Komen
Gallente
Aliastra
   |
Posted - 2007.01.13 03:59:00 -
[1]
Hmmmm...I read the OP, and three pages of replies, debate...some debate, anyways.
Having lived on all three sides of the fence (hi-sec, low-sec, no-sec), I will tell you right now that empire ALREADY has high taxes (research slots take, on average, a month for Material Efficiency, and if you don't think time is a tax, you haven't been paying attention at all - there are other examples of this), lower mission rewards than low-sec or the rare NPC station in null-sec. Nevermind the low-end ore, the puny rats in the belts (I eatz da ratz num num num!), the endlessly overcrowded complexes in .5 and above, etc.
Low-sec isn't as much of a griefer's (or pirates, and yes, I distinguish the two) paradise as people might think. The map, after all, does display ship and pod destruction, cross-reference hot-spots and you can spot places to avoid. But low sec is best...um...realized as a group effort. Hi SP characters can do low-sec solo, but for less broadly skilled sorts, it can be rough.
What you're never going to move is the casual player, and a large percent of empire players are exactly that. They don't have the time to put into the sort of play that low/null-sec requires. Further nerfing hi-sec by implementing new taxes or whatever you will, will drive the casual player out of the game, probably more often than not on a case by case basis. And mind you - these are people who probably do not pay for time cards with isk. They pay their accounts with real money, and they won't be browbeaten into low-sec no matter how painful empire gets.
Myself...I'm getting bored of missions again (took a month this time, I must be getting immune to tedium), and will soon be speccing out possible 0.0 corps to join.
Anyways, Stamm, I hear what you're saying, but taking into consideration what I've said above, I hope you'll see why a lot of people will disagree with your points.
As a possible suggestion on ways to lure people - introduce something new to low-sec that is rare in both empire and 0.0, some new item, or thingamabob, that people want...and that would populate low-sec. When low-sec offers nothing but slightly greater rewards AND far greater threat of loss, it will continue to be the barren wasteland it is today.
___________________________________
Wielder of the Trout of Doom(tm)!
___________________________________ |