Creating 51-day-freebie accounts for utility alts
When you're about to add 30 days of play time to your main account or to a paid alt account, pause and consider. You can parlay the same amount of cash, PLEX, or ISK into 30 days of play time PLUS a 51-day-freebie alt account by using the Buddy Program. (Note: a rule change in December 2012, disallowing PLEX-for-PLEX rewards, prevents us from getting more than one 51-day-freebie per paid month. Oh well.)
To make your 51-day-freebie alt, first send yourself a 21-day buddy offer as above. Set up a character on the new account by following the email link. Then, trade a PLEX to the new trial account (the easiest way is to use two EVE-capable computers, since you can't run a subscribed and a trial account on the same computer at the same time), or give ISK to the new account and buy a PLEX with it (if you have only one computer available), or simply pay cash. Add 30 days to the trial account, making it a fully active unrestricted account with 51 days left on it. If you've used a valid payment method (cash or PLEX, but no CD keys like from Steam), your main account will receive a choice of reward including 30 days of play time (or a PLEX if you've paid cash).
Congratulations! By applying your 30 days of credit to the new buddy alt instead of to your main, you've gained a 51-day-freebie alt to use for hauling (including industrials), salvaging, scouting (including cloaking), or even combat assistance, and you have still received the same 30 days on your main. When the 51 days are up, LET THE ALT LAPSE if you want to keep the net cost at zero, and simply create a new freebie once per paid (or PLEXed) month. It's a force multiplier!
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