It's been difficult to paint a picture of the Zoners. The only thing I feel safe in saying is that, the NPCs seem outdated. They're not as common and don't trade as much as I would expect.
It's been difficult to paint a picture of the Zoners. The only thing I feel safe in saying is that, the NPCs seem outdated. They're not as common and don't trade as much as I would expect.
I don't find Zoners over-represented so much as I do everyone else under-represented. But that's because this is an old game. Just look at the traffic on any major planet. That's a lot of ships. And in addition, that's just one snapshot of one location of a planet (Manhattan is supposedly one huge city.)
Yeah, because Zoners are unreasonably powerful instead of a large-scale trade conglomerate for ULTIMATE NEUTRALITY instead of a bunch of outcasts and people that don't like, or aren't liked by, normal society.
Hmm... "to ensure peace, one must prepare for war" or something like that. "Walk softly and carry a big stick." "Mutually assured destruction." But I digress...
I suppose I understand the objection, but I can't really agree with one or the other at this time. Unless Igiss comes down and says "Zoners are *this*" I probably won't make up my mind.
' Wrote:Yeah, because Zoners are unreasonably powerful instead of a large-scale trade conglomerate for ULTIMATE NEUTRALITY instead of a bunch of outcasts and people that don't like, or aren't liked by, normal society.
I'm inclined to concur, this is how they should act.
I figure I'll add my thoughts in. I also agree with the thoughts on why they couldn't put up much of a military effort - things seem strictly defensive and, if anything, I think they'd much prefer to keep things as-is.
I think on a smaller scale, there would be decent fighter forces in the Zoners though. One group I always thought would flock to the Zoners are the survivalist militia types. They're all running out to the middle of no where, being self sufficient, and waiting until complete anarchy comes.
It seems there's enough variety among Zoners that it'd be hard to categorize though as I think even each Freeport would be very different.
i don't think there is any cohesion in the zoners though....sure some might band together and open a freeport, but other than that to me they've always seemed autonomous. not saying that another such group could form together for other purposes but likely it wouldn't be a large group.
- one side says that the zoners are underestimated, biding their time, building up a force ( or already having one ), they are stronger than they appear, they are more influencial and powerful than they would ever admit - they are playing the game, while others are just pawns.
- the other side says they are indeed bluffing, they are as weak as they appear, - their political and social status is strongly dependent on others - they can just uphold a stability so much. or in other words - they re walking on thin ice - knowing where to step - but still - a false step can break the ice.
a problem we have is that some lore - and some faction developement is contradictory.
- zoners are usually described as rather weak in most lore. - they are individualists - and only labelled "zoners" from others. they are one heterogenous group of people, lacking the strength that comes from being organized.
- zoners have always failed to colonized a planet ( an indicator for a more and more powerful position in sirius ) - however.... they now have one planet! ( i don t quite agree with them having a planet.. not having one but still being spread around all sirius was some kind of charactristic ) - keep in mind that even such powerful nations like the corsairs only have one planet, too - and that planet isn t even very rich.
- zoners have many warships ( the only lore that tells us how many juggernauts they have is that on the juggernaut itself "zoners would never tell how many of those ships they have" ... which can mean that they ... do not tell - or that they have many more or that they make things up ) - they have 2 more light battleships, a destroyer etc. - but we can agree that at least the battlestars were pushed to the zoners, cause "they would do the least harm there" - not cause the RP really suggests it.
- zoners are good shipbuilders, they build the kushan fighter line ( a full line of fighters ), they assisted in the BW series, they build the juggernaut, the destroyer. - they possess livatia shipyard, a massive production facility - and they re not taking the protection of their core system lightly.... ( for those that would like to try - try getting to sparta station being hostlile to the guards - you ll experience.... interesting times )
- still - zoner lore suggests that they "fear" quite many factions. they are not powerful on a personal basis - but they also mention that they stick together against a common foe if needed.
maybe the zoner lore should be brought in-line at some time. - so that they have a chronological history that explains how they begun and where they are going to. - it appears that too much of the lore is guesswork, when the opinions about the factions are soo different. ( and i m sure zoners are not the only faction with such vague hints about their faction )