concerning factions and their influence

[Jose Benitez]

So in short: Delete the ***** POBs and cloaks.

Gets my vote of approval as a good start - not that I suspect anyone cares.

I'd also suggest that if you want the factions to have some real powers then give them back the right to determine who has their factions technology.

I've never liked the tech charts with different coloured cells that determine how effective stuff is.

You want someone else's tech then you get on the forum and RP for it, and you RP with the people that are in theory supposed to represent the NPC's of any given faction. Sure there will be the issue of Skype buddies but kind of so what? If you want something go make a new friend.

This might of course mean that you also have to go back to the ID = IFF = equipment/ship so you can tell who is "cheating" but you can't have everything in life, and the current system is as confusing as heck for new players.

There are lots of complaints about the quality of the RP in game, but I wonder how many of the players that are apparently "bad" actually come to the forum and make any RP posts.

When you start off in the game you are happy with the toys you get, as time passes you might want to develop your character more or simply want an alternate shiny new toy. If the only way you will get that is to RP on the forum then that can only be a good thing can't it? Practice makes perfect.

The RP requirements in game (and by that I mean that which you HAVE to do to play) are next to nothing and asking a trader in a couple of sentences to pull up so you can pirate him adds very little to the RP environment of the game.

Anyhow, that's my two penneth. Agree or disagree.. I really don't mind.