Candidate: The Black Jackal

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Campaign statement

My campaign is built upon multiple pillars. From NPE and Immersion, to PvE, Drone warfare, and as important as all these are, making sure DUST 514 is AS GOOD as the newly announced Project Legion in it's gunplay, if not it's MMO elements.

Even if it requires the reduction of DUST 514 to a centrally lobby-shooter with little MMO action, I will push for DUST 514 to be a good way to 'shoot people in the face' as much as Project Legion could be.

When it comes to Project Legion, I plan to give it may all as well, wherever we are asked for input, in order to present Project legion as 'the game' DUST could (and should) have been and will use both my professional training, and home-based skillsets to ensure that BOTH of these goals are met.

Experience in Dust

In DUST 514, I founded The Southern Legion, one of the strongest, (and still strong) Australia / New Zealand focused Corporations for DUST, based on DUST-EVE interaction at it's core. I led this corporation for over a year, and in that time, handled innumerable conflicts both internally and externally.

I have also played DUST 514 since Replication Build, during Closed Beta, and have a good working knowledge of most aspects of the game from the viewpoint of a 'thinker'. This means that while my gun game may not be as advanced as others, I am able to anticipate moves, and counter them and achieve victory, instead of outgunning them. (It doesn't always work at a combat level, but it IS fun.)

Real life experience

In real life, I am a Homemaker, doing an online, 'open course' study of Computer Programming with a slant towards games development. I have also worked across several industries, including the Textiles Industry (Dry-Cleaning), Construction (General Labour and Excavator/Bobcat Operator), Sales and marketing, as well as food preparation.

This broad base background has grounded me in reality, but allows me to strive to achieve more. So while aware of what I 'can' do, I will always strive to do those things better, and aim for greater things by building on that solid foundation.

Questions

What are the top three issues currently facing Dust 514 and why?

First off is player disillusion. The core of DUST 514 was struck hard by the announcement of Project Legion, and this has led to a great many people leaving the game, or sticking around and telling everyone how the game was 'betrayed'. Secondly is the harsh way it treats new players, leading to low 'Player Retention', which diminishes the population even more. Without new players coming in, the population stagnates, and shrinks. The third is the gameplay itself is only half completed, something that was halted by Project Legion coming as a focus. While CCP is attempting to rectify the situation and 'fix' some of the issues, they are only at a small portion of their strength doing so.

Why will you be an effective CPM member?

I am a team player, both from a professional Standpoint, as well as my home life. When you're in a relationship, especially ones with kids, you get a feel for where the line is drawn, how much you can do on your own, and how much you need to do in order to 'get the job done' without getting overly aggressive, threatening, or abusive. Leading to mature interaction between equals, rather than an abusive, ignored child screaming at their parents.

In what way do you think the CPM can be improved?

The CPM can be improved by having less restrictions placed on their communications outwards. There are many things limited by NDA, and they SHOULD be, but some things seem to be under that same protection but would be better opened up so the community could be involved.

If a player wants to get in touch with you, the best way to contact you is:

The DUST Forums and Skype are the two 'best' ways. Being Australian means that my times of activity can be difficult to catch me online for a particular Time Zone, but if arranged ahead of time, I can be fully available for most any hour of the day. You can also EVE Mail myself as The Black Jackal, or as my EVE Character Hunter Blake, or you can e-mail me at the_black_jackal@hotmail.com.au. I love reading the messages I've received through my e-mail as they often have great feel and passion behind them.

What is your opinion on Project Legion?

My opinion of Project Legion is that it is something that needed to come about in some way, shape, or form to advance the game to the levels CCP wants the games to interact. However, they could have done it a different way, or promised a little more in the way of future port back to console in tandem with it's more streamlined development on PC.