Player Features and Ideas Discussion

I mostly like PVE gameplay and I've engaged in PVP only a few times. I actually quit playing eve a few months ago for one main reason and I've chatted with a few other players who quit for the same reason. It seems that PVE is limited to high sec due to all the players who camp in small groups in low or null sec. I understand that is the nature of eve, so I propose a solution. I think a cool idea would be to have the ability to hire npc mercs. I understand there are merc players, but it can be difficult and expensive to hire another player just for a low sec mission or just to pass through low sec. Also, newer players could benefit from this for those hard to beat missions.

It's difficult for working adults like myself to be part of a player owned corp, because many have minimum login requirements during certain times, require pvp combat, and whole bunch of other requirements that I can't or am not willing meet. Hired mercs could also raise faction standings slightly with whatever faction the mercs are purchased from. Obviously, the more protection you want (in the form of larger more powerful ships) would cost more, and I think there should be a limit as to how many mercs can be hired. It could also be limited by one's security status (the higher a security status, the more powerful hired mercs will be available, the opposite could be true for pirates). Of course, in order to curb abusing this function, mercs will not attack another player unless that player attacks first., and if a player with hired help attacks another player then the mercs are forfeited. The object is to just have protection, not to bolster your forces to attack another player.

I know many people (especially pvp'ers) won't like this concept, but pve'ers like me who just like pve gameplay won't be at such a disadvantage and could be offered a little security blanket.

Nox, you are half correct. I am speaking about the solo play of eve and wanting to experience the toughness of the npc's in lowsec without the interference from other players. I don't know where you came up with the idea that it was about money, as I never once mentioned anything about wanting to make more money. I'm more interested in just seeing and playing tougher and more interesting solo game that hi sec does not have, as well as the cosmic anomalies. I want to battle against sleeper drones in wormholes but can't because I get ambushed by other players, and if I manage to survive, which I rarely do, I'm all busted up and have to return for rearm, repair, etc. Then when I finally make it back, the ambush has doubled in size and even more impossible to counter. If you have a corp suggestion that doesn't wanna run you out of money and doesn't have unrealistic login requirements PLEASE let me know. I just returned to eve after a few months hiatus and I'm truly interested in finding a good corp!
Thanks.

Let me break down your desires a bit here:

Toughness:
A. L4 missions provide challenging content for newer players.
B. Incursions provide the toughest NPC interaction in the game and can be done in Highsec. You don't even need to know anyone, you just need to join waiting lists for incursion fleets, have the 'right' fitting, and voice comms.
C. Wormhole space (a.k.a. Sleepers) systems are largely unoccupied. There are a huge amount of wormhole space connections that open into high security space. Poking your nose into a wormhole that you've scanned down from highsec is the safest way to get your feet wet.

Exploring More of New Eden (which is what I feel you're saying you actually want):
A. Lowsec/Nullsec ratting, anomolies, data/relic, DED sites: You can fly a T3 cloak ship and have an iffy chance of survival if this is really your goal. Again, this is not the toughest in game content it just happens to be the most dangerous because of the other players.
B. Just showing up in new systems. Get into a agility fit intercepter and a cheap (no implant clone). You can knock around most of new eden just kinda seeing what's going on without a lot of risk.
C. NPC Nullsec L4s. Grab a mission ship and try to get there a couple times. This is doable but there is a lot to learn. These really aren't any more difficult than Highsec L4 missions other than the LP store pays out mroe.
D. Deep W-Space. Grab a cloaky T3 or a venture with scan probes and a cloak (yeah, 1 gas miner), a stealth bomber, or a recon ship. With all of these you have survivable options for hopping around W-space for a while.

Any more thoughts on NPC mercs? Still may be a viable idea.