Reaver Mercenary Co.

[Diomedes]

Scavenger, I tend to agree the impact of the Reavers is far greater than it should be inRP. This is basically because of late they've had a high activity level and in game, they are just way more present than anyone else. For a faction trying to become official, this is likely a good thing.

For example, if I fly a QCP| vessel, I'm more likely to find a Reaver than a KSP, KNF or BD combined, while I'm in Kusari. Now, that reflects well on the faction but really doesn't make a lot of logical sense.

As you said, the Reavers can flip flop because the employers allow them to. Why are they allowed to? Well, because as a highly present and visible force,the Reavers are actually one of the major players in the conflicts as players see it.

InRP, no mercenary company could really begin to rival the striking power of the organized navies (include Corsairs here) and they would have to be careful of the ire of current or former employers who might decide to wipe them out.

In game, the reavers are almost always present in strength when they appear, and there's no way for an employer to truly turn their guns and eliminate the Mercs (eg. by attacking Armstrong).

So if there is an issue with the diplomacy, it's up to the employers to hire/fire the Reavers on RP decisions, not what the player-base actually sees. No major military faction should really fear a small mercenary company. Sure the potential for the mercs to create havoc is there, but should be small compared to the damage the enemy navy could do. This means for instance, the "we-won't shoot you if you hire us" shouldn't really be a huge consideration for a number of employers in Disco. But due to the actual in-game affect on players, it is.

In my mind, Disco mercs should have their place augmenting forces or operating where regular forces can't go. But I can't see a merc group displacing full military functions. However, since mercs can make money doing their job and it has more freedom that being in a navy, mercing is insanely popular compared with military populations, giving a very odd ratio of strength. Basically, this is a fact of life in disco, but everyone should still RP the militaries as the power-houses where possible.

In the end, there's not really any blame to be laid anywhere. As I see it, the diplomacy and effect of mercs is really just inherent to how Disco works. It may not always make sense, and it's up to out of context RP motivation to try and make things logical. But hey it's a game.

Finally, apologies if this is the wrong spot for this, but it seems to fit. As for feedback, this is intended both for the Reavers and their employers/enemies, and also just as a explanation of what I see.

Edit - ninja'd about 4 times if some of this no longer seems to line up well.

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