Well, I am sure that some people care about your opinions of the scifi mmo landscape. It has no place in this thread. Go write a blog or something so the rest of us dont have to listen to your ramblings.

Thanks in advance

Number 1 does not prevent overall issue. it only removes locations that are TOTALLY unrestricted. However, it's conceivable that removing the public spark locations on beta actually make the probelm worse. Now all of beta can be monopolized by one power. As long as a greater force can take outposts, one by one, they can then easily continue to control them afterward with sparks. Logistically difficult to take, but logistically easy to keep and control. Again, logistically difficult to take but logistically easy to keep and control. One by one a stronger organization could come in and snatch up STC bases for example. Once all are controlled they ALL stay controlled until another bigger fish is created in the ocean.

Sparks make it possible for the Biggest fish to always control the entire ocean

Ok.

Possibly, but not without much more difficulty

The Biggest Fish will always dominate in general, especially his local neighbors. But he does not have to dominate Globally. Logistics and Organization and Leadership and Motivation are hurdles to projecting power over long distances for extended periods of time. Or at least they should be hurdles. Sparks flatten those hurdles. You may come around. I see you coming...

Sir, I knew it! You are on the right track. I don't know that that is the solution, especially considering the existence of alt corps. The solution is a difficult one as so many positives can be wiped if sparks are nerfed the wrong way or without other enhancements.

I think the solution is probably multiple tweaks, not just one.

So part of your solution would be to allow ONLY corp members to place sparks in Corp owned Beta outposts?

And only allow corps to own one Beta outpost?

I suppose with a standings requirement at Beta IIs where positive with one means negative with the others could supplement this path.

Could be workable, but that likely comes with a whole host of unintended consequences with regard to Beta base ownership and alliances.

And I'm sure there are still advocates out there who want Alliance mechanics.

Its not easy.

For me I think the best solution is limiting number of sparks to One or Two unrestricted sparks. Then perhaps allow a few others with cool downs or distance restrictions.

I'm not sure, I just hope that after this thread ZOOM sees the issue (as he seemed to indicate he did not). As long as the Devs understand the issue they can work out the solution mechanics in accordance with their own vision. If that vision is easy global domination, then so be it.

I would remove the ability to spark teleport on Beta islands completely, except to an outpost your CORPORATION controls.

I would only allow a corporation to hold 1 outpost per beta island. (I am not sure about only one outpost in total, that seems to be too big of an artificial limitation arbitrarily placed upon corporations.)

Alliance mechanics are still there, it just doesn't allow allies to spark around betas all the time. It would make beta someplace you HAVE to travel to, unless your corp has a station there. And you can still have sparks at allies gamma bases. Which may actually make the gamma islands that are within interzone reach of betas a more happening place to be and stage from.

Yet again, I think global cool downs or distance restrictions are not a good idea. To me this isn't  about nerfing spark teleport. It is about balancing Beta's and making them more enticing to live and pvp on.

Here is an another solution. Limit spark tp's to all the alphas and beta main terminals only. The rest OP's, including gamma ones, your corp should own to be able to set a target. Then increase pvp flag to 15 min, and remove bloodsparking at all. No other restrictions are necessary with that.

I feel like this.

It's because you can't blood spark to any betas.  Your only allowed to spark to ONE location.  I wouldn't assume you thought your post all the way through.  Try to atleast use critical thinking skills some.

Try to think at least two moves ahead. I can use 5, 10, whatever more accounts with different bloodsparks and be everywhere, really everywhere, because bloodsparking works on closed stations too. That was one of the "Restrictors" fraction arguments - use multiple accounts to get more advantage for SpT. However, if it works for SpT, it works for bloodspark too.

I have a character who has less than 1000 ep invested after creation. He has no sparks. He is not in STC.
He uses a light bot with T1 gear (except the lwf). He collects more sap loot than any of my other characters when I want him to.

I did this deliberately to see if a day old player was able to Ninja Saps. Answer: yes.
And he's not know to my alliance so it's not like he's given free access.

Try playing the game and understanding exactly what is possible and what is not.
Too many people in this thread are arguing to change SpT because of the way they THINK it's being used, when the reality is different. Most of the same people are also not actively playing.

Before you go on about STC only cares about protecting their advantage, several of us are arguing in favour of Epi on Beta only. Since we currently control most Gammas and we can easily mine Epi afk in complete safety, why would we want to remove this particular advantage? Because it's much better for the game, simple.

The same applies to SpT ... Nothing suggested so far will result in a better game, that's why none if us want to see anything beyond a simple 3-5 minute timer, nor do we think its necessary.