Regular and IN-RP description uses this color text.
OORP Explanation uses this color text.
Contents:
I. Introducción
i.a. Faction Leadership
i.b. Centinelas del Cielo Overview
II. Estrategias (strategies).
ii.a Academia del Perdido
ii.b. The Sicilian Conspiracy
ii.c Coming home.
ii.d. Fleet of War
ii.e. The Codice Carmesi
III. The Enemy
iii.a New foes.
iii.b. Old foes
IV. Player motivations:
iv.a. Goals:
iv.b. Current challenges in Corsair space:
V. Recruitment and membership
v.a. About members, and their Role-playing responsibilities:
v.b. Event-driven role-playing
v.c. Recruitment follows The Role-playing learning curve
v.d Recruitment process
v.e. Ships versus Characters
VI. Appendix - A Political Background
vi.a. A new way:
END.
Quote:
I. Introducción
Centinelas del Cielo is a hardcore role-playing Corsair faction on the Freelancer Discovery Server.
Translation: Sentinels of the Skies.
Vessel Tag: [CC]
(For example: [CC]The.Ragged.Book).
Quote:i.a. Faction Leadership
Title: Players forum identity (In-game: Character).
Leader:
The Voice of the Codice: Rmorph (In-game: La Voz: Carlito Barbarossa).
Seconds:
First Admiral of the fleet: Synts (In-game: Almirante: Steve Ximanez).
First Sentinel: Apotheosis (In-game: Primer Centinela: Enzo Santiago).
Quote:i.b. Centinelas del Cielo - Overview
Centinelas del Cielo is a small splinter group within the Corsair Empire that is determined to restore the empire to its rightful place as a fully fledged house of Sirius in politics and policies.
Its views towards foreign policy are expansionist and highly traditionalist, seeking to embed much of the 'imagined glory' of ancient Hispanic codes of conduct into its political and social message.
Preaching of the lost strength and wisdom of Hispanic culture with an almost romantic fanaticism, Centinelas del Cielo can be seen as a growing enlightenment movement within the warrior Corsair culture.
Weaknesses:
Centinelas del Cielo is a somewhat naïve and vainglorious faction that wishes to bring a new age of prosperity to Corsair Empire even as it lacks the subtlety of more established houses and political groups.
They are easily flattered, and an inflated sense of their own self worth and talents has led to embarrassment on occasion. They are also very new to the diplomacy game, and likely to make mistakes when dealing with more experienced political manipulators.
Their appetite for power has also caused friction, with the other Corsair houses, and they seek to (RP scenario to be played via events) actively disunite the other established houses for their own purposes, perhaps as they realize that the other houses, as a united front for Corsair rule, pose a more-than-serious threat to their own ambitions.
Strengths:
Despite their immaturity, the Centinelas are nevertheless being bankrolled by a few powerful Corsair families even as the group slowly grows in popularity and size amongst the general population, as the focus on building a war fleet to match any of the other houses, and a desire to improve the status of Corsairs in Sirius, is seen as an ambitious but desirable goal by many Corsairs.
An attention to honor in combat, and the use of a code of conduct when fighting should allow for interesting RP dynamics, where previously the only alternative for corsairs might have been combat.
Quote:II. Estrategias (strategies).
The Centinelas have ambitious plans to expand the might of the Corsair Empire. These strategies are full Role-play themes that will expand as the Centinelas increase in skill and population.
'¢ Development of an elite flight academy: Academia del Perdido
'¢ Development of a Mafioso-like Shell Business: The Sicilian Conspiracy
'¢ Embed into and fortify the Omega 47 system: Coming home.
'¢ Build a navy to match any in the Sirius system: Fleet of War
'¢ Develop and expand honorable rules of engagement: The Codice Carmesi
Quote:ii.a Academia del Perdido
In-game lore and popular wisdom dictates that Corsair pilots are amongst the most skilled in Sirius. The sight of Corsairs dueling in the Omicrons is as common as space rocks in a Walker nebula.
Centinelas del Cielo intends to build a flight academy, and hire the best pilots of the systems as trainers and combat aces (full RP roles). Competitions and events shall be held to establish the academy as the place-to-be for competitive flying and dog-fighting
Academia del Perdido (Academy of the Lost) is our attempt to contribute to the Corsair lore and combat philosophies, and shall be sponsored by key members from all of the Corsair nations.
The academy shall be established at the Centinelas main base of operations, which is tentatively planned as Casablanca base, Omega 47 (see chapter II.c).
Quote:ii.b. The Sicilian Conspiracy
In a new approach that breaks with traditional corsair methods of income generation (piracy and smuggling), Centinelas del Cielo has infiltrated the trading and mercantile markets of other nations, and generates its main income through shell corporations in a strategy known as 'The Sicilian Conspiracy'.
This is a highly motivated mafia-like operation that embeds criminals into otherwise legitimate business operations, and uses its criminal relations to push out competition and risk elements to forward the profitability of those businesses.
Wherever these shell organizations operate, piracy and competition soon disappear, as they are 'persuaded to move elsewhere, or face the brutal consequences'.
This mafia-like operation is well organized and highly motivated, and utilizes the Corsair characteristics of cunning, determination and self-interest, to maximum effect.
Important OORP note:
Under another faction acronym, A fleet of transports, and various mining ships, are operated in full role-play as a corrupt shell organization.
In reality the group simply performs regular trading and mining, but the RP is of an organized crime syndicate with ties to the Corsairs. Upon pirate encounters, veiled threats are used to facilitate this role-play. We hope to expand this part of our faction to bribery and coercion storylines that the other liberty factions will enjoy, but this will be done more as comedic encounters than in any way that threatens the integrity of legitimate corporate groups.
It should be stressed that we will make no attempt to power-game by utilizing the advantages of one faction to benefit the other. To all intents and purposes, these factions shall be run as entirely separate entities, except that the money earned through legitimate business operations shall be used to fund Corsair events and rp activities.
Quote:ii.c Coming home.
Like most factions with a thirst to expand in their own space, The Centinelas have ambitions to populate and develop a fully owned system or base. Currently the neglected Omega 47 system serves as their base of operations.
Casablanca base, now fallen into disrepair in the wake of severe Hessian-Corsair conflicts, is seen as a prime site from which to develop a fleet presence, and the desire is to maintain it as a launching pad into Hessian territory. The Centinelas hope to develop this base and maintain it as a permanent HQ.
