ED space is so huge, you could be there all your RL time, and yet did not encounter any other from hundreds thousands commanders, which can be in space in the same time as you. This offers alot freedom/"safety" on one side, but after some time you may want more as only beat/dealt with NPCs ... and exactly for this were implemented community goals, which often concentrate to very few systems or stations (or only one single station) in by humans habitated space and also offer some nice bonuses ("$") when are theirs goals reached. Now it come when you cannot rely on previously learned templates and if you want survive, is really good idea to be concentrated all the time and watch radar if it not show outlined icon (solid icon = NPC, outlined = cmdr). Also fights are very different, there do not count some "fair" conditions ... if you not have friends and your target will have, you may easily have only "flee" as option how to survive. Same is related to ships used on both sides ...
Martind Forlon’s Blog
Blog Articles Tagged with “Community Goals”