Draco Argen
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Posted - 2009.03.02 18:19:00 -
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As my tuppence, having read a scattering of player and CCP posts. And now having gone to a sleeper pocket.
Dam good fun. I took a Tengu to see how it fares against it's kin, not so bad, not so great, but that's like saying i took a car to a race...given the varied nature of the Tengu.
I died, (blew up) when i eventually was scrammed and my piers had happened to already warp away, but this was the second wave of Sleepers. This was a rag tag bunch of BS, BCs and me (5 in total i think).
Ignoring the technical issues for a moment (Cloud caused horrendous flicker for all involved, especially me on Linux/wine);
Dam good fun. 100% less stress than PVP, though also less adrenalin. But proportionally better than PVE on gank Lvl 4's (which is dam boring imo). And I like my Pvp in general, stress included.
It genuinely hit the excitement of exploration, although I suspect that will wear off eventually.
The changes in AI mean you can learn tactics to balance the damage across each other, and you can benefit from working together. Including turning off certain weapons/mods to reduce your threat, etc. However it's unlike PVP where if you don't work together (Specifically more "together" than your opponent) you die, badly. In this you can get away partially with being a bit novice and rushing in there with 4 others guys you just met, in a disco-ordinated bunch and have fun. Or you can progressively work up tactics and team work to die less and kill more.
They are not super hard, but as a swarm they can easily get the better of you. They certainly keep coming, eventually over whelming you/your fleet. (Visual effect of a load of sleepers swarming in from 90k and launching missiles, that ultimatle wouldnt all make contact, was awe inspiringly scairy, but the *smash pop die* part didnt happen, instead it broke into a dog fight)
I think this is a new form of Eveplay, PVAI if you will. Some PVE players will never touch it, some will try it an never try PVP, some will play PVAI and lead onto PVP. Each player has a choice, for now. Personally keeping some dumb AI as a bottle feeding mechanism for new players, and those of a timid and yet destructive nature will please the most.
I personally was scared witless when that first tutorial bot started shooting as a nublet, that i would die quickly from inaction or mistake. If i had i wouldn't have kept playing for 4 years, instead my concern lessened and i became bolder. More willing to risk and loose things, piece by piece.
The occasional and gradual introduction of pansy/weak but clever and evasive high sec rats may also provide a more entertaining newb career to start you off.
Good effort guys, but keep your eyes on the financial and interest effects this can have. Ratting and missioning are a sustenance isk earning gameplay, and have many varied affects as such. Some people want brain numbing head banging duck shoots, sometimes i do. Hell Eve's markets and industry may rely on it :P
As it stands, good way to introduce it.
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