The BEACON scale was created by Guilherme Rollard and Aernir Ridley with inspiration from the United States of America's DEFCON (Defense Readiness Condition) scale. It signals our current readiness condition, and how prepared we must be for conflict.
Peacetime. Alliance and coalition formups infrequent, generally occurring with 2-3 day advance notice. Alliance regional staging in effect, no coalition staging. PVE activity entirely unrestricted.
Infrequent conflict. Occasional border skirmishes and/or friendly alliance under mild duress. Infrequent alliance and coalition formups, occurring with 1 day notice when possible. PVE activity entirely unrestricted.
Frequent conflict. Moderate border skirmishes and/or significant threat to allies. Frequent alliance and coalition formups with less than 1 day advance notice when possible. Coalition/Deployment staging possible. PVE activity discouraged during periods of high activity.
Active wartime. Alliance sovereignty under significant threat. Daily alliance and coalition formups with less than six hour notice when possible. Coalition/Deployment staging in effect. Death clone staging in effect. PVE activity strongly discouraged outside of certain time zones and/or locations.
Extreme duress. Alliance sovereignty under imminent threat. Daily alliance and coalition formups with little to no notice. Coalition staging in effect. Death clone staging in effect. Hangarlists are asked to be kept to critical PVP doctrines. Nullsec PVE activity incurs high risk of loss and other means of income are strongly encouraged.
Highest possible state of alert. Direct threat to alliance existence. Possible coup in progress. All player activity suspended outside of specific instructions from leadership until crisis ends.