Re: A Dead Parrot's Lament
I agree that there needs to be more reason for PVP conflict, which is the 'fun' part, but it's just cross-over from Eve and historical momentum that define that needed conflict as 'roaming'. Pirate ganking, 1-2 bots out looking for indy is not a 'roam', and there doesn't need to be a game mechanic to motivate Pirates. Organized combat forces looking for battle, leaving their home base, is about bringing the fight to the enemy; while 'roam' has degraded more to looking for random targets that also just happen to be out running around.
You simply can't motivate players through game mechanics to just 'go running around'. Those players that want to do that already are. What I meant by larger area not working is now for those groups that are out just running around looking for random other groups, more area means less chance for them to meet. Also, somewhere along the way, it was decided that beta outpost owners should be supplying 'fun' pvp when ever players chose to roam over.
I'm a little hungry, so I tend to ramble, but the point I'm trying to make is that trying to motivate individuals into combat is like treating a symptom, the 'disease' is lack of corporate motivation; which if that is solved will generate strategic and tactical combat encounters that will keep PVP'ers happy.