PFI| - Planetform's future

[Enko]

Planetform.

What is the future? That is those of PFI|. As since, well ever since the hype of the new faction wore off and the picture sank in that the trade routes were crap, not much interaction between other factions and the most fun to be had really was the administration areas of the faction, activity has been a major issue. But what happens now?

The faction is, in all terms, dead in game. Dedicated members such as Ogris and Gloucester have soldiered on with the trade part despite all its downfalls, however other than that the term comes on as to why bother? Why bother going for a faction that has hardly any trade routes that come close to todays power trading requirements to have something useful come out of your trader. I dont know really, we had a scientific division going, with a few spatial explorers we bought of IMG|, then did some surveys of possible planets. We can go into more detail with this, however this will be another part to work on.
There are three outcomes of this, possibly four depending how you see it.

1. We carry on how we are, try to make the best of the faction how it is, possibly remake the entire faction again and start from scratch in terms of members and internal policies.
2. We turn into a RP body, where we get enough people with good Role play to progress with the faction on a pure RP standard, that is developing reports of terraforming, doing interaction with others and if/when we go for official, act on behalf on the NPC faction due to the lack of indies and other factions (Though I have seen like one person in another made up faction based on Planetform NPC).
3. Give up. However much I do not want this to occur, there comes to a point where a faction just isnt a faction anymore.

Im particularly interested in current members of any Planetform faction, be that ours here or anyone else, including independents opinions of how to proceed with this endeavour to get one of the backseat factions upfront into the game. However, all participation in this thread is encouraged.

Im interested to see what the community thinks of all this, we do currently have factions that are unused in essence because they have been brushed aside in development in a way. Its hard to manage a faction such as this. Various things have been tried to boost activity, including over generosity on my part, which from other experienced trade faction leaders have told me is too much and I shouldnt really be doing it such as buying a fully kitted out Transport to anyone who joins and other things like that.

Basically what Im looking for here is a small discussion about this before I proceed in whichever way we go along with just general discussion about our faction and the NPC faction as a whole.

Cheers

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[Bass_masta992]

You might want to go talk to The Outlaw Star and Shadowjman...

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[shadowjman]

Enko, glad you made this. Planetform is indeed a faction that has seen nothing but trouble. i make my living off the 1 trade route that is available through planetform in the hopes people will try it and come on board. i do run into alot of people (mainly pirates) that are decent people and sometimes don't even ask for money but have a nice little RP chat.

out of your options that were given, i believe that number 2 would be the best route.

if the devs would cooperate with the planetformers in making PF a viable trading corporation we may yet see the better days of this faction. i think that there should be a second route that is made available to planetform. and that the actual terraform process of some of the dead planets in Sirius be put into effect. (Make them dock able)

Also maybe the addition of a PF transport or two. im not saying throw in another 5k, a 3.5k would suffice. but something to get out that there is a planetform faction. most people just see it on their list and are like *oh. who the heck are they and what do they do?*

an upside to bolstering PF's player base is upping the # of people traveling into Bretonia. and getting people out of the central systems of liberty.

(ill find you on skype in a few Enko)

[Dusty Lens]

Hey, PM me when you get a chance. I'd like to discuss something with you re: planetforms future.

[Enko]

Getting out of Liberty for 99.9% of all routes is one of the primary goals. We've toyed with several ideas such as getting a custom design PFI Surveyor vessel, it could hold a sizeable hold perhaps...
As for trade routes, well a lot of you know my stance on that from talking to me over Skype or whatever, however one of the major disappointments is the lack of imports we get, such as terraforming gasses. Another thing I dont like is the major focus on Gaian wildlife for most routes, seeing as I want to expand on the rumours from vanilla and not spam transport something we like to keep quiet (Atleast in my view).

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[Silmathien]

Lack of imports? How do i have to understand this?

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[Ash]

Imports are commodities we bring back to our bases in Bretonia. We export alot of commodities such as Gaian Wildlife and Terraforming Gases, but we don't have as many imports.

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[notequinoxe]

Well, I'll start by saying that some time ago I was really tempted of joining Planetform. Only thing that put me off was that there was no one around(save for the occasional Glouchester appearance). I must say that the Planetform concept is a huge platform for good roleplay.

Terra-forming is an awesome concept, it takes huge resources and time to attempt such a task. It would require lots of research bases, huge ships as mobile laboratories, and who knows what else. Not only the terra-forming gases and the alien organisms you guys seem to import.

Alien organisms is a good commodity you guys can use. Given the fact that Samura is exporting this (and in the future Kishiro may be getting into extraction/ terra-forming business with the aid of GMG) the only other source you can turn to are the Zoners (those that still remain, and they wanna play as such, not only trade). Also, you cannot get to any zoner base that sells them. You'd have to pass either the Omegas, Kusari, or higher omicrons, all routes swarming with guys that would love to see you go boom.
So you need to either import it from somewhere with low or no risk at a low price(if you want to make some money) or talk to the zoners to ship them for you (mostly roleplay)

Also, Hydrocarbons can be imported to the planets that are icy deserts, burning them planet-side would release greenhouse gases that would lead to warming and melting of the ice.
Maybe some nuclear devices, which exploded at right depth could trigger some volcanoes erupting and creating some land mass, if there isn't enough of it.

Silver for planets that are arid deserts, a silver nitrogen oxide is used to create rain in the higher atmosphere (unsure of that, I remember reading some sort of thing on the subject a while ago, I may be wrong) and maybe diamonds for orbital platforms/satellite lasers that could melt the polar ice caps

Also, I think an ID bonus for water/oxygen might help.

And for the last thing, I don't think moving Gaian wildlife is appropriate for the goal of terra-forming. Ethics aside, if you move one ecosystem to another planet, the plants/ animals may not adapt and die. If you use them, a IRP way must be found so that depleting an eco-system cannot be held against you. Goes against the principle you operate to.

Sorry for the wall'o'text

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You know that **** has hit the fan when notequinoxe makes a post in an oorp discussion forum.

[Exsiled_one]

while I as a player support planetform growth, planetform can't really cooperate with any Kusari corporate faction. Just to put that out there.

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<span style="color:#33CC00">I AM GIVING AWAY MONEY TO CREATIVE MINDS*</span>

[Ash]

I posted a topic earlier, but i'd like to know where planetform stand with the Rheinlanders

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