I like this idea as a sort of "beginner's area", you get say 5k sp max per match and once you hit 100k or so you cannot join that lobby.

you start off with more than that.

I like this idea as a sort of "beginner's area", you get say 5k sp max per match and once you hit 100k or so you cannot join that lobby.

It might also be worth keeping track of the KDR of players in these matches; anyone with a particularly high KDR in them could get a gentle reminder from the GMs about griefing, and a suggestion that they move to regular matches.

LOL

Hater.

Not at all. But this thread is about making the game more accessible for new players, and if you drop in there in your new alt and have a merry afternoon popping them then it will drive them away.

Lol's aside.

You (and CCP) are making a mistake by trying to balance this game in it's current state.

If there were other places for advanced players to go they wouldn't be in these endless hisec matches farming newbs.

They'd be in lowsec doing Faction Warfare or nullsec fighting over territory.

As it is we are rewarded for farming newbs because it's the only way to gain SP for the week.

Yep, I appreciate that. This is why I'm suggesting we nerf the SPs you get from these battles.

What I want is for you to have a choice:-

a) you join a regular battle, and accept that there aren't as many newbies around for you to farm as before
b) you join a newbie battle, and accept that you'll need 4 times the kills to get the same SP, and you risk GM action for griefing

Is it easier to go 80:0 against total newbs, or 20:0 against a bunch of mid-to-high level players?


In the long run, of course, what we need is for the game to reward you with things other than SP, such as territorial gains.

But... what about the WP cap window being implemented in the chromosome patch? That seems to solve enough of the problem. Honestly, I really don't like the whole reduced reward matches idea, and I think this feature overall wouldn't sit well with more people than please them. Also, what if you have a bad veteran player and a skilled new player? I don't think either would be satisfied.

We actually need territory gain in the short to middle term.

The real deal-killer with your idea is that matches are barely spawning now. Splitting the player base further would lead to noone getting matches.

We don't have enough players, imo mostly from boredom (game is pretty pointless right now) and frustration with the poor performance of most of the maps.

I'd rather incentivize medium/advanced players to keep playing with actual gameplay, then to penalize those players for "farming newbs". Btw most people say that newbs aren't making enough ISK and SP anyway so your idea seems a bit retrograde...