Highsec players have been complaining about being "forced" into a style of play they don't enjoy, that they would prefer not to partake in, for years, even when they were fully aware of the type of game they were signing up for, even when the stories of the scams and ganks may have been what drew them to the game in the first place. High irony. CCP, thankfully, has never really paid them much heed, beyond beefing up CONCORD (such that they are now automatic disciplinary machines [minus a small security status dependent response delay]) and telling them to harden the **** up.

But, highsec players are surprisingly vocal when it comes to complaining about any disruption to their style of play. This year, CCP has begun to take notice. Perhaps the need to retain players and attract new ones has decided this change of direction, this move from the HTFU attitude of old.

Flying in Space (FiS) development may be back. And everyone is happy and excited and optimistic. And that's all good. I'm happy and excited for new FiS development as well. But there's this undercurrent of urgency on the part of CCP, that player retention is tied to highsec and changes need to be made. Radical changes. And without them, CCP will continue to bleed subscriptions. They seem ready to do something rash, when perhaps there's nothing at all that needs to be done.

Thus The Mittani (CSM Chairman) and his Goonswarm enter the picture.

There seems to be a game of Russian Roulette being played. The only two people at the table are Hilmar and The Mittani. Each seem to be pushing towards something from which the other can't back down. Hilmar is playing more subtle hands here, tossing out hints and innuendo. The Mittani is running up and down the halls, arms flailing wildly, daring, screaming at CCP to do something not to Goonswarm's (or the Sandbox's) benefit. What is at stake seems to be high security space and how it will interact with the Sandbox. Will highsec continue to be a member of the Sandbox, or will it be removed from the combat, ship-to-ship aspect, of the player-driven content model?

Already, the war declaration system has been gutted. This new change of policy apparently passed through the CSM with nary a word of dissent. Even if the CSM chairman could give a rat's ass about high security space, he has always expressed the opinion that the sandbox should not be ****** with. Yet, this policy change, removes all corporations (but especially highsec corporations) from a major component of non-consensual PvP, one of the cornerstones of the sandbox philosophy.

So what gives? The CSM either cares deeply for the sandbox, or it doesn't.

So what does The Mittani do? He wages highsec piracy (ganking) upon Gallente ice miners. Now, I'm all for this. It is what EVE is about, after all. But what about the timing? With CCP already giving concessions to the screaming carebears, does making them scream ever louder help the situation? Hilmar has already suggested that CONCORD needs buffing to curb ganking. No word yet on whether this is something CCP is currently working on, but Arnar Hrafn Gylfason (Senior Producer for EVE Online) readily agreed with Hilmar. Two top CCP dudes agreeing that ganking needs to be curbed. Take from that what you will. If it happens it will be the final nail in the coffin and non-consenual PvP in highsec will be officially dead.

The Mittani, whatever agenda he might have with his Gallente Ice Interdiction (and the agenda certainly isn't financial -- Goons were ******* rich before the interdiction and they'll be ******* rich after the interdiction), it's certainly working to change the sandbox, maybe even removing one entire section of space from having to participate in an important aspect of it (i.e., combat.)

I'm beginning to think that The Mittani's agenda is scorched earth. That he decided sometime in August that he was leaving EVE Online after his CSM term was complete, but that before he left, he was going to leave EVE in such a state, that he would feel absolutely no compulsion to return. The agenda is to force CCP into ******* with the sandbox, change the face of EVE for good. He'll leave the game come early 2012, and a good portion of the Drone Clusterfuck Federation will follow.

It's a thought and a possibility, at any rate. He certainly seems hellbent on forcing CCP into some highsec changes that aren't going to bode well for the game overall.

you should have warned me that i have to put my tinfoil hat before reading this.

You weren't let in on the plan. You're a pleb in the organization. :)

I'm beginning to think that The Mittani's agenda is scorched earth.

I'm satisfied that Hilmar, as a mature and knowledeable person will not be bulldozed or bullied into anything that will hurt the income and ongoing success of Eve. He's done right before, no reason he won't do what's right again.

I'd also like for you to add on my personal theory of how The Mittani has personally been training bears to fly Thrashers for the Red Alliance.

That is actually absolutely true. He even trains them to post on boards. Just look at me.

If he is intending to "Burn Eden" as it were, he's biting off far more than he can chew. Eve is much bigger than Mittens, for all his beliefs otherwise.

QFT

Put the tinfoil away. Goons like this game. They want it to be better. The Gallente ice interdiction is an extension of null-sec warfare, an attempt to affect the supercap problem before winter hits. The Goons are naturally railing against the stagnation (and fun) that has vacated null-sec and are being proactive.

Either Mittens is scared of the DRF and is trying to kneecap them or he intends to invade. Who really gives a **** anymore?

80% of Eve is getting to the point they don't give a **** about Goons (CFC pets too) OR DRF.

It's a stagnated wasteland full of arrogant pricks who need a solid smack in the mouth to wake 'em up.

Thanks for backing me up?

Either Mittens is scared of the DRF and is trying to kneecap them or he intends to invade. Who really gives a **** anymore?

80% of Eve is getting to the point they don't give a **** about Goons (CFC pets too) OR DRF.

It's a stagnated wasteland full of arrogant pricks who need a solid smack in the mouth to wake 'em up.

Either Mittens is scared of the DRF and is trying to kneecap them or he intends to invade. Who really gives a **** anymore?

80% of Eve is getting to the point they don't give a **** about Goons (CFC pets too) OR DRF.

It's a stagnated wasteland full of arrogant pricks who need a solid smack in the mouth to wake 'em up.

It's in preparation of an invasion planned after winter expansion release.

He's promised TEST new space etc. Their plan is to take out NC., RDN., IRC, WN, SOLAR and SOL-W while RED, XIX, and XWX sit out any invasion. WN still is helping RED because they feel RED will help them later but supposidly Mittani has guarantees from RED, XIX and XWX that they won't intervene on any invasion of the rest of the former DRF.

DRF disbanded 3 weeks ago. If you think the CFC is a problem, come out and take care of it.

And getting the CSM positioned to get caps nerfed was an objective request? As I said, more than half of Eve probably don't give a **** anyway. Truly.

Mittens went and made this personal so I hope he ******* loses and I hope EVERY highsec miner joins the reds too. I truly do.

I'm siding with Russia. Most Aussies do, we hate the Yanks more than the reds. The arrogance. Ugggghhhhhh.