Since parking my Orca Mobile home a couple weeks ago I haven’t done a great deal in EVE. Since no one is relying on me in game, I can do that without guilt.
I have already gone through several large asset decluttering and consolidation phases over the last year, and I figured it was time for another round. It should only have taken me a couple of days, but I have rarely been in the right frame of mind.
The right frame of mind can be elusive. On the first day I looked at my Corporation’s POS hanger and saw nothing to sell. It was the same on the second, third and fourth days. On the fifth day however I suddenly wondered why I was storing 3 complete POS setups, along with a years’ worth of fuel for each of them. Now I am down to one Hi-Sec research POS with fitting options and 3 months of fuel for it. On day six I might decide I don’t even need that.
As I have said, I am doing this in part as I have found it difficult to manage such a large collection of assets with all the regular game balance changes. I am also however finding it somewhat liberating. I hadn’t realised just how much I had become shackled to my inventory.
Now I find myself going through the laborious process of hauling and selling. My Industry Alt has been kept busy. While doing this I have been reading a lot on EVE.
There was an interesting article from CSMX member Manfred Sideous on EN24.
http://evenews24.com/2015/08/29/csm-x-manfred-sideous-let-me-hurf-about-eve-csm-x/
He reminds us of the passion many DEV’s have for the game, flags the increasing aggression the player base has towards them, and gives some interesting insights on the CSM and CCP interaction. I particularly liked this quote: “The CSM can advocate for anything; how CCP acts is never a sure thing. Even when we can be sure they’ll take some action, the means they choose are often impossible to predict”. It was worth a read.
There have been plenty of interesting thoughts on the Imperium’s short Burn Providence campaign.
Talvorian Dex commented on his disquiet for the reasons behind it. A worthwhile read – particularly when you take in comments from people involved on both sides:
http://targetcaller.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/goon-providence-war.html
Kasken wrote a piece from an FC perspective. He gives an almost visceral view to the back and forth struggle. Again the comments add to the article, and are worth reading.
Rixx Javix reports on his Alliance (A Band Apart) securing its first system in Null, and while he thinks FozzieSov can be improved, he said “in general I strongly believe that it is the best thing that has happened in Eve for a long, long time.”
http://eveoganda.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/dad-lost-keys.html
Meanwhile Black Legion said they were pulling out of the Sov game due to how horrible FozzieSov is:
http://evenews24.com/2015/08/29/black-legion-abandon-fountain/
From what I have read so far about FozzieSov:
. It has reduced the land holdings of the old guard Sov players
. It has allowed smaller groups to consider getting involved in Sov
. There is not enough consequence or cost for attackers
. Defenders have to do a lot of work for possibly not enough benefit having Sov
. It can generate engaging game play between active PVP focused players
. It needs continued iteration
So it has more promise than it might have first appeared, but the change over from old to new will likely come at a painful cost.
What does stand out for me at the moment is that it is not at all friendly towards the casual player, and possibly too negative for the more carebear player who likes the idea of building a home instead of just wrecking other people’s homes.
Evehermit 
First, thanks for the mention.
I tend to agree with your conclusions as well. I think FozzieSov is a good thing for smaller entities, but the effective cap on the size of space holdings robs coalitions of any offensive (dare I say PvP?) purpose. And that’s not a bad thing if it helps balkanize null sec.
One thing I think is worth pointing out is the narrowing of the meaning of Sovereignty space. BL is the exemplar of a group of PvPers who used Sov as a tool to attract fights. BL wasn’t and isn’t invested in Sov as an ’empire’, but instead as a bug-zapper or beacon. They hold Sov only because of the fights it should bring them.
And it no longer does.
If you wanted to go full tinfoil, you’d announce this as the ultimate meta-victory of the Goons. If you wanted to be realistic, you point out that this is a deep problem with Aegis-Sov. It suits only one ‘meta-playstyle’. You’re an empire-builder, or you’re nothing.
CCP has reached in and altered the the most free-form area of space fundamentally: You’re only to build empires in Sov. Nothing else.
Is it any wonder the disaffected are displeased?
Rob K.
An interesting viewpoint. The impression I had so far was it favoured attackers too much, which would make empire building easier, but not empire holding. I expect BL would have more attacks on their Sov now – but just not the sort of PVP they were wanting with their honeypot approach to Sov.