National Player Faction

[fraxl]

UPDATED 1-22-09

National Player Faction
Before testing, please read the devlog about this new feature.

In this version, the national player faction feature has the following known issues.

• The mail received by Pirates when their faction level changes lists "Pirate" as the sender. I should say The Brethren.
• Flagging others in a Skirmish can be confusing because you can't tell what nation people are.
• Players with Loathed and Hated status should be blocked from taking port conquest missions, but right now they aren't.

Some things you should know about testing this feature:

• For Testbed this week, we've set how often you can flag others to once every 15 minutes. This will not be the cooldown when 1.22 goes live, but it will help for testing. We'll schedule some times for people to gather online so you'll be able to find other folks to flag, but feel free to mark people as Traitor whenever you see them. GMs will be on hand during all TB events to re-set your faction standings back to normal if you wish.
• 'Hated' characters show up differently than other players in their client and in yours. If you see a 'hated' player, including yourself, let us know what you think of their appearance. It would be best if you turn on floating names as well. We've updated the art for Hated players, so if you saw it last week, look again.
• You have to be able to see a character to flag them as a Traitor. They have to see you to flag you as well. Both players must be in the same nation. You can't tag people from your friends list unless they are in the same place as you.
• You can get positive faction awards in the following places: killing NPCs on the open sea, as well as producing outfitting, consumables and ships. Conquest missions and Town Clerk missions also offer national faction rewards, such as missions from the Garrison Commander or Rebel Agent, or "Kill 10 Players" missions. The Town Clerk can be found in Capitals, starting towns, Santa Catalina, Cape De Vela, Pensacola, and Jacob's Clock. Try these things and let us know if you don't get national faction rewards.

[Jonathan Berkeley]

Two things of note popped into my mind when reading your notes here.

Originally Posted by fraxl You can get positive faction awards in the following places: killing NPCs on the open sea and producing outfitting, consumables and ships. Some missions also offer national faction rewards, specifically: all missions on the Garrison Commander, Rebel Agent, and the Clerks in the Capitals, starting towns, and Santa Catalina, Cape De Vela, Pensacola, and Jacob's Clock.

Would it be possible to award positive faction awards for killing other players individually on the open sea? As if you were killing an NPC, that is. After all, this is possibly the single most important part of the war effort.

Also, it looks like you're tying reputation to the Clerk missions in the Capitals and etc, and this is good. While you're working on this, though, consider updating the Clerk mission rewards themselves. Most players are unhappy with the 1K doubloon reward (100 doubloons per player defeated?) and have been calling for attention to this for some time. A 10K reward for defeating 10 player captains seems fair to me. Garrison Commander and Rebel Agent missions could do with some looking into, especially the Commander missions given for raiding a pirate port.

Otherwise, this looks like an interesting new feature, and I hope it pulls through without a hitch!

[Henry Courtney]

Originally Posted by Garof Two things of note popped into my mind when reading your notes here. Would it be possible to award positive faction awards for killing other players individually on the open sea? As if you were killing an NPC, that is. After all, this is possibly the single most important part of the war effort. Also, it looks like you're tying reputation to the Clerk missions in the Capitals and etc, and this is good. While you're working on this, though, consider updating the Clerk mission rewards themselves. Most players are unhappy with the 1K doubloon reward (100 doubloons per player defeated?) and have been calling for attention to this for some time. A 10K reward for defeating 10 player captains seems fair to me. Garrison Commander and Rebel Agent missions could do with some looking into, especially the Commander missions given for raiding a pirate port. Otherwise, this looks like an interesting new feature, and I hope it pulls through without a hitch!

Listen to this man FLS!!

[Quineloe]

Will there be any rewards for being trusted, celebrated or esteemed with your own faction?

[Hells_Bells]

Originally Posted by fraxl You can get positive faction awards in the following places: killing NPCs on the open sea and producing outfitting, consumables and ships. Some missions also offer national faction rewards, specifically: all missions on the Garrison Commander, Rebel Agent, and the Clerks in the Capitals, starting towns, and Santa Catalina, Cape De Vela, Pensacola, and Jacob's Clock.

Killing NPCs on the open sea and doing the missions from the Garrison Commander didn't work for me. Still zero faction standing, although I generated contention. Have not tried to produce ships or something else yet.

[fraxl]

Originally Posted by Quineloe Will there be any rewards for being trusted, celebrated or esteemed with your own faction?

At first you'll only get a title, but we hope to add more rewards in the future.

[Remus]

Originally Posted by fraxl 'Hated' characters show up differently than other players in their client and in yours. If you see a 'hated' player, including yourself, let us know what you think of their appearance. It would be best if you turn on floating names as well.

Will that be different for those of us with pirates_local.ini files?
I see the new lines
IFFColor_PC_hated=1 .6 .45 1
IFFIconColor_PC_hated=1 .3 .3 1

in pirates.ini. Anything else we might like to know about, or do you want us to find out for ourselves?

I notice these new values are identical to the default hostile NPC colours. Personally I like to be able to distinguish players from NPCs, even if the players are loathesome.

[Quineloe]

Is there a reason Cannon ammunition production is not on your list Fraxl?

[fraxl]

Originally Posted by Remus Will that be different for those of us with pirates_local.ini files? I see the new lines IFFColor_PC_hated=1 .6 .45 1 IFFIconColor_PC_hated=1 .3 .3 1 in pirates.ini. Anything else we might like to know about, or do you want us to find out for ourselves? I notice these new values are identical to the default hostile NPC colours. Personally I like to be able to distinguish players from NPCs, even if the players are loathesome.

Yes, that's one of the changes. We're open to feedback about what IFF color hated players should show. Apart from them not looking like hostile NPCs, what color do you think they should be?

[MrTheOx]

Hawt Pink!