggers, the FC's, alliance leads and redditors, even the forum posters.  This is a sandbox.  Go build a castle and put 'eve is great' advertising on it.

I want contstructive criticism of the CSM and CCP.  Shine a light on interesting decisions.  There is a however a difference between 'this group can't be all things to all people' and 'all player representation is evil'.  I don't even care if commentators on EVE get it right, as usually even the worst critic's have an element of truth.  If you claim that someone/something will get an unreasonable nerf or buff, you may be right.  If you claim that the sky is going to fall because of it, I want to see compelling evidence.

Where the opportunity exists for me to affect the game in a positive way in the future, I will endeavour to take it.  This includes my blog, and my time, and using the contacts I have made through this CSM attempt.

As usual, I will do what I can, with what I have, where I am.






P.S.  The last few years, CSM released the STV results themselves.  I have not seen them this year.  I would like to peruse those particular tea leaves if anyone has the link.

CSM XI campaign retrospective

Now that CSM voting is over, here are some of my thoughts about what I did and didn't do during the campaign.

I probably have more freedom to speak now than I do at any other stage.  Voting is complete so I dont need to worry about picking up or even losing votes.  Results are not in so less accusations of vindictive victory or bitter loss.

Application

I had formally applied applied to join CSM at the start of the official nominations period, but the submission form didn't 'feel right'.  I was expecting some form of confirmation that my candidacy had been received but I got nothing.  I reached out to a couple of existing CSM reps but was told that this was normal not to know.  You are only 'allowed' to apply once.

When I sent my passport photo in, I reapplied, and sent an explanatory note to the csm contact email that was published.  I evemailed CCP Leeloo I still did not get any feedback.

Towards the end of the nomination period, I sent a copy of my application to the contact email address.

When the nomination period closed, I got an email from CCP saying ... you application has been accepted, but can you re-apply on the website.  There was apparently a timeout issue on the website where if you took too long to fill in details

Doing the chase up work that I did was the difference between being accepted and not being accepted.

Interviews

I jumped on the  Cap Stable CSM Watch interviews very early, getting a time that suited.  I listened to some of their earlier podcasts to get an idea of what questions they were asking.  This research worked well for me, and my interview received good reviews.

I contacted Nosy Gamer about  https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire  and ensured my spot was up to date.

I answered the Eve NT http://www.eve-nt.uk/tag/csmxi/ questions.

I contacted (very late in the piece) Eve Guardian http://www.eve-guardian.net/article/22/csm-behind-the-platforms-dotoo-foo

Due to some confusion about my application (see above), I chased up Eve-Match http://match.eve-csm.com/  Eve Match is not available to be updated until the nomination period is finished, and put aside a couple of hours to fill in their questionnaire.

I did not chase up enough interview options.  I should have sorted out months in advance for various podcasts and bloggers for blog posts and nominations.

There was one prolific and somewhat caustic blogger that I spent too long trying to persuade to change his stance.  Hopefully I persuaded some undecided readers on that blog to vote for CSM.  I should have spent this time elsewhere.

Getting my name out there to friendly audiences

Before the CSM period started, I made sure I had more blog posts.  People come to blogs to read new material.  Hopefully it is good reading (daily posts are even better).  With lots of postings, players get a feel for what type of player I am, and if you are reading regularly, you can not help but have some empathy for the writer, even those you disagree with.

I re-titled my PI spreadsheet to ... beg for votes (no other word for it really)

My POS were renamed to something along the line of Vote for DoToo Foo.  The nullsec output that I had naming rights on, we renamed.  However, you can not use the words CSM in an outpost name so we used the word elections instead.

I spammed alliance and the Foo corps.

I even manually grabbed pilot names from zkillboard in wormhole space. ( eg https://zkillboard.com/api/kills/w-space/page/2/xml for the second page of kills) and spammed them.  This got some interesting responses to the effect of:

• Hey man, I already voted for you.  Love your PI spreadsheet.
• I can not vote for someone who's name sounds like a sneeze
• I am less likey to vote for you now (from a serious hunter corp that was not likely to vote for me anyway)
• Who are you, what is CSM, and why should I care?

I contacted some no longer actively playing alt-a-lots to vote for me.  Hopefully I got some votes there.

Our nullsec alliance leader spam friendly alliances.

I should have spent more time going through my email and conversation histories, and spamming everyone that I have ever spoken to.

I should have spent more time finding out the names of groups that play similarly to myself.  Zkillboard Epithal losses would be a great place to start.

I should have contacted every blogger on my blog role, active and inactive.

I finally got onto tweetfleet slack as well as on anoikis.slack.com for wormhole groups.

Cross endorsement

I spent some time blogging about the importance of this before the official nominatio period, and did some work, but should have spent more time teaching the other candidates about it's importance, and getting their official endorsements.

Slack was a good place to catch up with other candidates, where we sought cross-endorsement.

Time

I did well by handing over most wormhole responsibilities to other corp members.  I probably did not give enough support one one or two members but I only have so much time.

I picked up too many responsibilities in nullsec, but when first life illness intervenes with existing leadership, someone has to step up.

I also know that other candidates were feeling a little election weary by the time the period ended.

I only have so much time to go around.  The karma of this is that if I feel I should have spent more time campaigning, then I probably will feel I should spend more time on CSM.  I still spent more effort than many others.

So will I get in and when do we find out?

To be honest, I feel I am an outside chance for this run, and in at least Australian political terms, I am claiming underdog.  This is politician speech for 'I really hope I will get in but don't allows me to save face if I don't'.

I have laid the groundwork for next year's run and some pilots that didn't know me before now do.

In many ways however, CSM is a loud voice for taking our concerns to CCP, but it is only one (well 14) of many different voices.  I am still going to blog, sometimes more than others.  I now lurk where I know at least some devs also lurk, so will be able to poke and prod.

For now, situation normal (all fouled up?).  Some other blogs to write - especially about citadels and what I will and won't use them for (hint : not highsec or nullsec markets), Apparently some wars to fight (and if you want space in null, now is the time.  Recruiting for both PVE and PVP, in both wormholes and null.)

The big reveal is 21 April 2016 at Fanfest.  Then we can all find out together.

Probably final recommendation for CSMXI

Finally I have my recommendation list.
The easiest way to use my recommendation list is to log into https://community.eveonline.com

Then click  this sorted list of candidates

If you have done this in order, you will get my recommendations at the top of your list.


This list contains:

• DoToo Foo,
• Steve Ronuken,
• Lorelei Ierendi,
• Erika Mizune,
• Diana Olympos,
• Joffy aulx-gao,
• Borat Guereen,
• Tora Bushido,
• Niko Lorenzio,
• Commander Aze,
• Viceran Phaedra,
• Brodit,
• Apothne,
• Petrified

I encourage you to vote once for every active eve account that you have.

I have updated yesterday's post with my final 4 recommendations.

If you want to do some of your own research, look at the last couple of posts and look at http://foo-eve.blogspot.com.au/p/csm-xi.html for a list of resources I have used.


Vote early.
Vote often.

Edit: I have changed one of my lower ranked recommendations due to a reach out from some other wormhole residents.

CSM recommendations

Firstly, there are a set of resources at http://foo-eve.blogspot.com.au/p/csm-xi.html for you to do your own research.

There are other lists out there, and I will add them to my page above as I find them.

Most of my candidates will be listed the same resources that I read.

Here is my candidate shortlist, biases included.  It is nearly completed, but I have another pass to do.

DoToo Foo
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/dotoo-foo
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=216
Who else could be at the top of this list?

