So now PvP is only available and meaningful for nutters or those in assigned ships? Not acceptable.
Sorry Bonk, but I don't see how you can draw this conclusion. I have neither played nutter hours nor been assigned a ship and have benefited from the disengagement rule in that my PvP in inexpensive and unrestricted ships has been meaningful.
Yes if the hex is being guarded by an enemy DN you need to get a wingman to unseat him, as it should be. You are also not allowed the benefit of trying to get lucky and draw an AI only mission under him even if he has previously forced you to disengage or has killed you in that hex, which is alos as it should be. There is now a real consiquence to losing in PvP, as the lose of PP has never had much effect as ships are to cheap and PP to easy to come by to ever serve as much of a deterent.
Easy to prevent missions being run over the big ship:
Have him back up a hex, send in two small ships to defend, the big ship watches for the pesky enemy small ship to go into mission with the smaller defenders then returns to the hex to scare off any others that come along or to face any large ships that come along.
Your suggestion is simply not that easy and it depends on timing and unreliable drafting.
Even though it isn't perfect, I fail to see how the disengagement rule ruins the game for casual players (since I have been one over the last several servers). It's benefits clearly outweight any minor issues it introduces.
Luckily as you point out the camp in favor of the rule seems to be winning out, which is mainly because the majority of players and admins see it as more beneficial than detrimental to game play. As to having to reside yourself to PP farming for a big ship, I would also disagree and incourage you to look me up when you are online. If we are allied I would be happy to wing with you in cheap ships and give those nutters some hell.
Kroma,
PS, another thing that I think would alliviate some of the minor issues with the rule and casual players, would be to loosen up the restrictions on FM assignments. Allowing RMs to hand the FM slot out more freely, and at a momments notice. Maybe remove the VCs from them as well. (you could still have PvP VCs, just that the FM ship isn't worth anymore than any other ship kill). This would allow more casual players a chance behind the wheel of the big ships.