The Raiding Party is Dead... Long Live DFA!

[Gared]

RDR had a lot of rules and stuff... that got complicated and stressful. Defenders Anonymous (DFA) has three rules:

1. Have Fun!
2. Don't be a dick.
3. If I catch you auto-grouping my bases and ships I'll make you cut your own fingers off, Yakuza Style, until you learn your lesson.

Right now, the faction is me, @Aislynn, and Shadows. @Dave and @Tinwhistler have standing invites, as does Crazy_Deviant. Other than that, I think I'd like to stick to Halforums members for the time being.

DFA Content this-a-way.

Server Address: 69.5.194.26:30000
Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/tscdnRY (global chat)

 

[mikerc]

Faction Rules:

1. The decisions of GasBandit are final, regardless of how they relate to other rules, and supercede the decisions of any junior admins (without prejudice). He owns the server, his rules.
2. Any attempted contravention of server rules will result in instant expulsion from the faction and reporting to the admin for banning.
3. No griefing. If faction officers discover that you have been using the faction's resources to consistently and continually pick on any one other player or faction, you will be expelled from the faction and reported to the admin for potential additional consequences. This includes, but is not limited to,
   1. picking a fight against a weaker opponent and then requesting a rescue, bringing the weight of the fleet against your (player) opponent;
   2. picking on people in global or faction chat, text or via Discord;
   3. deliberately targeting PvE players who stray into PvP space by mistake. If you or your turrets kill someone, you will deactivate your weapons* to allow them to recover their backpack and/or escape. If they are not of a known PvP faction or are of a known PvE faction, please alert a faction officer and we will see to it that they are safely escorted back out of our space if you don't have the time.
   4. Flying a false flag in order to rob PvE players. If you can convince some poor sod in a PvP faction that you're a new player or a member of their faction they haven't met by marking your ship private and asking for resources, that makes you a good pirate. If you do that to someone in a PvE faction, you'll be kicked from the faction and reported to the admin for banning.
4. Aside from rule 3, subsection 4, no begging. We're pirates. We don't beg, we take. If you can't take what you want, get better at it (or ask someone in the faction to help you take what you want).
5. No hate speech or otherwise threatening language will be tolerated. No warnings, you will be kicked from the faction. We're building a welcoming environment for players - if not for their in-game selves, then at least for the person behind the screen.
6. No harassing other players about their playstyle. The game supports multiple playstyles, and so do we. If you're looking for a PvP only faction, this isn't the one for you.
7. No private bases or ships in PvP space, even if you're on your own on that playfield (in other words, not attempting to contravene the 5 cores limit). This prevents our faction officers from being able to safe your weapons if someone strays into your territory while you're offline. You may build a base and leave it private for up to four hours (if you're transferring materials from a private base in PvE space, for example, and to prevent griefing by enemy scouts) but after four hours in game or before you log off, whichever comes first, you must mark the construction faction.
8. These rules are subject to change at any time.

*We understand that sometimes your turrets may kill someone who strays too near your ship in orbit while you're on a planet. If someone alerts you that this is happening, and you cannot get back to stop it, please alert the faction so that we can safe your weapons.

I don't play Empyrion - it's not the type of game that appeals to me, but I've been enjoying reading about what you & others have been getting up to in it. Can I just say it's good to see you guys - PvP players - set up your servers & its rules to make it as easy as possible for other players to play in PvE even though it's not a playstyle that interests you as much.

This is why you guys are much better than Noodles. Bravo.

 

[Gared]

I've updated the rules a little, clarifying the "no begging rule," and adding a 14 day probationary period for new members. The probationary period doesn't mean any restrictions in access - for now. Also, partially because of us, Gas is planning on graduating the cost of teleporters - your first pair costs $1M, and they double in price from there - so our teleporter expansion is going to slow down dramatically over the next few weeks.

 

[Dave]

I honestly think that new recruits should have access to everywhere but the Bonanza Orbital Station until they have been made full members. Too much of a chance of griefing and stealing shit. Granted, there's a lot there, but why give them the chance?

 

[GasBandit]

I honestly think that new recruits should have access to everywhere but the Bonanza Orbital Station until they have been made full members. Too much of a chance of griefing and stealing shit. Granted, there's a lot there, but why give them the chance?

Unfortunately there's no way to deny them access, in the game, currently. Either they're in the faction or not. The only way would be to put a lock code on everything you didn't want them using, and giving that code to the "trusted" members. And I don't think you can put lock codes on teleporters.

 

[Gared]

I honestly think that new recruits should have access to everywhere but the Bonanza Orbital Station until they have been made full members. Too much of a chance of griefing and stealing shit. Granted, there's a lot there, but why give them the chance?

