Topic: New Features for increased Beta safety -- outpost towers
First of all, on the new intrusion stuff, I don't think it really solves any problems with increasing beta outpost owners safety. Plus I think the random intrusion targets being dropped will benefit those who have a lot of presence at their station, but should we leave most of the ownership increase to events that happen randomly? I don't think so. I think what we need are outpost towers.
Outpost tower type 1 -
Name: Cargo dumps.
Description: Owners of an outpost can place cargo dump towers within X distance of an outpost. X could be dependent on control ratio of the outpost. Placed outpost cargo dump towers allow for members of the owning corp and possibly their allies (perhaps this is added later) to dump their cargo at the dump tower and all the cargo shows up in the members cargo at the outpost. Possibly with some small delay, but without fear of being lost even when the tower is blown up. Also, an added feature is that cargo towers could be used as start points for transportation missions.
Discussion: This allows beta corps to more safely mine on beta. I myself enjoy killing and pirating from mining parties on beta, however, if you own the nearby outpost it should be easier to get your cargo to your outpost. This will make losses of mining parties smaller as getting the mined material to the base will be easier since all you have to do is move it to the nearby cargo dump. The only loss will be bots. Also, this gives raiding parties another target even when the local outpost inhabitants decide not to fight. The towers do not have to be cheap. They cost money so a corp is going to have to weigh whether placing the towers is cost effective. Dump's should not be that easy to destroy and repairable
Outpost tower type 2 -
Name: Robot detection tower
Description: Corp members within Y distance of Robot detection bonus tower gain Z signal detection strength increase. Robot detection towers can be placed X distance from outpost. X distance from outpost could be dependent on corporations ownership ratio of the outpost. Y and Z could be technology dependent so the towers could have tiers just like modules.
Discussion: Defending corporations defending their terrain should have a boost to seeing enemy robots. Think about it. I own an outpost, don't you think I might spend some time studying the EM field around the base and use that as an advantage. This just puts that into terms of building things for the game. Again, these towers could be destroyed by the enemy so, when a corp doesn't defend it's outpost it can lose some valuable property. Again, the towers should take some time to destroy and be repairable.
Outpost tower type 3 -
Name: Speed boost towers
.....
Outpost tower type 4-
Name: Accum recharge boost towers
.....
Outpost tower type 5 -
Name: Sensor amplifier boost towers
.....
And on and on.
Outpost ownership gameplay:
Also, the number of towers an outpost can have could be limited. Plus adding towers increases the ownership ratio of a corporate. So instead of just buying increased ratio and not getting anything back besides ratio, corporations, could say, install towers upon getting ownership of an outpost, making their outpost more defendable and increasing their ratio at the same time. For each outpost allow possibly, only 25 towers, that give 2% each ownership ratio improvement. A well established corp could then take an outposts SAP's and then install many towers and be at greater than 50% very quickly. If they can't maintain control, the enemy corporations will destroy the towers and outpost ownership will more than likely be dependable on SAP control. However, if you can defend your towers you can maintain a good ownership level.
I know some will say, great, now I have to defend my base and towers all the time. Yes, but, let's not make tower destruction too easy so a 10 robots could destroy 25 towers in under few hours. They are large targets and if you go after them you make yourself a target. Attacked towers could ping red radars making it easy for corp members to see when they are being attacked.
Overall, I think PVP needs more targets. I hate going on roams and having nothing to shoot at and I hate logging in and having little corp support and being at a disadvantage to 5 bots when we have three bots around. There should be some advantage to owning an outpost on beta. These are my ideas. I am interested in hearing others opinions.
These comments are my opinions and not my corporations. These comments were also made with no intention to defame other corporations. However, these comments were made with the understanding that the thread could be turned into a troll or flame fest. So be it.