EVE Fiction

The Church of Aether Holy Text, compiled from many accounts of Aetherean teachings.

Commencement: 1:1 In the beginning, there was New Eden. A fantasy, adventurous and massively open world game environment. People could come here to relieve stress by mining, or running
missions for Non Player Character corporations or simply explore. 1:2 If anybody wanted to make money, they would simply put effort into industry, missions or exploration of their systems, and very few people wanted to stop them. 1:3 Then came Player Corporations. People could start their own companies, and role play their own dream business the way they want. 2:1 Of course, with every positive, there has to be a negative; and running your own company meant being susceptible to declarations of war from rival companies. There upon were the first seeds of resentment sown. 2:2 Now that New Eden had budding new companies and industrialists, and mission runners and explorers, we now had a new threat to this peace. 2:3 People who fly throughout New Eden looking for weak and helpless people to slay, for sport and monetary gain.

Enactment: 1:1 After a rise in this new sport labelled Ganking, the Makers granted a boon to the individuals victimised by these crimes, by putting in place guardians and maintaining a
security system throughout the universe. 1:2 For the longest time these new measures were the pinnacle of a new pilots belief in safety. People interested in killing others for sport were driven to lower security systems where their behaviour was largely accepted and we were once again at peace. 1:3 Many knew that from the dark depths of Low and Null Security there were emergents who indulged in their sport at a more personal risk to themselves. 2:1 Although we were still at risk, we were still at peace in our hearts with knowing that if anyone were to slaughter them, they would be avenged, and their soul would be saved to be divined into another body. 2:2 This was deemed as normal by a large majority of the universe, and everybody took measures to avoid running afoul of this slaughter.

3:1 Slowly, creeping, there came a rise in these killings as the perpetrators got ever more daring and inventive in their ways of flouting the subtle flaws of our security system. Our Peace. 3:2 Never has there been a world without evil, and evil finds a way. Evil is an infection and more and more people fall under its lustrous spell. 3:3 With the advent of this new evil, pilots started to unite in small groups, taking advantage of the bounty system and showing the world that we do not have to be afraid of this new threat.

Rise: 1:1 There became the new normality that was security Companies, ran by like minded individuals who sought to fight victims' battles for them. 1:2 There also came a new boon from the Makers, the knowledge of planet harvesting. We now had the ability to collect useful resources from planets. 1:3 This new divine intervention was seen as a distraction for the killers, hoping that they would see the value in industry. 1:4 As it unfolded, it appeared not to slow down the advancement of evil. Security measures were tightened and the guardians were seen to be ever so slightly more useful.

Descent: 1:1 We were all disconcerted when a new regime was introduced named The New Halaima Code. For a short while, their intentions were noble to a point and could be supported.
1:2 Between industrialists and haulers alike there was a split. A collection of miners and haulers were using methods of automation to complete tasks. Some of the non-automated players were unaware of this occurrence, some knew, but were indifferent. 1:3 The only people to have come away seriously affected, it seemed, were the new movement, Code. 2:1 Their main goal was to fly their ships into the so-called offenders, which by note could not be determined in the first instance whether they were offenders or not. 2:2 This action took advantage of a built in TCAS type system from the Old World, effectively shunting miners out of range of their designated target. This was considered an hilarity for the Code operative, and a minor inconvenience to the miner. 2:3 But then Code became more boisterous, and started to use fear tactics and threats upon their victims, and finally killings.
3:1 The Codes leader, James315, et upon the idea of charging a tax to their victims, to allow them to mine in peace. 3:2 Many saw this not as a concrete guarantee, but as extortion to squeeze the victim for money before killing them yet again for falling for the scam. 3:3 The killings were made worse as more companies pledged their allegiance to this false so-called saviour. 3:4 As time passed these killings were now disregarding whatever flimsy protocol the Code stood for and are now killing at will, yet again, for profit.

Aether: 1:1 The industrialist, haulers and explorers needed a new hope, something or someone to help them. 1:2 Yamadar Aether was a simple man, an industrialist, who met the same many endings as his peers. He grew tired of his repeated fate and his heart grew heavy. 1:3 I will unite the weak against this tyranny, he said to his fellows. We will make New Eden a place of commerce, enjoyment and peace, not a bloodbath. 1:4 With time he had attracted many followers to his new idea. He said unto them: How do you kill shadows? You simply shine some light on them. 1:5 I will expose Code and their leader, and I will shine the light of a sun on them. All their agents, operatives and confederates will burn. 1:6 Come to me, my brothers and sisters, be not afraid. I do not see myself as your saviour, only a name to rally behind. 1:7 A name to bellow at the victimisers as they're vanquished. The true saviour you seek lives within each and every one of you. Find your inner saviour and go forth in my name.

Finally a note to CCP and a disclaimer: As a time served player of many titles, I have seen some crazy things. And I've also seen the actions of developers make or break a title.
Right now, the approach that has been taken regarding the unrest, is what has caused the significant loss of player-count in recent years. I remember you couldn't move for people in the busier systems. Now everyone's either gone into hiding, or quit entirely.

Imagine what would happen if everybody quit? CEO, Mr. Pétursson, your bottom line would plummet. Now this isn't a personal attack, FYI I enjoy the game a great deal, I just think improvements could be made to make the game more user friendly, and maybe perhaps generate more staying power for the game. I can imagine the thought process that went into the game in the last few years. Less players = less profit = more lay-offs. Fair play that's business.

The approach should have been however: Less players = Investigation into why? = address the problem by putting more measures in place. = More players = More profit = Hire more workers to maintain those measures. Everybody's happy. I realize that's a very idealistic turn of events, but I believe CCP has the power to make it work. Aether will petition for a report-player function, AFK no-action kick systems, and stiffer/faster penalties from CONCORD. (Maybe put the safety switch to good use by having CONCORD attack reds on sight, Yellows? Lock on but no fire perhaps.) (also could consider CONCORD using Webifiers, to prevent people from cheesing the mechanics). These are just some possibilities and for now, just fiction.

That's my final word and now follows the disclaimer: I do not claim any rights to any intellectual property contained within EVE Online or it's associated websites, they remain a property and trademark of CCP.