Hello to everyone from my first post. I have logged about 80 hours on the server (after quite a few hours on the SP) version, and still learning :unsure: lol. Sometimes I have a difficult time finding information through the disco search engine, but have received useful help from more experienced RP'ers in-game (sometimes ooc for a newbie, maybe with instructions on where to find the best way to find the answer in the forum/rules) who want to see other players stay and enjoy. It is only recently that the forum is checked (sometimes after resuming play to understand a specific unknown).
I have to say that it was only after about 30 or 40 hours that I began to understand RP; for a newbie with 8500 credits in a Starflier, the biggest concern is not getting dusted. It helps you develop flying/fighting skill but it takes awhile for it to sink in that if you can survive long enough and build up more credits, getting dusted is not the end of your experience; it is just a lesson in humility :D
Another motivation was the cap ship whore thing, which I am glad to say was given up a brief time after the beginning of understanding, and especially with my current character's name...it begs of being able to fly as many places as possible. It would be nice to fly in a ship more suited to exploring, but surviving would not be easy, especially in the Border/Edge worlds (some of which I have only heard about) and getting dusted more than a few times by the Nomads. A new character will eventually be developed for a GB, probably with Order ID and faction tag. IMHO, this type of experience accompanies other players who are not new just to Discovery, but new to online gaming in any form as is my case.
FL also requires less RP (unless you align as per next paragraph) than a faction member and before joining a faction, I wanted to check out the philosophies of each to match my current way of thinking. Other characters would then follow that would allow exploration outside of myself to expand the experience. This gave an insight to RP that other newer players may not consider before choosing (resulting in mismatched ships, tags and ID's). The ship and credits you start out with limits what kind of missions you can survive, and I would not recommend faction alignment before obtaining Disco experience.
And yes, with all of the above you will see me in-game with an LP tag. True FL RP would be having as many neutrals as possible, but that will take quite awhile to work off unless Admin can assist, if possible. I am not adverse to the effort required but should not Civilian (of course Level 29-), Merc and FL tags be locked without affiliation (neutral unless mission specific)? I may take on a mission(s) for a particular faction (other than pirate id's) while in their sector to earn credits while passing through, but that should not affect tag. After all, Mercs and FL should be able to accept missions from all. "That's the nature of the business..". Sorry, that tune is for smugglers. :D
One comment regarding purchasing of ships. I now fly a Viper (Zoner, neutral and more fitting of character) instead of a heavier and more durable Raven's Claw (Liberty, Military/Security). The Raven's Claw was purchased as an open-market item on Houston even though it is listed as a stealth modified from a ship that was originally Kusari (if memory serves me correctly). This would classify it as an advanced ship, though not a large one.
One item, albeit away from the thread: do weapons on ships with more armor/shields drain energy at a slower rate or the same as another ship of the same class? (e.g., fighter class 10).
Many thanks to all who want to help everyone become better RP'ers and take of their time with the passing along of knowledge both in the forum and in-game.
