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Hot topics: is local an intelligence channel or chat channel?

Posted by Alex Sinclair in EVE Online

We've decided to tackle another of EVE's hot potato topics: local chat. To win a prize, we want you to share your opinion on whether it is and should be an intelligence gathering tool or a place to chat. Feel free to argue one side or to make a nuanced position somewhere in between the two. You can enter with text or video. Whichever your position and medium of getting it across, let's deal with this hot topic with cool heads. Civil disagreements are fine, just remember the civil part and consider the best version of your opponents' position.

Check out our community interview with CCP Hellmar for his take on the subject.

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Created at 12:23pm, 19th December, 2024. Page last updated at 1:54pm, 20th January, 2025.
Deadline at 12:00am, 19th March, 2025.

ShoMenao 1/7/2025, 7:15:06 PM

From all of my interactions, local is strictly an intel tool with some use for chat almost entirely relegated to the two letters G and F. It's use as an intel tool has shaped most of the entirety of the existence of EVE particularly around PVE and changing the mechanic ala Blackout had some knockon effects that were painful.

I personally would love to see the power of instant local nerfed to at least allow hunters time to get their bearings in a new system before appearing, showing up after either the timer or action has removed the gate cloak timer.

Sumfin7 1/5/2025, 3:25:48 AM

BOTH

But more of an intel channel. It tells you who is in system with you, informing decisions about what you do. Especially during holiday events, I use the local member list to decide if a system is too busy to run sites in or if it is quiet enough to be able to run sites with minimal competition. In nullsec and lowsec, local is used to determine if I need to dock to hide from hostiles, if there are potential targets, or if I will be safe to mine, explore, or do PI. In highsec, I use local to see if there are war targets, known gankers, etc.

Hunter 12/28/2024, 12:04:47 AM

The Local Chat in EVE Online is a big tool for and against the players.
It shapes most of the first interactions between players the moment they get in a new system, Player's presence for most of the career possible in the game, where low and no security the player's awareness is 90 % of the survivability.
Also the Community interaction in high security systems is also important, in local chat you can find ads for contracts and corporations recruitments and also spams fraud and just people asking for help ( It can be a fraud or a true new player interaction ), and there is also the ISK Gold diggers leaches and crooks, and all of them are part of the experience in EVE, and just like the real world Its the Jungle.
Yes many say that this chat removes the " fog of war " from EVE and a successful stealth is rarely achieve, and the imbalance gameplay between null sec and other parts of the verse make safer places in such volatile areas.
Local Chat is integral to EVE's unique ecosystem, its intel-providing nature might be too generous, particularly in areas meant to be more dangerous.

Limal 12/27/2024, 11:24:06 PM

I'm pretty simple when it comes to local chat—I primarily see it as just that, a chat channel. Sure, I’ve marked all the major gank corps with negative standings to get a heads-up if they suddenly pop in, signaling it might be time to overheat the hardeners and brace for combat. But for me, the real value lies in chatting with random people, trying to make new friends, or picking up on the latest gossip.

Years ago, there used to be a dedicated channel called "Rumor Mill," but since it’s gone, I’ve started using local chat as a way to spread funny tidbits or learn something new. It’s all about keeping the conversation alive!

Sturmer 12/19/2024, 9:09:34 PM

Local chat in EVE Online is an invaluable intelligence tool, and I use it creatively to deceive and create chaos, buying myself precious seconds or even minutes while the enemy is left confused.

If the directional scanner is like a rear-view mirror in a car, then local chat is akin to side mirrors—it often provides additional context or even obscures crucial information.

For example, if you know someone is docked in a station, you can rename your ship to their name to sow confusion. Imagine an opponent sees "Sankao" in local and then spots "Sankao's Loki" on D-scan—they might hesitate or misinterpret the situation, giving you an edge.

Another clever tactic is sending fake "oops" messages meant to look like fleet chat slip-ups, such as: "Tackler on a Vigil arrived! What’s the order?" Meanwhile, you're cloaked in a Falcon, ready to execute a Black Ops drop.

Local chat isn’t just a tool for spotting enemies; it’s a stage for psychological warfare and misdirection, rewarding players who think outside the box.

I never use local for chitchat, GGs, GFs etc, only to stall, deceive, and pretend. But maybe because I'm 100% of the time in a hostile space, mistakes are too expensive for me.

