[Information on the forthcoming patch to live servers.]

^^

[Preliminary announcement about the wipe and recommended player actions.]

April fools?? That would be pretty funny to have everyone bouncing around all servers on a snipe hunt.

[Loosing a ship due to a connection failure]

Cant port and chat blanked out. looks like a server crash of some sort

[Damage Farming - Demotions]

Damage Farming (of the "Against the Rules" variety):

 

Taking a large ship, say a Third Rate, captained by a Pirate or other nation, going into an instance, and then sitting there letting other ships pound on it for XP and Gold.  When the ship is getting low, everyone stops, it exits, repairs, repeat, ad nauseum.  Effectively, making a ship available to repeatedly pound on while not actually fighting back.

 

If you, say, chase a guy down and agree at the start of the match: "Hey, let's just fight until someone says uncle and then we'll sail off and exit", you're still causing damage to each other, you'll both still need to repair, that's generally ok.

 

There may be some other definitions, but in general, if you're in a battle instance and are fighting your ship to the best of your ability, you'll not fall afoul of the rules.

Its pretty black an white when explained this way and should be the end of discussion on what constitutes "farming".  Like another poster said, it is encouraging to see the developers engage in the community the way that these folks have and I applaud it.

[On damage farming]

I have said it on here before and ill say it again. In every group, 10% of people are asshats or misfits, the rest generally try to have fun and enjoy the game. I have no qualms punishing the cheaters that risk the integrity of the game for everyone else, bring on the XP resets. 

[Important: Release information and next steps]

Good news, I need to look up a new name. Something more period specific than my other gaming names. Looks it will be a mad dash on the 19th. Here is to the health of the servers  cheers.​

["Made to order" ship construction forum]

Sounds like a great idea, I hope it gets adopted. I lucked out and found a green Cerb that someone had built. Even though I could not crew it I scooped it up and sat on it. I am glad cause I have not seen one since.