Well I've been hard at work the past couple of weeks cobbling together ideas to make OS&C interesting enough to play again, a tall order when dealing with a liner company and it's dodgy trade routes. So I've been focusing my efforts trying to find fun things the faction can do without over stepping it's boundries (well not too much) or stepping on the toes of others while still keeping it's core identity as the premier luxury spa and cruise ship operator in all of Sirius.
Now I'm looking for find some folks who are interested in helping me do so and for general feedback of my faction, anyone whose interested can post or message me on skype (my details are in my profile) but any constructive comments are welcome.
I've broken down my ideas into a couple of sections, starting with the most important:
RP Goals
Simply put these will be the driving points behind everything we do with a focus on being ingame rather than over forums.
Gallic Invasion
Expanding on the idea that Price had for his own write up, it seems only natural that a souless monopolising company like OS&C would jump at the chance to take over a relatively untouched resource. These are going to be the overarching goals for the forseeable future, there will be choices to be made and actions will weight heavily upon which route we can take something I hope will keep our members occupied and entertained.
Making deals
The Gallic Junkers and the Unione Corse hold substancial sway in Gallia, the Junkers do so politically and the Corse do so via the black market. This gives us some interesting options:
Do we cater to the Corse and their allies, the Marquis? Both of whom enjoy great wealth and the finer things that life has to offer, not to mention a supply of Hypno-Tainment Bands which Dev team willing, we'll add a buy and sell point for at Mackinac.
Or do we throw in our lot with the Junkers? Offering them money, a smuggling point and a stepping stone into Sirius in trade for political backing within the Gallic government?
Ships
OS&C doesn't have much in the way of it's own shipline, in fact the only two ships the faction can call it's own are the Luxury Liner and Passenger Liner the latter being a stripped down version of the former. We do have a nice variety of civilian ships to use but seldom few match the sleek lines of our Liners, which as a company who specialises in style we simply cannot abide.
Gallia opens up some new options, their civilian fighters and bombers would certainly look the part escorting a cruise ship but the absolute gold standard would be the Gallic Liner. Being able to use that bad boy will certainly turn some heads and cause quite a bit of trouble, so it's all good.
The Big Plan
What does all this scheming and planning serve to do? One of two things; we either manage to place a new liner base within Gallia (somewhere in Dauphine and aptly named Corsica) or we assume control of the two liners currently operating either by merger or takeover. I would personally prefer the new liner base as it causes a bit of tension which is always fun.
Closer to Home
Gallic ambition aside, OS&C has pretty much stagnated in Sirius with only two Liners actually operating for their intended purpose, both of which are around Kusari which leave us a total of five bases. The Shetland is still being repurposed as a hospital ship which leaves us with two liners and two planets, not bad but there is room for expansion.
Trade Routes
We are at heart a trading company, some move cargo, some move ore, we move people. Mostly. Finding a passenger heavy route through or around the Houses is a nightmare especially if you want it to be circular and even then you may find your luxury passenger cabins filled with crates of alcohol rather than your luxury cabin passengers filled with alcohol. With a blessing from the Dev Team, we'll work out some trade routes that'll make OS&C enjoyable to play and slightly more predictable to our pirate peers.
It's All About Style
Our faithful liners have served us well for many years, so many in fact that they are starting to show their age. Compare them to the Renzu or Gallic liner and you can see what I mean, our ships need an update in a bad way. It's a tall order and one that'll take time, money and a willing modeller to rise to the task.
Never one for half measures, I'd also really like a new model for our Liner Bases. Something a bit larger and far grander than our flyable liners to make them stand out from the pack.
Fortune Favours the Bold
Hauling passengers isn't the most exciting thing in the world, we may get the occasion pirate or a scan from a navy/police pilot, aside from that it's just business as usual. How about something you can really sink your teeth into? Smuggling. Oh yes, I'm a bit fan of smuggling but not the way it's done on Disco. Flying between jumpholes and missing out on the fun because some folks won't drop the notion that smugglers shouldn't be seen. Boring, dull and tedious.
What I want to offer is a glimpse, a taste of what could be if smugglers had to RP their way out of a situation. Limited to no more than to 300 units of hypno bands or sorted artefacts, our members will be encouraged once or month or so to try and smuggle them past police and navy patrols at peak times. It's risky and could potentially backfire in massive ways. Should be good fun.
