Idle thoughts
To CCP Falcon –
There are two central aspects to the “Blackout”, “Drifters”, “Triglavians”, etc., that I’d like to comment on.
The first is that by CCP throwing so many wrenches in the mix, i.e., mass NPC attacks on structures, Triglavian Invasions / Footholds, etc., all these grand, scripted events that are changing the markets, shaking up Alliances and power blocs, you’re greatly taking away from the central, vital Sandbox element of EVE Online, where it has always been the Players who build, transform and steer the course of great things across New Eden.
Clearly, no player caused the Triglavian, Drifter, etc., menace to appear… much less the Blackout, and with CCP’s comments about a coming “Age of Chaos” hinting at a ton more Developer-induced changes and events soon arriving in the game, players are being forced into a reactive / response mode, where they are waiting to see what comes next so they can position themselves to minimize loss.
Just as an example, I’m still expecting the Drifters to re-appear, renew their assault and start bashing Structures across New Eden, since that whole thing was supposed to continuously escalate… yet mysteriously evaporated almost as soon as it began. I was jumping Dreadnoughts all over while it was underway, killing Drifters and saving Structures from being reinforced. From this one new added element alone, my reaction and outlook in game shifted to being very much reactive. You can’t be proactive against gangs of NPC Drifters that appear [literally] out of nowhere, attack Structures, skitter around at 3,000 m/s with 150 km Points and put out the combat DPS of a small Fleet. All you can do is grit your teeth, endure, and fight back as best you can.
From the start, EVE’s strongest and most appealing element has always been that it is a Player-Driven Sandbox. To be honest, I fear that the further you move us all away from that – and the more universe-shaking, intrusive, scripted events we all have to confront while just trying to do our thing in game and have fun, the greater risk you run of EVE becoming a very different kind of experience… an experience which seems poised to discard the core element that made EVE Online unique, and which has given it such longevity.
Secondly, I would like to refer to your recent statement in the CCP Blackout Interview:
"EVE, if up to me, would be a very harsh, dark,
dystopian place where bad stuff happens.
EVE should be an absolute hellscape of terribleness."
– CCP Falcon
While I respect your right to have a personal opinion, to be frank, I’m not entirely sure if CCP should adopt your vision above or choose to pursue the far more positive one currently being espoused by would-be competitors, such as the game “Star Citizen”… especially since the Company behind that game has already raised $231,091,756 USD (so far) for its Development on the strength of their [much more positive] central message… and has over 2,353,233 Players lined up to participate… all without even a game to play.
Did you ever pause to consider who would want to play in an “absolute hellscape of terribleness”, much less to pay a monthly fee for the privilege of doing so?
I.e., what slice of the overall player demographic consists of masochists of this stripe?
Adopting such a position seems unlikely to bring new players stampeding to join the game… which, logically, should be the foremost intent behind any changes that the Development Team make to EVE.
Anyway, that’s my two cents in terms of Feedback, as requested.
Carry on and have a great weekend!
– Corvar