Developments and Changes

[Zebulon]

You may have realised that there is a bit of a "rethink" as to how AoF will develop.

There are now three autonamous sections instead of the previous two.

[AoF][T] (name) : Traders
[AoF][A] (name) : Alpha Wing Fighters

The Alpha wing remaind our mainstay as this was how we gathered our Global Stats to show our ranking in the Freelancer world. In the search to attract players of a more PvP orientation it has been suggested that we develop a Battle Wing.  I concur with this as it was actually one of the original ideas when AoF was founded but it was shelved due to the lack of numbers and the fact that it would fragment our stats on the Global listings.  Given the amount of interest shown in a Battle Wing I have decided to implement this change as it lends another aspect to the whole AoF Role Play.

[AoF] (name) : Battle Wing

Basicaly you could refer to the three arms of the corporation as

Civilian [T] Police [A] and Military - this is purely in reference to any dealings that AoF have with others and we are still not a Navy or Police Clan / Organisation as such.

One of the main fundemental ideas surrounding AoF that is up for discussion is the idea that we are NOT a clan and allow members to Multiclan.  It has been suggested that we should deviate from this and become a Clan in the proper sense, there by removing the ability to Multiclan.  This has always been a difficult one for me as I assisted in setting up AoF with the view that we would be different from others on the Void and adopt a more Role Play orientated style of game, thereby engaging players intelligence to ensure that any "cross over" between characters was kept to a minimum. Basicaly if you are a member of AoF and in another clan, we are relying on your integrity and gamesmanship to NOT blab about what we are up to - its a huge TRUST issue but one that seemed to work well - 911 and myself have both been and still are, members of other clans without any detriment to our role in AoF.  This is the kind of intelligent approach that I was keen to foster with AoF.

However - times change. AoF reduced in number due to a lack of time spent by me and the absence of 911 during the Post DTA period. This allowed a HardCore to develop based around some PvP activity in Nomad 1.  Trading went well also with [AoF][T]Argh producing some excellent RP in the trading game and assisting many newcomers to the Void. He is one of the best traders here, using his RP and being generous with his hard earned $$$.  Things are looking to change and there is the potential for AoF to become a force to be reckoned with on the Void as opposed to just another sideline in the trader RP.  That does not mean that the basic principles will be abandoned and we become another PvP clan - I still want to emphasise that Trading is still very much the route to which I will measure the success of AoF - but you cant get rich without a bit of protection round these parts...!

To this end I would appreciate a vote  - please attach a reason as to why you have voted the way you did. Non AoF members, potential AoF members and current AoF members are encouraged to take part in this discussion. Flames,Spam and irrelevant comments will be deleted from this thread. Your input is appreciated.

Many thanks - Zebulon Antarxes (El Presidente de AoF)  ;)

[Gitano]

I voted stay in associaton, just because is a different way to see the game, not like the same clans as always.

keep the AoF, Some Freelancers (like me) are little part of the associaton even we dont have the tag

[Tornado]

I voted *Stay an Association* because i really like working in AoF even though atm i have lost my character but still as i did i liked working as it and if it turns to be a clan i wont be in it to have some fun

[geromix]

Hello Everybody!!!
Though i am no longer an AoF member technically but i would still like to comment on this.
I voted for AoF being an association for the essence of AoF is that it is an alliance and not a clan.Hence only AoF can be the true home of a Freelancer.By having this ideology AoF has had reasonable amount of success in the fact that it gave the players the freedom of being a freelancer and at the same time having that sense of belonging to an association.
         A true AoF member is loyal only to himself and AoF.
Now concerning this Battle Wing,while the idea is good but it is equivalent to the Alpha Wing.
 Battle Wing=Alpha Wing except for the change in name.They both are related to the fighting aspects of Freelancer and serve the need of fulfilling the need of one's desire for action RP and at the same time give solid fighting muscle to AoF.I oppose this move{not that i have any say  ;) } it will only cause confusion as changing the [A] tag to will mean creating new characters for those who have old [A] tags.
AoF has had a lot of problems with tags in the past and it will be wise that we stick to our present taggging system.
The Alpha Wing should be promoted and lots of fighters should be recruited,i have always supported this view.

NOW the BEST PART of the idea=AUTONOMY. =D>  =D>
Simply marvellous and a solution of a genius. =D>
Zeb and a few else will know the huge lengthy discussions we had in the past about RP in AoF relating to piracy and criminal activity and many other debates about whether AoF is {only &primarily} a Trading Organisation.
This was what i was loking for!!!!!
AoF internally is extremely complicated with entervining and interpllay between RPs and Social Dynamics{ur responsibilities and interactions towards ur friends and the entire Void}.
     By Having Autonomy between variuos sections of AoF will finally be able to venture into those area of RP which was considered almost impossible to do so.
                                  I support this idea of Autonomy.There Should be Various ARMS of AoF{which will be the Mother}.These ARMS should be many according to the variuos RPs that one has to engage in.AoF is so "huge",in terms of the astonishing amount of RPs it can accommodate into itself because a Freelancer can do Anything.
So there should be many ARMS{Though i dont know what will be the use of Police ARM,who are we to police?ourselves?But if some one wants a bit of Navy RP under AoF tag its fine with me BUT ONLY ON ONE CONDITION}.
Navy RP is not profitable unlike Trading and pirating activities,Navy RP doesnt make money and Money is very important in AoF.But if one wants to then whosever wants to be part of Navy should have 4-3 other people along with him or her to open another ARM of AoF.


Hence,these ARMS can be like a new business venture.U need co-investors{3-4 other people is minimum}.The HEAD company or Mother Company will simply be AoF with the PResident at the top.There are different ARMS or sidebusinesses of AoF having a certain degree of Autonomy,they will be answerable to The President.But they will do their stuff according to their RP and have certain amount of independence a;ong with the proper TAGS.

