So people have been talking about the Omicrons lately. Here's my take.
I'm torn if the Omicron Update was good for the region as whole Sure, it added some pretty things, but it also did some bad things (yeeted AI). The state of the region before this was better: missions and farming in accessible locations, far superior system design and jump connections and generally speaking it was easier to create activity.
For quite a while I've desired a regional rework and got kind of close until my ban happened.
A key part of activity generation philosophy when it comes to system design is acknowledging the potential and designated roles a system can serve in creating interaction and things for people to do. Before the region was a bit more organised in this regard, but not entirely optimised for it. There are some buzzwords and terminology I'll use:
Ambient Activity - activity generated through means such as patrols, trading, mining and wandering around, rather than people yelling in e-chats. For a long time, Omicrons have been dominated by e-chat activity, earning its moniker as a pvp-centric region, however, that kind of activity isn't very sustainable. (ou can see a noticeable decline in activity pretty much everywhere other than Delta, no one really raids as often anymore).
Home System - places where a faction's influence is most heavily concentrated. Usually where they sell their caps, and where their restart is based. Often, players will keep the bulk of their ships for that faction there - at least this is typically the case in the Edge Worlds.
PvE Systems - systems with PvE content: either high-level NPC spawns, or missions that can be taken from faction bases.
Mining System - a system that contains a mining field. For the Omicrons specifically, I felt that attempts to create bottlenecks were like trying to shove a square shaped block into a triangular shaped hole. Without lanes, you can never truly bottleneck trade activity, so instead the region would benefit more from in-the-field piracy.
Cross-Regional Systems - places where the IDs of multiple regions converge, thanks to ZoI such as 'House space + 1', or specific extensions like on the Red Hessian ID. Worlds collide, and you get a ton of IDs with loads of potential for activity generation in these systems.
Now check out this cool map I made with a bunch of proposed changes. It takes what made the old Omicrons great, combines that with the few good things about the Omicron Update, and irons out any lasting creases. Any connections that are gone, consider them removed in this proposal.
This thread might be overly detailed, so I'll quickly go over what would change. Starting from the top:
Missions are fixed. High-level missions against human factions only added to Mu, Rho, Alpha, Gamma and Kappa. Econ pass on the prices of human pilots at local bases (I think Core pilots don't sell for anything, for example).
Direct connection between Alpha and T-37 is brought back, to better facilitate IMG and CR raids, and vice versa. Omicron Tau is a buffer, no question.
Tau-Lorraine and 37-Alpha both bottleneck traffic from Gallia and the Taus respectively.
Phi and Psi merged (PP, placeholder name). These systems feel like buffers in their current state and could serve the Omicrons much better by being merged and shortening routes. OC can reach the central Omicrons more easily this way. Nomads can also raid Alpha. Jump connection between PP goes both ways.
Omicron Sigma deleted. Useless, boring, bland buffer system.
Omicron Beta and Tohoku now connect together. Kusari and OC can respectively raid each other within Beta and Tohoku.
Tohoku connects to Mu. This is reminiscent of Omicron-92 (but better). All of Kusari and Order can now raid each other. OC can get in on the action too within Tohoku.
Epsilon connects to Alpha, Mu and Iota directly. It serves as a high conflict system between OC, Order and to a lesser degree Core and Nomads. Add in an OC base, and have it distribute missions against Order. Carthage would give out missions against OC. No anti-Nomad missions.
Mu connects to 19, giving them a nice route into the Sigmas (and to be fair, finally a route for supplies that doesn't go through super dangerous space) and vice versa which can be used by their allies. Corsairs have a route through which they can raid them.
Ryuku Base in Tohoku gives out high-level missions against KNF and Wild. Sado gives out high-level missions against Order and BD.
Omicron Minor's old connections return, and the system is moved out of the way rather than acting as a crossroads (which it utterly fails at right now) between Mu, Rho, Delta and Iota.
Bring back the Alaska hole in its full capacity (or at least as one-way). No more class restrictive BS - intercepting Zoner whales blockade running artifacts through Minor was awesome activity for Liberty Lawfuls.
Military Salvage or Premium Scrap field added to Minor, at the ship graveyard, which gives Junkers from Tarancon something to do. Consider making the sell points considerably high (and local?) due to the innate risk that would be involved.
