I think most Eve players who are going to make the trek to Iceland for Fanfest start thinking at some point before they arrive, what would I like to talk to a Dev about? What questions would I ask at a roundtable? If I get a chance, what issues would I like to bring to someone's attention? In the past I've certainly had more than my fair share of those pressing issues to address in the past. From Warp Core Stabilizers to Factional Warfare - over the years I've advocated for a lot of changes in Eve Online. And, for the most part, I've been extremely successful at that mission.
If you would have asked me about this a month ago, I might have told you that this year I didn't have any major pressing issues to discuss. But there is just something about the approaching deadline of major travel investments that spurs the mind. And recently a few issues have been causing myself and us pirates nothing but concern. So let's address those here today and lay out what I believe are some important "concerns" going forward.
And, just to be clear up front, these are Factional Warfare/Low Sec concerns. The rest of you are on your own. As always however, improving the game rises all boats. We all want what is best for Eve. A better Eve makes everything better for everyone.
I am extremely concerned about the insane rise in multi-boxers in our space. I sat and watched yesterday as a fleet of nine Algosi devoured the plex in Agoze without opposition. This morning on Discord it was reported that a fleet of 6 multi-boxing Gila are doing the same next door in the Sleeper sites. And last week I tweeted out a screenshot of a fleet of 40 Nagas swept through system after system, all named the same character with only slight variations. We've witnessed an escalation of these types of encounters over the past year and it is only getting worse. Are all of these multi-boxers? I have no way of knowing for sure. I've been told that some groups are naming alts so that they appear to be multi-boxers in order to avoid encounters. This wouldn't surprise me, but something like that has to be the exception and not the rule.
We do try and fight these groups. But that only manages to bring up another issue. If I'm in a Frigate and I slide into a plex with a Cruiser - I should be able to point that Cruiser before he has a chance to warp off. This just makes sense. Unfortunately, in many cases, this does not happen. It does no good for us to counter a gang of twelve Algosi if they all just run away when we try. There is something inherently wrong with the engagement mechanics that overly favors the defenders. And while I would not advocate for a change that overly favors the aggressor, all we really want is a level playing field. A fair shot. And I believe we are currently not getting a fair shot. Something has changed and it is not working as intended. This needs addressed.
Which brings up yet another point. Pirate Frigates. The Dramiel, Daredevil, Cruor, and the entire list of once fun, unique, and powerful Low Sec hunters has been kneecapped hard in the current meta. They might as well not even exist at this point. Again, unlocking their potential would go a long way towards helping to address the other issues above. I have many ideas on how this could be accomplished, but the easiest solution is extremely simple - let them enter any plex one step above their own class. These are ships designed to engage ships in higher class brackets, so let them do their job. While a Dramiel shouldn't be allowed into Scouts - they should be allowed into Smalls and above. This would unshackle some of the best ships in the game and bring back a more engaging and varied Low Sec environment which is in desperate need of variety. (This applies to Pirate Destroyers as well btw)
Factional Warfare and the Insurgency system have been good to Low Sec. I fully support it. In large part those that participate in those systems have gamed them and they have fallen into a boring routine. Players skip militias to game the LP system. Multi-boxers game the system. The mechanics allow them to engage without much fear as long as they follow some simple rules. Empty hulls are still running sites. There is much to be concerned about here.
For me, the biggest concern is what it has done to our increasingly niche game-play. And while I know full well how selfish this sounds - it is my chosen profession. There are less and less independent pirate groups in Eve Online for a reason. We've been pushed into the corner. And while we are used to being forgotten, the current environment has taken this too far. I will continue to advocate for some type of negative sec status bonuses, or bonused ships. And I will always believe that a vital part of Eve Online is a healthy and thriving piracy gameplay.
Which is, after all, what Stay Frosty has stood for these past twelve years now.
And here I thought I didn't have anything on my mind.
YARRR!