This is a bit of a weird question, but, my interest kind of hinges on it.

If I don't use a mic, will I be able to get far? I know I might need it for large battles and such, but other than that, will I have a hard time getting into meaningful corps or experiencing a lot?

For some reason, I keep getting an impression that players will require it in their corps, something I've never really felt with any other MMO.

Is this the case? I really don't like the idea of playing MMO's with voice communications. Don't really know why, I just don't.

If you want to do any kind of organized PVP, you need to be able to at least HEAR, having a mic to speak is not necessary as you can type responses back in the respective channels.

its preferred, but a mic isn't required.  If its voice communication in general you're against, then eve is still a fun game - but many of the major pvp and pve corps require comms (at least listening) to be able to coordinate with other members on missions, battles, etc.

You can experience all the economics eve has to offer without voice comms.

Hope this helps.

Oh, I don't really any problems with hearing , and I don't mind using it when crucial. But, I was just asking if there are a lot of "Use a mic or we won't let you in" corps.

So, as long as I can hear voices, it won't cause a problem trying to get into corps of whatnot? What I'm against is guilds/corps where voice comm is the primary form of communication. Are those kinds especially prevalent, or is it just like any other MMO?

It's a mix, you'll find corps that swear by it and corps that just type everything.  Most corps will require you to hear and will use that as their primary way to communicate - its just easier to be honest.

But they probably won't have a problem recruiting you if you can hear and type responses when needed.  Just be upfront with them about how you feel and everything will be fine.  Eve's a massive place, you'll fit right in no matter how you play or communicate - just be patient and open to learning :)

There might be a few corps out there that don't require any sort of voice comms but those are few and far in between. At the very least listening on Vent/TS/EVE Speak is required but it will suck big time to have to type everything out during a fleet battle or gang op into fleet chat.

There are no in game macros to make it easier on you either. Sure you can get away with typing but voice comms are so much more useful in this game then other MMOs and in many cases give you a critical edge in pvp over just typing.

IF you want to play in the bigger and more hardcore corps/alliances, yes you gonna need voice software [ ts / Vent ] and AT least be able to listen.

Still you can find corps not requiring it aswel.. just dont expect much of those in terms of hardcore playing thats all.

If you want to pvp you will need a mic and voice coms because if the corp doesn't demand it they probably die a lot and if you don't have one and the rest of the corp is on voice coms you will die a lot as you miss essential orders, for example a scout reports a 30 man hostile fleet landing on a gate you will miss the order to gtfo, you will miss target calling and basically be a liability.

Carebearing and industry does not really require it though.

Ever thought of using this: Voice changing software

Thanks for all the replies!

And about the voice changing thing, it's not a privacy thing or anything. It's just that it's always felt very (very!) awkward whenever I've tried it in other MMO's.

as in keybinding awkward? i use my mouse sidebuttons and push to talk, feels great.

Perhaps I just have a very unique experience, but in the few corps that I've been in (3 in as many years) there has never been a voice requirement.  It's used on an as-needed basis for convenience, and even in those cases it's mostly a "speak if you wish, but not required" situation.

I should point out, however, that the corps I've been in have not been "overly" PvP focused.  We do PvP, but it's not at the core of what we do.  I can only assume that as a corp's focus on PvP increases, so does their use/mandate of voice comms.

Active mic is indeed a req in most good PvP corps. There's no reason not to use one, and even if tyou're not a fleet com, your mic may still be needed for scouting, or telling that target is tackled, etc. In some corps people with muted mic are booted from their TS as counter-espionage practice.

A lot of corps have ventrilo or teamspeak chat rooms that most of the corp socializes on. It depends on the corp but you won't get the sense of fraternity in some corps without a mic. The eve chat will be empty but ventrilo might be bumping.

You will be just fine without using voice. 

That said,  you will probably need to do something other than fleet warfare. 

There are mechanics in fleet warfare to minimize comms chatter, but they do not take the place of the neccessity for comms.

EVE is a big place with lots to do.

All the best 

Wydo