EVE Online technical director explains new feature: Fleet Finder

by James Egan on Oct 27th 2009 5:00PM

Sci-fi, EVE Online, Expansions, Game mechanics, Guilds, Grouping

The next EVE Online expansion will be Dominion, slated for a December release, which will introduce some major changes to the game and new features as well. The "Fleet Finder" is one such feature, explained in today's dev blog by EVE Online Technical Director Jon Bjarnason (aka CCP Atlas).

The Fleet Finder will give players much greater control over forming a fleet and, as CCP Atlas says, there will be "No more 'x up in corp channel' messages." The feature will also streamline how information is conveyed to other pilots.
The old system of opening up a fleet will be gone in Dominion, replaced by Fleet Adverts -- which can be open to corp or alliance members, or even those with positive standings towards your particular organization. The fleet boss will be able to specify how high standings must be for outside parties to join or exclude by security status. Likewise, those looking for fleets to join can filter their search by distance, scope (corporation or alliance), and standings with fleet bosses.

Once in a fleet, players will notice that the broadcasts system is improved. Fleet Finder will provide greater control over the scope of broadcasts (proximity, solar system, or global) and control over who receives your broadcasts (superiors, subordinates, or everyone).

Also new is the option for "Loot Logging" in Fleet Finder. When active, all looting is logged and broadcasted to other fleet members. CCP Atlas says, "This is a completely optional feature and is something that the Fleet Creator specifies when the fleet is created. People don't have to use this feature if they don't want to but chances are that a lot of pilots will find this useful since trust isn't exactly something that New Eden is brimming with."

See "Now, where did I put that fleet?" by CCP Atlas for an explanation of the Fleet Finder coming to EVE with Dominion, and the screenshots that show the various options players will soon have. There seems to be a very positive reception of Fleet Finder from the EVE playerbase, but what are your thoughts on the feature?

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Reader Comments (4)

Logging of loot is really asinine. The trust element is an important part of the game.

Trust has nothing to do with it, being able to track EXACTLY the amount of isk you rate is crucial.

Distrust and suspicion is an important part of EVE, and something that distinguishes it from other MMOs. I believe loot logging will only dilute that very slightly, but any move to a fluffier and less Darwninian EVE will be viewed with suspicion by the hardcore.