Steve Ronuken.
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/steve-ronuken
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=169
Third party apps specialist

Lorelei Ierendi
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/lorelei-ierendi
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=193
Highsec bear asking but acknowledging ganking.  Asking for a chance to get away (rather than binary every time / none of the time that most highsec ask for)

Erika Mizune
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/erika-mizune
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=170
Nullsec industrialist.  Just found her blog and the first post was about PI.  What isn't to like?

Diana Olympos
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/diana-olympus
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=199
Previously Phoebe Freeport Republic and now nullsec mercenary.

Joffy Aulx-Gao
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/joffy-aulx-gao
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=212
Lowsec PVP

Tora Bushido
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/tora-bushido
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=209
Yes, marmites.  Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.  Tora is aware of the problems with highsec wardecs and ganking and ... just maybe the pilot to make wardecs and ganking less one sided in nature.

Niko Lorenzio
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=206
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/niko-lorenzio
Long term player, long enough to have lived in many spaces.

Commander Aze

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/commander-aze
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=174
Industry, yet also highsec waredec.

Borat Guereen
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/borat-guereen
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=184
Solo PVP

And this makes 10.

For those eager to vote now, feel free to follow these recommendations.

There are worthy candidates not on my list.
If a candidate are not on both CSM wire and Eve match with a profile then it is harder for me to recommend them.
If a candidate is a joke candidate, or belongs to a group that exists to make others bend the knee, then it is also harder for me to recommend them.

You will also note that I have recommended candidates not commonly known for any support of the placid bear lifestyle.  (I prefer my bears with teeth and claws and a defensive reflex).

These restrictions will mean I have missed otherwise good candidates.  If you are sympathetic to Pandemic Legion, then some of their candidates are getting good recommendations elsewhere.

I will be looking again at CSM match  (plus reading Mike Azariah and Jackob  for the remainder of their analysis) to fill out to 14.  I will especially be having another look for more WH candidates.
For the audio inclined, http://csmwatch.com/csm11-interviews/ is also a good place.



Edit: updated with the final 4
Viceran Phaedra
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/viceran-phaedra
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=164 but is empty  Did do a CSM match interview.
Wormhole

Noobman
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/noobman
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=176
Wormhole (C5/C6 Hard knocks) 

Apothne
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/apothne
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=196
On the back of Jeff Kione's and Mike Azariah's recommendations

Petrified
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/petrified
http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=190
Null (now lowsec?) independent group.

CSM Match

http://match.eve-csm.com/candidates.php is a website listing who the CSM candidates are going to be ( I think ).

I know that CCP passed my candidacy onto Eve match directly (a story in itself for another day)

So, I think there are 51 candidates for 14 positions.

Just cross referencing that list with Nosy Gamer's https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/

I can not find Capri Sun Kraftfoods on CSM match though that campaign thread is still open.

Neither can I find a CSM match page for Rivver and her thread is still open.

Sapporo Jones is on CSM match however and I can't find his name on CSM wire yet

I have poked Nosy with this information to do as he sees fit.


Most pilots have added some information to CSM the match website.  To fill in all the details was more time consuming than I expected. Some 70 questions to answer, and most of them.  If a pilot has not answered any questions on CSM watch, I assume they are already very confident of their election result and may not need any more promotion by me either.


I am further behind in where I want to be for my own research on candidates (first life and eve life combining to create even less sleep opportunities), but do what you can with what you have.


I have moved some pilots from the previous post's consider list to a new 'not on CSM wire or CSM match' section.

In addition to Steve Ronuken I will also be endorsing Borat Gureen http://match.eve-csm.com/candidate.php?id=184 , and Joffy Alux-Gao ( https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=448664&find=unread ).  I will produce a 14 candidate list very soon, but wanted to call these 2 additional pilots out as I both respect their platforms (even if I do not 100% agree) and they have been kind enough to let me know I am on their recommended pilots list.

I expect my full list Tuesday or Wednesday downtime - later than it should be but I hear there is another downtime tomorrow when I would otherwise be on.

CSM candidate investigation part 1

Like almost everyone out there, I know about me and my group, and far less about others.  I am further behind in this than I would like to be, and I am running as a candidate.

With the CSM voting, in order to make the best I can of my vote, I would like to have 13 other candidates I would like to endorse (because I obviously am going to recommend myself for first spot).

Initially I want a site to make life easier for me. https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election has done a lot of the work.  It is missing some pilots and updates, and that is entirely OK. My research will also miss pilots as well.

If you want me to consider a candidate sooner than later, leave a comment, or as always, evemail DoToo Foo.

I have a blacklist approach to the candidates

• Do not obviously target smaller organisations for not bending the knee.  Indiscriminate targeting is OK.  Deliberately taking territory for own use is also OK. Large block candidates will already be well represented.
• Do not be a 'joke candidate'.  Reform agendas are ok.  Having a bit of fun is OK, but I want candidates to work for how they think Eve should be

Then I have a whitelist.

• Be both passionate and intelligent about how you want Eve to look.  I do not need to agree with the view point ( I like warp core stabs but will support gankers and PVP candidates )

I am looking for something to show some effort.  http://foo-eve.blogspot.com.au/p/csm-xi.html lists some CSM resources.  I want to see that a candidate is somewhere out there.

I will have made mistakes below, and surely have missed or mis-categorised someone.  I need to cross reference the CSM wire list to the candidate list.

This is a living document, and will change as I do my investigation. 

Endorsed

To be advised

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/steve-ronuken
If you use any third party apps, Evemon, Pyfa, Eve Central, Pirates little helper, Tripwire, siggy, then you want Steve on the CSM.

Worth a second look

I need to cut this list down soon.

Diana Olympos
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/diana-olympus
Phoebe Freeport Republic.

https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=6345704#post6345704

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/borat-guereen
Lone wolf / small group hunter ?

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/capri-sun-kraftfoods
Maybe. Not on Eve Match.


https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/commander-aze
maybe.



https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/erika-mizune
Industry


https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/harry-saq

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/jin-taan
Provibloc?

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/joffy-aulx-gao
Lowsec, endorsed by Eveoganda. 


https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/lorelei-ierendi
Highsec
Asking for a chance to survive a gank.  Wants tutorials to include dscan skills.


https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/mr-hyde113
Solo PVPer



https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/nashh-kadavr
Lowsec

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/nikolai-agnon
Faction warfare

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/noobman
c5 pilot is good
PL ... not so much.  Hard Knocks has been accused of being a renter empire.  I need to investigate more.


https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/sullen-decimus
wormhole


https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/the-judge
Circle of two ... I need to do more research

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/toxic-yaken
maybe

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/uriel-paradisi-anteovnuecci

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/vic-jefferson

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/viceran-phaedra

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/xavier-azabu

Pass on these - Large bloc

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/aiwha

Northern Army is a self described NCDot sister corp and a large coalition.

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/apothne

Pandemic Legion.

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/gorski-car
PL, but also therabois / small gang PVP.  CSM XI rep so some continuity.  Almost made it to the second look list



http://evewho.com/pilot/Bilbert+lashlily says Northern Coalition.

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/bobmon
EN24 editor, and I know the effort that goes into it (I was part of it for a while).  Still Pandemic Legion

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/kelmac
NCDOT

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/ko-ahi
While not an official large bloc candidate, his candidacy post encourages you to be a member of a large bloc

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/kyle-aparthos
Mittani Editor

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/wyld
Goonswarm

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/xeno-szenn
Pandemic Legion

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/xenuria
Goonswarm

Insufficient effort

Where is the link to more information?  I have no links to more information.
 
