Introducing a new Minor Player Faction - what is the process and timelines?

[Snowymonk]

Hello Forum people,

In April 2016, Frontier provided a function by which player groups could be represented within Elite.
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/241826-Player-Groups-and-Minor-Factions-Submission-Form-and-Information

The process looked reasonably straight forward
- Identify the name that you want your group to be represented as
- flag whether you are PvE, PvP or both
- identify the number of members in your group (at time of submission)
- provide a contact name
- provide a contact email

From there, your group could go onto form an in-game faction
- Identify the system you want to be populated into (some systems are off limits due to already being populated or the system having a particular Lore significance.)
- Provide a (no more than) 640 character description of your faction

The process has appeared to be reasonably successful. EDDB.io records 794 different minor player factions.

However, since the introduction of the PS4 community, MPF creation appears to have slowed down / stopped.
The last recorded introduction of a player faction was in July 2017.

Can someone please tell me the timelines that we should expect to see if we were to follow the above process and want to introduce our player group as a faction into Elite?

--------

This post was previously in the Dangerous Discussions > Dangerous Groups sub thread as it is related to their introduction, but the Frontier Moderation team deleted the thread because Specifically, the thread in question was not about a player group (as threads in this forum should be).

So reposting here.
If there is a more appropriate location, please can it either be moved there or someone pm me and I'll repost a third time.

 

[Snowbeard]

I'm withy snowy on this one. Looking for a goal and getting the Pmf in control is my next thing to do. But we are stI'll "pending" and I would love even a vague time line for inclusion

 

[EvE4evah]

Please, we'd just like a bit more concrete answer on when new PMF introduction might come back.

We're all a bit anxious already…

 

[acidburn2k20]

Hello Forum people,

In April 2016, Frontier provided a function by which player groups could be represented within Elite.
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/241826-Player-Groups-and-Minor-Factions-Submission-Form-and-Information

The process looked reasonably straight forward
- Identify the name that you want your group to be represented as
- flag whether you are PvE, PvP or both
- identify the number of members in your group (at time of submission)
- provide a contact name
- provide a contact email

From there, your group could go onto form an in-game faction
- Identify the system you want to be populated into (some systems are off limits due to already being populated or the system having a particular Lore significance.)
- Provide a (no more than) 640 character description of your faction

The process has appeared to be reasonably successful. EDDB.io records 794 different minor player factions.

However, since the introduction of the PS4 community, MPF creation appears to have slowed down / stopped.
The last recorded introduction of a player faction was in July 2017.

Can someone please tell me the timelines that we should expect to see if we were to follow the above process and want to introduce our player group as a faction into Elite?

--------

This post was previously in the Dangerous Discussions > Dangerous Groups sub thread as it is related to their introduction, but the Frontier Moderation team deleted the thread because Specifically, the thread in question was not about a player group (as threads in this forum should be).

So reposting here.
If there is a more appropriate location, please can it either be moved there or someone pm me and I'll repost a third time.

as the founder of the group snowymonk and snowbeard are members of, i can say that what started out as something to give our group a sense of belonging in the galaxy we play in has now to turned into just a tedious long drawn out wait for our inclusion. i understand there is a back log of applicants and other issues less obvious, but to be waiting for as long as we have to actually see our group in game and contribute to its story like cannon research and SDC. and also wouldn't it be better to have a ps4 player made faction in game, which would encourage other ps4 groups to apply also.

i'm not sure if it worded right but, i hope the meaning is expressed, thanks

 

[willowfan]

I hadn't realized until Snowy mentioned it that our original application was submitted in March (7 months ago).

We understand that there have been a few hiccups in the process and the odd major update delaying things.

Excitement reached fever pitch when the most recent "pending" list was released, but that has understandably subsided after 2 further weeks of non appearance.

At present the sodium levels are still pretty low but the troops are getting antsy and want to be let loose on the battle to rest control of our (potential) home!

 

[ArchEmperor]

We need this, like yesterday.

This will open up so much more content that is player derived and player driven.

Just jumping into a new system would be a wealth of new discoveries, drama, and stories, if the minor player factions can establish themselves anywhere in the galaxy.

I would also welcome player minor faction driven missions. Where the leader of the minor faction can put out missions for other cmdr's to solve, to the benefit of both ( or peril of the volunteers... )

 

[goemon]

Can someone please tell me the timelines that we should expect to see if we were to follow the above process and want to introduce our player group as a faction into Elite?

assuming your faction isn't on this list of rejections https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...on-Form-and-Information?p=5972229#post5972229 or previous ones, talking about the timelines from previous patches, you can expect anything between soon and a bit over a year for the minor faction being ingame (don't shoot the messenger).

i recommend picking an NPC faction, maybe in the space you asked your minor faction being inserted, and run BGS for those and create some lore on your own. first of all, so your group does not disband in the process. second of all, because many people start getting into BGSing after their faction is ingame, and find out, they don't like the type of gameplay coming with it. here are some starting points for BGS work: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...r-group-s-minor-faction-got-added-to-the-game -> 5.

