The update to steam handling is nice. However, I was wondering if there was an even better option.
Instead of the current system where as soon as a base hits the planet, it immediately counts against the plots…
What if instead, the first base is floating and not counting towards plot limit, until a secondary condition is met? For example, when the second base (not permit) is placed.
This will immediately allow all accounts that don’t intend to actually play to not impact the plot count, and the short duration for real players won’t really matter.
This, however, does NOT address the pioneer load that the “dead” accounts add, but that’s honestly a smaller problem that can be addressed with more upkeep. It’s still a problem, but a smaller one.
What this would allow you to do, is extend the deletion timers back out-maybe even give the players who shared emails a little more leeway for deletion, if deletion is primarily for plot reasons.
i second this, having a at least 2 bases on a TRIAL account is a much better indicator of a casual player, vs only having one base which is a better indicator of an inactive/dead account
i feel theres plenty of newbies that play for maybe a week, expand a little, before getting bored. such players would open a base, fly their ship to cx, feel overwhelmed with the market, or feel bored by the gameplay loop after having experienced it once, then decide the game isnt for them.
here is an example of such a player on Umbra. once again, they likely would’ve spent some time trying out the game, before realizing it isnt for them.
from my personal experience, i was such a player a few years ago when i joined, put down a base, played for abit, gained some insight into what the game was like (the entire reason for TRIAL accounts), and decided it wasnt for me. it was only during this playthrough was i committed enough to expand and get myself a second base. under this system my old account would not have gotten the halving in time, since i flew a ship and built a base.
my conclusion is that the current system is still too lax on the activity of new players.
What PIO load? Most accounts have maybe done the first steps of the tutorial, let alone building more than the starting buildings. So they bring all the PIO themselves and take them back on liquidation. And on big planets PIO easily move by the thousands without problems.
You could say the same about TEC, ENG and SCI bases of inactive BASIC/PRO players which are a way bigger problem for upkeep.
