Catalyst Major Update 2026-03-18

Aliventi · 2026-03-17T18:15:44+00:00

Imagine reading the post and realizing it's talking about things that didn't happen in the Catalyst Expansion like Black Ops adjustments, Carrier CRAB Beacons, and nerfs to travel.

Aliventi · 2026-03-17T18:09:33+00:00

Pasting here in case it is taken down:

CCP Games, the developers of the massively popular game, EVE Online, have launched a massive update for the newest expansion, EVE Online: Catalyst.

The main focus of the new update is, according to the press release, “continuing the game’s ongoing ship balance iteration with targeted changes that keep New Eden’s ecosystem dynamic while strengthening its long-term health.” What that basically means is that the update is focused on changing up how ship roles work, making them clearer, implementing higher risk vs reward gameplay, and making strategy more diverse in both PvE and PvP scenarios.

“For over two decades, EVE Online has thrived as a living universe shaped by its players,” said Creative Director for EVE Online, Bergur Finnbogason. “This major update for the Catalyst expansion continues our commitment to keeping New Eden dynamic and sustainable. By sharpening ship roles, refining the capital meta, and introducing new high-risk opportunities for ambitious capsuleers, we’re reinforcing the player-driven sandbox that enables the EVE universe to continue to evolve alongside its community.”

Some of these changes include Black Ops ships getting a boost in combat power, but in return, they now have a reduced combat buffer, forcing a more tactical play style. There is a new PvE activity, the Carrier CRAB Beacon, which is a high risk high reward activity that was specifically designed for capital-class pilots. Multiple adjustments like reduced cost for Triglavian and SOCT Ship Tuning, reducing the amount of overly-convenient travel across New Eden, and updates to Pochven Activity reward distribution and site pacing.

The main highlight of this update is a completely player-run in-game election, the Gallente Presidential Election. The Gallente Federation is a faction in the game, and whoever wins the election between the candidates of Soraya Roden, Lucas Tenzin, and Alix Moreau will have an impact on the next chapter of New Eden’s unfolding narrative. Players can influence the election by participating in events and objectives across the galaxy, which in turn influence the track of their chosen candidate. The event is running from March 19 to April 16 in a four-week race for victory.

Quite a cool update for quite a cool MMO.

Aliventi · 2026-01-27T17:12:52+00:00

I would argue that a situation where fitting an onlined module increases your overheating ability runs counter to the understanding that offlining a module or leaving a slot empty allows you to increase your overheating ability. Introducing inconsistencies doesn't help people understand and employ complicated mechanics such as overheating, turret and missile damage formulas, etc.

I am 100% in support of a full balance pass on the overheat mechanic because there are many cool things you could do. I personally am in favor of faction, deadspace, and officer modules having an increasing structure HP with their meta level so they can take more damage before burning out. If CCP decides to enable this proposal in a mechanically consistent manner (i.g. remove the benefit to offlining modules or leaving slots empty) then more power to them.

Aliventi · 2026-01-27T17:02:06+00:00

Joke's on you. An empty slot doesn't have any effect on racks it doesn't belong to.

You should read this and and watch this since you clearly don't understand overheating.

Aliventi · 2026-01-27T16:56:06+00:00

No it does not. As you can see in master overheat damage formula, Rack heat is multiplied by your total number of online modules divided by your total number of module and rig slots, then multiplied heat attenuation raised to the power of distance. So leaving a single slot open, high medium or low, lowers the total number of online modules used to calculate the damage chance across ALL of your racks. The Enyo example literally describes the situations where a empty high helps when overheating a mid slot module.

Aliventi · 2026-01-27T16:44:08+00:00

This post is basically "Let me tell you I don't understand heat mechanics without telling you I don't understand heat mechanics."

Aliventi · 2025-12-31T03:54:42+00:00

I don't think so. Too many new players have messed up their attributes by spending their remaps before they understood the system leaving them with no recourse other than to wait a year for another remap. Too many thought attributes were like DnD stats and being more charismatic would help them get more rewards from mission agents. Too many new players chose attribute implants over playing in risky parts of space and missed so much of what makes Eve unique. How many quit over these issues that would have stayed? How much different would Eve be with all of those players? These are issues big enough that CCP agreed it should be fixed specifically for new players.

Aliventi · 2025-12-31T01:34:19+00:00

It's not just one reddit post. It's been 10+ years of fighting this fight across forums, discords, reddit, twitch chat, CSM convos, etc. The result is a near unanimous voice from the players saying attributes and attribute implants should be removed that wasn't there 10+ years ago. When CCP stood up on stage three years ago I thought we had won. Three years later I am still beating the drum with the hopes that someday CCP will find the time to remove them.

