Zoners - why they do exist?

[The Savage]

If that was the case, your answer's already been given to you over the last few pages.

Um. Then. Maybe I haven't noticed it, because of ooRP rant about Zonerzonerzoner?

[Lythrilux]

I love these threads. Exceptional.

But he's not entirely wrong though. Zoner ID/RP is barely used competently, and as I said in an earlier post they were intended to remain background NPCs. There's certainly some good RP out there (I hope) but most of my experiences with Zoners has been negative.

I am actually extremely pleased that in recent updates we finally have infocards denouncing the utter rubbish that is Zoner unity or Zoners having any sort of real power in Sirius. Hopefully it'll lead to less players being blinded by fallacy and playing the role as they should be.

Just wanted to run the idea of not shooting everything that doesn't kowtow to you as a potential basis for roleplay interactions. Might help. Maybe your reputation on the characters you're playing precedes you. Just an idea. Maybe.

My character responds adequately. If Zoners try to tame the beast by poking it repeatedly with a stick, don't be surprised if it bites back. A big problem I've found with quasi lawfuls in general (so I'm not just bashing on Zoners this time, calm down) is that they try to be more relevant than they actually are. This causes them to take a very unrealistic approach to diplomacy.

I enjoyed the Commonwealth because they understood the relevancy of Zoners in Sirius. They wouldn't force fr5s or consequences of that level upon characters and factions, they'd take deep consideration on how to approach diplomatic issues. So instead of "X FACTION WE ARE ZONERS AND WE ARE YOUR NUMBER ONE SUPPLIER OF GOODS YOU BETTER DO EVERYTHING WE SAY OTHERWISE WE'LL FR" it was "Yo Y faction, X faction is causing trouble around the Freeports. I'm exchange for hitting their supply lines and keeping them off our bases, we'll direct some supplies your way".

If zoner factions and players followed that example, it'd be a lot more pleasant to interact with them and there would be less zonerzonerzoner. Shame CW didn't get official.

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[Haste]

But Zoners have big, strong, mighty Capital Ships. They can't possibly be a weak underdog faction. In anything, they're actually the strongest military force Sirius has ever seen, and you'd better watch yourselves around them.

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[The Savage]

That's a good point Lyth. Zoners are, commonly speaking, not even a loose federation like IMG - like the Bounty Hunters Guild from vanillia, who were flying only the common technology and ships, not being necessairy the big organization. IMG are, according to the original lore, not really a one single body at all.



Going back to rules, which I never wanted to mention, but let's go ahead with that. If Zoners aren't a single faction, they are, this way, a generic faction. Zoner ID is a generic ID then. Like Freelancer ID - but they are mainly dedicated to steady trade in regions far far away - and inside house space on a smaller scale. Also, I do not really understand "defending the Zoner bases/ships" line. This way, no Zoner ID is allowed to shoot at the vessels violating NFZ, just a small remark here. Because I do not see such a line.

This however means that TAZ has no right to ask for FR5, because Zoners, like Freelancers, aren't even a single faction and TAZ do not equal Zoners, because Zoners aren't even a political power. This however would be resolved in one way: Pueblo Bonita have TAZ IFF and one station of choice around as well.

[pillow]

Shame CW didn't get official.

I feel like this quote should be slapped inside every Zoner-related thread. Ever.
#bringbackCW

[n00bl3t]

A big problem I've found with quasi lawfuls in general is that they try to be more relevant than they actually are. This causes them to take a very unrealistic approach to diplomacy.

That irony.

Noted. (For the next time BHG thinks it's Sirius Police.)

I'm sorry that only the CW operated the way you wanted them to. Who was in charge of that? Ed? I can barely remember what factions he was in.

[n00bl3t]

If that was the case, your answer's already been given to you over the last few pages.

Um. Then. Maybe I haven't noticed it, because of ooRP rant about Zonerzonerzoner?

I quoted them for you. You didn't quote or appear to respond to them before. Enjoy.

Interesting thing to note that a lot of people miss - Zoners aren't itinerant. They barely qualify as traders, so far as the portrayal of the original NPC faction goes. They form enclaves - incredibly tight knit communities - on Freeports outside House space, some of which being centuries old. People come to them to trade - they don't trade with others.

Why don't the Houses shut them down? Many reasons. Firstly it's difficult to prove conclusively what's happening onboard because of Freeport's legal positioning outside House borders. Law enforcement has to be proportionate and specific - in this case it means the Houses would have to identify who specifically is trading with pirates, not just which station is.

Beyond that, it's actually advantageous to have neutral figures that can act as go-betweens for unlawfuls and House authorities. For starters, if groups like Corsairs can be weaned onto a mercantile economy instead of a raider one, they cease to be a predatory threat to the Houses. The Zoners are an interim step that assists in that long term manipulation.

