Basically, the main factions are at war with each other and are enlisting players (aka Pod Pilots like ourselves) to their militia. You can join solo or as a corp, but no alliances are allowed. If you are going solo, you must leave your corp to join. If your corp joins, then your entire corp becomes a member of the militia. you must have a certain factional standing for the NPC Faction to gain admitance.
On the test server I enlisted our corp as a whole, but that was only for testing it out. It opens up new PvP experience for those interested in it, as certain low sec space is now war contested and you are at war with members of the opposite militia. Therefore you can engage in warfare without a concord hit to your sec rating if they are members of an opposing faction. However, this will also block you from entering the High sec space of the enemy (from what I read in the blogs and info in the test server).
Unfortunately, I do not think our corp as a whole will engage in this warfare due to our nature and professions in game being needed to gain access to all spaces, but if any are interested in trying it out, we will have no hard feelings to any that wish to leave at this time, and will be welcomed back if you decide its not for you.
The sites you have to control to make a system shift from contested to vulnerable have ship size restrictions associated with them, like the old DED complexes. But, the bunker in space that has to be taken over to shift control to your faction has roughly the same hitpoints as a small player owned station, so you will definately want a large gang to do this. To go along with that, the bunker has no ship restrictions, so you will possibly be engaging with or against capital ships and fleets of battleships with support. Could be good for our industrial base, as new avenues of ship destruction means higher demand for those ships, and therefore more profits for all aspects of industry, from miners, T2 component productions, and ship builders.
Anyways, thought I would give a brief insight as to what I have experienced on the test server and potential options for corp members if they are interested in the militia, or if you are a miner/production player, profits are going to rise.
Good timing with release as far as I am concerned, School breaks for the summer always means larger player base, and better economy for us all. Wish the U.S. economy would follow suit
Ozany