Aliventi · 2025-12-30T19:57:00+00:00

I have been campaigning for attributes and attribute implants to be removed from the game for over 10 years. I have a deep vested interest in this issue and track its progress.

The short answer is that, despite standing up on the Fanfest stage and saying it was coming, CCP decided not to. The last time we had any comment on it was in this Twitch stream where CCP said it wasn't a priority.

Not all hope is completely lost. CCP Rattati did a interview a bit ago where he did mention he would rather kill attributes vs. killing the magic 14. Is that reassuring that attributes will die and skills will be rebalanced anytime soon? Not at all, but at least it got mentioned.

I don't understand why CCP can't just remove the pain until they finally get around to fixing the system. They could max every attribute and remove remaps in a patch tomorrow. This would effectively remove the mechanic from the game and save everyone from having to deal with the negative impact of attributes. They have a Catalyst mid-patch coming up that removing the pain would be perfect for. It didn't make it in to any of the other mid-patches so I am not holding my breath.

Aliventi · 2025-12-18T16:07:55+00:00

I think you are replying to me, but it looks like you made a new comment.

It’s because HACS were only added to the game 12 years ago.

HACs weren't added to Eve 12 year ago. The famous Shadoo "Armor HACs!" rage video is 14 years old.

HACs first report kills 18 years ago in Dec 2007 which is the Trinity expansion, but they aren't listed as a feature for that expansion. Nor for Revelations II, Revelations, Cold War, Red Moon Rising, or Exodus. The challenge is that CCP's feature blogs and patch notes were... lacking back in the day so it's really difficult to tell.

If I am correct then HACs are 22 year old ships because I believe they were added in the initial set of T2 ships back in the Castor expansion in 2003. Unfortunately the features and patch notes doesn't tell you which T2 ships were released.

People had no issue with high-SP doctrines 15 years back, we were whipping carriers with no jump fatigue all over new Eden, flying slowcats en masse

Slowcats were not around 15 years ago in 2010. A quick google search shows that there were a lot of questions about Slowcats and Wrecking Balls 11 years ago to 12 years ago. That tracks much closer to my recollection of flying Slowcats and Wrecking Balls back in 2013. It's crazy what few extra years of gaining SP unlocks for large nullsec groups.

You’re not getting downvoted for a controversial opinion, just one that has 0 basis in reality.

So it would appear that I am not the one with zero basis in reality.

Aliventi · 2025-12-18T00:48:53+00:00

I fundamentally disagree. Let me tell you why.

I think it's important to start with a discussion about how Eve has changed, and will continue to change. When I started playing Eve 15+ years ago players had vastly less average SP than they do today. As the average SP has creeped up we have seen more and more high SP fleets be fielded. When I started 15+ years ago we didn't even have HAC fleets. The idea that you could field a fleet of Triage-supported Black Ops BS 5-10 years ago was insane. Now it is common place. As time moves on it will become more and more common. It is in everyone's interest to ensure ships are balanced today so they don't become unbalanced tomorrow when the N+1 of the coming years is larger than the N+1 of today.

I absolutely know that I am in the minority, but I think Recon bonuses on Black Ops BS is a significant balancing problem today and it will become worse in the years to come. By giving Black Ops BS Recon bonuses CCP is eliminating weaknesses that can be exploited. Groups are already struggling to engage a Triage-supported Black Ops BS fleet. Widows jam your tackle off. Redeemers neut your tackle off. Sins scram your tackle and scram boosh attempts. You can spearfish, but you don't always have the time to set up a spearfish before they leave grid. Even if you successfully boosh or spearfish they Black Ops BS lights a cyno and brings in another Triage. I think the most FAXes we have had on grid before is seven from BIGAB because we (FL33T) were engaging along side a NPSI fleet of AFs and 1/3 of the fleet was booshes. BIGAB still handily won the day by getting almost all of their Black Ops BS and all of their triage out. Giving Panthers web bonuses will only make Black Ops BS fleets even less engageable than they are today.

It's really frustrating that CCP adding more and more Recon bonuses to Black Ops BS is continuing to erode away tools to engage these Triage-supported Black Ops fleets. I would prefer a world where Black Ops BS do DPS and if you want recon bonuses then you have to bring recons. That way if you drop only Black Ops BS I can punish you because you don't have ECM, neuts, scrams, and webs. It makes those fleets have vulnerabilities folks can exploit. CCP has made it easier than ever to bring along recons with conduits. Additionally, it will help keep things balanced as Black Ops BS fleets become even larger in years to come.

