EVE General Discussion

Have you ever considered the reason most people don't go into null or low sec is because you're out there? This may be hard to believe, and it isn't meant as an insult. If your idea of "play" is destroying things, including the efforts and aspirations of other people, and you're unhappy with null and low sec because there's just not enough people out there to get your ya yas out, it may be highly likely the problem is with you, not the mechanics of the game.

The reason I say this is this issue of null/low/hi sec keeps getting tossed around, but the cogent point about why players aren't encouraged with the idea of leaving hi sec specifically isn't really covered adequately, or is so heavily stomped on by the "destructive" players who also can't seem to keep their attitudes confined to their playing "styles."

So, here it is. The great majority of EVE players do not find constantly fighting with no real opportunity to be creative (rather than destructive) a satisfying, enjoyable or productive way to spend time. This obviates (Google it) itself by the sheer numbers of complaints from the destructive players, and the relative lack of similar complaints by those who are contemptuously labeled "Care Bears." It's even to the point where the destructive minority is urging CCP to change game mechanics to force the productive players into their arena so they may be supplied with a steady stream of victims.

Oddly enough, this disdain for a destructive gaming style has not so much to do with cowardice (and the destructive types with some sort of bravery) as it has to do with the mind-numbing repetitiveness of destructive gameplay. Face it. More intelligent, and widely versed people require something a bit more intricate than pew pew to attract their interest. Self-imagined thugs, however, need only to kick a hole in something to get their titillating giggles out. The adrenalin rush is okay. The satisfaction of seeing an intricately planned and well-executed creation reach fruition is much, much better.

As long as the majority of players see null and low sec as a sucker's bet populated only by those that intend to destroy everything creative players build, just to provide yucks for a minority of vocal (putting it nicely) vandals you will NOT see a major migration of hi sec players into low or null sec. Funny thing about intelligent people. They aren't stupid.

Read it and weep.

Well me and a few friends are heading for low-null sec very soon with our roaming gang. Its going to be fun to see if we can find anyone with our hyperspeed fleetxD

In brief, both of these examples [ISS and ASCN] were Bad At Eve, both on a member and especially leadership level. If their members had been dedicated and their leadership competent, things might have been different for them. In a way you are correct about this being a good example of why high-sec players wash out of null: their main obstacles are competency and dedication.

Agreed, competency and dedication (if they are actually separate) are the reason most high sec players cannot survive in null. My point was that this is not an inherent consequence of the game mechanics in null sec, but rather of the player culture which insists that any less dedicated/competent group that dares to inhabit null must be eradicated.

Something to consider regarding Null Sec and it's residents.

Often a successful high sec based entity approaches a null sec entity to become a renter.

Once this happens the renter either fails to learn how to protect itself and it's interests, or it gains strength and experience sufficient to hold their given territory.

As time progresses, if the renters organization survives, it begins to attract a larger membership and greater wealth starts being generated for it's members.

Eventually they begin to feel the need to expand their borders, or at least solidify their holdings.

Finally they find themselves being approached by other empire based organizations for the purpose of seeking a rental agreement with them... or simply trying to move into the space that they had shown the initiative to carve out for themselves.

The interesting this about this whole process is, these people suddenly realize that people in Empire local and on the forums are calling THEM the evil, hard core PVP only fanatics of null sec. Suddenly they are The Bad Guy, and are accused of having no further ambitions in EVE other than to kill defenseless Empire dwellers.

Obviously exceptions exist, also sometimes these people decide "what the hell, I might as well make the most of the rep" and become exactly what you accuse them of.

But more often than you would believe, the only difference between you (the industrious citizen of empire) and them (the blood crazed, power hunger despots of null sec) is location and level of organization.

Food for thought.

How's this for a scenario: Alliance holding sov creates an umbrella corp and allows 'civilians' to join at a reasonable tax rate and a monthly fee. They provide transport routes to hi sec (chargeable, of course) and in return they provide protection to the citizens of the area.
Citizens of the area produce and add value reducing the reliance on hi sec drops, more people arrive more wealth is generated. Other alliances see all the wealth and people; wars and pew pew occur..
Everyone wins.

If people want null to be interesting for the carebears - start consider how null sec can be a place for small corps and alliances - until you do that, no amount of treats, promises, isk will move a single high sec player out of high sec. If anything, they move out of the game.