Player Features and Ideas Discussion

I wanted to get some input on a specific aspect of the Inferno change, the fact that stations lock enemy combatants our entirely.

Given the massive problem we have right now with FW corps and alliances quitting or relocated in response to the mechanic, I think its time to re-evaluate the value of this particular element of Faction Warfare.

The community has been very loud and clear that we need to get back to FW being a PvP-centric feature, where players enlist for the pew, and stay because they can afford to fight, as supposed to enlisting for the isk, and fighting if they have to (which is never.)

With that goal of increased pew pew in mind - in your experience, has "diagonal plexing" contributed to increased PvP? Is it a conflict driver, compelling you to take to the plexes to defend your space? Or does it make you not want to roam and PvP, because you can't dock and repair or reship?

Lets discuss the value of this mechanic, or alternatives if we decide it isn't helping to generate the conflict we so desperately desire these days.

any feature which kills off docking games is worth it IMO. It not only makes sense that you can't dock at the enemy station it is a strategical advantage for the defender. It clearly tells what is your space and what is not. Without docking rights it simply woudn't matter anymore for most people.

and there are enough high sec systems next to FW zones for permanent storage of your stuff.. (edit: certainly also a few low sec systems outside FW)

seriously. if you are minmtatar and have all your stuff in kourmonen its YOUR fault

It would be a bit silly to spend all that time grinding for station upgrades if the enemy can just walz in and use them. Highsec is never far away, and nanite paste is not very expensive. From a story perspective it's important to give a sense that you are in enemy territory and not some weird gladiatorial theme park. With that in mind, why would you ever want to remove dock blocking?

IMO, dockblocking is a good mechanic.... It is one of the major motivations for deplexing a system, and, since neutrals can still access those stations, its no-where near as severe as nullsec station flipping.

Lockouts have their place, but not as currently implemented.

We (Me, my voices and a handful of others) warned CCP after FF presentation that it would condense fighting into a handful of systems even more than was the norm at the time.
We urged them to include it in the system upgrade paths as that would constitute a direct threat to complacent militias thus making sweet, sweet pew.

Add it into the upgrade path.
Make it so that I can dock in Auga if me and mine are allowed to plex unhindered for something like six to eight (6-8) hours, the only way to keep an enemy out should be to smash his face in and NOT merely by orbiting a frigging button "MOAR!" than him.
Address the horrible geographical issues (related, albeit tangentially).

Just as (or more!) silly when the changes were made overnight giving two factions a massive helping hand while leaving the other two to flounder, craptastic implementation/launch. Would have been a non-issue if NPCs and plexing mechanics in general had been revamped at the same time, but ...

Majority of us** joined FW as a way to live in low-sec and shoot each other in the face .. not to live in high-sec and run gate camps in the hope of finding a face to shoot.
** Old timers, non-farmers. Probably a dying breed on the brink of extinction but 'meh'.

dont forget that trade and markets in low sec are extremely unstable while systems of priority and owner ship can flip.

when every one could dock everywhere the markets and supply were good in low sec, which i dont think anyone rally expected but the lock outs mean they are FAR smaller and far more localized and as we all know trade and manufacturing effect pvp just as much as how much stuff is blown up.

everyone should remember that low sec is not 10 jumps through null and the casual player wants to be a part of it, locking a whole side point blank is bad for everyone.

Dock blocking is a good mechanic, it is my biggest motivator for pushing systems.

Made sticky!

This is a silly mechanic as it stands. It reduces opportunities for PVP 'cause it essentially forces the losing faction out of the warzone.

They should just make all Amarr stations lock out Minmatar players and all Minmatar stations lock out all Amarr players. This would be a lot easier to manage for the players. Also, make it so that station guns shoot the opposing faction players on sight. This would prevent players from getting camped in and improve PVP (you can't PVP if you can't undock).

If you want to have sovereignty mean something, link it to the gate guns. Make gate guns shoot the opposing faction on sight. Or make this a feature you can upgrade to in the systems that you control.

Also, i really liked someone's idea of roving bands of Faction NPC's. Just like you see rats on the gates or belts, have faction NPC ships patrol the lowsec systems. Tie it into sov if you want.

Last, while i'm on a roll here, get rid of button timers and make FW players kill all the NPC's in a plex. This will fix the speed-tanking exploit and make complexes more fun. And might even lead to more PVP.

Having only skimmed the first post and having not read any of the replies;

How about a cost for docking at the enemy stations based on the systems tier level eg.

Tier 1 - 0.5m
Tier 2 - 1m
Tier 3 - 2m
Tier 4 - 4m
Tier 5 - 8m

(PS, I choose random numbers don't hate.)