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Ship Customization: Time to Show Some SKIN

Interbus

Hello Capsuleers!

CCP Terminus here to talk about Super Kerr-Induced Nanocoatings (aka SKINs), the new visual customization system coming to the spaceships of New Eden.

Following the successful prototype Ship Painting Pilot Program we introduced last year and months of offering ship skins in the store, we have created a new more robust system, which provides a multitude of customization and usability benefits. It allows us to maintain and upgrade our ship catalog in a much more sustainable manner, and provides a multitude of interesting options for future developments. We believe the SKIN system will accentuate the visual experience of living in New Eden and allow you to put a personal mark on the ships you love most.

This blog will also go into the details on how we will be converting from the old system to the new SKINs, which will launch with 102 brand new SKINs. If you’re wondering how the old system worked or are curious as to the reasons behind the change, please reference CCP FoxFour’s excellent dev blog.

How many of you DIDN’T try to ship spin that amazing image? If you didn’t then I suggest leveling up your ship spinning skill and trying again.

Basics

With Ship Paint Pilot Program, you would manufacture a custom ship by combining a blueprint of a paint pattern and a packaged version of the base ship. This meant that the paint patterns fate was locked to the fate of the ship. So for instance, if you wanted to self-destruct a bunch of Interbus Moros’ instead of flying them halfway across New Eden, the paint style would go with it.

In contrast, the new SKIN system acts much closer to the way skillbooks work in EVE. Each SKIN variant comes as a SKIN item (a licensed pattern), which you can activate for your character or sell on the market. This character then has access to the SKIN for any ships that it applies to, meaning once you lose a skinned ship, you can simply hop in to another and reapply the SKIN pattern. If your character loses their pod and dies or jump clones from one location to another they will still have access to use all their SKIN’s.

So to recap:

Permanent SKINs

Permanent SKINs exist as items which are bought from the NES. Once activated for a character they last indefinitely, and allow that character access to visual variants for a certain ship or collection of ships. Other characters on the same account will not have access to the SKIN.

Time-Limited SKINs

Time-limited SKINs will drop in game and may be available through other means in the future. They work exactly like Permanent SKINs when interacting with them. The only difference is they do not last indefinitely. Time-Limited SKINs have the following properties:

The reasoning for having time-limited SKINs comes down to a few factors. First, we want the SKINs you find in-game to retain their ISK value by preventing market saturation over time. By having them time-limited, we create a continuing demand for the SKIN, which keeps the loot valuable. Time-limited SKINs also allow for a number of promotional opportunities like SKIN giveaways, and possible try-before-you-buy options in the future.

SKINs in Space

The selected SKIN can be changed at any time while you’re in space by opening your fitting window and selecting a new SKIN. Though the magic of nanites, electric fields, and SCIENCE! the outward appearance of your glorious ship changes before your very eyes.

If you are concerned about potential performance issues, you can turn off SKIN changes in space by deselecting “Inspace Skinning Effect” in the Display and Graphics menu. This will not prevent you or other players from changing your SKIN in space, but the effect will not be played and the model will not change until it is reloaded.

For now, there are certain technical limitations to when you can change your SKIN in space. You will not be able to change your SKIN under the following conditions:

Purchasing and Interacting with SKINs

The New Eden Store (NES)

Purchasing SKINs will work in the same way as all other purchases from the NES. Simply access the NES from the character selection screen or in-game from the sidebar. SKINs will have their own category in the NES.

Once a SKIN is purchased, the item will be placed in your account’s redeeming queue and can be redeemed for any character in that account as normal.

The Fitting Screen

Above: A player has the Nefantar SKIN active for their Rifter, is previewing the Krusual SKIN, and has clicked on the purchase for Aurum button for the Krusual SKIN.

The fitting screen allows you to purchase SKINs for the ship you are looking at directly from the left side menu. SKINs will always have a link to the appropriate market category for the SKIN, and they may also be purchased directly from the NES if the item is available. If there are any active time-limited SKINs the amount of time remaining will be shown beside the SKIN name.

