In a bold move, CCP Hilmar has pushed devs to find a solution for daily downtime…not because “it’s 2019 and this is embarrassing”, but rather as an answer to the capital movement tactic. Despite this, Hilmar downplayed it in somewhat confusing fashion, when sharing CCP Explorer’s tweet, which asked players to regard it as a “totally normal Wednesday”.
However, Hilmar later reiterated that he personally intended it as a method to reduce Super Capital proliferation. “Whenever there is a big fight like B-R, capitals are committed with the assumption that whatever survives until downtime can be extracted, later,” he explained. “This change has a two-fold effect: First, it removes this easy escape method, which we have seen employed by those losers in PanFam. Capitals will have to be defended once they have been brought onto the battlefield. Secondly, it makes it more difficult to move Super Capitals into position, in the first place. Downtime is hugely popular with those who have motherships and Titans to move, due to the protection that it affords. This does not make for compelling gameplay.”
Early opinions from players were a bit more disparaging, though; many echoing concerns from a forum post by RorqualPilot49, who asked: “…but what will we do with our Rorquals when the ore anomalies disappear?” Despite the consensus, some posted, like DonTrolleone89, saying “This feels like a huge buff. Also, bring back Blackout.”
Either way, this represents a massive technical undertaking for CCP, and I wish them the best of luck.
