Thursday, July 9, 2015

What Is NRDS?

NRDS is a philosophical categorization for the behavior of an organization within Eve.  The common categories an organization's philosophical behavior can fall into include:

  • NPSI:  Not Purple, Shoot It
  • NBSI:  Not Blue, Shoot It
  • NRDS:  Not Red, Don't Shoot

Members of such organization can be anywhere, but behavior is tightly controlled by CONCORD within the core high security systems, so it's only out in low security and null security space where this becomes significant.

Eve is the world.  Your organization's sovereign space is your yard.  Your main outpost or station is your home.

NPSI: Nomadic Savages


NPSI means anyone not in your fleet is a valid target to attack.  Such groups are short term and unorganized, having no sovereign space.  They are, by definition, just a fleet.  If you are NPSI, you really can't be anything else, as being NPSI for even a day likely would violate the rules of any NBSI or NRDS organization.  NPSI groups are nomadic savages that attack anything they come across.  Like Reavers in Firefly.

Using the home metaphor, NPSI groups are herds of rabid dogs that occasionally run through your yard looking for anything they can kill.

NBSI: Closed And Aggressive


NBSI means anyone who hasn't been set to good or better standing (set blue) is a valid target to attack.  Unknown visitors are not welcome.  While NBSI groups generally have their own sovereign space, their NBSI rules generally apply across the entire universe; it doesn't matter if an NBSI ship or fleet is out in someone else's space, if they come across someone not set blue, that someone is a valid target to attack.  Arguably like the Borg in Star Trek, or lesser known, perhaps the Krenim Imperium from Star Trek Voyager.

NBSI groups are classic stereotypical backwoods hillbillys.  They have a home and a yard, but if some stranger happens across their yard, they shoot first and ask questions later, if they ask questions at all.

NRDS: Open And Civil


NRDS means only those who have aggressed or have been set as terrible standing are valid targets to attack.  Individuals, corporations, or alliances are set to terrible standing when they have proved themselves as aggressive and in violation of NRDS rules.  Visitors or those previously unknown are safe around those who are NRDS, and may find NRDS pilots to be friendly, but sometimes stern if they have not obtained good standing.  Somewhat like being around the Federation and the late generation Federation-allied Klingons in Star Trek.  Run across a Federation ship, and they generally greet you with a smile.  Run across a Klingon ship, and you may find your encounter less friendly.  But you are still safe so long as you haven't been declared an enemy and you are following the rules.

Visitors to NRDS soverign space should consider themselves safe around NRDS pilots, but are strongly encouraged to obtain good standing so as not to potentially disrupt the activities of others in NRDS space (unfortunately, neutral visitors often turn out to be aggressive, so generally speaking, NRDS folks don't like seeing neutral parties in NRDS space.  Work on getting your standing set blue if you plan on frequent or extended visits into NRDS space).  Even if you consider yourself a neutral visitor, YOU SHOULD VERIFY YOUR NEUTRALITY BEFORE VISITING NRDS SPACE.  You may be considered to be of terrible standing without your knowing it.  For example, if your corporation or alliance have been set to terrible standing, all those members within are also considered to be of terrible standing.  To verify your standing, use a publicly available KOS checker, if they have one, or join a diplomacy channel for the organization to ask, or ask around folks in the NRDS alliance and they should point you in the right direction. 

Non-NRDS pilots and fleets frequently tresspass in NRDS space, so even if you have your standings in order, note that it is not always safe space.  NRDS protectors are often standing by to render assistance should someone be unjustly attacked, but response time isn't instant, and fights often don't last long.  Be wary of pilots with bad or unknown standing in the system.

NRDS groups are civilized patriots.  They have a home and a yard, and if some stranger happens across their yard, the stranger may be greeted with a friendly smile or may be asked to leave until they are better known and verified non-aggressive.

Why Be NRDS?


Simple.  If you don't consider yourself a rabid dog nor a backwoods hillbilly, you have no other choice; you have to be NRDS.  If you don't aspire to be a Firefly Reaver or a Borg drone, you have to be NRDS.  If you are not NRDS, then you are either a rabid dog, a Reaver, a backwoods hillbilly, or a Borg drone.  Own up to it.  Either accept that you are one of these things, or straighten out your shit and be NRDS. 

Who And Where Is NRDS?


CVA and it's allies are all NRDS.  CVA and it's allies traditionally hold sovereign space in the Providence region, and operate in a number of nearby low security regions as well.  Many groups operating primarily in high security space are probably also NRDS, but just haven't really thought about it.  Come by Providence some time and say hello, but check your standings first, and be on the lookout for rabid dogs and trespassing hillbillies. 

Fly Safe!

9 comments:

  1. Sooooo.... if your not NRDS, your an asshole is what your saying. Hmmm.. Interesting. If you don't play the way Scott Bacon what's you to play, your scum of the universe. Well aren't you all high and mighty.

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    1. No, that's not really what I'm saying, though it sounds like that is what you may be thinking? If you think playing a rabid dog, backwoods hillbilly, Firefly Reaver, or Borg drone is being an asshole, and you don't want to be categorized as such, you are welcome to join the ranks of the NRDS.

      I do admit, I would love to see more NRDS players, as I think it leads to a greater level of enjoyment for the Eve community at large.

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    2. If you think that metaphors like "rabid dog" or "backwoods hillbilly" are neutral enough to be indiscriminately used with regards to the entire categories of players whose playstyles don't match with yours, I have to break some bad news to you: you either are a very bad troll or are in dire need of a couple of lessons on the basics of linguistics and social etiquette.

      I do care about the NRDS playstyle and feel that it doesn't get the love it deserves. However, it is the players who take this game too seriously and can't tell innocent comparisons from outright insults who have marginalized the NRDS community. It's one of the most basic social laws which works just anywhere: you will never be able to agree with everyone on everything, but you can coexist with them if all the parties treat each other with due respect. If you keep flailing around with offhand insults like that, I guarantee that normal people will, in the best case, stay the heck away from you at all costs or, in the worst case, will try to make you as miserable as possible.

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    3. There's too many players who like to play villains but then expect to be treated like heroes. If you indiscriminately attack folks in game, you are a pirate and a villain. Expect to be treated like one. You can't have it both ways.

      Remember, all of this is in game. I'm always surprised when people get upset over being called out as a villain in game when that is precisely the role they have chosen to play.

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  3. I've already set him -10 with my main. To use an old provie tool (and yes, I did live in provie for a while), Mr Bacon is KOS. :)

    I guess that's the hillbilly coming out in me... except there are no hillbillies where I'm from. Reaver then!

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  4. I do apologize if anyone was offended by the stereotypes I used for comparison. There was no intent of name calling, just illustrating by analogy that non-NRDS players are role playing as villains.

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    1. Typical AG backpedalling XD XD

      Keep real life out of a video game dude XD

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  5. Wow...really? It seems to me some people need to step away from the computer and discover the difference between a game and reality. Why all the rl comparisons. Eve is a game about space combat..and I remind you..it's a game. It's like calling everyone who plays COD or Battlefield murderers and other names because they do what the game is all about.

    Of course some people will play the villain..what content would there be if everyone played the "good guy". ...and I use the term "good guy" very loosely as the definition is objective at best. The point is, I have heard people called unspeakable things over a game. It would do people good to separate the game from reality. Just because someone shoots you in a game about combat doesn't make them anything worse than a gamer doing what the game was made for.

    Remember...game...reality...there is no connection or correlation of ANY kind. If there is, you probably need to step away and review your priorities. We are all people playing a game..nothing more.

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