CCP Soundwave announced some changes to zero space stuff today that has the forums up in arms. To put it mildly. I'll try to keep my impartial hat on and take a look at these changes one at a time.
> Jump Drives
First of all, ships with Jump Drives won't be able to use Jump Bridges anymore. Except for Black Ops. This change is coming quick, on the 17th of this month.
While this change might make a few people angry somewhere or other, I can't see this as a big deal or a game changer. It makes perfect sense and should have been done a long time ago. It mostly means more POS hangers and a tad more planning. Not a big deal.
>1 Per System
Now the big one. Only one Jump Bridge per system. For those of you that have never used or had the benefit of a Jump Bridge network, let me bring you up to speed. It is possible, and happens all the time, that a gang of ships can move from one place completely across a region or two, without ever using a Gate. You undock, warp to a Jump Bridge portal, jump thru and across a bunch of systems, warp to the next Jump Bridge and continue doing that until you either reach your destination or the end of the network. As long as the JBs have fuel, you probably don't have to use a Gate. Every Null Space Alliance of any size either has their own network or access to one.
With this change CCP is effectively making that scenario impossible. You could use one Jump Bridge, but then you'd need to warp to a Gate and jump thru to get to the next one. Maybe several jumps, it all depends on how clever the network builders are in your neck of the woods.
So now Null Sec gangs and fleets can't cross entire regions of space without going thru Gates. This is going to make many, many people very, very angry. Their fleets are exposed now. A little intel and you can find out these networks and plan camps along the way, security has just gotten a tad more complicated.
I have to admit, if I was still concerned about a Null Sec Alliance, I'd be very upset. But since I'm only concerned with shooting them, I'm extremely happy about this change. So let's meet in the middle here and admit that this change will have some significant impact on the way things are done.
We'll see how much in the coming months.
>Fuel
As a bone, CCP is increasing the amount of fuel a Jump Bridge thingie can hold. I really don't have a comment on this.
CCP is trying to increase "interaction" with these changes. Personally I applaud them for the effort. At the very least these changes, or really this one change, will help to increase the amount of actual PVP happening in Null. Notice I said "help", it isn't a cure for the boring fleet dominated world that Null has become. But it is a start in the right direction. Just as ships need 'nerfed' from time to time, so does the larger game. Eve is a constantly evolving universe that is being adapted and modified right under our noses. Just when you get comfortable, along comes something new. This is important, nothing static can last. Eve needs these changes and others, in order to survive.
As usual I doubt these changes will have the exact impact that CCP is hoping for or that others are dreading. Us Eve players are a creative lot and I suspect everyone will adapt and move on, wrapping their minds around the new order and finding ways around it.
I hope this type of modification continues. It helps to keep us all on our toes.
Now about those Low Sec changes I asked for?
> Jump Drives
First of all, ships with Jump Drives won't be able to use Jump Bridges anymore. Except for Black Ops. This change is coming quick, on the 17th of this month.
While this change might make a few people angry somewhere or other, I can't see this as a big deal or a game changer. It makes perfect sense and should have been done a long time ago. It mostly means more POS hangers and a tad more planning. Not a big deal.
>1 Per System
Now the big one. Only one Jump Bridge per system. For those of you that have never used or had the benefit of a Jump Bridge network, let me bring you up to speed. It is possible, and happens all the time, that a gang of ships can move from one place completely across a region or two, without ever using a Gate. You undock, warp to a Jump Bridge portal, jump thru and across a bunch of systems, warp to the next Jump Bridge and continue doing that until you either reach your destination or the end of the network. As long as the JBs have fuel, you probably don't have to use a Gate. Every Null Space Alliance of any size either has their own network or access to one.
With this change CCP is effectively making that scenario impossible. You could use one Jump Bridge, but then you'd need to warp to a Gate and jump thru to get to the next one. Maybe several jumps, it all depends on how clever the network builders are in your neck of the woods.
So now Null Sec gangs and fleets can't cross entire regions of space without going thru Gates. This is going to make many, many people very, very angry. Their fleets are exposed now. A little intel and you can find out these networks and plan camps along the way, security has just gotten a tad more complicated.
I have to admit, if I was still concerned about a Null Sec Alliance, I'd be very upset. But since I'm only concerned with shooting them, I'm extremely happy about this change. So let's meet in the middle here and admit that this change will have some significant impact on the way things are done.
We'll see how much in the coming months.
>Fuel
As a bone, CCP is increasing the amount of fuel a Jump Bridge thingie can hold. I really don't have a comment on this.
CCP is trying to increase "interaction" with these changes. Personally I applaud them for the effort. At the very least these changes, or really this one change, will help to increase the amount of actual PVP happening in Null. Notice I said "help", it isn't a cure for the boring fleet dominated world that Null has become. But it is a start in the right direction. Just as ships need 'nerfed' from time to time, so does the larger game. Eve is a constantly evolving universe that is being adapted and modified right under our noses. Just when you get comfortable, along comes something new. This is important, nothing static can last. Eve needs these changes and others, in order to survive.
As usual I doubt these changes will have the exact impact that CCP is hoping for or that others are dreading. Us Eve players are a creative lot and I suspect everyone will adapt and move on, wrapping their minds around the new order and finding ways around it.
I hope this type of modification continues. It helps to keep us all on our toes.
Now about those Low Sec changes I asked for?