How will Clans/Guilds/Corps/Allainces/Houses work?

[Aelek Kajj]

I know that there are lots of threads on this subject and they all touch a various parts of the big picture; however I am still thirsting for more intel on how player groups and super groups will work.
In eve you have you the player, you are part of a corporation that is more often than not player made. These player constructed corps can do alot of customizing to themselves. You can create a logo for an in game engine, you can come up with a name and ticker, you can even set shares.
Corporations are realatively weak by theselvs so they can join together in a player made allaince. In alliances you can set your own government style, you can set its name and short name, I.E. "The United States of Americia" short name  "Americia" Alliances in Eve can even create a fully custom logo/crest our of game and have it brought into the game.
To me this is what I love to do, biuld, customize, civilize and play politics. I am just curious what kind of structure you are projecting towards this in FoA?

[Hamilton]

Politics is intended for use and the one good thing about politics in a game, it can be done off-line; external of the game.  Though starting off, the amount of political power given to players will be limited, just for Groups and Micro-Corps (ie: Guilds).  Alliances or Pacts by Micro-Corps will be supported.

Going beyond that, such as influencing the Mega-Corps will not be possible right away.  But we will hand over the controls of the Mega-Corps to the players when we feel the time is right and hopefully to "right" players.  By saying "right," that does not mean a good person, it could be a ruthless power driven player.  That's life.  For "right" I mean to players who are expected to be active and participating, as well as role-playing the leadership (and wants that added responsibility).  Depending on the amount of effort required, we may very well provide incentives or bonuses to players filling such roles; for example a discount or maybe the account becomes free.  In a way, these players become GM's; just without the customer service side of things.


Hopefully early on, there will be a League, Senate or Consortium of players (representing all player corps) who will make political decisions about some things in the game, such as Rules of Engagement.

[Mazzdreg]

But we will hand over the controls of the Mega-Corps to the players when we feel the time is right and hopefully to "right" players.   By saying "right," that does not mean a good person, it could be a ruthless power driven player.   That's life.   For "right" I mean to players who are expected to be active and participating, as well as role-playing the leadership (and wants that added responsibility).  

Am I to understand this to mean that the 4 primary corps will become player driven? i. e.  ZekCom could be controlled by a player at a later point?  Or am I missing something?

[Shadow Star]

You are reading that correctly. At a later point in the game, the corporations will become player controlled.

[Mazzdreg]

That does indeed open things up a great deal content wise.   I can see where those 4 people can directly influence things for the game on a permanent basis.

If those people had the tools available to generate missions for the new charcters to execute it would be complete.

Nevermind the politics and impact on player generated corporations/guilds/clans.

Many many possibilities come to mind. . .

[Hamilton]

Indeed...  I hope that one day there will be players thinking that there are conspiracy theories of a small group of players controlling the game.  Conspiracy theories, while not deciding on what is true or false, to me always provide basis for short stories and quests.


I always thought that if players are heroes/villains and become high ranking members or famous, they should be able to influence the faction or even become "king".

- Player: I am the most feared Sith in the galaxy.  Not one Jedi has defeated me, even Vader fears me.
- Dev: Oh sure, here then, fight Darth Vader.
(fight end)
- Player: See, I defeated Vader.  I am the best.
- Dev: ...  Ok, uhm, Well you are the new Lord of the Sith then.

[XoRys]

Whether it will be possible for players from different corporations to team up in one guild? Or enmity between corporations is so great, that they will not allow to do it, or they declare the renegade the person who has entered such guild and he will be excluded from corporation?

[Sturm Kintaro]

Xo,

I'm not 100% sure of what you mean, but I *think* you mean "Can different corporations team up in an Alliance/more formal agreement between them?"

As far as I know you can have an Alliance between different corporations.  However crossing corps like that may have some negative side effects... if you're a Senkan and you're willingly working with Lukron folks as well, you may have to pay more for your good from the 'Corp, because they may not view you as entirely trustworthy.  Or perhaps certain technology may be withheld for the same reason.

Looking at it logically, if some folks from Microsoft started a company working with some folks from Apple, neither Microsoft or Apple would trust those people, because they now have a split loyalty.

I think in that case what you would end up doing is becoming a Mercenary 'Corp and making your alliance that way.  If I'm wrong please feel free to correct me

[XoRys]

I'm not 100% sure of what you mean, but I *think* you mean "Can different corporations team up in an Alliance/more formal agreement between them?"

No, I spoke not about association of the whole corporations in alliances, I spoke about association of members of various corporations in intercorporational guilds/alliances/clans.
Example. I Genoman, but I have friends from ZekCom or Senka. We wish to create guild. Whether we can make it without an exception out of corporations?
Mechs of each of corporation have certain advantages among the others. The group created from mechs made by different corporations has many advantages and  it is versatile, it can carry out wider list of problems.
Unfortunately I do not know English in such degree qualitatively to state my thoughts

[Sturm Kintaro]

Ah I see now... I think the issue still stands... I don't think your corp would appreciate folks from rival corps working together.  They'd probably view it as industrial espionage or something.  I think that if you were to go that route, odds are there would be a penalty for doing so (perhaps higher cost for repairs and supplies?)

I think you would end up making a 'Mercenary Corp at that point.  Then you make the rules!