[GrimGriz]

For the life of me I can't figure out why GMK hasn't given us any faction missions in the last two months. I suppose it could be that they get tired of seeing the same ones sit there for months and months...but still, anything that gives players another option for something to do when they log in HAS to be a good thing.

I asked GMK in f5 once if I could get a FM for an Ore Depot in Aman Gate and he said they were out of Ore Depots. At the time I assumed he was joking, but it might just be possible that we're maxed out on space buildings.

[Ambrosius]

I don't know about building being "maxed out." I would guess that this is not the case but who knows. But beyond the Ore Depot -- which is important to you, but which may not be of interest to others -- what would we be producing with an FM? The only thing I could think of is to establish an FM that pays big for certain needed commods . . . but that would be a mining FM, not a "traditional" runner/broker FM.

Most important FMs have been to introduce a new ship or piece of equipment, etc. There are no opportunitites for that right now.

[QrazyKermi]

I would like to see a more "EU" approach to FM's, where we always have ones going on, but not always for big-ticket items. At least this way there's something TRI-based always on tap for those times when you log on alone, and don't feel like flipping 131 grey beacons.

[Ambrosius]

But we have traditionally had problems getting anyone to do meaningless FMs. As far as "what to do" -- there's always plenty to do other than beacon tuning now that most commods are mined-only. We have reached critical levels on several items, and with the conflux attacked on station and the resulting equipment destruction, we will begin feeling some "pinch" if we are not proactive in mining and hauling the correct things to the correct places.

[QrazyKermi]

But mining for a generic reason isn't particularly fulfilling. I'd rather the various factions, or TRI, issue a FM to stave off a looming shortage. That way numbskulls like me who take no interest in the workings of the economy can go out and be productive in a targetted manner whenever the mood strikes. I haven't logged in for more than 15 minutes in more than 2 weeks because I just don't want to go mine for the sake of mining, even though I know it needs to be done. And I don't really PvP any more (for a few reasons). Beacon flipping is only "fun" because it allows me time to keep getting adjusted to my joystick. Hauling is good for leveling, but I'm so sick and tired of switching back and forth between a heavy miner and a tow (I don't have a PoS or a hanger).

Plus, there's the whole perception thing: if there were FM's, it would give the impression that the GM's are aware that people still play from time to time, on more than just Saturday and Sunday nights.

[GrimGriz]

I agree with QK. I don't care if they are FMs to scan anomalies, or fly through the beacon in pulsar...something to do would be nice. It seems to me, Istvan's development policy for Jumpgate is more along the lines of fixing old things, and working on game mechanics. If you wait for him before having any more faction missions, it'll probably be a long time. After all, anything new will require art-time Jumpgate doesn't have as well.

In regards to mining, I'm done with that for awhile. Too many people told me to stick to mining, and there aren't enough good people left to make equipment for.

[ELPIRATA]

I feel that the problem lies also on the storyline in the US server. I havent gone back to MG EU Jossh since our boys came back, but during those days I could see that basically we have the vast majority of FM's done and they havent, like the beer (at that time).

The lack of a real storyline in the US guides us to just an ocasional RP that either GMK or GMO develop and usually have nothing to do with the way new stuff is brought into the game.

ELP

PS: Guess we really were fast at completing the Jammer FM lol.

[Tim]

I think a mining FM would be awesome. Seriously. has that ever even been done? And it would particularly challenging as a result of that pesky "can't trade/sell ore" stuff.

It could be run such that a pilot mines some ore, and gets a TRI (even better than faction, because it might unite some fairly factionalized squads) mission to their current station. Or, and this strikes me as even better, one takes the mission, but the mission calls for the ore to be dropped at an ore refinery rather than a station.

And finally, unlike a traditional FM, all units mined would count. Not, as in traditional FM's, only 50 units. So if GG mines 700 units of X ore, all 700 units are added to the pot.

mmm... a TRI mission that helps the economy, incorporates a seriously underplayed "profession" and promotes teamwork.. that would be sweeeeet

[QrazyKermi]

I only remember one mining FM during the past 3 years, but I can't remember how it went. I do remember lots of bitching on the forums about it though, by people that had no desire to mine. Understandable, considering the GM's didn't have the tools at the time to tweak the minutia of a FM. Now they can do all sorts of things, like adjust the ratio of commods to percent-completed, and other things that can help the FM along.

[GrimGriz]

Any FM would be awesome at this point.

[spork]

There have been several mining FMs. The Octs had to mine as reparations for losing the Oct/Quant war to build the memorial. The Quants had mining FMs to start production of the new mining lasers. I know the Sols had one, but I cannot remember what it was for.

QK, our squad has one of the best POS systems in space. We have lots of hangared ships you can borrow as long as you put them back in a reasonable timeframe and reequip if you die.

There are dozens of things FMs could be used for besides introducing new equipment. Someone listed a bunch somewhere on jossh forums once, but I'm too lazy to find the link. At present, I think the best we are going to get out of our part time storyline is an occasional sent attack with occasional OOC events thrown in.

I used to dislike beacon tuning, but now its one of the few things I can do to make a visible difference in my faction. It also gives me something to do while patroling for bad guys. Lately there have been several bountied pilots, so it helps there too. And if I do find bad guys, sure I'm down a FF, but that just makes for a better challenge (besides I can always power dock at a POS and install my spares). Beacs from KH to TP and then to QC are all right near the jumplanes with only a couple of exceptions. I typically leave the right half of Q space to someone else.

[ELPIRATA]

You guys forget the Hyperial FM that required mining DSM and SR were going to team up to finish it and then some all-knowing GM deleted it

ELP