Quote: If the Zoners weren't capable of deterring the Corsairs and Outcasts from taking their stations with naval force, they would have captured those Freeports long ago.
Zoners are useful to the Corsairs/Outcasts, thus the Freeports haven't been a realistic target for a takeover.
...
They rely on their usefullness towards others.
Imagine the Zoners on FP10 would suddenly rebel against the Outcasts, blocking their dock access ... The base would be destroyed or taken over within a week.
The Zoners have also traditionally harbored those nation's enemies. ... On top of this, there have been plenty of fiascos in the past that surely would have incensed [the Outcasts] into taking those bases over, even if it wasn't really to their advantage. They're kind of cranky people.
^From Gyrtrash's rant thread.
I think that with all the ping-pong about what's "logical" and "illogical" about the Zoners, the only real true statement is that the Zoners must try to remain useful to all parties concerned (BH, Corsairs, Outcast, other pirates) to even exist.
Where is the RP about Zoners negotiating agreements with Outcasts and Corsairs and Bounty Hunters? Where is the RP about Zoners stepping in as peacemakers, mediators, soothing frayed nerves to prevent conflict? That should be the real RP focus.
And cranky? That's a bit of the pot calling the kettle black. Who's cranky now?
Y'know, this makes me think-- if we all just parodied ourselves then this place would run a lot better.
Rather than taking ourselves so seriously we could be out there in our Zoner Nephilim in system chat, saying: "Yeah, so here I am! In my gigantic space vessel, with a thousand squirming colonists just bursting to get out! Are there any disputes to be resolved? Diplomatic solutions to be explored? Because I'd like to take my big ship and get right in that..."
And Gaians could be all like, "Look! I'm a dainty tree-hugger!" *prance*
And BAF could be all, "I say, good chap! By Jove! Tally ho!"
And Liberty lawfuls could be all RvB with the Rogues, like completely incompetent but at the same time completely dedicated to the task (tunnel vision), but focused on all the wrong things, like uniform colors and names of ships and existential questions and hating each other just as much as they hate the enemy. And funny.
We should just ban all seriousness on the server, but still uphold all the rules. It would be a sea-change in attitude.
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