Secondly, when transports are hijacked, crew are taken hostage and cargo is stolen. Usually long distance freight cargo is specific and of no use whatsoever to whoever manages to randomly intercept it. Zoner Freeports offer corporations a platform to negotiate the return of their assets, as well as giving intelligence agencies a window to intercept information or insert agents.

Plenty of reasons the Zoners still exist. The better your imagination, the more reasons there are.

Also, interesting note about House agreements with Zoners regarding 'NFZs'. Every treaty negotiated so far has given House forces permission to go into the NFZ and remove 'known criminals', by force if need be.

So effectively, another reason for the toleration of Freeports is that they provide minimal cover for proven criminals and maximal coverage for lawfuls and traders. For all they preach about neutrality, the Houses get a much better political deal out of the Zoners' cooperation.

The Zoners also know their structures are permitted to exist at the mercy of local authorities, so it isn't a good idea to antagonise the Houses by trying to change that status quo. The Houses don't really recognise the Zoners as owning any space - they just put up with them squatting there for maximum personal gain.

Another thread with a lot of people claiming houses have control over the border worlds.

They don't.

Houses don't even have control over their own capital systems (see: Badlands etc.). They most certainly cannot effectively enforce laws outside of their most populated areas. I'm glad the rules nowadays reflect this and put an end to the power-grabbing, fun-ruining idiocy of the houses.

Zoners exists because they offer goods and services that are useful to people in the areas outside of house space, people from both sides of the spectrum - sure Freeports have become kind of notorious for harboring criminals, but they're often the only lawful ports in the area as well. It's a balance that clearly more or less works for everyone involved.

[The.Outlaw.Star]

zonerzonerzoner!

Oh i love this question, Well somebody had to have the balls to explore far distant systems some faction call home now and those were the zoners. We are the real explorers, the zoners who dare to explore the unknown and uncharted! Lets see some Bretonian civ make it past the omegas into the Omicrons *laughs*

Yes we zoners dont like to live by the laws and restrictions of house space *spits* we find comfort in the solitude of deep space. There are many reasons why the Zoners exist and im sure they are explained in the above post so i wont ramble on just had to show my love and say a few things.

Zoners are the most underrated faction and frankly i think they are the best! There are things ppl will never understand about us and thats just the way we like it.

and to the last two post, Its a shame [Star] never went offical. (i know ya'll haters are laughing its cool be jelly

Note: You ever need some real zoner love come talk to me.

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[Hidamari]

we need harcourt back to lead all zoners to glory once more.

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[Black Jack]

That's a good point Lyth. Zoners are, commonly speaking, not even a loose federation like IMG - like the Bounty Hunters Guild from vanillia, who were flying only the common technology and ships, not being necessairy the big organization. IMG are, according to the original lore, not really a one single body at all.

Well according to lore, zoners are faction that tired to live in house space. They chosen free life outside. They are travelers, explorers. They even found Leviathan Dreadnought and made it their own. Now about bases in house borders: border is not house space, so zoners have full wright to be there.

Going back to rules, which I never wanted to mention, but let's go ahead with that. If Zoners aren't a single faction, they are, this way, a generic faction. Zoner ID is a generic ID then. Like Freelancer ID - but they are mainly dedicated to steady trade in regions far far away - and inside house space on a smaller scale. Also, I do not really understand "defending the Zoner bases/ships" line. This way, no Zoner ID is allowed to shoot at the vessels violating NFZ, just a small remark here. Because I do not see such a line.

Rules: Yes zoners can trade only outside of house space, BUT only on ships that have more than 3600 cargohold. On 3600 and smaller they can trade with house and dock there.
About zoner defending zoner ships/bases. Like every other faction zoners can defend other zoner ships, but we don't care about all others. And about bases: NFZ (or No Fire Zone) is not written in ID, but it's written in COF (Confederation of Freeports). There sayes that we need to worn ships that violationg NFZ and ask him to leave. If he will still do unlawfull acts in 10k range of any zoner base, then zoners have full wright to attack to force him get out ot kill.

This however means that TAZ has no right to ask for FR5, because Zoners, like Freelancers, aren't even a single faction and TAZ do not equal Zoners, because Zoners aren't even a political power. This however would be resolved in one way: Pueblo Bonita have TAZ IFF and one station of choice around as well.

TAZ is Zoner officiall faction so they can FR5. And also i think all zoners can FR5 all players who violationf COF laws. http://discoverygc.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=8584

And as someone sayed: being Zoner is lifestyle. This faction is for RP mostly, not trade or PVP. I'm enjoying being zoner really. I was in Omega 3 for long time and protecting NFZ, also was shooting people who violate it. I think alot of people seen Mothership.Alexandria (that moved in Taus now) and Zoner.Patroll.01(02) in there =)