Player Features and Ideas Discussion

Null sec trade hubs were mentioned in the CSM minutes, I like it, how about this?

A single, 1.0 (i.e. High Sec) system in each pirate controlled NPC null sec region. These systems would be a bit like 'Mos Eisley' and would be policed with tough frontier justice by the pirate faction police forces but all sec statuses would be welcomed as befits a pirate lair. On entering the system any 'outlaw' status would be revoked (until you left) unless you committed a crime, at which time, you would go flashy and be destroyed by the pirate police.

The idea would be to create staging posts and trade hubs from which small organisations could operate 'hit and run' attacks, ninja mining or ratting operations and as centres for crime and espionage. No one would be able to misbehave inside the systems due to the Concord like NPC police and I suggest war decs would not apply, so people could use them as safe havens. Manufacturing would be limited to stations and it would operate a bit like Jita, you can build things but you'll have to get in a long queue, this is to encourage pilots to run goods into the systems. No POSes.

I know that CCP wanted to look at drug/booster manufacture and these systems could be great places for that to be based out of if there was an overhaul, especially in light of the pirate factions connection with drug supply. Bounty hunting would also be great in these systems if it ever became viable.

The best way to make sure that these systems were not perma-camped would be for the police force to police both sides of the jump gates but on the entry gates their powers would only extend to the grid the gate was actually on. This would allow people to get in and out of the systems but maintain risk as they would have to run one of the gates out of the next system. There would need to be lots of ways out into different systems. The hubs would not allow cynos and the gates would not allow capital ships through – so no freighters/JF/Carriers/Orcas etc - if you want to bring goods in you have to do it in smaller ships and take the resultant effort and risk. Of course you can jump your freighter to a POS in an adjacent system and then ferry goods. No jump clones in stations, if you want to get there, you have to fly there.

As a general point I'd like to see more entrances to null sec. Perhaps a few 'Smuggler Gates' that when you jump, spit you out at a random location in the adjacent null system so the other side cannot be camped. You'd still have to make the rest of your null sec journey the usual way but at least your infiltration would be assured.