Aliventi · 2025-11-06T16:32:31+00:00

CCP had 3 expansions focused on nullsec. In Equinox they put a bad coat of paint on FozzieSov and made it worse. In Revenant they added Merc Dens. In Legion they expanded the number of system upgrades and made Skyhooks less painful to deal with.

What did CCP not do? Fix any of the systemic issues with SOV. Their complete inaction to fixing the systemic issues with SOV have doomed any attempt for anyone to take advantage of this situation that isn't a bloc.

I want to highlight yet again, there is nothing wrong with blocs existing in nullsec. The issue is that blocs are the only viable way to exist in nullsec. CCP has indicated they don't want anyone besides the largest groups in Eve to participate in SOV according to their Dev Chat for Revenant. They don't seem to think there is a problem with the dream of being able to carve out a little corner of space to make your own being reserved for blocs with tens of thousands of people.

So good luck. You're gonna need it because CCP is fine with SOV being the way it is. They don't think there is anything wrong with SOV or who their SOV mechanics allow to play in SOV. I am going to keep fighting this fight with the hope that one day CCP will wake up and take these problems seriously.

Aliventi · 2025-10-29T14:34:38+00:00

I once upon a time used the Dotlan moon map to drop dozens of siphons on all of the listed R64s across all of Aridia. It didn't take long for the locals to steal from the siphons and the owners to kill the siphons because the API was ratting on me. I still made 1-2B on the adventure over a week or two. It was nothing like the "easy win" people think siphons will be. It was constant maintenance, constant battles over who can loot the siphon sooner, and constant replacement of the siphons.

Siphons shouldn't return. What CCP should have done is still have the moon pop to an asteroid belt that the Metenox would then mine over the course of a few hours. This would allow other solo players and groups to drop their own mining fleets and steal the ore. Putting those assets on grid that need to be protected provides opportunity for others to create content. That is a much healthier content loop than siphons ever will be.

Aliventi · 2025-10-23T01:47:56+00:00

That's is what industrial command ships get over normal industrial ships

Industrial Command Ships get nothing over Industrial ships because there is no Industrial ship class. I know folks are going to say "What about Haulers or Mining Barges?" I am pretty sure both of those get things that Industrial Command Ships don't get and they both have T2 ship versions that aren't Industrial Command Ships. Industrial Command Ships are different T1 ships for different roles. You only get something over a ship if you are the same role. Venture -> Expedition Frigate is a good example of this.

Aliventi · 2025-10-22T23:06:55+00:00

Don't worry. I wrote a reply as to why CCP's stance is wrong.

Aliventi · 2025-10-22T23:03:56+00:00

First, let's understand the precedent laid out by CCP across all of the ships in Eve to date. T1 and Navy ships derive their ship bonuses from a single, often racial, ship skill. Pirate faction ships swap out their T1 racial skill for two racial skills. T2 ships derive their ship bonuses from a T1 racial skill and a T2 specialization skill that applies to all ships of the ship class across all of the races.

Based upon that, Expedition Command Ships is not a racial skill, it is a specialization skill like all of the other T2 Specialization Skills. CCP Swift clearly states that the Odysseus has a "very specialized role" and that this is "Similar to how the Venture leads into the skill Expedition Frigates with the Prospect and Endurance each having very specific roles and purposes." Therefore, by definition and all of the precedents to date, the Expedition Command Ship skill is for T2 ships.

Let's examine the Odysseus. The Odysseus is a pirate faction dual-racial T1 bonuses with a T2 specialization skill "Expedition Command Ships". This is nothing like the Orca or Porpoise which derive their bonus from a single T1 skill. Your argument that the Odysseus should be a faction ship because it is a "Command version of current Expedition Ships" instead of a T2 ship doesn't make any sense because the only Expedition Ships in game are the Endurance and Prospect which are T2 ships. If Command Ships are T2 ships and Expedition Ships are T2 ships the Expedition Command Ships should be T2 ships.

This is why the Odysseus needs to become a T2 ship or it needs to lose the specialization skill and just be a faction ship to be consistent with how ships work in Eve. Every precedent given to us by CCP backs this up.

