Player Features and Ideas Discussion

No this is not like the previous thread I've seen from several weeks back, which was talking about cosmetically aging ships.

I was thinking, given that one of the supposed 'excuses' that high-sec care-bare gankers like to give for their activities to justify it, is that it stimulates the in game economy. Well... why not have a game mechanic with less griefing of other players that does the same thing, and undercuts this excuse of the griefers.

Now, I'm not entirely sure how thrilled I myself would be about this happening, but what if ships actually did age, and deteriorated with age and use. This aging would a) Be VERY slow b) be very slight and c) Be based off the number of hours the ship is actually in service (i.e. out of hanger, and perhaps involved in activities beyond flying. i.e. mining, fighting, jumping, etc...).

Over time various stats would deteriorate, though only slightly and over a long period of time. There could be skills and/or those providing services that can repair some of this damage, but never quite restore it to full capacity (well maybe a certain number of times it can be).

Now many people, like myself, would not be satisfied with anything less than a 110% functioning ship, and would therefore be inclined to purchase new ships every so often. The old ship can be repackaged and sold as 'used' for a discount (which the buyer would be able to see how used and what the reduction in attributes is), or it can be scrapped for materials (though less than what a brand new ship would net). There might need to be NPC buyers and sellers of used ships, but they would not be as competitive with player buyers and sellers. And sellers of new ships could provide a trade-in policy (which they could also compete with other sellers on).

Granted this does add a major level of complexity to an already complex game (and probably a significant amount of work), however it would definitely be an economy stimulator and ISK sink. This is assuming of course that most people will not want to purchase used ships and forego buying new.

This would largely effect the PvE crowd who are less likely to lose their ship in big explosions like PvPers long before any age deterioration sets in.

Anyhow, just a thought which as I said I'm not even sure I'm entirely on board with (as it would be a pain to have to replace ships every so often). But it did cross my mind when I saw 'economic stimulation' as a justification by gankers.

My megathron "Diplomatic incident" (better known as the Delve Mega) reached the ripe old age of 280 days old and fought in two wars in Delve, one in fountain and many many defensive ops all around the north.

Why should such a ship be punished for living a long and honorable life?

Should be the other way around, older ships have the kinks worked out and are broken in. Should get miniscule bonuses for surviving documented battles. Repackaging would remove the ducktaped time savers, cheat sheets and morale boosting respectful pinups.

I have hit the point of ISK income that the only annoyance is fitting a new ship. That is currently, frequently enough, as it is now; that this idea would do nothing except annoy me further.

She died several years ago in the second fountain war. There was a CFC wide broadcast of sorrow at her loss.