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It sounds like a lot of the gameplay CIG is designing will only work as PVE rather than PVP
Which is a problem - even with good AI, PVE play can eventually be gamed or figured out
at which point it ceases to be immersive and becomes a grind
long-term, CIG will need compelling PVP gameplay to sustain our interest
yet six years into development CIG has shown us no mechanics to drive PVP conflict
and has made it clear that competition for scarce resources won't happen
Eve Online players typically play for a few months, take a break for a few, and then come back
the political struggles are compelling even though much of the gameplay is hopelessly outdated
what is going to bring me back to Star Citizen once the shiny has worn off?
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I don't believe it will be a problem finding real players to dick about with. Spectrum exists, all the comms channels of TEST exist, Arena Commander exists if you don't want your PvP effecting your in-game Avatar considering you only get one life.
If you're looking for non-consentual PvP, that shouldn't be hard either. Go to any major space port and tail a ship that doesn't fly like a robot. Go on Spectrum and look for the major asshats and bribe the Comms towers to report when they are in an area so you can go looking for them. Hell, look at certain threads on there like "Trading Tips" or "Where to mine?", drop some false info and lay a trap if you are so inclined. Nothings going to stop you from hot player on player action if that's what you are after, especially non-consensual...
...the thing with non-consensual is a while you may get a rep as a P-Ker and other players come looking for
you to PvP you without your consent
. I don't doubt there will be entire orgs of knights out there looking to dole out some justice.
As far as conflict is concerned, remember: You are a citizen of the UEE. The clue is in the name of the game "Star Citizen". We'll
all start out on the same side
by default. If you want to fracture off and find your conflict you can go find it, search for some pirate faction or even apply to the Outsider colony. Pirates can raid players all day long but they are not really large enough for grand scale conflict unless its between factions, and the Outsider colony is only a single colony it could be rolled over at a moments notice by a single wing of UEE frigates.
But I get the feeling your talking strictly about conflict in the pew pew Shooty McBangBang sense. You're looking for grand scale along the lines of Metagame? Would I be right in saying that?
You personally want inter-human conflict on a grand scale in a mature, peaceful union of worlds? You may only be getting that in the UEE with Civil War, and I mean a civil war that divides the loyalties of the UEE Navy. May I suggest in a career in the Senate? That may be the only way to achieve your goal but I don't think it's impossible.
You want to push the UEE over the edge and see the 'Verse on fire look in the Lore. Perhaps start with the movement to shift the capital of the Empire from Earth to Terra. That should stir things up especially if you suggest changing the name of the UEE to the UET. Nothing gets people more divided and excited than changing the header on the official paper.