The Academia (ii.a) shall follow along with this relocation, and hopefully establish Casablanca as a focal point for up-and-coming pilots.
The vast natural resources of the Omega 47 system are the cause of heightened aggression between Corsairs and Hessians, and the Centinelas hope to push the conflict to their favor by maintaining an increased presence here. This should eventually allow them to take control of the rich planetary resources in this system, and eventually establish footholds on the planets themselves.
Quote:ii.d. Fleet of War
The primary motive for this new and extreme focus on income generation is to build a fleet that can meet and defeat an invading armada, and prepare for larger assaults to gain territory' A vital step in the expansionist ambitions of the Centinelas del Cielo.
Long incensed at the concept of the Corsairs as a mere ragtag band of gypsy pirates (A contemptuous view held by all of the formal houses, and not a few other factions, and strongly reinforced by the piratical policies of the current corsair leadership), the Centinelas del Cielo are determined to demonstrate the true might and integrity of the Corsair Empire.
Important OORP Note:
The fact is that most independent corsairs run capital ships, and this fact conflicts with the traditional lore of the corsairs, where resources are not considered sufficient to give the corsairs that type of vessel in any number. (Note: All [CC] capital ships shall be resourced and role-played into existence over the long term).
The Fleet of War policy is an attempt to mitigate the uncontrolled use of caps by embracing, rather than ignoring, this player-led development. We argue that it is better to bring these ships under control rather than simply ignore that they exist or attempt to veto them outright; both factors that will diminish player enjoyment.
Therefore, Centinelas del Cielo shall endeavor to control cap usage, but not remove it altogether. The following rule-set describes our policy to maintain a regulated balance of [CC] -tagged capital ships.
Quote:Overview: Centinelas del Cielo Battle Fleet
Distribution of forces:
The Centinelas del Cielo Fleet comprises a large number of vessels, the combined strength of which could easily unbalance any RP scenario. This is a bad thing.
To ensure a full balance, the fleet shall be split into 3 separate regional and functional groups, which will stay separated, except for extraordinary (planned) events.
The Centinelas del Cielo Fleet is comprised of three (3) main fleet arms:
'¢ AZUL (the Blue)
'¢ BLANCO (the White)
'¢ ROJO (the Red)
All Centinelas del Cielo vessels, large and small, shall receive a fleet assignment.
All Centinelas del Cielo capital ships (excluding gunboats) require formal approval from fleet leaders before leaving dock. This will ensure that caps are never used to overload enemies, and that capital ship usage stays reasonable.
Note: Smaller vessels such as fighter and bombers, may float between fleets, unless specific orders come in that tie them to their own fleet.
Note: Deployments are tentative, and may be subject to change.
AZUL - Known as: The Blue Squadron, or Inshore Fleet
Fleet status: Primary fleet.
Stationed in Omicron Gamma, Tripoli Shipyard
Primary mission: To protect the Home systems from aggression.
Secondary mission: To direct all Centinelas del Cielo strategic military actions.
BLANCO - Known as: the White Squadron, or Offshore fleet
Fleet status: Secondary fleet.
Stationed at: Omicron Lamda, Ciutadella Space station
Primary mission: To protect the Home systems from aggression.
Secondary mission: To maintain a Centinelas del Cielo defensive perimeter.
ROJO - Known as: The Red Squadron, or Flying Squadron
Fleet status: Tertiary fleet.
Stationed at: Omicron 47, Casablanca space station
Primary mission: To protect the Home systems from aggression.
Secondary mission: To maintain a Centinelas del Cielo defensive perimeter.
Quote:ii.e. The Codice Carmesi
The Centinelas del Cielo are idealists, and maintain a warrior creed, defined in the pages of the Codice Carmesi: The Crimson Codex - an ancient text from Hispania that defines a code of military conduct - where honor is held above all things as the highest goal of a fighter, without which victory may never be truly attained.
The Centinelas del Cielo seeks to guard, and safeguard, the traditional ways of life, and code of honor that many Corsair fighters live by. Dedication to this code has resulted in the skill of the Corsairs in combat as it has also been a creed to fight and die by.
OORP Note: The Codice Carmesi is an RP device to help define more considerate player action, and enforce those actions within the 'Centinelas del Cielo'.
In an RP context it is simply the Art of War for the space age, written by a fleet master at the birth of the space age, and lost to memory except as passed down fragments cherished by Centinelas del Cielo pilots.
Our goal is that eventually the Codice Carmesi can be developed as an in-game cargo item, similar to the RP rules item, and carried by [CC] pilots, to serve as badges of honor for our pilots, and trophies for our enemies.
Quote:III. The Enemy
Quote:iii.a New foes.
Centinelas del Cielo define the alien Nomad threat as the greatest evil in Corsair space, given the disasters that have befallen their old allies the Order, who traditionally held the bastion of defense against the aliens.
Particularly the fall of the Omicron Minor system, and the destruction of the Order home-world (which otherwise we couldn't really care less about), has forced the Centinelas to focus their efforts against the alien invaders, and heighten our belligerence towards the Order, as we perceive ourselves to be the next course on the nomad menu, and our systems as a point of unwanted interest for the now homeless and desperate Order. The destruction of the Order home-world has forced the Centinelas to realize that their home-world may be next on the Nomad menu.
The Red Hessians are also seen as a major threat for their repeated incursions into Corsair space, and more particularly their belligerent presence in the Omicron 47 system:
O47 is an important strategic target for the Centinelas given its strategic proximity to Omicron Gamma, and the rich natural resources prevalent in that system.
Obviously the Nomad incursion into Omicron Minor is one of the strongest RP storylines on the discovery server today, and we would like to play a part in how it roles (sic) out, hence we wish to push rp events in the direction of the Order, and Nomad interactions.
(We feel Corsairs have more to involve themselves with here than, for example the Gallia role out, where we are not greatly involved).
Quote:iii.b. Old foes
The Centinelas del Cielo wishes to downplay the traditional Corsair conflict with the Outcasts, the traditional opponents of the Corsairs, in the fight for the once-scarce resources of the Omicron systems, as it is seen as a conflict that may be put on the backburner whilst more pressing issues are dealt with.