AoF must Diversify like a True Business Organisation looking to make money through other ways and there are many RPs by which AoF can "PROFIT"{Not money alone}  :)


P.S.-Sorry for long post but i haent said much for a long time.

[Zebulon]

Glad to hear from you mate!!! I was looking over an old sticky about ranks and stuff which I need to update by the way...! What struck me was that we had originaly looked at THREE fighter wings - divided up into autonomous commands.  I was not keen to have us go for a pirate rep for one of the wings as this would lead to confusion and I am disinclined to go down that road. However.......

[AoF][T] = are our traders and the back bone of the financial success for the Alliance.

[AoF][A] = Alpha Wing - that was originaly set up as a separate entity to involve fighters.

along with the and the [C] wing.

To be honest I think we can stop at [T] [A] and for the moment - lets not get carried away with visions of massed fleets conquering the Sirius system  :D

The reason for the vote is that when you have TWO almost autonomous fighter wings you need to have a certain level of  'Singing from the same Scoresheet'. So, the thinking is that we establish a core of diplomacy and guidlines to make sure that although there is flexibility we dont end up pulling in different directions. To this end Leadership is going to be a key factor.  I am hoping that from the beggining we can establish a core of players that know how to run things and look after themselve without always having to run back to the Boss every five minutes to get help and I would expect reports of their activities in the advancement of AoF's profits.

As a Clan we would be able to tighten the enforcement rules and have a single mode of play - this would probably make us more like FTP than I would like - however it is to be considered.  Working as an Alliance would allow autonomy for the Traders at least.  If nothing it would be the deals and the treaties that the traders make that would guide the direction of the Battle Wing and the [A] Wing. This is where the confusion could occur in that a lot of our wheeling and dealing is NOT made public as it would potentialy embarass our customers and may upset some of our more legaly minded allies......

So - to Clan or not to Clan? that is the question....  :-??

[deadlysensi]

I didn't vote on this. I support the alience but understand the need for a clan like structure. Thats why I couldn't vote. I'm undecided.
I wanted to sugest an alternative though. You understand you can do both?
One of the good things about aof is being able to play as a freelancer with a tag. No clan rules just a guide on behavure true to the rp. You can still let people do this. A group of true freelancers who operate as aof operates now but with a clan like group above this, working to there own objectives, calling the shots.
Promotion in to the clan side could be acomplished by experianced players ( in aof for a preset amount of time) who are good at what they do, trustworthy and willing to sign up for the cause. Clan side orders, missions and facilitys would circulate that normal members wouldn't be privy to. The clan side could however call on normal members for assistance etc.
A normal group of aliance members and an elite group of clan like members with there own structure and objectives above and beyond the normal aof aliance. This would give the best of both worlds. The emphisis would be on the co'operation and the unity of both sides of the aof.
In simple terms, aof would be a clan and have all the clan privleges but it would have a core of members who are still true freelancers who follow the origional aof ideal.
How does that sound?

[Roadbug]

Lets stick with what works.  Stay an association and not a clan.  We are independent traders and fighters that operate together because we want to and not because we are ordered to.  This is the mainstay of AoF reguardless of whether you are a Fighter or a Trader.   =P~ Lets make money =P~ ,  @-) lets count the profits @-), and  :D lets have fun .

[911]

Stay an association. I think it will be easier to things if when don't become huge and stay small and be able to keep order around things.


Nine

[Zebulon]

I like what deadly said. Best of both worlds. My own personal feeling is if it aint broke dont fix it.  I just got the feeling that we had become a bit "dead in the water".  I am still keen to see the advancement of Hyberdrone's idea of a (battle wing) section to the AoF - this would give the PvPers a home of sorts, even though there is nothing stopping them being [A]'s....! As always our Romanian contingent has produced more new recruits.  I agree with 911, we dont want to get too big - but it would be good to have the kind of presence that the likes of BBD and EU once had on this server. It would be cool to think that no matter when you signed on, there would be at least one AoF member online....Just wishful thinking or a real possibility?  :D

Keep voting.... Zeb

[BLACK_DIAMOND]

Let`s keep it the way it was .I have been off line for a while due to RL issues & see that I have lost my trader char so now I have to start a new one .It was also one of the banks so 250 mil was lost of AoF funds.Not too happy about that to say the least.


   NITESTARR

[Zebulon]

Its becoming clear that remaining an "association" is what the majority are asking for.  That doesnt mean that we cant "fine tune" things a bit. Keep the responses coming.  We are still very keen to establish the wing - so far we have one tagged member! This will be AoF's home for any PvPers that wish to join but are not overly keen on the trading aspect of things.  Sorry to hear that you lost the character mate - such are the rules of economics here on the Void.  If you require any assistance just holler -

I have been "red dot" killing in Nomad1 with my AoF character in order to show a bit of solidarity with our Romanian contingent who do an excellent job there.  There has been some PvP also.  Its a good place for fighters to make some cash as well.

Any interest parties please PM me or pop a post on the forum. Many thanks,

Zebulon Antarxes - El Presidente AoF  :D

[Tornado]

Indeed one [AoF]  [Warran xD] i am seeing a few police around a lot of traders  =P~  and one [Aof] xD

[geromix]

This is depressing,250 mill lost and i contributed much of that.Sorry to hear about that.
If the next mod comes out then i might be back in Void playing where i should be- in space.
For now the incentive to play here again is although strong but not strong enough to make a few sacrifices and play here.
Things are getting better in RL and i am getting bit more time and IF[thats a BIG "IF"] the new mod comes out and i get some more time then i could be back here.
If that happens then i surely would want some money .  ;)