I was wondering what other players prefer: a smaller number of large, well-represented factions, or a larger number of minor factions with a few players. These factions might be DM or player-based, but the main question is about group size vs. number of groups, and what people think leads to the most interesting conflicts, alliances, and intrigue. Try to pick one extreme for the poll, and then explain whatever view you have below.
Personally, I think the best is both: with large factions driving major plots that are supported or hindered by collaborating or competing with the smaller groups. But if I had to pick one, while I love small groups, I would rather see a few factions with more intra-faction diversity, and near-constant PC representation IG.
I think that too often good players want to 'create something unique' rather then getting behind others concepts. This leads to a great deal of factions that could form alliances, could merge, but never do. Rather just simply trying to go off and do their own thing in vacuum rather then searching for similarities and hammering out solid alliances. I am almost all for larger factions rather then these scattered disassociated groups. I believe that all people should try to join some sort of faction.
Factions as a whole are awesome. The beautiful thing is you can make sub-factions within -existing- factions.
DM Faction PCs should take many steps to absorb other factions for their cause and otherwise.
It really is very cool to see.
I'd much rather have 10 diverse and interesting PCs in DM factions. This allows us to take great lengths to enhance and strengthen the server.
If the Stygians, Order, and House Sharboneth all had 10 active PCs, I bet you 1,000 XP that the Server itself would be infinitely better.
It would allow us to play up the Rankings even more. One PC Sharboneth Lt, 3 sergeants, 6 Armsmen (On serving each sergeant).
Two PC Veterans, 8 PC Infantrymen each divided to different "Units".
The fact of the matter is, in my opinion, DM Factions are the lifeblood of EFU. When they do well, EFU Does well.
PC Factions can be built in and around DM Factions, and it only adds to the awesome of the server when they do.
Example!
If there were enough Armsman to make it interesting, YOu could have a PC Subfaction of "Corrupt" and a PC Subfaction of "Corruption Busters".
That sounds awesome to me.
This might be an odd idea, but if you really want to see a lot more players in PC factions, take the first official strata of the faction off of the application list, to allow organic IG recruitment without the hassle of thinking up applications.
For promotion out of the first strata, ask players being considered for an OOC application, and an assurance of intent to stick with the PC for the long term.
Personally, I think that 50% of players, at least, should be in or involved with a DM faction to at least a partial extent. It helps the player base "Take ownership" of the server. And I don't think that the PC's in the base level of each DM faction should have to be "tailor made" to suit the faction, instead should grow and change from their involvement and increasing or decreasing loyalty to the faction.
my two cents!
Meow-mix
And secondly, if you want to see DM factions overtake the allure of a unique and self-created mini PC faction, stop rewarding players who do this! The more weighted the focus of DM attention is on DM factions, the more people will want to be part of the action. :)
This isn't to say that I disapprove of mini PC factions that are awesome, but I will say that the amount of grandeur these PC's are able to achieve makes it more desirable to go this route than be melded into a comparatively lacklustre DM faction.
my THREE cents, apparently!
meow-mix!
I'm just saying that DM Factions should actively be working towards gaining them as tools of influence/etc. Bribing them, Befriending them, or otherwise sort of thing.
The implementation of the Deputy system has kind of addressed your issue of "Applications for leaving the first strata". PC sharboneths can make other PCs deputies.
I find a few factions with good representation is vastly better than more factions with fewer members. It is easier to achieve things with more people, as well as do things on seperate times as most are spread over different timezones. It springs to life the faction and makes things more fun, overall, than many few factions you rarely know who are or what stand for. Alliances between them and feuds is excellent as well.
Should you not join a faction, you should at least consider getting attached in some way to one which interests your character the most.
