Player Features and Ideas Discussion

Make the role of Guard in the Mining op useful


The most boring role in a mining op is the Guard. This person is does not have the mining mentality and is forced to watch miners shoot rocks. Feels frustrated as he is unable to grind isk by ratting several belt or shoot complexes.

An offensive mining complex needs to be added to the game which includes an asteriod belt and modified AI.

The Asteriod Belt
Same asteroid belt as the ones normally found in the solar system.
Able to be scanned down vis on board scanner.
Often filled with belt rats found in normal belt with a modified AI.

A scan down via onboard scanner, amining belt that will spawn wave after wave of solar system appropriate rats, the the belt is mined out.
The AI needs to be modified – to remove threats first and if unsuccessful shoot targets of opportunity to loot and run.

--->The rats and their AI

Make them rats intelligent and greedy as the solar systems security Status drops. Starting at .9
Intelligent :
Shoot at threats – PVP ships, Attack drones, Logistic ships, would be their first target, avoiding haulers, barges and mining drones unless they engage in the battle. If the battle is stalemate, (ie Ship is simply tanking them and not shooting them) then the AI switches to greed: shoot barge or industrial, grabbing loot from wrecks and bins.
Greedy
Greedy- Won't attack mining drones as that has no benefit. Will loot Jet cans. Will loot wrecks, will loot drones that don't have owners.
The spawn rate of rats should increase as the population increases in the belt... up to a point. Should enable a Guard to make a reasonable income while shooting rates.

-->Change to Fleet – allow abstain to bounty collection.

Miners and Haulers need to be given the opportunity to abstain from bounty rewards, so the PVE protectors have a way to grinding isk..

-->The Effect:
Guards/Tanks
This would make the value of guarding miners more interesting as it is a way to grind for isk and interesting.
Killing rats quickly so they don't start shooting miners because the Guard's tank is too strong to break and that Guard is ignoring them. In the Rats eyes - if I can't kill them then steal from them. Taking Ore and Stealing loot from Industrial based wrecks.
In high sec and in an Alliance a PVE attack ship will start asking for mining ops or encourage people to mine in his belt so he builds his own complex esentially, increasing its difficulty by x% per individual at the belt.

Mega Miner:
For that guy with 10 accounts he can just transfer his isk share to the PVP guys on grid and trust his friends will allow him to mine in peace as he know that if they are on the ball his barges won't get shot at. As the Rats are greedy and will first remove the treat, the Guards before his barges. But a little concerned about the guards no reacting as if they simply tank the rats the rats will switch AI shoot the miners and try and run with the loot.

Bot Accounts.
How will this effect bots... I will make the bot use a little more difficult and may require the assistance of a human to guard the bots .

AFK Miner
For the AFK miner. Similar to the 10 accounts miner. Only worry if your guard is also afk.

High Sec Suicide Gankers:
Make it more interesting as there is most likely a Guard in the belt to shoot back, On the other hand the Guard may be a viable target as he will be tanking the rats and the ganker. Once that tank is gone they will tear into the barges. You may only have 1 kill,,,, but you will be responsible for the death of afk Barges. Once you break the key stone you will multiply the number of carebear tears you will receive.

Griefer:
Advertise you self as a Guard and then go afk or warp off after the rats arrive.

Boosters
No effect after a change of on grid boosting then you may be in the same boat as the miners.

Haulers
Less worry as you will not be targeted unless you fire back or a guard is ignoring rates or there is no guard at the belt. If there is no guard panic as the number of people in the belt will increase the number of rats in the belt.

Miners in general:
A Guard will have a reason to stay at your belt and won't start shooting at you after 3 hours because he is bored

Small Gang PVP
A mining op will less fragile more likely to stay and fight – The Guards will be under attack. The AI may switch targets as you may be seen as a threat, but you will have a more balance target as the mining op will be more PVP equipment and less likely to run off.

Salvager
New role
You will be able to salvage regularly while at the belt and you have a hauler, hauling for the miners, that can take your loot to station or POS for you for later pickup


-->In Summary
The addition of a new PVE complex with Enhance AI and regular spawns that focuses on team play of mining including the Guards Eve's group play of Mining ops will be come a fun and enjoyable experience bring PVE PEW PEW closer to the mining profession. As a result a new experience.