Should Elite Dangerous add clans/player factions in the future

[Ziggy Stardust]

For those who are on no - simple - if you do not want clan of faction, just not join them

For those on yes, what's stopping you from joining a clan?

 

[Cmdr_Prussian]

I don't see why anyone would vote no. Seeing as nobody forces you to sign up for a clan/whatever and everyone who doesn't want that still can do exactly the same thing as before. It's not that hard to comprehend actually...

 

[Theodrid]

I don't see why anyone would vote no. Seeing as nobody forces you to sign up for a clan/whatever and everyone who doesn't want that still can do exactly the same thing as before. It's not that hard to comprehend actually...

Apparently, in your case, it is...

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I don't see why anyone would vote no. Seeing as nobody forces you to sign up for a clan/whatever and everyone who doesn't want that still can do exactly the same thing as before. It's not that hard to comprehend actually...

Well, allow me to explain

At the moment there are clans and factions in the game. Which makes the question in the poll ambiguous. Do you want clans and factions in the game in the future? So I thought the poll question was geared towards more intrusive clans and factions, the way they are implemented in other MMO games. Now I like the direction Frontier has chosen to tackle this feature. Control by proxy. So My answer was:
Hell no, Elite Dangerous is better for not having it and cutting its own path rather than being just like every other MMO (like) game out there.

Or: let ED continue on it's path it has taken, adding more functionality with regard to communication and organisation, but not change the nature of clans and factions as they are represented right now.

Do you see why I voted no? I hope so. Because that would mean the community as a whole has gained understanding and is just one little step closer to absolute creaminess

 

[bootsam]

I believe you were saying something about cliques and inclusivity...

Appreciating a particular band does not subscribe you to a clique or guild as freedom of choice allows anyone to join without an application in triplicate or sticking your manhood into a dead pigs bob.

 

[Cmdr_Prussian]

Well, allow me to explain

At the moment there are clans and factions in the game. Which makes the question in the poll ambiguous. Do you want clans and factions in the game in the future? So I thought the poll question was geared towards more intrusive clans and factions, the way they are implemented in other MMO games. Now I like the direction Frontier has chosen to tackle this feature. Control by proxy. So My answer was:
Hell no, Elite Dangerous is better for not having it and cutting its own path rather than being just like every other MMO (like) game out there.

Or: let ED continue on it's path it has taken, adding more functionality with regard to communication and organisation, but not change the nature of clans and factions as they are represented right now.

Do you see why I voted no? I hope so. Because that would mean the community as a whole has gained understanding and is just one little step closer to absolute creaminess

I understand. The term "Clan" should be further defined. Is it just a group of players not tied into the BGS? That would mean little change to how clans organize now other than being given an ingame-way to enter/exit/communicate.
Another possible understanding would be that player clans = player minor factions.
Then we would need to decide wether players should just be able to "join" existing minor factions or to create their own ones.

I think player clans should be minor factions, maybe or maybe not with a possibility to rename them, but not to create their own minor factions, but with the possibility to officially, ingame, pledge to that faction, communication/coordination methods etc.

That would be awesome.
If a player doesn't like to do this, he is in no way hampered in his playstyle.

 

[Ozric]

I understand. The term "Clan" should be further defined. Is it just a group of players not tied into the BGS? That would mean little change to how clans organize now other than being given an ingame-way to enter/exit/communicate.
Another possible understanding would be that player clans = player minor factions.
Then we would need to decide wether players should just be able to "join" existing minor factions or to create their own ones.

I think player clans should be minor factions, maybe or maybe not with a possibility to rename them, but not to create their own minor factions, but with the possibility to officially, ingame, pledge to that faction, communication/coordination methods etc.

That would be awesome.
If a player doesn't like to do this, he is in no way hampered in his playstyle.

How on earth could you have a group of players who aren't tied into the BGS, it affects us all so we are all tied to it.

Also there are already player created minor factions in the game.

I wonder how many people voting yes, actually know what they are voting for and what is already available.

 

[Dzudzi]

Defo YES.

Is Elite game for loners?
Is Elite for asocial ppl?

Winf system is not enough if you wont more depth in game. And pls don't tell me that u 100 percent enjoy in present state of the game. I mean...

Humans are a social creature!

I see posts like: If you wont clans go play another game! - But what if I wont to play Elite? I play it in '84 and I wont to play this new Elite. With 1000000 more possibilities comparing to '84 Elite.

I see posts complaining about pirates, griefing etc etc. You already have it in game.
Here what happened to me 8 days ago. I just got killed by a player (some 800-900 Ly from first civilized system ). I was in my Diamondback Explorer without shield, weapons (I think he clearly see that am explorer striped of any kind of chance to return fire or at least to get fair fight. Example 2: Before this.... I was in Hauler.... trying to earn some money for MkIV... got blown away by 2 players.

