Why do people hesitate about merging Free Companies?

[Altanas]

Apologies for being slightly off topic from the OP

I dunno, I think the FC buffs are a rather good enticement.

I don't disagree that the perks are nice, and helps everyone become more efficient. Aside from most of those perks becoming increasingly irrelevant as more members max out their characters, the main problem is the distinction between Linkshell and Free Company boils down to not very much at all. At the moment perks can sort of be boiled down to making players a bit more efficient, and guild banks boiled down to a more simply way to distribute items for raids.

What is really missing at the moment, and I appreciate we are only in a birth phase following launch, is the concept of Guild Influence within the world.

Perhaps an example of this is how BluegGartr is shone with praise when it achieves a world first, although this praise is given beyond the gameworld.

However, for the regular joe FC, having recognition or influence within game for achieving various feats would be desirable, so that FC's can strive for something as an Entity. Basically an FC should have its own tasks to do that the members contribute towards in return for rewards

FCs should have their own Quests requiring contribution from its members to achieve. This could range from simple things like:

1. Repeatable and Randomised FC quests to kill 10,000 enemies in each Region
2. Repeatable and Randomised FC quests to assist GC's by clearing various dungeons or endgame events
3. Repeatable and Randomised FC missions to defend or attack NPCs or landmarks. Basically a more controlled version of FATE that only your FC or party members can participate in.
3. Repeatable and Randomised FC Hunters Guild type quests. Basically Hunt NMs. Basically in the form of the old "Wanted:..." Leves in Version 1 where you had 40minutes to hunt various outlaws, and also the separate Faction leves with NMs.

In turn there should be dedicated FC Reputation Vendors, FC titles, FC discounts, etc

As there are different types of players, there should be ways to allow for specialisation, beyond the FC perks we have.
1.A DOH FC may be a collective of likeminded crafters and traders. They should be able to gain access to new recipes or new methods of crafting such as being able to tweak stats on gear or HQ++/HQ+++ gear.
2. A DOW FC may just be a bunch of mercs who can gain access to various DOW buffs?
3. Importantly, FCs can ally and so gain/transfer overall benefits with good politics between FCs

Another way to consider Influence is to give FC's the opportunity to have a stake in the world: Allow FC's to compete for weekly control of camps and hamlets. While everyone else retains the status quo, the controlling FC gains additional boons perhaps from simple things like:
- double-up for each gathering attempt
- or increasing drop rates and quantity from farmed mobs.
- or perhaps even granting access to area specific NMs or hardmode dungeons with loot. That way Merc'ing can become acceptable and certain FC's can gain a reputation as the go to guild for that particular area.
- Another excellent offshoot from this would be for FC's to "do business" with other FC's, opening up all sorts of opportunities. The more business connections the FC makes, the larger the alliance becomes while at the same time individual FCs maintaining their individual identities and social groups.

I would have liked FCs to gain more prominence in housing. Such as constructing castles or constructing sea ports, air ports, battle arenas, basically Amenities rather than holiday bungalows...

Another way to give FC's a purpose to have a stake in the world would of course be control via FC v FC PVP. However for the most part this would seem to be clawed back to the anticipated Frontlines zone although it would have been great if it extended beyond that zone.