Is Frontier aware of what the delays to player factions do to the game?

[InlineSix]

Greetings, cmdrs.

I ask myself:

Is Frontier Development aware what it's doing to the player groups by not even answering requests for information about delays in installing player factions?

I know of at least two groups with 3+ months waiting time now. Applied for player faction. No answer. Asked for a timeline they receive a text block - if anything at all.

Shouldn't it be either "we don't do player factions anymore" or "let's insert that player faction name on every minor update"?

o7

 

[Cosmo]

The player factions should work like a guild. The Squadrons should have player faction capabilities. So that players can set it up in-game without manual approval/addition by Frontier.

 

[jasonbirder]

The player factions should work like a guild. The Squadrons should have player faction capabilities. So that players can set it up in-game without manual approval/addition by Frontier.

You can't see any teeny-tiny problems with this?

 

[Dommarraa]

The player factions should work like a guild. The Squadrons should have player faction capabilities. So that players can set it up in-game without manual approval/addition by Frontier.

I am pretty certain that Squadrons is the new in-game name for Player Factions/Groups, with in-game (or maybe an associated web page) interface for players to set them up and manage them without manual input from FD.
I see lots of small changes that FD have been making over time (like the Home System limitations and others) that indicate that they are working towards it, let alone the issue that they clearly dont have the manpower to deal with it all manually.
I doubt they will be what people might consider a full-on Guild, but part of the way there.

 

[InlineSix]

I am pretty certain that Squadrons is the new in-game name for Player Factions/Groups,[..]

"Pretty certain" might be the problem here. May FDev comment on this, please?

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

I don't think player backed factions should have been introduced at all. As seen it has create real issues with entitlement, complains (why they come at our system, etc.), etc. Players do not own or lead those factions anyway.

"Pretty certain" might be the problem here. May FDev comment on this, please?

I doubt having Squadron will guarantee NPC faction named after it.

 

[Balkore]

I'm inclined to think that if Squadrons is implemented well, it might completely replace the need for NPC factions being named after player groups. They bear absolutely no actual affinity for your player group as it is, and function no differently from any other NPC faction. There's no reason to care about them beyond pretending they matter, anyway.

Hopefully Squadrons will provide some actual player group presence in the game world, and give them a reason to work together, pool resources, and (fingers crossed) compete with each other in some capacity.

 

[Schlack]

I don't think player backed factions should have been introduced at all. As seen it has create real issues with entitlement, complains (why they come at our system, etc.), etc. Players do not own or lead those factions anyway.

it has brought ownership (in a broader sense), longevity of playing, a focus for actions, a reason for action, player-group narrative & history, emergent BGS content and emergent PvP content (pew pew wars). The benefits to the game and players far outweigh any minor squabbles that emerge.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

it has brought ownership (in a broader sense), longevity of playing, a focus for actions, a reason for action, player-group narrative & history, emergent BGS content and emergent PvP content (pew pew wars). The benefits to the game and players far outweigh any minor squabbles that emerge.

If you ignore forums then yeah I agree

 

[Dommarraa]

"Pretty certain" might be the problem here. May FDev comment on this, please?

Would be nice, very nice, but it is not due till Q4, so I suspect the answer is "Any statement is punishable by gross misconduct procedures"

I am not just dreaming of what I want Squadrons to be, there are Patterns in the Matrix:

1. BGS moving to strictly 1 PG per system,
2. Strengthening of the Home System mechanics (for no readily apparent reason)
3. BGS recent worked example of making a faction "obsolete" for no determinable major reason (there was a need, but the situation could have been resolved with a lot less phaffing about)
4. Canonn's Gnosis is a "Test" - A Test for something like Squadrons Fleet Carrier ?
5. FD finally retreated from the "No Guilds" stance by allowing PG, but "Player Group" or "Guild" really does not fit in with ED naming conventions, it HAS to be renamed to something to include them any deeper than currently.
6. The amount of manual work to deal with all the PG requests is clearly too much for the resources FD have allocated. An automated in-game solution might take a lot of effort, but better than several full time staff doing manual database updates forever.
7. Another entirely separate level of grouping as well as Superpower/PP Faction/Faction/Wing would be really dumb, and FD are many things but not dumb. Would make sense to hijack an existing level.

