Dear CSM,
I would like to bring your attention to a problem that has existed since time began. It prevents PVP, it reduces risk/reward, it detracts from gameplay and experience and it turns what should be an exciting experience into nothing but a chore and routine.
Shall we talk about the L word? No, not lesbians my horny neckbeards, the dirty dirty intel tool called LOCAL. We all know it’s a problem, the elephant in the room, the sword of Damocles - but no one is willing, wanting or able to face it.
We’ll cut to the chase - LOCAL will never go. The CSM and the null blocs will never agree to this. I’m not going to say it’s an intel tool (it’s an intel tool) but it does have it’s problems.
When hunting/roaming/flying in null, as a small gang, looking to attack groups who are soft targets (piracy, right?) there’s a problem - before we’ve even jumped into the next system and completed the loading animation, we’re already in local. The ratter/miner, who most certainly isn’t doing anything to gain an advantage, and is almost always certainly smashing DSCAN and looking at LOCAL, can see us before we’ve even loaded. They’re already in warp back to the station to dock up - by the time we’ve used DSCAN to see where they are, and warp to them, all that’s left is wrecks.
This is not how small gang PVP should be. This is not what was ever intended. There’s literally no risk. LOCAL was created from a time of innocence in 2003 whereby the devs thought it would be nice if people could talk to one another. It was never meant to be an intel tool or early warning system.
When a neutral enters system, the ratters/miners dock up - literally whilst they’re loading system. Is that good game design? Is that the intention? No.
What’s the solution? If the CSM/Null won’t agree, the devs won’t force it, what can be done? There is a solution that works for all and actually balances the game in a more realistic and opportune way so that everyone can have a slice of cake.
SOLUTION - Whilst your gate cloak is active, you don’t appear in LOCAL. When your gate cloak drops, you’re in LOCAL. Why? It gives roamers some time to DSCAN or “shotgun” a random target. It still gives null their intel tool. I’d like to think this is an 80/20 deal… still in favour of null, but it’s a reasonable request.
TLDR; You don’t appear in LOCAL until your gate cloak has dropped.
I literally challange anyone to debate me (fight me) as to why this would be a negative to the game overall. I’m not talking about a nullcentric focus, but an overall game focus. Null have a lot of benefits and very little risk (pretty sure it was supposed to be the opposite) and this needs adjusting slightly. You’re all super rich right? What do a few ratting Ishtars/Praxis mean in the grand scale of things, content and overall health of the game - or do you want to hunker down and enjoy your ivory tower whilst the ground collapses beneath you?
Again, TLDR; You don’t appear in LOCAL until your gate cloak has dropped.
If anyone can actually provide a balance, reasonable and valid explantion as to why this is NOT a good idea, then go for it. Explain why the most dangerous area of space…. isn’t actually any more dangerous than high sec. If anyone thinks that more content/engagement is actually bad, speak up!
TLDR; You don’t appear in LOCAL until your gate cloak has dropped.
Edit - fully expecting to get dogpiled by null and people with vested interests. Propose an alternative rather than just flaming me.
