EVE General Discussion

Bit of important details lost in the lack of context you have there.
It's useful for super pilots because you know if they're online, where they are, what they're flying, which alliance to look out for, etc. It's comparatively less useful for others since it only shows if they're online and doesn't give you any more information than that. Although less useful, it's still incredibly important.



So you're arguing for a removal of a source of free intel because you're not against free intel.
Neat.



I never said anything about minimizing its effectiveness.
Not sure where you're getting that from.

Not sure it's an unintentional nerf at all.

Without being a fly on the wall in the meetings they have to discuss these things, we'll never know what their full intent was.

What I can say in my limited experience with EVE and CCP is that, like most programmers, they are somewhat schizophrenic in nature. They seem to have their internal factions, their pet projects, and blame storming... like about every other corporate/government entity I've dealt with. So you have to see the nature of the beast of the software (EVE) and how it interacts with the nature of the beast of the development company (CCP). They aren't the same and don't interact the same. Even CCP is constrained by their own creation and its player base. A good change management system is key to trying to minimize the issues caused by their internal corporate reality.

So if removing the watchlist ends up being vastly unpopular after a given time of playing without it, they will probably reconsider the move or change it to something else entirely (the latter is commonly done to save face). CCP has faced player wrath before and will continue to do so.

Personally, I think third party tools or mechanisms might be able to be created to handle this loss, but it might take some creative work with CREST or something to make it happen. How that would look/work I'm not entirely certain, but if a real life PI/BH love site like Spokeo can pull together public information on real people and give reasonably accurate pictures of them, it's probably possible with the CREST data process inside of EVE.

I use custom chat channels to keep in touch with those who I want to, kind of like a "common friends" channel.

Why was this major change practically hidden under 'Miscellaneous changes' in the patch notes?

Why was there no blog months ago (or ever) discussing it and asking for feedback as there is for all major changes?

This is/was used by everyone in the game, not just the subset you seem to feel the need to pander to CCP.

Yes, there are ways to get the same information, long time-consuming BORING and WORK-LIKE ways.

Thought games were supposed to be fun, not a second job. Maybe that is why Eve never drew truly large numbers and appears to be fading more every year.

Very few things pisses me off more than political correctness. And pandering to the wishes of minorities can certainly be classified as such. The whole concept of multiplayer online games is INTERACTING WITH OTHER PLAYERS.
And - all of a sudden - pups up the "privacy" issue.
People who start playing a game like EVE - lo and behold - want privacy. OK, privacy is a good thing...but what does it have to do with having your online status known ?!

Are we all crazy now ???

Watchlist was good to see whether my enemies are online (this would make me a bit more careful), or whether my friends are online (so I could chat with them immediately) - and as far as I am concerned, this was the main use of watchlist for most people.

The current implementation of buddy list doesn't work - or, if it works - it sucks.
I can see a guy next to me in space - and his status is "offline"...
He has me blue, I have him blue - but we are both "offline" to each other.

I guess this provides us all with heaps of privacy...and makes the game more of a job than fun it should be.
I thought I was in Eve for the long run - but I am reconsidering.

Simply - political correctness is not my kettle of fish.

I guess I just don't get it.
I have a contact list that I can open and use to connect with all my buddies, enemies, or anyone I thought important enough to keep track of or contact with.
Why do I need ANOTHER way to interact with SOME of my contacts?
Give us back our watch list and let us decide how best to connect with and track our contacts!

Don't forget that when you remove someone from your buddy list, they will continue to see you as online regardless of whether you log off. It's incredibly broken because they opted to go for quick and easy rather than doing it right.

"Everyone".

Everyone the CSM represents.


We can wonder if people who are not flying supers in large null blocs are viewed in the same manner as renters compared to home owners.

The use of the term "renter" has it's own meaning here, naturally.

It can be pointed out that yes some super pilot has a lot "invested" in the game. But didn't that just get blown up with SP trading? Still the cost and logistics matter. You can't just buy one and use it.

Ultimately I'm left wondering if this is a matter of power or influence. The null blocs have a high level of CSM representation and people who are deeper into the game. So maybe they were given special treatment.

At least the rest of us could have been tossed a bone. It would still matter greatly and add some calculative shenanigans if we could watch-list people we had kill rights on, people who put bounties on us, and anybody in any organization we are involved in wars with. Hopefully some of the watch list comes back in some useful conditions. Maybe those bones will show up.

I Agree 100%

This game caters too much to the huge alliances who probably plex their accounts with BOTs anyway. Eventually all the bitter vets will be playing by themselves. They act like they want pvp lol They don't they want to slaughter new players. More ships get blown up in high sec than in null because the nullbears are only interested in easy fights.

I also agree with this. I started the game about 10 years ago and it has slowly moved to this over time and it has become too much skewed to this.

Don't get me wrong, I've been a null sec dude and have been a low sec pirate for many years, but the Hi Sec thing is far from what it was before.

I think it started with Privateers massive wardecs and has slowly progressed from that over time.

And I do think it is driving new players away from this game who would normally fit right into the pvp game after they have gotten used to the basics in Hi Sec.