You see our dilemma.

Since the PC Dev blog it's been the elephant in room. How does a corp coming from a tradition of neutrality work in a game where there is nothing Neutral.

I'm sure there is a solution we just have find it. But I strongly feel that we should be transparent with the community with such an important matter.

The problem is that PC potentially is a large source of ISK for Dust Corps and we aren't going to be able to have a piece of the pie at the moment.

We've though about this too, but the same issue applies. If we're helping other corps, even small ones in their conquest efforts, how can we consider ourselves neutral?

I've made a similar point in the boardroom. We'd either need near full support of the mercenary community thus reinforcing our neutrality, or this may not be feasible.

We also realize we have work to do regarding our training methodology (tool restrictions asside) and welcome help from the community in that regard as well!

I like that too, though considering how PC mechanics work it would be a logistics nightmare to enforce it.
Hopefully once we get more details we will see if that's possible.

I knew that's what they meant.
But the problem is if game mechanics will allow it.

This is a good idea. I think CCP should just assign 3-4 districts to DU and let them duke it out there. It will be a good source of income and practice for the students.

I doubt CCP would act directly and I don't think it's needed. The school corps can pick their own planet and set of districts, declare their intention, and go at it. Those that support the schools can help regulate interference from the community. The schools evolved from the players and should be managed by the players.

The player generated content surrounding this looks really interesting. I can see rogue corps attacking a school but that would provide experience for them. If it becomes overwhelming then stronger corps could step in.

I like the ideas of a University planet but from some reason I keep thinking it should be called Tleilax...

What about Bojo's? Correct me if I am wrong but you guys are also a training corp?

Yes. You do bring out an interesting point out here. Mercing for smaller corps vs smaller corps will work out for you. The payouts may be smaller but will still be profitable for you.

Care to elaborate?

If Bojo feels like adding to the discussion he is more than welcome to, he might have an idea that works that we at D-Uni have missed and even if not would be interesting to get his take on things.

Having said that Bojo might not have the rigid view on neutrality that we at D-Uni have, If not it would certainly give him some extra breathing room in terms of P.C that are unavailable to us.

This is a question for Kevall and 3 bird.

Other than an income source, which is only a temporary problem due to lacking game mechanics, what does engaging in PConquering provide educationally?

Are the core game mechanics going to be radically different (referring to the grunt experience)?

If not cant things like comms etiquette, working as a team, and how to fill a specific role be taught outside of PConquest?

In short what educational benefit is Dust Uni going to gain from controlling planets that cant be gained using squads in FW and pub matches at a newberies level of play?

Welp if CCP doesn't do this kitten them. Let the community decide. Like Sextus pointed out;- reach out the the big name corps out there and ask for their support. If they agree, you are secured.

Quite honestly if smaller corps want to survive they better be able to field 16 players or join an alliance that could help them out. Either way they have no place owning a district if they cant defend it one way or the other.

I don't get this. I would like to know more about it but it can be done offline.

The problem we have with this model is that no matter how you do it it looks like favouritism from the outside. If your not one of the power blocs we have an agreement with, then you are that much less likly to get D-Uni grads entering your corp. Not because we want our guys to go to a specific corp/alliance in return for the protection, but just through familiarity and interaction.

If our guys talk to you, see you or interact with you more than any other corp it perfectly reasonable for them to want to join your corp when they graduate from D-Uni. But from the outside it looks like we are only training mercs for those surrounding power blocs. Any agreement of this nature would have to completely voluntary on all sides.

Include Districts/Planets in this and this will allow any D-Uni member to participate in P-Conquest with the consent of Director and involved entity.

P.S. For all you people who are saying, "This isn't EvE/ This isn't persistent/ This is Dust it's different" You're in for a rude awakening. Without the ability to do API checks your recruitment process is open to attack. Infact a corp theft has already happened in Dust. So just a word of wisdom here... be ready for the meta because it's comming.

You guys openly admit to taking in newbies and teaching them how to play, that's going to be too easy a target with so few planets/districts up for grab.

You know we'd gank if for a start, i'm sure other corps here would too. Chances are you'd end up on the defensive 100% from day one.

[... In other words, I'm open to all and have no political enemies but keep in mind we are a knuckle of the fist.

An agreement not to attack your territory amounts to sponsorship from larger corporations. If the requirement to own a planet cannot be justified, why not seek direct sponsorship from the same entities that you want to allow you to coexist with them in PC?

Hello zeek1227 zeek1227 here CEO of Blitkrieg Co. (No you don't know us we have like 25 people)
Anyway I guess I haven't really been following you guys (I have heard of you but assumed you were a feeder Corp or something) and after reading this post was curious as to what you do exactly?
Is it training for your own Corp or for anyone? What's is the curriculum? How is it profitable?

Kain, I greatly appreciate the offer but it is worth stating that we are still discussing our options internally and as such any talk with us at this stage would be flimsy at best. That's not to say don't get in touch but just informing you that we are not ready for serious discussion with outside corps.

Also don't believe I thanked you for you grenade tip on twitter, works perfectly. (what even I get bummed at AFK'ers in the MCC )

I keep forgetting about that myself, going to be such a game changer.

Personally I'm equal parts excited and scared about FF. Excited because its going to make the P.C gameplay just that much more intense and squad co-ordination is going to be insane and scared because, I know I'm going to end up killing my own team and they will be killing me.

Still looking forward to it though!

I may have really out of date information, but Eve Uni operates out of a station in High Sec right? I wouldn't see any problem with them picking a planet there in their high sec system for doing PC. Not sure how many planets are in that system, but eventually Dust should have all of this. There is a whole universe of content, other corps should find their own place. From what it sounded like in other post the vulnerability timer would be at a set time and you only need to field about 16 people. That sounds like if you come under attack you only field your still tagged Alumni and Seniors and Professors. If anyone claims about you not being neutral, just say. Hey, this is where we live, go fight somewhere else.