How to make official factions better?

[ryoken]

Summary:
What are factions good for?
What are their purposes, their duties?
Derived from this, which rights do they need to attend their duties?
What additional benefits or disadvantes are needed to balance their duties with their rights?

Forget equipment, credits, ships, commodities and IDs.

This i like. Give the faction's access to special gear,on a as needed basis. Not for whenever they want it.

I also think if Faction's get bonuses, they should also get some negative's.
For example... You are a Hacker? you go no where there is not a Hacker NPC.
You are a Outcast? you go no where there is no Outcast NPC's
You are a Zoner? you go no where there is no Zoner NPC's
And so on....... And when i say no where, i mean no traveling through space without your kind,no chasing into space with out your kind,and no Pirating in space without your kind.

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