5.3 - Hotfix 1

[Dusk]

Before I'll say anything else, I want to thank the dev team for their hard work. It's more than I would ever expect from a project that's run on pure passion. So, thank you.

With that said, I can't help but note that for me, the current patch has been... Not a pleasant one. I feel like I have some feedback to give, even though I don't think it will make a difference.

First, the lack of Baffin-Tau connection.
I'm not sure what the purpose of removing the Baffin corridor was. All it does is significantly lengthen the trading paths. So much so that it makes more sense to just fly the other way often. Personally, I found a use for it last month for trading copper, suitable for my RP. I'll probably abandon it now, because it's become too much of a chore. It wasn't the most profitable route I've ever seen, especially with the gold-iridium route still in its current form. A very strange change that many people seem to dislike. You want activity in the Houses? Then add a reason to go there, besides the fact that we will be forced to do so simply because there is no other way.

Second, the eventual return of reputation requirement for trading.
Again, I don't understand the purpose of this. You are not solving the powertrader problem, you are just adding more unnecessary complications for everyone. Instead of removing and complicating things, please consider adding alternatives that incentivize RP? For example, a reward for escorting trading ships.

And finally... The missiles.
The most annoying thing about this patch for me personally, as a mainly snub player. Now every vhf is essentially forced to use missiles. I hate missiles. They are coarse and rough and irritating and they get everywhere. They are the manifestation of when the game starts playing itself, without the player's participation.

I am far from an ace, but I still think it is an extremely cheap source of guaranteed damage, without regard for the player's accuracy. Every time I meet someone in pvp who uses missiles, I know I'm going to have a bad time. I personally refused to use missiles on principle because I didn't want other players to have the same feelings when they met me in pvp.

Considering vhf being the most common snub class, missiles will now be literally everywhere.

Every.
Single.
Fight.

As a consequence, this made me lose any desire to participate in group snub pvp. Not because I'll die; I died all the time anyway and had no problem with it. But because I don't see the point in "playing" like that.