Minor Factions - A tweak or two

[A D]

I realised recently that a minor faction in my home port was a real player faction. There was no way of telling in-game, just found out by accident when looking up my home system on Inara. Even then, was unable to contact the faction (by searching this forum, etc.). I think the following tweaks to the mission board would be nice to encourage interaction with player factions:

- As standard, display a small icon (symbol) next the faction name to indicate it is a real player faction.
- If the faction has a logo, allow it to be displayed in lieu of the stock avatar.
- Optionally, allow a link as part of the faction description (e,g. "Like to know more...") which let's you leave a message for the faction's contact commander using the in-game comms.

Just my thoughts. What ye think?

 

[Schlack]

There should be a description in the Galmap in the factions home system. Some of us early groups were allowed to adopt factions we were working with before player inserted factions became a thing.

 

[Deleted member 115407]

Kind of not what you're looking for, but...

I think that the BGS, as it exists in its current form, is designed to be a background simulation, nothing more. It exists to add ebb and flow to the backdrop in which the players play, and isn't necessarily meant to be played as players try to play it.

It's designed to be passive - a little war here, a little boom there, an outbreak over there. Next week, some of that may change, and some may stay the same, all based on what actions players have taken as they move around and just fly spaceships.

And that leads, I think, to discontentment among the player base who does "play" the BGS.

"Why is it so hard to win wars!?
How did those guys beat us so quickly!?
Why is playing the BGS such a grind!?"

The last question is the most important, I think. It's such a grind because it wasn't meant to be "played". Rather just to "be".

Whether or not that means people are going to try to play it is up to them. I enjoy playing it, though not with the fervor that I used to. Now I just enjoy watching things change, and the new opportunities and roadblocks that come and go as things do change.

(As an aside, I helped the Diamond Frogs off-world some "workers" from Xihe today, then returned to bring them some data and sell them a T-7 full of ag products. Good times [up])