Late-comer to the thread (and only recently to the game) and have been playing mostly in Open Play after an initial period of Solo mode to learn the game and get started, but my question is this (and I'm sure it's come up before, but since we have an active thread about getting people into Open Play):
What's the incentive for trader/explorer/miner people to play in Open mode, really? Other than "the thrill" of maybe getting your cargo stolen and/or getting blown up.
For "pirates", they've presumably got their ships all decked out for battle and piracy and have the incentive of pirating goods from trader/explorer/miner folk. Plus, it would seem likely that they're in it for "the thrill", being a pirate and all, which they certainly can get, especially with "bounty hunters" after them. (Ignoring current issues with actually ending up in the same instance as others, etc.)
For "bounty hunters", they also would have their ships fairly decked out for combat, as they're out to get pirates! So they know they're going to end up in a fight and are equipped for it and wanting it. The incentive there is the thrill, which again, they're obviously wanting, and the money from the bounties.
It could be argued that both of the above work better in Open Play since that's the only way to meet other players playing the pirates and bounty hunters and trader/explorer/miners. (Although there certainly are NPCs to fill these roles, it is my understanding, and it makes sense that, it's just not the same going against just NPCs.)
For those trying to do non-combat things, though -- be it trading, exploring, or mining -- what's the incentive, the benefit, for going Open Play? And bear in mind that these are people likely to want their ships mostly configured to be effective at mining or trading, with lots of cargo space, etc. and of necessity less firepower and/or defenses. Why expose yourself to the increased risk for NO benefit...?
As a member of this last group (explorer/trader/miner), I've gone Open Play recently, mostly just to experience it and see what it's like, and, to be honest, it's nice to see another player or two now and then -- even if I am 99% likely to run like a rabbit at the first sign of them, since I'm probably carrying cargo or valuable data at the time. But I wonder if I'll stay in Open or go back to Solo after the first few times I've been pirated or just blown up by some other player, and taken a large loss.
I don't have any answers, and the LAST thing I'd want to see them do is to take things out of Solo mode to try and FORCE people into Open play -- that's a sure way to get me to quit. I think Solo mode is a huge blessing for this game as it allows people the OPTION to go someplace safe... err, SAFER.. when they feel the desire or need.
So, what, if anything, makes Open Play enticing to miners/explorers/traders that DON'T feel the need for "the thrill" of being attacked?