You think that clans will increase this? No my friends. Clans will bring more personality. More communication and relations between players and groups.
Why we can't get option to make player faction?
Why we can't have a chance to setup a mission on bulletin board? Missions for all players or for all players that are friendly to our faction.... or... why not... for players in our faction.
Maybe to make test for rookies in order to advance in ranks.... why not? Give us a option and everyone will decide.... lone kind of player or group player.

Why we can't controls Systems? Why only NPC can do this.

U know..... if I font to play single player space simulation.... there is 5-6 better games right now with more diversity and greater depth. Man... even Star Citizen Alpha have more personality than Elite. In Elite am stuck in pilot seat, now knowing who am I. Am I actually a human or some robot or alien or... .what?

They give us 400 bill systems... and when you see first 100.... you see the rest.
Same planets... icy, rocky, metal rich, can't land on planets with atmosphere. Same outposts, Place of interests on planet. Why should I go to SOL? To see Earth. Why? I can actually see the real photos and videos of my planet.

Why I mention the technical aspect of the game? Will tell u why! If you don't give me a rich social aspect of the game, at least give me variety and richness in technical aspect.

Yet... am giving Elite chance. I pay extra 40 euros for season 2 just to see where the entire story goes.

Right now Elite is empty, shallow, repetitiveness experience with good foundations. Even if we look at the game as a single player game.

So will wait a little more and see.

 

[Ozric]

My case and point.

Why we can't get option to make player faction?

You already can

Why we can't have a chance to setup a mission on bulletin board? Missions for all players or for all players that are friendly to our faction.... or... why not... for players in our faction.
Maybe to make test for rookies in order to advance in ranks.... why not? Give us a option and everyone will decide.... lone kind of player or group player.

Any missions you could create could only follow the templates that FD already use and so all you would be doing is changing the text of current missions. Imagine how much QA work that would be for FD checking not only typos but for abusive/offensive content and hidden meanings, not to take into consideration the translation of said missions.

Why we can't controls Systems? Why only NPC can do this.

Because it is simply not possible in the way the game is designed (at least in the way that I know you mean).

 

[CYB34]

Can you people stop with the argument that we already have player clans ingame?
The fact that you have the chance to name a faction ingame does not mean you formed a clan.

If youre really part of that clan, where exactly does it say that? In your mind? How do you actually feel part of that faction and what differentiates your members from random players? The fact that you are on TS?

 

[GluttonyFang]

While the game is described as an MMO (among other possible play modes) it is only in the minimalist sense - it does not include the typical trappings of MMORPG games.

I wouldn't give it the credit for a minimalist, it's something even more skeletal than a minimalist approach to MMO considering the features we have.

Powerplay was not designed to require direct player opposition.

Well, the vicious cycle I described goes for pretty much everything in the game, I'm sure you've noticed more or less.

The mention of opposition was just that - a mention - has the man himself made official comment somewhere?

I already mentioned Zac's statement and DB's confirmation. Where did he make an official comment recently about opposing blockades?

Missed that, sorry. However, I would expect that only Frontier would be able to create polls on topics that they sought player feedback on.

And they should start doing it at least in an experimental sense to really get some opinions off of the actual playerbase.

 

[Arindor]

... You are not forced to do missions, you are not forced to trade, you are not forced to explore, you are not forced to do PP and if guilds/ clans/ corps whatever you want to call them are implemented, you will not be forced to be in one the same way you won't be forced to take part in multicrew. So just because you don't want it, does it mean it should not be put in-game? Is that just ego talking on some peoples part? Or do people generally believe that a game should only have what they want and not account for other peoples wants? This seems to be a common problem with society, the me,me,me, sod everyone else attitude.

With guilds it's not all about whether to play them or not, it's about their ability to ruin an MMO.

As an aside, If people want to run a guild in ED, then why not set one up as a private group?

 

[Talarin]

How on earth could you have a group of players who aren't tied into the BGS, it affects us all so we are all tied to it.

Also there are already player created minor factions in the game.

I wonder how many people voting yes, actually know what they are voting for and what is already available.

I think what he meant was "clans which are not represented by having a minor faction", as opposed to player groups not affecting the BGS.

If so, that's a reasonable question. Assuming that the charted course is that players will group up by formally affiliating with a minor faction (whether player-created or existing) - then will that suit, or should a mechanism be considered to allow "non-affiliated groups" to exist? (Perhaps just give people grouping functionality and allow them to affiliate the group if they choose?)

As for the second part of your comment; if you can demonstrate how manually inserted minor factions improve our ability to manage or communicate with a chosen group, I'd be keen to hear it. Also, I wonder how people who don't frequent these forums would go about having a player-created minor faction inserted into the game?

