Plenty of stuff going down in the universe we call EVE online. All sorts of little things they keep adding to make the game fresh and keep people from taking too much advantage of each other out there. That’s one thing that’s always struck me about EVE is just how laisez-faire it is. In most MMOs you’re encouraged to work together overcoming threats from NPCs, bosses, and other external sources. The devs are constantly coming up with new threats, each more powerful (or ridiculous) than the last. The armor gets spikier and the dragons get bigger, but it’s all stuff that has next to nothing to do with your character. Technically, your toon could just tell the world to take a flying leap and not bother saving anyone. The game wouldn’t really go anywhere for you, but you can.

EVE is just a little different. There are plenty of hazards put in place by the devs, but some of the worst threats come from your fellow players. Pirates are just the most obvious examples of this. While I really hate being farmed by a group (see previous posts), there’s an honesty to what they’re doing. When you see a pirate fleet coming for you, you know what you’re up against for the most part. They want what you have and are going to take the most direct route to get it, that being to blow you up.

More dangerous are your fellow players who are more business minded. They have the same goals as the pirates, but the methods are vastly different. You have no idea where they will come from, how they will hit you, and in some cases who is making your life miserable. Suddenly finding your supply of raw materials drying up? It could be an honest shortage, but it could just as easily be a bit of espionage designed to weaken you for some grand takeover.

Other players can be your worst enemies when you’re buying Eve Online isk, too. If you’re a little careless about who you tell about your buying habits it can get to the wrong ears. This can mean the devs, who would be happy to ban you. It can also mean a player who isn’t above a little blackmail.

Therein lies the rub with this game. Other MMOs lead you by the nose through the game. Here people have the freedom to be as good or horrible as they like.

Be careful out there.