Player Features and Ideas Discussion

o7, first of all I'm aware that posting here is usually a one-step shootdown, but I've had an idea (also probably a one-step shootdown)

PLANETARY INTERACTION

Introduction

I've noticed of all things, EVE gives the ability to set up POS(s), Outposts and soon to be Citadels. These can all be used for industrial/economic purposes but they all have something PI doesn't, the risk of loss and the ability to set up defences (deathstars).

To begin, I have used the search feature and for what I have to say, it usually ends up in "this takes the control away from the EVE players" (these articles almost always involve DUST) but my proposal doesn't. Considering DUST is shutting down anyway.

Basics and Fundamental Concepts

There are many 'modules' to build when it comes to PI, but I notice a lack of anything with true defensive capabilities, I've read a lot of Lore, Chronicles and Prime Fiction and they all at some point mention surface-to-orbit weapons... Where did this dissappear to? Firstly to be able to defend something, it has to be able to be destroyed, right? And we all know of those countless numbers of Marines we have lying around in hangars across the galaxy... We've all played turn based strategy games right? With the PI interface as it is, it wouldn't be too difficult to set up feature involving ground battles without involving twitchy FPS gamers. I'm thinking something along the lines of that old board game everybody knows about (Risk). Obviously this would require the usual WarDec in 0.5 and over.

For ease of explanation I'm going to categorically label these 'units' as Marines. 1x Marine (commodity) = 100 Marines on the surface, these would be arranged in Meta levels and tiers just like ship modules, with T2 and faction 'marines' being significantly more effective. These have to be deployed from orbit either through a captured POCO or a specific ship type (CCP is best left to balancing). Numbers would mean something but as this is EVE, chance has got to be incorporated. The 'marines' move via routes, (once an 'invasion' occurs, routes are frozen). This makes: A) planning and positioning routes in correct places important. B) makes routing your Command Centre important as to maintain a defensive line.

The 'marines' shouldn't be able to outright destroy infrastructure, but capture it once the Command Centre falls. This is where our surface-to-orbit installations of gankiness come in. To maintain a ground offensive supplies (Ammo, Food and more Marines) need to be supplied, if you can take out the supply chain you can cut off the offensive, but as this is EVE it always needs to be a double edged sword... The capture of Orbital Defences gives the ability to keep your transport ships safe in orbit.

What can I shoot at?

The question everybody wants to ask, obviously. The offensive/defensive fleet in orbit should be able to use those (now wasted) Orbital Strike munitions to slug it out with the Planetary Defences, the mechanics are already there, and it's a waste to just scrap something that gave a true "wow" factor on announcement. No, this isn't the forest moon of Endor, but as is the case with POS, Installations should have some kind of 'Shield' which can be neutralised by capturing the Command Centre with aforementioned 'marines'. For ships in orbit to engage installations (and destroy them) this shield needs to be down. The Command Centre would incorporate the same "reinforced mode" mechanics as most other player owned structures, allowing the defending faction to attempt to recapture their HQ.

We all know PI makes too much money to be this risk free, and planets are getting awfully crowded nowadays, something needs to be done to allow much more player influence. Corporations don't really have an awful lot of ability to deny access or destroy rival Infrastructure other than 100% tax. It's kind of irritating... Risk is what makes this game good...

I'll leave the technical aspects to the people who actually write the code, I'm not here to tell CCP what to do as I'm aware the programming is tedious, but this 'turn based' approach makes enough sense, it's EVE, it's essentially one giant turn based dice game.

Modules

I'll touch on modules to end with, Defences should be more module based (require ammo, possibly a way to starve defenders out), anyway, I shall finalise this idea once I get feedback, critique is important and I want to hear other players ideas on this subject, just don't bully poor old Vlad.

PS: I am not Russian

- Vladimirovich Okaski

Vlad is sad,
His post didn't even get a roast.

Let me get this straight, you are proposing to turn PI into a turn based strategy game?

RTS = the closest thing I can explain this as

If done right, I think it would be a great idea!

Awh Vlad likes bumps, but yeah the idea is a bit... Vague, what do you guys honestly think ( bumping aside.)

Well the idea I had was born out of a thought complex I encountered while drunk, why when with Capsuleers even having like 800 crew members on a battleship, therefore putting losses in massive fleet battles in the hundreds of thousands are we fighting with less than 100 'ground troops'. What if the entire DUST mechanics would work beside this, Installations would have sort of a 'final capture' mode where mercs are involved.

It just doesn't make sense why engagements are so small but even in the Lore there's massive ground battles, a lot of genuine strategy games have to become turn based because the numbers involved would make it insanely hard to render (Civilization). The costs as well... Ouch... Non-cloned soldiers aren't interesting or purdy so they might as well be "simulated".