Should Elite Dangerous add clans/player factions in the future

[Garbarrage]

The game needs it for sure. I wouldn't have thought so before trying to register a player group, but I sent in an application to register a player group a week ago with no reply as yet. According to the group thread, they are inundated with requests, and are currently wading through a backlog. This suggests both a demand, and that the current system is inadequate to deal with the demand.

I'd also suggest that some other minimal stuff should facilitate the integration of these groups. A group chat channel that can hold more that just the 4 players of a wing, and a message board/mail facility as a minimum. Maybe a way of leaving messages for friends that are not currently online also.

These things are essential to help bind the community together. It's all well and good saying that there are already player groups, but unless you hunt them down through channels not readily apparent to a new player, there will always be those that want to group up and socialize who fall through the cracks. The fact that they are "already in the game" suggests that all of the potential negative effects of player groups are also "already in the game", so what is the point of making it more awkward?

Player owned starports etc wouldn't be needed. Although, maybe being able to rent an office/boardroom in a station when first person mode is introduced wouldn't be such a bad idea.

 

[MottiKhan]

Easier IFF really is all that I want.


Maybe some ability to influence where our pet faction expands to (really, another system with only outposts and missing one of Repair or Re-arm?), but I'm not sure how that would work without being a powerplay-esque grind.

Ship names could do that without affecting the CMDR in any permanent way. For instance, my ship could be named "[PLDN] Flapping Lapdog" or somesuch. If it showed up on the RADAR, it would be as good as a Clan tag.

Of course, I could also just change it to [TWT] Lapping Flapdog if I wanted to do something nefarious.

 

[CMDR Byr Goefin]

Ship names could do that without affecting the CMDR in any permanent way. For instance, my ship could be named "[PLDN] Flapping Lapdog" or somesuch. If it showed up on the RADAR, it would be as good as a Clan tag.

Of course, I could also just change it to [TWT] Lapping Flapdog if I wanted to do something nefarious.

No you can't, because [] is not a valid character entry you have to have a Customer Rep do it.

[TWT] if it was a real TLA, would have a code associated that you would need to be able to get the tag, which is how it works today.

 

[Angrymog]

@Mottikhan - Yeah, Ship names would be a good start both from a customisation PoV and allowing IFF if you have a set naming scheme.

 

[MottiKhan]

No you can't, because [] is not a valid character entry you have to have a Customer Rep do it.

[TWT] if it was a real TLA, would have a code associated that you would need to be able to get the tag, which is how it works today.

Let's take it a bit further. Maybe we can come up with an agreeable feature. Maybe not.

I was a co-admin of a large clan in a different game. We had a primary admin and several co-admins that could accept a person into the clan. If the primary took a break, the rest of us could carry on. Maybe something like that to allow tagging a CMDR name?

 

[This Forum Sucks]

Having clans/guilds as a social function like they are in say, most Blizzard games would be great but having them as in-game entities with power and control over the galaxy like in EVE (which is what a lot of people want) probably isn't going to happen because it's not really compatible with the whole open/group/solo system that the game depends on.

Edit:

A simple straight up community vote.

This is a pretty brazen lie given that you gave yes/no question six answers.

 

[bamber]

Woo hoo so the idea of clans is wait for it "give the ships a name"
.
Well sign me up now it will SERIOUSLY up my enjoyment levels that outstanding feature

 

[CMDR Byr Goefin]

Another option: Frontier are aware that guilds / corps / clans are a contentious issue among forum members and are treading carefully in their gradual implementation of group related features (see player sponsored Minor Factions).

Another point, forum users do not need to own the game to register and vote therefore the vote itself does not necessarily represent the opinion of players (only a tiny subset of whom have become forum members).

Totally agree.

Any poll on the internet is purely self selecting.

And most of them, like this one, are sort of not necessary if you read the DEV notes. A poll based on the current DEV notes would be a lot more useful, although still self selecting and totally unscientific. They are just for "fun"

And you need that scientific rigor if you expect to use the results to map a small population taking the poll to the game-wide population.

Real polls are expense, I would not expect FD or any other game company except maybe EA or Blizzard to have the resources to conduct a proper poll.

 

[StuF]

It seems to be wanted so players can "control" as system - embargo/pirate/pvp at will whilst controlling the markets and so on
BAD Idea in my opinion and far too much like EVE

 

[CMDR Byr Goefin]

Let's take it a bit further. Maybe we can come up with an agreeable feature. Maybe not.

I was a co-admin of a large clan in a different game. We had a primary admin and several co-admins that could accept a person into the clan. If the primary took a break, the rest of us could carry on. Maybe something like that to allow tagging a CMDR name?

If the Clan Leader shares the code, my understanding is anyone can do it.

My clan leader has not done so, but I can forward a promotion request to him and he will do it.

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It seems to be wanted so players can "control" as system - embargo/pirate/pvp at will whilst controlling the markets and so on
BAD Idea in my opinion and far too much like EVE

The developers DB in particular, have stated no player owned game assets.

While they could try to enforce it in open, and a few clans do, there are 2 other ways to go to any system and they would have no idea.

Under the current mechanics, you can lose your station, and at any rate, you could not keep people out. It just effects your BGS status.

 

[Soliluna]

Player factions are already in game so it seems largely irrelevant.

