How should Zoners "behave"?

[DarkOddity]

My thing with AW is I'd like to see a decision between being Zoners or Mercenaries. The two roles conflict with each other in defining the nature of the AW. All other factions have their actions matching their chosen ID, SF/SA/RM/KNF act like the house military scanning for contraband, protecting traders, hunting pirates and terrorists. SCRA act like the coalition, HF/TBH/NovaPG act like pirates. AW act like? To me and others the answer is not Zoners, which in itself is the problem.

Definitions from my point of view:
Zoners are neutral, they're concern is trading and defensive actions for their interests. They don't overtly attack anyone since it affects their ability to trade, similarly they don't really like anyone either since they rather be on their own and go wherever they want, also being two friendly with someone also hurts their trading abilities. The Zoners have both a neutral attitude and are treated as neutral by the majority of Sirius (rep set by the RP of the mod).

Mercenaries (broad sense) can be lawful, unlawful or neutral. The neutrality is not in the same way as the Zoners. Their actions and contracts affect their ability to do business and influence their rep. They are open to attacking anyone for the right amount of money. In other words, a mercenary can have a neutral attitude but the rest of the world love or hate his guts. (rep set by their business and contracts)

AW likes being able to take up contracts on both sides of the law which (correct me if I'm wrong) is the reason they went and want the Zoner ID. But being or acting on the Zoner's behalf means they can't just attack anyone they feel, otherwise it defeats the Zoners neutral attitude and external viewpoint as being neutral.

My suggestion on fixing this is that AW should really consider using a generic mercenary ID. This frees up their rep such that other groups can be friendly or hostile to AW (and vice versa) while being neutral to the Zoners. The defense of traders in Theta then becomes a mercenary agreement by AW to defend the interests of Zoners.

I agree that I'd rather not see another NPC/ID brought in UNLESS there is clear need for it (ie. clearly no other ID present in the mod that would fit).

Agreed, fully.

<SNIP>
one last thing for now
You have alot more people than just mal that are concerned with your factions actions. Its not against you personally, the community wants an explanation for your faction. You are pretty much the speaker of your organization at the time, so your the one that needs to explain.

Also agreed.

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