Please reintroduce player factions for colonization.

[TheARate]

I can't be the only one who wants my colonized systems to have a cool new faction, right? Please introduce a mechanic for players to seed their systems with a custom minor faction.
Yes, the faction we purchase the claim and colony ship from will move into the system, but many colonies have declared independence historically. It'd be an accurate and thematic option.
We'll already be able to decide what installations and economies our colonies will have, so it shouldn't be a stretch that we'd want to start factions who call those systems home.

Frontier, please consider this if you haven't already, and thank you for taking your time to read this.

[Jeebs]

Personally, I would prefer it if the factions that populate the system are NPCs generated by the engine and not player-made factions. I'd have nothing against the player deciding what government type the controlling faction will be though.

I have nothing against PMFs per se, but so many of them just have terrible or stupid names that stand out in Elite's universe, or the name just doesn't make sense for the faction's home system or what it's doing in game.

It also makes me sad to see some these PMFs turn into bloated empires that span a hundred systems or more, crushing every other faction down to single digit influence scores. I doubt there would be many NPC factions that would have spread like that if PMFs were never added to the mix.

Either way, I'd rather see Frontier handle factions from here on out. That's just my preference.

[TheARate]

Originally posted by Jeebs:

Personally, I would prefer it if the factions that populate the system are NPCs generated by the engine and not player-made factions.

I really wanted to make a cool faction that rules over a sector a few thousand lightyears away...

[Sighman]

Originally posted by TheARate:

Originally posted by Jeebs:

Personally, I would prefer it if the factions that populate the system are NPCs generated by the engine and not player-made factions.

I really wanted to make a cool faction that rules over a sector a few thousand lightyears away...

Since you can only expand from stations in the bubble in 10ly increments*, it would take 100 expansions for each 1000 ly.

Guesses for how long it will take for each expansion vary from one week to several weeks.

So It could take you 20-25 years to build a chain 'a few thousand light years long'.

* subject to change. Might end up at 25 ly

[TheARate]

They'll definitely raise it from 10, but it's of course not clear how high it'll go. They may also offer options for long-distance colonizing at a huge price markup. There's a lot of ways this could go.

[Un1k0rn]

Sincerely OP, why not take on an existing NPC faction?

Everyone and their dog wants to have their own name on things. A name that is usually so cringe-worthy that I'll under no circumstance pick their side in a CZ for that reason alone.

You know what I think is actually pretty epic, however? Arriving in a system, and seeing a faction that is struggling but you find a little headcanon reason to sympathise with (Say, a democracy currently in the pits under a ruthless dictatorial regime), and working to rise it from that lowly status, and eventually reaching out to other stars.

Honestly, that's something I find far more impressive than "Insert Mary Sue name here and run that" sorts.

[TheARate]

Originally posted by Un1k0rn:

Sincerely OP, why not take on an existing NPC faction?

I've already fought for existing factions for a long time. Mainly the Marlinists.

Originally posted by Un1k0rn:

Honestly, that's something I find far more impressive than "Insert Mary Sue name here and run that" sorts.

The name I have in mind is kinda iffy in that sense, but I have a lot of fun ideas for it. None of the existing factions work for my plans. And I certainly can't use one like the "HIP 10897 Corporation" or something.

[Jeebs]

Originally posted by Un1k0rn:

You know what I think is actually pretty epic, however? Arriving in a system, and seeing a faction that is struggling but you find a little headcanon reason to sympathise with (Say, a democracy currently in the pits under a ruthless dictatorial regime), and working to rise it from that lowly status, and eventually reaching out to other stars.

Honestly, that's something I find far more impressive than "Insert Mary Sue name here and run that" sorts.

That's the sort of thing I do with my main account. I once ran into some generic NPC faction (democracy) fighting to hold onto its only station in the system (their home) and their opponent was a player-faction (corporation with a goofy name).

I spent most of my week-end just running CZs (this was pre-Odyssey) back to back and helped them win. Not sure if the PMF was actively trying to take that system. Likely not if I stopped them single-handed and never saw another player. Either way, it felt good to help the underdog stick it to the big corporation that felt entitled to their home.

[TheARate]

Originally posted by Un1k0rn:

You know what I think is actually pretty epic, however? Arriving in a system, and seeing a faction that is struggling but you find a little headcanon reason to sympathise with (Say, a democracy currently in the pits under a ruthless dictatorial regime), and working to rise it from that lowly status, and eventually reaching out to other stars.

Also, the beauty of choice is that you will be able to do these things, and if introduced, I will be able to do what I find fun as well. Then we're both happy, and everyone wins.

[Un1k0rn]

Originally posted by TheARate:

Originally posted by Un1k0rn:

You know what I think is actually pretty epic, however? Arriving in a system, and seeing a faction that is struggling but you find a little headcanon reason to sympathise with (Say, a democracy currently in the pits under a ruthless dictatorial regime), and working to rise it from that lowly status, and eventually reaching out to other stars.

Also, the beauty of choice is that you will be able to do these things, and if introduced, I will be able to do what I find fun as well. Then we're both happy, and everyone wins.

I'll put it plainly: Given how stupid so many PMF names already are,I am hoping your wishes never get realised.

As it stands, this appears to be the case.

[TheARate]

Originally posted by Un1k0rn:

I'll put it plainly: Given how stupid so many PMF names already are,I am hoping your wishes never get realised.

As it stands, this appears to be the case.

I just skimmed through some of the player faction names, and I do see what you mean, there are some goofy names on there. While it's no "Sith Empire" or "The Funky Purple Wizards", I'm gonna let you judge what I'd like to name mine; the "Frakkitan Demeteracy" / "Frakkitan States".