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/penguinizer-illat
https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/trowa-jakuard

Just no

Trolls not required

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/muaythai

Locked threads.  

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/badoodle-squad

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/holeysheet1

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/markus-reese

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/puddsy
Has asked for his candidacy thread to be locked.

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/xiapathos
Has withdrawn his candidacy



Edit: crossed out a couple of players no longer appearing on csm wire or eve match.

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/bilbert-lashlily
CSM wire has no information.

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/bradford-clear
C4 corp

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/chitsa-jason
Wormhole, merc contracts, NPSI, public fleets in WSpace.  Previous candidate re-running.

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/edeity

 https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/lex-arson
Not sure.  This pilot is looking to reverse nullsec changes.

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/nameloading

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/tiger-tesla
Spectre Fleet

https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-11-election/morgan-johnstone
Disability Advocate

Player owned customs offices and possible replacements

What are Customs Offices (commonly known as POCO's) good for?

Poco's are a method of claiming a planet.  If I have a customs office up, that planet is mine, and you may do PI on it at my pleasure.  Foo's pleasure is easy to come by, but when <that other mob> have it, it can be difficult.  You can export without a customs office, but only in small volumes and with generally much higher taxes.

Poco's are a source of taxation for corporations.  The Foo corps generally charge 4-5% tax depending on standing.  Other organsations may charge 15% tax.

Poco's put ships into space to remove.  When someone wants to grind out a customs office, 500 DPS is required to keep up with the shield regeneration, and need to do an additional 14M damage on top of that (link).  This is within the realm of a patient small corp (2 AFK laser Myrmidons can do it slowly), and fairly easy for a large corp.   Both the grinding of POCO and the ganking of the small fleet are content.

They are a PI and ISK sink to manufacture.  When we want to claim a system, and have ground out the old customs offices, it requires both concord LP (for the egg) and a fair amount of PI.  When the next 'would be' owner turns up, the process is repeated.

The hunter can use these as a place to gank the unwary PI farmer.  They are not so good to catch the paranoid PI farmer (link).  Mind you, it is very easy to stop being paranoid and become the hunted.

What are customs offices bad at?

Customs offices are full of old bad legacy code.  Apparently when we get citadels, we get nice new shiny toys, and the customs office interface will be old, tired and cranky.

Opportunities

There is an appetite for changing structures at CCP at the moment.  Some CCP representatives in the tweetfleet Structures and CSM rooms

Should one Citadel be able to access one planet, some or all planets in a system for PI?

Can customs offices be removed from the game, with Citadels replacing this functionality?

Should Citadels be able to interact with the customs offices via NPCs?

PI could additionally be improved in a citadel via rigs or service modules.

Threats

If the customs office functionality is removed from game, will it make it too simple, boring or otherwise prevent pilots from going to space?  This includes the PI ecosystem, farmers, manufacturers,  haulers, gankers and even the occasional real PVP fight .

In my (not so) humble opinion 

Keep the customs office in some form

I like the flag planting that comes from having a customs office.  The ability to say "This is mine", whether it be in highsec or in nullsec is relevant, to control the space around us.  Marmite offered (by threat of wardec) to relieve me of a highsec customs office.  I declined and set up in a 'one wardec - one tiny corp - one customs office' situation.  Marmite have the ability to take it away, but if they want that customs office, they will have to be try hards.

I had previously bought then lost a lowsec customs office empire.  I have fought for customs offices in other areas of space.

Opportunity for disruption.

At the moment PI can be interrupted.  As the hunted, PI collection makes for compelling gameplay, and is far more interesting than clicking the buttons to reset factories, or even the original layout.
As a moderately competent PI farmer, I want my skills and knowledge to mean something.

I would prefer the hunters speak form themselves, but can well imagine the WH solo hunter community outcry if the PI farmers become even safer.

If PI can be collected in the citadel directly from the planet or customs office, then there should be some method of blockading a planet.  Some form of interdiction or siphon unit , say one that takes time to deploy, has a reinforcement timer and requires 1 unit of strontium clathrates per day.  Say this unit can be avoided by flying directly to the planet, or give by using existing launchpad facility with a larger volume (the current volume is too small to be usable). 

I do not mind a griefer blockading a system providing they commit resources.  I do not mind a 2 bit industry corp defending themselves against a lone wolf, or hiring mercs to defend them.  I run a 2 bit industry corp.

I don't really mind what form disruption takes, but there should be the real chance of disruption.

How many planets should a Citadel service?

0? 1? Some? A system?  A constellation?  A Region?

I don't want to have to place 1 citadel per planet.  A customs office is well priced to be an achievable challenge for the new industry corporation (at about 100M).  A system of customs offices is a stretch goal for that same corporation but fairly easy for a large corp. 

A few of  medium citadels per system would be OK.  Maybe a large serving twice the area of a medium?  Or to stop unnecessary replication, maybe a medium citadel could server a system.  These are all options.


Add your two ISK worth as a comment.  One thing some readers of this blog can do is PI.

CSM Summit coming up

https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=6337778#post6337778

It covers the second summit of CSM X.

I wish to cover a few things from it.  (OK,  I seem incapable of few).

Brain in a box : This has been a bigger project than many players will realise, and has nearly had it's desired goal : nobody noticing.  However, I have heard reports of many more pilots piling into systems without soul crushing lag.  It also has laid the framework for on grid links which some will love and those with off grid boosters will probably hate.

Capital Ships: For those that think that CCP doesn't listen to complaints, please see the backflip on using carrier skills for both Force Auxilleries and existing Triage Carriers.

Project Discovery (the new science project). I have not done any of this.  I was reading some comments from those doing it in the test servers, and some concerns that it was more a test of getting the mob guesses quickly rather than the correct results.  I am sure that this can be tweaked by review later, and adjusting the rewards for those getting correct results rather than common results.

Nullsec and Sov.  While entosis links are a maligned mechanic, I still endorse a bit of trolling here and there.  Troll mechanics is what keeps the largest groups from claiming unused empty space.  Please allow trolling  (or ambit claims) on at least unused systems.

In regard to ship balance, fits and ships will come and go.  I am well aware that pilots train into the flavour of the day,  small nerf will make pilots grumpy, but as it is where their skills are in these ships, they will continue to be flown after small nerfs.

Players seem to love events and new content (eg Frostline).  These are worth continuing.  Seasonal events with even dropping only vanity items seem to be a popular event.  (I say this second hand as I have not flown many)

Wormholes are near and dear to my heart.  Citadels are coming, good.  They will drop loot when destroyed, also good.  Currently POS only provide contents killboard information (and maybe loot drops?) based on what is in SMA's and not on the contents of corp hangers, assembly and research arrays. This was hard earned knowledge due to an exceptionally expensive failure on my behalf.  Will citadels drop only ships, or will they also drop contents of personal hangers or corporate offices? 

What I am concerned about is reading that Citadels may not provide contract ability at first.  The ability to move items between pilots not currently in the same corp is important.  Currently I use freight containers sitting in the POS forcefield.  As contracts are not easy (or they would have already been done), are citadels replacing one set of 'legacy problems' with another set of problems.  Or are they really 'coming soon'?

I have already said that I feel Citadels dropping loot to be a good thing.  However, with wormhole citadels having both a shorter 'grind down' window, and dropping at least some loot (instead of magical fairies taking both time and ISK to whisk treasured possessions to safety), I would like to see some other offsets for users of citadels in wormhole space.