The three factions I know of DM wise, are lawful, as well as the Druidic faction for obvious reasons. What I see lacking is what the seekers provided, was an outlet for chaotic aligned characters to join DM factions. I am sure there are many, many differences between Armsmen and Stygians, but to the outsde obserever, there is little to none, both are guards, and milita. The order, too, just seems like a more religious based milita. I have yet to play a pc that would join any of them, so maybe I am just ignorant of the diverse greatness of each, but from where I sit, they all just look like guard/milita groups to me. Not to say they do not have a ton of impact on the server, just that they do not seem at all diverse from one another, like the Spellguard and the Watch, with obvious diffrence's, and the Seekers seemed to absorb the chaotic classes, the bard, ranger, barbarian and other chaotic alinged players. The Archeaolgists (sp)Society filled this gap nicely, and was quite amazeing, but it seems to have disappeared. With the intent of the OP, I must say, small unique PC groups have been the only draw for me, so far. Perhaps my next character will be a paladin, or cleric of bane, and these DM factions will make far more sense..
The University is still around and is essentially the Archaeological Society in the witness protection program. Seriously, we're still here. Come hither all ye chaotic-aligned rebellious folk. Have you seen our crystals?
Get those faction applications in now, people!
The more the merrier.
I'd prefer factions to be larger TBH, so that a powerful faction has some PC projection of the power.
Agreed!
Quote from: Gippy;126241I think that too often good players want to 'create something unique' rather then getting behind others concepts. This leads to a great deal of factions that could form alliances, could merge, but never do. Rather just simply trying to go off and do their own thing in vacuum rather then searching for similarities and hammering out solid alliances. I am almost all for larger factions rather then these scattered disassociated groups. I believe that all people should try to join some sort of faction.
I tottaly aggree with Gippy! We are encouraged all the time to make something that involves many other players, in order to get attention, applications approved and all that. For isntance, I would never be able to play a prestige class that is not of a leader, or someone involving many other players, so when you have everybody wanting attention to get perks, we have all players trying to form factions. Why would I join the Sygians, to look exactly like all the other stygians, with no self style, that stupid blue helmet and cloak, if I want an unique character? Just for the perks? That is what I am talking about ...
Quote from: Raposa_Fox;126281I tottaly aggree with Gippy! We are encouraged all the time to make something that involves many other players, in order to get attention, applications approved and all that. For isntance, I would never be able to play a prestige class that is not of a leader, or someone involving many other players, so when you have everybody wanting attention to get perks, we have all players trying to form factions. Why would I join the Sygians, to look exactly like all the other stygians, with no self style, that stupid blue helmet and cloak, if I want an unique character? Just for the perks? That is what I am talking about ...
Oddly enough, I think a common misconception is that joining a faction doesn't make you a sheep in the flock. Instead, factions give you both an agenda, and more resources to play with. It gives you connections with powerful PCs and NPCs, and gives you a standing of some form of authority on the colony. All these tools are used to better allow you to thwart influence and make changes in the game.
Although, good player factions are also incredible. Anyone remember The Golden Doubloons?
Does anyone remember Montezzi? They pretty much ruled a good chunk of the main city, Sanctuary, back in old EfU. A peak of a PC faction, they had like, 30+ people in their ranks at one time.
about 50+ o.O. I know. Scary, but they owned half the city
This is a good discussion. I lean toward well-represented factions, and I particularly like this remark:
Quote from: "Sternhund"All these tools are used to better allow you to thwart influence and make changes in the game.
(in the context of everything else he said)
For the most part, factions do not homogenize every character making them identical. From a PC perspective, they are just a means to an end. Think about your character, the reason they join the faction is to realize their own personal goals, which do not end with gaining membership to the faction--they start there. Now that you are in that faction you have connections, you have a crew, you have an HQ, you have influence, these are all things that your PC can use to pursue their own agenda. That agenda might greatly parallel the faction's, or it may deviate in some areas. Those deviations might steer the whole faction in a new direction, or they might cause a schism.
In some cases the faction molds the PC, but in some the PC molds the faction. As much backstory as the group might have, it is the day-to-day attitude and impression that the PCs give off that really defines what people think of when they hear the faction name.
33+ Yes Votes.
[cough hint cough hint cough cough hint cough hint cough hint cough cough hint cough hint cough cough hint hint join themhint cough hint cough cough hint hint cough cough]
I enjoy having the DM factions "full," but also think the server benefits from smaller factions run by players. The burgeoning ranks of House Sharboneth and The Order recently have opened up new doors for storytelling on the server, but there are also individual characters with wonderful plots of their own.
