I have only been playing for a week or two, and I've found this to be the most enjoyable online experience that I've ever had the pleasure of being a part of. The new ships are amazing, and the RP factor adds so much more to the game than I imagined it would.
There has only been one instance where my inexperience caused me to stumble into trouble. Thinking it sounded like the least restrictive ID, I decided to go with merc. Of course, I didn't know that the mercs were widely disliked and killed on sight.
Ever since I joined discovery, I was very careful not to take any missions against the Corsairs or any of their allies. After playing through SP three times, I really wanted access to Omicron Gamma. Erroneously, I thought that being friendly with the Corsairs would allow me access without any problems. However, mercs are not welcome there, and I had no idea. After flying around the system for a while, a player noticed that I am a merc. Luckily, in earlier conversation, I mentioned that I am new to the server. He gave me fair warning and told me to leave without fees or death. (I certainly would not have been able to defend myself) He even forgave me for docking with Crete to replenish the nanobots and shield batteries that I had used up when I accidentally ran into some nomads.
Though I have climbed in levels rather quickly, I'm still a newbie, and I really appreciate the allowances made for that. I've taken no offers of money or defense, knowing that my path would lead me to become a merc, BH, or freelancer as I am more of an individual, solo player. That said, I have received offers of assistance, and every question that I have asked has been answered kindly, even from The Brotherhood who is very opposed to my affiliation.
I understand that some mercs of the past have caused the ban from specific systems. However, being a merc should not override every alliance that I have made. It seems unfair for anyone to be willing to attack me due to my ID choice (unless my choice is a natural enemy of the attacker) even if I show as green on the screen. As you all know, it's not easy to remain friendly with the police, military, BH, Corsairs, Gaians, Farmers Alliance, and many others at the same time when some of them are enemies. It takes a lot of time and careful job choices.
I just wanted to throw that out there. I'm certainly not complaining about the people or the mod. Everything and everyone has been outstanding. Thanks for all the hard work that I'm sure it's taken to put this together and keep it running every single day!
Boozinator
By the way, due to the negative association that the merc ID comes with, I'm thinking of trying out a FL ID. Would that cause me more or less problems?
I don't really agree with banning all mercenaries like this either. So there's a bounty out for military pilots, does that mean everyone's out to get that bounty? No, probably not. But they have their right to cover their backs by doing this. Thank whoever made us all potential threats by putting the bounty out. I'm gonna go ahead and assume Freelancers are being banned as well.
It's crappy yes, and we'll soon be exiled to the border systems at this rate, but I'm hoping it won't last long. IMO it's actually pretty lazy of them to just ban mercs entirely, when they could be tracking individuals or escorting them through systems. Or something less drastic.
1. Welcome:)
2. Read the rules and follow them.
3. Read the faction posts within the RP 24/7 forum. Then you will see, Player factions diplomacy is different to NPC faction diplomacy. To be green means nothing when you have contact with other players. They also will be a good guideline for your chars future.
Welcome, It's good to see a new person taking advantage of the community to help them out. Thumbs up.
I would like to give you an idea, because you are a loner does not mean you should nessasaraly follow the BH, Merc, FL route. There are many NPC factions that are not really used here in Disco. I play my Ze'ev's Rage ship, and I think I'm probably the only person on the server regualrly playing a FA char. I'm all by myself in that and I find it quite enjoyable. You could assoseate with one of those groups, and have the freedom you are looking for. Also you could be an independent corsair, or Outcast or anything else. As long as you RP the character in line with the NPC faction, you should be fine. If you know that you want to be a pirate or a lawful, you could get a generic ID.
If you want to RP an independent FA char I would be more than happy to show you the ropes their. If you have any specific questions, send me a PM and I'd be happy to help.
I started out my first character as a mercenary with associated generic mercenary ID. Boom! first time I came close range to planet Crete, me back then being totally unaware about the 'status' mercenaries hold against most player factions. Almost got blown out of the sky or rather into the vacuum of space when passing through Rheinland territory on my way somewhere else.
So I realized, mercenary ID was a waste of time and energy for me, as I couldn't figure out where to roleplay such a character. Now he's flying under Liberty Navy ID 'colors' because wherever that character had been before he's been rejected, shunned, destroyed, mutilated, evaporated. And sadly now I see the very same happening to other peoples characters within Liberty as well. So, go get yourself a solid faction ID, that's the only way you'll ever be accepted amongst your peers.
My characters on Disco: [LN]-Andy.Doggett, The.Flying.Betty, Russ.Dalton, Harald.Treutiger