10.1 What is the Intertellar Services Department?
The Interstellar Services Department (ISD) is a group of volunteers who graciously share their free time in order to assist in a variety of tasks that all go towards supporting and enriching the players experiences in the world of EVE. They answer questions, help hunt down and resolve problems, provide news and fiction as well as acting as good-will ambassadors throughout the community.
10.2 What kinds of things do ISD volunteers do?
There are several branches in the program and each has its own area of interest. These vary from new player support to in game news reporters.
- Support Team and Resources (STAR) is the new player support team. They focus their attention on providing assistance to the new players of this world by greeting new players personally and giving advice through rookie help channel which players are able to enter and get quick answers to their questions about EVE.
- Interstellar Correspondents (IC) are volunteer reporters that together act as the in-game news agency, brining all of the events, politics and wars from across EVE straight to your browser.
- Mercury (M) works closely with CCPs content division to create new fiction and stories thus enriching the fictional background of the EVE universe.
- Equipment Certification and Anomaly Investigations Division (ECAID) is the group more commonly referred to as the bug hunters. They work with CCP's QA department to test equipment and features on our test servers before these things are implemented on the live server, Tranquility.
10.3 Who’s eligible to participate as an ISD volunteer?
Any EVE player over the age of 18 with an account in good standing may apply for a position. Applications are reviewed and candidates must successfully complete an interview and training process before they are inducted into the team of their choice.
10.4 What prevents volunteers from gaining an unfair advantage over other players?
Volunteers have little or no in-game abilities. They do not have access to the account information of players nor do they have the ability to create high-end items in the game. They do not receive special items or equipment for their play characters. Their actions are closely monitored and they are not privy to information that is highly confidential.
10.5 But haven’t there been allegations of abuse of power by the volunteers?
Allegations, yes, but upon investigation, nearly all of these cases are proven to be false. To those outside ISD, the program is mysterious and the object of frequent misconceptions about what the volunteers can and cannot do. These misconceptions make the volunteers an easy target. We take accusations of abuse of power or other wrongdoing by the volunteers very seriously and investigate each thoroughly by our Internal Affairs department. On the rare occasion when a volunteer has broken the rules, he has been swiftly dismissed.
10.6 How can I apply for the ISD?
Log in to the EVE Player website and go to the sign-up page. Due to the volume of applications received, we regret that we are unable to respond to all applicants. If your application is approved, you will be contacted with further information about interviewing and training.