In this location you can also preview SKINs you may want to purchase, and select your active SKIN from the list of purchased options. By clicking on a SKIN it will change the ships visuals. If the SKIN clicked on is part of the My SKINs category, this also sets that SKIN as the active one. If you wish to return the ship to its default visuals you can do so by simply de-selecting the currently active SKIN.

The 3D Preview Screen

The 3D Preview screen (accessed by clicking on the image icon in the Show Info window) will contain a copy of the left sidebar available in the fitting window. This sidebar will function exactly the same as the fitting window, with all of the purchasing and linking options. Because it can be of any ship, the 3D preview window will also allow you to preview and purchase any SKIN on any ship. 3D previews for specific SKINs are also linked from the show info window of a specific SKIN item. Simply find the SKIN item through in the market, or linked from the SKINs tab of the show info window for the desired ship. Then click on the hexagonal SKIN icon in the upper left to bring up the 3D preview.

The Character Sheet

The character sheet has been updated with a new SKINs section on the sidebar. This section will show you all the potentially available SKINs in the game, and all of the SKINs you currently own, with a countdown visible for time-limited SKINs. In this section, SKINs are divided in to factions/designer categories, allowing you to see the size of your collection both overall, and for a certain faction/designer.

Conversion and New SKIN Plans

The general conversion plans will give you a SKIN if you had a Blueprint perviously, or a SKIN and base ship if you had a skinned ship. If you do not have the ship at the time of conversion (ex. you sold it or it was blown up) you will not receive a SKIN. The conversion process is as follows:

As a way to reward early adopters of the Ship Paint Pilot Program, and in preparation for the new SKIN system release, all existing skin Blueprints will no longer be purchasable from the NES as of the publication of this dev blog.

Conversion List

The following existing ships will be converted to the new SKIN system:

