Kandarin wrote:I would like to add that the suggestion to add a continuous Influence cost for to keep a password up is a very good one. [...] The current cost to institute a password is not a significant deterrent, as the ratio of influence spent to reward gained is far more favorable than anything else that Delegates can spend influence on. It's such a great bargain, so to speak, that invaders aren't interested in the rest of the product line.
Raising the up-front cost might help, but unless it was raised by a truly massive amount the effect would likely be the same. Rather, I believe that instituting a daily influence cost to maintain a password would work as a solution to the problem. It would force invaders to strategize, to allocate their influence resources between defensive (passwords) and offensive (eject/ban) maneuvers. In passwords, invaders have an easy, unbeatable defensive tactic that lets them use offensive moves without the risk that really ought to be involved.
Very good to know. What about both? (I.e. big increase in cost to implement, plus maintenance cost.)
My concern with maintenance cost is it might force all passwords to be temporary--that is, regions currently using it to keep themselves safe will be unable to afford to continue doing so.
Passwords are certainly intended as a defensive measure; if there was a way to reduce their usefulness as an offensive weapon, that would be great.