Marginal Utility
Sinister Elite
Black Legion.
2
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Posted - 2013.08.20 04:17:00 -
[1] - Quote
Dear Capsuleers,
A recent post by my longtime friend and co-patriot in arms, Transmaritanus, has received considerable attention on the subject of the broken game mechanics involving Faction Warfare complexes, and the hordes of (assumable) neckbearded-pilots who manipulate them. In my own efforts to deal with this issue, I was instructed by GM Luthor to take the matter to the forums or the CSM. Since a former CEO of mine essentially quit EVE to play CSM, causing a political row over a certain R32 Moon he found convenient to "give away," I would rather avoid those sleazy politicians who are only really interested in a free trip to Iceland to experience the lovely fjords, lakes, and ladies. Yet I digress.
In reference to the issue, this KM has seen considerable attention: http://imgur.com/zqtBn3T . While we are proud of our stellar piloting abilities, the aforementioned Moa was only one of the most glaring examples of people exploiting The Problem. Now what is the problem?
At issue is the Loyalty Point (LP) / ISK reward based on risk at stake in Faction Warfare (FW) -- hitherto referred to as "The Problem". In order to clarify my colleague's remarks, I shall outline the situation as it currently stands.
1. CCP changed the structural composition of FW with the 2012 Retribution expansion, adding complexes accessed by ship-class restricted acceleration gates with the objective to "run down" a timer by orbiting a beacon to "capture" the site and thereby challenge the system occupancy for one's given militia.
2. The static 2/10 complexes littered throughout low-security space, a favourite avenue for frigate PVE/PVP, were removed in the hope that the new FW changes would provide dynamic content due to the restricted engagements of these new complexes.
3. At present, players are able to exploit the (arguably broken) mechanics of the FW system, producing "The Problem". In short, a 1 day alt is capable of orbiting a beacon, incurring no significant risk while yielding payable rewards that do not encourage emergent content.
In other words, the return-on-investment (ROI) on FW complexes outclass nearly every activity in EVE since they bear no financial risk to the player --- with the exception of gross stupidity, or sheer arrogance as in the KM example used by my friend and corpmate, Transmaritanus. (Full Disclosure: The Pilot, who must remain anonymous on this forum, mocked us in Local seconds before being scrammed --- to his obvious chagrin.)
4. The issue is not victims escaping their would-be executioners. Every active combat pilot accepts this as a fact of playing EVE, and only those who have not attained a suitable maturity in their PVP effectiveness openly lament it. I suspect the rest of us aspire to a Zen-like state or, failing such mental tranquility, turn to strong drink or other narcotic solace.
5. Players are able to see their approaching assailants -- whether rival FW militiamen or nefarious pirates -- on short D-scan before their opponents are able to warp upon them, due to the acceleration gate restrictions (since the most basic of these sites is restricted to T1 frigates, barring covert ships). The pilot is then able to cloak their ship, or warp away with impunity (for the most part) without fear. Since there is no real NPC threat at the fight, the FW plexer does not need any sort of tank or combat setup --- as many killed examples have revealed. While it is possible to kill such ships, it is absurdly difficult and (in the end) a negligible loss when the player is able to earn billions of ISK off this exploit.
There have been solutions proposed that range from gas clouds to prevent cloaking, warp disruption bubbles surrounding the immediate vicinity the pilot would be required to inhabit in order to run down a timer, targeted warp disruption from the structure, increasing NPCs in the sites, or resetting the timer whenever a pilot leaves the complex. All of these are valid suggestions, though the exact method remains open.
It is clear that the current system as it stands is a broken game mechanic as the LP returns for destroyed ships were revealed to be at the introduction of the Retribution expansion (which caused considerable anger due to certain CFC players making a Pharoah's ransom in ISK while at the same time crashing the entire faction market, in turn causing financial fallout still experienced to this day).
It behooves the GMs and Developers to re-examine the mechanics of the FW system. I realise that many conflict-adverse elements in the carebear population who have thrived in its exploit will oppose this recommendation, but it is certainly overdue.
Sincerely Yours,
M.
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