My thoughts concerning factions/Indies and other such stuff.

[Laowai]

An official faction, which has gone through the processes required by the admins and community to be deemed official is not in fact 'self proclaimed'. They are the result of a very democratic process that takes place right here on these forums. Try posting a faction request if you really want to experience the harsh democracy of this community!

Once the request has been flamed and toasted by the community, rewritten once or twice, flamed and char grilled some more and finally Admin approved, it has certainly earned it's stripes to be an authoritative entity within this community.

If an Indy is willing to follow that same path to change policy then fair is fair, but I must say that many of you are not thinking past your own gratification as a gamer. You are fighting for something that will benefit you and one or two others but in truth you are planting seeds of discontent and disorder which will turn something beautiful to play into a pure pvp server.

Work with the system, earn it's stripes, use it as a friend and no egotistical faction leader will stand before you for you will have something far more powerful than a single gamer or an entire clan on your side... you will have the community (of gamers) backing your play.

I also have to take exception with this part of your post in particular Angelfire ( as i near hour 7 of my sydney airport exile - oh word of warning to anyone else, you might notice that Starbucks the world over have free wireless.. except in sydney airport - gotta love australia (sarcasm) - where you must sign up to one of the big telecommunication companies and pay for it - but i digress)


Factions earn the right to be recognised as official when they complete the process, that allows them special status and also makes them more accountable for their RP standards, they are also able to buy guard systems (the only place the server rules say btw that they CAN make rules for other players). Nowhere however does it state in the rules that being a faction allows its leaders/members to dictate gameplay of other non-faction members. This is a failing of the rules in general.
There are factions on this server that have unique and admin guided and mod guided roles, keepers, phantoms, SCRA etc etc. That these factions can control their members, their choices even ship choices is rarely disputed because it is clearly and unambiguously covered in the rules - they have factions specific ID's that only selected players can get, thus no one argues with it.

It is my view, that if clans controlling the NPC factions are claiming they have this same power then to be honest, the ID's for those factions should also be similarly restricted, so you shouldnt be allowed to have the ID without faction RM. LSF etc approval etc. This however is not the case - these factions ID's are available to anyone, either because Igiss wanted this to be an inclusive server for all (factions and indies with rights for each) or because he knew the mod would be used elsewhere without Disco's factions - no one other than Igiss can say.
But in the current rules system, factions such as the RM claiming they have this right is i believe way overstepping their rights as players on the server. Factions have earned respect in getting approved, there is no denying that fact, and they also have a great say in influencing server policy by virtue of their official status and numbers - but that does not give them the right to dictate server policy, which is what the RM is doing.

No faction leader will stand in your way? but that is exactly what is happening with the factions "requiring" certain measures of new and indie players before they are "permitted" to play how they choose. In Nooblets defence, while he may be arguing he does have a point - if he doesnt not break rules, nor overly disrupt the enjoyment and experience of faction and/or other players why, as a Role playing independant who obeys server rules should he have to obey a faction in game? This is not an argument for anarchy - rather one of equality of rule (RP and server) abiding individuals to enjoy the game without being told how they have to enjoy it by a faction.

I believe much of this argument is happening because of a lack of strong leadership from independent 3rd parties such as admins. It is not their fault, snowed under and voluntary as their job no doubt is, but if this server is to be inclusive and open to all to genuinely enjoy, independent leadership working with community consensus is needed.

If however, the community is wanting to turn control over to the established factions then that needs to be codified in clear, unmistakeable idiot-proof wording "THE FACTIONS ARE THE LAW" that has never been stated as existing outside of guard systems, short of one isolated post by korrd (one admin) and admins inaction over the RM's policy (which does not constitute approval, merely a lack of a decision)

Ironically, Praetyr mentioned that the idea of "player control" was shot down some time ago by Hoodlum in regaurds to cap-ship approval - which he categorically said would NOT happen, i do remember that post ( his words were i remember something along the lines of "you lot? control who gets what? not likely") However despite this, player control of cap ships is happening anyway

I dont see faction power being written into the rules that way why? because it leaves no room for new factions, and it leaves no room at all for indies.
Both sides need to give ground here, Indies need to realise there is a community here thats established, especially its faction members, who greatly influence (not control) server Rp, its worth getting to know them and what they do. But factions need to realise that despite the stance taken by the RM, who have thusfar got away with it, they are not the law on the server and cannot bar players from RP avenues or NPC factions, they have to be a little more flexible with indies, especially ones who dont wish to join a faction but otherwise observe all the rules of good RP and server conduct.

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