I posted an idea a while ago, about improving wars, a few people liked it, but I have better suggestions, especially since 3.3 out!
Joining A War
Joining a war, still involves flying to a CZ, and picking a side. This is silly because it limits wars to CZs, rather than system wide.
Instead, you can select your side anywhere, from the right panel, but this choice is fixed for 1 hour*, you can still select a side from Conflict Zones, but again, this choice is fixed for 1 hour*.
Once signed up for a side, you are hostile to the opposing side, and thus fair game, anywhere.
However, you will show as your normal wanted/clean status to CMDRs who are not in the war, and fines and bounties will apply.
Firing on an enemy ship will lock you to that side for a further 24 hours.
Firing upon any ship, in a CZ or Staging Post, will automatically sign you up for the war on the opposite side for 24 hours.
This is all so you can pick your side, and should you miss-click and pick the wrong team, you're not locked out of your war for too long, providing you don't attack anyone.
Staging Posts
These are megaships, which are hidden somewhere in the system at war, which have basic facilities (missions, contacts, crew, rearm, repair, refuel, advanced maintenance), and limited docking times.
Basically you have 2-3 minutes to do your stuff, then you'll be undocked and pushed 300-500m from the pad, or pulled under and de-instanced, to free up pads.
You can only see a Staging Post if you're signed up to the correct factions war.
However, enemy CMDRs can still follow you in and attack you and others. This is perfectly acceptable, if somewhat suicidal. Raiding a Staging Post will also sign you up for the war.
These are not places to go AFK!
Staging posts also act like regular megaships, and you can attack and damage them for additional combat bonds.
These are also here, not only for convenience, but also because if the system only has one station, and you're fighting against the controlling faction, you'll eventually become hostile, and have nowhere to land to cash in bonds. This ensures both factions have somewhere to land to cash in bonds.
Combat Bonds and Priority Targets
Since the whole system is now at war, killing enemy ships, anywhere, can reward you with combat bonds. Yay!
However, carrying combat bonds around in supercruise, paints you as a Priority Target to your enemies, if over a certain threshold (100,000cr in bonds or 2 large kills).
They will send ships after you, and enemy players will see you labeled as "priority target", so they know you're carrying bonds. (Normal players will not).
This allows CMDRs to continue the war efforts outside of conflict zones, and prevent enemies reaching their destination. However, the value in bonds, and your reputation will also have a nice bonus, see below.
Reinforcements and Dynamic Conflict Zones
Because you can now fire on any enemy, you can Interdict hostile NPC's (or players!), and attack them freely anywhere. Yay!
However, enemy reinforcements will be called when your target takes a hit (can be toggled on/off for players, like crimes), if they fire back, your side will send reinforcements.
Instant conflict zone, that can be anywhere, deep space, staging post, RES site, planets surface, CQC asset. Anywhere.
The quality and quantity of reinforcements depends on your reputation with the faction and if you're carrying valuable combat bonds.
If you're carrying enough bonds, with allied status, reinforcements are almost near instant, and high rank, in large numbers.
And that's it.
Full system wide war!
Thoughts?
Joining A War
Joining a war, still involves flying to a CZ, and picking a side. This is silly because it limits wars to CZs, rather than system wide.
Instead, you can select your side anywhere, from the right panel, but this choice is fixed for 1 hour*, you can still select a side from Conflict Zones, but again, this choice is fixed for 1 hour*.
Once signed up for a side, you are hostile to the opposing side, and thus fair game, anywhere.
However, you will show as your normal wanted/clean status to CMDRs who are not in the war, and fines and bounties will apply.
Firing on an enemy ship will lock you to that side for a further 24 hours.
Firing upon any ship, in a CZ or Staging Post, will automatically sign you up for the war on the opposite side for 24 hours.
This is all so you can pick your side, and should you miss-click and pick the wrong team, you're not locked out of your war for too long, providing you don't attack anyone.
Staging Posts
These are megaships, which are hidden somewhere in the system at war, which have basic facilities (missions, contacts, crew, rearm, repair, refuel, advanced maintenance), and limited docking times.
Basically you have 2-3 minutes to do your stuff, then you'll be undocked and pushed 300-500m from the pad, or pulled under and de-instanced, to free up pads.
You can only see a Staging Post if you're signed up to the correct factions war.
However, enemy CMDRs can still follow you in and attack you and others. This is perfectly acceptable, if somewhat suicidal. Raiding a Staging Post will also sign you up for the war.
These are not places to go AFK!
Staging posts also act like regular megaships, and you can attack and damage them for additional combat bonds.
These are also here, not only for convenience, but also because if the system only has one station, and you're fighting against the controlling faction, you'll eventually become hostile, and have nowhere to land to cash in bonds. This ensures both factions have somewhere to land to cash in bonds.
Combat Bonds and Priority Targets
Since the whole system is now at war, killing enemy ships, anywhere, can reward you with combat bonds. Yay!
However, carrying combat bonds around in supercruise, paints you as a Priority Target to your enemies, if over a certain threshold (100,000cr in bonds or 2 large kills).
They will send ships after you, and enemy players will see you labeled as "priority target", so they know you're carrying bonds. (Normal players will not).
This allows CMDRs to continue the war efforts outside of conflict zones, and prevent enemies reaching their destination. However, the value in bonds, and your reputation will also have a nice bonus, see below.
Reinforcements and Dynamic Conflict Zones
Because you can now fire on any enemy, you can Interdict hostile NPC's (or players!), and attack them freely anywhere. Yay!
However, enemy reinforcements will be called when your target takes a hit (can be toggled on/off for players, like crimes), if they fire back, your side will send reinforcements.
Instant conflict zone, that can be anywhere, deep space, staging post, RES site, planets surface, CQC asset. Anywhere.
The quality and quantity of reinforcements depends on your reputation with the faction and if you're carrying valuable combat bonds.
If you're carrying enough bonds, with allied status, reinforcements are almost near instant, and high rank, in large numbers.
And that's it.
Full system wide war!
Thoughts?