My Guess, with my "I used to be a Games Designer" hat on (OK it was in the 90s so the hat is pretty useless nowadays)

1. New Contact "Squadron" in Contacts Menu
2. In systems that are legal for PGs, with no current live PG/Squadron, there is an Option "Create Squadron" where any commander can register a Squadron Name
3. Other CMDRs can go to the system, and under the Squadron Contact, select "Join Squadron". Squadron doesn't yet exist or have any functionality
4. The 1st Squadron in a system to reach a certain number of members goes live and is the 1 and only Squadron in the system.
5. Squadron owner now has security options to promote CMDRs to "Officer"
6. Options for Officers to start building, upgrade, or set travel orders for Fleet Carrier
7. If a Squadron drops below a certain number of members for a certain time and has no bases, it is made "obsolete" and the system is again available for a new Squadron to be created.

Its just basic in game administered Player Groups, with the carrot of Mega ships. I can dream of lots of things to do next, but they haven't hired me yet.
I hope they do it sooner than Q4, as I appreciate how the delays are impacting new hopefuls. I know I would have left the game over a year ago without the Canonn.

 

[Martian Successor]

I don't think player backed factions should have been introduced at all.

Good luck in getting so many players to engage with the BGS long-term then. It was a smart move by FDev in what is otherwise a very large, very empty sand box. Without player owned factions the BGS would be as niche and as dead as powerplay.

 

[Martian Successor]

it has brought ownership (in a broader sense), longevity of playing, a focus for actions, a reason for action, player-group narrative & history, emergent BGS content and emergent PvP content (pew pew wars). The benefits to the game and players far outweigh any minor squabbles that emerge.

+1 You put it much better than I did.

 

[Justinian Octavius]

The player factions should work like a guild. The Squadrons should have player faction capabilities. So that players can set it up in-game without manual approval/addition by Frontier.

Agree but there should also be a method for 'dead' PMFs to be deleted from the BGS. It is somewhat tiresome trying to discover if PMF x still has an active community backing it.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Good luck in getting so many players to engage with the BGS long-term then. It was a smart move by FDev in what is otherwise a very large, very empty sand box. Without player owned factions the BGS would be as niche and as dead as powerplay.

So it was ok just to slap names people choose on factions and they suddenly cared for BGS?

LOL Ok.

 

[Martian Successor]

So it was ok just to slap names people choose on factions and they suddenly cared for BGS?

LOL Ok.

Well, yes actually. Personalisation, however small, is a big draw in video games. It doesn't have to be your cup of tea of course, different strokes for different folks. Something tells me you made a Holo-me, bought them a jacket and probably named all your ships though right? I guess you did all that just for the hell of it and that it brought you not a single ounce of extra fun that wasn't there before.

 

[Alex Brentnall]

"What it does to the game"? Care to elaborate, personally I don't think it does anything.

The groups must exist and be functional before they are put in game ergo if they are delayed to be put in game it should be business as usual. If the group folds within a year due to the lack of their name being somewhere in game they'd probably fold at some point anyway since it's hardly the most critical thing about being a group in Elite.
Or am I missing something obvious?

 

[smiths121]

I don't think player backed factions should have been introduced at all. As seen it has create real issues with entitlement, complains (why they come at our system, etc.), etc. Players do not own or lead those factions anyway.



I doubt having Squadron will guarantee NPC faction named after it.

+1 for this.
Sums up my view!

We have player factions now, so no turning back. Hope Squadrons bring those in groups what they want. Hope it does not biring guilds/player factions - whatever more to the front, really do not want to be forced to join one. I play in open only - so player factions more to the fore is a big concern.

Simon

 

[Dommarraa]

+1 for this.
Sums up my view!

We have player factions now, so no turning back. Hope Squadrons bring those in groups what they want. Hope it does not biring guilds/player factions - whatever more to the front, really do not want to be forced to join one. I play in open only - so player factions more to the fore is a big concern.

Simon

While trying to stay out of Hotel California...
As someone who doesnt do Open because, except for PP or BH, there is no in-game reason to engage in PvP, I think Squadrons could be the savior of Open and PvP.
Finally you might be able to tell friend from foe
Finally you might actually have a REASON to have a foe
Finally all those BGS groups might have a REASON to fly in Open instead of "hiding" in Solo/PG

If you want PvP to remain random CMDRs killing other random CMDRs for no reason other than lols, then I guess I can see how it doesnt enchance your play.

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Squadrons will be a guild system, but it wont be tied to any factions. The reason for his is so you can decide what you want to do with your squadrons. Want to play the BGS, there is no need to add player factions, just choose on of the existing ones to follow, as there is basically no difference to a player faction and the ones that are already in. Name your squadron the same as the faction you want to follow, and then you can pretend that that faction is yours. Simple.