[DEV BLOG] CONCORD Inner Circle Statement on "Caroline's Star" and the "Thera" System

YULAI – CONCORD's Inner Circle today issued a preliminary statement regarding the stellar anomaly known as "Caroline's Star" and the revelation of a Sisters of EVE colony in the wormhole-accessed system known as "Thera". Given the significance of these events, the Scope has decided to reproduce this statement in full.

EVE Online: Rhea Release Feature Tour

See what's coming to EVE Online in Rhea, the largest content release of 2014. Get ready to explore new star systems, face intense new challenges, and plunge into a universe visually enhanced from the UI to the ships you fly. Discover some of Rhea’s biggest and best features in this teaser of a tour from the development team.

SaraShawa Overview Pack v7 - Rhea Edition

Hi hello, as many of you now know I maintain an overview pack. I've updated it for Rhea, and it is once again available ingame, as well as via direct download (if you prefer the legacy install option, or want to edit it yourself.)

For people looking for more explanation, here's a link to v6 thread. I'm tired of duplicating the giant post every time, so I'm gonna do these more conversational updates going forward.

To access the pack, join the "SaraShawa-Overview" channel ingame, and read the MOTD.

The pack has been updated, check this reddit post for details:

http://www.reddit.com/r/Eve/comments/2ovqzy/sarashawa_overview_v71_bugfix/

Simply use the in-game channel as normal to get the link for the updated overview.

[DEV Video] In-Development: Features of EVE Online’s Rhea Release

CCP Fozzie and the EVE Dev Team take you behind the scenes of Rhea, EVE Online’s massive December 2014 release.
- The expansive, new Thera system

– 100 shattered wormhole systems

– New, redesigned and remodeled ships

– Roaming sleeper scouts

– Modernized user interface

– Opt-in 3D star map

– Manual ship controls

– Death penalty changes

– Dreadnaught skins, faction jackets, and a whole lot more!

DEV POSTS – [Rhea] Corp Invitation Changes and Standard Sleeper Cache, explorers needed!

Afternoon perfection passionate pilots!

This thread is for feedback and issue reporting on a small change team Five 0 have done for Rhea to the way joining a corporation works.
Until this change the process for joining a Corporation has been as follows:

1. Character applies to corporation.

2. A corp member with appropriate roles invites player to join.

3. Character accepts invite.

4. The Character is entered into the corp.
With this change implemented the above functionality still applies but a second method is now available:

1. A corp member with appropriate roles invites player to join.

2. Character accepts invite.

3. The Character is entered into the corp.

[DEV POST] [Rhea] Pulse Lasers and Scorch

Hey everyone.

We're making some tweaks to Pulse Lasers of all sizes in Rhea, as well as Scorch ammo.

At the moment Pulse Lasers are quite reliant on T2 Scorch ammo to be viable and powerful. The main goal of these changes is to reduce the reliance on Scorch for Pulse Lasers, making other ammo types a bit more useful. Secondary goals are improving the balance between different tiers of Pulse Lasers and improving the quality of Capital Pulse Lasers a bit.

The basics of the change are:

• The base optimal range of all Pulse Lasers is being increased by 5%.
• The falloff range of all Pulse Lasers is being increased.
• The optimal range bonus provided by Scorch ammo is being reduced from 50% to 40%.

The result is that optimal range for Pulses without Scorch will be increasing 5%, and optimal range for Pulses with Scorch will be decreasing by 2%. The percentage increase in falloff is different between the different sizes of Pulses, which helps even out the power levels of the different Pulse laser tiers slightly.

Falloff increase per Pulse type is:
Small Focused Pulses, Heavy Pulses, Mega Pulses: +25%
Dual Light Pulses, Focused Medium Pulses, Dual Heavy Pulses: +33.3%
Gatling Pulses, Giga Pulses: +100%

These changes are on SISI for your testing pleasure, feel free to give them a try and let us know what you think!

