I agree with most everything already stated in this thread ESPECIALLY OPEN FLEET ADVERTS PLEASE! Just think of the emergent gameplay that could develop out of the ability to advertise an open fleet ... muhahaha!
Seriously, I for one would love not having to spend an hour before a two-to-three hour roam just fleeting up...
Billius Zabub wrote:That's the key idea behind NPSI and it's something that could help open EVE up to more people: lighter: more accessible pvp. Pvp is a lot of fun/excitement and EVE has a great system for it. But, there are arguably many barriers one has to overcome before getting into enjoyable pvp. These open NPSI fleets provide one of the easiest ways to jump right in.
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I see NPSI groups as a potential gateway into pvp (more enjoyable, sustaining play) for newer players and bored carebears.
CCP Rise's New Player Experience project should consider what these NPSI groups are doing and perhaps find a way to integrate or encourage these lighter, easier pvp groups so that new players will be more likely to get hooked on the best part of EVE.
Totally on the mark here, Billius. NPSI absolutely is a gateway drug into PVP for many, many pilots.
For me, by design, my Redemption Roams are kept smaller, faster and lighter on the wallet to specifically be less intimidating for new/newer players, while also engaging and fun for the more experienced pilots who join my roams. My entire fleet always gets such a kick out of it when a 2-week-old player joins our fleet - oftentimes I have to hand them a racial frigate skillbook or turret skillbook just to get them into a ship before we undock :) It's simply adorable!! Ganked has evolved into THE premiere community to get your big fleet fight fix with. Spectre offers drop-in fleets throughout most of the day, no need to set your alarm clock or mark your calender, just hop into chat and X up. Each of us offers something different to the community at large, but we all have one thing in common: You are always welcome, regardless of your experience.
We spread our addiction, our love, of PVP to others and we do it with the most gawd-awful fleet UI and a hodgepodge of out-of-game tools and in-game mailing lists and chat channels that only a sadist could have designed.... heheh...
But anyways, back to my point: I have lost count of how many people have had their first PVP experience be in one of my roams, then come back the next week, the week after, again and again, eventually stick their toes into the deep waters that is Ganked, or the now-defunct Bombers Bar, then Spectre, and others. As they gained confidence, they "graduated" to joining existing PVP corps, or starting their own, or just increasing the amount of PVP they do within their carebear corps.
There are numerous corps who send their new players on my roams right away, to get them over the fear of dying and to learn how to fly in a fleet without knowing they are actually learning ;)
But NPSI doesn't just offer new players a fun, no-pressure PVP environment; they also offer more experienced pilots a "safe" environment to try flying new roles such as scouting, skirmishing, logistics, or even fleet command! By "safe," I mean nothing "serious" is on the line :)
Numerous first-time FCs on my roams now FC for their own alliances several times a week. More skirmishers than I can count got their experience scouting and skirmishing for Ganked and Redemption before they started skirmishing for their own alliances and corps. There is a logi pilot I know who got recruited into one of the upper-tier alliance tournament teams after someone else saw him on one of my roams. Damn it, I wish I grabbed him first for my own team ;)
NPSI is not just about casual PVP roaming in a fun, carefree environment; we're not just creating community content and communities, we're helping develop the next generation of content creators, fleet commanders, hero tacklers and beloved logi pilots across New Eden.
Any UI changes, small features, or additions that CCP can make to the client to ease the organizing and operation of NPSI and other community events are little things that have huge payoffs in more ways than just NPSI.
GG