Class Race Existing Item New Skin Price / Aquisition Preview
Frigate Amarr Punisher Kador Edition Punisher Kador SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Frigate Amarr Punisher Tash-Murkon Edition Punisher Tash-Murkon SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Frigate Amarr Sarum Magnate Magnate Sarum SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Frigate Amarr Tash-Murkon Magnate Magnate Tash-Mukron SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Frigate Caldari Merlin Nugoeihuvi Edition Merlin Nugoeihuvi SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Frigate Caldari Merlin Wiyrkomi Edition Merlin Wiyrkomi SKIN (Permanent) 740 Preview
Frigate Caldari Sukuuvestaa Heron Heron Sukuuvestaa SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Frigate Gallente Incursus Aliastra Edition Incursus Aliastra SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Frigate Gallente Incursus Inner Zone Shipping Edition Incursus Inner Zone Shipping SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Frigate Gallente Inner Zone Shipping Imicus Imicus Inner Zone Shipping SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Frigate Gallente Tristan Quafe Edition Tristan Quafe SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Frigate Minmatar Rifter Krusual Edition Rifter Krusual SKIN (Permanent) 740 Preview
Frigate Minmatar Rifter Nefantar Edition Rifter Nefantar SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Frigate Minmatar Vherokior Probe Probe Vherokior SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Navy Faction Frigate Gallente Police Pursuit Comet Police Pursuit Comet SKIN (Permanent) Concord LP Store Preview
Destroyer Amarr Coercer Blood Raiders Edition Coercer Blood Raiders SKIN (30 Days) Loot drop Preview
Destroyer Caldari Cormorant Guristas Edition Cormorant Guristas SKIN (30 Days) Loot drop Preview
Destroyer Gallente Aliastra Catalyst Catalyst Aliastra SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Destroyer Gallente Catalyst Serpentis Edition Catalyst Serpentis SKIN (30 Days) Loot drop Preview
Destroyer Gallente Inner Zone Shipping Catalyst Catalyst Inner Zone Shipping SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Destroyer Gallente Intaki Syndicate Catalyst Catalyst Intaki Syndicate SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Destroyer Gallente InterBus Catalyst Catalyst InterBus SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Destroyer Gallente Quafe Catalyst Catalyst Quafe SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Destroyer Minmatar Nefantar Thrasher Thrasher Nefantar SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Destroyer Minmatar Thrasher Thukker Tribe Edition Thrasher Thukker Tribe SKIN (30 Days) Loot drop Preview
Industrial Amarr Bestower Tash-Murkon Edition Bestower Tash-Murkon SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Industrial Caldari Tayra Wiyrkomi Edition Tayra Wiyrkomi SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Industrial Gallente Iteron Inner Zone Shipping Edition Iteron Mark V Inner Zone Shipping SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Industrial Minmatar Mammoth Nefantar Edition Mammoth Nefantar SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Cruiser Amarr Omen Kador Edition Omen Kador SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Cruiser Amarr Omen Tash-Murkon Edition Omen Tash-Murkon SKIN (Permanent) 1095 Preview
Cruiser Caldari Caracal Nugoeihuvi Edition Caracal Nugoeihuvi SKIN (Permanent) 2830 Preview
Cruiser Caldari Caracal Wiyrkomi Edition Caracal Wiyrkomi SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Cruiser Gallente Thorax Aliastra Edition Thorax Aliastra SKIN (Permanent) 2830 Preview
Cruiser Gallente Thorax Inner Zone Shipping Edition Thorax Inner Zone Shipping 1965 Preview
Cruiser Gallente Vexor Quafe Edition Vexor Quafe SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Cruiser Minmatar Stabber Krusual Edition Stabber Krusual SKIN (Permanent) 1095 Preview
Cruiser Minmatar Stabber Nefantar Edition Stabber Nefantar SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Battlecruiser Amarr Prophecy Blood Raiders Edition Prophecy Blood Raiders SKIN (30 Days) Loot drop Preview
Battlecruiser Caldari Ferox Guristas Edition Ferox Guristas SKIN (30 Days) Loot drop Preview
Battlecruiser Gallente Brutix Serpentis Edition Brutix Serpentis SKIN (30 Days) Loot drop Preview
Battlecruiser Minmatar Cyclone Thukker Tribe Edition Cyclone Thukker Tribe SKIN (30 Days) Loot drop Preview
Battleship Amarr Abaddon Kador Edition Abaddon Kador SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Battleship Amarr Abaddon Tash-Murkon Edition Abaddon Tash-Murkon SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Battleship Caldari Rokh Nugoeihuvi Edition Rokh Nugoeihuvi Edition SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Battleship Caldari Rokh Wiyrkomi Edition Rokh Wiyrkomi Edition SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Battleship Caldari Scorpion Ishukone Watch Scorpion Ishukone Watch SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Battleship Gallente Dominix Quafe Edition Dominix Quafe SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Battleship Gallente Hyperion Aliastra Edition Hyperion Aliastra SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Battleship Gallente Hyperion Inner Zone Shipping Edition Hyperion Inner Zone Shipping 2390 Preview
Battleship Gallente Megathron Quafe Edition Megathron Quafe SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Battleship Minmatar Maelstrom Krusual Edition Maelstrom Krusual SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Battleship Minmatar Maelstrom Nefantar Edition Maelstrom Nefantar SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Exhumer ORE Mackinaw ORE Development Edition Mackinaw ORE Development SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Capital Industrial Ship ORE Rorqual ORE Development Edition Rorqual ORE Development SKIN (Permanent) Market Preview
Dreadnought Amarr Revelation Sarum Edition Revelation Sarum SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Dreadnought Caldari Phoenix Wiyrkomi Edition Phoenix Wiyrkomi SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Dreadnought Gallente Moros Interbus Edition Moros Interbus SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Dreadnought Minmatar Naglfar Justice Edition Naglfar Justice SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview

As an addendum, there are a few ships we would like to convert over in the future, and will be doing so in subsequent releases.

New Ship SKINs Coming to the New Eden Store

Below is a list of all new SKINs which will be added to New Eden. All of the SKINs below will be available for purchase from the NES and can be resold on the market. If you are interested in purchasing Aurum in order to purchase SKINs from the NES, this can be done from the account management website.