Like Disney World but with Dinosaurs
An idea from the previous incarnation of OS&C who began RP'ing the building of a Jurrasic Park style base on planet Erie. With a bit of updating and some tweaking it could potentially lead to an OS&C base within Liberty similar to the dual docking rings used in Gallia.
Trade and Commodities
The nitty gritty of what makes a trading faction work lies in the commodities it moves and how much money it makes, OS&C is no different. There is no limit on what we could potentially haul, no rules or ID restrictions that could stop us from moving Boron or Side Arms but it's not in character for the faction. We're a Spa and Cruise service, so we focus on moving people, simple right?
Well one look at the FLCompanion will say otherwise, our routes are a bit of a mess and many of them begin or end in really strange places. Trying to find a route that cycles back to the start is an utter nightmare and literally impossible if you want to carry only human cargo. This will be the first step to making OS&C interesting and competitive as a faction.
OS&C Only Commodity: Socialites - High society, champagne and luxury. They spend their time flitting from fine arts fundraisers to charity galas and all manner of fashionable A-list parties. I'd imagine them to be similar in to VIP's but only taking up 2 cargo rather than 5 and only travelling to the finest establishments possible.
Faction Structure
I'm not a fan of rank and file so I've opted to keep the structure simple. These titles will not be earned by posting reports or logging game time but will be offered to those who would like to take up some responsibility within the faction or has a particular interest in one area.
Chairman
The boss, keeps things running smooth (in theory) and directs the faction towards it's current goal. Has the final say in all matters and affairs, usually the first on the chopping block if things go wrong.
CEO
One or more, these folks keep the place running if the Chairman is busy or unavailable. They keep the peace between the regional directors and answer any transmissions directed at OS&C but not directly addressed to anyone within the faction.
Regional Directors
Four directors for the time being, each heading responsibilities over actions in the various Houses. Free to find deals and opportunities within their Houses, if a government needs to be contacted these will be the folks to do it. Anything that happens to our pilots within the respetive Houses will also be reported to them.
Head's of Security and Survey
The same level as the Directors. Security will be responsible for trainning and leading those flying escort ships whilst Survey will be the one who sends explorers out to find new and amazing vistas that could one day be a place for a Liner Base.
Head of Logistics
Responsible for trade and resupply of our fleet, this position will be for those who enjoy planning trade routes and helping new players.
Members
Free to create as many ships of any department they like, anyone may suggest new ideas or voice opinions on current affairs. Though try to keep the amount of characters to a reasonable limit (e.g. All the fighters might be flown by Some.Ape but the Liner is flown by A.Gorrila etc)
Stockholders
An unorthodox idea I had, basically anyone who flies using the OS&C ID can register themselves as a Stockholder which will allow them to voice opinions regarding any changes or effects to the ID and faction at large. This can be solo players to small factions, as long as they are using the ID they will have a say and possibly be included in faction deals and events.
Ship Usage Liners and Yachts
Luxury Liner
*Bretonia Royal Liner (Limited to Bretonia, Liberty and Rheinland)
Renzu Liner
Democritus
*Geisha (Excluded from Bretonia)
Supply Ships
Albatross
Gull
*Civilian freighters (Based upon region)
Escort Ships
Civilian gunboat
Civilian bombers & fighters
*Ship usage limited due to political issues, subject to change.
We're not a move all trading faction so our selection of transports is capped at 2k, this is twofold. It prevents us becoming a Mary Sue do everything faction and also provides new players a way to be part of the faction without the demand of an expensive Liner.
I should mention that I've put in a request for the prices of Liners to be reduced as they are dangerously close to Cruisers and out of the two, no one is going to pick a glorified transport.
Naming Liners - We'll be follow the current system of small islands and by small I mean the size of Hawaii, anything larger will need to be considered. Transports - Named after large ports such as Dover or Panama. Escorts - Character names so far, depending on feedback we may include wing designations.
Diplomacy
We'll be using the current rep of the OS&C ID though it may change as the faction progresses.
Edit: Added an idea about continuing where the previous OS&C left off with a Jurrasic Park style base on planet Erie and a possible OS&C only commodity.
Admittedly I am working from my previous experience of Kusari - Bretonia affairs which is almost two years out of date and I assumed the LD-14 nerve gas attack would leave a certain distain for Kusarians.
It was my understanding that Kusari is basically a puppet state controlled by Gallia so why would they trade with Bretonia, or why would Bretonia for that matter agree to trade with their one time enemy and ally of their current foe?
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