Whilst I appreciate the start that FD have made on this, and (assuming that the minor faction route is the one being considered) applaud it as an elegant solution - the in-game mechanisms still need drastic improvement.

 

[Dzudzi]

My case and point.


You already can

My bad. Didn't know that.

Any missions you could create could only follow the templates that FD already use and so all you would be doing is changing the text of current missions. Imagine how much QA work that would be for FD checking not only typos but for abusive/offensive content and hidden meanings, not to take into consideration the translation of said missions.

At least they can give us option to combine different parts of different missions templates. Even changing the text will add to personality to the game.

Because it is simply not possible in the way the game is designed (at least in the way that I know you mean).

Ah... I see. We give you a 400 bill systems and you can do little to nothing with that. A lot of nothing

Right now I can get out from the station, fire up my cruise... Oh check that rocky planet... OMG how many stars... Look there is another one rocky pl.... or its the same one from 10 min ago? Look at me.... am traveling through the empty space.

1 You know... this is a space sim with 400 bill systems.
2 COOOL! Can you bring up your friends a setup a small outpost on planet.... look Water world... go there!
1 Sorry you can't go there!
2 Why?
1 Because you can't!
2 OK.... let's get back to outpost... Can you land on that planet...
1 Yes...
2 Nice...
1 But you can't setup a small outpost.
2 ...?
1 Nope... sorry.
2 Maybe a big one?
1 Nope!
2 Oooooook.........
2 What can you do on planets?
1 You can search for materials.
2 Nice... a crafting system!
1 Nope.... sorry.... only a few boosts for your SRV and ship.
2 OK.... missions?
1 Oh yea... there is a missions.... different.... you know.... kind of missions.
2 What kind?
1 You have contract assassinations, hauler, trade, salvage, few different type missions on planets... defending NPCs..... hauler missions... assassinations...
2 You already mention that!
1 Oh... my bad.
2 So I buy a ship and what can I do?
1 You can fly around...
2 Yes?
1 ... and... fly and doing missions...
2 OOOOooook...
1 Land on planets...
2 I assume to collect materials...
1 Yes!
2 For non existing crafting system?!
1 Well..... yes! But non existing... for now. They will add it.
2 Yes?
1 Yep.... you just need to pay extra money and they will add it in second season!
2 Ahaaaaa... need to pay more.
1 Yes...
2 Any kind of advanced interaction between players?
1 No
2 No?!
1 But you know... you can go to wing formati...
2 Can you exchange materials, borrow money, ships, trade?
1 No
2 No?
1 But they will probably add this features.... maybe.
2 Let me guess!.... I need to pay extra money and they will add it in second season?
1 Well....... no.
2 No? You don't need to pay or...?
1 No no.... this feature will not be added in second season... but maybe in third.
2 There will be a third season?!
1 I guess
2 And I guess they need more of your money?
1 ...
2 OK... Can I walk around the ship... in cabin?
1 ...
2 Yes or No?
1 No (with angry tonality in voice)... But you can turn your head left and right...
2 ...
1 Up and down...
2 ...
1 ...
2 ...
1 ...
2 I can do this in 15 years old game... maybe even older.
1 I know
2 You know Vladimir (that's my name)... you have all kind of awesome free space simulators... even in web browser... no need to install anything on your PC?
1 I know..... BUT THIS IS ELITE MAN!!! You remember?! First on Spectrum, Commodore... Amiga...
2 I remember that Elite
2 OK I see you have some ranking mechanic...
1 Yes.
2 What benefits you have from higher rank?
1 U can buy 2-3 ships from factions...
2 So by rising the ranks you get access to some spec. factions ships?
1 Yes.
2 Nice.... anything else?
1 You got access to some previously locked systems
2 OK I liked. You actually benefit from spending hours rising your ranks. You earn something for your work.
1 Yes.
2 Any kind of benefits that affect you immediately?.... Like.... I see you are ally with faction that control this system...
1. Yes... ?
2 Do you get something for good status.... like better price, cheaper ships, better missions?
1 ...
2 ?
1 ... No
2 Can u make clans and gather your friends and do something together
1 ... No.... but you have Wing formation...
2 So.... is this single player or MP player game?
1 To be honest with you... I.... I don't know anymore (sad face)
2 What exactly is this game? This is BETA... or ALPHA.... or pre ALPHA... finished game? Season 2 - episode XYZ?
1 ... Elite?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

THE END

Don't get me wrong... i LOVE Elite. I grow up with Elite. I'm 38 years old man that will probably pay even for season 3 but what I wont to say.... There is so much potential in this game and right now its empty...

OMG... it's full of stars!

PS: Number 2 is my friend, also long time gamer. No... he will not give 100 euros for Elite Dang and Hor.