For the new player experience, I would like to ensure the ability (on singularity at least) to be able to run the new starter missions.  Maybe I can and don't know it.

I love the new Eve launcher.  Players are still having problems copying old settings to the new settings.  Also, at one point I could log into one account and have all 4 appear.  Since the recent purge I can not do so any more.  I don't know how I set it up before so can't repeat it.

Crest.  Steve had good results with the CREST market browser.  I can't repeat it, but that might be my PC's setup.  https://twitter.com/evernusproject/status/696415727536992256 has some things of concern.  I also think that pilots should be encouraged to use bug reports where there are errors.

Finally, I note who is attending and who is not.  Combined with known grumbling from various quarters and a change in staff from CCP, it ... appears that CSM X has not been a happy place.  Those that think that CSM is the tool of any given player group should take note.

Cap stable interview and review

I have just listened to the Cap Stable review of my interview with them.

The review was at http://csmwatch.com/2016/01/26/csm-11-show-2/  , http://cdn.capstable.net/csmwatch/episodes/csmwatch_csmxi_analysis_002.mp3  starting at 31:58 for my review.

The original interview is at http://csmwatch.com/2016/01/19/csm-11-candidate-interview-dotoo-foo/

I was fine for the interview.  I did some of my homework, including listening to previous interviews from last year. I am an OK public speaker, though not as good as I should be given my training (an accredited coach for an public speaking organisation - Rostrum Australia).

I did have fun in the interview.

After the interview, I was shattered.  Some comments saying I did well.  Other comments saying not as well as I could have. I was too afraid to listen to my interview.

Listening to the CSM Watch review of interviews, I feel a lot better.  Thanks.


A couple of points that came up in the review. 

I do not have a large bloc behind me.  I will need you the reader of this blog to help get my name out there.  I will turn up to the opening of an envelope.  I will talk to any group, large or small.  Industry or PVP.

If you like my blog or even the odd post, please share it.  Hell, recognition is good, so even if you don't still share it.

In terms of talking to developers, yes, I will be able to talk their language. I have two first life 9-5 titles :  Senior Business Systems Analyst, and Release Manager, with previous titles of Analyst / Programmer.  I know how to talk to developers.  (With my current roles, they don't always like what I have to say, but that is a different conversation).

Anyway, thanks to the guys at Cap Stable.  If anyone would like to ping me, my contact details are here

Single Transferable Vote : The voting method of CSM and how to take advantage of it.

This is a post for those interested one method that CCP uses to get player feedback.

The council that represents players to CCP (the makers of our fine and sometimes frustrating game) is called the Council of Stellar Management, or CSM.

14 players are elected by players to this council via a Single Transferable Vote: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_transferable_vote

Confusing words for many, by at its heart, this is a voting method to ensure that the population can get a group that we are happy with to represent you, or failing that, at least someone we can live with. If your preferred candidate fails, your vote is moved to your next preferred candidate. If your preferred candidate is chosen by more than enough, a portion of the vote is also transferred to your next candidate.

You will get to choose up to 14 candidates.

Under this method, each and every candidate that is elected must get 1/14'th of the remaining vote, or just over 7%.  Based on previous voting numbers, this equates to roughly 3000 votes.

If you are a candidate, with STV voting it is in your interest to form a ticket with other like minded candidates.  Put yourself at the top of your ticket, but encourage others to give preferences to other like minded candidates.  

And of course encourage other like minded candidates to do the same.  (Self interest acknowledged)

If you are a voter (and all candidates are eligible to be voters), then in a few months time, vote.  Also get all others you interact with to vote as well.  This includes alt accounts.  If you have 5 active accounts you are allowed (and even encouraged) to vote 5 times.

With many approximations, (and apologies to STV purists) when the voting is done the process looks something like this.

1. Sum up everyone's top preference.  
2. Any candidate with more than a 'quota' (let's say 3000 votes) is elected. 
1. Remove the elected candidate from getting any more votes.
2. Remove the consumed votes.
3. Surplus votes are available for later preferences.
3. If no one was elected at step 2, 
1. Remove the candidate with the least amount of votes.
2. These votes are available for later preferences
4. If 14 candidates have not been elected yet, sum up all remaining votes and goto step 2.

STV has some differences from other voting methods.

• If your 'group' has enough votes for over 2 candidates, your group will get 2 candidates and influence the election of a 3rd.
• If there are 2 similar candidates each with nearly enough votes, one of these will (usually) be elected.

Some questions that often get asked of voting in general.

• Q: I have 1 vote, a candidate needs 3000 votes, mine doesn't matter.  
• A: Far fewer votes than this seperate the last seat. 80 votes for CSM 9. and approximately 280 votes for CSM 10.  Plenty of elections come down to just a handful
• Q: What's the deal with the last candidate?  That guy only got a handful of votes yet got in?
• A: The last elected candidate is often not anyone's first choice but a compromise.  This candidate still gets more 'rough' support than anyone else.  

Some other players will tell you that CCP will only listen to that other large group, and will then argue about what defines that other large group, and then tell you not to vote.  They will then complain that other large group gets all the influence.    Then they tell you CSM has no influence at all.  Or too much influence.  I get confused about that.

Work out who best represents you and vote for them.  Give preferences to other similar candidates. Encourage your associates, corp members, friends in Eve to vote.  If you have multiple alts, vote often.

You will get the candidates you deserve.

It's up to you, the voter, to elect the candidates you want.

What I do in nullsec (trading)

Currently, in game, I am either looking after a (for profit) nullsec market in Oasa, or I am playing with C5 escalation sites.

This post is about my nullsec life, other posts comming soon (tm).

In Oasa, my plan is to be the seller that fills the gaps.  There are some other pilots that are efficient manufacturers of a few things.  However, Oasa is so far from markets, with unreliable jump freighter routes, that there are huge gaps in the market.  I have just trained up my 4th tycoon pilot.  1 pilot does a mix of buying ore and pi items, as is about to start doing invention (probably for ammunition and modules).  The other pilots do

I currently manufacture Tech 1 ammo, modules and hulls.  While many players with access to real markets prefer Tech 2, faction or meta modules, there are sufficient times that any module is better than no module.

Skillbooks are good selling items.  Build a market library and they will come.  There are some skillbooks that all players are automatically gifted with, and they don't sell too well.  Skip these:

• Mechanics,
• CPU management,
• Power Grid Management
• Gunnery
• Navigation
• Mining
• Astrometrics
• Science
• Spaceship Command
• Astronautic Engineering (no use skill)

While a racial frigate and weapon turret skill are handed out to all newbie pilots, there are still other races that will buy these skillbooks.  

In my corner of null, Tech 1 hulls are mostly covered by other players. Gnosis however are still imported and are popular.  Faction and Tech 2/3 hulls are still in limited supply.  While the Ishtar and Gila are popular ratting ships, others are also aware of this, so I generally sell other stuff.

I currently also import rigs, meta 4, tech 2 modules (though I do hope to start manufacture of these).  I also import 'difficult' things like cloaks. Whenever I feel that my cargo is over value, and I need something cheap and bulky to fill out a load, I will haul command centers for PI.

I resupply via wormholes, with the scanning, hauling and purchasing that requires, primarily using a largely unscratched Occator.  I am occasionally 'invited' to get a brand new Occator and pod, but ... I try really hard to avoid that.

Without understanding why, wardecs are a fact of life.  My solution is to fly an out of alliance highsec pilot to nearby the wormhole, and then swap ships with my nullsec pilot.  (The reason I don't understand is that surely it would be cheaper to put alts into ships and just blow them up to pad killboards ... we don't lose much).