I agree, I just don't know that there's a way to functionally stop a faction member from accessing the station. I could restrict access to the resources by putting in a rule that says probationary members have to ask for resources or have a daily limit or something like that, but then I'd have to enforce them somehow, and that sounds like a momentous pain in the ass. I think I'd rather have multiple large resource caches so that a griefer can't take them all at once than either have to act as/assign a quartermaster or be less welcoming to new players. It's a conundrum, though.

 

[GasBandit]

I agree, I just don't know that there's a way to functionally stop a faction member from accessing the station. I could restrict access to the resources by putting in a rule that says probationary members have to ask for resources or have a daily limit or something like that, but then I'd have to enforce them somehow, and that sounds like a momentous pain in the ass. I think I'd rather have multiple large resource caches so that a griefer can't take them all at once than either have to act as/assign a quartermaster or be less welcoming to new players. It's a conundrum, though.

This is why I never invited anyone into GBI that I didn't know from the forum for 10+ years.

 

[Dave]

Probably the best way would be that they be allowed to keep their stuff private until they've been approved. This way even if they find out the location of our bases they can't do shit about it and could only go there if we told them how or took them.

 

[GasBandit]

Probably the best way would be that they be allowed to keep their stuff private until they've been approved. This way even if they find out the location of our bases they can't do shit about it and could only go there if we told them how or took them.

Once they're in the faction, they have complete access to the Registry and can see everything and go anywhere, and it all shows up on the map.

 

[Gared]

Once they're in the faction, they have complete access to the Registry and can see everything and go anywhere, and it all shows up on the map.

Yeah, we'd have to leave them unfactioned for 14 days and physically take them stuff if they needed it or drag them around various places. A real pain in the ass. This is why I do not now, and never will, have a rule that says everything each member harvests has to be stockpiled at the main base. Y'all are welcome to hoard as much of the stuff you harvest as you want, and the only chests I count in the "faction coffers are open to everyone" are the ones on the refineries (Akua Moon and Bonanza Orbital for now) - not in your bases.

 

[GasBandit]

Incidentally, if it ever happens that someone in a faction does pilfer and dash or something, I have hourly structure backups from which I can restore, and I won't hesitate to wield the banhammer and put things right.

 

[PatrThom]

I won't hesitate to wield the banhammer and put things right.

Aka “the meta game” or “the joy of being an admin.”

—Patrick

 

[Aislynn]

FYI, as of last night, GasBandit has put a bounty on Raider ships and bases. As such, the rule demanding you turn off turrets once you down an opponent and let them retrieve their backpacks is suspended until further notice. And you certainly don't have to supply them with a starter ship to get away, either.

Please note that you can still do this if some poor noob who reeeeeally wants those credits gets his face blown off by trying to tackle a base he's not ready for, and you want to be nice. But the RULE is suspended. You won't get in trouble just sitting inside and eating pizza and watching our enemies beat themselves into a sticky red paste against our defenses.

Cry havok, my friends. Woof.

 

[Dave]

We're going to have to make sure our bases are ammo'd up. I know I only keep a light amount at my bases.

 

[PatrThom]

the rule demanding you turn off turrets once you down an opponent and let them retrieve their backpacks is suspended until further notice. And you certainly don't have to supply them with a starter ship to get away, either.

Hey @Gared, can we have some explicit clarification as to whether or not Aislynn is empowered to make changes to faction policy? It might become important, later.

—Patrick

 

[Dave]

Yes she is.

 

[PatrThom]

Yes she is.

You’re not Gared.

So far, there’s only one so-called “officer” designated in this thread, and so unless that officer explicitly designates any others out where everyone can see, your comments have as much apparent authority as a self-signed certificate.

—Patrick

 

[Dave]

I'm the faction leader.

 

[PatrThom]

I'm the faction leader.

Then why are you letting Gared post all these rules with no attendant “I’m faction leader Dave, and I approve this message” in there?

—Patrick

 

[Dave]

Because I don't care. But I knew the answer you were looking for so I answered. I only put the leader line in there because you seemed to question whether or not I had the correct answer.

Frankly, I'm a shit leader. I let those two run everything because they are better at it than I am. The only reason I'm the "leader" is because Gared doesn't want it.

 

[PatrThom]

No problem, I’m just trying to avoid any “IN THE NAME OF HER MAJESTY, QUEEN ELIZABETH*” kind of incidents.

—Patrick
*subtle SIL reference.

 

[Aislynn]

We're going to have to make sure our bases are ammo'd up. I know I only keep a light amount at my bases.

