What major faction is the best?

[Craptor]

Just wondering what faction to join for the ships and other benefits.

[Babyss]

In my opinion, it depends mostly of what you want to do in the game itself, and if you are attached to the roleplay dimension about joining a superpower.

Federation Ships are considered as combat ships, as the Gunship and Assault Ships good at bounty hunting. There are blunt in design but efficient in what they do. Federation is also somehow a dystopia about a super galactic US-like assembly : Hope in democracy and mass-media to lull the people.

Imperial Ships are somewhat more balanced with the only exception of the Imperial Courrier, a small, fast and well shielded ship, which can do a lot in bounty hunting. Imperial Clipper and Cutter are more heavy multipurpose ships, with the Cutter as one of the best trading ship in game (and very, very expensive...). Imperial ships are less manoeuvrable than Federation, but more shielded. They punch a little less, also, but can be outfitted as trader-explorer more efficiently.
You can see the Empire as a modern Roman Empire, with its pros and cons, as the system is feudal and meritocratic but can be also de facto a plutocracy.

Alliance Ships are balanced, but designed mainly as combat crafts to be honest. They do not require any rank (as the Alliance doesn't have a rank system). It's like a futuristic approach of EU, and while they do not agree about everything they try to defend each other.

Just bear in mind that you can farm your rank in both superpower without any penalty, and then, earn system permits and the ships you wanted.

If you're talking about joining a Powerplay faction, their benefits are not "that" powerful in my opinion, so chose one according to your style and character.
Hope i was helpfull !

[malorob]

there is a war coming so choose wisely. 2020 will be very interesting

[Babyss]

Oh, didn't saw the war coming. Just recently came back to the game, and doing mostly exploration trips and trading so far... With the Thargoids, there is enough targets right now, i thought... Exciting news if the superpowers will clash.
Well, you still have time to farm your ranks and buy your dream ship. (Anaconda is a strong and good choice, mate. Does pretty much all you want.)

[martydaparty4u]

I play as a drifter and haven't join none but don't like the imperials cause they support slave trade.

[Babyss]

Some people could tell you that, according to lore, 'Imperial Slavery' is slightly different than Slavery at all, and no less different to what exploited workers in all human space could see.*In theory, Imperial Slavery is a short to medium period of servitude, as a way to clean off or refund a debt of cash or honor.
If you saw the recent event on GalNet, freed imperial slaves are begging to be enslaved once again, as their debt is not clean, and they were left stranding with no food, job or status somewhere in the middle of nowhere. So i think its more a problem about what you do with an "endure temporary workforce" and treat them fair, than just trading livestock for mines (See the conflict between Senator Torval and Princess Aisling Duval for more lore related about Imperial Slavery).

[Agony_Aunt]

There is no real better one. The Feds and Empire offer ships that they unlock but you don't have to stay with them. I worked for the Empire until i had the Clipper (not Cutter) and the Feds until i had the Gunship (no Corvette), then i moved to Alliance space.

There have been opportunties for me to get the Corvette/Cutter easily, there have been patches which allowed insanely easy ranking (one around 1.3 IIRC?) where for a couple of weeks people were getting top ranks in a couple of days. Never took advantage of it.

[Craptor]

Originally posted by Babyss:

In my opinion, it depends mostly of what you want to do in the game itself, and if you are attached to the roleplay dimension about joining a superpower.

Federation Ships are considered as combat ships, as the Gunship and Assault Ships good at bounty hunting. There are blunt in design but efficient in what they do. Federation is also somehow a dystopia about a super galactic US-like assembly : Hope in democracy and mass-media to lull the people.

Imperial Ships are somewhat more balanced with the only exception of the Imperial Courrier, a small, fast and well shielded ship, which can do a lot in bounty hunting. Imperial Clipper and Cutter are more heavy multipurpose ships, with the Cutter as one of the best trading ship in game (and very, very expensive...). Imperial ships are less manoeuvrable than Federation, but more shielded. They punch a little less, also, but can be outfitted as trader-explorer more efficiently.
You can see the Empire as a modern Roman Empire, with its pros and cons, as the system is feudal and meritocratic but can be also de facto a plutocracy.

Alliance Ships are balanced, but designed mainly as combat crafts to be honest. They do not require any rank (as the Alliance doesn't have a rank system). It's like a futuristic approach of EU, and while they do not agree about everything they try to defend each other.

Just bear in mind that you can farm your rank in both superpower without any penalty, and then, earn system permits and the ships you wanted.

If you're talking about joining a Powerplay faction, their benefits are not "that" powerful in my opinion, so chose one according to your style and character.
Hope i was helpfull !

thanks this is really helpfull as i dont really think about the multipurpose ships and i think i would prefer that altho this war with this war thing i will probably wait to really look at getting my rank up in one.

[Crimson Echo]

The Alliance is best as far as i am concerned.

The Imps (Empire) think human slavery is just the greatest thing ever.

The Feds (Federation) is based around tacit perpetual wage slaves beholden to corporate interests.

The Alliance is essentially a confederation of independent systems for mutual defense against the other superpowers.

[Babyss]

Glad i helped you, Paypalmecraptor!
Dear CMDR Crimson, you really think that the Imps think Imperial is the best ? As far has i read, only Torval seems to like the idea. The actual Empress see that a necessary evil while things have to change, and Princess Duval hates it. I like to see this internal feud, and expect imperial slavery to be abolished in the game one day. (great lore from the dev tho').
I like to see the evolution of the three superpowers in game. This is very interesting.

[Kaizar]

The "princess" is a populist ♥♥♥♥♥ using anti-slavery slogans for political plays, they are nowhere near genuine and you fell for the propaganda well.


ALLIANCE 4 life, and it's not like you can't unlock ships from the lesser factions anyway.

[Jankules]

none,be independent...be Mumu

[Babyss]

An interesting point of view, dear friend ! I trully thought she was a reformer. Can you develop your point of view about her ? I'm very fond of lore theory and all that stuff.

[Witcher]

Powers are not factions and you can't join any minor faction except join a squadron that supports one.

You can pledge allegiance to a power and grind 750 merits in 4 weeks to buy a power locked weapons or module.

[Paradox]

Originally posted by PayPalMeCraptor:

Just wondering what faction to join for the ships and other benefits.

You don't join factions (other than powerplay, in which you can just cycle through them all). You gain reputation with them. And you don't have to choose.

[Lich Lord]

Federal ships are primarily Hull Tanks until you get the Corvette.
Imperial ships rely on shields
Alliance are well..they are just different.

I personally prefer the Krait, Asp explorer and Corvette.. Krait is my mining ship, asp for exploration though if im making long trips i dust off my Anaconda. Corvette is the killer.

Thats a purely game play perspective. There are other factors to consider also, political policy ect.