Beren Hurin wrote:Just put this in IRC, but thought I'd put it here too. This combined with a mechanic like current sovereignty mechanics in Eve.
To capture a district you must:
1: fight an ambush to reinforce the defense relay down to 50% armor. While active it prevents hostile MCCs from entering the atmosphere above the district. Reinforced nodes then go into a timer of the defender's choosing so the next battle is up to them.
2: when the reinforcement ends, an OMS ambush then takes place around the node until it is hacked, destroyed, or armor is healed to 100%.
3: If the OMS defense battle fails and the node falls all available battles ones in the districts become vulnerable to skirmish attacks subject to the attacker's choosing.
4: Districts maintain command nodes which are MCC sized installations that represent a defender's MCC. Attacking null cannons degrade the defender's command node rather than having an MCC. Attackers win if the majority of zones in a district are taken. Ties go to the defender.
5: After 30 mins of the defense relay being destroyed, or a successful skirmish defense, the defender can launch another OMS Ambush to rebuild another defense relay. If successful the defenders can then recharge their district's relay preventing any more MCCs from entering their atmosphere. To continue the attack, the attacker returns to step 1.
I both like, and dislike, this proposal. I like it because it outlines a very clear list of objectives that must be obtained in order to gain control of a district/planet, or defend against an incoming attack depending on which side you are on. But that's also why I don't like it. It's too orderly, too polite. It seems to suggest that Corps would set aside a time to battle over districts/planets.
Corp A: We'd like to launch a surpise attack against you. How does Tuesday at 7 sound?
Corp B: Well it's difficult to get enough players at 7, how about 8:30?
Corp A 8:30 it is! Look forward to destroying then.
I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. But it would seem to fit better in the New Eden 'verse if Corp B didn't know that their planets were being attacked until an emergency signal (say in the form of a notification to the CEO) was sent out AFTER Corp A had started their initial attack. This offers up the possibility of covert operations/black ops missions, as well as PVE turned PVP battles.
PVE because the areas under attack might start out only being defended by NPC personnel or Drones, and PVP because as soon as the message went out, Corp B Mercs could start spawning in to defend the area.
Like I said, I do like the proposal, but I feel that Game Modes should only be used as a stop gap. Game TOOLS are a better way to go, in the long run. Give us, as players, enough tools and the space to use them in, and WE will create the ways to achieve our goals.