I'll start by saying that I don't think Core is a bad faction, but it has issues executing it's purpose.
Core has
from the start been involved in both Omicrons and Omegas, but with player activity they have been mostly seen within the Omicrons where they are closer to their purpose (Imperium Omicronis, fighting nomads etc). From the start the faction was supposed to have an influence within the Omegas as well, but it never got to doing so and now that we're at that point where people got used to no Core activity in these systems they don't like it. It's "new", it's different and it's hard to accept changes, changes that are were actually there from the start. I think the issue comes from Core not making influential moves in the Omegas from the start, but we can't change the past and we can only deal with what we have now.
To think about it: what would be the problem that a faction (that's been around for years and everyone knows) to be active in a few more systems than usual, systems that were always there at their disposal? Sure, it's easy to say Core is in the Omicrons, but does anyone ever think how much of the Omicrons can Core inRP actually influence and have players go to? Let me point them out:
- Omicron Rho (home system, pretty dead is used only for transit and inRP purposes)
- Omicron Delta (a hub of activity that inRP Core controls and it has provided with numerous events and things to do over the years)
- Omicron Minor (well not really. just a forward base for Core to delve into nomad territory. another transit system where Core has a "hidden" base but nobody likes to go there cause there's no gameplay purpose and the place looks like ass)
I was thinking of Omicron Lost but that's just a dead end systems taken over by Vagrants and AI. Nothing to do there. No reason to look for anything. The only purpose it would have would be a battlefield between humans and nomads at Moros, but with the addition of Lich in Delta there's no need for that (bad move creating Lich imo since it takes almost no time getting from Lost to Delta battlezones).
So I'll ask again, now that we got to evaluate what actually means "Core in the Omicrons". What would be that bad if Core expanded in the Omegas as the faction was initially intended?
Another issue I'd like to touch: I sometimes hear people say "Core powergame, Core OP". Claims that are just blatantly wrong and hypocritical. Core is not "that strong"; it's strong in the few territories it controls, but with the increased number of enemies it's only capable of defending what it has without realistically being able to expand towards the "Imperium Omicronis" in a swift manner. Sure it gets stronger in time and slowly expands, but I'm gonna underline
slowly.
Core didn't get it's inRP assets, resources, relationships and pretty much anything as a gift or through some biased intervention from a dev/admin at some point. Core built everything it got by creating relationships slowly and systematically with every house and its corporations. There is a saying and tendency within Core players that I never understood but I had to respect and go along with - "Core pride" - in regards to doing anything, be it PVP, RP, building shit in the APM etc. In short it's a way the members influence eachother to be tryhards and put work in what they do for Core.
A big issue for Core players is the fact that they don't log anymore, and I can't blame them. I wasn't around a few years ago when there was a meta of gank or be ganked, but ever since I've been back Core seems to be suffering from their past mistakes tenfold. There aren't the same players these days in Core and not the same numbers, yet there still is a tendency of accusing them of ganking whenever the opposing side loses a fight. This rocky past also gives other factions an excuse to gank Core with every change they get, and they do. I've seen first hand how almost every single enemy faction in the Omicrons had no remorse in piling caps on Core ships unprovoked. When people tell me that Core ganks, I'd like to see it because as an active player I never witness these ganks (Core don't log enough to be able to gank first of all).
Realistically this shouldn't be an issue (space wild west, dangerous areas yadayadayada), but in gameplay you can accept getting ganked so many times before you stop logging that faction alone or at all. I didn't have an issue getting ganked at the start, but being alone and dying to some 3 [insert hostile faction ship] over and over got tiring and demoralizing. I'm logging less and less and I can't blame Cores for not taking initiative and logging on their own.
Honestly Core players should grow some balls and get back in the game.
To push forward on the "Core don't log" - they don't have many reasons to do so. Development has sadly ignored the Omicrons lately (i'm not talking about events and occasional activity generation; I'm talking about world changes to RP around) and the situation has gotten a bit stale and repetitive. They SHOULD be logging now that Core pushed towards the Omegas.
Core Roleplay - it's usually fun to roleplay as core, an arrogant idiot that cares nothing but his own or his organizations gain, but people don't like this. Core is tagged as a [lawful] faction, but we all know there's nothing lawful about being the pirates of the Egde Worlds. Core will find any reason to shakedown or exploit others resources or work, and players don't like this coming from a "lawful" faction. I think it should be made clear somehow that Core are NOT good guys. They never were, they just pretend in front of the big boyz (houses).
In terms of roleplay I like it, but I feel like it's damaging gameplay. Not sure if this is a faction lore issue or if it's an issue caused by the views of outside players that can't adapt and accept this concept. Either way, nobody in Core is forced to rolepalay like this; it's a choice and a general tendency, but nobody has ever been punished for being a kind and nice player inRP.