Kurai 12/19/2024, 8:06:20 PM

Local is the most important PvP intel channel you have . They say you dont miss something until its gone, so hop into a wormhole and see how it fundamentally changes all aspects of game-play, and approach to content if you are not yet convinced.

In nullsec, if you are the only person in local, for that transitory time, you are safer than you are in high sec . In high-sec a system like Jita , with its multiple thousands of players in local allows the wolves to hide among the sheep. Or in this case the carebears! So easy to miss a war-target or suicide ganker sitting in a catalyst or tornado on the undock who notices you are carrying way more in value than your ships EHP should be carrying.

Back in an empty nullsec , the only thing that can kill you is NPC pirates. Yes , things can change quickly, if you leave an "unrolled" active Wormhole (WH) in your system, someone can pop up , you not notice them and suddenly you come back from your quite autonomous ratting session to a malediction or cloaky Tech III cruiser pointing you. But , there needs to be several points of failure for that to happen. You need to leave that hole , unrolled. You need to not be watching your other intel channels that can tell you of threats approaching your ratting system and finally you need to miss watching LOCAL and seeing that neutral player pop up.

Now go live in a WH for a month and see how much you miss the safety of the warm, loving blanket that is : local.

Kraken 12/19/2024, 2:53:33 PM

I would say it is abit of both, in the first place local in high space especially in Jita is great as a one stop shop for advise, fun chats, team ups, and business. It is great for getting to know other players and allows for the first step of making friends and building alliances.

However when one starts travelling to low and more importantly nulsec/wh space. As this provides situational awareness on what the battlefield and territory looks like. This comes more important when doing business runs that requires you through. It show immediatley yhe how many people are in the current system, how active chats are (which indicates how much monitoring is going on) the status of those players (especially if they have done recent criminal activiy in low sec. This can also help if you safe doing any covert ops like double agents and stuff.

Rixx Javix 12/19/2024, 2:12:44 PM

When I started playing Eve back in 2008-2009 I was in Providence in the LFA Alliance, which was part of the CVA umbrella. We were taught never to speak in local except to say "Amarr Victor" once a fight was over. I was taught early on that local chat was 100% an intelligence gathering tool, not to be trusted, and to be exploited in every situation. Breaking those rules back then meant being kicked from fleet.

Since those early days my opinion about local chat has evolved and changed. At its fundamental level it remains an important intelligence gathering tool for myself and other pirates in Stay Frosty. A lot can be gleaned from loose-lipped local chat participants. And a lot of mystery can be created by being silent, or ignoring calls to chat, or hellos given in local. For me, if someone calls me out in local it can often mean my cover is broken. Although I will respond if I can. Or if I see it.

Local chat is totally situational. We're using it to our advantage. Others are also using it to their advantage. Most are unaware of this and talk freely, or express anger, or give away intelligence freely. We will often use this knowledge to our advantage and egg on those in local who like to pontificate - to give up even more information. This is all part of the fun. In our business every advantage is one we need. And worth often playing the idiot in local to achieve.

After the fight we always try to give a "gf" in local and may even join in to the conversation. Over the years we've had some truly amazing conversations in local. It can help to build a greater sense of community and good will. It can also, quite often, be a place for those who have an axe to grind to express themselves. Which can be quite entertaining.

I try to teach my pilots master level local manipulation. Be the one to say less, not more. Use local like you use any other module or tactic to gain an important advantage over your enemies. Remember that your words reveal more about you than they do anyone else.

Luka Zaharin 12/19/2024, 1:38:14 PM

I would say it is not only both an intelligence tool and a chat channel, but also a space of psychological warfare. With tools like localtreat.xyz and ZKill, local chat can be a valuable intel channel, but the simple social aspect of having a good talk and meeting new people is a very important too. From my point of view, Firestorm nicely explains the differences between security areas, so I want to focus on the tactical usage of local chat.

In my area, it is also often used to arrange fights and manipulate others. A very fun bluff my corp and I pull off every now and then, is one fleetmate typing about his burned AB in local chat, followed by a "oups, wrong chat". Misdirection about the tactical situation inside factional warfare sites is not uncommon in local chat. The same goes for some Pochven and WH situations as well as suspect baiting in highsec.

FirestormGamingTeam 12/19/2024, 12:35:44 PM

My take on this:

High Sec Space - For the average high sec player it is simply to see who in local channels, occasionally chat with people and some of the good eve friends I have I have made simply by asking questions or asking for a little help on missions. So more social aspect.

Low/Null - Whilst they can be used for intel channels i.e "so and so spotted in this system, ship type, heading this direction" etc, they are often used as local and friendly banter between enemies, I've seen people chat for hours whilst trying to murder each other.

WH - There is no local channel in terms of being able to see who is there so, it's kinda more to stay very quiet like a rabbit when in wormholes and you never quite know which cloaked player is going to say "hello" and then start hunting on you.

So to sum up the above rambling.

Local channels are not used for intel specifically but more social aspect and simply to chat with others or insult people should the mood take you.

Y0EMINENCE 12/21/2024, 3:53:11 AM

In EVE Online, the local chat channel serves both as an intelligence gathering tool and a place for social interaction. It lists all players in the system, providing intel on who is present, which is crucial for PvP activities. However, it's also used for casual conversation among players in the same system. Exploitation of intelligence and social tools is part of the game's design. EVE encourages players to use all means at their disposal for strategy, including espionage, misinformation, and social manipulation. This reflects the game's philosophy of "play how you want to play," where the only rule is that there are no rules. It's part of what makes EVE unique and challenging. While in-game exploitation is part of the gameplay, actions that involve real-world harassment or crossing ethical lines outside the game are generally frowned upon and can lead to bans or legal issues. Overuse or particularly aggressive exploitation can lead to a hostile community environment, which might not be conducive to long-term player retention or enjoyment for everyone. CCP Games, the developers, occasionally adjust mechanics to prevent any single strategy from becoming too dominant or to maintain game balance. Players implicitly agree to this environment by playing EVE. New players are often warned about the cutthroat nature of the game, including the fact that trust is a commodity, and betrayal can be around every corner.

In summary, within the context of EVE Online's gameplay, exploiting intelligence and social interactions for strategic gain is not only permitted but is an integral part of the game's culture and mechanics. However, this should be done within the boundaries of the game's rules and the broader ethical considerations of respecting players as real people outside of the game's universe.

Banned user 1/9/2025, 3:06:37 PM

Y0EMINENCE

Deleted user 1/8/2025, 10:47:28 AM

In my opinion, local chat should remain hybrid. It would be better to have some information limited in certain areas, for example requiring the use of forms to see who is in the system. The ability to communicate should be preserved because it is fundamental to the EVE community. It is not just interaction but strategy.

Sammy 1/20/2025, 1:54:48 PM

Video Script: Local Chat – Intel Tool or Social Hub?

[Opening Scene]

Background music plays softly. Show an active local chat window with pilots entering and leaving the system.

Narrator (Voiceover):

“Ah, local chat. It’s one of the most iconic—and controversial—features of EVE Online. Is it a vital intelligence tool or a place to connect with fellow pilots? Today, we’re diving into this hot topic to explore both sides of the debate and why local chat might just be the perfect blend of both. Let’s get into it.”

[Scene 1: The Case for Local as an Intelligence Tool]

Visual: A null-sec system with a large fleet appearing in local chat, followed by a player reporting intel in a dedicated channel.

Narrator (Voiceover):

“For many players, especially in null-sec, local chat is a critical tool for gathering intel. It provides real-time awareness of who’s in the system—friend or foe—and lets you react accordingly. Whether you’re ratting, mining, or just traveling, seeing a name pop up in local can be the difference between safety and destruction.”

On-Screen Text: Local as Intel: Real-time awareness of system activity.

Narrator (Voiceover):

“In our alliance, local chat is tightly integrated into our intel channels. Spot a neutral or hostile? You report it in local and relay it to our intel networks. This system works because local offers instant visibility and immediate alerts.”

Visual: Highlight a pilot typing into local chat: “Neutral in system – X-QXZ gate!”

Narrator (Voiceover):

“The case for local as an intel tool is clear: it encourages vigilance and teamwork, providing a safety net in the often-chaotic world of EVE.”

[Scene 2: The Case for Local as a Social Hub]

Visual: A friendly conversation in local chat during a quiet high-sec mining session.

Narrator (Voiceover):

“But let’s not forget the other side of local: it’s also a place to chat. From casual banter to trash talk after a fight, local connects pilots in a unique way. It’s the closest thing EVE has to a shared social space, allowing for everything from diplomacy to smack talk.”

On-Screen Text: Local as Social: Conversations, connections, and rivalries.

Narrator (Voiceover):

“Some of my most memorable moments in EVE have come from local chat. Like that time I chatted with a roaming gang after narrowly escaping their tackle—or when a miner shared tips on rare ore locations. These interactions remind us that behind every ship is a real person, and local is where those connections happen.”

Visual: A humorous exchange in local: “Nice warp, next time try staying still!” – “Gotta catch me first!”

Narrator (Voiceover):

“For high-sec and wormhole space, where intel is less critical, local thrives as a social hub. It’s where stories are told, rivalries are born, and EVE’s community comes to life.”

[Scene 3: The Problem with Local Chat]**

Visual: A local chat window flooded with spam, making it hard to track important messages.

Narrator (Voiceover):

“Of course, local chat isn’t without its problems. As an intel tool, it’s imperfect—players can cloak or stay off-grid to avoid detection. And as a social space, it can sometimes devolve into spam, harassment, or worse.”

On-Screen Text: The Downsides: Cloaked ships, spam, and toxicity.

Narrator (Voiceover):

“Players in wormhole space argue that the absence of local makes combat more thrilling, forcing you to rely on d-scan and your wits. Meanwhile, some null-sec alliances feel that local makes it too easy to avoid PvP by warping off as soon as a hostile appears.”

[Scene 4: A Balanced Perspective – Why Not Both?]

Visual: A player managing local chat alongside a dedicated intel channel while chatting casually in local.

Narrator (Voiceover):

“So, is local an intel tool or a social hub? The truth is, it’s both—and that’s what makes it so valuable. It’s a feature that serves different purposes depending on where you are in New Eden.”

On-Screen Text: The Dual Role of Local: Adaptive to the needs of the system.

Narrator (Voiceover):

“In high-sec, it’s a space for friendly chatter and making connections. In null-sec, it’s a lifeline for alliances to maintain control and safety. And in low-sec? It’s often a mix of smack talk and intel, adding to the region’s unique flavor.”

Visual: A montage of players chatting, reporting intel, and setting traps based on local.

[Scene 5: My Opinion on Local]**

Visual: A Caldari shuttle jumping into null-sec, with the player checking local for hostiles.

Narrator (Voiceover):

“Personally, I believe local chat is one of the features that makes EVE unique. It’s an ever-present reminder that New Eden is a living, breathing universe. Sure, it’s not perfect—but that’s part of its charm. The tension of seeing a neutral enter local while you’re ratting, the joy of chatting with a rival after a close fight, or even the frustration of dealing with spam—it all adds to the experience.”

On-Screen Text: Local: Imperfect, but iconic.

Narrator (Voiceover):

“Rather than taking a hard stance for one use or the other, I think we should embrace its dual nature. Use it for intel when you need to, and don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation when things are quiet. After all, EVE is a game about interaction—and local is where it all begins.”

[Scene 6: Tips for Using Local Effectively]

Visual: A list of tips appears on-screen, with clips of players checking local and relaying intel.

Narrator (Voiceover):

“If you’re looking to make the most of local chat, here are a few tips:

1. In null-sec: Treat local as your early warning system. If a neutral or hostile enters, report it immediately.

2. In high-sec: Don’t be afraid to chat. Share tips, trade goods, or just say hi.

3. In wormholes: Remember, there is no local intel—so rely on d-scan and situational awareness.

4. Everywhere: Stay civil. Whether you’re reporting intel or chatting, remember that local reflects the best—and worst—of EVE’s community.”

[Closing Scene]

Background music swells. Show a bustling null-sec system with active local chat.

Narrator (Voiceover):

“Local chat is more than just a tool or a space—it’s a core part of what makes EVE Online unique. Whether you’re using it to stay safe, make friends, or trash talk your rivals, local reminds us that every encounter in New Eden is part of a larger story. Fly safe, and I’ll see you in local!”

Text on Screen:* “What’s your take on local chat? Let me know in the comments!”

[End Screen]

Show the EVE Online logo, your character name, and a call to action: “Join the conversation in New Eden today!”

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