1. How can we strengthen the EVE lore connection, without enforcing 1 to 1 relationships. (which essentially means having connections to NEW EDEN as in the universe, without having people whining about the game not being 'gritty' enough)

Player control, plain and simple. Take for instance FW, a way to strengthen the Eve connection would be to allow players to initiate fights in specific systems. This would benefit in several ways, the first being it allows Dust players to forge their own narrative in how Planetary FW progresses. This would make the game much closer to the spirit of New Eden without needing to change anything stylistically. Secondly it would strengthen the actual connection to eve. Once players in either game have the ability to coordinate you will beggin to see more cross talk. Eve pilots will support the Dust Bunnies for the easy LP with Orbital strikes. FW Dust Bunnies will launch attacks in systems they can get support in. Fights will ensue in Space and the Surface it seems like a win all around. All of this would result without adding much in the way of mechanics (The tools are almost all there, just lacking one crucial element.)

Essentially if you want Dust to be more Eve like without requiring it to look like Eve, Player driven is the key phrase.

1. How can we strengthen the EVE lore connection, without enforcing 1 to 1 relationships. (which essentially means having connections to NEW EDEN as in the universe, without having people whining about the game not being 'gritty' enough)

Player control, plain and simple. Take for instance FW, a way to strengthen the Eve connection would be to allow players to initiate fights in specific systems. This would benefit in several ways, the first being it allows Dust players to forge their own narrative in how Planetary FW progresses. This would make the game much closer to the spirit of New Eden without needing to change anything stylistically. Secondly it would strengthen the actual connection to eve. Once players in either game have the ability to coordinate you will beggin to see more cross talk. Eve pilots will support the Dust Bunnies for the easy LP with Orbital strikes. FW Dust Bunnies will launch attacks in systems they can get support in. Fights will ensue in Space and the Surface it seems like a win all around. All of this would result without adding much in the way of mechanics (The tools are almost all there, just lacking one crucial element.)

Essentially if you want Dust to be more Eve like without requiring it to look like Eve, Player driven is the key phrase.