EVE alliance circumvents factional warfare restrictions
by James Egan 
Aug 14th 2008 at 6:00PM
Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Events, in-game, Expansions, Game mechanics, PvP, News items, Races, Roleplaying
Factional warfare became a part of EVE Online in the Empyrean Age expansion, which ushered in a time of backstory-driven militia conflict for players aligned with one of the four races of New Eden. What promised to be a new avenue for EVE's roleplaying community ended up being inaccessible to roleplaying alliances. CCP stipulated that alliances cannot enlist with factional militias, as their sheer numbers could streamroll their opposition and create overwhelming odds for the disadvantaged side in the conflict.
The only recourse EVE's alliances have is to form splinter corporations outside of the alliance, for the sole purpose of allying with a given racial faction. That is, until recently. An article from ISD Magnus Balteus, one of EVE Online's in-game reporters, states the Star Fraction alliance "has openly declared war on corporations that have joined the Caldari milita; the State Protectorate. For over a month, Star Fraction has been selectively targeting the corporations of fleet commanders in the Caldari militia."
So while large roleplaying alliances cannot directly intervene in the factional struggle, they've found a way to get involved peripherally. This also means that factional militia-aligned corporations find themselves under fire in roleplay scenarios they hadn't envisioned.
The actions of the Star Fraction alliance have forced two player corporations to withdraw from the Empyrean Age's factional warfare altogether, thus far. Some feel it's tantamount to griefing. Not only do they need to fight both factional enemies of their militia while fending off pirates who capitalize on increased lowsec system populations, now roleplaying alliances target them for their in-game political beliefs.
The coverage of this situation by EVE's Interstellar Correspondents suggests that CCP Games is well aware of the situation and that it falls within the rules of engagement in EVE Online. Peripheral war declarations may well be a dynamic of factional warfare CCP hadn't anticipated, but it has created new roleplaying opportunities -- only for some more than others.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Batolemaeus said on 6:12PM 8-14-2008
"Grieving" my ass. This is awesome.
Factional Warfare is a war by proxy, the empires are not directly involved. Now role play alliances start entering the war, too.
This is much better than any story a storywriter could create.
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James Egan said on 7:11PM 8-14-2008
I find it interesting that they found a way to become a part of factional warfare that fits in with their own roleplaying/background, but doesn't unbalance the militia struggles.
It's doubtful that Star Fraction are the *only* ones deccing militia corps, but they're the only alliance I've heard of that has done so strictly for roleplaying reasons.
Tim said on 1:42AM 8-15-2008
Gold! I can see how factioneers would consider this griefing: somebody has found a way to bring EVE's harsh realities storming into their carefully-partitioned 'storyline PVP' area. War is hell :)
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Kaiallard said on 5:30AM 8-15-2008
EVE is survival of the fittest. Social Darwinism at its zenith. Care bears need to quit the QQ for THIS IS EVE. tyvm Star Fraction for giving the carebears a wonderful ass whipping. I knew I always respected those RPers for some reason. lol
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CrazyKinux said on 7:57AM 8-15-2008
It's a simple yet legal means for Alliance to achieve the same purpose. Simply brilliant.
And it's also nice to see the Caldari faction getting pressured this way.
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Winterblink said on 9:24AM 8-15-2008
I don't see that anyone's "circumventing" anything. They're engaging on a corp-to-corp basis, which is exactly what the existing war declaration mechanics have allowed since day 1. It's not griefing any more than any other war declaration is griefing.
CCP has stated repeatedly in the past that Faction Warfare is "real PVP", well here it is.
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