I think a good mix of factions and free agents make the server healthy. It's a good mirror on reality, where many people attach themselves to larger organizations in their pursuit of wealth and influence, but some choose to go alone, or forge their path to success with a small group of close friends.
Agree with AKMatt 100%.
AKMatt, gettin' it right since May 17th
factions rock
I didn't see people anywhere saying you had to be in a faction to have fun.
A well played PC faction is a glorious thing. As Sternhund said, some of EFU's best factions have been purely PC driven.
I was under the impression this was about DM Factions, but if you wanna talk PC Faction, easily done.
EFUA Has nigh unlimited potential for what you can do with a PC Faction.
The easiest route to such is the Banner Faction. This allows you to gain instant prestige as well as prominence in the colony, and even Court seat.
Its something I find mildly ironic to be completely honest. Back in EFU people were literally slaughtering themselves to try and get upon the Sanctuary Council.
The Court is better in almost ever feasible way from what I have seen yet very few people have shown interest. Its been said time and again that two prominent banner factions will get seat upon the Court. Two PC Factions can grab hold and take a firm step in contributing to the Server.
Granted its slighty off topic but simply something I found ironic given the PC Faction talk.
Granting that I've been away during a period of significant political change, perhaps one of the dilemmas in PC involvement with the Court is that the manner in which PCs gain seats is not totally visible. The council was a known DM faction that was earned via elections. The Court is... uh... chosen? How? What are the selectors looking for? Make everything more apparent. I would do this as an IG thing (simple post/sticky should do) and also as an OOC thing on the website and forums.
First id like to say that everyones feedback on this has helped me in seeing DM factions in a new lite,that thay are not just there for PC's that want DM involvment in there EFU:a gameplay but as a way too feel a part of the big picture without needing hours spent trying to create there own faction and haveing it fall to the way side. Second I feel that lots of little PC run factions add alot of flavor to the server,simply because you never know what some one else is going to come up with.I like the idea of PC run sub-factions of DM factions,like an Elite group of treasure hunters or assassins that reported to an NPC.this may give people that have some doubt about joining a DM faction something to look forward to as opossed to feelin like just anuther watchmen. Long live Montezzi!!
I've had more PCs in factions recently, both leading and following. Bishop sadly never got his going, but he did get contracts from both faction and lone players, from escort jobs to the Stargazer Village, to tracking down artefacts. The Shattered Skulls accomplished exactly what I was aiming for, except with more zombies. Hats off to RwG on that.
PC factions can complement DM Factions really well, as hired help to do things the faction can't accomplish easily, the go-to people for information (as the University is), or as organised adversaries (there's no open hostility such as Seekers/Spellguard or Armada/Fleet about, and the Craddock Gang provided a good deal of that for the Guard).
I think though, that DM factions do need a prominent PC presence, and the "pc inducted bottom rung" setup's a good one. I know that the crooks were outnumbering Sharbs by about 3:1 or more judging from the level of "Upright man" notes to Armsman PCs I saw. I'll also say it would be nice to see more non-human DM faction members. A Gnomish Trap Specialist for the Armada, an Elven orc-hunter for the Order, etc.
One thing I would bring up though, is the prevalence of certain trends in PC factions. We've has some very successful Evil factions that have concentrated monster PCs, outcast PCs and so on, but Neutral/Good factions have limited themselves by class, race, god etc, and that's made it hard to get a core of members in despite good goals. You need the right PCs to turn up if you want it to work. For example the Gnomish Union was very prominent but seems to have burned out to a few PCs as its members dropped off. The Flying Swordfish is an exploration/adventure company limited to arcane PCs.
On the other side of things, the Bearded Hawks were effective at gathering up various Dwarf and all sorts of Good PCs into an effective questing and exploring group, but we didn't have a particularly organised set of aims. That aside though, it we did merge two ideas of "dwarf faction" and "general adventuring company" and have a good time of it.