The NorthStraight Flush, Ace HighAfter a few agonizing weeks of uncertainty, speculation, both public and private
turmoil, and much angst, I am proud to announce that a monumental turn of events
has taken place within the corporation and alliance.
We, the Aurelius Federation, on the behalf of our own corporate brethren first and
foremost and of the greater interests of the Apotheosis of Virtue alliance, are
moving north to wage a campaign for standings to the Northern Coalition power
bloc, one of the more dominant player controlled forces which maintains an NBSI
policy in all systems in the game.
I will reiterate the core decision that has been made for clarity.
Why should this interest me as a seasoned capsuleer?Within the confines of the NRDS and with the utmost respect for the amazing job
CVA and its holders have done to extend Empire into null security space, we have
worked for twelve months to progress and expand our own interests as individuals,
a corporation, and an alliance. In the sense that the NRDS has been vastly
successful, it has also become a victim of its own success. Having relatively little
long term financial stability for corporations and alliances without their own space or
wealth of resources both in personnel and materials, we are languishing in our own
predicament. We have few incentives to recruit with, we cannot offer a target rich
environment for player versus player combat, which is arguably the core appeal of
this game for many people, we cannot fund a capital fleet, take on deep space
projects of any pertinent nature, nor rely on the terms of the NRDS to draw a clear
and tangible line between our friends and foes. The seasoned capsuleer likely
already knows all this, and as we have seen or heard from many members already,
aches for residency in a region that follows an NBSI policy. This is our goal. Gain
access to live in NBSI space. That's it. It does not sound like much on paper, but it
is and will be a world of difference from the stale unchanging and persistent
doldrums we find ourselves in as of late.
Why should this interest me as a new capsuleer?The seemingly benign and unimposing ethics of morality class I took in college while
majoring in Computer Science and Philosophy did not strike me at the time as
anything that grand. It has only been years later that I have come to realize that I
was inadvertently taught a powerful lesson. Diminishing marginal utility. The ability
to calculate and deduce long term prospects over time and to compare and weigh
what something means to one person versus the other is something I do not take
lightly. To the rookie pilot, Providence likely remains a goldmine of wealth and
opportunity. What could be better than an entire region of belt rats worth a million
ISK a piece and upgraded systems with continuously spawning PLEX that yield tens
of millions an hour? Not only that, but with no real requirements or responsibilities
other than adherence to the law, one could theoretically line their wallets in gold leaf
and their scrapbooks with photos of glorious battle for all the opportunities to build
income and fight hostiles in Providence. However, those of us who have been
living this dream for literally a year now, have seen the tarnish beneath the surface
grow over time. We have learned the powerful lesson of marginal utility. Though
we need not fly expensive or high tech ships that fill crucial and sought after roles in
small to medium sized combat, oftentimes we are called upon to do so, as we must
mete out an equal if not greater counter fleet to what we often encounter on the
field, and that means specialized gangs of mostly Tech 2 ships. Be the lion to catch
a lion, so to speak. The problem here is that what took a couple hours months ago
to drudge up enough coin to replace a lost ship now takes half a dozen. We have
seen the utility of our time spent here dwindle over time. Anyone who plans to play
this game for more than six months will witness much of the same as their monetary
necessities and the upkeep on their characters progress only continues to cost more
and more. Heavy Assault Ships skillsheets alone costs tens of millions in ISK.
Capital ships costs hundreds of millions in ISK. Replacing said ships costs anywhere
from an arm to one's soul in time and energy, etc.
Now this is all well and fine, but what is so different in NBSI space, or even up north
in Empire space, where we will maintain residency for an undetermined length of
time? Opportunity. While mission running, wormhole farming, hacking,
archaeology, mining, industry, and the like are all much more skill intensive than
belt ratting in Providence, at this time I wholeheartedly believe they can and will
consistently yield just as much if not often more income and entertainment than
Providence can. With that income we go out and strike at the enemies of the north
gaining not only a target rich environment in the process, but almost guaranteeing
that we'll live and die by the sword regularly. The key is that it will be on our
terms. Not only this, but it...
