The PVP battle zones did not work to expectations, but why not try this on the PVE Peace server?
A simple PVP 'battle circle' spawning at random throughout the PVE map. Players enter and fight, competing for RNG loot drops.
Two options available after battle(decided by the devs);
Both ships spawn outside of the battle zone and continue on their way with the winner paid in loot.
The loser spawns back at the closest port that they have an OP in and loses their ship to the battle.
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The benefits of this type of battle;
Traders that only occasionally fight Ai on PVE getting to practice battles with other players without going hard-core PVP.
Hard-core PVE Ai killers having fun killing each other for fun and loot.
No chance of the winner getting ganked trying to get to their home port.
Possibly getting PVE players interested in migrating to the PVP server.
This is just a thought to bring PVE players into the fight and act as a training server.
Thoughts? (please note, PVP hard-core players that dislike PVE and it's players; please don't use this post to vent your views, try and be constructive)