I've been wondering for a long time what the community vision for Discovery is. One source of tension is related to conflicting ideas of role play:
Idea 1: Discovery is built around a mod defining the role play environment. Players play within this somewhat static environment and cannot change it quickly or easily - devs do this. This is a dungeon master style of game where the master sets the rules and boundaries and everybody plays within it.
Idea 2: Discovery is built by the players. Their actions change the role play environment. This means that the actions of some players will definitely hurt other players. For an extreme example, should the outcasts overrun Liberty the LN and Liberty factions will cease to exist. This idea is a kind of mini-EVE.
I believe that Idea 1 is what we do now and have done for a long time. I think many admin decisions are guided by this idea.
Item 2 is rather interesting and we are starting to experiment with it. Things like faction-right 5, in a small way, support this sort of play. Ultimately idea 2 is technically very hard to implement. The devs cannot keep up with the current requests for change much less a totally dynamic role play environment. We'd need something completely automatic and this might be too hard to do.
I suspect many players want idea 2 but don't realise that we use idea 1 thus we have a conflict and many upset people. I do wonder if players are ready for the consequences of idea 2 - i.e. the total destruction of your bases and faction.
So my question of the day: what is the community vision for discovery? Is it idea 1 or 2 or something else?
Your answers may, probably will, influence both developers and admins. Go to it.
EDIT: Just a note, I've invised a few +1 posts.
Proud member of "the most paranoid group of people in the community"