My resupply method is inefficient and time consuming.  I am not afraid to charge for it, with some margins being significant.

I will form in defense fleets and strategic ops.  These do include the occasional gate camp removal gang or hauler escort, or even an entosis event.  I can't make as many of these events as I would like to, but contribute to ship replacement programs to cover others.

Our alliance does a lot of ratting and mining, and does roam.  I rarely do these things.

Nullsec corps are generally recruiting.  My nullsec pilots belong to Sons of Alexander, and if you would like to join either as a corporation or individual, feel free to shoot DoToo Foo an evemail.

Corporations wanting to join Al3xand3r. (our alliance) can contact Head Teach.

What I do in wormhole space (PI and escalations)

My most recent activity in wormhole space is that we have started C5 escalations.  I think we look more like a bunch of 6 year olds at our first martial arts bout, and a lot less like a bunch of hardened warriors.  So much dancing around and being stressed about losing stuff.  

We are using the c5-6 like a baws guide with a couple of variations.  Firstly our loki nos's the carrier for extra cap, which relieves the capacitor pressure from the initial archon.  Secondly we are slow, sooo slow.  If you find us when running a site and are looking to gank us, no need to rush. We will still be there when you get back.  Still escalation sites are profitable.  I just hope that we pay for our ships before the gankers arive.

I run a C1 -> Highsec PI wormhole, with an open invite policy (please see the recruitment link at the top of the page).  I buy PI and haul to market.  I still do some PI but not as much myself as I used to with the nullsec market and C5 escalations taking more of my time.

I also run a C2 -> Lowsec/C2 PI wormhole that is pretty quiet at the moment.  I recently stuffed up in here ... there were explosions and not of the good kind.  I am both incredibly relieved and wildly disappointed that only the ship maintenance arrays showed and dropped loot.  The storage and industry arrays array didn't show any loot.  That was not from a lack of loot in there.

Unlike in other parts of space, in wormholes I have hunted and ganked pilots and POS alike.  Not many, and not often.  In wormhole space however, you live and die by the F1 button.  If you want a defensive fleet, you will have to bring one.  You remain safe in wh space by being belligerent.

I am looking forward to citadels.  Assembly of Tech 3 cruisers, sharing space structures with out of corp pilots (friends and alts alike).  I have not read but I assume also contracts?  I have read that the entirety of the citadel will drop loot.  This should encourage more casual ganking of PI holes as there will be (lots more) profitable loot to be gathered.   I will have to decide whether to set up medium (3 hour vulnerability per week windows and 'cheap' ) or large (vulnerable twice as long with markets, and so much more expensive) citadels, but no need to decide just yet.

I made my first fortune, as an unskilled newbie, doing wormhole PI.  I still spend too much on various projects but ... oh well.  I am always recruiting for PI pilots in my wormholes. Whether you are a newbie pilot looking for more than highsec, or a PVP pilot looking to pay for ships, I am recruiting for more PI pilots.  If you are interested, please see the recruitment link at the top of the page.

I believe

There are some thing I believe in Eve

Players experiencing players 

Eve is a truly multiplayer game.  We interact with other players.  I sell ammunition.  I expect it to be returned 'slightly used'.   There are the hunters, and the hunted.  Occasionally there will even be some form of 'set fight', but we try to avoid that most of the time.  Sometimes we even hunt ore, or red crosses.

Circle of gank

I believe that there are 3 fitting philosophies of note.

Evasion fit or avoiding the fight. Stabs, Nano, Oversized prop mods, brick tanked, or even just oodles of capacitor.  This pilot just wants to GTFO  (get the far out .. or something like that).

Gank fit.  Faction scrams,  triple scram fit, high alpha, or a hundred catalysts.  This pilot wants to catch the evasion fit ship.  (I even stayed in faction warfare until I caught a stab fit farmer).

PVP fit.  This pilot wants to bring the best to a fight.  To win any engagement.

To me, Eve is a place where the good PVP pilot defeats the Gank fit; the good Gank pilot catches the Evasion fit, and the good Evasion pilot evades the PVP pilot.

Yes I believe in warp core stabilizers.  They encourage the ganker to choose between being hunter and prey.

Me?  I am usually prey.  I also know the very real limitations of warp core stabs.

Wormhole space is the best space for a small independent group

If you want a handful of pilots to have their own space, wormhole space every time.  Sure you can be a target (but that is true in all parts of eve).

Highsec was not for me.  As a newbie, I did not have the contacts or strength to hold a place in lowsec.  However wormhole space has been a good experience for me.

This includes making a small fortune with PI, building my sandcastle, and having others try to take it away (they nearly succeeded too).

Someone dedicated can take space.  But taking multiple spaces takes too much effort for the larger empire builders, so there is room for that small corp.

Ok I am biased, shoot me ... (and you probably will)

I like the effects of Fozzie Sov

I can't speak for all regions of nullsec, but in the deep northwest, what used to be monolithic ownership is now a nice ragtag collection of small alliances each 'owning' their own space.  Yes... the big boys could take it away ... and then we take it back.

I have read that groups are currently fighting over recently vacated north eastern space.

However no mechanic change will solve "bring them down".  Don't lend your strength to those that you wish to be free from.

Highsec needs iterating

Highsec is our new player experience, and we have a lot of players in highsec.  By all means, I want to encourage them to branch out into other spaces, but a few more rides in the park will never go astray.

Disclaimer: My use for highsec is Amarr, Jita and the occasional NPC trade hub.  Well sometimes I visit Dodixie, Hek and Rens ... but its still is buying or selling.

Player representation is good for the game

Eve has a great resource in it's player representation.  Usually, this takes the form of guides, blogs/websites, and third party tools.

Some of these players are opinionated, and wish to guide the future of Eve.  Sometimes CCP will listen, and even seek feedback.  Other times CCP will feel they are better off without some of this feedback.

I wish those play-styles compatible with mine to continue to influence both CCP and other Eve players.

The best defense against Echo Chambers is a diversity of opinion.  This means I want both us and them represented.  For many readers of this blog, I will often be 'us', but sometimes I will be 'them'.

Blogging/Reddit/Forums are other good ways to get player representation

CSM is one method of communication between player groups and CCP.  But we know that different player groups have other means of communication.

Grr

I fully understand that there are some players who's Eve life consists of ruining my Eve life.  In Eve, if they did not exist, it would be necessary to make them.   They just can't reasonably expect me to make it easier for them.

CSM conceptions and misconceptions

CSM (Council of Stellar Management) is a player representative body, voted in by the players themselves. 

From http://community.eveonline.com/community/csm/
The purpose of the CSM is to represent society interests to CCP. This requires active engagement with the player community to master EVE issue awareness, understanding, and evaluation in the context of the greatest good for the greater player base.


Notionally, they represent us, the players that voted them in.  In reality, CSM represent themselves.  Some work incredibly hard on the CSM, engaging both CCP and players alike; giving feedback to both groups.  Some ... don't.  This is just like real life, and maybe even real life politicians.

What the CSM are missing is a magic wand.  CSM can't please/fool all the players all the time.  By all means push your CSM representatives to deliver for you, but sometimes they just can't.  Usually for someone to be buffed, someone else will be nerfed.  Sometimes CCP will share with the CSM (or parts thereof), sometimes they won't.   Their roles are really what they make of them. 


Provided they have a pulse, occasionally turn up, and don't get banned in game, they will be able to see out their current term. 

