Loyalty to Lowsec - Coming 24 March!

Loyal Capsuleers,

Those of you who have made your homes and livelihoods in the Low Security (Lowsec) star systems of New Eden are to be commended - and rewarded - for your loyalty to this way of life. The Loyalty to Lowsec update coming on 24 March will provide a thrilling climax to the Fight or Flight Quadrant, featuring a number of changes to Faction Warfare as well as other aspects of Lowsec adventuring that will bring fresh excitement and activity to these regions of New Eden.

Faction Warfare

As mentioned throughout last year, there will be changes to Faction Warfare in EVE Online to improve the overall experience of Capsuleers engaging with this feature. This begins with increased Loyalty Point payouts for PvP kills made during Faction Warfare. At the same time, Loyalty Point payouts for Faction Warfare missions given by agents will be reduced, which will increase the relative value of combat in Faction Warfare.

In addition, there will be an increase in the activation area that surrounds acceleration gates. This will allow Capsuleers to enter Faction Warfare combat complexes with less chance of being tackled or stopped before entering the main complex area. This will effectively re-introduce the player-emergent behavior of 'gate sliding', and will be supported by the introduction of perimeter lighting around the acceleration gates to indicate the extent of the activation region surrounding it.

As if that wasn't enough love for Faction Warfare, this feature will also see new gated capture sites that allow entry for all ships of Battleship size and smaller added. This presents a perfect opportunity for Capsuleers to make use of the brand new and exciting Frigate Escape Bay feature!

Please head over to the official forum thread to provide feedback on the FW changes.

Frigate Escape Bay

Capsuleers have been able to try out the new Frigate Escape Bay feature on the Singularity test server for a few weeks now, and it is going live on Tranquility on 24 March. The Frigate Escape Bay is a special bay capable of holding a single, fitted Frigate that will be added to all Battleships. Should the Battleship be destroyed, instead of being ejected in your capsule and left helpless, you will launch immediately back into combat aboard your Frigate!

Seeing how Capsuleers utilize Frigate Escape Bay tactics in the new Battleship-specific Faction Warfare sites will be incredibly exciting!

For feedback, please head over to the previously established thread.

Increased PvP Loot Drops and Warp Speed Increase

Why stop there with the Lowsec love? As part of the Loyalty to Lowsec update, there will be an increase to the loot dropped from PvP in Lowsec space and an increase to warp speed in Lowsec between 24 March and 6 April. These limited time changes will promote further PvP activity in Lowsec, undoubtedly having an effect on how Capsuleers make use of them during Faction Warfare, in no small part due to the significant speed boost Battleships will enjoy!

There will also be an additional task added to the daily PvP challenges of the Skilling is Just a Means event that runs until 14 April. Capsuleers will be offered an extra 10,000 Skill Points daily for killing one of the NPCs defending the Faction Warfare capture sites, so that makes 20,000 Skill Points available every day!

Champions of Lowsec

Inspired by the legendary Kings of Lowsec contest that took place in 2013 which was a 24 hour Lowsec killing spree, the contest to crown a champion of Lowsec will be returning to New Eden between 26 and 31 March! The alliance that accrues the highest ISK value of Lowsec PvP kills in that time will receive awesome rewards, and their alliance's flag will be flown proudly on top of the Groska building, the new home of CCP's Reykjavík office, for a month!

More details on this event are coming soon, and the Faction Warfare changes, warp speed and PvP loot drop increases are now live on the Singularity test server for you to try out!

New Eden Store Offers

Finally, to celebrate the upcoming release of the Loyalty to Lowsec update and the Frigate Escape Bay, there will be two sets of SKIN offers in EVE Online's New Eden Store between 11:00 UTC on 24 March and 11:00 UTC on 31 March.

Firstly, there will be 25% off selected SKINs such as the Oasis of Faith, Zento Isidenko Combine, Snowline Bladeracer and Vitalshift EGO SKINs for popular faction Warfare ships like Navy Issue Frigates and Cruisers.

Secondly, the new Escapologist Bundle will provide four stunning SKINs for popular Battleships, and four free Frigate SKINs as well! Plus, there will 50% off the Machariel Angel's Hex SKIN as well.