Gared's been running alot of base ammo, I think we've got it covered.

 

[Dave]

See? Told you he was a better leader than me.

 

[Gared]

No problem, I’m just trying to avoid any “IN THE NAME OF HER MAJESTY, QUEEN ELIZABETH*” kind of incidents.

—Patrick
*subtle SIL reference.

Now may be a good time for some additional clarification of things (no worries, Pat, I'm just using your post as a stepping off point, I'm not calling you out). I started RDR the first day Gas' server went live on 8.0. Originally, it was just Halforumites - Tin, Dave, Aislynn, and myself. It was a blast, but the server was a bit slow (understandably, being a brand new server and a brand new alpha version) so I wanted to make sure my faction (which it was at the time) was welcoming of new players - in faction and out. So, I came up with some rules and posted them here. Along the way, some situations were encountered which really don't need to be made part of the public record (criticize in private, praise in public), aside from acknowledging that they were incredibly stressful, made me feel like I was responsible for the well-being and reputation not just of the faction, but of Gas' entire server, and caused me to have a PTSD attack and leave the faction in a moment of pique. When the owner of a faction leaves the faction, without setting an admin, the game picks the next person on the list and gives the faction to them. Since we'd just recently accepted a new member, and that member was made owner of the faction by the game engine, Dave agreed to step in and take ownership until such time as I was feeling up to taking it back - just so someone we didn't know well couldn't take all of our resources and run. Now, Dave is the faction "owner" and Aislynn is a faction "admin."

 

[Gared]

All of that being said, I think it's probably really, actually time for me to leave the faction, as I appear to be the only person who's really interested in hardcore PvP, and I keep kicking the hornet's nest and getting Gas to retaliate.

 

[Tinwhistler]

I haven't been on as much lately, but every time I get on, I scout around looking for someone to attack. Everything is so much bigger now than in 7.6, it's a lot harder to accidentally run across someone these days.

I've got a huge stockpile of resources in PVE space. I was just telling my wife that at this stage in the game, the only thing to do is kill people. and if you've got enough resources, who cares if you lose a ship?

 

[Tinwhistler]

and, naturally, this week I can't play because I'm out of town, and the internet at this hotel sucks ballls.

 

[PatrThom]

Since we'd just recently accepted a new member, and that member was made owner of the faction by the game engine, Dave agreed to step in and take ownership until such time as I was feeling up to taking it back - just so someone we didn't know well couldn't take all of our resources and run. Now, Dave is the faction "owner" and Aislynn is a faction "admin."

I noticed you weren’t listed as admin, and wondered about that. Thanks for the clarification.

Also, I would like to say that I admire your stated goals, both from a nobility standpoint and also from one of sustainability. Wouldn’t want your business model to collapse due to overfishing, right?

—Patrick

 

[GasBandit]

I appear to be the only person who's really interested in hardcore PvP, and I keep kicking the hornet's nest and getting Gas to retaliate.

Well, I mean, Aislynn seemed pretty gung ho about it last night, too, taunting the whole server to come get the proverbial "some..." But without me to be the sacrificial first wave, I don't think anybody took her up on it.

But don't lose heart, I'm working on something new. Less cheesy than the sandwich, but still meaner than my other offerings thus far...

 

[Dave]

I don't think you should leave the faction at all. You can do your hardcore PvP all you want. Not everyone has to participate. If I want to help I'll come help. If I want to run a POI I will. We don't ALL have to fight all the time. You & Aislynn can kick all the bears you want (no pun intended!) and I will either come help or do my own thing. I'm not the best at PvP anyway. If anyone is not a fit in the RDR it's me. I'm the worst pirate ever.

Although I did want to shoot Bear in the head so very, very badly the other night...

 

[Gared]

Bumping for great justice... nah, just kidding. New server, new faction, far fewer rules. Please disregard everything from post one through this'n.

 

[PatrThom]

Bumping for great justice... nah, just kidding. New server, new faction, far fewer rules. Please disregard everything from post one through this'n.

You should edit the OP and add this link so people can skip right over the stuff in the middle.
Also...aww, I actually appreciated the old rules you drew up. They really felt like they were carefully-considered and reasonable.

—Patrick

 

[Gared]

You should edit the OP and add this link so people can skip right over the stuff in the middle.
Also...aww, I actually appreciated the old rules you drew up. They really felt like they were carefully-considered and reasonable.

—Patrick

I certainly tried, but really they were meant to boil down to "no bullying and don't be a dick," and aside from forumites... no one read them. Meaning, the two people who could've used them most never saw them or apparently even knew that there were rules, despite occasional in-game faction-spam.