This applies even when CSM representatives change allegiances. Corebexx in CSM 9, largely with his own efforts, 'encouraged' CCP to buff low end wormholes.  While he now is a turncoat, wearing the flag of another group is cause for those that care to carry out the will of Bob, it is not cause for him to give up his seat.

Sugar Kyle is a consummate diplomat on the CSM, as well as a strong workhorse.  This is regardless of whether she admits it (even to herself) or not.  Whether it be gathering feedback from many play-styles in Eve, mediating between vocal and boisterous groups, or providing a handhold in the new player experience, everywhere I look, I see Sugar working.  How she does this while still playing Eve and holding down a day job is beyond me.

Some see it their role to represent their constituency, yet discourage others from being involved. In response to the question "Why should my readers vote for you?" Sion answered "Because I'm a goon." (link , about 1/2 way down). These players should not be surprised when they get high support from their own 'base', but no support from elsewhere.  There is a reason Sion failed to get the second permanent seat.


Much has been made about the 2 permanent seats on the CSM, and I really don't understand why.  From http://community.eveonline.com/news/dev-blogs/csm-x-candidacy-now-open/ ,  Summit can last up to 5 days and up to 10 members of the CSM will fly to CCP headquarters in Reykjavik, Iceland to participate in person. 

CSM representatives that are active and useful, especially those that have a large support base will be attending 2 or more summits.  Not to denigrate either Manfred or Sugar, and as a consolation for Sion, the value of being a 'permanent' representative is bragging rights, and the option of being obnoxious in some form and still get to go to all the summits.  Do not be surprised if this year there are more than 2 summits http://community.eveonline.com/community/csm/ , There are at least two summits held each term...  If both Steve and Sion are not offered a spot at more than one summit, I will be astounded.

This year, some felt we had too many (100) candidates applying for CSM seats.  Of these, 75 passed the initial vetting process.  Even I had problems reading all the candidate statements. I think this is a wonderful problem to have. One of the recent CSM elections (I think it was CSM 8) had a pre-election endorsements round that was a bit of a farce.  31 of 35 candidates made it to the final election round.

I think (but do not know) that the primary reason for so many candidates was the removal of the  requirement to publish first life id's publicly.

There are options:

• Most (first life) political systems use a deposit system to weed out the majority of troll candidates (Sometimes even this fails).
• A rule could be added that a candidacy post with an arbitrary number of individual account public endorsement comments (50?) are required before an application is accepted.
• CCP also have the option of going back to a qualifying round, but that is a hassle if it only knocks out 4 of 35 candidates. A qualifying round could be applied if there were over say 48 eligible candidates.

I am not convinced that under performing candidates are an issue.   If a candidate fails to get their message across, well that is merely an opportunity for improvement.  Get that name out there.  I know that some other bloggers (especially Gevlon) had a preference for some candidates that missed out (especially Lorelei).  Where was the guest post?  Where is the link to the blog?  Where was the blog during the campaign?  I also would not give up on Lorelei's spot just yet.  CSM 9 had a couple of 'casual' vacancies, and Lorelei is in a good spot to pick up a few extra votes if vacancies occur in CSM X. 


A couple of comments about the vote itself:

• Eligible voters cast 36,984 votes, 15% increase on last year.  This is despite (or possibly even because of) some very negative press leading up to the vote
• Wormhole voters, where did you go?  I know Corbexx did an outstanding job last year, but ... it is always better to have 2 candidates rather than one, as recent events have highlighted.
• Voters who let their votes exhaust generally assist the larger coalitions.  There were many votes for medium and minor candidates that exhausted.  Candidates, make a voting ticket with other similar candidates and participate in voting exchanges (that is, recommend preferences to others if they do the same in return).  

CSM X predictions

Now that CSM 10 voting has concluded and we are waiting for the results, here are my guesses as to what will happen with the vote.

If I recall correctly, successful candidates will be announced at Fanfest, March 19-21.


My first thing I will look for is the total vote itself.  Hearsay said that the vote is 30% higher than it was last year.  If this is true, without knowing where those votes are going will make prediction even harder.  I also see CSM voting as a proxy for player engagement, a weathervane.

Very Safe candidates

• Sion + Endie.  Last year (and the years before), Goons have more than 2 quota.  Sion will get in, and 'his' vote will elect another.
• Sugar Kyle.  She had 91% of a quota last year.  She is impressive, and is on the top of many ballots (where last year she was middle of the pack).  I think Sugar will get a quota in her own right, even if there is an increased vote.
• Corbexx. Wormhole candidates had 1.6 quotas last year, spread roughly evenly across the field.  This year, Corbexx will get more of the vote, and I think will increase the total wormhole vote (in raw terms if not in quotas).  I think Corbexx will get a quota in his own right.
• corebloodbrothers.  Provi block candidate from last year with well in excess of a quota.  He should also get a quota as well.

Safe candidates

• Steve Ronuken.  Last year Steve was voted in at #6, close to a quota in his own right and received good preference flows.  Most surplus that Sugar Kyle has will flow to Steve.  Steve will also do better than average on transfers from other excluded candidates.
  
  

Marginal Candidates

• Mike Azariah.  Mike was voted in last year at #8.  Highsec and visible via his blog, but lacking the endorsements of the candidates above.  I think he will still get in, but he might suffer from other similar candidates being too popular.
• Cagali Cagali. Brave newbies should be able to elect a pilot, assuming their internal politics is going OK.  You had a CSM rep resign last year, which will hurt your motivation, but you have a higher base vote than RVB.

Incumbents ( or groups) I see struggling to be elected

• Khador Vess. RVB have the numbers to vote, but last year, they didn't.  Mangala Solaris started the CSM 9 election with a poor personal vote, and was voted in on preferences from others.  This however is largely dependant on how motivated RVB is to vote for their own candidate.
• Xander Phoena.  Last year, Xander more than doubled his personal vote from Goon preferences.  I am unsure as to his ongoing relationship with Gentlemen's agreement, but Goons wont be voting him in this time.

No hope

If all you did was submit an application to CCP, didn't bother with a post on CSM Campaigns thread , didn't bother with interviews until too late, you had better have a very motivated alliance behind you.    If you really want to be a candidate for CSM 11, start posting on the CSM campaign thread mid November and attend every interview/candidate questionnaire that you can.

Other notes.

There are many spots I have not filled into the mix.  Some are block candidates, but by looking at last year's CSM, not all block candidates did well. 

Some candidates are ranked 2 or 3 on some tickets, and as such won't initially make it.  Reserve candidates are good to have for groups.  I expect that this year, CSM will be have more inactive members booted, making casual vacancies, to be filled from these reserve spots. 

As this is a 14 seat STV election, spot 14 will be somewhat of a lottery.  I won't claim that luck is involved, but the result will look to many like luck.

Many bloggers are still talking about 2 permanent attendee spots.  I expect this to be irrelevant for CSM 10.

From http://community.eveonline.com/news/dev-blogs/csm-x-candidacy-now-open/ ,  Summit can last up to 5 days and up to 10 members of the CSM will fly to CCP headquarters in Reykjavik, Iceland to participate in person.

Assuming all candidates attend at least one summit, 6 of them may attend both.  Given some CSM 9's ability to have drama or be inactive, I will not be surprised if some candidates fail to attend either summit.

In my opinion, this change is largely because a couple of CSM 9 members were stand-outs and both CSM and CCP would benefit from them attending every time they are available.


