Why do (or don't) you fly a Zoner? Serious question.

[Necroth]

I have been playing FL for several years now. When I first started on the disco server, I flew as a generic FL as I had no real goals to work towards. I then progressed and built a few different character types (Bunter, Red Hessian etc) These types of characters offered me the opportunity to expand my understanding of the disco server. Each of these groups offered a basic template (as it were) to the RP I would be using. An established ZOI, enemies and allies were well known, so it eliminated a lot of unknown factors. What drew me to make my first Zoner character was the ability to open up these possibilities. There were far fewer limitations to what I could do with my character. It also made it so I had to tread carefully, as I would face a lot more RP with various factions I might not have encountered otherwise. This RP would basically be unto myself as an Indy Zoner, if I made an enemy for instance it would be only mine (most of the time). The same would go with allies on a case by case basis. Zoner "neutrality" allowed me to explore Sirius in relative safety, but was only relative as neutrality is not really a shield you can hide behind. As I progressed I joined a Zoner official faction, this did impact my RP as each official Zoner group has its own perks and flaws. Though Zoners are all "basically" the same in principal, each Zoner group was radically different from the other. OSI and TAZ are both Zoners, but these groups differ dramatically from each other in idea and scope. Each Zoner faction has its own allies and enemies (back when I first joined the Omicroners for instance we had the Sairs shooting us on a daily basis where as an OSI vessel would not necessarily have suffered the same fate) It made it so each encounter could radically change the future for our group. This is one of the key factors that makes playing a Zoner fun. But...despite the fact each group has its own micro RP universe, a Zoners action can affect all other Zoners both from indies tp officials in staggering amount of ways (often Zoners will try to ride the coat tails of the other Zoners RP, this usually equals Zoner tears. Its silly to think that hey if OSI/TAZ/Phoenix can do something so can I. The endless Zonerzonerzoner is a reflection of this imo. Just because one type of Zoner can do something in RP doesn't make it clear for everyone to do. Just because one Zoner Indy/faction causes a problem with another faction doesn't mean all Zoners will join in to protect the problem Zoner). I'm sure we have all encountered a Zoner Jinku/Neph causing issues, a Zoner powertrader, some rouge hostile Zoner. These types of encounters are the black mark on the Zoners in general. Not all Zoners are the same, if you encounter me trading, I will never tell you "You cannot pirate me I'm a Zoner" as this is foolish and gives us a bad name in general. Being a Zoner isn't perfect, people try to use our ships and ID to get away with things they would never try with their other factions ships as it could possible get them sanctioned. I keep playing a Zoner character because I still have the ability for so many different types of RP and thus the possibilities are basically endless.

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[SMGSterlin]

another thing, zoners might be neutral, but you cant deny they are powerful

Hell yeah.

I surrender Spazzy, you win, you're making my sides hurt too much for laughing. I don't know how to fight such a weapon.

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[Zayne Carrick]

I keep playing a Zoner character because I still have the ability for so many different types of RP and thus the possibilities are basically endless.

Ever tried being freelancer?

[lIceColon]

I chose Zoners over freelancers because my first impression of Zoners was that they had a more peaceful connotation. Isn't to say they wouldn't have weapons, and it also isn't to say they can't have military grade stuff, it only means that they are supposed to be much, much less likely to use them than freelancers.

I don't play a game because the game's title is "freelancer", I play the game for me.

[Lythrilux]

Are we allowed to state why we don't play Zoners? Of course, we'd need to provide constrictive reasons.

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[Backo]

Are we allowed to state why we don't play Zoners? Of course, we'd need to provide constrictive reasons.

Hm, that would be interesting as well. I'll go first:

I've setuped a Zoner fighter a few times now (because that's what I love the most), but most of the times I realise there is no conflict I could be part of. Everyone regarded me as a more neutral object than a freelancer who didn't bounty hunt. So I simply got bored exploring the universe without a conflict and made a different character. Only exception which lasted roughly a week or two was when there was an open conflict between the Corsairs (TBH led) and the Zoners of Omicron Theta. Back then me and a few friends established a small Zoner squadron of fighters and regularly participated in engagements in Theta and Gamma. It was fun, I felt we had a conflict we could aim at and a goal I could achieve.

But outside of said Zoner Tear Wars I barely saw any conflict that could push my character forward. And given the fact Zoners don't bounty hunt or actively join other people's conflicts I had even lesser goal to fly a fighter. Perhaps my outlook on things is flawed and I should've tried a different style of zonering, but that's what I did and how it went.

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Republic of the Sword and Sun

[Lythrilux]

I personally find playing a Zoner very boring and not very dynamic. I also find that aside from the capital ships and transports, other factions offer me more entertainment. I've had a Zoner transport, and I've set up Zoner fighters in the past. I've found that playing a Zoner was only good for trading really. Being a Zoner snub doesn't offer me anything because I have nothing to shoot.

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[Flash™]

Who said Zoners don't get pirated....Pirate ID doesn't say you can't (nerd)

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[Moberg]

I personally don't fly Zoners at the moment because there is not enough conflict that can greatly drive your character forward and help him develop. I used to play a lot of Zoner back when the Commonwealth was first established and enjoyed it (no caps or 5kers required, just a freighter and a light fighter and you have everything you need, ever).
Nowadays, in the contrary, I get quite bored by playing Zoner as I mostly run out of things to do after a while. What I like about Zoners is that their weapon is their mind and you can play nice mind games with everyone to wreak the most profit out of every situation - diplomacy is a big factor in here and I really liked the thin edge you usually walk on when you have to balance your relations with everyone. As mentioned before, when you officially support the Order you get hate from the BHG Core, and vice versa. You rely on business from either side depending on the area a freeport is located. This constant danger you can be in has really thrilled me.

What I really hate and is present since I joined the server is the entitlement of most Zoners inRP that they are neutral and you can't shoot them. Well, tough stuff, prove to me that you're more useful to me living than dead.
The same thing is happening ooRP too, when Zoners think they're entitled to have a full capital shipline without a background. The crying outrage showed this entitlement while few to nobody could provide anything finished to explain the mass production of their largest ships.

[Necroth]

Zayne Carrick= Indeed, I flew as a Freelancer from 4.48 to 4.85. A FL has even more openness to their RP than a Zoner does, and that fits better for some people. I think the thing that settled me on being a Zoner was the aspect of being a member of a fringe society (I'm a Phoenix Zoner and before that an Omicroner). I liked the idea of cutting away some hostile place on the edge that other people didn't want and making it for my own (as it were). FL's have the freedom to do what every they want when ever they want with little effect on the other FL's as a whole and this works for a lot of people.

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