EVE touts itself as a sandbox game and that it is the ultimate MMO for freedom of choice in what actions a player can take. One that that annoys me is that this is not true. Especially in high sec space.

In high sec non-combat vessels are at the mercy of anyone willing to take the loss of a a combat ship. They can train up a high sec alt, get into a destroyer and then go freely gank anyone they want in high sec - because they know good and well that the only assistance a lone miner or freighter pilot might receive is from Concorde; and Concorde does not always arrive in a timely manner to assist the pilot that is in desperate need of help.

So, I say give non-combat ships a GÇ£Mayday ButtonGÇ¥.

Just like in the real world when you are in trouble you can put out a distress call and ask for any ships in the area to provide assistance. In the case of EVE non-combat ships can use the Mayday system to request the assistance of other players in the same star system, who are in combat ships, and willing to come to their aid. Only non-combat ships have this button.

All a player would need to do when they are attacked is push the Mayday button and a signal would be transmitted to all combat ships in the system requesting immediate assistance to protect them from a ship/s that have taken hostile action against them. Players that accept this call to assist will be given the info on the ship/s involved and where they are located so they can, if need be, jump to that location to engage the aggressor ships and assist the pilot in need.

People seem to think that all the people that fly in high sec are nothing but a bunch of carebears. I donot believe that is the case. I think some people choose to play the game on different terms. ItGÇÖs not that they donGÇÖt wish to participate in the glory of blowing **** up, itGÇÖs that they donGÇÖt wish to deal with all the BS that takes place in null and low sec. I think given the chance to fight many people in high sec would fight. This is a way for them to do it and not in some weird arbitrary war - like RvB type weird way. This would open up high sec for all combat pilots to come to the aid of their fellow pilots and blow **** up - for good.

LetGÇÖs give the good a chance to actually fight back. Without having to be a member of a corp or be in a fleet or whatever. Just give non-combat ships a Mayday button and let the combat people in ships come to their aid - if they choose to do so.

This would not replace Concorde. Concorde will still come blow your arse up if you break the law. This is a secondary system put in place because some times Concorde is slow to respond. This is a way for players of high sec to step in ahead of Concorde and help police their own space.

Players that respond to such a mayday call do not stay flagged red. When the aggressor ship/s are destroyed they will go back to a neutral state. Should the ships coming to the aid of a distressed ship get destroyed Concorde will still respond - this does not replace Concorde.

How to avoid people abusing this system?

Only ship/s involved in the attack on the non-com ship are flagged and open to be attacked by those coming to the aid of the non-com. So that means someone cannot have a large group of buddies sitting in wait to jump on ship/s who come to the defense of others. If they do fire on the ships that come to the aid of the non-com they are flagged by Concorde accordingly and will be destroyed.

Now is there a chance that someone will set traps like have a friend in a freighter make a mayday call so that he and his buddies can jump anyone that comes to the aid of the freighter. This is where it is at the discretion of the combat pilots if they wish to provide aid based on the number of attackers. LetGÇÖs say somone gets the ideal to place a heavily armored hulk in a asteroid - form a fleet with say 20 plus ships and then proceed to have the pilot make a mayday call to pull player/s into their trap. It would be at the discretion of the player as to whether or not they will confirm to assist based on information regarding the parties involved.

When a mayday call is sent, the info of every ship involved would be made available to pilots who will assist in the non-com in their overview. The player can then decide if they will assist or not. Anyone would be able to see the number of ships attacking and the number of ships assisting in their overview.

So, with that said, a Mayday system in the game of EVE would open up high sec to allow people to provide combat assistance to those that are not capable of defending themselves.


Discuss freely.