Player Features and Ideas Discussion

I've been doing Incursions for a long time now, even participated in several battles with the Revenant Supercarrier. The one big let-down is always the loot ninjas that grab anything off the wreck. While 60 mil ISK or so isn't bad, it doesn't seem like a grand reward for all the organization, time, and risk that goes into a proper MOM fight, and the entire Incursion in general. Bit of an anti-climax, really.

First off, I gotta emphasize I understand pirating is part of EVE! Without the freedom to have pirates, ninjas and canflippers, EVE would not be the game it is. But when all the organization and work of getting a 70 man fleet together to take on a MOM is regularly trumped by one dude in a destroyer, I feel there may be a problem.

Therefore, I would like to present several possible solutions to the issue in the interest of sparking a debate and providing some fun ideas to the Devs and community.

Solution 1: Allow the rest of the fleet to target the Ninja
This would be an easy fix: Allow more than just the person (and his Corp) who got the killing blow on the MOM to attack the pirate. It does seem a bit unfair that the rest of the fleet can't defend their prize without getting a nasty visit from CONCORD. But this does present the problem of the loot being destroyed in the hold of the ninja, a bit wasteful if you ask me. If a pirate is clever enough, lucky enough, or fights the fleet for the loot then I say he's earned it. But as it stands right now, it's a bit too easy for him (imho). I feel strongly that at least this measure should be taken, if nothing else.

Solution 2: Sansha attack smaller ships
The Sansha AI sends some of it's nastier, faster ships after other small ships. This would mean trouble for anyone in a hacking ship as well, but that makes sense. Why would the Sansha not want to kill the small little ships flirting about their base of operations. Haven't they seen Star Wars? But thermal exhaust ports aside, this would force the Ninja to either die or run off, thus giving the fleet time to grab the loot. If he's lucky, the ninja might be able to avoid aggro and still make his grab, but it would be more challenging. Another option is that the ECM burst disables cloaking devices, but that may be a bit too specific.

Solution 3: MOM doesn't drop loot
Heretical suggestion, I know but one I overheard and thought it was worth mentioning. The CONCORD office, grateful for capsuleer assistance, makes available recovered Sansha BPOs to selected pilots (highest DPS, killing blow, etc) at their LP store that can only be bought with LP from the fight. I thought this was an interesting suggestion, but may be a bit complicated to implement. And it would completely eliminate the possibility of the ninja looter. While I wouldn't shed any tears over his loss of income, I feel this would eliminate some of the fun chaos that comes with EVE.

Solution 4: MOM wreck is a locked container
This one I think would be the most fun. The Kundalini Manifest/Uroboros wreck is sealed! There are two suggestions on how to open it:

A) CONCORD, having hacked into the Sansha's datastream, sends the Capsuleer who got the killing blow a mail, giving them the codes and permission to access the wreck. After all, CONCORD wouldn't want just anyone in Empire space running around with all that dangerous Sansha technology. Better be sure the good guys get it.

B) Gotta hack the container with a Codebreaker module. The race is on! Whoever manages to unlock first the container get's the prize, will it be the valiant and victorious fleet? Or will it be the nefarious and nerfherding pirate (who still gets aggro for looting someone else's wreck)? This also adds a bit more strategy to the MOM fight (who's gonna give up a few mid-slots for Codebreakers?) and encourages Incursion runners to train and use a skill they might not use otherwise. Perhaps even give a bonus to ships equipped with that Sansha Codebreaker some of us got with the Eschelon...

Possibility 'A' might seem the most appealing because, again, it removes the ninja. But I honestly feel solution 'B' would be the most fun as it adds an element of randomness. Sure the fleet has (potentially) more codebreakers, but if the ninja is fast, clever, and lucky he'll get his break.

So those are some of the ideas I and some others had. Any further suggestions? Comments? Hate-filled vitriol?

of all of the concepts given, concept 4 is to me the most sound. However, a mixture of both A and B should be taken.

One man in the fleet is given the codes (has a 100% chance of being able to open it without a problem), but the others have to use codebreakers to crack into the container. Of course, with only a 5% chance of opening it...

I like option 4-b. I don't run incursions myself, but I see that as adding to the game rather than restricting choice in any way.

+1

You gotta be kidding?

Why don't just shoot the ninja looter?

Oh, because it's highsec ?

Then less reward for playing in a zero risk environment is justified by all means.

hello, to post on this forum your IQ should be above 3.

in all honesty only fleet members should be allowed to loot =\


but
4 A seems the best to me

I support solution 4.

To secure the loot from the hardworking peeps who do the mom fight,
Just give the looting rights to the Fc and he Can point out a person who can
open the container as only toon,so ninja looter or thief wil not be able to open it and run away.

Seems honnest to the guys/girls who risk time and ships !
Just my 2 isk :-)

Combination of solutions one and two is most in the spirit of eve

Seriously, why the ninja isn't flagged to the party owning the loot, when he should be?

And sansha wouldn't ignore easy and defenseless prey.

Agreed. Thieves are pert of highsec. Deal with it.