Class Race Skin Price Preview
Frigate Amarr Crucifier Kador SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Frigate Amarr Crucifier Sarum SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Frigate Amarr Executioner Ardishapur SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Frigate Amarr Executioner Kador SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Frigate Amarr Inquisitor Khanid SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Frigate Amarr Inquisitor Tash-Murkon SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Frigate Amarr Magnate Ardishapur SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Frigate Amarr Magnate Tash-Murkon SKIN (Permanent) 740 Preview
Frigate Amarr Tormentor Ardishapur SKIN (Permanent) 740 Preview
Frigate Amarr Tormentor Sarum SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Frigate Caldari Kestrel Wiyrkomi SKIN (Permanent) 740 Preview
Frigate Gallente Atron Interbus SKIN (Permanent) 740 Preview
Frigate Gallente Atron Syndicate SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Frigate Gallente Imicus Syndicate SKIN (Permanent) 740 Preview
Frigate Gallente Maulus Inner Zone Shipping SKIN (Permanent) 740 Preview
Frigate Gallente Maulus Syndicate SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Frigate Gallente Navitas Syndicate SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Frigate Gallente Tristan Inner Zone Shipping SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Frigate Minmatar Slasher Krusual SKIN (Permanent) 740 Preview
Frigate Minmatar Vigil Krusual SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Destroyer Amarr Coercer Ardishapur SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Destroyer Amarr Coercer Sarum SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Destroyer Amarr Dragoon Kador SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Destroyer Amarr Dragoon Khanid SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Destroyer Gallente Algos Interbus SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Destroyer Gallente Algos Syndicate SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Destroyer Minmatar Talwar Sebiestor SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Industrial Amarr Sigil Kador SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Industrial Gallente Iteron V Interbus SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Cruiser Amarr Arbitrator Ardishapur SKIN (Permanent) 1095 Preview
Cruiser Amarr Arbitrator Kador SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Cruiser Amarr Augoror Ardishapur SKIN (Permanent) 1095 Preview
Cruiser Amarr Augoror Khanid SKIN (Permanent) 2830 Preview
Cruiser Amarr Maller Kador SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Cruiser Amarr Maller Tash-Murkon SKIN (Permanent) 1095 Preview
Cruiser Amarr Omen Sarum SKIN (Permanent) 2830 Preview
Cruiser Caldari Moa Laidai SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Cruiser Caldari Osprey Wiyrkomi SKIN (Permanent) 1095 Preview
Cruiser Gallente Celestis Interbus SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Cruiser Gallente Celestis Syndicate SKIN (Permanent) 1095 Preview
Cruiser Gallente Exequror Syndicate SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Cruiser Gallente Vexor Interbus SKIN (Permanent) 1095 Preview
Cruiser Gallente Vexor Syndicate SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Cruiser Minmatar Bellicose Krusual SKIN (Permanent) 1095 Preview
Battlecruiser Amarr Harbinger Kador SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Battlecruiser Amarr Harbinger Khanid SKIN (Permanent) 2830 Preview
Battlecruiser Amarr Oracle Khanid SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Battlecruiser Amarr Oracle Sarum SKIN (Permanent) 2830 Preview
Battlecruiser Amarr Prophecy Kador SKIN (Permanent) 2830 Preview
Battlecruiser Amarr Prophecy Tash-Murkon SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Battlecruiser Caldari Ferox Laidai SKIN (Permanent) 2830 Preview
Battlecruiser Caldari Naga Wiyrkomi SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Battlecruiser Gallente Brutix Roden SKIN (Permanent) 1095 Preview
Battlecruiser Gallente Brutix Syndicate SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Battlecruiser Gallente Myrmidon Interbus SKIN (Permanent) 2830 Preview
Battlecruiser Gallente Myrmidon Syndicate SKIN (Permanent) 1095 Preview
Battlecruiser Gallente Talos Duvolle SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Battlecruiser Gallente Talos Interbus SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Battlecruiser Minmatar Cyclone Krusual SKIN (Permanent) 1965 Preview
Battlecruiser Minmatar Hurricane Sebiestor SKIN (Permanent) 2830 Preview
Battlecruiser Minmatar Tornado Nefantar SKIN (Permanent) 1095 Preview
Battleship Amarr Apocalypse Ardishapur SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Battleship Amarr Apocalypse Kador SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Battleship Amarr Apocalypse Khanid SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Battleship Amarr Apocalypse Tash-Murkon SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Battleship Amarr Armageddon Kador SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Battleship Amarr Armageddon Tash-Murkon SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Battleship Caldari Raven Wiyrkomi SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Battleship Gallente Dominix Inner Zone Shipping SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Battleship Gallente Dominix Syndicate SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Battleship Gallente Megathron Inner Zone Shipping SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Battleship Gallente Megathron Syndicate SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Battleship Minmatar Tempest Krusual SKIN (Permanent) 1540 Preview
Battleship Minmatar Tempest Nefantar SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Battleship Minmatar Typhoon Krusual SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Exhumer ORE Hulk Buddy SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Exhumer ORE Skiff Buddy SKIN (Permanent) 2390 Preview
Ind. Command Ship ORE Orca Buddy SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Freighter Amarr Providence Ardishapur SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Freighter Amarr Providence Kador SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Freighter Caldari Charon Wiyrkomi SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Freighter Gallente Obelisk Inner Zone Shipping SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Freighter Gallente Obelisk Quafe SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Freighter Minmatar Fenrir Krusual SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Carrier Amarr Archon Kador SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Carrier Amarr Archon Tash-Murkon SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Carrier Caldari Chimera Laidai SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Carrier Gallente Thanatos Quafe SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Carrier Gallente Thanatos Roden SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Carrier Minmatar Nidhoggur Krusual SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Dreadnaught Amarr Revelation Kador SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Dreadnaught Caldari Phoenix Laidai SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Dreadnaught Gallente Moros Roden SKIN (Permanent) 3455 Preview
Supercarrier Amarr Aeon Khanid SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Supercarrier Amarr Aeon Sarum SKIN (Permanent) 6500 Preview
Supercarrier Caldari Wyvern Wiyrkomi SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Supercarrier Gallente Nyx Interbus SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Supercarrier Gallente Nyx Quafe SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Supercarrier Minmatar Hel Sebiestor SKIN (Permanent) 6500 Preview
Titan Amarr Avatar Kador SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview
Titan Amarr Avatar Khanid SKIN (Permanent) 6500 Preview
Titan Gallente Erebus Duvolle SKIN (Permanent) 6500 Preview
Titan Gallente Erebus Interbus SKIN (Permanent) 4300 Preview

