EvE is a Stream – An Interview with Erstschlag

Hello everyone, this month I could win Erstschlag as an interview partner. He is best known for his Twitch channel of the same name and runs his own Discord for his community. I wanted to know a bit more about him and his life as a streamer and what he is doing in the world of EvE Online. Therefore without further prefaces we come directly to it. The interview was conducted in German and translated into English as good as the technology and my skills allow it.

Sendriss

Hello Erstschlag, first of all, thank you for your time. You are known to many in EvE as a streamer, who makes Twitch unsafe in the afternoon. Please introduce yourself and what you do in EvE.

Erstschlag

42, married, twins and software architect in “real” life. I’ve been playing EVE since 2003, with long breaks. Since 2015, however, practically continuously. Generally I do a lot with exploration (hacking & combat) as well as Abyssals. Since about a year I’m also part of a regular PvEvP fleet together with other content creators.

Sendriss

So also an old hand who has already experienced a lot in EvE. What is your personal favorite content, both off- and onscreen?

Erstschlag

Combat Exploration behind enemy lines.

Sendriss

You can see that very well in your stream, especially when EvE offers events. How did you actually get into streaming?

Erstschlag

After my WoW time (I was a raid leader for a long time) I was looking for a way to play an MMO “solo”, but not alone. Streaming was an interesting approach. In the beginning it was also a kind of social experiment. I asked myself how and if a stream without voice but with camera would work. At a certain point I exploded too often (in EVE) while typing in the chat, so I opened the mic, haha.

Sendriss

Sounds like a very interesting time, at least. Explosions are always something great in EvE. So in the beginning you regularly saw funny faces during explosions. Over time, your community has grown and you have a certain influence on your community. You use this not only for pure entertainment but also to start the one or other project. At the moment the CSM 17 is also something in focus for you. Can you tell us something about it?

Erstschlag

I followed the CSM 16 elections a bit last year and wondered if the CSM has generally been too null-block-heavy so far. As I understand it, nullsec players do not make up the majority of the playing field by any means. So this year I decided to use my modest reach to find independent voters who could support independent candidates. Surprisingly, other Creators came forward and the whole thing grew a bit. The goal is to create a ballot with the communities involved (a kind of primary election) that as many independent voters as possible will use to make a difference. The only limitation regarding candidates on our ballot is that the candidates are not supported by a big null block. They get their votes anyway.

Sendriss

So you are trying to break the dominance of the blocks from Null in the CSM, which in my eyes can’t hurt them. The more different game types or “areas” are represented, the more players are successfully represented. As I understand it, you are looking for candidates to have as much independence as possible in the CSM. Have you already found or been able to achieve something so far?

Erstschlag

We (myself and other Creators) are looking at candidates over the next few weeks who are null bloc independents. Different channels will have content about CSM and will point to our primary and look for more voters. Shortly before the end of the campaign phase, we will open the primary and ask the communities that participate to vote for their candidates. The candidates will then be entered on our ballot depending on the number of votes they have received. Currently there are already 350 interested players in our Discord server. We haven’t really made much “noise” yet, but that will change starting this weekend.

Sendriss

Has there been any reaction from the other side from the power blocks?

Erstschlag

Apart from some Nullblock candidates who also joined the Discord server, I haven’t noticed anything so far. But I have not actively “searched” for it. I can imagine that there is still something coming, or not. I have no idea what I am doing.

Sendriss

So you don’t know what you’re doing? But it sounds very concrete and like a meaningful project. But you provide me with the appropriate cue for my next questions or rather for the question what the hell just happened here. Since you show a lot of his EvE life in the stream, the question must naturally follow. Were there situations where you just asked yourself what the hell is happening here right now? Either in the chat or in the game. Do you have a special scene in mind?

Erstschlag

My “strongest” memories during my streaming time were always the charity streams. It was always very impressive how the community gives everything to help. I remember a $1000 donation from an individual for a piece of music I played during one of those streams. (I played piano for a very long time and made various recordings. I am very reluctant when it comes to sharing these pieces, but for charity I find it appropriate to give a little “more”).

Sendriss

I think I was able to see part of the stream. And if I remember correctly, you’re not really untalented when it comes to that. So I think we’re happy about every charity stream from you, in the hope that something like that doesn’t have to be necessary.

In the context of the streams, including the charity streams, you are relatively closely networked with other streamers, but especially in the English-speaking world. I remember well a scene where you let out the Swiss for, I think it was Neovenator. How come you prefer to stream in English?

Erstschlag

I speak mostly English at home and at work. By the way, I learned English mainly through EVE Online from 2003 on. Without EVE my answer to the very first question would probably have been very different. Respectively pretty sure it would never have been asked, haha.

Sendriss

Hehe, there sees once again EvE forms. Not only Excel skills are trained, but also the language. Let’s get back to the game itself for a moment. What is your favorite ship and why?

Erstschlag

Loki, because of its flexibility. Whether combat exploration or events, the Loki never fails!

Sendriss

And it looks damn good, too. I agree with you accordingly.

Erstschlag

cough

Sendriss

Well, you’re right. It is rusty, there are visually more beautiful. What would be your favorite ship visually?

Erstschlag

Stratios!

Sendriss

That is a statement. Then I thank you very much for your time. I think we could learn some interesting information about your life in EvE and something about you as a streamer.

Erstschlag

You’re welcome, thanks for the interesting interview!

 

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Among all comments to this interview I raffle some partner skins of the Ferox.