Removal/Altering of Omicron Eta

[Klaw117]

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.

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Carlos Rivera: Corsair Brotherhood Pirate - Retired, shifted to Tripoli Shipyard's Research and Development engineering teams
Anthony Cameron: Guild Core Bounty Hunter - Killed in Action, committed suicide after being trapped in Omicron Minor following its destruction
Juan Ruiz: Outcast Ghost of Razgriz Pirate - Killed in Action, killed by the Sirius Coalition Revolutionary Army during Bretonian piracy raid
Michael Winchester: Liberty Security Force Agent - Missing in Action, likely killed during Rheinland espionage mission or trapped in Rheinland Space
Eric McCormick: Order Pilot - Retired, shifted to planetside training of new recruits

Liberty and Nomad Backstory, Very interesting - read it!

[Ipuvaepe]

Voted for deleting one, meant to vote for redirecting the holes. Eta should be between Halle and Omicron 94 IMO

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Also ignore Snak3. Forever.

[Domjan]

The best option would be redirection, however, what would happen
with Corsair bases in Eta? It's just +1 system for Outcasts.

[DarthCloakedGuy]

Eta was a bad idea from the start.

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HISPANIANS, FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF HER PEOPLE
A Plea to the Outcasts (PG)
CHARACTERS:
LR-I.Got.Nothin', LR-Empty.Pockets, and LR-Dead.End = &quot;Lash&quot; McDaggit of the Liberty Rogues.
SMUG~Eat.My.Exhaust = Jane Terraman and Bob McAdams, smugglers of the Liberty Rogues.
[H]Cj.Martino.Perez = Martino Perez, self-declared Counselor of the Hispanians.
AVATAR MADE BY SPIRIT! THE AWESOME.

[Dab]

Eta has already been modified by the dev team. Just thought I'd let you all know so you can stop trying to debate it. I won't tell you what exactly is being done with the system though.

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[DarthCloakedGuy]

Eta has already been modified by the dev team. Just thought I'd let you all know so you can stop trying to debate it. I won't tell you what exactly is being done with the system though.

Eta in its current incarnation was a bad idea from the start.

Fixed that for me. Wait, what?

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HISPANIANS, FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF HER PEOPLE
A Plea to the Outcasts (PG)
CHARACTERS:
LR-I.Got.Nothin', LR-Empty.Pockets, and LR-Dead.End = &quot;Lash&quot; McDaggit of the Liberty Rogues.
SMUG~Eat.My.Exhaust = Jane Terraman and Bob McAdams, smugglers of the Liberty Rogues.
[H]Cj.Martino.Perez = Martino Perez, self-declared Counselor of the Hispanians.
AVATAR MADE BY SPIRIT! THE AWESOME.

[Divine]

Eta has already been modified by the dev team. Just thought I'd let you all know so you can stop trying to debate it. I won't tell you what exactly is being done with the system though.

Nobody should care. Get life in the Sigmas, they need the love.

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User was banned for: http://discoverygc.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=151485
Time left: (Permanent)

[mwerte]

* mwerte huggles Sigmas

There, love given.

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[Omicron]

Delete/close/repurpouse, no matter what the cost. One system kills whole branch of what brings activity to WHOLE sector called Sigma: turf wars. Even to enforce it, I would want to see more profitable routes going through this part of space, which would FORCE Corsairs and Outcasts fight each other for locations to pirate in. Not to mention GMG will have loads of fun then.

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[Vladimir]

What bothers me is that with harder way into each other's homes, sairs will go rampage on bretonia even more and casts will sit in taus 24/7.

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