OORP Note: The primary motivation for this is to give RP justification for pulling our attention away to other foes from the traditional Corsair-OC conflict. In OORP reality the current state of Corsair and Outcast relations is very one-sided towards Corsairs, and we don't wish to cause further imbalance. We therefore invent the following reasoning to legitimately focus on other areas. This policy is of course subject to change, depending on player interactions on-server.
This is primarily due to the Outcasts lack of empire building in the past few years, but also because of the realization that eventually the Outcast must be overwhelmed and occupied in their entirety in order to be defeated, as their drug addiction and Nomad tolerance, makes them an erratic foe. Therefore decreasing hostilities with them now may result in a more lax attitude towards capital ship building on the part of the Outcasts, and lower their defenses as a result.
Outcasts are nonetheless treated with hostility and contempt, and the resources under their control are viewed greedily. A core tenet of the Codice Carmesi is the ironically titled 'reunification' of Corsairs and Outcasts. Unlike the reapers of Sirius, however, the Centinelas have no illusions about how this should occur: total invasion and occupation of the Outcasts is required, with all the genocidal implications that that scenario entails.
Note: An eventual reunification of the Hispania Empire is a prime motive for the Centinelas, but that does not necessarily mean an appeasement policy towards Outcasts, who are instead simply overlooked, and considered only as a eventual target for deletion.
The Zoners are also eyed suspiciously, as the events of the Omega-3 conflict are not easily forgotten. Especially the fact that Zoners have settled their own planet (Gran Canaria in Omega 58) and developed capital ship capability, and are no longer simply the nomadic refugees on the fringe of space that they once were, is seen as an empire-building challenge by these Corsair empire builders.
OORP Note: The other Corsair factions are doing some great RP scenarios with the Zoners, so our intention is to step back a bit and let them lead in this direction. We are of course very keen to assist those interactions. We will take the role as being generally negative to Zoners because we feel they are overstepping themselves, and that their ambitions secretly mirror our own.
Other houses are treated with general contempt and disdain, but the Centinelas are keen to eventually establish dialog with any leadership that will aid them in their struggle for recognition as a legitimate presence in Sirius space. This ambition is probably their greatest weakness, as it leads to a certain desire towards self-flattery, and artificial inflation of their own self importance.
OORP Note: The other Corsair factions are doing some great RP scenarios with the houses, so our intention is to step back a bit and let them lead in this direction. We are of course very keen to assist those interactions. We will take the role as being eager to demonstrate Corsair might to the houses, and perhaps insecure in the face of their power and authority.
Quote:IV. Player motivations:
Our primary motivation is to improve the game experience in Corsair space by reinforcing game-play through story and event-driven Role-playing, to balance out some of the more extreme RP elements of the corsair experience, and to bring the casual Corsair players into the RP fold.
This means interacting with other players in multiple-outcome scenarios, and planned events.
A central tenet to our game-playing philosophy is that the more belligerent the role being played, the more sensitive that player must be to the feelings of his fellow players. It is very easy to let aggressive playfulness spill out into real conflict, with the resulting dissatisfaction and reduced game-play experience causing very real player frustration. As an extremely violent game-play avatar, the Corsair role requires skilled role-playing to be performed well, and we want our group to be a prime motivator towards superior Corsair role-playing on the discovery server.
Quote:iv.a. Faction Goals:
1. To increase the quality and experience of player-to-player encounters, regardless of the in-game scenario unfolding, or team biases.
2. To help enrich the Corsair history and drama, and provide a 3-dimensional backdrop to actions in corsair space.
3. To introduce new players to Corsair space, and get the independent players interested in story and character development, through positive encouragement.
4. To act as ambassadors for a fully immersive Role-playing experience on Discovery.
Quote:iv.b. Current challenges in Corsair space:
The Corsair game-play experience is especially inviting to new players, as it is essentially one of the easiest roles to grasp: Ruthless, dedicated, and skillful piratical warriors, living on the edge of known space and liking it.
As players drawn to this scenario have grown competent is it, so the Corsair lore has essentially become dominated by that playing style that best suits this role: swift and belligerent action. This sometimes can result in conflict overload.
Gamma has also become a hub of activity, both positive and negative, as it is the easiest area in Sirius to get instantly gratifying combat encounters, but as a result, the more expressive role-players tend to steer clear, or else build characters for simple action here, whilst maintaining richer RP characters elsewhere.
The end result is that other RP methods, such as dialog and exploration, are limited in Corsair space. More experienced or involved RP'ers simply go elsewhere, and Planet raids and impossible OORP scenarios are forced on the Corsair systems daily as a result of 'aggression overload'.
We respectfully submit that in the same way that 'Call of Duty' cannot be considered role-play simply because it allow players to fill a predefined role, neither should the simple outfitting of pilots and preparing them for uniform molded Corsair roles be considered the end-all of corsair behavior nor enshrined in the lore.
Corsairs have one of the richest back-stories in Sirius, and the tragedy of their splintering from the outcasts, as well as the struggle to define themselves, and the obvious conflicts that this would entail, should be used to anchor more satisfying role-play experiences towards.
We do not intend to rewrite Corsair lore or history; we simply seek to grow a new branch in its tree of history.
We maintain for example, that piracy is an act that Corsairs perform as a means to an end, and that it is an action that they have come to take a result of circumstances.
Other acts are available to them, and other actions may be taken. We intend to explore those other actions: Empire building, Organized crime, Pilot training, and complex Strategic warfare, rather than piracy, smuggling and simple ship-to-ship combat.
Quote:V. Recruitment and membership
Centinelas del Cielo Navy List is the up-to-date membership roster for the faction:
1. Centinelas del Cielo Current Player membership,
2. Centinelas del Cielo Organizational roles,
3. Centinelas del Cielo Characters,
4. Centinelas del Cielo ships that altogether represent the Centinelas del Cielo faction.
More information:
1. Centinelas del Cielo Players are defined as individuals and members of the Centinelas del Cielo who play the game with a [CC] role and tag.
2. Centinelas del Cielo Organizational Roles are defined as duties that those players must perform.
3. Centinelas del Cielo Characters are the lead actors in the role-playing scenarios that those players engage in.
4. Centinelas del Cielo ships are the in-game vessels that those characters will use.
v.a. About members, and their Role-playing responsibilities:
Prospective Centinelas members should be aware that this group is about role-play first and foremost.
