RydogV
Shadow Company HQ
541
   |
Posted - 2013.10.29 16:18:00 -
[1] - Quote
TL;DR - Convert the current Faction Warfare mechanic into Public 'Team' Matches when new Faction Contracts mode is introduced.
I applaud the upcoming changes that will make Faction Warfare more meaningful both for Meta Gaming, player interaction and integration between EVE players and Dust players. But I am concerned that organized groups are losing an in-game option when it comes to team based game play and I believe there is a way to avoid that.
Right now Faction Warfare is little more than a slightly better organized version of Public Skirmish. For those players willing to put in a bit more effort, we are rewarded the ability to queue-sync multiple Squads into the same battle and engage in the type of collective experiences which drew us to Dust in the first place. With no mention of a 'Team Deploy' option in either Faction Contracts or Public Matches, it seems less and less likely that player groups, especially smaller corporations who cannot effectively engage in Planetary Conquest, will have the means to conduct meaningful, collective, combat operations beyond a 6-player Squad.
First lets take Faction Contracts. These battles are an automatic ISK-loss venture for most players since Loyalty Points are the only monetary currency we will be awarded. This means that team work and trust in the players you deploy with is even more vital, since you are trying to mitigate loss even more. Now if the ability to queue-sync in Faction Contracts is to remain, then someone from Team True Grit needs to state that as fact.
Despite the status of Faction Contracts, we need to take a hard look at Public Matches. Since there will be no ISK rewards in Faction Contracts and ISK will be required (in addition to Loyalty Points) to shop in the Faction markets, players will be forced to play a significant number of Public Matches each week to make ends meet, as it is the only way to make ISK outside of the exclusive Planetary Conquest mode. Mandatory Public Matches puts many team-based groups in a tight spot, since there is basically no way to engage in team-based play outside of a single 6-player Squad. Having to sacrifice team play, just to make ISK, is unacceptable.
Therefore, I propose you convert the current Faction Warfare system into Public 'Team' Matches. All the mechanics are there and recycling the mode and rebranding it should not take much effort from a development standpoint. It would function as it always has, providing those groups with more team oriented goals a place to engage in combat with the added benefit of the social experience we have come to value in the game. Instead of Factions, we can select from four specific NPC corporations to fight for, and Squads can queue-sync into the same battles on the same side. Just as we have always done. The option for Public 'Team' Matches could even be expanded to include Ambush and Domination choices as well.
Standard Public Matches would remain 'as is' and be more appealing to lone wolves and smaller Squads of 6 or less players. Of course those players could still deploy in Public 'Team' Matches but they would do so with the full disclosure that the match may involve going against an enemy team will a high probability of more than 6 players from one organization. By following this course, you have added a meaningful option with Faction Contracts, but you are not taking anything away from the came that currently is available now. The key is add...don't subtract. Recycling is good.
So just to summarize the options:
Public Matches: Ambush, Skirmish & Domination for up to 6-player Squads
Public 'Team' Matches: Skirmish (maybe Ambush & Domination added) for multiple Squads to queue-sync into same battle
Faction Contracts: Skirmish for multiple (hopefully) Squads to queue-sync into same Faction battle (for LP & Standings)
What say ye? |