Suggestion Yearly 'Let Minors Be On The Map' Suggestion

[Darth Empyrean]

Lets have minor factions show up on the map, especially with the new one forming. Heres my suggestion:

1. We change the Major Faction requirement from 5 to 7. 7 Unique writers.
2. We make Semi-Major Factions (we can come up with a better name, sue me) that require 2 or 3 unique writers.
   1. They get one hex.
   2. They don't get to expand unless they go major.
   3. Minimal map updates because no expansion, not so bad huh
   4. More dynamic map game, because minor factions now have something people need to consider.
3. We give them mandates.
   1. Not real mandates. Maybe just minor faction specific ones like 'Corporate State' where they earn some flat rate of UCKs a month as a faction, idk.
   2. 3 Stances.
      1. Independent
         1. Minor faction doesn't answer to anyone. They're just their own hex, wherever that is.
      2. Revolution
         1. Minor faction is at war with a major they are technically subservient too. What does this look like? I don't know, maybe they can invade and make nearby hexes go neutral, hoping to cut themselves off from the major for some time.
      3. Vassal
         1. Minor faction gives their mandate to their major, whatever benefits, and serves as part of their activity checks and whatever else. Could change to one of the other two later on.

That's it. Simple, lets people do their minor faction dreams, makes the map game more interesting for majors and everyone else.

 

[Soundwave]

I think offering a minor faction an X number of hexes proportionate to their unique writers would be a neat idea. One seems too little given that they'd have a presence on the map, so why not give them 1 hex for every X unique writers with a hard cap of X hexes and the added caveat that no further hexes can be gained until they become a Major or stipulate they can only gain a hex through things like Junctions, and perhaps further limit it to 1 Junction done every month?

And because I know someone will probably say something along the lines of "Well what if they just tag a writer to count them towards it" have them be hit with an alternative application where if you want a unique writer to be counted to an initial hex gain, then show proof that said writer is actively contributing with posts and in threads.

Their biggest obstacle would be then to fulfill perhaps elevated requirements to become a Major faction, but I think if a Minor has the steam and hype behind it, just give them the chance to interact with Majors. I think it would better encourage more collaboration and writing between all factions and promote better RP opportunities.

 

[Jonyna Si]

Not entirely opposed, but I do see issues.

First off, how does this gel with majors? Do they become a horcrux of a major if they want to stay independent and a major already controls it? What happens if the hex is already a capital of a major? We've had tons of Coruscant minors, but it's historically been the GA's capital for the last few years (No one writers on Fondor) Could a major decide 'I want Mandalore', and just claim it?

At the end of the day, majors should take priority, and having minors on the map would complicate that.

 

[Darth Empyrean]

Not entirely opposed, but I do see issues.

First off, how does this gel with majors? Do they become a horcrux of a major if they want to stay independent and a major already controls it? What happens if the hex is already a capital of a major? We've had tons of Coruscant minors, but it's historically been the GA's capital for the last few years (No one writers on Fondor) Could a major decide 'I want Mandalore', and just claim it?

At the end of the day, majors should take priority, and having minors on the map would complicate that.

Majors get minors mandates if they control their area. You can't try and become another major/minors capital hex. Same rules that already apply, still apply. Horcrux wouldn't, they'd just put their single hex wherever and stay there, they'd just feed the major.

 

[Darth Empyrean]

I think offering a minor faction an X number of hexes proportionate to their unique writers would be a neat idea. One seems too little given that they'd have a presence on the map, so why not give them 1 hex for every X unique writers with a hard cap of X hexes and the added caveat that no further hexes can be gained until they become a Major or stipulate they can only gain a hex through things like Junctions, and perhaps further limit it to 1 Junction done every month?

And because I know someone will probably say something along the lines of "Well what if they just tag a writer to count them towards it" have them be hit with an alternative application where if you want a unique writer to be counted to an initial hex gain, then show proof that said writer is actively contributing with posts and in threads.

Their biggest obstacle would be then to fulfill perhaps elevated requirements to become a Major faction, but I think if a Minor has the steam and hype behind it, just give them the chance to interact with Majors. I think it would better encourage more collaboration and writing between all factions and promote better RP opportunities.

Too complicated imo, too much maintenance. Half the reason we don't have minors on the map is because its already high maintenance (hey maybe chatgpt can fix that, let the o3 model remake the code for it with feature updates, ez), but letting minors expand, even slowly, or take more than one hex gets really weird and intensive to deal with.

