First of all, requiring fuel to be mined to run them is fine. Give us the ability to send AI crew out with a mining ship we have set up and let them come back and fill the tank on a loop until full. Let us send an AI-piloted fighter or two to defend said miner. They can fly in a wing, they will return with fuel and life can go on. Why would I suggest this? Most of us have LIVES. Give us the ability to automate some things and we'll gladly play more. We don't need to have a 2nd, 3rd or even 4th job. Life is already a pain in the neck.
Now... UPKEEP COSTS? Those are where the absurdity begins. Costs to make a jump? Why? YOU MINED THE FUEL. You make us spend a ludicrous amount of money, only to now have to spend EVEN MORE money to not only jump, but make sure the "carrier doesn't fall into debt"? There's a line. And you crossed it. Now it's less about fun-factor and more about "how much do I want to smash my skull against the wall? Until I fall unconscious? End up in a coma? Commit wall-assisted suicide?" Seriously. WHO'S IDEA WAS THIS? Because it was a terrible one. It's bad enough we have to maintain "weekly standings", amass an insane amount of credits for these carriers and then go BUY MORE SHIPS to fill a few pads with so that we have our options. "Do I feel like mining today? Do I feel like blasting fools?" Options are good, but strapping "red tape" around those options is BAD. At the very most, upkeep should only be required if the carrier takes damage. Tacking on a cost that DEMANDS that you forfeit any time you have to do the mind-numbing job of "keeping your mobile base afloat" is a horrendous idea on every level. What you're basically saying to your playerbase is "Don't get a life, because you'll go into debt and lose everything! Too bad so sad for you". Shameful.
The concept is great, the execution is laughable.
Now... UPKEEP COSTS? Those are where the absurdity begins. Costs to make a jump? Why? YOU MINED THE FUEL. You make us spend a ludicrous amount of money, only to now have to spend EVEN MORE money to not only jump, but make sure the "carrier doesn't fall into debt"? There's a line. And you crossed it. Now it's less about fun-factor and more about "how much do I want to smash my skull against the wall? Until I fall unconscious? End up in a coma? Commit wall-assisted suicide?" Seriously. WHO'S IDEA WAS THIS? Because it was a terrible one. It's bad enough we have to maintain "weekly standings", amass an insane amount of credits for these carriers and then go BUY MORE SHIPS to fill a few pads with so that we have our options. "Do I feel like mining today? Do I feel like blasting fools?" Options are good, but strapping "red tape" around those options is BAD. At the very most, upkeep should only be required if the carrier takes damage. Tacking on a cost that DEMANDS that you forfeit any time you have to do the mind-numbing job of "keeping your mobile base afloat" is a horrendous idea on every level. What you're basically saying to your playerbase is "Don't get a life, because you'll go into debt and lose everything! Too bad so sad for you". Shameful.
The concept is great, the execution is laughable.