In gaming, Balance, Consistency and Accountability is key. Its almost a certainty knowing CCP's history, that the craft that mercs will use to move from point to point in Eden [the War Barge] will physically exist inside the New Eden galaxy. The implications there are staggering. Dust Mercenaries won't simply exist in some pocket universe until they arrive in a location and queue for battle. For all intents and purposes it appears that they will have a fixed location and position within the galaxy. Does this mean they'll also have a travel time in regards to getting from Point A to Point B as well? We realize ships in EVE move at faster than light speeds but in the interest of consistency there may also be the opportunity to intercept the War Barge on the way to its destination or perhaps even mount an attack on it.
If you're a Dust Mercenary with little to no ties to EVE this probably causes some eyebrow raising. I can be attacked while on my War Barge? Not necessarily, and who really knows at this point? but if the Mercenary Mobile HQ must actually be an actual location there may be opportunities for some shenanigans and griefing by PC players. This will cause concern in many of the rather gregarious FPS veterans who have all but assured they will dominate the landscape in New Eden. We've covered many of them in the past and their countless promises of "Burning New Eden" may be reduced to nothing but tough talk if the very ships they reside in can be reduced to rubble before they reach their destination.
A couple questions we'd like to pose. We like the open-galaxy style of Dust 514 but balance is key before all else. So is making the War Barge a potential target a good thing? We would be fine with it as long as the caveat includes boarding EVE ships [insert evil laugh] Here are some things to ponder:
1.Will the War Barge have weapons?
2. Could it be a class of ship in New Eden?
3. Is it pilotable? Or do we rely on AI to get our mercs from place to place?
4. During our downtime will it reside in stations or orbit planets in our sovereign territory?
5. Can it be destroyed?
6. Could it be boarded and looted for assets?
7. How much will it cost?
These are just a few of the things to consider regarding the mode of transport most mercenaries will use in new Eden. Community luminary Cazaderon wrote this well done piece on a game mode that is essentially combat on the Warbage. Its a great suggestion, check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/auq572n As always, we'll continue to attempt to help push and publish ideas that help establish, enhance and grow the Dust 514 community as much as we can. Have any ideas that need sharing? Would you like to join our staff as a writer? Be sure to contact us at magww@live.com,
I doubt a little that the war barge will be an asset existent in space on EVE, people might spend money on them and it will be an "item", but I dont believe it will be materialized in space being vulneravle to attack on the EVE side, nor that Mercs will have any travel times at all.
ReplyDeleteRemember that while theres a link, Dust is suposed to stand on its own.
+1 but I hope it can be attacked.
ReplyDeleteWhat if the mercs inside said barge could mount an assortment of defenses, from gun turrets to tracking disrupters/E-war modules? As an EvE pilot that sounds sweet!
ReplyDelete+1 good idea
DeleteI would hope they can be attacked. There has to be a way to get rid of them.
ReplyDeleteThat said it should not be just a ship that can get popped in EVE. We can't have them just fly around while trying to get games started.
It is a difficult situation. I myself always thought of them as a cross between a ship and a POS. Something that can move, but not be flown like a ship. Something that would cyno jump to locations. Something that you could put guns on, like POS guns, and other defense items.
Have them never dock, but have them go into reinforcement. Then they can either be moved somewhere safe as a defense tactic, but lose the ability to attack where it had been if it moves. Or you can have EVE fleets go defend it and rep it if you really want to be able to attack that planet.
i hope so too. never really understood EVE players crying about ship-boarding. thats serious interaction. u guys get orbitals, we can board ships. are we here to play EVE or not?
ReplyDeletewhat about merc's assets? i get that mercs could travel like a jump clone with no cooldown, but how are all those tanks and dropships zipping around in space? so, m3 capacity on war barges?
ReplyDelete