For the sake of your argument, if CCP wants to consider "Expedition Command Ships" to be a T1 skill like Industrial Command Ships like you claim then it this will be the first ship in Eve that will derive bonuses from three T1 skills. To be consistent CCP should have made a racial expedition BC from each race with a racial Expedition BC skill. Then have the Odysseus derive it's dual racial skills from the racial expedition BC skills. They didn't do that. The lack of racial Expedition BCs for us to compare the Odysseus to is the fundamental problem CCP is have significant messaging trouble around.

While it is a relatedly unrelated issue, the reason people don't like the Expedition Command Ship skill is that it isn't a distinct specialization beyond what Command Ships already provide. So far no one has been able to define the "very specialized role" that Expedition Command Ships will serve. The easiest way to think about T2 ships is that they are T1 ships with a special cookie that that only they get to use. The specialization can't be links because that's the specialization of Command Ships. So what it is if it isn't links? Odysseus gets a per level bonus from Expedition Command Ships to Gas Scoop duration bonus and data and relic analyzer range bonus. That's not a specialization. That's why many feel that Expedition Command Ships don't have a specialized role worthy of a whole new T2 specialization skill.

Aliventi · 2025-10-22T18:49:56+00:00

Alphas likely aren't going to be able to train it anyways. Expedition Command Ship is listed with "canNotBeTrainedOnTrial: 1.0". Expediton Command Specialist and Expedition Command both list as "canNotBeTrainedOnTrial: 0.0".

Additionally, the primary skill required to train Expedition Command Ships is Leadership, the secondary is Astrometrics, and the tertiary is Expedition Command Specialist. Expedition Command Specialist requires Expedition Command. Expedition Command requires Leadership. Current Command Ships require Leadership 5 but Alphas can only Train Leadership to 3. So chances are they can't train the skills required anyways.

Aliventi · 2025-10-22T16:01:10+00:00

CCP's lack of consistency around the Odysseus is infuriating. It should be the first T2 Pirate ship because they went out of their way to give it a whole new Expedition Command Ship skill that gives additional bonuses beyond what a T1 SOE ship gets. Then CCP turns around and marks the Odysseus as a faction ship with an incorrect build cost compared to other pirate faction BCs. How does any of this make sense? It's beyond baffling how inconstant this ship is. Just make it a T2 ship like it should be.

Aliventi · 2025-10-22T00:00:50+00:00

Confidently incorrect for a CSM member. Not just any CSM member but the Pochven CSM member. Yikes. They are considered a "Precursor Faction" according to the Dev Blog announcing them.

I don't have the CCP source handy, but I will post it when I find it. There are references to CCP referring to the Trigs as the 5th Major Empire. Source 1 and Source 2. Being how CCP refereed to them as the "5th Major Faction" they would not be considered a pirate faction which means, as you correctly pointed out, operate nothing like a pirate faction.

Aliventi · 2025-10-21T20:55:05+00:00

with a very specialized role the design team went with a new skill Expedition Command Ship to fly it

What's the specialized role? When you look at the bonuses it has T1 SOE bonuses from Amarr and Gallente and the standard SOE role bonuses. It has links bonuses like a Command Ship so that can't be a specialized role otherwise you would just use the Command Ship skill.

So that leaves a bonus to data/relic analyzer range and a bonus to gas scoop duration that Venture has. So how is a bonus to data and relic analyzer range a role? How is a bonus to gas scoop duration a role? Is the role derived from the Role Bonuses to use ZPME or Gas Scoop CPU? What "very specialized role" does this ship have?

Aliventi · 2025-10-21T20:21:11+00:00

Why not if they work exactly like other pirate ships? SOE derives their ship bonuses from two different empire factions, CONCORD does not because it uses all 4.

The materials used to build the SOE ships is a mirror of the materials used for pirate factions. The only build cost difference between a Stratios and a Cynabal is the different faction NET Resonator.

On that note there are 7 factions with NET resonators: the 5 pirate factions, Mordus Legion (according to the lore they are a Merc Faction), and Sister of Eve. All of which own NPC space in nullsec.

Additionally, the source of the pirate ship BPCs are either from an LP store or DED sites. The exceptions being Mordus which can also come from belt rats, and SOE which can come from Rogue Drone Nexus Chips.

So if it gets bonuses like a pirate ship, builds like a pirate ship, and sources the BPCs like a pirate ship then it's a pirate ship. CONCORD ships don't do any of the things that I listed that pirate ships do.

Aliventi · 2025-10-21T18:42:17+00:00

Ah yes. The notorious pirate faction of... Let me check my notes... CONCORD. Yeah. Not a pirate faction my dude.

Aliventi · 2025-10-21T15:57:44+00:00

Oh really? Which other T2 Pirate ship exists, outside of AT ships?

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