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Saturday, 31 July 2010

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Playstyle Tolerance: Carebears versus PvPers

No Tolerance by Icky Pic

NB: I had most of this written prior to Helicity’s rant. And I generally with much of that rant, actually, but after further reflection I realized it went too far and I needed to respond. Other worthwhile posts include those from Black Claw, Kirith Kodachi, Kant Lavar, and Luccul.

For all the talk about “carebears” in one direction, and “pirate Nazis” or whatever in the other direction, these folks really miss one of the core points about EVE: playstyle diversity.

Pirates and other PVPers need the folks they call “carebears“. Who else will produce their ships and modules and ammo and drones? Who else will buy the loot they pick up from their enemies’ wrecks so that they have ISK for new equipment and other fees?

And the real “carebears” — not just non-combat players, but those who express total moral outrage at not being left alone — need the PVPers. Who else will buy their stuff in significant quantities, or create demand by destroying other people’s stuff (that will then need replacement)? Yes, individuals might take a loss due to ganks or gate camps, but a bit of care can avoid most of that. And at any rate, we still make profits over time. Rewards require risk, after all. (Related to this, not all non-combat players actually count as carebears.)

Look, this should all be really obvious to everyone. But evidently it’s not, whether due to willful ignorance or an inability to play well with others (meaning sometimes you have to lose graciously).

We can’t all get along in-game, because that would get boring. In fact, we really shouldn’t: EVE revolves around competition in various guises. But can’t we all get along out of game?

Related posts:

  1. Non-aggressive play style
  2. Diversity in roleplay

Date: 2010-01-20

Categories: Manifestos

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

  • Be honest Cas....EVERYONE hates that kid who blocked their set shot in 3rd grade gym class ;). But again, I agree. Keep it in the context of a *game* folks.
  • Throwing monkey wrenches at other people is pretty much the core of EVE in many ways... My point is that IG conflict doesn't have to mean actual true hatred between players. I don't hate the guys that ganked my Typhoon any more than I hate the trader who cut my margins on Small Polycarbon Engine Housings, or the kid who blocked my set shot in third grade gym class.
  • "Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!" Last words of capsuleer flying Hulk B39
  • "We can’t all get along in-game, because that would get boring. In fact, we really shouldn’t: EVE revolves around competition in various guises. But can’t we all get along out of game?"

    Not if you're a damned dirty, furry, lazy, mission-grinding little carebear!!


    ...Kidding of course ;). While I *DO* agree with probably 99% of Helicity's post, this is very well put Cas. To each his own; and while I will continue to provoke, enrage, and taunt the general carebear population, I'm not here to tell anyone how to play THEIR game (although I reserve the right to throw a monkey-wrench into that playstyle :) ).

    -Aiden

    -Aiden
  • I personally can't stand mining, either. What mining skills I do have mostly came from the prereqs to fly my <del datetime="2010-01-20T05:23:44+00:00">mini-carrier</del> Orca.

    But I know many miners that do it ATK (though only God knows how they stand it). I suppose the ones I know avoided Hulkageddon through various means, but the point is that in EVE, you can't have one playstyle without the other. In this savannah, the zebras need the lions too.
  • I should, I suppose, note that both Helicity and another player have commented on my blog post (which said most of what you said) was that, in their eyes, carebear =/= industrialist - while I think every PVP pilot acknowledges and values the contributions of the industrialist, many of us despise the sense of entitlement some players have that they can start mining, then walk away from the computer for a half-hour while their holds fill, and then get holier-than-thou when the consequences of that decision catch up to them. That's where the difference lies.

    Personally, I couldn't do it. My attention span isn't long enough to sit there, stare at a rock for hours on end, punctuated only by trips back to station to offload and occasional rat spawns. I have to give respect to those players who can. But it's the attitude that some AFK-miners get when their ships get destroyed that annoys me, and encourages folks like Helicity to organize Hulkageddons.
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