EVE Online - The Confessor Mode Transformations

In the EVE Online Rhea release, the first Tech 3 Tactical Destroyer will be introduced to New Eden. The Confessor is just the first of four all new Tech 3 Tactical Destroyers with the ability to switch between defensive, speed, and sniper modes. This video demonstrates those mode transformations.

EVE Online - No Clone Grades & No SP Loss on Pod Death

Dev Blog: Coming to EVE Online in the Rhea release on December 9th

It seems strange to think we owe the discovery of this system to the capsuleers. Taya admitted as much to me at risk of her vocation, perhaps her life. I don't think we can ignore the role they played. Everything we do here goes back to them one way or the other. Even if they don't know it.
~ Zakari Kovalis, Exploration Vessel Katydid, Personal Journal YC112.09.12
Rhea is a release that expands EVE Online. Here is what's coming to New Eden on December 9^th.

Thera and the hundred other shattered wormholes

A hundred new wormhole systems are revealed in Rhea along with Thera, a huge named wormhole system with four Sisters of EVE stations and a multitude of wormhole connections to known space. Landmarks and mysteries abound. Read all about it in this dev blog from CCP Fozzie: Thera and the shattered wormholes

No clone grades and no skill point loss on pod death

Clone grades, clone upgrade cost and skill point loss when podded (except when losing a Strategic Cruiser) will be removed in Rhea.  Read more about these changes and the reasoning behind them in an upcoming dev blog by CCP Terminus, or watch Episode 2 of the o7 show (13:00 mark) to hear about these changes.

The Confessor – Amarr Tech 3 Tactical Destroyer

The Confessor is the first of four all new Tech 3 Tactical Destroyers with the ability to shift between defensive, speed and sniper modes that confer different sets of bonuses. Due to the efforts of Honorary Fabricator-General Ascentior and other devoted capsuleers, the Amarr Empire was the first to complete the research race to build this new kind of ship. The other 3 tactical destroyers will follow in upcoming releases. Read more about this new ship in an upcoming dev blog.

The Bowhead – ORE Freighter

Move assembled ships in this new freighter from ORE that comes with a large ship maintenance bay. If a Bowhead is destroyed, there is a chance that assembled ships can be found amongst the wreckage. Read about the stats and capabilities of the Bowhead in this forum post.

Sleeper scout drones roaming in known space

A new type of roaming scout drones, seemingly originating from wormhole space Sleeper sites, will be investigating something in known space. Engage them at your own risk. These NPCs and the Artificial Intelligence code that will power them will be highlighted in an upcoming dev blog.

Sleeper Cache High End Exploration Sites and Polarized Weapon Modules

Rhea will bring Standard and Superior versions of the Sleeper Cache high-end exploration sites, where you can find the new Polarized weapons that have some great benefits but reduce your resists to zero. Read about these mysterious sites in this dev blog from CCP SoniClover: Sleeper Cache Exploration Sites & Polarized Weapons

Ship rendering and lighting updated with Physically Based Rendering techniques (PBR)

“Physically Based Rendering” is a term for cutting edge rendering methods that closely model how real light bounces off different surfaces. Rendering ship models and lights using this approach results in materials and surfaces that look more realistic and light that falls and reflects beautifully. With Rhea, all ships except T3 strategic cruisers get rendered with PBR techniques. Upcoming releases will continue to apply these methods to more parts of EVE. Read about the technology and vision in an upcoming dev blog from CCP Mankiller.

New UI look, window transparency options and interface icons

The EVE Online UI gets a big update in Rhea to improve the user experience and make EVE look more modern with new Neocom and window and station service icons, new window skins and faction color themes, and new UI effects.. A number of options and settings will be available to customize the experience. Read more in this dev blog from CCP Optimal: A new look for EVE’s UI – feedback needed!

