My Last Word on WCS

It is time to move on to other issues that are more important. My position on the current state of Faction Warfare in Low Sec is well known. The issue is about much more than a single module, as I've explained before on numerous posts. Warp Core Stabilizers just happen to be a handy mechanic to point to in order to illustrate a point about bad gameplay mechanics. WCS on their own are neither positive or negative, they only happen to be broken. Potentially great gameplay is present within the FW system and I continue to hope that gameplay will be unlocked in the near future. To the benefit of everyone that loves Low Sec.

As I've learned over the years fighting for Frills, Memorials, Hats and numerous other issues within Eve and our Community - it is far easier to get something talked about by using a simple, easy to understand device to illustrate your point. The Frills on the Vagabond were not about the Frills on the Vagabond, it was about CCP respecting the heritage of the game. The Player Memorial wasn't about a Player Memorial (although that was important) as much as it was about CCP respecting their players. And Hats are not really about Hats, and more about over-priced merchandise and thinking outside the box when it comes to customization. Which will eventually lead to Ship Skins and player created logos on ships and clothes.

The same is true of WCS. This issue isn't really "about" WCS, as much as it is about a mechanic that could be much, much better. About a section of space that often gets overlooked because of the attention Null Sec gets. And if you happen to be a Low Sec dweller and advocate, like me, then you know exactly what I am talking about. I've said this before, but it bears repeating, this is not about the module - but about the environment in which a player feels it is ok to fit their entire low slot rack with that module.

I had the chance at Fanfest to speak with several people at CCP about this environment and I can assure you that at no point did the words, "You need to ban WCS" come from me. Because this isn't about actually banning a module, it is about better gameplay. And better gameplay for Pirates and Faction War pilots. Not one over the other. I want Low Sec to be a vibrant, engaged, awesome place for ALL of us to play. That is my only goal. And it also happens to be the goal of all those I talked to about it. In particular, Masterplan and I had a great conversation about these issues and I feel we see eye to eye on potential outcomes. Many of which are already in the works.

So I feel rather confident in closing the book on this issue. Whatever you think about what I've just said, changes will be coming. And no, those changes won't be the sudden and mysterious disappearance of a module from the game. That was never my intention. My intention from the very beginning was to get people talking and to raise awareness by having fun, causing trouble and making funny posts about an important issue.

Which, as usual, has worked extremely well.

I'm not going to stop doing this. I love Eve and I want nothing more than for it to be as great as it can be. As long as I feel that way, I will keep beating the drums for changes that need to be made.

Like it or not, that is just part of who I am. And I ain't changing.



Comments

Unknown said…
Last word on WCS?? I hope not!

Cerv
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said…
I doubt this is the last time we hear about WCS
Rixx Javix said…
Ok, probably not. But you can't blame a guy for trying.
LuckyLuigi said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
" I can assure you that at no point did the words "You need to ban WCS"come from me."

I guess technically you're right, you didnt say exactly that, but "Banning Warp Core Stabilizers" was the title of your previous post.
Rixx Javix said…
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be upset if they disappeared from the game.
Foo said…
But then who will buy faction scrams?

The circle of gank. Evasion fit evades PVP fit. PVP kills Gankers. Gankers kill Evasion fit. And all is good with the world
Anonymous said…
"The circle of gank. Evasion fit evades PVP fit. PVP kills Gankers. Gankers kill Evasion fit. And all is good with the world"

*plays Circle of Life from Lion King in the background*
Anonymous said…
IMO, what killed low sec outside of FW was the removal the 1/10 and 2/10 plexes from static locations. These were piracy hotspots; places such Heild just couldnt exist without it. Since the removal of these content creators, heild is virtually dead compared the thriving and social place it used to be.

Sorry for the cross blog post, but Miure Bull describes it in a way I never could:
http://brutorbullfighter.blogspot.com/2014/10/heild.html#more
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Raziel Walker said…
My peeve is your constant talking about FW (which you are not even involved in) to point out the problem of plex farming and the 'low sec sucks story' then on towards the WCS module whose removal supposedly will revive pvp everywhere.

Killing carebears does not solve FW farming issues!
Since this issue is not really about WCS, please find something else to pick on, like the ishtar, boosting, t3 cruisers and destroyers or the fact that there are no warp disruptors with 7 point strength.

Just like afk cloaking is only an issue for nullsec, WCS is only an issue for low sec.
Surely a man of your skill should be able to come up with a solution to change low sec to an environment in which a player feels it is not in their best interest to fit their entire low slot rack with that module. After all the problem is with the environment you live in, not with a module.
Rixx Javix said…
But I am involved in FW. I may not play for a faction, but I am certainly invested rather heavily in their game-play and their success. In fact I could argue that no one wants FW to succeed more than I do. And I think I could make that argument stick.

Secondly I don't know how many other ways I can say the same thing, this really has nothing to do with the module. The module provides an easy way to discuss the issues involved. This is an extremely common method to generate interest in an issue and is used by Public Relation and Advertising firms around the world. I didn't invent it. But I do happen to be very good at it. Which is why it works.

As you know I have also fought other battles, T3 off-grid boosting being one. So don't say those things when you know better.

I am disappointed in you.
Raziel Walker said…
Well I will keep defending the WCS as long as you keep abusing it as a way to attract attention to things that have nothing to do with it.
-Just as disappointed that you need to resort to cheap marketing tricks to draw attention to FW.
Rixx Javix said…
To each his own. I respect your right to your own opinion.
Jamie said…
"it is about better gameplay. And better gameplay for Pirates and Faction War pilots. Not one over the other. I want Low Sec to be a vibrant, engaged, awesome place for ALL of us to play."

Noble intentions and ambitions which most will surely agree with.

But your method is bad. Any half sentient player will already know that removing the large majority of farmers (via WCS nerf or whatever) will not somehow cause a massive influx of pilots offering good fights (or convert farming alts into ones that will fight). It will result in fewer targets and emptier space. You even realise this yourself when you say:

"this really has nothing to do with the module. The module provides an easy way to discuss the issues involved."

So yeah, noble intentions, but you lose a lot of players with your fallacious justification in raising the discussion.
Rixx Javix said…
Maybe. I guess we shall see. Personally I think the campaign has done exactly what I wanted it to do.