 

[Snowbeard]

It wasn't in March. I think it was May.

 

[Snowymonk]

We need this, like yesterday.

This will open up so much more content that is player derived and player driven.

Just jumping into a new system would be a wealth of new discoveries, drama, and stories, if the minor player factions can establish themselves anywhere in the galaxy.

I would also welcome player minor faction driven missions. Where the leader of the minor faction can put out missions for other cmdr's to solve, to the benefit of both ( or peril of the volunteers... )

I am all for walking before we can run.
Some player factions control more than 30 systems whilst we are sat on the side-lines looking in.

I was hoping that something was going to be said at Frontier Expo but the nearest we got was a Q4 2018 squadrons announcement.

I would be happy if an existing non player faction (the lowest in the target system) that was in game was renamed as us if it meant that the BGS mechanics didn't struggle.

 

[willowfan]

We have already started doing "prep" work in the system. For instance trashing the rep of the current controlling faction is in progress and being achieved pretty spectacularly.

 

[goemon]

I would be happy if an existing non player faction (the lowest in the target system) that was in game was renamed as us if it meant that the BGS mechanics didn't struggle.

you have no idea how much that would break the BGS ... from my understanding, minor faction renames are even more complicated than inserting minor factions.

 

[willowfan]

It wasn't in March. I think it was May.

5 months then

 

[EvE4evah]

assuming your faction isn't on this list of rejections https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...on-Form-and-Information?p=5972229#post5972229 or previous ones, talking about the timelines from previous patches, you can expect anything between soon and a bit over a year for the minor faction being ingame (don't shoot the messenger).

i recommend picking an NPC faction, maybe in the space you asked your minor faction being inserted, and run BGS for those and create some lore on your own. first of all, so your group does not disband in the process. second of all, because many people start getting into BGSing after their faction is ingame, and find out, they don't like the type of gameplay coming with it. here are some starting points for BGS work: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...r-group-s-minor-faction-got-added-to-the-game -> 5.

Well that's just sad. Thanks for answer anyway

 

[lollo1572]

Waiting from 7 month. It's time to put in game those pending factions!!!! Mods and Devs: Instead of deleting posts not offensifve but only for request explanations and explaining situations, be more serious and respectful towards us.

 

[Snowymonk]

For those that want some of the history on this, pages 72 onwards of this thread shows some of the frustration that people are facing.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/370730-Player-Groups-and-Minor-Factions-General-Discussion

 

[CMDR Hunter Scolex]

____________________

 

[lollo1572]

Well..... played Frontier Elite II in the '90 too [yesnod]........... I only want my Faction after 7 month......... love ED !

 

[CMDR Hunter Scolex]

It's not disrespectful...

I don't think it's so much disrespectful of Frontier to keep us waiting... They are busy. I do, however, think that it's perhaps a little short sighted.

The problem is that for many players who have been in the game for a long time, despite the additions made (even the recent Thargoid content), it's a difficult game to keep fresh. Simply by its very nature, not through any fault of the designers or developers.

So, what would maintain these players' interest? A reason besides their own personal goals (all of which have already been reached) to play the game. A purpose. A faction of their own, with their stamp on it, with their own system(s) to call home.

When we applied back in July we had just a handful of members. Less, in fact, than is the new minimum on the application form. We are now nearly 50 strong, all regular players. However some have left - not just our faction, but the game - because they have become bored and frustrated of waiting for a purpose in the game.

It's not disrespectful of Frontier to leave us all waiting this long. It's just a case of prioritisation, and I don't think they realise the importance of the promises they've made regarding player factions and time scales involved or the player base they stand to lose.


Dear Frontier,

I've loved Elite my entire life. Even First Encounters!!!!

Please, please, save my and my fellow commanders' love of ED which is starting to wane with every day that passes and we have nothing to play for. You made this a multiplayer game of sorts... Allow us to play it together, as the community is now the glue that holds it together.

Please, give us a date. We don't care if it's in 17 years, just give us a date that the pending list will be inserted into the game so that we can wait. Patiently. Happily. Eagerly.

Thank you,
Dan.

PS. I LOVE YOU DAVID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Snowymonk]

I agree. I don't see the lack of communication as anything malicious.
The slow down / stop of feedback came at a time when Frontier were over whelmed on a number of fronts - (Galnet News submission has seen a similar throttling of aspiration in the face of reality)

There are a lot of good things being done by a lot of good people and the work put in on the new Thargoid storyline and new ships is brilliant, however, Minor Player Faction introduction appears (from outside the Cambridge Offices) to have dropped between the cracks.

 

[lollo1572]

Well, 17 years are too long !!!! We hope in Brett's "shortly thereafter 2.4" he said for pending PMFs!!! [yesnod] When we'll have Factions I'll name one of my ships "Shortly Thereafter", I Swear!!!