Oorp Care-bearing (being overly sensitive to the needs and enjoyment of the other team, to the point that it may lessen that care-bearing individual's own game-play experience) is expected especially from senior members and leaders, as the purpose of this group is to improve encounters and interactions from both sides of the game.
Officers shall be expected to function as umpires first and foremost, rather than players.
Centinelas del Cielo Players are expected to maintain RP roles, but not to the point of griefing other players in those roles. The RP principle of 'Honor before Hatred' will allow Centinelas del Cielo players to use discretion in determining whether or not an aggressive action is really required.
We will also encourage full exploratory dialog before combat, even with hostile factions. This includes giving enemies the time to prepare or meet us in equal force.
The motivation here is simply to balance the game out: When in doubt, let a Centinelas del Cielo Officer guide you.
Quote:Penalties
A 3 strikes rule is in effect for all Centinelas. Simply: three sanctions at server level, or demonstrations of inability to abide by Server, RP or faction regulations shall result in immediate dismissal.
Failure to perform those roles defined will lead to expulsion from the Centinelas del Cielo.
See the recruitment document for more information.
Quote:Taxes
Faction membership grants automatic inclusion into the [CSA] group, which is a high income generator. It is expected that all players will return 10% of income earned through faction activities to the group.
This faction shall use that money to finance role-playing activities and sponsorship of player ships and equipment.
Quote:v.b. Event-driven role-playing
Centinelas del Cielo leaders shall maintain dialog with other factions and groups on the forum to build interesting and rewarding encounters in-game.
Quote:v.c. Recruitment follows The Role-playing learning curve
Casual players may struggle with the complexities of the full discovery RP experience, especially with the full extent of its RP rules and expectations, so a mentoring program will be in effect for new recruits.
Before full membership is granted, a competent knowledge, and participation in forum rules, information and events, is expected from all members. This must be demonstrated sufficiently before full membership is granted.
Quote:v.d Recruitment process
Recruitment follows the following basic steps described in the word document Centinelas del Cielo recruitment document, below (Experience and demonstration of skill levels may accelerate this process).
Quote:v.e. Ships versus Characters
All ships in the Centinelas del Cielo shall be owned by characters described and published on the forum biographies by players.
CC -tagged ships shall be defined as the property of those characters, and forum role-play shall occur between characters, not between ships.
All players with CC -tagged ships are expected to role-play and expand their characters by interacting on this forum in full RP.
All CC -tagged ship actions in-game shall be a consequence of the actions and behaviors of those characters, and to the extent possible, players shall maintain RP roles when interacting with other players, regardless of what oorp situation occurs in-game (A 20-to-1 fight in gamma shall be responded to as if it is full RP).
Quote:VI. Appendix - A Political Background
The Centinelas del Cielo is a recent group, and their desire to be heard, is a development in the state of Corsair politics as that nations' position in the systems grows ever more precarious.
As long as the Corsair Empire held the advantage of distance and aggression over its opponents, and its borders were secured through superior skills and firepower, it was considered more than agreeable by all to be led by a small powerful group of elite elders, that the nature of government could be minimized and kept efficient:
Corsairs are by nature more prone to belligerence than dialog and "led by the strongest" has kept the social fabric intact for hundreds of years, and the oligarchic hierarchy of Corsair authority has traditionally been formed from a select few of the most powerful houses in Corsair territories.
Skilled fighters and negotiators have traditionally been allotted their rightful place in the seats of political power, and families such as the Benitez clan had come to represent the highest ideals of the Corsair domain, even as larger and more aggressive factions such as TBH and the Sails gained influence as the Corsair borders erupted into violence, and strong decisive action was required.
However, over time this exclusivity of power and control has resulted in a two-tier class system, where the 'voiceless' majority, represented by the Centinelas, have come to consider the more privileged elders factions as aloof and unrepresentative of the populace, even as those elders must yet be obeyed in all issues of politics and government.
Particularly the open execution by Council elders of Corsair pilots who dared utter grievances, and the open contempt for any and all forms of political dialog outside of the Elders chamber, has escalated the desire of the unvoiced Corsair pilots to gain a role in the future of their nation.
OORP Note: This is a purely fictional scenario, intended to 'spice up' relations between the Corsair factions, and in no way is intended to describe a wish to introduce conflict into the methods that other factions use and play: If anything we hope to help set the different corsair groups in better relief, and bring out their differences as a small catalytic group.
Quote:vi.a. A new way:
Nowadays, as Corsairs find ever more enemies intruding on their space, disagreement has arisen over the best way to deal with newer threats.
From the Centinelas perspective, the current dominating concept, as espoused by the current elder leadership, is to simply outfight any-and-all intruders and possible enemies, which has led the corsairs to pursue an almost xenophobic strategy towards otherwise would-be allies.
Paranoia towards any and all outlying systems has resulted in an isolation that surpasses even the early days of Corsair confinement, when they believed themselves alone in the Sirius sector.
Moreover, the persistent and uncompromising rule of hostility towards outsiders has left the Corsair Empire fighting wars on multiple fronts, yet consistently spurning the political overtures of its allies even as conditions deteriorate.
A lot of new players don't really get the connection between Role-playing and the Space-simulator parts of the Freelancer Discovery RP 24/7 game experience, so I thought I would write this quick guide, and then give them the link to it as I meet them.
This is an unofficial introduction, and I hope it can help new Discovery players to get their game on ' I myself am still very much a newbie, but have been lucky enough to get a lot of great advice from the experienced players, which I'm sharing here, by way of paying forward the favor.
You can find me on the Discovery forums, and I'm very happy to get your comments and feedback, including suggestions for editing and improvements for this guide.
Rmorph.
---- Welcome to Freelancer Discovery RP 24/7 ----
Discovery Freelancer RP 24/7 is a gaming environment run by, and for, players that have an interest in role-playing (The RP bit in the name) in the Freelancer universe. The "gaming environment" of Discovery Freelancer is basically two equal parts:
1. The Forums on www.discoverygc.com
2. The game server that you connect to with the Freelancer Discovery game client
24/7 doesn't just mean that the game server is up all the time (which is of course also the goal!):
It also means Role Play 24/7: This means we prefer that characters stay in their roles when participating. There are very few reasons why a player should not be interacting with others in character when within this gaming environment.
