There has been a buzz around the community in the past year. As indicated by the thread topic it's been about the FL ID , how it fits into server gameplay, how it's being used and why it eclipses the BHG ID so much.
Lets grab a write-up of the ID:
Quote:Pilot carrying this quasi-lawful ID is a Freelancer, who:
- Can attack any ship in self-defense or to protect an friendly or allied ship.
- Can fulfill any bounty and escort contracts, and may treat transports as combat targets when executing a bounty or escort contract against them.
- Cannot use any transports with more than 3,600 cargo, except for the Pirate Train.
- Cannot participate in unlawful actions except as described above.
Allow me to tell you why this ID is so broken. I will break down two important lines.
- Can attack any ship in self-defense or to protect an friendly or allied ship.
FL ID diplomancy is not clearly defined. An individual has freedom to choose their diplomacy dynamically on the fly. What this means is you essentially have an ID that as per ID rules can engage into ANY fight ANYWHERE. They don't even require a bounty. As long as the individual has good rep towards those he/she wants to assist, they can hop straight into the fight. It's even worse when abused by groups, as you end up having entire factions set up around this one line where they can shoot whatever they want anywhere.
- Can fulfill any bounty and escort contracts, and may treat transports as combat targets when executing a bounty or escort contract against them.
FL ID can self-define it's own enemies via bounty boards (which it is unrestricted from signing up to, unlike the BHG ID). In most cases it can then hunt these enemies ANYWHERE. If the user or group of the ID decides to roll as an unlawful, it's basically an open terrorist ID.
Tech Cells
Freelancers have access to a ridiculously large amount of faction tech. Most FL ID's will just use whatever ships they want without proper RP prior i.e an FL ID'd GRN Gunboat. How is that good for roleplay? Many ships are still perfectly usable at 75%. Freelancers shouldn't be able to just jump into whatever ship they want willy nilly. As a standard at least FL ID shouldn't have any Military tech cells.
General Issues
All the above combine to make the FL ID superior to the BHG ID in every aspect. No wonder why the ID is so underused, and BHG activity is at an all-time low. The FL ID is also pretty much a do-whatever-I-want ID and is so overpowered that groups prefer to adopt an FL ID over non-generic faction IDs. Generic IDs should mostly be gateway IDs into non-generic IDs.
In conclusion, the ID itself is hugely abusable for PvP due to it's lax yet extremely good engagement lines. You are not restricted by rephacks, places you dock, your ZoI, affiliation and it also even has a very kind cargo limit via the Pirate train. The FL ID is currently at a point where an individual can find much more enjoyment in it's use as an individual, and a group/faction that adopts the ID can create their own gameplay that hugely dwarfs any lines that could be offered by a non-generic ID.
I propose we nerf the FL ID:
FL ID loses both it's bounty hunting and assisting lines. Gets a line that declares it can only take bounties on the spot. Mercenary ID (and perhaps others) are re-introduced to serve as an unlawful BHG ID. BHG ID and Merc ID become the premier bounty hunting IDs. The FL ID also gets it's Military tech cells taken away from the ID.
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