(01-14-2016, 08:42 PM)Genexus Wrote: Could you please elaborate why this would affect the playerbase in a negative way? If I want to be an escort pilot. I can be, but in this case I can work for several corps, so I think it will benefit the player base.
We have not too many players. It's not the 200 player server it used to be. You can be escort pilot, but then don't expect any money from indie pilots, in most cases (unless it's a player that does trade for roleplay). In case of official IMG, I had great time flying as Freelancer. But then, we barely have over 70 players at the same time and I can assure you that no indie will hire you.
Also, it's matter of simple logic here. You'd rather hire your own security to make cuts in budget. You also tend to forget, again, that e.g. Ageira isn't just one company, but actually a lot of companies owned by one main corporation. There's a reason why companies have their own security - pirates and terrorists, especially in places to which common police or military has no access.
(01-14-2016, 08:48 PM)FluffReborn Wrote: I made bad comparison then, because megacorporations are... megacorporations. They have enormous amount of money, but they also possess considerable security forces. I'd even risk the statement that Sirian governments are actually afraid of doing wrong things towards their own companies, seeing how capitalism works.
In fact, nobody would even say "no" to Ageira. They actually own every TL and Jumpgate and if e.g. Liberty Navy started to put some pressure onto Ageira, the consequences would be rather fatal.
You should have warn us then, because Rheinland just recently said no to Ageira. Sounds like we are doomed now...
Seriously speaking, it is not that simple that corporations can do anything. Even those like Ageira. First, technically they don´t own every TL because Rheinland and Kusari nationalized them in the past by lore and now they just pay Ageira for maintanmance. Second, yes, Ageira can threaten to stop doing it, but it would be double-edged sword. Sure, Rheinland would be in serious trouble in that case (theoretically they could ask Gallia for help but re-building whole trade lane and jump-gate infrastructrure would cost incredible amount of money and took incredible amount of time, so it is really just theoretical option), Ageira would cut off itself from lot of money they get for their job. It would definitely not make them bankrupt, but you need serious reason to risk loss of such amount of money.
But back to the OP - I recommend you to play for some time as escort. You will quickly realized you will be unemployed majority of time unless you would be willing to work for really low/symbolic wage. Traders rather risk encounter with pirate than paying escort, in general it is cheaper, especially when you can metagame with player list and check your route for possible dangers. Also, when corporations manufacture ships and guns for military, it is just about laws if they can use them or not. There is nothing illogical in using bombers or even gunboats. Especially when even groups with limited technology possibilities can use them, like Junkers and even Freelancers. If they are allowed to use fighters, bombers and gunboats, why corps should not be too.
So basically what you propose is completely ooRP matter, there is no reason inRP for such restrictions. And in terms of gameplay it would end in situation when traders, even if they would want to have protection, there would not be enough players to provide it. Also, you would have to change completely ship balance, because restricting traders to freighters and transports only won´t make them defenceless and in full need of escort - just look at battletransports which are deadly if you know how to fly them and especially if two or more of them fly together and cover each other.
You know what?! I have started the game through trading, I have started the game getting pirated, I have started the game hiring an escort for my little group. We hadn't thought a single time to create some "security" wing. I mean today, indeed there won't be a problem hitting up someone in skype logging another char to escort me, means I don't see the impact on the gameplay you are talking about. If an indie searches for an escort today...he wouldn't even find an escort. It is a matter a making such things more attractive.
It is just a cutting for increasing beneficial variety. In this case disco is currently a RP like the good "chemist, who is magically also a medic, a geologist and a cook, and so on , so on, so on...." who often appears in movies.
By the way, junkers, FL, other autonomous factions also have their restrictions meanwhile in cargo hold or other usage.
Not too much players. There, it was pointed too many times. Also, if someone really wants to play trader who is not a fighter - he is free to do so. I'm to repeat again that "trade factions" are not silly one-body nuclear firms, but the biggest combinates of businesses, owning huge chunch of military and domestic markets.
(01-14-2016, 09:49 PM)Laura C. Wrote: You should have warn us then, because Rheinland just recently said no to Ageira. Sounds like we are doomed now...
As far as I am concerned, no one else but only Ageira and DSE knows how to construct and maintain gates and lanes - and they have monopoly to do that, that's why I dropped that thought. I think that's because vanillia Sirius was not supposed to wage war against each other, with Liberty being the weakest and strongest part of the chain.
(01-15-2016, 11:40 AM)FluffReborn Wrote: As far as I am concerned, no one else but Ageira only knows how to construct and maintain gates and lanes, that's why I dropped that thought.
I think that according to lore Sirian lanes and gates are actually constructed and repaired mostly by DSE, also Daumann tried some attempts and maybe even some other corps. However they build/repair only the mechanical part, "hardware" so to say. Ageira is the one which is providing necessary "software" without which the gates and lanes would be just huge useless pieces of high-tech metal.
While the the idea explained in the OP is pretty neat, I have to join the fleet saying it would cause more harm then good. However, parts of the idea would be useful, such as restricting human "commodities" , or at least the tourist, vacationer,passenger part to OSC ID only for example, which would actually make sense. Same could be with fr. Gate/Lane pats, which atm as far as I remember only a few IDs can fly legaly.
(01-15-2016, 11:40 AM)FluffReborn Wrote: As far as I am concerned, no one else but Ageira only knows how to construct and maintain gates and lanes, that's why I dropped that thought.
I think that according to lore Sirian lanes and gates are actually constructed and repaired mostly by DSE, also Daumann tried some attempts and maybe even some other corps. However they build/repair only the mechanical part, "hardware" so to say. Ageira is the one which is providing necessary "software" without which the gates and lanes would be just huge useless pieces of high-tech metal.
But we are slowly drifting offtopic here I guess.
Ad what about Gallic TradeLanes? They not made by agera.
It seems it goes out of topic a little. So back to the topic. Of course, you are right, that person, who already likes to play as a trader can do so, aswell as someone, who likes to play with fighters, but overall I think it wouldn't have a great impact on the player itself, except he has more variety in interaction and options. It isn't just the fact that the current system benefits isolation within the faction in my opinion, but also the option of legally operating corps pirating counter corps is a weird thing. If I want to support interaction in the disco environment, even supportive in a RP way, I would hire pirates to pirate my counter corp.
I mean pirating never benefits the reputation in the eyes of a citizen.