Also: Don't underestimate what we mean by role-playing, as a lot of new players tend to think that this is just another server for playing a fancy kind of freelancer multiplayer....
Not exactly: There are other servers you can do that on, but this place is a little special.
The next few pages will try and explain why.
---- Role Play ----
Discovery RP uses the Freelancer universe to develop stories, histories and characters that give a greater role-playing experience to its players.
This is often more involved than simply giving yourself a name and team and heading off to fight the enemy. (If role-playing were that simple, any multiplayer FPS like Call of Duty could be called Role-playing).
The Discovery Freelancer gaming server is bound to, and follows, the rules and decisions made on the www.DiscoveryGC.com Role-playing server. These rules are made and enforced by people who are given the formal (legal in-game authority) job of doing that, and they do it by posting on the forums.
You know these people as the formal faction leaders, the admin teams and the developers: basically volunteers and fans that put their time and effort into making this place what it is.
Dig a little on the DiscoveryGC.com forums and you'll see many millions of hour's worth of combined effort from that dedicated community: This effort is the true wealth of the Discovery Role-playing experience.
---- Getting Started ----
When starting out, a lot of new players tend to skip the forums for a bit, and just focus on getting their ships and guns up to a decent level, and finding their way around the systems in-game, which is a good enough way to get into things.
As you develop and gain experience (especially by interacting with other players), you are going to see them talking about and referring to stuff that may not seem sensible: (Such as telling you that you can't fly a certain kind of ship, or that someone is an enemy when they don't appear as hostile to you).
This information will sometimes even conflict with what you have learned on the wiki, or in the game itself.
In fact sooner or later, the more you play, the more you're going to find that people are telling you not to do stuff. After a while you may even receive a sanction (an in-game fine or punishment).
It can be very frustrating not to fully understand why that sort of thing happens, and a lot of players resent that they are having their game experience ruined, without realizing that is because they themselves are breaking the rules that define that experience.
It just appears to them that someone is telling them something illogical and them punishing them because they don't understand it.
This "illogical stuff" is where the RP Forums rules stuff starts to kick in, and if you don't keep informed about what is happening in the Forums, you are probably missing a very big part of what is going on, and are likely to end up making mistakes that annoy the other players, and ultimately yourself.
---- Finding information ----
Having said all that, sometimes the forums can be a pretty difficult place to navigate around.
The community is trying to make the important stuff easy to find there, but a lot of new players can find the forums and the wealth of information in it, intimidating.
There is also a wiki which is easier to go to, that describes the general technical and historical stuff, and which many new players use as the "rulebook". The wiki however, is designed from the "general information" perspective. A lot of that information is fine for the other less-roleplay servers, but on Discovery RP much of it has been amended, and is obsolete.
BUT: Don't despair if you find that you have out of date information!
It is important to remember that the History of Sirius is a living thing due to the effort on the Forums. Sirius moves faster on the RP forums than anywhere else, and there is a lot of allowance for the fact that not everyone knows what's going on in-game.
Sometimes you will be surprised to find out you are at war, or even at peace with a new group of people. So be prepared to learn new information from others, and also be prepared for the necessity of changing your in-game playing a little bit every now and then.
A good general rule of thumb is this:
· The official faction postings in the forums overrule the Wiki stuff about politics and alliances.
· If someone refers to a forum RP rule, you need to check it there before you start arguing them.
---- Having a hard time? ----
Let's face it: There is a learning curve when this much information is placed outside the game.
Your first reaction might even be that why should we care ' it won't get in the way of shooting things.
Fair enough: The Forums serve as a guide and as a deepening of the game, but some players take a little more laid back approach, and that works fine for them. Discovery lays out the guidelines and rules to keep things constant story-wise, but doesn't try to tell players to what level they need to role-play, or which roles to choose, and is based upon the idea that the varied styles add to the community experience, but instead is all about encouraging players to give and get the best gaming experiences they can in a way that doesn't negatively affect anyone else: Following that basic rule can get you a very long way.
So if you find yourself continually struggling to find a place here, or to understand the intricacies of the Discovery role-playing community - don't fret!
It takes time to become familiar with all the details, and the community is extremely lenient and encouraging when it comes to new players finding their way. It generally overlooks the kind of mistakes that new players will innocently make. Expect to get a heads up about things that could be done better ' and maybe someone will get a little in your face if they don't know you're new, But acting like mature adults is really the best way to grow, no matter what level of experience the player.
One thing is certain: The enthusiasm of new players is appreciated, even if sometimes they can be a little misguided and overconfident about certain playing aspects that will later turn out to be wrong ('It's on the wiki! It must be true!').
---- Fitting in? ----
If, after a while, you still find yourself getting into constant trouble, or beginning to resent the kind of playing activity you find on the discovery server, it might be an idea to sit down and really go through the rp forums, and learn how and why people are playing like this, and why it's interfering with your notions of play.
This type of RP-focused playing server isn't for everyone: If it doesn't get better for you, then maybe one of the other servers will be more suitable - There are plenty of servers that take a more relaxed approach to RP - or you can even start one yourself!
It might be worth sticking around however, and trying to adapt: You might have noticed that the Discovery Freelancer RP 24/7 server is the most populated Freelancer Discovery server out there. This is simply because all that 'overwhelmingly complicated' RP stuff is what keeps people here, and if you take the effort to get involved in that RP aspect, the chances are that this will become a new home for you, as the extra level of complication becomes an extra level of depth to your experience.
---- Why play by the rules? ----
Discovery Role-players use the game server to play out the roles, laws and identities that they have spent thousands and thousands of hours building on the Discovery forums. It's this stuff that the burdensome rules are trying to preserve and safeguard.
In-game, we can't really leave our ships, but on the forums we can build characters that almost walk, talk and breathe.
When you get a spare hour or two, check out the stories section, and take a few minutes to look at some of the player ID's from the community. This is role-playing at its finest, and as the community wants it: Immersive, challenging and rewarding.
Most long-term players have built full character histories, and given very deep life stories to their characters, and the groups (Factions) that they belong to.
Faction leaders:
Some of the more experienced players have been given "formal Faction duties". They are there to preserve the law and design of the faction, so that new players don't start trying to change a faction beyond its original character. You know them as 'elders' or 'councilors' for the main factions such as Bretonia and Liberty, Corsairs and Outcasts.
