Player Features and Ideas Discussion

What I would like to see from a fully upgraded observatory array that would allow the detection of non covert ops cloaked ships that are true AFK.

The idea is that tech I and tech II basic cloaks emit small levels of techyons... these techyons are able to be dected when a ship is cloaked for a certain amount of time.

I would say 30 min for tech I cloack and 1 hour for tech II

That would be frickin awesome, and what you really mean by a 7-step process is:

Step 1: Beer...
Step 2: Usual TS banter/BS
Step 3: ....Pissed
Step 4: "Guys GUYS GUYS!!! I've got a idea..."
Step 5: "UNPACK ZE JUMP BRIDGE!!!11" *insert* no stront/fuel/"FC can I bring my Drake?" type hysterics
Step 6: *Kamikaze Fleet*
Step 7: Wake up next morning in a random station with huge hangover and no idea what happened

If OAs only point is to detect AFK cloak campers that is a stupid idea. Just have it only do the intel functions and not uncloak players.There is a much easier way to stop AFK cloak campers. Just place a cloak time on all cloaks (timeframe ? 1-2 hours). When the timer runs out the cloak drops and the player can be scanned down just like normal. The way in which a cloaked player would keep his cloak engaged would be just to drop it and reactivate it. Which would reset the timer. This is the simplest solution.

AFK Cloak Camper problem solved without giving too much of an advantage to either side. Sure a player could be away from his computer for a set time and go back and reset the cloak. but that is fine. Same as a lot of miners. You could also say the player could set a macro and bot the cloak. However that is against the CCP rules and will get the player banded. Just like any other game cheat.

First and foremost, there should be a system of checks and balances to insure a fair gaming experience for all. For almost every action in EVE there is a way to counter that action. For every fit, there is a counter-fit. There is no counter, however, to a cloaked AFK player in a system. That player, for all intents and purposes, is invulnerable. Let me be clear: I'm talking about AFK cloakers, not active players who are performing recon or looking to set a trap. I'm talking solely about people who get into a system, cloak up for the purposes of harassing players in that system, and not actively playing the game.

Second, a threat is a threat. An AFK cloaker is akin to an unloaded gun being pointed at you. You don't know its unloaded. You might assume it is, but the fact is you don't know for sure, and to be prudent you assume the worse and react accordingly. That isn't a decision made out of fear - it's common sense. EVE is not like other video games that log you out automatically after 15 minutes of inactivity, or put an (AFK) tag next to your name after five. Every enemy player in the system must be considered a threat, even if he's away at work.

Third, as a recon player myself it isn't a big deal to have to re-cloak every once in a while. The only time this would present a problem was if I wasn't actually paying attention. In that case, I could still be AFK but I run the risk of being killed by any enterprising individual who *gasp* now has the ability to probe me down. If I go AFK that's my fault, not his, and I deserve to die. At the very least I deserve to be put at risk for not paying attention. Miners who don't pay attention are likely to die. Ratters who don't pay attention are also likely to die. AFK cloakers should run the same risks as well.

If you need any further help in understanding the problem I'm here to assist, as I know this is a complicated issue.

I have removed a rule breaking post.

The Rules:
13. Spamming is prohibited.

Spam is defined as the repetitive posting of the same topic or nonsensical post that has no substance and is often designed to annoy other forum users. This can include the words “first”, “go back to (insert other game name)” and other such posts that contribute no value to forum discussion. Spamming also includes the posting of ASCII art within a forum post.

And yet there are dozens if not hundreds of kills, and billions of ISK, lost out in the belts and sites of Null every day. In theory, sure, it's impossible to catch and pin these players down. In practice they die all the time. A quick search on Eve Kill (which I will not link to here to avoid violating forum rules) shows tens of billions in losses with NPCs on the kill mail, in Null, just today.

If you have a pilot active in your space then in order to stop him you have to hunt him down, which creates content because it brings players into conflict. Except that if someone is just hanging around cloaked there's no way to hunt him down. As long as he remains cloaked there's no content being created. Giving players tools to harass or potentially hunt down and kill cloaked players has to mean more ships blow up. If it's an effective way to stop ratters and miners from being harassed then people will start dropping the people hunting down their cloakies instead, potentially bringing bigger and more dangerous ships as a result.

At that point things either escalate or de-escalate. Either way conflict has happened that might not have otherwise occurred under the current mechanics.

These new structures have the opportunity to be fantastic drivers and enablers of conflict between parties, and there are certainly people who want cloaky gameplay to be a part of those changes.

You still don't get it. I'm not afraid of losing ships, but I should not be threatened with the possibility of losing ships with no realistic recourse to neutralize that threat. My issue is with AFK cloaking, not people actively hunting me or visa-versa. Furthermore, I'm not looking to remove risk from mining or ratting, as active enemy players will always and should always present that threat. Using my prior example, fear of cloaking campers is no more irrational than fear of a gun pointed at you which you *think* might be unloaded but you're not sure. You don't go about your day and hope for the best - you do something to mitigate that threat.

Anyone who lives in null-sec understands this.

Lets put AFK cloaking aside for a minute, since I've indisputably made my point, and lets focus on other benefits of the Observation Array's alleged ability to detect cloaked ships and how it can add to the excitement of game play for all sides. An active cloaked player should have no problem with having to occasionally re-cloak and dodge attacks. Being a recon unit deep inside enemy territory shouldn't be a risk-free job. A cloak should not be an invulnerability switch any longer. There should be danger to recon ships probing enemy systems and fleets who stay in one area too long. Cloaked recon ships should be constantly on the move to avoid being probed down, and a talented recon player who understands how to side-step his pursuers should be a prized addition to any alliance.

As it stands now a "recon" pilot is usually an alt with little or no attention paid to it with virtually no risks - a wasted opportunity for a play style that could be so much more.

Once again, you're completely wrong in all of your assumptions. My issue is with the fact that I can't hunt them. I'm not crippled by fear - I'm blue balled by a system that has made a cloaking device and invulnerability switch.

You know how I can tell your argument is weak? Because the only counter-argument (and that's being generous) you've been able to make is that me and the rest of null sec is too afraid to fight back - which is patently untrue. I'm not afraid to fight back at all, but we currently cannot fight back against cloaked ships, and this is especially unfair against ships that are AFK. No ship should be able to sit deep inside enemy territory indefinitely, un-attended, and risk free. It's insulting that this situation has gone on this long.

I repeat - you're limiting yourself. You're crippled by your own projected fears of the boogieman.

I will concede that afk cloaking is a problem just as soon as wormholers complain about it with even half the effort of nullbears. That's the real thing though, isn't it? No perfect blanket of local to go hide behind. Last I checked WH guys still kill a bunch of rats....

If you want afk cloaking to stop being 'rewarded' then STOP letting it bother you..

You obviously aren't reading or don't understand any of the counter arguments which completely invalidate your opinions. We are not limiting ourselves. We are limited by the game mechanics. We are not crippled by the boogieman, but frustrated that we can't hunt him down and kill him.

It's becoming more apparent with every post you make that you're the one who is scared things might change to be fair and balanced, and let those who are being harassed will soon be able to fight back. The days of you logging into an enemy system, knowing full well there is nothing the enemy can do to harm you, before catching the bus to school are nearing an end. So far, that is the only logical assumption to be made about any of your arguments.



Exactly this. If you're not AFK, warping and re-cloaking is not a problem. The only people who fear these changes are those pathetic players who want to camp and enemy system while AFK.