The official
Hulkageddon manager has disappeared since a while.
Despite that, Goonswarm have formed a
team dedicated to continued exhumers mass destruction that more than replaces Hulkageddon.
In fact, while the original Hulkageddon was something for the "wanna be average Joe ganker" and its balance and prizes were adequate to that, Goonswarm have basically endless funding, quite the grip over a lot of content of the game (some markets, vast 0.0 areas...) and therefore can afford a true, never ending carpet bombing strategy (without discerning between bots and not bots).
How do you feel about this?
Good for the game, because it removes many bots?
Bad because non bots are killed and podded as well?
Good or bad because it sort of pushes ice mining more to 0.0? (if the carpet bombing keeps being as thorough as is now)?
Good because more ships will be made?
Bad because nobody in hi sec can defend from an endless funds huge alliance?
This "different Hulkageddon" poses several philosophical and game design questions.
If they perma-keep the carpet bomb runs (I hope so!), basically this will remove hi sec ice mining for good.
I see it as one of those "exploits" that must be repeated till large playerbase enough quits and the developers wake up off their slumber. (not really exploit in the "illegal" sense of the term, they are fully entitled to this).
Hi sec dwellers are too helpless and fragmented to ever form an effective "counter" and they are against a mammoth, not the usual "average Joe" tears fuelled suicide gankers. Also there's no real defense against an organization that can just bring N + 1 ships whatever buffs / tank you fit (and Macks are not known for their survivability at all).
What tools does EvE give to counter / fight against this potentially (they have not confirmed or denied!) strong and continued initiative?
I rewrite the hypothetical terms in short:
1) Unlimited funding for the operation.
2) Unlimited duration.
3) Unlimited and thorough belts carpet bombing. You can see the same players killed multiple times a day, there's no "recoup the losses by mining more" factor. First time it happens and if Goons are smart they will keep this pressure for months.
Long term consequences of the above on the playerbase (in general)?
0.0 consequences / monopoly? (yes I am baiting you 0.0 haters!)
Choices left to the hi sec miners since whatever they do, they will die?
I find all of this quite intellectually amusing (am I slowing goonizing myself?)