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[Jace]

I am curious as to why people constantly make one-person shell corps. It seems to me that it would be very easy to join up with other RPers who have one-person shell corps and thus create more public RP opportunities, as well as have nice internal storylines going. If everyone involved knew it was still largely a shell corp, meaning no significant operations, it would be very easy to have that be the case ICly - have a larger shell corp be ICly more of a loose association for RP purposes instead of one of those shell corps that claims to be doing all of these in-game things that it actually never does.

And no, this isn't a half-assed recruitment thread. I am just curious.

tl;dr: Why do you prefer one-person shell corps, or why do you not like them?

[Arnulf Ogunkoya]

Well I created the Clan Ogunkoya corporation for one of my alts because I think it's a bit chickenshit to stay in an NPC corporation for any longer than is needed. Also the background stuff about the Tribal Council sparked an idea for a personal plot thread and the corp is a tool for expressing that. If other people want a part of that I'm happy, but I'm equally happy having him be the sole capsuleer representative for a baseliner clan.

[Jace]

Yeah, I have to admit shell corps tend to make more sense ICly when people incorporate baseliners into their corp history/structure. That's how I explain brand new capsuleers in my corps - recruited from baseliners in the Academy.

Edit: I suppose I should clarify that, because all new capsuleers are being recruited out of some kind of academy. I meant IC backstory extending with the character far earlier than their academy graduation.

[Esna Pitoojee]

In my experience, single-person corps tend to appear for a handful of very specific reasons:

- Dissatisfaction with other existing options.
- Desire to use in a personal story or arc, especially for being representative of something.
- Desire to be able to make decisions regarding the corp - going to war, offices, etc.
- Wardec avoidance.
- And of course, NPC corp avoidance.

As an example, in the past I joined another player to make a two-man corp in FW - certainly not a gameplay style lacking for corps - simply because at that point no other corps that met our interests (RP-heavy, nonrestrictive about ships, in FW) existed.

[Shiki]

From a player perspective, I prefer them since I am willful and selfish with my time, whilst simultaneously lacking any of the necessary faculties to draw people under 'my banner'.

In character terms, my Minmatar is caught up in family and personal matters, focused more on what others feel she should be doing than what she wants to do. I've considered following in Arnulf's footsteps with her, creating a public face for her clan, but she hasn't earned the respect among her people for that to make any sense IC.

Shiki has also considered striking out on her own, but that would mean shifting from research to administrative duties, spending far too much time trying to secure funding and making sure all the red tape is neatly arranged while missing out on making real scientific progress. She'd rather pay her tax to the Corp and let them worry about the overhead so she can focus on her passion.

So yeah, I'm in favor of the one-member shell corp and have characters perfectly suited to not being in one.

[kalaratiri]

Kala is in her one-woman corp as it allows her to award herself lots of stupid titles, and means I'm not clogging up other people's corps with inactive characters.

Also means when I eventually return, I will be able to war dec peeps :3

[Utsukushi Shi]

One man corps? I have one man alliances.....

[Merdaneth]

Welcome to the world of EVE RP politics.

If you are a member of a corp, you'll constantly have to worry that the things you do and say don't violate corp policy and cause bad PR for the corp.

If you run your own corp, you'll constantly have to worry that the things your corp members do don't violate your corp policy and cause bad PR for the corp. And worry about alt spies, traitors and similar other fun RP arcs.

Also, as a corp leader you have a certain responsibility to the members to show leadership, presence and promote activity.

Running a corp in EVE is a lot harder than running one IRL. IRL at least you don't have an unreliable bunch of volunteers that don't have any form of accountability.

Short story long: being a corp member or corp leader can be a lot of hassle and not a lot of fun, hence shell corps.

[Iwan Terpalen]

Incidentally, if you run a company IRL by using your employees' dependence on their salary as your only lever, rather than (say) good, actual management, well.

The reason your coffee does not taste funny to you is because you've never tasted coffee without urine in it.

[V. Gesakaarin]

The reason your coffee does not taste funny to you is because you've never tasted coffee without urine in it.

When you have to live on cheap instant coffee most days at work, urine will probably enhance the flavours.

[Katrina Oniseki]

[V. Gesakaarin]

Remember, always use that catheter when in the pod to prevent those Bear Grylls moments.

[Sofia Roseburn]

I'm so bitter I piss caffeine.

[Jace]

Welcome to the world of EVE RP politics.

If you are a member of a corp, you'll constantly have to worry that the things you do and say don't violate corp policy and cause bad PR for the corp.

If you run your own corp, you'll constantly have to worry that the things your corp members do don't violate your corp policy and cause bad PR for the corp. And worry about alt spies, traitors and similar other fun RP arcs.

Also, as a corp leader you have a certain responsibility to the members to show leadership, presence and promote activity.

Running a corp in EVE is a lot harder than running one IRL. IRL at least you don't have an unreliable bunch of volunteers that don't have any form of accountability.

Short story long: being a corp member or corp leader can be a lot of hassle and not a lot of fun, hence shell corps.

I understand all that. My question was, since people create shell corps due to the things you mentioned, why don't people make multi-person shell corps? Little expected, much like a shell corp, but still providing some RP opportunities along the way while giving a great deal of freedom to play how you wish.

[Desiderya]

Tiny pool of active players,
huge pool of possibilities.

RPers don't want to compromise with the angle they want to play!
-> 1 man corps.
Ninjaedit:
Also ppl tend to prefer speaking for [Organisation] due to self-importance as they favour 'fluff' over in-game assets, deeds, creds.
1man Corporation X PLEDGES SUPPORT TO CASE Y! HOW VERY IMPORTANT.


That aside, game mechanics say: 1 man corps might make you decable but give you that sweet, sweet gift of tax evasion if your main income comes from ratting/missions. It also makes (usually in the form of 1man+alts) advanced industry requiring a POS possible.