08-09-2011, 06:06 PM
Over the past few weeks, the frustration regarding the OORPness Omicron Eta has been mounting due to the increased number of raids and counter-raids between the Corsairs and the Outcasts. As a result, many have called for the removal of Omicron Eta. However, an immediate removal has been declared out of the question since it would require too much work, not only for our developers, but also for the administrators of the other servers using the Discovery Mod. In response to this, many members have proposed alternate ideas to alter Omicron Eta so that it is no longer a highway for OORP raids between the Outcasts and the Corsairs.
First, a little background on how Omicron Eta is OORP for those who don't know (skip the next three paragraphs if you already know this).
In the original version of Freelancer, the Outcasts and the Corsairs had little hatred with each other. Their conflict stemmed ONLY from their common smuggling routes in the Sigma systems. Obviously, one group wanted control of these routes, but so did the other group, leading to the territorial conflict. This was even brought up in this topic: Eli's take on why the Sairs and the OC just can't get along. The first post of that topic shows a very well-reasoned, albeit pro-Corsair-biased (mostly because Eli called the Outcasts "rabble") argument about why the conflict is purely territorial. There is also evidence of this in the rumors on Omicron Alpha and Omicron Gamma (http://www.freeweb.hu/wolfspirit/rumors/rumors.html).
News stories in various unlawful bases also provide evidence for the territorial nature of the dispute. However, they also point to something else. Outside of the battlefield, the Outcasts and the Corsairs actually GET ALONG. Just look at these: http://imageshack.us/f/29/screen6p.png/ and http://imageshack.us/f/809/screen7.png/. Enough said in this area.
Lastly, in the original version of Freelancer, a jump hole connection existed between Omicron Alpha and Omicron Theta. Why was this included? I don't know. However, I have a strong suspicion that this jump hole is not meant for NPC-use, only player-use so that the player can quickly explore two of the most mysterious sides of Sirius. When you approach the jump hole from Omicron Theta, it is marked only as an "Unknown Object" and has no label in your NavMap (I can't remember if the same is true on the side of Omicron Alpha). Also, if I recall correctly, no NPCs are ever seen using this jump hole, leading me to believe that the Outcasts and the Corsairs know NOTHING about the link between their two homes. Therefore, the use of the connection between Omicron Alpha, Omicron Eta, and Omicron Theta is, quite frankly, OORP.
Now, onto the proposed solutions.
Option 1: Remove one of the two jump holes in Omicron Eta. This is my preferred choice. If we get rid of the Omicron Alpha Jump Hole and leave only the Omicron Theta Jump Hole, then we are still able to allow anyone left in Omicron Eta to still leave by going to Omicron Theta. I'm less inclined to get rid of the Omicron Theta Jump Hole and leave the Omicron Alpha Jump Hole because then any Corsairs left in the system will be forced to traverse through the Outcast home system and next to a very hostile Ruiz Base before returning to neutral space. However, anyone leaving through Omicron Theta will immediately be in neutral space, making them susceptible to less danger. Once all ships are out of Omicron Eta, the next mod update can finally dispose of the system, bringing the conflict back to the Sigma systems.
Option 2: This was proposed by someone in the Gamma/Alpha (RP balancing) topic. Here's the link to the post: http://discoverygc.com/forums/index.php?s=...t&p=1506705. Anyway, this will basically create another route from Sigma-19 to Omicron Alpha by having the Omicron Theta Jump Hole in Omicron Eta redirect to Sigma-19. This will also bring back ships into the Sigmas, but I'm less inclined to support this since there's a chance that the fighting will still be taking place in Omicron Eta, Omicron Alpha, and Omicron Beta. The ultimate goal is to have Outcasts and Corsairs meet in the Sigmas while they're escorting smugglers through the Sigma systems. This solution might be better if the Corsair base, Etna Base, is removed, along with the minefield. However, then Omicron Eta becomes an obsolete system because it will basically turn into another route between Omicron Alpha and Sigma-19, but is much, much longer than the route through Omicron Beta. Again, I'm in favor of Option 1.
Ok, now that you're done reading, please vote and hopefully, we can sway the developers to our side.
First, a little background on how Omicron Eta is OORP for those who don't know (skip the next three paragraphs if you already know this).
In the original version of Freelancer, the Outcasts and the Corsairs had little hatred with each other. Their conflict stemmed ONLY from their common smuggling routes in the Sigma systems. Obviously, one group wanted control of these routes, but so did the other group, leading to the territorial conflict. This was even brought up in this topic: Eli's take on why the Sairs and the OC just can't get along. The first post of that topic shows a very well-reasoned, albeit pro-Corsair-biased (mostly because Eli called the Outcasts "rabble") argument about why the conflict is purely territorial. There is also evidence of this in the rumors on Omicron Alpha and Omicron Gamma (http://www.freeweb.hu/wolfspirit/rumors/rumors.html).
News stories in various unlawful bases also provide evidence for the territorial nature of the dispute. However, they also point to something else. Outside of the battlefield, the Outcasts and the Corsairs actually GET ALONG. Just look at these: http://imageshack.us/f/29/screen6p.png/ and http://imageshack.us/f/809/screen7.png/. Enough said in this area.
Lastly, in the original version of Freelancer, a jump hole connection existed between Omicron Alpha and Omicron Theta. Why was this included? I don't know. However, I have a strong suspicion that this jump hole is not meant for NPC-use, only player-use so that the player can quickly explore two of the most mysterious sides of Sirius. When you approach the jump hole from Omicron Theta, it is marked only as an "Unknown Object" and has no label in your NavMap (I can't remember if the same is true on the side of Omicron Alpha). Also, if I recall correctly, no NPCs are ever seen using this jump hole, leading me to believe that the Outcasts and the Corsairs know NOTHING about the link between their two homes. Therefore, the use of the connection between Omicron Alpha, Omicron Eta, and Omicron Theta is, quite frankly, OORP.
Now, onto the proposed solutions.
Option 1: Remove one of the two jump holes in Omicron Eta. This is my preferred choice. If we get rid of the Omicron Alpha Jump Hole and leave only the Omicron Theta Jump Hole, then we are still able to allow anyone left in Omicron Eta to still leave by going to Omicron Theta. I'm less inclined to get rid of the Omicron Theta Jump Hole and leave the Omicron Alpha Jump Hole because then any Corsairs left in the system will be forced to traverse through the Outcast home system and next to a very hostile Ruiz Base before returning to neutral space. However, anyone leaving through Omicron Theta will immediately be in neutral space, making them susceptible to less danger. Once all ships are out of Omicron Eta, the next mod update can finally dispose of the system, bringing the conflict back to the Sigma systems.
Option 2: This was proposed by someone in the Gamma/Alpha (RP balancing) topic. Here's the link to the post: http://discoverygc.com/forums/index.php?s=...t&p=1506705. Anyway, this will basically create another route from Sigma-19 to Omicron Alpha by having the Omicron Theta Jump Hole in Omicron Eta redirect to Sigma-19. This will also bring back ships into the Sigmas, but I'm less inclined to support this since there's a chance that the fighting will still be taking place in Omicron Eta, Omicron Alpha, and Omicron Beta. The ultimate goal is to have Outcasts and Corsairs meet in the Sigmas while they're escorting smugglers through the Sigma systems. This solution might be better if the Corsair base, Etna Base, is removed, along with the minefield. However, then Omicron Eta becomes an obsolete system because it will basically turn into another route between Omicron Alpha and Sigma-19, but is much, much longer than the route through Omicron Beta. Again, I'm in favor of Option 1.
Ok, now that you're done reading, please vote and hopefully, we can sway the developers to our side.