The ability for powerplay faction members to communicate with each other easily would do I think... but what you have just asked is already in the game so I'm a little confused at the question.

 

[Kazacy]

Yes please for a multiplayer game is a must.

 

[Angrymog]

It seems to be wanted so players can "control" as system - embargo/pirate/pvp at will whilst controlling the markets and so on
BAD Idea in my opinion and far too much like EVE

The thing is that you can always swop to solo if you don't want to deal with people in a system. I'm not even after Eve style control, just easy IFF, and I have to admit I love the idea of being able to rent an an office or a bar in one of our stations once walking around becomes a thing, because in my heart of hearts I'm a filthy RPer.

 

[dementia]

Having clans/guilds as a social function like they are in say, most Blizzard games would be great but having them as in-game entities with power and control over the galaxy like in EVE (which is what a lot of people want) probably isn't going to happen because it's not really compatible with the whole open/group/solo system that the game depends on.

Edit:

This is a pretty brazen lie given that you gave yes/no question six answers.

Each Yes and each No have 3 options. Which part of that are you not understanding? I'm sorry if you find it too complex a question.

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Another option: Frontier are aware that guilds / corps / clans are a contentious issue among forum members and are treading carefully in their gradual implementation of group related features (see player sponsored Minor Factions).

Another point, forum users do not need to own the game to register and vote therefore the vote itself does not necessarily represent the opinion of players (only a tiny subset of whom have become forum members).

Perhaps but then it does give a good indication regardless. Just as I cannot say that every vote is from a game player, you cannot say otherwise. The law of averages.

 

[MottiKhan]

It seems like this is far more complicated than it needs to be. I voted for the clan thingy, but would like to change my vote to "meh". If something so minor causes controversy, it should be ignored.

<ignore mode on>

 

[Robert Maynard]

Just as I cannot say that every vote is from a game player, you cannot say otherwise. The law of averages.

The possibility of the poll being skewed by non-players would be enough to put any result in question.

The fact that those polled self-select and represent a tiny percentage of the player-base (maybe) also affects the conclusions that can be drawn from any result.

 

[dementia]

The possibility of the poll being skewed by non-players would be enough to put any result in question.

The fact that those polled self-select and represent a tiny percentage of the player-base (maybe) also affects the conclusions that can be drawn from any result.

A long winded way of saying "nothing is certain". I think we all know that already. I don't think anyone is expecting absolute values here. Logically, people who actually play the game are much more likely to vote or even participate in this forum than those who do not play.

 

[Commander Debic]

People, we're already here. Yes, the game doesn't support a lot of people in one instance, but we're here promoting our factions, working together, puzzling out the background sim and unleashing froggy vengence on anyone who shoots one of our tadpoles.

Fortunately both the Galaxy and the bubble are large, so if you don't want to interact with people or have their activities affect your gameplay you can find a bit of the bubble that no-one else is in and play there with your mates and not have to worry about big wings flying around. If we ever get the option to fly our flags in game (honestly, I want ship naming first) no-one says you have to join or make one. You can continue to fly solo.

And your faction won't ever be asking to be able to issue passes in the way some NPC systems are currently controlled, to stop all those other group and solo players messing up the influence and control of the home system you want to grab for yourself?

I don't want to find a bit of the bubble for myself thank you very much, already did all that in a Corp/alliance with EVE for a few years. In the end its why I left and a number of players in ED will tell you the same.

I want to be able to go over all the bubble that ED lets me and earn the passes in those systems that have them if I want to go there. Not having some jumped up king of the heap in XYZ system telling me I cannot come into his space in one way or another.

That's what I signed up for in the KS days. To be able to explore and travel the whole galaxy if I wish as DB said I would be able to, play the game I want to play.

 

[Iskariot]

There's not really an option in the poll for me.

I don't care, but only if it does not affect me.
I will never be a member of a player clan or faction, or club, or party or whatever.
The mere thought horrifies me. I have been avoiding that stuff since I was a kid.
There's always some kind of pathology to group interactions and I don't want anything to do with it.

I don't mind if FD adds it for others at some point.
It will most likely force me in Solo even more than Wings already did.
Other stuff is infinitely more important though.
Adding more diversity of assets to the gameworld for example.
The world should feel richer and more diverse than it currently does.
This will be to the benefit of everyone as opposed to player clan/group/faction stuff.

 

[Googol]

I voted no. I don't think it needs to be added because it's starting to appear anyway in forms that, constrained by the current design, can't badly damage the principle of "one person against the universe" that is a core concept of ED. In a very loose sense clanlike social groupings playing with, as opposed to against, the BGS are already here: Fuel Rats, Buckyballers, The Canonn, Distant Worlds, minor faction sponsorship such as the Mercs of Mikunn, I could go on. Also, call me suspicious, but I worry that the most vocal proponents of formal clans have a single item on their wish list - control. Fortunately instancing and (for some players, not me) solo play means that clan activities such as system and area control are difficult to implement at present and for the limited returns quite frankly not worth it. I very much doubt that FD will provide the tools for individual players (clan heads) to become major figures with political (i.e. game-changing) influence - famous, yes, but controllers of a major faction, no.
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Out of curiosity I would like ask those who voted "absolutely yes". Why? Clanning up isn't my playstyle, but what makes it so important to you?