Jade Constantine
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Posted - 2003.08.08 11:14:00 -
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On the whole I think some kudos is due for CCP and the artist chap (Torfi) for making the best they could out of the little fiasco. Hearts were in the right place, and the intentions were good, cool, lets move on and cross our fingers that the next roleplaying-orientated event *is* publicised, though as DrunkenMaster says, I do fear there is a going to be some future reluctance to go public with this stuff given past forum reactions and the more violent condemnation of oneÆs peers oftimes revealed.
Re the compensation (55million) everyone-should-have-it-pseudo-rant à itÆs clearly nonsense. The Saruu chap earned the finders fee for having the fortune to come across a ôjovianö à the wit to start a conversation, and the imagination to roleplay with the guy. And for thereby introducing a bit of interest and circumstance into the game world I donÆt begrudge him the isk one bit.
I suggest anyone who does takes a step back and considers the rate at which isk acquisition typically occurs for established characters; when I am ôworkingö productively in-game I typically make 10m isk every couple of hours, and at best, yep could do 55m in an evening personally, and this by relatively routine commerce and marginal endeavours. (And certainly not with the use regional buy-orders either!)
Now a generic explorer character has no such regular income and often spends long periods in fruitless travelling and toil without reward, faces dangers from illegals and brigands, and is thrown entirely on personal resources when peril threatens.
(once upon a time Jericho had such a fellow as a Director of Exploration named ôthe grimpö à he ninja-mined for chump change and explored the far flung systems of eve for rare sights and sounds à once getting podded 13 times by mOo corp for approaching sites of local interest! But never did he find anything of real value aside from the pride of doing these things)
But the point is that these chaps need incentive to spend their time exploring, and the prospect of the 55million ôfindö is the sort of thing that will provide this. Sure, not on a regular basis, and certainly not for the discovery of game-breaking blueprints etc, but for the occasional high-tech item? What really is the problem?
I for one have no issue whatsoever with CCP introducing plot to lone pilots out exploring the environment à itÆs the ultimate balancing quirk of fate that can see a lonely wanderer turned into a galactic personality overnight.
And I certainly feel that something like the 55million ôfinders feeö is not out of kilter with the economic realities of eve at the moment.
What I think this storm of controversy has brought to sharp contrast are the divisions between eveÆs roleplay and non-roleplay communities. And itÆs clearly something that sticks in the craw of the pure pvp-red-in-tooth-and-claw brigade that an ordinary character could gain something special by simply having a conversation with a gm-played character peddling plot and rare equipment. But à guys à these things happen, they do in real-lifeÖ as well, lots of circumstance and fortunate events occur for those willing to be open and friendly and communicative. If you walk around close-minded and snarling all the time then you arenÆt going to benefit from either the kindness of strangers or the chance meeting that brings a lifetime friendship and bold creative partnership of likeminded souls.
There are more ways of playing this game than simple violent kill-or-be-killed absolutist full-tilt brutality. I commend CCP for this brave intention; and hope in time more people will come to see the advantage and flexibility of this approach.
And hell, instead of being jealous of the chapÆs 55m isk windfall, just go make some personal isk guys and be in a position to bid next time the jovian artefacts come on the market.
Or find another goal in-game à itÆs not all about money and modules à thereÆs politics too, and therein lies a lovely can of in-character worms ;)
Love and peace.
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