If there’s risk involved (and there is, particularly if you’re planning to sell exploration data at Jameson Memorial) the reward should be proportional, whether in credits, merits, or influence. Every player should have the choice to opt for a bonus in Open or to switch Solo/PG for more relaxed gameplay (and sell exploration data to Jameson Memorial without issues LOL).
That’s kind of my point. IF there’s risk involved, I would like to see a bonus. But it has to be ACTUAL risk. Not hypothetical, only when the stars align risk, but
actual risk. There is very little risk in Open in my experience, and most of that is
self inflicted. If you’re foolish enough to fly into Jameson in a paper-thin exploration build, switch in Supercruise assist, and watch Netflix, then you get what you deserve… regardless of mode. I’d take a fast and durable courier ship into such an environment and Buckyball it to my destination myself… again regardless of mode. If I was particularly worried about players, I’d take three minutes before work to actually run mostly anecdotal gauntlet, when there’s 90% less potential opponents overall.
Because the primary pool for opposition is who’s living physically close to you, not who’s playing at the same time as you. Roughly 80% of people work first shift. I’ve tested this extensively, and while my overall sample size may be small, it’s been fairly consistent over the years: I’ll encounter about seven or eight players during prime time for every one I encounter outside that time frame, all things being equal.
If the pool was primarily who’s online at the same time as me, then I’d see roughly two the early morning, five during my normal play window which corresponds to European prime time, and three during my local prime time.
How many players choose Open is much harder to figure out, but based on what I’ve observed of CG traffic, the percenrage of Open players can be as low as 63%, and as high as 85%. I’d want to do at least two more tests, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the average is closer to 80% than it is to 70%.
The whole idea of Open Only or Weighted Open is based on the concept that, despite widespread statements to the contrary, most PowerPlayers are significantly more likely to play in Solo/PG compared to the general player base. If that is the case, then the results are not going to be my idea of fun…
especially if I thought it was worth my while to
initiate PvP.
YMMV