FAQ

We would like to address some common questions which have been asked over the course of developing the SKINS feature:

Q) Why is there a lack of Caldari and Minmatar SKIN options?

A) It will require a little more time in order to address the disparity between the Amarr and Gallente versus the Caldari and Minmatar ship SKIN lines. We are aware of it and are working towards a state of greater parity.

Q) Does the skin for a T1 ship also apply to any T2 variants?

A) Unless the SKIN item specifically mentions it affects multiple ships it will only affect the ship hulls stated on the item. Therefore a Rifter Nefantar SKIN (Permanent) item will only work on a Rifter, not a Jaguar or Wolf for instance.

Q) Will SKINs follow a character if it is traded to another account?

A) Yes. Like skills, SKINs will transfer when you purchase a character from the Character Bazaar.

Q) Will the SKINs I have active be exposed in the API?

A) Yes, we plan on making that information available from the API, however it will not be available on launch.

Q) Will the active SKIN on a ship be shown in Killmails?

A) On initial release we will not be recording the active SKIN for a ship when it is destroyed. However, we do realize the rich tradition of celebrating the loss of something shiny and it is on our list for further developments in the future.

Thank you for taking the not-insubstantial time to read this dev blog, and remember to fly safe! (Especially with those skinned ships!)

See you in the comments section for this blog.

CCP Terminus on behalf of Team Size Matters

@CCP_Terminus

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