When this game first started, there were a number of things that drew me to it. It was so full of potential and promise. Some worked out, some didn't. Some things worked then, but don't work now. One of these things is factions.
When the game first came out, it was very much red vs. green. Most guilds kicked members for scamming and purpling on greens. Reds came across the water. We went across to mess with the reds and steal their packs. Pirates (the few that existed) pretty much poked into the mix now and again to wreck a boat or two before disappearing. There were, of course, a few guilds that were the local server asshats but they were the minority.
Now, reds leave everyone alone. If you happen to see a red in your territory, they don't mess with you. If you see a red on the ocean, they usually avoid you. The main combatants that you deal with now, are greens. Unless I am in a populated area on the opposing continent, packs of greens are the main source of pvp deaths now.
If you are running packs, greens are there to blockade you. If you are trying to turn in packs, purpled players are there to try to get you to misclick and attack them instead of turning in your pack. If you are loading up a boat, greens will be there to pull you out and wreck your ship. It's not just one though. It's a whole pack of them. They hide in their green zones, purple up when they vastly outnumber or outgun you, then immediately turn off bloodlust the second their advantage is over.
This wasn't so much of an issue when the game started. People were actually concerned about their reputation. Guilds had standards. The griefer guilds and players were kos. There was a balance. Guilds rallied to clear the reds. Guilds rallied to kill off purples. Players actually wanted to see the game play out with relative fairness. Now it has turned into a game where if you give anyone, red or green, the slightest chance to take something or grief you in any way, it's gonna happen. The thing is, I can't say I blame them.
Why spend all that time and effort to build up your money making infrastructure when you can just steal things. Why spend time running packs when you can just take them in the last 5 feet. Why work for items when you can just spend real life money to get them. Why spend your days being a good and positive influence on the player base when there are absolutely no rewards. Why worry about doing some backstabbing and underhanded bullsh when there are no repercussions.
Something has to happen. People dance in and out of purple without a care in the world. They wait till they have overwhelming odds in their favor, purple up, then run away to their peace zone or nui statue the second they have even the slightest chance of losing. It has birthed the term "green pirates" and there are far, far more of them than actual pirates. I really enjoyed things in the beginning. There were greens, there were reds, and there were pirates. Now, there are just purples.
So back around to my question, why have factions anymore? If you allow the game to have green pirates and purples are more prevalent than reds, why even bother? Why not just open the whole thing up? In allowing this sort of behavior, it removes the need for someone to choose a faction based on their play style. If you can play a pirate while still being a green, why would you ever choose to be a pirate? If that's the way you want it, why even bother with pirates, east, and west? Why not make everyone pirates? That's pretty much how it is now.
When the game first came out, it was very much red vs. green. Most guilds kicked members for scamming and purpling on greens. Reds came across the water. We went across to mess with the reds and steal their packs. Pirates (the few that existed) pretty much poked into the mix now and again to wreck a boat or two before disappearing. There were, of course, a few guilds that were the local server asshats but they were the minority.
Now, reds leave everyone alone. If you happen to see a red in your territory, they don't mess with you. If you see a red on the ocean, they usually avoid you. The main combatants that you deal with now, are greens. Unless I am in a populated area on the opposing continent, packs of greens are the main source of pvp deaths now.
If you are running packs, greens are there to blockade you. If you are trying to turn in packs, purpled players are there to try to get you to misclick and attack them instead of turning in your pack. If you are loading up a boat, greens will be there to pull you out and wreck your ship. It's not just one though. It's a whole pack of them. They hide in their green zones, purple up when they vastly outnumber or outgun you, then immediately turn off bloodlust the second their advantage is over.
This wasn't so much of an issue when the game started. People were actually concerned about their reputation. Guilds had standards. The griefer guilds and players were kos. There was a balance. Guilds rallied to clear the reds. Guilds rallied to kill off purples. Players actually wanted to see the game play out with relative fairness. Now it has turned into a game where if you give anyone, red or green, the slightest chance to take something or grief you in any way, it's gonna happen. The thing is, I can't say I blame them.
Why spend all that time and effort to build up your money making infrastructure when you can just steal things. Why spend time running packs when you can just take them in the last 5 feet. Why work for items when you can just spend real life money to get them. Why spend your days being a good and positive influence on the player base when there are absolutely no rewards. Why worry about doing some backstabbing and underhanded bullsh when there are no repercussions.
Something has to happen. People dance in and out of purple without a care in the world. They wait till they have overwhelming odds in their favor, purple up, then run away to their peace zone or nui statue the second they have even the slightest chance of losing. It has birthed the term "green pirates" and there are far, far more of them than actual pirates. I really enjoyed things in the beginning. There were greens, there were reds, and there were pirates. Now, there are just purples.
So back around to my question, why have factions anymore? If you allow the game to have green pirates and purples are more prevalent than reds, why even bother? Why not just open the whole thing up? In allowing this sort of behavior, it removes the need for someone to choose a faction based on their play style. If you can play a pirate while still being a green, why would you ever choose to be a pirate? If that's the way you want it, why even bother with pirates, east, and west? Why not make everyone pirates? That's pretty much how it is now.