I have been observing what playing practices have harmed Fenix and create conditions that result in “boring” game play. These practices are well known and have caused problems on all the servers. Though I am starting with my opinions on one practice I encourage other folks to voice what you think are problems as well.
When I started playing in Fenix (when space dinosaurs roamed the stars) Perma-Farming was rare and usually a punitive action against a player who had been a big wanker (infiltrating a guild to spy or maybe they had been perma-farming people) or as a war only tactical moves. At that time Fenix was full of people of all different in game playing levels, Fenix had lots of people whose play skill was from new to very experienced, in addition Fenix had tons of guilds for all levels of playability and styles of playing. In short Fenix was hoping, if you wanted an astro for a base you might literally be racing to get your outpost ship there first. Fenix was “Fun” for everyone regardless of the individual player’s level or skill ability.
Then it happened Perma-Farming moved from being a punitive action or war only action to an everyday tactical action. Guilds began using Perma-Farming to create galactic strongholds and to force people to join their guild. This was when I began observing the destructive results of this practice. I noted that more and more people simple started to leave Fenix, some quit the game all together and many have been Upgraded players so this also hurts AE’s bottom line. So a slow depopulation began to occur in Fenix. Next I observed Guilds who practiced forced recruitment through Perma-Farming became very large but very unstable and ultimately the practice resulted in those Guilds being destroyed. The Guilds who practiced the galactic stronghold Perma-Farming did however gain the short term benefit of growing large fleets. I however have spent time in many a guild’s “stronghold” galaxies. I have learned from my scouting over the years that many a guild that practice this policy have players with inadequately defended bases, from my perspective this is not healthy for those guilds or the server. In short those guilds whose players are not putting defenses on their bases are weakening their guild’s defensive position and at the same time creating a situation in which they can churn out lots of fleet creating an in balance in game play because some do not need to spend credits to put defenses on their bases, they do get a short term fleet increase but long term defensive viability is questionable.
Another result of the galactic stronghold tactic was at one point every Galaxy was being claimed by big guilds, thus small guilds or players where being harassed to the point of absurdity. So, many more people quit and many guilds merged, thus fewer players and fewer guilds. Now we have even less people playing and less guilds. Next a single galaxy wasn’t good enough for some guilds and they started “claiming” whole Galaxy Sets. It is very ridiculous to claim Galaxy Sets and creates unhealthy environmental conditions for long-term playability in the game.
Currently new people who start playing often are encircled by guilds just waiting like a pack of jackals for the player to hit 30. Once said player reaches the magic number they are Perma-Farmed until they quit the game.
Forcing people to quit playing in Fenix via Perma-Farming has created the “anemic” and “boring” conditions. It has created an ever-decreasing population, which equals fewer opportunities to rumble, fewer opportunities for recruitment, fewer opportunities for guild diversity, chased new players away, and is just less “fun”.
I understand that Guilds want “safe” space but I am now of the opinion that if we want Fenix to change and be a viable playing field for new and established players we are going to have change ourselves. We have to stop Perma-Farming and put are collective assets in a little jeopardy to get things moving and to make Fenix a good environment for new players to come to. I personally think Guilds should only claim 1 Region within a single Galaxy as a “stronghold” and we all need to start recruiting heavily that Fenix is the place to come and play, otherwise nothing will change.
We need new players, more guilds and players need to be allowed to play against each other.
Happy Battles.
