The Small Ones

[Warning: Winter Expansion thoughts. Skip if already burnt out about it.]

Of course we are discussing the expansion today. After I stopped seeing only interceptors in my vision the comment about the new POS siphons being amazing came up.

I agree.

In my campaigne for low sec I have put a lot of emphasis on the residents of low sec being able to live and thrive in low sec. Often when I mention this people say that low sec is shit because the residents insist on shooting each other instead of bluing up and farming everything in sight. The focus is that a consumptive group such as a low sec PvP group does not have resourses because of their nature. If we want to have we need to change that nature.

Low sec has resourses that the residents should be able to secure, fight over, and live off of if they so wish. Not all groups will wish to invest in static structures. Some will and those that do will have an option. However, the nature of Eve made it that the resources CCP allotted to low sec were in fact resources given to null sec.

Because of the meta game with the current mechanics of timers and force projection a large group can prepare and make it to a fight and stomp a smaller group. I have no problem with that aspect of the game. But, when looking at static resources like moons, is that what CCP wants?

This combination of strength and force projection has given rise to the small, undefended moon. The moons tank is its corporate or alliance ticket. Instead of a large, fully defended tower locking down the resources a small tower is placed so that the ISK optimization can be maximized. The large groups that then hold these towers may use them to fund themselves or give them out as individual assets. Such is the nature of the players use of their abilities. I do not think that was CCP's far reaching plan. If anyone talked to a handful of Eve players are any given time they would be amazed that they could fleet up much less form ten thousand player interactive, stable groups.

If the deployable siphon siphons off moon materials from the POS the POS would have to be armed to attack the siphon. Also, a smaller group could detooth a POS and plant a siphon. This would force the POS owner to defend and repair their modules (or deploy more). It allows a smaller entity the ability to take advantage of living in the space that they inhabit.

You can become a pain in the butt. The larger group will have to expend resources to hold their moons. Having dozens (hundreds?) of moons being attacked by little siphons and small groups will become a task that has to be done unless they just don't mind sharing with the locals. They will lose profit or they will have to expend resources. Both are reasonable solutions.

I am a big believer in investing in your space. Low sec isn't safe. Even a group who has a solid hold on an area is going to have to defend itself from others who live in the area or the random people that come through or decide to move in.

One of my cries to CCP has been that we live in space but we do not have access to the resources that are there. we do not wish to be large groups. Have they heard some of these things? It would seem so.

Edit: Right now word is that POS guns will not automatically shoot siphons. It will be nice if this does not change. However, nothing is set is stone until patch day!