These guys have authoritative rights on the server to ensure that players stick to the rules.
One reason for this is that the developers are continually adjusting and balancing the game to make every faction a different experience to play. This includes weapons and ships behavior.
New impulsive changes in the ways factions behave could unbalance the game, or minimize the "differences" implied in choosing a faction to join: If everyone could play a character with any kind of ship equipped with anything they liked then there would be no point in having various groups.
Consider this as a way to encourage separate types of play, in the same way that for example, other games might have orcs and elves, or aliens and predators. Neither species would wear the others armor type, or use the same tactics, for reasons of morals, tastes, and sheer physical impracticalities.
Another - and perhaps even greater- reason to regulate factions is that with so many people in the community putting time and effort into the stories and lores of these factions, no-one wants to see that get overruled by "ninjas" or for the sake of some new quick idea that will reduce the believability, override the common knowledge, and counter the RP-story so far.
---- Did it really happen? ----
One particular result of the Forum leading the in-game server might get especially confusing for new players:
"Impossibilities" that happen in-game are ignored to preserve the RP experience.
That basically means that nothing official (CANON) happens on the game server unless the RP forums plan it, or acknowledge it.
For example: You might bring a mighty fleet of ships into the Corsair home system, and wipe out everything for a few hours, and then expect to see a big post about it the next day on the RP forums.
Simply: It didn't happen: That sort of thing really happens almost every night, but it is a player action that isn't grounded in role-play, and therefore doesn't exist, except as a non-canon event.
Therefore, the CANON of Discovery lore is defined on the forum, not in the game.
As an example: In the "Logic of the Universe" The Corsairs as a space-faring nation would have planetary defenses and a strong strategy for home defense that a mere handful of ships simply wouldn't have a hope of penetrating.
On a game with only 225 players, sometime we must face the fact that not every planet or system will be sufficiently protected, but we don't let that affect the story of Corsairs:
'Corsairs are an empire of skilled warriors'¦ that nonetheless have their home system invaded
5 times a night'
See what I mean?
Also: Sometimes we are limited by the mechanics of the game, so we need to accept that the gaming server won't always synchronize with the role-playing forums.
Just to make it extra confusing: At the same time that the Game server must follow the logic of the Role-play server, so a faction leader might make a request of the players in-game (Such as to ignore a group of ships, or stop following into another system) that just seems illogical at that moment.
It is this especially this contradiction that confuses new players, and can lead to some pretty heated discussions later.
---- We're not trying to rob you ----
This is not to try and take away your gaming experience. Please note that most of the guys in charge are pretty laid back, and will let the in-game play continue even if it breaks believability (10 capital ships chasing a gunboat into a Home system), but really this sort of experience is not considered a good CANON role-play encounter (especially not by the poor guy in the gunboat).
Experienced players will not interrupt game-play with an out-of-role-play (oorp) restriction, because player enjoyment is really important - but remember that they can sanction you or call in the ADMINS if it gets too crazy. That type of action is usually reserved for people who should have known better, or who were told better, but refused to back down.
Anytime a player is obviously doing something even though they know it is negatively affecting other players, will be noticed and eventually dealt with. This can include losing their stuff as punishment, which often represents many hundreds of hours of effort for them.
However; If they honestly didn't know then they'll probably just have it explained to them, and be given the benefit of the doubt once or twice. After that player 'innocence' can't really be used as an excuse:
The longer you have been around, the more you are expected to know.
Remember that everyone does something stupid or silly from time to time; these can even be some of the best in-game moments, as well as some of the worst. No-one is after you just for acting out occasionally, so if you find yourself at the hard end of a warning or sanction, just roll with it and take it as the learning experience its meant to be.
Just try and be considerate of the players around you, and work to improve their game, and you'll be fine.
---- Making it official ----
If you really want to call up a fleet and invade a home system, you'll need to get agreement from those involved in the CANON storyline: Get involved on the forums and send your idea to the faction leaders involved: Perhaps something can be arranged.
That sort of event takes a lot of planning and effort though, so be aware that this is not a random street-fight that can just be thrown together.
---- Where do I start to learn the rules? ----
Simple answer: The RP forums.
Take your time there, and get familiar with what's going on: It will enrich your game time immensely.
Start with the laws of Sirius and the house rules, and then start checking out other places in there.
I won't post any specific links as it's a good idea to get familiar with how to navigate through the forums
It's also an idea to check the player sanctions board, and see what players have been sanctioned for
doing.. Usually this is bad behavior or cheating or something, but players can also be sanctioned simply
for repeatedly refusing to observe the rules of their faction.
Last but not least: Introduce yourself on the forum! It gets much harder to be mean or inconsiderate when you know the person, whilst anonymity is the first step towards abuse.
Let us know who you are and who you are playing. Write a bio, and tell us your story! You will be far more appreciated and valued for your effort.
---- Too many rules? ----
If you make that effort you will see that all of these "rules and illogical limitations" blend together to provide a richer gaming experience.
I urge you: Make the effort, and you'll find that Discovery RP can offer you an experience different from any other space simulation, as part of a rich gaming community.
Lastly: When in doubt ask for help. There are plenty of people who have got time for you, and remember what it was like to be new themselves.
Version 1.0_28.02.2012 by Rmorph
This document is available in PDF format
Centinelas del Cielo :::::::::::::: Sentinels of the Sky
Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Navy List
3. Player Faction Roles
4. Centinelas del Cielo RP roles
4.1 Military
4.2 Intelligence
4.3 Trade
4.4 Training
5. How to apply to the Centinelas
6. Leaving the Centinelas del Cielo.
7. Discipline within the Centinelas del Cielo.
8. Contacts
1. Introduction
Centinelas del Cielo is a fraternity of like-minded RP enthusiasts on the discovery server.
By fraternity we mean that there is very little bureaucracy in how we organize, and even though every member of the group will have characters that fill RP roles, those roles do not automatically define the level of seniority that the player has within the Centinelas.
Generally, seniority is decided pretty much by the level of experience, interest and involvement of members within the faction, with responsibility given to members as trust from their peers is earned.
