How to fix the problem where activity is not spread evenly across Sirius

[Lythrilux]

In OFL chat we were talking about how Gallia is devoid of activity and that's partially due to it's poor positioning in relation to the rest of the houses and regions. Right now you have Liberty at the center, the other houses around it, and Gallia in the far corner desperately trying to be relevant although it's a bit futile. So Alex ( @Zephyranthes ) came up with an idea for a Pentagon layout for the houses, instead of the way things currently are. The idea inspired me to create a visual concept (this is more or less what the navmap would sort of look like, if you imagine each region as a single entity rather than a clump of systems). I'm not sure which one would be better though in regards to the Omicrons:

Houses connect to Omicrons (pre-existing Edge Worlds Omega and Taus are re-classified as Border Worlds):

Both houses and Border Worlds connect to Omicrons (allows for pre-existing Omega and Tau Edge Worlds to remain Edge Worlds):

Only Border Worlds connect to the Omicrons (allows for pre-existing Omega and Tau Edge Worlds to remain Edge Worlds):

The white double ended arrows represent links between each region created via border systems (like Sigma-13, Tau-31 and Tau-29, Omega-3 and Omega-7 etc.). So as you can see the middle of the sector would basically become wild lawless space. The houses passively or aggressively compete for resources inside that area of space. You can also see that every house is more or less connected to each other, meaning ships can flow more easily in and out of each house. To get to those houses you have to go through the lawless border worlds I mentioned earlier. Pirate activity would be rife in these regions, so watch out. The Omicrons are literally Edge Worlds here still, as they exist on the fringe of the colonies. They'd all connected to create a sort of circle around the Houses though, to stop them being sectioned off like Gallia is right now.

Pros:
• Activity can be spread more evenly across all regions
• Regions become better connected, means more interactions with multiple players, groups and factions
• Gallia has a good chance of being revived here, hypothetically at least
• Border Worlds truly become lawless, and a melting pot for various groups and factions competeing over resources and territory
• Easier access from the Omicrons to the houses and vice versa. Edge Worlds factions can raid Houses more easily (hopefully).

Cons:
• Economy would have to undergo a massive revision
• Some lore would have to be retconned, including vanilla lore potentially (i.e Sleeper Ship Liberty aiming for the most resource rich region and landing neatly in the center of Sirius)
• This would probably be a lot of work for system devs. Some systems might have to be deleted, or new systems might even need to be added to make the connections work.

It's likely that this suggestion wouldn't get implemented because of the cons, but it's a fun concept to draw up nonetheless. What do you think?

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[Zephyranthes]

To add on to the model, the usage of the Galaxy Mal function for the navmap to be repurposed as a zoomed out Sirius map could allow us to clump systems into groups that nearly fit into the design of the map here. It's not a definite plan ofc, but more like a representation of the spirit of the idea of a pentagonally-oriented Sirius Sector.

[Catbert]

It's likely that this suggestion wouldn't get implemented because of the cons, but it's a fun concept to draw up nonetheless.

You pretty much nailed it here. But speaking of the idea itself... I kind of like the third layout, even though the second would be more convenient for moving around the sector. I can imagine that Corsair Omicrons would be largely at the bottom of the circle, and Outcast Omicrons at the top. That only leaves the question of where the Nomad Omicrons would be...

Also, it would require rewriting some IDs/rules too. For example, right now Corsairs have Taus out of their ZoI, and Outcasts don't have Omegas on the ZoI. With this new layout it would make sense for them to be able to go anywhere in the middle zone.

So yeah, I have mixed thoughts on this. A part of me loves it, and I definitely wouldn't mind to see how it'd turn out... But then, it's probably too drastic of a change to be implemented.

[Stone21]

You won't fix anything by moving houses like that. Even worse, there will be even less activity in other houses. Gallia itself is the problem, not the people. Gallia shouldn't have been built in the first place. Not everyone agrees with a new house system. Seen this on other servers and new house systems were empty there as well.

[Lythrilux]

It's likely that this suggestion wouldn't get implemented because of the cons, but it's a fun concept to draw up nonetheless.

You pretty much nailed it here. But speaking of the idea itself... I kind of like the third layout, even though the second would be more convenient for moving around the sector. I can imagine that Corsair Omicrons would be largely at the bottom of the circle, and Outcast Omicrons at the top. That only leaves the question of where the Nomad Omicrons would be...

Meph asked the same question so convieniently I made a drawing that outlines that:



You can more or less imagine how the rest of the Edge Worlds factions factor in. The issue here though is that in these map concepts it makes the Omicrons seem much more bigger than they'd actually be on the navmap. The grey lines (jump connections) would just look longer.

You won't fix anything by moving houses like that. Even worse, there will be even less activity in other houses. Gallia itself is the problem, not the people. Gallia shouldn't have been built in the first place. Not everyone agrees with a new house system. Seen this on other servers and new house systems were empty there as well.

I don't think Gallia is going to get deleted, at least not yet and not for a long time. This suggestion would at least give it a much stronger chance at being active than it is now, as it encourages players to move through the House rather than being the tacked-on-dead-end House it is now.

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[Reid]

The best way to make activity isn't by redoing all of Sirius, it's by being the activity. Convince some friends to make a faction in Gallia with you and fly. It'll be quiet and devoid of any life, but eventually some people will start making the trip to Gallia to check things out. Be the change you want to see

Edit: Gallia isn't a bad idea and the implementation was done in a good way. I think the issue was expanding on it as much as they did when .86 came out by adding 20ish systems to a sector that had a good amount of activity for the 5 systems it had

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[Fhloston Paradise]

One of the reasons, for me personally that Gallia doesn't work is because its Lore actively discourages it. What I mean to say is this, I love being a trader, and have been trading off and on for years, but as a lawful trader the entirety of Gallia is off limits to me. There may be great economic reasons to go there, but its completely and absolutely worthless for me to even attempt trade routes there.

Now, RP wise you can say start a Gallia character, but why should I be restricted within one house? Its not an attractive prospect for me.

Further, by denying access to Gallia for traders, you in effect limit the number of pirates and other unlawfuls who would prey upon them, and in turn limit the number of police/military that would act to protect them. Its a chain reaction that comes from the isolationist nature of Gallia.

So I'm sorry to say, you can't have your cake and eat it. If you want an active Gallia, you're going to have to open it up. Otherwise it will remain a dead end house that only Gallia citizens will use. Which, judging by the introduction of the house, hasn't exactly worked out well or is increasing in number.

Just my two cents

[Lythrilux]

Well, trade activity isn't encouraged into Gallia outside of lore either. Gallia is a dead end house, it needs routes and connections that keep the trader activity flowing in a circuit. The other Houses have that, which is what gives better activity. Kusari and Gallia are neutrals with each other at least that I know, and I have seen Samura trains trading around Gallia before. But the other house they're neutral with, Rheinland, has to go through two Houses and two Border Worlds regions at least to get to Gallia. Easing the connections could work wonders in this case.

Making Gallia too neutral wouldn't be a good idea though imo. Houses need wars. Meph suggested that Nomads could take the role of an antagonist intead another house, but K'Hara is too small and too inconsistent to take the place of another house (or two houses rather) attacking Gallia. This could be solved by expanding the indie Nomad ID and lifting the restrictions imposed on it, but we all know that's never going to happen.

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[Sabru]

If it could be done, then i'd support the third version. I like the idea of the houses actually being separated by proper lawless areas where the lawfuls really have to battle to try and suppress unlawful activity to safeguard trade as opposed to the faux 'lawless' areas we have currently, which are pretty much quasi-house space in all but name.

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[Geneva Shipping Platform]

The real problem:
Galia is at war, no one whants to keep fighting forevercause if they die they have to switch character.
No one fiights them , for the same reason, that why the war is being fought by the npc, or by Bretonia players VS the Galia NPC, or the few Galia players VS bretonian npcs.
Theres a war that the players cant fight, cause the rules dont let them wake up.
There is no activity because there are players leaving the server... and you can always say: "yes iv seen many players come and go over the years."
I wonder... why do peapole leave?...
The game is virtualy unplayable, the RP took over too muuch, the fact is you cant do nothing, you can mine and trade and do some kind of... "piracy", wich always ends in the trader giving you couple milions. Oh... and you can build a PoB wich will keep a player here a lil bit longer... but then...?
In one word its becoming BORING
Evolution is needed, review the rules review the tecnology charts, make the game dynamic or watch it die.
(a Freelancer with tecnology compatibility issues??? Seriously? What kind of freelancer is that?)
Just a thought.