Trii Seo
Sabotage Incorporated
Executive Outcomes
134
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Posted - 2013.09.26 07:53:00 -
[1] - Quote
The biggest "newbie issues" this game has come from the fact that people poorly adapted to its world are clustered around the areas new players begin in. You don't really see a nomadic nullsec pvp group in hisec. You don't really see lowsec pirates in hisec. Most people surrounding the starting areas are carebears that will tell you "don't think about getting into pvp without at least a year worth of training under your belt. Till then run missions and stuff. And watch for gankers/loot ninjas, they're the scum of the universe."
Adorable newbies are exposed to carebearism before they can experience the game. They're taught it's always a mindless grind of pve/mining/whatever in chase of an invisible carrot while avoiding the dreaded bad guys (gankers/hisec 'deccers.)
They're taught those people are "bad" and that being "good guys" they can't fight back, they should just dock and wait out the wardec. Or just outright quit. That alone removes the wonder of this game as a journey - you set your own goal and pick your own way to achieve it.
To think about it, how come so many 'pirate hunters' fail at their task? Being blown up early by pirates and laughed at is one thing, but the very same thing happens to other pirates or nullsec people. Thing is, mayhem-minded players are told by their friends that they should fly cheap stuff, smacktalk the idiots back and keep dying till you get good enough to stop. The other side often tells a rookie "pirates are jerks, don't fight them you won't win anyway".
I'm sure nobody would mind a corporation of pirate-hunting pilots roaming lowsec in search for blinky reds. After all, conflict brings content. (Bonus points if said hunter corp has something to do with ninjas. Pirates vs. Ninjas, battle of the century!)
I suppose it would be a good idea to offer a real way into lowsec for some people. A part of the tutorial that would introduce them to the lifestyle and pvp aspect. Maybe a choice during the ending of your tutorial arc where you can decide to work with the local pirate faction and start a mini epic arc that takes you on a dangerous journey to lowsec - with guidance from a fellow pirate via popup messages.
Navy rat gatecamps to teach you how to survive a gatecamp (or just show you: this is a gatecamp. It will happen on your way many times.). Ending it with a "test of faith" to kill your former mission agent that told you to shoot the pirates, culminating in a pvp-like fight (dumb AI, just make him orbit - but use player-grade numbers for tank/dps along with ewar often seen in pvp).
Is it Hotdrop O'Clock yet? |