Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in a system seems to change game play in that system. I know about how the roaming fleets from FOBs, in how they like to torment anyone mining in the belts of the system. Also, when there are 2 or 3 fobs, the methodology for downing the pirate stronghold changes. With two fobs, the spawns are abnormal, and with three the spawns return to normalcy. Normalcy being the behavior experienced and expected when downing a FOB that is alone in a system.
If the Bessy or Gimpy are aggressed or too close to the player fleet, a npc response fleet comes to play. That fleet then can bounce between stations if there is more than one FOB in a system, and take about 15 minutes to de-spawn if not attacked. When the Bessy or Gimpy are not present, aggressed, or approached during a fight, there is no response fleet, and so long as no other fleet is messing with one of the other fobs in the system, we have never had a random, unexpected, npc fleet warp in. The roaming fob rats that plague miners never come to defend the station in the many hours I’ve been present during this activity.
I found a system that has 6 FOB’s and have corp/alliance mates who are convinced that it would be a mess of random npc fleets moving between the stations, and would make our task impossible.
I am forced to consider my experience with 2 and 3 fobs in a system when thinking about 6 fobs in a system. I do not expect for random fleets to come in. There might be several Bessy’s or Gimpy’s circulating, and that might be what they are talking about. When the Bessy/Gimpy land on grid during the burning down of the station, one defense response fleet is guaranteed… two Bessy’s landing in close succession would be a potential with three fobs in a system, and I’ve seen them visit within three of four minutes of each other.
The corp/alliance mates mentioned above have never seen 6 fobs in one system before… or 5… or 4… They seem certain it is a problem nonetheless.
Is there a real concern with 6 in a system that makes attempting to down them a waist of time?
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks.