Force open isn't too pleasant either. Here's a scenario. One of those annoying spamming parasitic noobie alliances that every server has has a bunch of cities in a state where you have a troop city. They get the item and get all excited and force your gates open. You log on to find half your mechs dead because 10 of them that have neither the ability or troops to take you on normally have been scout bombing you from long range for an hour.

I guess if you logged on you could cap a city and let them bomb rams, but it's still a waste and a load of unnecessary honour, and for what?

Perhaps those that support this ridiculous item are the type of players for whom this sort of attack would be appealing.

I'd be interested to know what 'defensive strategy' the evony guys think is reasonable and fair when you can't control your own gates.