Opt-In Keyboard Ship Control

In Rhea, you will be able to try keyboard ship control as an opt-in beta feature. No new mechanics or movement options are introduced, just the ability to fly with WASD or arrow keys for the same movements you can do today using double-click. Read more in this dev blog from CCP Nullarbor: Quick, give me manual control!

Opt-in New Star Map

The Star Map has been completely redone to improve readability and usability, and in Rhea you can try this new map as an opt-in beta feature. Read more about what’s new in an upcoming dev blog.

Blackbird, Rook and Falcon Ship Models Redesigned

Tech 2 Hull Variants for the Onyx and Eagle

Incursus, Enyo and Ishkur Ship Models Redesigned

Visual effects updates to asteroid belts

Dust effects, sun rays and rock fragments are added to asteroid belts in Rhea to create a more immersive experience. Early work in progress screen shot:

Special Edition Dreadnoughts

Four new Special Edition Dreadnoughts will be available from the New Eden Store with Rhea: The Interbus Moros, the Sarum Revelation, the Wiyrkomi Phoenix and the Justice Naglfar.

New Pirate Apparel

Pirate faction themed clothing will be added to the New Eden Store.

Kill Report and Contract Notifications

Kill reports and contracts will be available in the new Notification system, fully configurable.

Improvements to Market Sell Order Creation

Following the original release of this feature in Phoebe, Rhea brings better feedback when dragging items to the sell window and a larger entry when selling single items.

Public CREST API Updates for EVE Tool Creators

The entire item type collection from EVE becomes available in Public CREST, along with market orders for items available on the market. Go to developers.eveonline.com for news and updates on APIs and other developer tools for EVE Online.

Old Trial Account Character Names Freed Up

With Rhea, we are freeing over six million character names used on old trial accounts that never became subscribing accounts.

The Rest

Some features we have talked about recently but aren’t listed here may still make it into Rhea, so read the final patch notes for the full list of changes. We are also closely monitoring the results of our Phoebe changes to jump drive travel and working towards the next phase of changes to sovereignty. You can expect further communications on this topic in December.

We really hope you enjoy Rhea , coming to EVE Online on December 9^th.

And do remember to pay attention to in-game news and movements, as this overview blog does not reveal everything happening around Rhea or why things are happening in New Eden!

CCP Seagull

Executive Producer, EVE Online
@ccpseagull
[ Original Dev Blog ]

o7 Show Episode 2

The second episode of The o7 Show details some of what happened in Phoebe, CCP Explorer talking about the 5-week development cycle, CCP RealX dropping mad spaceship audio science, CCP Rise exploring the Worm, an update from Team Size Matters on upcoming clone changes and CCP Fozzie discussing the new Thera system for the December 2014 Rhea release.

o7 Rhea Reveal, Thera and Clones

CCP's EVE chat show, o7, aired its second episode today - and as per usual, it came with several juicy reveals. This episode was hosted by CCP Mimic rather than the usual CCP Guard.
 
First on the developer interview docket were CCP Punkturis and CCP karkur. Punkturis was quite pleased with her work on Multisell and how well it was received, along with the other "little things" improvements in Phoebe. The 24 hour cap being removed from the skill queue was a long anticipated and quite popular change. The developers noted that the restrictions on the queue were preventing them from implementing further features and tweaks to the training system - now there is space for such development. Some discussion of EVE Down Under ensued, with CCP karkur displaying her knitted Gurista-kangaroo hat; CCP Rise, CCP Logibro, and CCP Mimic (among others) are all expected to be at the Australian player event.
After a short retrospective on EVE Vegas a pre-taped segment by CCP Explorer (@erlendur) discussed the five-week development cycle, which has truly hit its stride lately. Explorer walked the viewers through a behind-the-scenes look at the development process this year. The key takeaway: development is not restricted or rushed by the new cycle, and features that take longer than a single cycle to develop get all the time they need. The five-week rhythm simply means that development can happen in its own time and features can be shipped regularly and much more rapidly than before.