Omicron Zeta re-added. This system was so good and it was a criminal mistake to remove it. It was just as good at activity generation as Delta, creating a perfect crossroads for Core, Order and Nomads to kill each other at. Consider this directly bringing the old one. Same JH connections, Cairo is returned here, so is Capetown. Throw in the Hive from Sigma into here as well. Zeta basically becomes a hub for PvE, where Cairo and Capetown exclusively give out high-level missions against Nomads. Perhaps the Hive gives missions for Nomads/Wild against Core and Order. Cairo and Capetown respectively get decent NPC prices for Remains (100k for fighter, 500k for GB, 10,000,000 for BS).
Azurite Reactor is moved into Iota, and Azurite mining is buffed accordingly. Remove all existing sell points except the ones to Core and Order bases within the Omicrons, and buff them considerably.
Omicron Major is another PvE System, no missions just high-level Nomad NPCs. Here's something whacky: add NPC buy prices in Delta for the Derelict at 20mil a pop. This still creates farming opportunities without visiting Core and Order bases, however, there is much higher risk and a lot less convenience.
Move anomaly spawn in Lost to B/C6. Risk is so high and hostiles come so fast it makes scanning not that great right now.
Iridium field in Omicron Delta moved to E5. Iridium Ore also needs a considerable buff because of the risk.
Remove all high-level missions against everyone from Omicron Delta, except Yaren missions vs AI in Kappa (and Order ones vs AI if those exist?). This is to help activity spread out to other Omicrons, and to concentrate farming activity in Zeta (all other high-level missions against Nomads would be removed, and restricted to Zeta only).
Omicron Delta connects directly to Xi. This eases opportunities for Core and Order to interact in Xi, and interdict XR mining or Legates taking missions. I'd suggest the addition of anti-Corsair missions on Yaren going into Xi (or add a Core base in Xi where missions against Corsairs can be taken, although I feel thousands of eyes suddenly turning on me after suggesting this).
Omicron Xi maintains it's missions, which were proven to be good activity generators. XR continues as always. Rheinland maintains the chance to interact if it wishes to.
Omicron Chi is made into a one-way system primarily to preserve it's "content" (saying this extremely loosely) and serve as a place for Nomads/Wild to base off to attack Xi. Right now it's quite obviously a buffer system, and that purpose needs to change. Otherwise though Chi could just be merged with Xi.
Old Kappa is brought back. It was one of the things in the Omicrons that made AI truly unique, and it was ripped away from them. Merge Corinth, Livadia and Ciutadella with Theta.
Theta connects to 55. Omega-58 is literally the worst buffer system ever made, and other than a barely plausible lore reason for why it's kept in its current state, it adds little to the mod other than player frustration. Connecting Theta to 55 creates a means for Coalition and Hessians to more easily mingle in the Theta area. I would also suggest adding high level anti-human missions to bases in 55, and perhaps Theta as well. Through this, raid potential shoots up.
To not make 58 entirely useless and undermine it's "purpose", have it connect to Munich. Although this isn't intrinsic to this suggested rework.
This thread might be overly detailed, so I'll quickly go over what would change. Starting from the top:
Missions are fixed. High-level missions against human factions only added to Mu, Rho, Alpha, Gamma and Kappa. Econ pass on the prices of human pilots at local bases (I think Core pilots don't sell for anything, for example).
Direct connection between Alpha and T-37 is brought back, to better facilitate IMG and CR raids, and vice versa. Omicron Tau is a buffer, no question.
Tau-Lorraine and 37-Alpha both bottleneck traffic from Gallia and the Taus respectively.
Omicron Sigma deleted. Useless, boring, bland buffer system.
Epsilon deleted, assets merged with Mu. The system lacks a purpose and doesn't do much with its boring connections.
Omicron Beta, Mu and Tohoku now connect together. Kusari and OC can respectively raid each other within Beta and Tohoku. OC can get in on the action too within Tohoku. Have high-level missions against humans on bases in Tohoku.
Mu connects to 19, giving them a nice route into the Sigmas (and to be fair, finally a route for supplies that doesn't go through super dangerous space) and vice versa which can be used by their allies. Corsairs have a route through which they can raid them.
