The Universal Protection initiative: a system to provide protection to CMDRs in need against gankers. Contributors of all kinds welcome.

[CMDR Sari Sari]

"Space a dangerous place" is a falsehood. 99.99% of the galaxy alone is made of neutral star systems, only waiting to be visited, without danger lurking. The remaining 0.01%, however, is Human Space. And Human Space can be a very dangerous place.

Greetings, CMDRs. I am CMDR Sari Sari, explorer and trader, and I am looking to start an initiative to protect the defenseless against the murderers and vandalists that roam some of the most visited systems by pilots: The Universal Protection initiative.

Universal Protection (UP) would regroup capable fighter pilots, with which CMDRs in need of their services can be matched up immediately or in advance with scheduling. The CMDR requesting protection would then be accompanied for as long as their mission requires, until they are back into relatively safe space. The role of UP pilots would then be to fight off, or scare off, the vandalists and murderers that threaten the protected CMDR. There will never be a price to pay for pilots requesting service from UP, however, the pilots providing service to UP will eventually receive payment from crowdfunding.

As a brand new initiative, I am looking for sufficiently competent combat pilots to simply start this initiative, with the intent of eventually having a combat officer for UP. As the project gains traction, it will grow to include better organisation for UP pilots, a system of vouchers and crowdfunding for remuneration, information campaigns targeting the newer pilots of the galaxy against its dangers, leaderboards, easier ways to match up UP pilots with CMDRs that need protection, and more.


Q: Wait. Why would I want an escort to go through dangerous systems, when I can just log in solo play?
A: Because it would provide a more authentic and fun experience, and the service would be free of charge for you to use. ED is an immersive game with a lot of potential for these kind of things. If that's not what you're into, that's fine.

Q: So, I'm up for escorting people and all that, but you expect me to do that for free?
A: For now, yes. At least, there can't be a guarantee of payment right now. You must be willing to join out of interest for the project, but eventually, there will be a system in place to regularly grant payment to the CMDRs providing their services to UP.

Q: I'm not a very good fighter, but I really want to contribute to your project. Can I do that in any way?
A: As a matter of fact, many times yes. Pilots providing protection to CMDRs in need will be just one aspect of UP, eventually, we are going to need volunteer miners to fund these valiant pilots. Additionally, there is going to be a lot of administrative and organisation work to get done. Anyone willing to contribute to this project is welcome.


So, interested in the Universal Protection initiative?
Join the Discord server https://discord.gg/pNmhvxH
and/or contact CMDR Sari Sari in space. Send a message, or add me as a contact!

Let's make space a safer place.

 

[Dragsham]

Great idea - hope it works.

 

[ethelred]

Good idea OP.

If you haven't already I'd recommend https://edrecon.com/ as a tool that gives you live updates on shenanigans to avoid, or naughty CMDRs to hunt.

 

[Leper Messiah]

Yup great idea, don't think there's enough gamers intersted in playing the good guys to make it work though, be interesting to see how this pans out and I hope I'm pleasantly surprised.

 

[Vetinari]

Not keen on the Kickstarter bit, adds RW money into the game which could and probably will lead to complications. Id rethink that bit if I were you, if its there because you think you need it to attract people, get rid of it they will be the wrong people.

I may have a job for you in a few weeks (or months, you know how it is). Im out Rifting and will be heading back to the Dark Wheel wherever they need it by then. I also have an 11K Alliance Intel package Ive been carrying for 3 months now that has to get home safely.

Happy to buy and sell a few goodies in wing or dump a few tons of gold outside the station for you as a token gesture, Credits means nothing so it is a token.

Ill keep an eye on the thread. Theres a couple of squadrons who do 'police' PVP RP so some of them individually may sign up as well. Good luck.

 

[Hans v Martell]

Greetings CMDR,

I like the idea but see a weak spot. My Squadron has a bit of experience in this field, therefore please allow me to comment.

A more or less defenceless ship, like an exploration or dedicated trader build, is such an easy target for any half decent ganker that they will kill it in seconds, and during this time can completely ignore any fire from the body guards. His evil work done, the ganker will be away before he even loses more than a ring of shield.

Do you have ideas how to address this issue?

o7

 

[Northpin]

I am looking to start an initiative to protect the defenseless against the murderers and vandalists that roam some of the most visited systems by pilots:

Great initiative, however it will never work

Why?
The answer is here:

an exploration or dedicated trader build, is such an easy target for any half decent ganker that they will kill it in seconds, and during this time can completely ignore any fire from the body guards

As long a murder boat can take minutes of fire from a defender while it can destroy its target in seconds, there is no protection.

The only thing that will work would be to make sure the Murderboats will never reach the "defenseless"
And for that there is Solo/PG or Block function

 

[CMDR Sari Sari]

Greetings CMDR,

I like the idea but see a weak spot. My Squadron has a bit of experience in this field, therefore please allow me to comment.

A more or less defenceless ship, like an exploration or dedicated trader build, is such an easy target for any half decent ganker that they will kill it in seconds, and during this time can completely ignore any fire from the body guards. His evil work done, the ganker will be away before he even loses more than a ring of shield.

Do you have ideas how to address this issue?

o7

Greetings to you CMDR,

I myself have little experience with combat. I therefore don't have any specific idea on how to address this issue. That is why I am looking for pilots with combat experience to go through the logistics of protection and escorts, if such a thing can be achievable. Have all options truly been explored?

o7

 

[Vetinari]

A more or less defenceless ship, like an exploration or dedicated trader build, is such an easy target for any half decent ganker that they will kill it in seconds, and during this time can completely ignore any fire from the body guards. His evil work done, the ganker will be away before he even loses more than a ring of shield.

