A couple of years ago, I left my previous MMO of choice because of a single statement “We want crafters to be out in the world adventuring instead of camping out in front of an auctioneer.”
I liked being the crafter standing in front of the auctioneer. Of course in Eve we sit around in either our spaceships or cabins by ourselves instead of shoulder to shoulder with other pilots in an auction room, but the essence is still the same.
In Eve, the market trader, the manufacturer are important parts of the puzzle. Both games have the farmer, and it was some surprise to me that I joined the farming ranks (PI not mining). There is also the hauler, through spaces of various degrees of danger, both big and small.
Many of us enjoy industry. Even better, not only have I been shot at and lost my haul, but what I make is important to the end game. As players, we make ships and modules that are used in the ‘end game’ battles, we build the POS, Outposts and customs offices used throughout New Eden. We build the capital ships, some even build supercaps.
Yes, being shot at is important to my enjoyment. This game engages manufacturers/crafters in a way that I have not seen in any other MMO. We build ‘real stuff’, not just a couple of shiny distractions.
I also know that between the current user interface, and mostly safe highsec manufacture is not as engaging as it could be. For players that enjoy a pretty UI (and many others do even if I am functionally based), the new changes will be wonderful.
Kirith Kodachi stated “The Industry update coming on July 22nd is not going to reverse any numbers”. Maybe. If everyone talks them down, then certainly.
Crius (and the POS/corp changes to follow) is an opportunity for those of us that enjoy manufacture PVP to spread the word, and to be excited.
Are we going to get everything we want? Certainly not. Will there be a loud outcry by the losers of the changes? Yes. Those most comfortable with making things in safely won’t be so happy. Those that can adjust will do fine.
I know and accept that the majority of players are in Eve to directly inflict explosions on others. There still is a compatible audience of players that like to know the things they build enable others to cause explosions. Occasionally that ammunition will be returned to us ‘slightly used’, and that takes some getting used to.
Eve is a sandbox, and a new set of tools is being made available. Even the most hardened highsec grief corporation should be looking at POS full of blueprints as ‘prickly loot pinata’.
I may be idealistically naive, but I see some ‘good complexity’ with the new release. It boils down to: Do I place that way too expensive BPO into a POS for a quick job, or keep it in an expensive but safe station? The only possible answer in a public blog is expensive but safe, but for many this will be misleading propaganda.
I know that some of you are only interested in explosions, and then only the ones you see. The next 2 releases are a way for Eve to capture new players, in a market that it is already a contender.
We already have ‘Be the villain’ ads. It is time for us to sell the message “Be the builder in a villainous world”
– foo
Want to read more of Foo’s work? Then check out his blog.
