Why FD need to make Open play more appealing to non-combat players Why FD need to make Open play mor
OK, I'll admit, that on the whole I do not have a high opinion of the majority of player pirates.
At best I see them as well meaning, but selfish player who are only interested in promoting their prefared game play style at the expence of others. As worst, many are out right griefers and gankers who can only get their jollies by outright aiming to spoil another players game, while using the excuse of "I'm only role playing" to be openly abusive and offensive.
However, today, I was reminded of what Open play can offer in the way of adding excitement to the game.
After getting back into the game, after the new patch, I was wanting to relocate my T-6 from the south of civilized space to the north, in readiness for my epic exploration mission to the galactic hub and beyond. I have the 'Old Girl' in semi explorer mode, but still have 2 x 32 cargo slots. The thinking being that I'll do a bit of credit rebuilding as I 'womble up north'. Some of the kit I have bought, as suggested as being 'must haves' for making the T-6 into a decent explorer having bit deeply into my credit reserves.
So, off I set, mainly carrying low end cargo, mineral extractors and the likes, but also with a few rares too. The first incident that I had to deal with was an apparent 'tail'. for about 6 jumps, just as the 'countdown started' another player would drop out of hyperspace. Nothing drastic, but enough to get the old 'twitch meter' going. Anyway, he eventually dropped off the scene. I'm guessing he was just another pilot just following the same rout as me for awhile.
Eventually, I dock up, refuel, sell off the cargo and stock up with some minerals, which I can sell at the next 'pit-stop' I have planned.
I had gone about two jumps, winding up for the third, when I see another player zoom in, with weapons hot (hollow triangle symbol). I am instantly interdicted, I go for the interdiction fight, where I do well to start with, but eventually things start to go against me. So, I wind back the throttle and submit. I drop into normal space, slam the throttle open, hit the speed boost and start turning and burning for the next jump point. By this point, my heart is pounding, there's a bead of sweat on my brow and it takes my all to stop my hands trembling as I get ready to have that 'special sort of loving' inflicted on me, as only other players know how. But then I noted that my attacker is an NPC (solid triangle) and is rapidly dropping away.
After what seemed like an age, the 'Old Girl' got her act together and off we jumped, into the next system, only to be met by what appeared to be another player with weapons hot waiting at the star. I turn and burn to my next jump. It seemed to take an age for the drive to cool down, then for her to spool up for the next jump, all the time leaving me sweating like a stuck pig as I am expecting the Interdiction to start. But nothing, off we went, and the rest of that stage of my journey was a smooth run in.
The thing is, it took me a good 15 minutes and a trip into the garden for a 'ciggie' to calm myself down.
But then, I remembered, that is what I love about Space games. Be it Eve, or Elite, no other game seems to be able to match them for that pure adrenalin rush when things appear to be going 'hot'.
OK, had things gone wrong, it would have set me back a good two, three weeks work, as I rebuilt back to the point that I am at now. But you know what, it was worth it for that rush.
I don't know what FD can do to get more into Open. Just giving a trade bonus to Open traders will not work. It has to be something special, something that we can call our own and something that will get more of us into Open play. Something that does add reward for the risk we are taking and shifts Open play away from all risk for no reward.