This community is based around the game.
The game is what we see every time we log in, every time we fly our ships around in space.
It's what we are here for really.
For myself, advancement of the mod is simple nuts and bolts - ships, systems etc.
Advancement of the roleplay is more to do with the players and less to do with the currently 2 year old storyline.
Advancement of roleplay needs to be supported by advancement in the mod, otherwise things are just too difficult.
Advancement of the mod in line with the advancing roleplay also removes the spectre that haunts all Internet/imagination based games - the "No u" argument. Without any actual hard material or evidence, people can simply deny or go against all the wonderful creations people have already made. An example of this is the idea of supersoldiers and psychic characters. Without being defined ingame properly, they are relegated to simply being personality traits.
All in all:
Advancing roleplay, such as the SCRA attacking Omega-50 or the Order and Corsairs falling out, should be supported by advancements in the mod, such as system changes/ship updates/equipment updates.
The advancing roleplay itself is everywhere but on a larger scale, or mod notable scale, it is seen in player factions. It can take the form of attacking certain people or working out trade deals or even building new stations or infrastructure.
We can talk to the high heavens about how the Corsairs struck a deadly blow in Dresden but it will always remain as talk. Backing it up with system changes concretes the player's involvement in the community and mod.
