Why do (or don't) you fly a Zoner? Serious question.

[Necroth]

I have been playing FL for several years now. When I first started on the disco server, I flew as a generic FL as I had no real goals to work towards. I then progressed and built a few different character types (Bunter, Red Hessian etc) These types of characters offered me the opportunity to expand my understanding of the disco server. Each of these groups offered a basic template (as it were) to the RP I would be using. An established ZOI, enemies and allies were well known, so it eliminated a lot of unknown factors. What drew me to make my first Zoner character was the ability to open up these possibilities. There were far fewer limitations to what I could do with my character. It also made it so I had to tread carefully, as I would face a lot more RP with various factions I might not have encountered otherwise. This RP would basically be unto myself as an Indy Zoner, if I made an enemy for instance it would be only mine (most of the time). The same would go with allies on a case by case basis. Zoner "neutrality" allowed me to explore Sirius in relative safety, but was only relative as neutrality is not really a shield you can hide behind. As I progressed I joined a Zoner official faction, this did impact my RP as each official Zoner group has its own perks and flaws. Though Zoners are all "basically" the same in principal, each Zoner group was radically different from the other. OSI and TAZ are both Zoners, but these groups differ dramatically from each other in idea and scope. Each Zoner faction has its own allies and enemies (back when I first joined the Omicroners for instance we had the Sairs shooting us on a daily basis where as an OSI vessel would not necessarily have suffered the same fate) It made it so each encounter could radically change the future for our group. This is one of the key factors that makes playing a Zoner fun. But...despite the fact each group has its own micro RP universe, a Zoners action can affect all other Zoners both from indies tp officials in staggering amount of ways (often Zoners will try to ride the coat tails of the other Zoners RP, this usually equals Zoner tears. Its silly to think that hey if OSI/TAZ/Phoenix can do something so can I. The endless Zonerzonerzoner is a reflection of this imo. Just because one type of Zoner can do something in RP doesn't make it clear for everyone to do. Just because one Zoner Indy/faction causes a problem with another faction doesn't mean all Zoners will join in to protect the problem Zoner). I'm sure we have all encountered a Zoner Jinku/Neph causing issues, a Zoner powertrader, some rouge hostile Zoner. These types of encounters are the black mark on the Zoners in general. Not all Zoners are the same, if you encounter me trading, I will never tell you "You cannot pirate me I'm a Zoner" as this is foolish and gives us a bad name in general. Being a Zoner isn't perfect, people try to use our ships and ID to get away with things they would never try with their other factions ships as it could possible get them sanctioned. I keep playing a Zoner character because I still have the ability for so many different types of RP and thus the possibilities are basically endless.

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