 

[Corin Trenor]

I didn't read other people's stuff because I'm lazy but is there some kind of requirement beyond 2-3 writersfor minor factions to appear on the map? Only real obstacle I see is the possibility of, like, every minor faction just blowing up on the map and then disappearing in the next update.

 

[Nej Tane]

I think it would make the map make a little more sense. And would make for some cool… you know, minor faction roleplay. Maybe playing into the map game a little would give some incentive to expand the writer base into minor factions. It would also be cool to have minor factions that stick around and don’t have to go major to do stuff.

 

[Boggo Flib]

I like this.

It has the potential to actually change up map game dynamics too.

It would and could become chaotic. Like what would happen if one faction assimilates all other factions?

 

[Kaila Irons]

what's stopping a major faction from curb stomping them for any reason? iirc a major faction you at least have to take out the capitol hex(which is difficult now that you can swap capitols via mandate), but to do that iirc you have to first clear a path to the capitol. A minor fac with 1 hex could be wiped out in a single invasion easily

 

[Nej Tane]

what's stopping a major faction from curb stomping them for any reason? iirc a major faction you at least have to take out the capitol hex(which is difficult now that you can swap capitols via mandate), but to do that iirc you have to first clear a path to the capitol. A minor fac with 1 hex could be wiped out in a single invasion easily

I think that makes the gamble a little fun. Plus, it would mean that factions would have to be selective of where they place themselves, or, gamble on losing.

 

[Darth Empyrean]

I didn't read other people's stuff because I'm lazy but is there some kind of requirement beyond 2-3 writersfor minor factions to appear on the map? Only real obstacle I see is the possibility of, like, every minor faction just blowing up on the map and then disappearing in the next update.

Nah, just activity. A few would pop up at first, but it'd even quick enough.

what's stopping a major faction from curb stomping them for any reason? iirc a major faction you at least have to take out the capitol hex(which is difficult now that you can swap capitols via mandate), but to do that iirc you have to first clear a path to the capitol. A minor fac with 1 hex could be wiped out in a single invasion easily

Nothing really, if you don't wanna deal with a major just don't get on the map. Same thing we did for every major who doesn't want to get stomped. Besides, the world is a nice place right now, might as well enjoy it. Get something, you risk something, just how the map game goes.

 

[Onrai]

It would, IMO, encourage a lot more diplomacy and creativity in engaging on the map.

 

[Corin Trenor]

Nah, just activity. A few would pop up at first, but it'd even quick enough.


Nothing really, if you don't wanna deal with a major just don't get on the map. Same thing we did for every major who doesn't want to get stomped. Besides, the world is a nice place right now, might as well enjoy it. Get something, you risk something, just how the map game goes.

I like the idea of giving minors more importance, rather than just being completely at the whim of major factions. I just think the idea of putting them all on the map might be a bit bleugh. I don't really know how many minor factions are just made these days, if it's relatively frequent or not as much. If it doesn't happen all that much, non issue. Otherwise, I'd probably think like maybe X amount of time with X amount of active writers and then you can get on the map. Kind of helps encourage factions that are more smaller scaled concepts rather than needing to be majors when they might not make as much sense to be one.

 

[Kitter Bitters]

I could be wrong but the new map seems like it was designed out of necessity to add more space with only major factions. Minor factions would crowd things really fast.

There is no need to have minor factions on the map. If the faction cannot gain enough interest and activity to be a major faction but it wants on the map then it needs to work harder.

 

[Darth Empyrean]

I like the idea of giving minors more importance, rather than just being completely at the whim of major factions. I just think the idea of putting them all on the map might be a bit bleugh. I don't really know how many minor factions are just made these days, if it's relatively frequent or not as much. If it doesn't happen all that much, non issue. Otherwise, I'd probably think like maybe X amount of time with X amount of active writers and then you can get on the map. Kind of helps encourage factions that are more smaller scaled concepts rather than needing to be majors when they might not make as much sense to be one.

Minors get made every day. Minors capable of getting 3 consistent writers, pretty small. Major factions are rare enough as is.

I could be wrong but the new map seems like it was designed out of necessity to add more space with only major factions. Minor factions would crowd things really fast.

There is no need to have minor factions on the map. If the faction cannot gain enough interest and activity to be a major faction but it wants on the map then it needs to work harder.

Yeah, but I want minor factions on the map because it could be cool. We're not running low on space, we just had people buying 10 hexes a month for a while. Trust me, it'll be cool I swear

 

[Corin Trenor]

Minors get made every day. Minors capable of getting 3 consistent writers, pretty small. Major factions are rare enough as is.



Yeah, but I want minor factions on the map because it could be cool. We're not running low on space, we just had people buying 10 hexes a month for a while. Trust me, it'll be cool I swear

That’s valid.

