Astar Null
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Posted - 2005.10.17 22:39:00 -
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This is an observation of PVP combat in 0 space between alliances.
I have noticed an alliance can spend billions on Outposts and POS but really can't fortify their space in any real manner beyond warp bubbles. Attacking alliances can fly nearly anywhere unless there is an overpowering force to stop them. A defending alliance cannot use the local 'terrain' or infrastructure investments to create defensible positions where an attacking force is at a disadvantage or herd the attackers a specific direction.
As the game mechanics sit right now, imho, there is little benefit to a strong defense. It's much better to go rampaging through your enemies territory rather than try to protect yours. In reality (for what thats worth!) defending nations can strengthen their defenses to reduce the manpower required to turn away an attacker. Right now EVE does not have such a game dynamic.
I don't have too many ideas to solve this, but that's why i'm posting this :)
Some proposals to allow alliances to 'defend' their space.
Gun / Missile batteries: These (and all other structures mentioned) would require an initial cost as well as maintenance to keep them running. These batteries would not be uber station/empirejumpgate sentry guns but much weaker, designed to harm anyone who hangs around the gate for more than a few seconds. They would have longer lock times and do the equivalient of 425 / 1400 / mega beam laser / torp damage. Ships which AB/ MWD from 15km in could easily avoid a lock and taking fire. Gun / Missile batteries would have very strong shield / armor (?40k?) So a Gankogeddon could not kill it instantly. As the battery would be much weaker than POS weapons a dread could deal with it easily. Mounting webbers or warp scramblers is an option, but I feel it would make the defenses too strong.
Why have alliance jump gate batteries if they are so weak then? A small fleet of defending ships would have a strong motivation to guard the expensive guns and rely on their support. A small fleet of tanked, scrambling, webber ships could pin the attacking ships down while the big guns smash them.
Since the batteries would be computer run they would be easy to outsmart and thus need to be guarded.
Scan probe launcher A fixed emplacement that uses scan probes to find enemy safespots within the system. An attackers tactical flexibility would be reduced dramatically if they knew a structure was automatically scanning for them as soon as they jumped in. This may take a bit more programming to set up, but why should an enemy be able to wander about your home system?
Repair station These are automated repair stations. Fly in with your ship and 'dock'. The structure automatically recharges your cap, sheilds and repairs your armor and structure. The station would have a repair rate for all of the above so if 5 BS's dock its going to take longer to repair all of them versus just one docking. (Come to think of it, why don't POS's have these modules?)
Shield Modules Use in conjuntion with the above sensor systems, a shield module prevents combat fire in EITHER direction. Those with authorization can fly in and out but cannot fire, EW, scramble, web, etc. through the shield. A repair station can be place inside, and a guard can watch from within the protected field without getting instaganked.
These are just a few ideas of structures that an alliance can invest in to reduce the ease of entry into their space. I'm not suggesting allowing the creation of an inpenetrable fortress, but a defense network that takes some effort to breach...
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