RogueCorp, Past and Future

Our story begins in the far-off past of 2003. Although I would like to say I was a part of Eve Online from the beginning, I would not learn about it for another eight years. Instead, I got my fix of space adventure in the form of Cowboy Bebop: Space Cowboy, a MUD based on the popular anime of the same name. For those not familiar, MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons) are text-based online games which preceded today’s MMORPGS (or graphical MUDs, as they were originally called). This was probably for the best, as I still had dial-up internet at the time at a blistering 56 kb/s. I imagine the lag would have been absolutely brutal.

In CB:SC, I took on the role of Jerel Marshal Fletcher a bounty hunter turned street doctor. Originally, he was the CEO of Rogue Pharmaceuticals which operated as a front for his illicit drug business. However, as his business expanded into industry and manufacturing it began operating under the name RogueCorp. It was through his business success that he was able to fund The Rogues, a team of scoundrels and ruffians who worked to keep the solar system safe at all costs. At least, that was the RP of it. In reality, the purpose of The Rogues was to engage new players in order to improve retention rates. We provided quality starting gear and guidance to help them get straight to the fun and avoid much of the grind. Our mission was so successful that the game’s moderators began to take action against us because we were interfering with the existing clan structure in the game. At its peak, 50% or more of the active players were “Rogues”.

Of course, MUDs rapidly grew out of favor with high-speed internet and the variety of MMORPGs available. So, when I heard about Eve Online, I know that I wanted to get involved and bring RogueCorp along for the ride. So, I signed in… tried it out for about a week and made RogueCorp. Unfortunately, not only did I have no idea how to play, I had no idea how to run a corporation. Of course, the argument could be made that I still don’t but that is beside the point. The point is that my initial run at RogueCorp ended with betrayal and a loss of all our assets. Although I would keep the corp as a holding place for my neutral alts , it wasn’t until 2021 that I began actively recruiting and trying again.

Although we aren’t seeing the same spectacular growth we did initially, our progress is steady and every day we come closer to our initial goals. RogueCorp, and The Rogues, has always been about helping new players get their feet under them. And we are slowly, but surely, developing the infrastructure, leadership, and organization to make that happen. In the coming months we will see changes to the HMA, a “revival” of Guerrilla Fleet, a more usable Discord, and more instructional content put out by RogueCorp Studios. Although nothing is certain in life, or EVE, I am hopeful that we will continue to mark our mark both locally and in the larger world of New Eden.

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