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

It could do some good. Some minor factions have really good activity, and typically speaking not all storylines are made to go major. I think it would be odd if, say for example, the Nightsisters of Dathomir became a major on account of a lot of the draw being the culture of a singular planet. However, the act of having their presence noted on the map can still draw more activity to a hypothetical Dathomir-centric minor faction. I'm sure there can be a way for these minor hexes to co-exist with majors. A lot of minor factions function within the space of major ones just fine. It's just a matter of striking that balance and people playing the map game being respectful of that fact. I say it's worth some consideration.

 

[Darth Imperius]

I think the largest issue will be the administrative/logistical part of the admin team keeping track on who of the minors on the map is actually active still and to cull them if not. That can escalate quite quickly.

Overall I think it is an amazing idea, if one or two hexes at max, three unique writers, 30 days of activity - basically the same as Major just with lower limit and max limit of hexes, it would be really cool and give some much needed colors to the map and can also serve as something as simple as a "test" run so to speak. Crime factions usually dont hold up long, but if they just got Nar Shaddaa, maybe it blooms with activity for a longer time.

It also prevent that some minors who put a lot of effort, good work and writing into their narratives to just be ignored by a major who was not aware of their presence and stomps the world in a dom or something. Some folks have put great efforts into their little corners of the Galaxy and appreciating that with giving them some color, would be awesome.

Yes, the argument for roleplay does not need the map game is blabla. It doesnt. And yet, we have the map. And an even more awesome one WIP. Its not that it is REQUIRED to have a good time, but for some people, myself included, the map gives such more depth and flavor that it really kindles the muse.

 

[Kaila Irons]

it would be odd if, say for example, the Nightsisters of Dathomir became a major on account of a lot of the draw being the culture of a singular planet.

funny you should mention it, because some friends and I have been noodling dathomiri stuff for months now, it's just been daunting to think about trying to make a major out of it even if DO have justification for dathomirians going on the war path away from home, though i'll keep that to myself for now so we can stay on topic.

this admittedly has me curious now, even if i don't trust ppl to play nice with minor facs

especially because a lot of the interesting little planets that would get attention from minor factions are equally desirable to major factions or next to hexes that are, such as dathomir, which is right next to mandalore. i've seen too many wars fought over that one hex in the five years i've been here to think that anyone will ever let someone vibe next to it.

Nothing really, if you don't wanna deal with a major just don't get on the map. Same thing we did for every major who doesn't want to get stomped. Besides, the world is a nice place right now, might as well enjoy it. Get something, you risk something, just how the map game goes.

as for this, i feel like that's an easy sentiment to have as an MFO, but a minor fac with only three writers is not only taking a risk, they are utterly defenseless against major factions, who far as i can tell usually have a dozen or more people writing consistently. Imo even with a hex and some mandates, a minor faction would be incapable of actually affecting the map. At the end of the day, it's just some extra colored blobs on the map that will probably be gone the moment their new faction protections are dropped and PvP is green lit.


currently, this just feels like a major faction but with none of the advantages and atm im not sure what to suggest that would alleviate that issue

 

[Corin Trenor]

as for this, i feel like that's an easy sentiment to have as an MFO, but a minor fac with only three writers is not only taking a risk, they are utterly defenseless against major factions, who far as i can tell usually have a dozen or more people writing consistently. Imo even with a hex and some mandates, a minor faction would be incapable of actually affecting the map. At the end of the day, it's just some extra colored blobs on the map that will probably be gone the moment their new faction protections are dropped and PvP is green lit.

In an ideal scenario, it just allows for the chance facilitate more collaborative roleplay. A major faction could steamroll and overwhelm a minor faction, that's true, but it should never happen. Having minor factions on the map allows for them to have more perceived influence / importance.

I think of a solid minor faction being Darkwire post recall, in which it just focused entirely running Denon plots and it did it well with limited overall GA influence despite being in their cloud. That can happen again. Mandalore is also a planet that I think could make good use of this. The Mandalorian major factions are always spearheaded by some kind of crusade or grand venture, eventually succumbs and goes minor. With this, the Mandalorian faction retains their control over Mandalore and can continue their narrative post possible recall.

Decently harmless idea save for the possible administrative nightmare. I like Imperius' 3 writers with 30 days worth of proven activity as a threshold to access the map as a minor. I think the added validity of being on the map will also allow these minors to flourish a bit more, too. Like Nick said, not all factions really make a whole lot of sense as a major, but kind of get shoehorned into being one in order to have proper impact.