Originally by: Lincoln Armm

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Since the introduction of exploration IÆve been very disappointed in it. the system seems almost designed to discourage players from participating.

I generally PVE in EVE. Over the years IÆve done some of everything Mission running, Cosmos, ratting, and Complexes. When I first heard of exploration I was excited . A new form of PVE with more varied outcomes sounded great. Complexes not being camped all the time sounded good too. The problem is the system as delivered was not balanced against any of the other forms of PVE and still isnÆt.

IÆm not just talking about isk per hour either. IÆm talking about a whole range of ways to measure these various endeavors. Exploration requires a specialized ship with specialized modules, the permanent expenditure of probes, and enormous amounts of time spent traveling, placing probes, and starring at a scanning bar.


Lets look at the equivalent actions in the other forms of PVEàFly to an agent and ask for a mission û All you need is faction. Then you fly to the mission locationàThatÆs it. Ratting û you fly to the belts. Cosmos is a little harder as you do need to figure out the right ship size, but nothing like as difficult. Most telling compare it to the complex system it replaced. While complexes were plagued with camping and had some lengthy key spawns they were far far faster then exploratrion, did not require special equipment, ships, skills and expended items, and the size ship needed was known in advance.

PVE in EVE is a activity that generally is ôat willö and can be kicked off quickly. It attracts players that have limited tiem windows to play or just like a lot of ôactionö. The current implementation of exploration seems designed to not appeal to the majority of these players.

I realize that there is a small percentage of players who enjoy the existing system, and who lobby to keep it in itÆs present form. Most of there arguments boil down to:

ô Exploration is good as it is because its hard and appeals to elite players. ô
I donÆt believe time consuming and unrewarding are synonyms for hard, but even if we except the premise that exploration is hard, I have to wonder if that was CCPs original intent, given the fact that it was replacing a system that wasnÆt ôHardö and the fact that exploration keeps getting tied into more and more systems.

ôif more people did it profits would fallö
I wonÆt even dignify this argument with a resonse since its so evidently selfish. Supporting poor gameplay for your own profit is a lame (if all too common) position.

The only system that exploration compares well to is mining. Mining also requires special ships, modules and training. It also involves a lot of staring at bars. The problem with this is that most PVE players absolutely hate mining. Miing is probably the least liked game mechanic in EVE. Why, of all your systems would you copy this one to add a new PVE system?
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