This means that someone with a formal RP [CC] role of, for example Almirante (Admiral), may not immediately have the Faction responsibility of defining how other players from the group shall behave (Orders given in an RP context shall of course be expected to be followed, but generally advice may be given to that player on OORP issues, or general faction strategies, by players with a 'lower' RP rank within the Centinelas who nonetheless hold a senior position (higher on the internal list) within the faction.
We expect discussion around who is who in the faction to be an ongoing thing, where every member has a good idea of anyone else serving in the Centinelas.
This 'commanded by below' strategy is especially true where situations arise when experience is needed, rather than an RP role: For example where OORP or conflict situations might occur. In those cases it is expected that faction members will defer to the more experienced and established players, regardless of the RP rank each player holds.
2. The Navy List
To aid in this ranking-by-experience, a general seniority list shall be maintained in the Centinelas Navy List.
This list mirrors the Captains List of certain navies, where the commanders above your name were senior to you, and the commanders below you were junior.
This separation of RP-role and faction seniority allows newer players to role-play commanders and officers, while the older, more experienced players can role-play lower level grunts within the [CC]
It is a diversification which is intended to enrich the Group playing experience, and grow a team-based playing style within the Centinelas.
Note: Maturity and discretion are advised in observing this behavioral guideline: Know the guys around you and be aware that you might be asked to adjust your behavior for the sake of factors you are not immediately aware of.
Especially: Keep an open mind and, when in doubt as to who is in charge, chill and let the situation be resolved amicably.
3. Player Faction Roles
Rmorph is the faction leader, and has final say on issues related to both RP and OORP behavior for members where Centinelas del Cielo is concerned.
Rmorph takes general ownership of the Navy list, and all promotions and demotions on that list are his call to make.
Synts and Apotheosis currently hold the second-in-command roles and can take actions and decisions on behalf of Rmorph, who will allow their decisions to stand on just about everything they decide upon.
Generally any one of the three leaders can be considered an authority of last resort for decisions and rulings made for the faction, and will take the heat for any faction errors or penalties.
They can also make spontaneous decisions to grant field commissions, where players will be given a different level of authority than that which is defined by the navy list, this can be done to test the abilities of new recruits, or verify the skill levels of the established players.
In situations where a leader decision is required, it is generally unwise to attempt to get a formal decision from one of the leaders questioned or overturned by another, except in issues of great complexity or mitigating circumstances (such as sudden unavailability of the leader with whom a dialog was ongoing).
Disclaimer by faction leaders: We are all only human and very likely the leader in question has discussed the issue before hand with the others already, but in the long run team unanimity is sometimes more important than political correctness, so don't hate us just because you don't like the decision we made.
We don't want to be faction or forum police, and expect the members to observe a high level of self control in all interactions in-game and in-forum.
4. Centinelas del Cielo RP roles
The Centinelas is a multi-headed organization, where Formal RP roles are split into 4 sections:
Military | Trade | Intelligence | Training
In reality you may be asked to put one or more [CC] characters in any and all of these faction groups. The idea is to create multiple Role-playing opportunities, by developing multiple characters.
For the sake of defining an RP hierarchy, we have defined these four groups to help us split the types of tasks performed within the Centinelas.
4.1 Military
(Overall Command: Synts).
This is the meat of the Discovery experience: Nearly all [CC] Ships belong in the military, and will be assigned to one of 3 fleets: Rojo, Azure or Blanco (Red, White or Blue).
We split the fleet in this way to help balance the CC fleet, so that we don't suddenly show up with 10 capital ships in a fleet engagement. Far more interesting to show up with a well thought out deployment.
Fleet assignments are really only important for capital ships, and smaller vessels are expected to float between the systems as they like, unless called to a specific duty.
See the Centinelas del Cielo Manifesto for more on Fleet deployments.
4.2 Intelligence
(Overall Command: Rmorph).
Where Military defines ships and tactics on the server, Intelligence is the forum side of things: Stories, biographies and planned events, as well as any discussions around faction interaction with the rest of the community.
All [CC] members are expected to publish biographies, and involve themselves in the stories and communication happening in-forum. This will involve interacting on a board that can sometimes be the place where the trolls come out to feed.
A lot of Cielo events require agreement with other groups, and maintaining a decent reputation for game-play and RP dialogue is critical if we want to run exciting events.
This also means that we keep our facts, lore, and behavior in full rp mode when interacting with other players.
It's expected that when Cielo members intend to interact on the forums on behalf of the Faction, that they give a heads up to Rmorph: Even if it's just spellchecking or lore checking.
Especially anything that is going to start an argument, or may be considered a little spicy: Give us a chance to offer you an objective opinion, and maybe we can back you up with lore or rule knowledge.
Remember than when you wear the [CC] tag, any action you take may impact the faction. Faction sanctions are common where players behave out of the expected RP guidelines, so let us have a chance to verify what you are doing.
This is a two way thing: We will also come in and support you on any issues you might face, even if it's just as a character witness - so involve us if you are having difficulties, in-game or in-forum.
4.3 Trade
(Overall Command: Shared).
Centinelas runs a trade arm called [CSA] Corporate Shipping Airways.
Our aim is to make money fast, and so we run a fleet of traders and miners and find the most profitable routes for earning quick cash. 'Safety in numbers' is also a core philosophy.
You will be invited to tag your trading and mining vessels [CSA] and participate in this venture, which is an optional side-venture to the main [CC] activities.
We also operate a Barge: The [CSA]Petrified.Elephant / [CC]Monolito
This gives us some good RP opportunities for building the Trading group as a little side-event maker for [CC]: For example. We have plans for the [CC] to hijack the [CSA] vessel.
4.4 Training
(Overall Command: Shared)
.
Centinelas operate out of the Omega 47 system, and are based at Casablanca.
We have built the Academia del Perdido, and run the weekly Torneo del Perdido to maintain the RP storyline of the Academia.
This is essentially described as a training academy for elite Corsair pilots, and we hope to build a few RP events around it.
The basic purpose is to help both faction and non-faction players develop their skills.
The Academia also operates a number of 'trainer vessels' which are basically shared accounts for faction members.
This includes a number of Corsair ships, such as a Cruiser and Bomber.
We will also RP some ship exchanges with various factions, which will hopefully allow us to run different ships from the academia'¦
5. How to apply to the Centinelas
5.1 Who are we looking for? What are you looking for?
Thanks for sticking around. We are looking for hard core role-players to join our little group, and we want them to find us, rather than spam-recruiting to the forums.
