On the CSM Vote Match site there is a question (well 30 questions, but who is counting? – Me obviously ;)) that has raised a few eyebrows and which will probably cost me a number of votes.
This question is “Local chat should be changed to delayed mode.” and because I’m honest I picked it as something I strongly agree with. I even went as far as to pick it as a key question (without any thought of the impact it might have on match scores ;)).
Because the vote match is a simple site there isn’t any way to explain the reasoning behind that choice, which is where this post comes in. The question of delayed local is one that will split the candidates (no point having questions that everyone will agree on) just as much as the player base.
First off, scope of changes isn’t addressed in the question, but here are my thoughts.
- Local in 0.0 should be looked at first with a view to putting the same system into LowSec should it be successful.
- Local in Empire should remain as is. Empire is highly populated and delayed local might put newer players off by making the game look empty.
- Local in LowSec should remain as is until any changes are fully tested in 0.0.
Now we have that out of the way…
What is wrong with Local? It isn’t broken, why mess with it?
Simply put, Local is no longer a simple chat channel to (smack) talk with other pilots in the same system, rather it is predominately used as a general purpose Intel tool.
It has become a one stop shop for checking how many people are in system, if they are hostile to you (based on your standings) and even which corps and alliances they are in. This can happen before a person entering the system has even loaded (i.e. still in black screen).
So it gives an advantage to people defending a system more so than people attacking it? Hold on there, it is not quite so simple. If I’m scouting then I can use local once I load system to find out if there are any targets. I know who they are, which corp and can even add them to address book to watch them logoffski.
I feel this behaviour isn’t right, especially as it makes it impossible for covert ships to sneak up on targets because even if you enter from a different gate they see local spike and bug out. You can’t sneak a covert fleet in via a blackops portal out of scan range because they will see you in local. As a defender you can’t hide your true numbers in system without springing a login trap when the attackers have committed themselves (I dislike login traps and am glad Agony don’t use them).
CCP don’t seem to like the behaviour either which is why they tried something else in wormhole space. They have also stated that they are not willing to change local in known space without revisiting Intel tools, which I think is a fair compromise.
However the second you talk about possible changes to local you get quotes like the following
“(another csm candidate) agrees w/ making local delayed which is a horrible idea unless you want to constantly get ganked by cloakers in your own freaking space while trying to raise pvp money – it just further reduces 0.0 profitability (besides, that’s what WH’s are for). “
This is an often repeated view, that a change to local must be due to wanting to gank solo ratters in 0.0 space and must therefore be blocked at all costs! It is an emotional issue that people see as an outright attack on their game.
I feel this is rather short sighted. I’m interested in the whole picture – balance, risk vs reward and so I’d like the issue to be discussed fully and not be looked at purely from a solo ratters point of view (though that input is just as valid in the discussions).
So I’ve outlined some issues and other views, what do we do?
Firstly it is not my place to say how it should be done, it is my job (if elected to CSM) to take player proposals to the next meeting and discuss them.
I don’t and have never claimed to have all the answers! Nor do I want to force my view of PvP across all of Eve.
The question was do I support the idea of delayed local and as far as 0.0 goes, yes I do. The actual mechanism has yet to be proposed or debated by the players let alone the CSM.
That said, here are some ideas that have been thrown around.
- Keep the Local count but delay (possibly until they talk as per wormholes) the actual player details.
If we must have a compromise than this could be it. In the case of a solo ratter or a mining op any change in local will be spotted and they can warp to their pos etc as now – no change for them and no benefit to the PvPers.
However in the smaller roaming gang PvP world, this is an improvement because while your scout caused local to go up by one, the defenders don’t know your name or corp/alliance unless they get eyes on you. Of course you need to get eyes on them for the same reasons but I think it would add an extra level of tactics.
- Delay local and allow Sov holders to get Intel from the gates in systems they pay upkeep for, maybe via a system upgrade
This Intel could start off with ship counts entering and leaving system (once they decloak from session change) and could be upgraded to maybe give ship classes.
There is enough Intel for people to safe up but it still doesn’t give the pilot/corp/alliance details and does allow people to portal in to avoid being spotted by the gates.
However this doesn’t help people living in NPC 0.0 space
There are of course other and maybe better ideas yet to be discussed in public.
So that is my position, I know many people do not agree with me but I’m open to discussion on the subject.
TL:DR
I think the issues surrounding Local chat being used as a one stop Intel shop should be discussed by the playerbase and then the CSM in combination with CCP. This can only be achieved by proposals being raised in the Assembly Hall forum with ideas on how to implement any change to Local.