Ryuku Base in Tohoku gives out high-level missions against KNF and Wild. Sado gives out high-level missions against Order and BD.
Omicron Minor's old connections return, and the system is moved out of the way rather than acting as a crossroads (which it utterly fails at right now) between Mu, Rho, Delta and Iota.
Bring back the Alaska hole in its full capacity (or at least as one-way). No more class restrictive BS - intercepting Zoner whales blockade running artifacts through Minor was awesome activity for Liberty Lawfuls.
Military Salvage or Premium Scrap field added to Minor, at the ship graveyard, which gives Junkers from Tarancon something to do. Consider making the sell points considerably high (and local?) due to the innate risk that would be involved.
Omicron Zeta re-added. This system was so good and it was a criminal mistake to remove it. It was just as good at activity generation as Delta, creating a perfect crossroads for Core, Order and Nomads to kill each other at. Consider this directly bringing the old one. Same JH connections, Cairo is returned here, so is Capetown. Throw in the Hive from Sigma into here as well. Zeta basically becomes a hub for PvE, where Cairo and Capetown exclusively give out high-level missions against Nomads. Perhaps the Hive gives missions for Nomads/Wild against Core and Order. Cairo and Capetown respectively get decent NPC prices for Remains (100k for fighter, 500k for GB, 10,000,000 for BS).
Azurite Reactor is moved into Iota, and Azurite mining is buffed accordingly. Remove all existing sell points except the ones to Core and Order bases within the Omicrons, and buff them considerably.
Omicron Major is another PvE System, no missions just high-level Nomad NPCs. Here's something whacky: add NPC buy prices in Delta for the Derelict at 20mil a pop. This still creates farming opportunities without visiting Core and Order bases, however, there is much higher risk and a lot less convenience.
Move anomaly spawn in Lost to B/C6. Risk is so high and hostiles come so fast it makes scanning not that great right now.
Iridium field in Omicron Delta moved to E5. Iridium Ore also needs a considerable buff because of the risk.
Remove all high-level missions against everyone from Omicron Delta, except Yaren missions vs AI in Kappa (and Order ones vs AI if those exist?). This is to help activity spread out to other Omicrons, and to concentrate farming activity in Zeta (all other high-level missions against Nomads would be removed, and restricted to Zeta only).
Omicron Delta connects directly to Xi. This eases opportunities for Core and Order to interact in Xi, and interdict XR mining or Legates taking missions. I'd suggest the addition of anti-Corsair missions on Yaren going into Xi (or add a Core base in Xi where missions against Corsairs can be taken, although I feel thousands of eyes suddenly turning on me after suggesting this).
Omicron Xi maintains it's missions, which were proven to be good activity generators. XR continues as always. Rheinland maintains the chance to interact if it wishes to.
Omicron Chi is made into a one-way system primarily to preserve it's "content" (saying this extremely loosely) and serve as a place for Nomads/Wild to base off to attack Xi. Right now it's quite obviously a buffer system, and that purpose needs to change.
Old Kappa is brought back. It was one of the things in the Omicrons that made AI truly unique, and it was ripped away from them. Merge Corinth, Livadia and Ciutadella with Theta.
Theta connects to 55. Omega-58 is literally the worst buffer system ever made, and other than a barely plausible lore reason for why it's kept in its current state, it adds little to the mod other than player frustration. Connecting Theta to 55 creates a means for Coalition and Hessians to more easily mingle in the Theta area. I would also suggest adding high level anti-human missions to bases in 55, and perhaps Theta as well. Through this, raid potential shoots up.
To not make 58 entirely useless and undermine it's "purpose", have it connect to Munich. Although this isn't intrinsic to this suggested rework.
This thread might be overly detailed, so I'll quickly go over what would change. Starting from the top:
Missions are fixed. High-level missions against human factions only added to Mu, Rho, Alpha, Gamma and Kappa. Econ pass on the prices of human pilots at local bases (I think Core pilots don't sell for anything, for example).
Direct connection between Alpha and T-37 is brought back, to better facilitate IMG and CR raids, and vice versa. Omicron Tau is a buffer, no question.