 

[CMDR Byr Goefin]

Got an update from my Minor Faction group owner....

changes are coming. Very interesting changes.

No idea if you all will like it, but I liked what I heard, second hand.

 

[Deadspin]

You just said it yourself: players not in guilds would be forced to go solo or private groups.

I didn't say that? The quote I responded to reads as follows:

So, you are unable to foresee any situation where some degree of guild support/implementation would or could impact the solo player with your simplistic 'don't like, don't do' explanation, seems legit.

My thought process with this was; If the player is playing in solo.. How is he/she affected? If they are playing in group, how is he/she affected? I never said players would be forced into pg or solo.

Not what I meant, meant the lone players in open.

Not true - provided the 'ownership' question is successfully resolved.
Be to fair - what about open?

So some people here seem to think that were Frontier to institute a clan or guild type mechanic that it would automatically mean that said clans or guilds would be able to control the systems where they have influence beyond what we can already do. I don't think for one second that Frontier would ever allow that kind of system. FDev, like CIG, doesn't want another EvE Online situation, where massive chunks of space are controlled and warred over by opposing player factions, at least not in the way that EVE did it.

Can you people stop with the argument that we already have player clans ingame?
The fact that you have the chance to name a faction ingame does not mean you formed a clan.

If youre really part of that clan, where exactly does it say that? In your mind? How do you actually feel part of that faction and what differentiates your members from random players? The fact that you are on TS?

The smart-a** remark would be this: http://inara.cz/wing/242

This is the core of what I myself have been trying to get at on this thread. Elite doesn't need some awe inspiring control system for player guilds/factions/clans. Players just want to be able to broadcast who they have aligned themselves with. For me, for my player inserted faction, it's the Diamond Frogs.

All I want, and I'm fairly certain that this corresponds with the same wants of the majority of people looking for clan abilities, is for Frontier too implement a feature that will allow us to identify ourselves without needing [Tags] on our names or other silly crap like that.

To do this we only need two things.

• The ability to declare for a faction like we do already with powerplay.

This would give us the ability to have our chosen faction's name appear in the target info box. Right now, if you're not involved in PP, when another player targets you, it pops up as "No Faction" in the info box. When you go into a Combat Zone and declare for a side, if you are targeted by another player, it shows that faction's name in the box. So the basic feature is in the game, it just needs some tweaking.

• The ability for at least 3 players to manage the list of people "accepted" under the faction banner.

This is your basic clan functionality, accepting and denying join requests. This way you don't have someone just declaring for your player faction and then running off to newbie space to splash sidewinders across station exteriors while allowing your group to take the blame. 3 people keeps it so that the ability to accept or deny is not lost if one person burns out and leaves the game.

That's it. Of course, Frontier would have to work out how that will integrate with Combat Zones since that's about the only place that you can actually declare for a faction at will outside of power play while also working out how to push those controls into the UI (Will it be done @ a station, from the main menu?) What that does not do is give players any more control of systems or stations than we already have. That keeps the big groups from dominating an area while also letting them wave their pride flags around freely.

Frontier could also extend to the players the ability to declare for an NPC minor faction, which could be done at will like Power Play from within one of the minor factions controlling stations. This would allow Solo players to get involved with the faction lore and RP. PG players would have the same abilities as Open players and the BGS wouldn't be any more or less influenced than it is by massive player groups right now.

 

[Ozric]

Don't get me wrong... i LOVE Elite. I grow up with Elite. I'm 38 years old man that will probably pay even for season 3 but what I wont to say.... There is so much potential in this game and right now its empty...

OMG... it's full of stars!

PS: Number 2 is my friend, also long time gamer. No... he will not give 100 euros for Elite Dang and Hor.

Well I'm not surprised they wouldn't buy the game with that amount of misinformation. I'm surprised if you love Elite so much how you have failed to grasp what it is so badly.

 

[Dzudzi]

Well I'm not surprised they wouldn't buy the game with that amount of misinformation. I'm surprised if you love Elite so much how you have failed to grasp what it is so badly.

There is no misinformations. Elite is in big EMPTY state.

Because I love Elite so much, it's hard for me to see the current state of.... let's call it...[h=3]Almost nothingness[/h]

 

[Ozric]

There is no misinformations. Elite is in big EMPTY state.

Because I love Elite so much, it's hard for me to see the current state of.... let's call it...[h=3]Almost nothingness[/h]

It is littered with it, but I will just mention 2 to finish the discussion.

Landing on planets, materials and the crafting systems you could not do without buying Horizons already.
They have always said that walking around and landing on planets with atmospheres would be added further down the line as paid expansions.

 

[bootsam]

To be fair though, the galaxy and indeed universe we all reside within in reality is mostly nothing too. Plus that also asks you to go out and find your own way. Or watch TV.