Do you have ideas how to address this issue?

Decoys!

Fill the system with explorer and trader builds so the gankers wont know who has the actual data. Interdict them with a 750T T9, that will confuse them. Try and ram them in SC (impossible but always fun). Fill the landing pads on their FCs and sell water and poop, fill their FCs with poop I say!

its just a bit of fun.

But usually the idea is the bodyguard interdicts the ganker before the ganker interdicts the target letting the target get away. The more this is happening the more fun it is. If it isnt, theres always PG & Solo, thats why the game is so good.

 

[CMDR Sari Sari]

Decoys!

Fill the system with explorer and trader builds so the gankers wont know who has the actual data. Interdict them with a 750T T9, that will confuse them. Try and ram them in SC (impossible but always fun). Fill the landing pads on their FCs and sell water and poop, fill their FCs with poop I say!

its just a bit of fun.

But usually the idea is the bodyguard interdicts the ganker before the ganker interdicts the target letting the target get away. The more this is happening the more fun it is. If it isnt, theres always PG & Solo, thats why the game is so good.

Universal Protection could use masterminds such as you to help bootstart the initiative. T9 ramming, Fleet Carrier poop-filling? A genius, I say!

 

[Wimmer]

How are you going to tell the difference between ganker and lawful pilot? You know, ganker could easily volunteer to your initiative and pretend to be lawful.

 

[Vetinari]

How do they know we wont join them and pretend to be gankers, then we just use healy beams saying 'Wow this one has some tough shields huh?' in chat.

 

[CMDR Sari Sari]

How are you going to tell the difference between ganker and lawful pilot? You know, ganker could easily volunteer to your initiative and pretend to be lawful.

Supposedly, if a ganker volunteers, they will only be able to commit their misdeed once and then be banned forever from UP. Whereas combat capable volunteers that do not betray their escort will remain a part of the organization and become a reliable stable of it. Moreover, we can keep a list of known gankers, or use pre-existing lists, to blacklist malicious elements before they can do anything.

 

[ethelred]

To help explorers you don't need to protect them until you're in their destination system.

I think they're more likely to jump into your instance if you're winged up.

So really you only need to ensure they have a clear run to the station from the star.

 

[Dragsham]

From an Rp point of view it's a fab idea. Just that anyone with a modicum of sense be it explorers coming in from the black, or miners & haulers, avoiding interdiction PvP simply means solo/pg.
Takes alot away from the game have all these modes. Detrimental

 

[Vetinari]

Just that anyone with a modicum of sense

Aha, thats where I have you, I have none of that.

 

[CMDR Sari Sari]

To help explorers you don't need to protect them until you're in their destination system.

I think they're more likely to jump into your instance if you're winged up.

So really you only need to ensure they have a clear run to the station from the star.

The goal of UP is mostly protection in the most dangerous systems.

From an Rp point of view it's a fab idea. Just that anyone with a modicum of sense be it explorers coming in from the black, or miners & haulers, avoiding interdiction PvP simply means solo/pg.
Takes alot away from the game have all these modes. Detrimental

There is, indeed, no point to this other than an RP one, and perhaps granting a sense of "overcame danger". This is for people who, like me, like this kind of thing and are committed to open play.

 

[Zaen X]

Great initiative, however it will never work

Why?
The answer is here:



As long a murder boat can take minutes of fire from a defender while it can destroy its target in seconds, there is no protection.

The only thing that will work would be to make sure the Murderboats will never reach the "defenseless"
And for that there is Solo/PG or Block function

This is incorrect. Trade ships can be built to protect themselves. It requires a bit of knowledge of the game and engineering. If you want to get any advises on how to build trade or mining ships with capability of evading gankers contact me. Exploration ships on the other hand want to have as much as LY as possible and it is extremely hard to find a ganker away from bubble. You can even build combat or self defense capable exploration ships sacrificing some LY...

 

[Hans v Martell]

Have all options truly been explored?

Well I hate to burst bubbles 'cause, as I said, I really like the idea. However I'm afraid CMDR Northpin is absolutely right and it will always boil down to this:

As long a murder boat can take minutes of fire from a defender while it can destroy its target in seconds, there is no protection.

What you might try to do is, set up a capable security wing and work towards generally keeping your systems free of gankers.
It is risky and will require the securities to do a really good job, otherwise chances are you will attract even more gankers to come and have fun with your security.

A more realistic approach would be, make sure your explorers / traders are in ships with a certain survivability. Which means at least a decent shield, even if it is at the cost of some cargo space / jump range. That will give them time to escape, and the guards to do their job. It will help to have the protégés trained to react right in the event of an interdiction.

 

[Northpin]

Greetings to you CMDR,

I myself have little experience with combat. I therefore don't have any specific idea on how to address this issue. That is why I am looking for pilots with combat experience to go through the logistics of protection and escorts, if such a thing can be achievable. Have all options truly been explored?

o7

No amount of combat skill can protect a defenseless ship against a murder boat.
The only thing that can be done is to make sure the murderboats are never able to find themselves in the same system with the defenseless ships. Becaus if it happens, there is carnage

If you manage to convince the defenseless to employ defenses and train them to quickly react and highwake and survive - then you dont need escorts.


You can also check post #137 and #138 from this thread (post #137 is below)

PvP - Behold, the great Fdev Ganker filter..

Simple question: Any gankers here who gank but don't enjoy ganking? If you don't, why do it? To try and spite other players because they devs don't do what you want? To spite the devs for not doing what you want? If you do, then well... basically there is no need to blame the devs, you do what...

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