Tau-Lorraine and 37-Alpha both bottleneck traffic from Gallia and the Taus respectively.
Omicron Sigma deleted. Useless, boring, bland buffer system.
Omicron Beta and Tohoku now connect together. Kusari and OC can respectively raid each other within Beta and Tohoku.
Tohoku connects to Mu. This is reminiscent of Omicron-92 (but better). All of Kusari and Order can now raid each other. OC can get in on the action too within Tohoku.
Epsilon connects to Alpha, Mu and Iota directly. It serves as a high conflict system between OC, Order and to a lesser degree Core and Nomads. Add in an OC base, and have it distribute missions against Order. Carthage would give out missions against OC. No anti-Nomad missions.
Mu connects to 19, giving them a nice route into the Sigmas (and to be fair, finally a route for supplies that doesn't go through super dangerous space) and vice versa which can be used by their allies. Corsairs have a route through which they can raid them.
Ryuku Base in Tohoku gives out high-level missions against KNF and Wild. Sado gives out high-level missions against Order and BD.
Omicron Minor's old connections return, and the system is moved out of the way rather than acting as a crossroads (which it utterly fails at right now) between Mu, Rho, Delta and Iota.
Bring back the Alaska hole in its full capacity (or at least as one-way). No more class restrictive BS - intercepting Zoner whales blockade running artifacts through Minor was awesome activity for Liberty Lawfuls.
Military Salvage or Premium Scrap field added to Minor, at the ship graveyard, which gives Junkers from Tarancon something to do. Consider making the sell points considerably high (and local?) due to the innate risk that would be involved.
Omicron Zeta re-added. This system was so good and it was a criminal mistake to remove it. It was just as good at activity generation as Delta, creating a perfect crossroads for Core, Order and Nomads to kill each other at. Consider this directly bringing the old one. Same JH connections, Cairo is returned here, so is Capetown. Throw in the Hive from Sigma into here as well. Zeta basically becomes a hub for PvE, where Cairo and Capetown exclusively give out high-level missions against Nomads. Perhaps the Hive gives missions for Nomads/Wild against Core and Order. Cairo and Capetown respectively get decent NPC prices for Remains (100k for fighter, 500k for GB, 10,000,000 for BS).
Azurite Reactor is moved into Iota, and Azurite mining is buffed accordingly. Remove all existing sell points except the ones to Core and Order bases within the Omicrons, and buff them considerably.
Omicron Major is another PvE System, no missions just high-level Nomad NPCs. Here's something whacky: add NPC buy prices in Delta for the Derelict at 20mil a pop. This still creates farming opportunities without visiting Core and Order bases, however, there is much higher risk and a lot less convenience.
Move anomaly spawn in Lost to B/C6. Risk is so high and hostiles come so fast it makes scanning not that great right now.
Iridium field in Omicron Delta moved to E5. Iridium Ore also needs a considerable buff because of the risk.
Remove all high-level missions against everyone from Omicron Delta, except Yaren missions vs AI in Kappa (and Order ones vs AI if those exist?). This is to help activity spread out to other Omicrons, and to concentrate farming activity in Zeta (all other high-level missions against Nomads would be removed, and restricted to Zeta only).
Omicron Delta connects directly to Xi. This eases opportunities for Core and Order to interact in Xi, and interdict XR mining or Legates taking missions. I'd suggest the addition of anti-Corsair missions on Yaren going into Xi (or add a Core base in Xi where missions against Corsairs can be taken, although I feel thousands of eyes suddenly turning on me after suggesting this).
Omicron Xi maintains it's missions, which were proven to be good activity generators. XR continues as always. Rheinland maintains the chance to interact if it wishes to.
Omicron Chi is made into a one-way system primarily to preserve it's "content" (saying this extremely loosely) and serve as a place for Nomads/Wild to base off to attack Xi. Right now it's quite obviously a buffer system, and that purpose needs to change.
Old Kappa is brought back. It was one of the things in the Omicrons that made AI truly unique, and it was ripped away from them. Merge Corinth, Livadia and Ciutadella with Theta.
