DUST 514™ From a Capsuleer Perspective

Further to my review of the E3 2012 video, I have some questions about how Capsuleers will interact with Dust Bunnies. My main question is about maintenance of defences when the Capsuleer is offline.

DUST 514™ E3 2012 Trailer

I'm not part of the DUST514 public beta, so I am free to comment without repercussions.

CCP released another trailer for DUST514 today. This trailer shows that the concept of the game has some issues.

NDAs and The Gordian Knot

The Gordian Knot

The short version of The Gordian Knot story is that some guy with a sword attempting to untie a complex knot, simply gave up and cut it with his sword.

The DUST 514 NDA

Now let us turn our attention to the NDA for the DUST 514 open beta. Have a read through it, I'll be commentating on parts shortly.

Mara's Ideas on Industry

Further to Seleene's "Fighting For Industry" post, I expound on the Discover, Extract, Carry, Refine, Manufacture, Develop lifestyle of the industrial-focussed capsuleer.

Resurrection Men Storyboard

So you're a capsuleer, and you want to make some implants. You need to get some smarts for these implants, as per Resurrection Men.

At some point, the Capsuleer has found information about the smart guy whose knowledge and instincts would be useful (more about that later). The Capsuleer intends to augment themselves (or someone else, via the market) with specific skills. In our example we'll use hacking, because that's what the original story is about.

Aside: Micro-transactions and NeX

First let me get something out of the way: from my point of view, the Noble Exchange is not a "micro transaction" store. If you are going to mention "micro transactions" in any argument about the NeX, you are not then allowed to complain about the extreme prices of NeX items. Second, I don't believe the NeX is implemented properly. Third, I believe that not only is there enough room for one NeX, there is room for many similar stores.

To me, the NeX represents a PLEX sink. I believe there is a way that CCP can have a PLEX sink, sell "power" items, and still keep the majority of the player base happy. How? Read on!

Aside: Microtransactions for Dust Bunnies

Here's a brief aside while I figure out what the heck I'm going to waffle on about for part 3 of the economy balancing screed.

Dust 514 is coming, and we know CCP wants to finance it using micro transactions. How will micro transactions work for Dust 514? People who have been playing EVE for a significant period of time already know that EVE has micro transactions already. Unlike Turbine games which have "Turbine Points" which behave independently of "gold", EVE has ISK† which is bought through trading game time. You pay your money, (stuff happens), you get your ISK.

How do Dust Bunnies buy new shinies? How do they receive their shinies? How do you supply a mercenary unit operating in null sec? How do you deploy a mercenary unit? Read on for my idle thoughts on these questions.