I agree that will happen. Station owners can expect much more wardecs to come form all sides - small, medium and large groups. Primary reason for non PVP players to anchor station in space is to benefit their services. And this is impossible under war. The jobs are paused every time the armor is reinforced so no one will use it while the war is not over. So the station becomes just useless and expensive junk flying in space. It can’t provide services.
It can’t defend itself. It can provide very weak support (depending on fit comparable to single T1 cruiser up to T1 battleship) but only for few minutes until it runs out of capacitor.
Your station in Urlen is worth 1.3B ISK + fighters and I assume clone bay service is not critical for anything in your gameplay. This is different with industrialists who have their entire gameplay built around their location and structures.
For you If it gets attacked or not - it doesn’t matter and makes no impact. No gameplay will be disrupted or changed. Probably even better because it creates content of PVP opportunities. 1.3B ISK also shouldn’t be a blocking point.
But guaranteed reward of 600M ISK of core would probably change that calculation. Why not to spare 1-2 hours? 600M ISK + loot + 2B ISK killmail. Maybe enough just to erase it without giving any joy to owner.
The overhelming fleet will come just 3 times: first time when you are not at home, second time when you are not prepared, third time just to finish job. They apply damage cap for 20 mins and leave. No content for you, no PVP opportunities, no clone bay and 2B ISK less in assets.
Is it great game experience? Will you anchor another one just to have this repeated few weeks later?
Do you plan to buy the core for your station to test this scenario?
For me answers even from pure PVP standpoint for all above are “no”. For 2B ISK I can buy many ships and enjoy them instead frustrating experience of Upwell defense.
As the results stations will disappear. Weakest first. Strongest later. The population of targets will shrink so nothing will hide.
From my point of view:
- The quantum core should follow regular loot rules.
- Upwell stations should be able to receive remote assistance - repairs and capacitor transfer enabling defenders to undock some ships and attackers be ready to counter that.
- Allies in same war should be able to repair each other.
That’s all. Let’s leave pathetic weapons of Upwell structures as they are, but at least make them useful piece of fleet which will not cap out after 5 minutes of 15 mins timer and then can only throw useless standup missiles.
Then even outnumbered group of defenders could participate in battle, apply some tactics, have chance to save their spacehouse. And for attackers it would bring the risk. Even if they don’t lose single ship they would risk losing much more time than planned because defenders showed up and fought for their property.