Theta connects to 55. Omega-58 is literally the worst buffer system ever made, and other than a barely plausible lore reason for why it's kept in its current state, it adds little to the mod other than player frustration. Connecting Theta to 55 creates a means for Coalition and Hessians to more easily mingle in the Theta area. I would also suggest adding high level anti-human missions to bases in 55, and perhaps Theta as well. Through this, raid potential shoots up.
To not make 58 entirely useless and undermine it's "purpose", have it connect to Munich. Although this isn't intrinsic to this suggested rework.
Closing comment about economy concerns, and the tedium of trying to balance those, in the wake of some of the more radical changes of this rework: I'm sure we could tackle broken routes as they come up, and any routes that do become good (or too good) as a result of this can be considered temporarily buffed and serve as activity generators.
(05-05-2019, 11:15 PM)Omicron Wrote: I propose the following:
Omicron Rho merged with Delta. Rho doesn't really add much as a system in terms of content.
On more serious note, could you stop talking on behalf of The Order?
Aha, well Rho is actually a home system akin to Mu. Epsilon is/was a guard system, and guard systems were set to be purged. I'm not trying to take a stab at anyone. I just genuinely do not see what Epsilon adds that Mu does not already. Looking at its current connections, it doesn't really support any kind of meaningful activity (it used to connect to Beta right?). Epsilon is a product of another time. I'd suggest axing Phi as well, but that at least has the black hole and Ragriz in which is very unique in itself.
This isn't me talking on behalf of anyone but for the sake of streamlining the region more, Epsilon being axed would be an overall regional improvement (and allows Order to consolidate their assets in a system they actually control or have majority influence in).
Core homeworld is Delta unless Nauru was recently teleported, Rho is/was your guard system as much as Epsilon is ours. While I have to agree with principle of giving back the old Kappa back in some capacity, I do not agree with cuts to other factions like Zoners (just stash some of them into corner of Kappa and move rest to Theta while AI rules supreme over the rest) and Order's systems. Epsilon is the oldest system INRP and OORP'ly The Order holds sway over and was and is important for Order|'s story and future development. Theoretically, yes you could put stuff someplace else but it doesnt change the fact that it would completely annihilate half of Order|'s past roleplay. I would use Epsilon as Order's private gateway to further Nomad worlds (while still serving as HQ/shipyard and blacksite, much like your Rho), have it on the side as a fortress (much like some areas of Rho) or utilize as link towards Kusari/Sigmas.
Removing Epsilon is not the answer.
EDIT: It's lacking Sigma 59 connection. Durandal was pretty adamant on a connection there back in the day. S-21 (Port Said) & S-59 is part of Order's supply line, even if its currently threatened by Rheinlanders.
(05-05-2019, 11:26 PM)Omicron Wrote: Core homeworld is Delta unless Nauru was recently teleported, Rho is/was your guard system as much as Epsilon is ours. While I have to agree with principle of giving back the old Kappa back in some capacity, I do not agree with cuts to other factions like Zoners (just stash some of them into corner of Kappa and move rest to Theta while AI rules supreme over the rest) and Order's systems. Epsilon is the oldest system INRP and OORP'ly The Order holds sway over and was and is important for Order|'s story and future development. Theoretically, yes you could put stuff someplace else but it doesnt change the fact that it would completely annihilate half of Order|'s past roleplay. I would use Epsilon as Order's private gateway to further Nomad worlds (while still serving as HQ/shipyard and blacksite, much like your Rho), have it on the side as a fortress (much like some areas of Rho) or utilize as link towards Kusari/Sigmas.
Removing Epsilon is not the answer.
Epsilon and Rho still aren't the same thing (granted, other than the nebula work by Xalrok the system is a bit boring and the older one was cooler), nor is Delta to Mu. Rho and Mu are home systems - uncontested and meant to serve as a means for the faction to set up ships, and roleplay. Meanwhile, Delta is more of a progression of Core roleplay throughout the years. Order could work through RP to achieve something similar, or the suggestion you described, elsewhere.
Quote:Alexandria Research Station
CLASS: Pharos
GRAVITY: Partial
DOCKING: Yes
AMENITIES: Yes
POPULATION: 700
Alexandria, initially completed in 810 AS as just a hollowed out planetesimal, has been continuously expanded over the years to suit Order needs. The largest renovation came after the loss of Toledo, when the organization needed everything it could to sustain itself. In the years since, as matters have calmed down in comparison, the focus of this facility has become geared towards research and development.
