Authority of Independents

[worldstrider]

To give it some structure...

There are admin controlled factions which are fine. Don't see much reason to deal with them. Already directly controlled and moderated by admins. they are realy "special role play groups".

You have criminal groups who are: have no formal "fleets"and are not directly engaged or allied with other factions at formal war. Examples in real life:[/b]

• Afghanistan, Africa and Somalia...warlords or clans.
  
• The IRA, Weathermen, Al Qaeda...cells.
  
• Yakuza, Mafia...families or "business" companies.
  
• Bloods, Crips, Hell's Angels...gangs.
  
• Unibomber, Timothy McVey...lone terrorists
  
• Blackbeard, Chinese, Malaysian, Somali and Indonesian ship hijackers...pirates.
  
• Shining Path, Tamil Tigers...resistance groups.
  

None of these groups have a structure that requires a "centrally commanded military"--though many--like the pirates or Hell's Angels or Somali Warlords--wouldn't be adverse to having one and do sometimes operate their own. These would be the equivalent of self-invented player factions. Groups that could fit in these models (with some discussion) could be Xenos, Junkers, Hogosha, Pirates, Mercenaries, Smugglers, Freelancers, LWB, Unioners, Gaians, Liberty Rogues, etc, etc.

Even organized groups at war like the Red Hessians, Blood Dragons, Corsairs and Outcasts could have a "warlord" or "cell" structure that was voluntary and collaborative (think of the "Brethren Court" in Pirates of the Caribbean.) The Order and Zoners could also fit here.

Groups such as the Corsair Dons or Council of Elders or Zoner's Council represent a more house-like authority. The Junker Congress is a hybrid of such types of groups but claims no more than voluntary and independent authority.

So for groups as the Zoners, Hessians, Outcasts, Dragons, Corsairs, Liberty Rogues, Lane Hackers, Order, etc. a decision does have to be made as to "which way they will go". Traditionally by faction play, they have chosen to call the "biggest" (or loudest") faction "the" faction. Not necessarily fair or even in the best interests of all but that is the precedent we have now.

These groups all have one thing in common though--they do not necessarily have to represent a full-blown government per se that claims a sovereign authority that dictates the behavior and actions of multiple, other factions or players.

So groups (in my mind) such as the Zoners, Order, Outcasts, Order and Corsairs--because of the background, nature and scope of their role play--should be decided formally as to whether or not they have a "central ruling authority" (which has been decided by precedent so far if not by actual fact).

House governments are easy--they represent the "laws of the land". They are a universal authority determining the acceptance or rejection of visitors and their actions within their own territories and what affects one affects all. Shoot a cop in Los Angeles and you get arrested in New York too. If Kusari or Bretonian or Liberty military ships are at war--all are.

So to me--the only conclusion is to accept a "central ruling power" for them to be manageable--it really doesn't require a "decision".

Bounty Hunters--as they stand today with the ships they field and their almost completely disregarded role play background--need a central authority. It is a balance necessity.

What I do not agree with is the biggest/baddest/loudest/most official/pushiest/oldest faction gets to automatically be the "de facto" government for all--that tramples a lot of potential role play.

Why don't we split the "role play government" into an official council--separate from individual factions but composed of them--that can make binding rules on all members of that faction represented. They would create the legal codex and all representatives of the police or military or industry therein would be obligated to comply with the laws of the land created. So all Liberty police would recognize the same laws, have the same penalties and ranks but be free to be operated as "precincts" or "fleets' or "wings", etc.

These "oversight government meetings" could set ship restrictions and quotas and limitations by allowing all parties to vote. Such groups could even be confined to official factions only--so long as the possibility of new factions is allowed. If there is only one "Rheinland Military", they would make the rules.

My opinion is NO ONE should be THE Liberty navy, THE Kusari Police, etc. They should be divisions, wings, departments under them. Want to have admirals and the like, the independent council would appoint them by election. It would be fair and fun for all, would allow change and a final non-subjective way to resolve player differences.

Instead we have, "I'm in charge!"..."NO!! I AM in charge!"..."Sanction you!!"...the story that never ends.

Why not change it? Then everyone has a chance. Seems fair to me. I purposely structured our faction so we didn't usurp play of all Junkers. I could have called the faction "Junkers" and claimed ownership because we are the "only" group. I didn't. Now if some else comes along and does are we suddenly a sub-faction to their faction because we wasn't power hungry and ambitious?

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