I seem to spend a bit of time posting replies to Rhavas' CSM posts (https://interstellarprivateer.wordpress.com/2015/03/08/csm-x-predictions/)

CSM X voting close 10 March, vote already, vote often.

If you have not already voted in CSM X, now is the time to do so. http://community.eveonline.com/community/csm/vote/

Voting for CSM X closes 10th March 2015.

While we all can talk to CCP, the CSM is listened to more often than most of us.  You want the best eligible pilots to be the ones talking a little louder than the rest of us.

If you don't already know who to vote for, the following resources will be useful:

• https://interstellarprivateer.wordpress.com/2015/02/24/csm-x-election-recommended-voting-slates/ (with recommendations based on your playstyle)
• https://sites.google.com/site/csmwire/csm-10-election (with comprehensive information )
• http://foo-eve.blogspot.com.au/p/csm-10-candidate-questions.html ( my own interview questions )

I want you to vote, on your primary accounts and on your alts.  Once you have your voting preferences selected, voting with alt accounts is as simple as logging out/logging in and submitting the vote.

I would like you to fill in all 14 preferences.  For some this will be too much, and that is OK (your vote is still useful and valid even if you only vote for 1 candidate).

There will be some candidates you want on CSM.  Put those first.  There will be some candidates you can tolerate. Put them next.

If you have not gotten to 14 votes, consider who you dislike the least.  If your vote prevents that 'horrible' candidate from getting in, it was worth it.  This applies even if we have different ideas on who a 'horrible' candidate is.

Your vote will count.  Last year, only 79 votes separated spot 14 (elected) from spot 15 (not elected *).

For a little more about the deadlines and voting process, you can also see http://community.eveonline.com/news/dev-blogs/in-celebration-of-csm-x/


(not elected *) : Asayanami Deihas did end up serving a partial CSM 10 term due to casual vacancies; that is where someone else "resigned".

Minor edit because some days I can't spell.

Why ask CSM candidates for short answers?

Some of the CSM have troubles providing short answers in my CSM 10 candidate questions.  Some have written posts about how TLDR is a hard (edit) thing.  Others shoved multiple answers in with various pretence about how it was only one answer.  (Do this too badly and Foo will edit your answers to fit)

I personally am a long form reader, I like reading the intricacies and banter that goes back and forward.

Last year I listed to many many hours of podcasts, read many blog and CSM forum posts.  The problem is that I am going to be approaching burnout from all the reading by the time the CSM elections are done, and I will read much more than most.

Most eve players (your potential voters) will not.

Some candidates have rusted on voters.  These voters follow suggestions of their leadership group, whether it be CEO, alliance leadership or their favourite bloggers.

Some voters will vote for someone regardless of what is written, and make up their own mind.  These people will read your long form answers, listen to podcasts and come up with their reasoned responses.

Most potential voters find the whole voting process a little irrelevant and/or too much bother.  I am trying to create something for those who are deciding whether to vote, and to try to move some of them into either of the above 2 voting groups, preferably the group that makes up it's own mind.


The CSM 9 voter turnout was shocking. I feel that this represents a fall in engagement in Eve as a game for the longer term.  I feel we got a pro-active CSM that did lots of good work.  No they didn't get everything they wanted, nor do I think they should.   I still think we have a better Eve experience because of the CSM. 

I want more players engaged in Eve, not just the ad-hoc pew pew, but to feel they can shape the game into the future.  I feel that the CSM is amongst our best ways to shape this from a design perspective.  The CSM are not game designers, but they are our representatives as involved key stakeholders.

Those that just seek a simple answer from their leadership group will already be well covered.

Those that seek long form answers will similarly be well covered: Eve forums, a wealth of in depth interviews, blogs, podcasts will all let the well informed be even better informed.

I tried to make questions that appeal to the TLDR audience, and give them a way to get more information should they want it about a candidate.  As it is, 2000 words of CSM answers and counting, becoming probably 5000 words before the season ends, will be too much for many of these players to read.

I know that this blog, by itself, won't reach out to many.  But hopefully a short form set of answers, when linked to by a few that do care, may appeal to those that would not otherwise vote.

CSM 10 season : open questions to CSM candidates

My readers fall into a few groups: Those living in wormholes;  PI farmers;  Market players.  (and the rest of you).

To all CSM candidates:

1. Why should my readers vote for you (TLDR version)?
2. What one thing do you realistically want to fix in Eve?  
1. For existing CSM members, what one thing was the best fix you achieved?
3. What is your solution to this one thing?
4. What URL has more information about you?

Leave a comment here, or evemail DoToo Foo.

Responses will be posted to http://foo-eve.blogspot.com.au/p/csm-10-candidate-questions.html

CSM 9 election - review of the vote

This is a wall of text for those interested in my analysis of the CSM 9 vote breakdown.  Some want to know.  If you are in the significant majority that do not care, I will have another post for you later, but feel free to skip this one.
 
Unlike many Eve players, my first life country uses a STV very similar to the Eve CSM elections for many of our parliamentary elections.  Here are my thoughts.  Any errors are my own. If you have better information please leave a comment.


The other point I want to make about the single transferable vote system that appears obvious to me but appears strange to others. To be elected, you want first preference votes, but also want preferences from others.  In essence if you get a quota in your own right, you are in.  If there are several candidates short of a quota, these candidates need recommendations (i.e. votes) from others.

Disclaimer: I am not entirely unbiased in my Eve politics.  The analysis should still be useful for those that follow such things regardless.

The elephant in the room.

This years total vote dropped from 49702 for CSM 8 (1) to 31294 for CSM 9 (2).  That is, for every 5 voters last year, this year we had 3.  Last year, a quota was 3314, this year the quota was 2087.  Regardless of how the vote turns out, this drop is an elephant in the room, and should be talked about. 

I expect that those who vote are the more engaged of the Eve player base.  There has been a fall of 37% of those participating in voting.

My question is: Does Eve have a 37% fall in activity amongst our most engaged players?


CCP and CSM, you have an NDA and can talk quietly amongst yourselves if you want, but address this. I don't need the answer, but CSM 9 please also ask the question about the correlation between voting in CSM elections and whether members are still playing 12 months later.

The new candidates of note

Sugar Kyle is the standout, with 91% of a quota.  A relentless campaign on her blog, and good feelings all around from others.  In my opinion Sugar picked up some of the vote that went to WH candidates last election.

Brave newbies candidates of Matias Otero and Awoxing Pizza-Spymaster McBlueshooter with 86% of a quota between them. The Awoxer with the too long name did assist Matias with preferenes.

Wormhole vote comments

Taking Rhava's list of Wormhole candidates (3) (Asayanami Dei, corbexx, James Arget, Karen Galeo,
Proclus Diadochu), there were 1.6 quota's of votes for them; down from 1.9 on CSM 8.  With suitable preference flows, this could be hoped to translate into 2 candidates.  As only 1 was elected, clearly there were not enough non-wh recommendations for this to occur.  I suspect in part because of some very strong non-block candidates.

CSM8 James Arget remained in the running until there were 18 candidates remaining, finally knocked out at this stage with 887 votes; short what would turn out to be 508 votes to get the final seat.  (More on James below)



Last year, everywhere I went, the wormhole candidates referred to to each other.  This did not happen this year.  Also, most groups had the wormhole 5 on their ticket; recommendations that this year went to other candidates.

Asayanami Dei who was a wormhole candidate was also the last exclusion.  Requiring only another 80 votes,  improving anything in the campaign would have gained those extra votes.

Goonswarm vote comments

While Sion's vote was down in raw numbers (4314) from the lead goonswarm candidate last year (mynnna's 5782), it was still a significant increase in relative terms; being over 2 quota in their own right.

