What is interesting Zadian, is that the game only rewards PvE campaigns, rewarding those players that out-collect trophies against the other side. The reward system is so small for PvP (certain missions allow players to be targeted and pay some credtis) but the overall reward of PVP is not worth the effort...and yet, here we are, the same historic discussion being pushed up and down the same hill. <shrug> What WOULD an Open PVE mode really do? It would leave the PvP players to PvP with others that want to compete within that arena. Period. Look at other games where this occurs. It works fine. Yet, the PvP people feel that, somehow this game is different. That a PvE mode would 'destroy' the game.
Mobius should close his group...let the PVE players come to the forums and demand a say in the game. Barring his refusal to do so, the members of that group should band together and come here with one voice and be heard. Until either of these occurs, there will not be enough pressure on Fdev to create an Open PvE mode...or state for the record...they do not want one....or cannot program one.
Quite a number of PVE players from our group have come here and asked for PVE mode visible in the start menu but it not only constantly falls on deaf ears, we also get plenty of abuse from those who are in the open PVP group who tell us having a private group is care bear/easymode and some have even accused us of cheating.
Lets take a step back for a minute. We were told originally the open mode would be for players to meet in a more cooperative way than other PVP centric games where open systems degenerate into gankfests on lower skilled players.
This could be because they were new players, or traders with little combat skill or because they just do not like to PVP. We voiced our concerns at the time, KS days on the forums, as we didn't believe that without strong consequences it would end up that way.
Originally we were told there would be heavy consequences for PKers if they were to persistently act in the usual PVP ganking way. Big fines, almost immediate retaliation by the games security services, and ultimately if players acted in a way that would keep causing grief to players, there would be time spent in a group that would be where others who acted that way also were sent. We would also be able to block players and the matchmaking server would ensure there was little likelihood of us meeting them again in the future
Okay sounds like that should work and perhaps it would have if the game had met these ideals. But I know from my own point of view once I heard some posters asking why it would not be okay to rp a psychotic killer, and MB answering them that player killing would be an accepted style of play, then the high ideals for ED were going to be just that, ideals nothing more.
It was the answer those who like to gank others for their enjoyment wanted to hear.
Back in those heady days I repeatedly asked if those who wanted to be in open could have some form of non intervention flag so that if set PVP would not be initiated against a player who did not want it. Similar to the PVP flag in WoW on the normal servers. Before anyone claims that some players used to leave their flag set so that they only went PVP automatically after putting the first strike on a PVP enabled player that has been fixed. You now have to enable the flag before you can attack.
If there was a PVE mode something similar could be enacted in ED and I think many who go to groups like Mobius including myself may start frequenting open more. Even if you couldn't attack a non enabled PVP player at least the galaxy would seem more populated.
The alternative to that scenario is to make an open PVE group that automatically moves a player out of PVE open if they attack another commander, although I see pitfalls there where someone could use the ramming technique to cause their own death to send PVE open players into private group or open PVP.
I really think that the original idea was the best but it would need FD to have the will to instigate the controls on open that DB and Devs originally thought of taking. Otherwise I see Mobius or another group growing larger and larger. PVP'ers should realise that although as the game stands they can continue the way they are presently operating, that it is their actions that drive people into private groups. A lot of members of private groups like myself have played in other games and like me may even have participated in similar activities in the past. But they have perhaps come to the conclusion that non consensual PVP combat is distasteful.
Elite is still dangerous without the need for player killing and the ribald comments that take place here and in game by some, but if left as is, we will forever be batting this silly ball backward and forward.
Sorry about that TL DR just ignore it if you want.
