I allways was into PVP and wanted to try EVE. However isnt there an open ended skill set? If you join now there is now way to catch up correct?
Correct, but incorrect as well.
In the strictest sense of pure skill points, you will never catch up to a player who has been playing for years (and consistently training their character).
The caveat is, there is a limit to how many skill points are useful at a given time. At some point you maximize your skills in a given area (or given race) and you have to start training something else (either other ships, races, industry, or mining).
For example:
Say you have a newer player (played for a year or so) that has decided he wants to fly interceptors (small and FAST frigates used to hold enemy ships in place so the bigger ships can kill them... i.e. VITAL in fleet/gang warfare). That person has maximized all the skills needed to fly that interceptor and the modules he fits to it.
Along comes a Veteran who has played for 4 years in an interceptor. He has also maximized all the skills needed to fly that interceptor. Guess what, you two are equal in terms of skill points (experience is a different matter). He could have 100x the skill points you do, but in that interceptor he is using a fraction of his total points because he also has maxed the skills for that ship fitting.
The true advantage of players who have played a while is in their wider selection of ships and equipment. In addition to an interceptor, they may be able to fly Recon ships, Covert Ops, Heavy Assault, Battleships, and Carriers as well. Instead of being good at flying 3 different types of ships, they may be skilled in 13.
When it comes to PvP, nothing is more dangerous to a Vet than a fleet of newbies coordinating their attacks. I have seen a 3 year vet lose to 5 newbies in frigates. He got overconfident and they punished him for it.
to maintain the amount of space they hold. Especially with a good portion of it being relatively crappy (compared to Delve at least).
