Player Features and Ideas Discussion

I have an idea for a game mechanic by which repeated attacks by small fleets, or failure to keep belt rats in check, can cause a system's strategic index to degrade.

The idea is this: introduce NPC Convoys to null-sec space. Have them spawn and move back and fourth between the I-Hub and planets within a system. The system keeps track of the number of convoy ships spawned vs. number destroyed over a set period of time. If the losses are within a certain limit, the Strategic Index increases. But, if they are outside of that limit, the Strategic Index either stays the same or decreases a level, depending on how bad the losses are.

The limit would be large, and probably scale up as the index level gets higher. The NPC Haulers would also probably increase in EHP and damage dealt as well. In other words, a couple of frigates won't burn down your system. But, if you let small gangs roam freely or never rat, your SI will go down.

Think of them as a type of SOV structure: the Shipping Lane. Between the total number of convoys it would end up having similar HP to a TCU, POS, etc... But since those hitpoints are spread out through multiple locations at different times, it is more effectively engaged by multiple small fleets rather than one big one.

Plus, it gives NPC pirates a reason to exist in the asteroid belts beyond mere target practice. They would stage out of the belts and periodically warp in to attack the convoys. (Yes that means you have to clear out the rats from the belts once in awhile, or your SI will go down.)

But the main point of Shipping Lanes is to give smaller fleets a more viable role in SOV warfare as commerce raiders and quick response forces. You could even make the whole thing more player driven by linking the Industrial, Strategic, and Military indices all together: Mining/processing boosts the local economy, so more convoys spawn and the "destroyed limit" goes higher, or the time required to upgrade to the next level might even go lower. (Industrial -> Strategic) But, the increased shipping attracts more pirates. (Strategic -> Military).

Also, the convoys ships would be extra resistant to bombs and able to hit stealth bombers with decent DPS. Otherwise Good Lord.

TL;DR: Create a new SOV mechanic and call it the Shipping Lane. It's like a structure but it can't be blobbed because its HP are spread out over lots and lots of NPC convoys that spawn in different locations over a period of multiple days. If too many convoy ships are destroyed, Strategic Index goes down and JBs and Cyno Jammers go offline

Don't you have to Rat in order to raise a system's Military Index? Or do people not bother with that anymore?