Now the primary such installation of the Order, it is the source for the latest technological innovations used by their fleets and operatives abroad alike. Despite this however, Alexandria exists precariously in Omicron Epsilon, a system the Order barely has a foothold in that is in close proximity to many sources of hostile activity.
Hence why I don't think anything would be missed if it was gone. If the above infocard was not the case, then fair enough. However Mu serves the purpose better, and Epsilon comes across as more of a relic that makes Order seem weaker if anything. Many factions saw their Guard systems clipped (I don't see why some are still here) regardless of their contribution to that faction's lore (think Mollys for example). I'd honestly say Epsilon in it's current state conflicts with your lore much heavier than if the assets were merged with Mu. As someone mentioned to me on Discord, I want to express that my intention isn't to suggest to take stuff away from Order - hence why I think it's the perfect solution for Epsilon assets to merge with Mu. For this proposed rework as a whole, deleting Epsilon isn't necessary given it's weird connections right now - but I do strongly believe a merge with Mu would be an improvement.
I thought about suggesting Mu could connect to 59, but I think it works better going to 19.
Moving on past that, my suggestion regarding Kappa is to actually reinforce Zoner presence in Theta by transferring assets, and give AI their unique Kappa home system back (I mean, AI were the ones who were stashed into the corner of a system and left there).
To be honest even if Epsilon was a guard system to push Order into being an empire of their own, I still kinda like the system. Traversing through Omicron Sigma to get to Mu is a lot more boring and lacking fun than going into Epsilon for your Mu raids. If you really want to shorten the flight to different raid zones I'd suggest making the systems you want to cull as dead ends that can still be enjoyed by those who liked them.
(05-06-2019, 12:23 AM)Backo Wrote: To be honest even if Epsilon was a guard system to push Order into being an empire of their own, I still kinda like the system. Traversing through Omicron Sigma to get to Mu is a lot more boring and lacking fun than going into Epsilon for your Mu raids. If you really want to shorten the flight to different raid zones I'd suggest making the systems you want to cull as dead ends that can still be enjoyed by those who liked them.
Beta > Mu would shorten that length and facilitate raids from OC more easily, hence why I suggest removal of Sigma, and focusing OC on going to Mu rather than Epsilon.
(05-06-2019, 12:23 AM)Backo Wrote: To be honest even if Epsilon was a guard system to push Order into being an empire of their own, I still kinda like the system. Traversing through Omicron Sigma to get to Mu is a lot more boring and lacking fun than going into Epsilon for your Mu raids. If you really want to shorten the flight to different raid zones I'd suggest making the systems you want to cull as dead ends that can still be enjoyed by those who liked them.
Beta > Mu would shorten that length and facilitate raids from OC more easily, hence why I suggest removal of Sigma, and focusing OC on going to Mu rather than Epsilon.
Then make it Beta -> Mu -> Pepsilon (maybe a dead end system or connected to other deeper omicrons)
EDIT: Maybe put Pepsilon in place of Zeta on your map. That way any previous roleplay regarding the system would still make historical sense. The Order assets are already at the edge of the system, maybe put some Core ship/station at one side, add the Iota JH as shown and it should be a Zeta without having to remove Pepsilon.
Like I said, the removal of Epsilon given its current connections isn't really necessary for this proposal. However, I do still think it would be an improvement for both the region and Order if it was merged with Mu. Doesn't really make sense for HQ to be in a system you don't really have a foothold in imo.
Omicron Epsilon was continually nerfed/rewritten by the pre-coup devlead because they could not stand the idea that The Order could control more than half a system at any given time (inc. trying to push for AI base into Mu and for short period of itme hosting a Nomad base). Original was far more Order controlled while not making travel from one jumphole to another too much of a problem (exclusion zones for alternative pathing included). Why are you still insisting on removal of Order assets while Rho is actually an equal asset in terms of usefulness and content?
Epsilon (previously Omicron 100) was HQ of Order| for a long time and was important fallback point after demise of Minor after which they colonized Mu from.