See this guide on official forums:
http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Character_creation
Before embarking on your first journey into EVE Online, you must first configure your character's appearance and identity. The first step is to choose the race of your character.
A unique name and appearance, created by you, identifies your character. During character generation you select your gender and race. The character creation tools offer you the opportunity to manipulate (or "morph") your facial features, creating a face unlike any other. The final result is your avatar portrait, which is visible to other players in several ways, including on our message boards and in-game chat channels.
When you log in for the first time, the first screen you will see is the "Choose Race" screen. When you have completed the creation process, your character identity will be saved here. You have the option of creating up to three characters rather than just one.
The character will then advance through a skill training system after play begins. You will learn with double the normal speed until you hit 1,6 Mio Skillpoints. The skill training system is explained later in this guide. There are no classes in EVE and no race is generally superior to another - at least not as far as the game mechanics are concerned. Which race is best for you is a matter of personal taste, based on which description intrigues you and how you wish to play the game.
Each char will have the following attributes
Charisma
Intelligence
Memory
Perception
Willpower
These attributes are important as they govern how quickly you can learn skills - anyone can learn anything - the TIME it takes to learn stuff is the key.
Current wisdom is suggesting that having many points of Charisma is wasted (unless you want to be a trader) as there are less skills and activities that rely on Charisma than other things.
Another thing to note is that being a pirate/pvp role is hard as a good skilled pilot will require a good level in all the other attributes.
Other wisdom therefore suggests a good starting set up is to have your Charisma as low as possible and a good even spread amongst your other attributes.
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All characters have five types of attributes that control their skill training time. Those attributes are:
Perception
Willpower
Charisma
Memory
Intelligence
Perception
Perception describes the situational awareness of the character and his ability to adapt and react quickly to a rapidly changing situation. Good perception helps the character train skills needed to fly and maneuver a spaceship and operate its weaponry.
Willpower describes the character's drive and determination. Willpower is very useful for commanders and allows for faster training of their leadership abilities.
Charisma describes the character's attractiveness to other people and how easy going he is. High charisma helps train skills related to dealings with computer controlled characters.
Memory describes the character's ability to store and retrieve data quickly and efficiently. Good memory makes complex and repetitive activities easier to perform, such as activities of manufacturing and production. Industry and Science skills use the Memory attribute.
Intelligence describes the character's capacity for creative and logic-based thinking and reasoning. Intelligence helps in scientific pursuits and other activities requiring good deductive skills.
Attributes are directly associated with skill training time. Skills are be linked to two attributes where the attribute score modifies the time it takes to train the skill.
The higher the attributes, the less time the skill needs to finish each level.
this proves it:
