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EVE Online

EVE Online
Sturmer's avatar

I was about to start talking about SKINR and how great Upwell Haulers are for mission running, then I realized you were referring to Nullsec changes.

Well, my post won’t be lengthy, as I mainly use null systems to relay my small fleet and occasionally run escalations and DED plexes.

As expected, after about three months, the isogen shortage eased, and prices adjusted accordingly. However, I haven’t analyzed how this impacted small wormhole or lowsec corps.

Overall, I agree with other posters, every major expansion should introduce at least some changes for all core player types. PvE players and Empire space dwellers are often left out. Some players return after 15 years, hop into their old ships, and run Angel Extravaganza just like they did 20 expansions ago - without anything feeling different (except Angel's NPCs models change for BC and dessy).

yan57436's avatar

The introduction of Equinox has resulted in several important changes to Nullsec, influencing both the dynamics of matches and the game's economy:

Positive:

Skyhooks and Structures: I liked the new structures, I'm not a PvP enthusiast, but I understand how important it is, along with interactions focused on theft or defense.

War: I feel that wars now have more diversified options, with more strategies and dynamics.

Visuals: I like the new designs

Points for improvement:

Unbalance: Some regions such as Highsec and Lowsec have ended up being left out, which ends up having a conflict of interest for players, taking away the idea that everything is important.

Mining: I didn't like the reduction in asteroids, since it's the best peaceful form of the game, limiting accessibility for smaller players and smaller alliances.

Accessibility: Some ships are VERY expensive, which ends up making the experience difficult, like the Tholos.

Luka Zaharin's avatar

As a lowsec player, I still do not notice much of the expansion. While we saw a few of the new ships, no one dares to actually take them into action. They are still far too expensive to be used regularly. The Skyhooks are a nice addition, even for other regions of space, but most of the changes do not really affect people that live outside of Sovnull.

Oh, then there are the moondrills. At first hey were a mess, cluttering the overview and taking up every moon of decent value (even R16). Now that we stopped trying to take them down and just removed them from the overview, they do not do anything except taking away the opportunity of getting a moon from small groups.

Two things that I like though, are the SKINR. Even if it is still very expensive, it is a great addition to the game! I also enjoy the new Carrier mechanics, allowing you to conduit a small fleet and boosh bastioned Marauders and capitals with active Siege, Triage or Networking arrays. It is skill expensive, but gives an interesting new utility for small gang support Carriers.

This is in no way an objective view on the expansion and might not reflect the overall impact the changes had on the economy of the game. It simply represents my point of view as a small gang lowsec pilot. I am sure Sovnull players and especially leadership can give more info on the actual impact that Equinox had.

orik Kado's avatar

After several months since the full deployment of Equinox, we now have more interesting data to analyze.

The use of the new system upgrades is quite intriguing as it forces players to carefully consider which upgrades to place in each system. It’s no longer just about installing everything you can afford. However, this also creates challenges, such as systems where no upgrades can be effectively implemented. These may be due to their relative "poverty" in resources or because they are strategically needed for alliance logistics, leaving little room for other upgrades.

Changes to null-sec mining heavily depend on how alliances manage it, which limits access to materials. Additionally, the relatively "reduced" quantities of materials being extracted are causing price fluctuations in minerals, impacting various aspects of the economy.

However, I believe there is still a small margin for improvement to enhance mining. This aspect, in my view, represents the greatest challenge in making it appealing to players without pushing the economy to a breaking point.

S

The Skyhook content is interesting, and gives a new place for rats to spawn. Beyond that, I haven't interacted with Equinox much, so I am fairly indifferent to the expansion. The Tholos and Cenotaph fill the hole in the pirate ships lineup nicely, but are currently too expensive in both skillpoints and ISK to be worth it for me to try and test them out.

JHenckes's avatar

I started exploring the new expansion the same day it was released (June 11) and I have to say that I've had mixed feelings over the months. The changes in Nullsec are on an immense scale and most of them are for the better. But with that change comes the question: “What about Highsec, Lowsec, J-Space?...” Have they been forgotten? Some of these regions haven't been updated for a long time, so it's important for the team to weigh up the benefit/loss of their actions. That was my first feeling with the release of the expansion.

Now on to Nullsec itself, the changes are incredible. The new structures are beautiful, the increased conflict options and passive income are a great boost, and the modeling mechanics are all very commendable and beneficial changes. Territory wars have also become more interesting!

The extra mining and PVE are appreciable, but the Skyhooks arbitrage is annoying and I don't accept anyone defending it. In addition, mining has become more difficult with the decrease in asteroids, which I don't like.

So it was a good update, but very unbalanced from the rest of the game and one that, like most people I talk to about the game, was not a good decision. The bigger rewards are nice, the new structures are very nice, but it needs to embrace other gameplays, not just one group, that's bad for the future of the game. In this way, I believe that after 6 months the update is still not well accepted by most players, and there needs to be a change of course in the company's objectives!

Kane Carnifex's avatar

Skyhooks, SOV Hub & Metenox Drill

There are Skyhooks everywhere xD
The SOV Hub still looks like big TV Screen.
And there are probably more Metenox Drills out there than actually Fuel.
I would say the money shifted more into the pockets of the SOV Owner/Leader.
In particular, passive income should have been increased.

The Skyhooks provide content by either robbing them or actually try to kill them.
Reffing them with Kikis is kind of annoying due the short timeframe which it is doable.

But overall it looks good, could be much more but i can't get my mouth full.

The Idea of SOV shaping was not new but it is now much more rewarding.
So you have more PVE, more mining in the System which you upgraded for, just more special.

CelestialFlea's avatar

Honestly I'm fairly indifferent to them and I'm with ShoMenao's opinion that it's yet another update that's oriented almost exclusively towards Nullsec players. The new structure ideas are pretty cool and all, but they won't mean anything to those of us living in hs/ls or wormhole dwellers.

When was the last update we got that was focused on wormhole activities? Those have been untouched for so long that it's borderline offensive. Pvp gangs and HS at least got some content updates.

I'm dying for jspace to get some love, but as long as the usual suspects control CSM it's not happening anytime soon. And that really irks me

S

I'm shocked it's already beeen half a year since the Equinox patch dropped. The Merc dens were fun for a short while but feel like just another thing for null sec empires to handle while small gangs and solo players get to pick up some scraps from them.

As a primarily tournament and lowsec solo/small gang player, I haven't felt many of the changees personally as they were focused toward the empires. Honestly the patch held next to nothing of substance for my gameplay and I haven't found myself interacting with anything in the update recently.

FirestormGamingTeam's avatar

Mine will be short and sweet

CCP's biggest mistake is to ignore PvE players non stop, Equinox has and is geared towards Null Sec, it's literally that simple.

If you are a Null Sec player then the drop was great for you, added Dens etc

If you are anywhere else, there was nothing for you, not really anyway

S

Equinox, as a major update to the game Eve Online, certainly brought about significant changes to Nullsec gameplay. One of the most noticeable changes is the introduction of new structures and mechanics aimed at promoting conflict and giving players more control over their own space.

The addition of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) and the ability for alliances to deploy their own stations in space has added a new layer of strategy and depth to Nullsec gameplay. These structures serve as staging areas for military operations, allowing alliances to project power and control over key systems.

Furthermore, the changes to sovereignty mechanics, with the introduction of Triglavian invasions and resource redistribution, have made Nullsec warfare more dynamic and engaging. Players now have to adapt to changing conditions and strategically manage their resources in order to maintain control over their territory.

Overall, Equinox has brought about a more fluid and player-driven experience in Nullsec, with more opportunities for conflict and collaboration. The changes have certainly reshaped the meta and introduced new challenges for players, making the game more exciting and unpredictable.

Luka Zaharin's avatar

Hm, I might be mistaken, but what do you mean by FOBs? Players can anchor stations in nullsec since the Citadel expansion in 2016.

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