The Side Effects of War

Sovereign Null Sec erupted into a pretty decent war a few weeks ago. For any that fear I am going to start some type of in depth, be it shallow or deep, analysis of the war, don’t worry. I’m not. My interest in Sov Null is rather non-existent. I don’t even keep up on the news of who is doing what because it is so soaked in ridiculous propaganda and exaggerated lies that I do not have the energy to sort out what is actually happening.

Null Sov wars are fascinating. They are fascinating on a world play level. Many, many, many people come to Eve to join into these events.  When large scale engagements break out many will leave their normal homes, events, and hobbies to go taste and experience something new. Sov Null’s ebbs and tides sweep across the entire game and burst over the sides of the sandbox to pour their interactions, drama, and engagements onto the internet.

However, war in Eve, touches all of us. The basic laws of supply and demand change. Movements and activities change. Needs change. The basics that keep the world going continue but the world itself is altered, even if it is a little bit.

At TCS I can see this in small ways. Fewer Cynos and Isotopes are sold. My cargo expanders, used on cyno rookie ships are collecting dust. R1fta buys all of the frigates and PvPs in them instead of randoms cynoing in logistics chains from and to null sec.

People have also moved towards the fights. There are lots of third, fourth, sixteen, and twenty-fifth parties invading various fights. It is a huge, massive mess similar to if someone went to a moth convention and turned on a light bulb. Only the moths are massive swaths of the game and the light bulb is whatever piece of space they are fighting over.

What I have been curious about is the effect on Planetary Conquest. We had a lot of people promise to show up.  Then war. The null sec presence is almost nonexistent because they are busy. They all seem to be aligned with each other and so many people speak of being deployed to the warzone. It is fascinating to me how people huddle down and morph into soldiers at these moments. I've always wondered how I would respond to someone ordering me to 'deploy' to the war front. But then, I don't play Eve for the war and that may be my personal missing link.

But without it the game would not be what it is. The vast, sweeping drama draws people in. Even as I attempt to understand how people can follow or believe in the propaganda the various sides present the fact that people do argue over it shows that it works. There is a massive machine created of interest and goal of thoughts and opinions.

It is easy to say that null does not matter for those who never dabble in it. They may not care whos name is on what system or that another capital ship they will never see or use has been destroyed. They may not feel a sirens call to battle or a longing to become one of thousands in a fleet fight. None of that invalidates null sec's importance. Not wanting it on a personal level does not make something inconsequential  It is a large chunk of the games machine and the games draw. It supplies and it uses. Even if someone is not interested, personally they are interacting with it and the affects of it. I do not believe that Sov Null is Eve's end game or the place where everyone wants to be or should want to be. If everyone wanted to do the exact same thing the game would not be as interesting as it is.