Emmy Mnemonic
Svea Rike
Fatal Ascension
45
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Posted - 2015.03.25 06:53:09 -
[1] - Quote
Observation Arrays and AFK cloakers:
I think it is a good initial idea of giving defenders that own sov in space, have upgraded it and are using it actively, a tool to make it harder/more risky for AFK cloakers to perma-AFK-cloak a system. ALso, giving a tool for hunters that want's to hunt for AFK cloakers is a blessing! Once an AFK cloaker is in a system, there is no way to counter them, no matter if they are there to hunt miners, ratters or just for intel-gathering. Active players cloaking is no problem IMHO, AFK cloakers are.
As it looks now, the new entosis-sov-mechanisms will lead to a denser populated nullsec - to have a chance to protect sov-space, players have to focus on fewer systems. Thus, the effect of having AFK-cloakers in say an fully upgraded mining system, would have a larger effect than it has today as more players would potentially be affected. Today, miners can regroup to another upgraded mining system. This wont be possible in entosis-sov EVE.
As I see it, cloakers that play actively would be hard to catch even with the Observation Array Decloaking Pulse. There should be some kind of feedback to the cloaked player that he/she is decloaked by this "Observation Array Decloak-pulse". The decloak itself just makes the cloaker detecable by combat probes, unless they are on grid of course, so there is a chain of events that needs to work rather "quickly" to be able to catch and kill an active cloaked player, actually I think it will be futile, but that's OK! Active cloaked player would easily detect both the decloak, and the combat probes and would just as easily regroup to a new spot and re-cloak again. AFK cloakers on the other hand - they will have a harder time. If you are actively flying a cloaked ship and suddenly need to leave EVE, and don't want to take the risk of getting caught by a rather complicated sensor-killer-chain (Observation Array Decloak Pulse -> Combat Probes -> Pointed -> Bubbled -> Killed and podded) you have the option to safe-log in space and be safe in 30s.
The effect this would get is that cloaked players that ARE in system will be active players. AFK-cloaking will not be a viable option in upgraded systems (in other systems it would work as today). So When a cloaky player materilize in said mining system, the Obervation Array Decloak Pulse is activated and the defenders fail to detect any decloaked ships, he/she is a real potential threat and will force the miners to anwer to that threat by stop mining, docking, reshipping or what ever. That's fine!
Now, to be honest, this WILL make it harder to drop or catch players in upgraded systems with sov and upgraded Obesrvation Arrays, yes! But owning sov and keeping systems with upgrades in the new entosis-sov EVE WILl also be a rather difficult task, so there should be some rewards to those who succeed with that!!! I dont envy those that will try tbh!
And there will be a plethora of new ways to disrupt these sov-owning players/miners when AFK-cloaking is more or less rendered obsolete (entosising their structures or sov-structures is the obvious one here). So I think that on the whole, there will be just as many, or even more ways than today to "harass" instead of AFK cloaking. The difference is that it will require active playing which is good! We active players WANTS to fight other active players! We DONT want to hunt for AFK people.
These changes in EVE with entosis-sov and new structures will change many many players play-styles. Those players who are eager to adapt will find new entertaining ways to navigate through the new mechanisms and functions in EVE and the historys generated will pull new players to the game for the better of both CCP and the remaining player base.
Those who are unable to adapt, unable to change and who look to the past more than they look to the future will not have fun playing EVE and will leave the game. Their moaning will be forgotten and no-one will care. The new players will not abstain from trying EVE because some conservative old bittervets moan about how it was better back in the 2000s in EVE Online when AFK clokaing was the most fun one could do!
So, CCP, you are on the right path here! Observation Array Decloaking Pulses is for the better, we active players like it and we will adapt to the changes and have lots of fun! AFK cloaking in upgraded sov-systems will die, and no one left in EVE online will be sorry for that!
Go CCP, go!
CEO Svea Rike
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