We intend to remain a small group. Here's what we consider important:
'¢ Role-play is your thing. That means: Fully immersive character development, rather than flying ships and talking in a funny voice.
'¢ You should already have built a character or two on the forums, and know how to speak in-character on the game server.
'¢ You are familiar with the rules of the server, and the corsair faction (At the very least you know where to find those rules when you're in doubt about something).
'¢ You are not afraid of purposely losing the in-game fight, for the sake of building the RP experience for other players. You are not afraid of allowing the odds to stack against you because the conversation is interesting.
'¢ You want to participate in RP events, and help roll them out as a maker and organizer, rather than as a simple player.
5.2 Recruitment Process:
If the above applies to you then these are the steps you should take:
1. Contact Rmorph by PM on the forum. A short conversation will get you in-game and casually flying with us. After an initial informal introduction with some of the other members, you may be invited to join our Skype channel and hang.
If you have got as far as our Skype channel it's because you already have demonstrated a keen wish to role-play and participate.
If so, then at the very least we are going to set you up with a proper ship and equipment (usually a well 'armed Titan): Consider this a gift from the Centinelas for being a worthy Corsair: No payback required.
2. We assume you roll with us because you want to fly Corsair: Consider your Corsair character(s) carefully, and check some of the other biographies from our members. Build them up to be as cool as possible: These are the guys that will be flying your ships. We can help with creative ideas if you need to flesh them out.
3. When you feel comfortable with your character(s), publish them to the stories page on the forum. Rmorph will help you polish off the vocabulary and language if you need a hand.
4. After we've flown with you a bit, you might be given a [CC] tag or 2 for your characters ships. This is a trial period thing: If it doesn't work out we will refund you the name change. We can also sort you out with a faction loan to build up your [CSA] trader and miner if you want to join our fast-cash effort on the side.
5. You (The player, rather than the character) will then be placed at the bottom of the navy list, just as players coming after you will be placed behind you. Don't be down about being last ' check point 6.
6. Your effort towards the faction will define your ranking on that list. Creative effort leading events, helping other players, and just general skill and involvement will get you up that ladder faster than casual gaming. Consider it a motivation to contribute creatively!
7. Stuck around a while? Still involved?
Welcome! You're now a pilot in the Centinelas del Cielo!
6. Leaving the Centinelas del Cielo
At any time during this process or further on, you may decide the [CC] isn't for you. We might also feel that there are other places you could best make use of your time. It's just a game.
Let's have no hard feelings, and wish each other the best of luck!
We will ask you to remove the [CC] tag from your ships, and update your forum id to remove our faction information. We can reimburse you for the name changes if you are short of cash, and help you find a more interesting faction if you like. In some cases, we can also offer a trade-in for your ships if you plan to leave Corsairs altogether.
You are free to keep the initial ship setup (Titan?) we helped you with, as it's a gift, but you will be asked to pay back any outstanding loans to the bank [CC]Banco, or [CC] players, and return any shared account vessels you may have borrowed.
We haven't yet had anyone leave on us ' but it will happen eventually, so let us know what we can do to improve the situation if you feel we're not meeting your needs. Otherwise good luck!
7. Discipline within the Centinelas del Cielo.
This is the hard-to-talk about stuff, but we have to mention it.
We have great ambitions to be one of the hardest hitting RP groups on the server. This is a doubly difficult task because we want to RP as Corsairs:
Corsairs need to be played with great sensitivity for other players simply because they are so violent and aggressive as an RP choice in-game.
A lot of players have very bad experiences with other Corsairs, and have been on the receiving end of taunts, abuse and outright malicious behavior.
You can expect them to take it out on you.
This means that you will experience a lot of frustration, and even anger at the hands of other players: The RP lines will be continually stretched and broken in ways that negatively impact your game.
Suck it in. You are in the Centinelas. This is the way the role.
'¢ Centinelas cannot change the game-play of every other player on the server, but we shall lead by example.
We shall never stoop to the lowest form of behavior, but will make every effort to take our gaming to the very highest level.
'¢ Centinelas del Cielo has a zero-tolerance policy for OORP abuse, and will fight very hard to maintain a good reputation in-game and in-forum. If you feel you are being treated in a way that needs addressing, come to us and let us be your advocate, rather than going on-forum with a grievance, or cat fighting in-game. Regardless of how badly the other players behave, we expect better from you.
'¢ Any member finding themselves on the end of a sanction, or generating ill-will from other players will need a very good excuse to stay high up on the [CC] navy list, or even to stay with us.
'¢ If you demonstrate continued disregard for other players, or if you show that you can't contain your temper / feelings in a mature way then we will regretfully ask you to leave.
Lastly:
[CC] is defined as an unofficial faction on the Forums, but has the privileges of a regular faction with regards its name and membership:
This means that the [CC] tag is reserved and enforce by the Admins, and that we can ask the Admins to enforce our requirements towards players and ex players, whether it be speaking on behalf of our players, or forcibly removing their tags.
8. Contacts
If you have any questions on any of this stuff, send a PM to Rmorph, and he will do his best to answer you ASAP.
Synts and Apotheosis are also available to answer questions.
Otherwise any [CC]-tagged player will be happy to respond to you in-game. Just be patient if you don't get an immediate response: We might be in battle.
A critical malfunction on the barge [CSA]Petrified.Elephant has resulted in its inability to navigate, and it is currently roaming space completely blind.
The vessel is currently reported to be astray and roaming dark space, destination Bretonia,while a repair ship tries to locate it and fix the fault.
The Corsairs get wind of this fact by a mayday alert picked up on an open channel.
With the Academia del Perdido, our newly founded training school, we wish to give expert pilots the opportunity to demonstrate their talents in a manner that benefits the Corsair Empire.
A cash prize of 50,000,000 Sirius credits shall be handed out to the pilot who stands alone in a dogfighting competition.
![[Image: headerkm.jpg]](http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/5913/headerkm.jpg)
![[Image: centinelas.gif]](http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2295/centinelas.gif)
![[Image: lavoz.gif]](http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/3871/lavoz.gif)
![[Image: crest2.gif]](http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/184/crest2.gif)
![[Image: save_tree.gif]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/447770944388333576/468647877401378816/save_tree.gif)
