Suggestion: Encourage use of faction ID's and gear

[Mímir]

At the moment it seems like Freelancers are the main law enforcers in Liberty. Flashpoints and Purple Goddesses are the prime choice of weaponry, while many faction guns are utterly useless. Civilian/BW ships are also to be preferred over many a faction ship.

In short, there are few reasons to choose a faction ID when a Freelancer ID offers you better tech, more choices and more freedom overall. However faction ID'd players provide more flavor simply by representation, they are more "needed" than independent pirates and freelancers. The faction ID's are the pillars of this roleplay universe.

One way to limit Freelancers and Indie Pirates would be to nerf all civilian gear, so that faction ships and guns would be noticeably better. I am sure some people would still opt for the greater freedom over good equipment, and be very successful at that although put at a disadvantage.

Opinions?

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[Laura C.]

First thought - don´t use word nerf, it makes people negative. It´s better to suggest buffing all non-civilian/generic gear.

Second thought - it´s true I few times wondered why the hell freelancers are able to have comparable or even better gear than for example militaries. I know it´s about gameplay balance, but I still think it´s weird and it discourage players from using their native gear.

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On a ragebreak. Or ragequit. Time will tell.

[Shinju]

Second thought - it´s true I few times wondered why the hell freelancers are able to have comparable or even better gear than for example militaries. I know it´s about gameplay balance, but I still think it´s weird and it discourage players from using their native gear.

This, GMG Guns compared to Flashpoints. GMG deals less damage and consumes more energy.

But really as Laura said, Military and Police should have better equipment than Freelancers.

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"No step on Snek..."

my english is my english!

[Connor]

I would have to agree with this, but then again it could almost kill bounty hunting. There's always going to be pros and conns

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[SnakThree]

Bounty Hunters can bounty hunt too. Freelancers can use great ships with great guns now without any drawbacks.

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[Vredes]

As a primary merc I asked myself the same question. I have another suggestion though. Mercs PMC and etc around the world are backed by a country with infuance and money. Why not bring back the Merc ID giving it some unique green cells? Freelancers will be freelancers and not the angels of death like now.

Edit: +1 for this

[Haste]

I suspect the main problem is the Sabre. It's simply too good right now.

There's really nothing wrong with - let's take Liberty as an example - the Guardian or the Avenger. Vengeances are great, Magma Hammers allow for a great full shotgun if you're into that. The tech available to lawfuls is fine.

It's just that (almost) everything bleaks in comparison to the Sabre right now. PGs are very popular too, but that seems to be mainly down to projectile effects. I don't find them particularly good or bad. Plus, lawfuls can use them just as well.

I'm not entirely sure why the .86 Sabre - which had distinct strengths and weaknesses - had to make way for this good-at-everything ship.

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[Occam Razor]

I would also like to add more realism and diversity to the game by buffing military and police faction equipment and ships or nerfing the civilian ones. It makes sense for the rich houses to produce better military ships than pirates or civilians in remote systems, maybe a system for bounty hunters to get military ships or weaponry for their hunting would have to be implemented then?

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"Common sense is the best distributed commodity in the world, for every man is convinced that he is well supplied with it."
René Descartes

[Derkylos]

maybe a system for bounty hunters to get military ships or weaponry for their hunting would have to be implemented then?

Bounty Hunters have their own ship and weapon lines. Why would they need access to house lines? Just make sure BH/pirate lines are also more desirable than civilian ones...

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[Haste]

It was decided rather a while ago that all tech, civilian or military, would be balanced at the same level of 'power' so it would all be competitive.

I doubt this will change, and I doubt it should change. The problem is simply an imbalance within this system leading to certain 'civilian' ships (really not all, honestly only the Sabre really comes to mind in the VHF class) being better than house lawful gear. That's a bit of a problem.

That doesn't mean an overhaul of the system is required, however.

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