CCP Games elaborates on conquest in EVE's Dominion expansion

"-- Smash the control images -- Smash the control machine --"

William S. Burroughs, The Soft Machine

The Dominion expansion for EVE Online is so-named for its heavy focus on the game mechanics of "Sovereignty" or control of territory in the New Eden galaxy. There's been no small amount of controversy surrounding CCP's proposed system, however, particularly as it's slated to go live on December 1st with the Dominion release. While some of the core game mechanics of control are still undergoing revision, CCP Games recently explained how ownership of solar systems will change hands in a dev blog titled "Storming the Gates."

EVE developer CCP Abathur lays out how new equipment will be used in claiming space and repelling invaders.

• Territorial Claim Units (TCUs) are structures that will essentially allow alliances to 'plant their flag', linking the TCU with a stargate to lay claim to a system. The alliance's logo will be projected in space around the TCU, a symbol of the alliance's claim on the solar system. These structures cannot be targeted once online, until the sovereign alliance's infrastructure is torn down.

• Sovereignty Blockade Units (SBUs) are offensive structures. Attackers will use these to disrupt the link between the TCU (flag) and stargates, thus threatening the Sovereignty of the space-holding alliance.

• Infrastructure Hubs (I-Hubs) are defensive structures, which will allow alliances to get the most value/utility out of their controlled space via upgrades, which can increase spawns of wormholes and other exploration content, high bounty NPC pirates, or allow for jump bridges (instant travel between starbases) and cyno jammers (which prevent capital ships from entering the held system).

• The new system will have a dual reinforcement timer -- one for shields, one for armor -- where both the I-Hubs and Outposts (player-built space stations) are vital to the defense of a system and thus stand as primary objectives to be taken out by attackers.

For a detailed look at the new game mechanics in Dominion and how these structures will be used in the revamped Sovereignty system, you'll want to read CCP Abathur's "Storming the Gates" to understand how territorial control is about to change in EVE Online. Abathur explains (and illustrates) the combat scenarios that will play out in nullsec this December and beyond. There's some Q&A between players and developers in a related thread on the game's official forums that's worth a look as well.