If I recall correctly, I believe that last year Goonswarm had still had some of their strategists thinking of first past the post elections and tried to spread some of the vote.  This year they realised that with a single transferable vote system, this is generally unnecessary, and may even be harmful (4).

I assume that they wanted Sion to be a permanent member instead of mynnna.

I do not have the Goonswarm voting ticket (and if anyone has it, I would appreciate it - either as a comment or evemail Dotoo Foo).

Goonswarm candidates (Sion, mynnna, Angry) had 2.6 quotas; electing 2.
Goonswarm + Gentlemans Agreement (Xander) had 3.0 quota; electing 3.
GS + GA + RVB (Mangala Solaris) (5) had 3.4 quota; electing 4.

This last one is curious; In CSM 8, Mangala had a personal vote of 80% of a quota (2681 votes).  This year, with a significant fall in overall vote, he is now in 41% of a quota (857 votes).  This year Mangala gets in on sympathetic preferences, but his personal base has deserted him.  More on Mangala below.


Last year, GS (mynnna + Unforgiven Storm) + GA (Kesper North) + RVB (Mangala Solaris) had 3.1 quota (unless I missed someone).

Rhavas quoted this, but I will too : http://themittani.com/news/gsf-ceo-update-tri-harder
"...  my personal take on this election is that turnout will be at an all-time low. If I'm right, that's hilarious news for the CFC, because there's nothing this coalition does quite like marching and voting in lockstep. In a low turnout situation, the impact of organization, unity and force is magnified.".  There is some justification for this statement, but looking at these primary votes :

	CSM 9	CSM 8	%Fall
Goon	5254	6684	78.61%
Goon + GA	6199	7602	81.54%
Goon+GA+RVB	7056	10283	68.62%

Goonswarm also suffers from the fall in vote that everyone else has, thought to a lesser extent.  The average fall in vote from CSM 8 is 63%.

Goonswarm was not as organised or motivated as it would like to claim.

State of the count with 15 candidates remaining

Each voting system has it's hard to call spots.  With a multi candidate STV system, it is the last spot.

By the time there are only 15 candidates remaining, the following 12 candidates had received a quota of votes a few in their own right; most on preferences.  They are 'comfortably elected', though a candidate would rather be higher up this list than lower down it.

• Sion Kumitomo
• corebloodbrothers
• Sugar Kyle
• Ali Aras
• Steve Ronuken
• progodlegend
• mynnna
• Xander Phoena
• Matias Otero
• corbexx
• Mike Azariah
• DJ FunkyBacon

There are 3 remaining candidates; 1 of which will not be elected

• Mangala Solaris has 1550
• Major JSilva has 1474
• Asayanami Deihas has 1395.  The candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and so all remaining seats are filled.

When I was looking at the GSF + GA + RVB vote above, I was curious as to how Mangala Solaris was elected.  From a personal vote of 857 he picks up 693 preferences from other candidates, never particularly strong preference flows, but significantly better than random.  Mangala and Major are the last two to be elected.

Unlike last year, there are no strong preferences to be gained from the last to be excluded candidates.

The Strong preference flows

In Eve, voters choose their pilots, and while we can provide recommendations, pilots are a prone do not always follow the party line.  Below are the exceptional recommendations where pilots voted in step.  Numbers are taken from the '15 candidates remaining' section of the vote:

• Sion to mynna : 2410 of 2521 votes
• mynnna to Xander  : 1081 of 1589 votes
• Corebloodborthers exhausted 864 of 1148 votes

Improved candidates from CSM 8

The candidates that re-ran that next years candidates want to emulate are :

Corebloodbrother.  

Last year the combined provi block (Ali + Corebloodbrother) had 1.1 quota, this year Corebloodbrother recieved 1.4 quota all by himself; with the surplus largely exhausting.  This was a drop in total 'Provi block' but considering Ali still was voted in consuming some of this, it is a significant effort.  CSM 10 Candidates should want to be on his ticket.

Steve Ronuken

Steve picks up significant support not only in quota (made easier by that drop in vote I keep harping on), but also in primary votes as well. Now has 1692 (81% quota) primary votes, up from 1286 (38% quota).  A strong campaign, made stronger by general support from others.

Roughly the same support from CSM 8

Ali Ares, despite changing from Provi to Merc, has in rough terms the same primary support.

progodlegend similarly has roughly the same primary support

mynnna was no longer the Goon primary candidate, but is easily elected on Sion's preferences.  He however also gets even more support as other candidates are excluded.  I assume there was a decision to put mynnna on the council but not as a permanent member.  In this election it probably makes little difference, but I would have expected Angry Mustache to remain in the running longer if the Goon voting recommendation was the other way around, due to how votes get disbursed from a successful candidate.

Some ... other candidates from CSM 8

James Arget.

On again off again, defer your official candidate announcement until the last moment candidate.  In CSM 8, James had a personal vote of 1624 (49% quota).  This year, James had a personal vote of 653 (31% quota).  James, this is not how to run a campaign.

Mangala Solaris

Preferences flowing to Mangala say that those sympathetic to RVB still support him, and off that soft support, Mangala was elected.  A drop of personal votes from 2681 (81% quota) to 857 (41% quota) is truly remarkable and not in a good way.  RVB needs to find their core support again if they want to keep a seat on the CSM.

riverini

riverini is moderately well known from eve news 24 (that I sometimes write for), but really?  Coming from last year having 26% of a quota from last year, dropping to 10% of a quota this year is not a good showing. 

Other notes

It is good to have most spaces represented this year: High, Low, WH, (lots of) Null, industry, PVP and out of game tools.


I congratulate all successfully elected candidates.  Commiserations to all those who failed to get a seat.  (or given the workload, is it the other way around?).

I have slighted some of you by not mentioning you by name, and my apologies.  I just don't know enough about how you were elected (or not) to add anything meaningful.  This assumes that the words above are meaningful and helpful to those considering future CSM campaigns.

Thank you, I think,  Rhavas with your post of http://interstellarprivateer.wordpress.com/2014/05/10/the-csm-you-deserve/ You prompted this wall of text.



(1) https://www.dropbox.com/s/qp57pktyxsrsww4/csm-14.txt, Trebor's re-run of the votes for CSM8.
(2) http://community.eveonline.com/news/dev-blogs/csm9-presenting-the-new-council-members-election-data-and-officer-changes/ and from that page: http://cdn1.eveonline.com/community/csm/CSM9.zip I have been using auditlog - 14 seat.txt as the source of voting data.
(3) http://interstellarprivateer.wordpress.com/2014/05/10/the-csm-you-deserve/
(4) Please note the qualifications of 'generally' and 'may'.  For the truly tragic election follower, reading up on the election in Braddon in Tasmania/Australia 2014 at http://kevinbonham.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/state-election-post-count-thread-braddon.html is interesting reading.  This was truly a 'remarkable' result and has lead to some commentators including myself reconsidering previous advice.  TLDR; Even with single transferable votes it is sometimes better to have a split vote. 
(5) Yes I have drunk the cool-aid that says RVB has strong relations with GSF.

My working spreadsheet is available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1HsU_rOxWl4ZHg1T0hFYjR2VDA/edit?usp=sharing .  This might or might not be useful to others.

Edit: I have slightly updated this post over at  http://evenews24.com/2014/05/14/csm-9-election-a-review-of-the-vote/
Nothing fundamentally different, but the EN24 version contains a few updates based on comments received.