Make Free companies more Meaningful/Competitive (Suggestion)

[LxrdKeiji]

I don't know if this is the right place for this but I have an idea to make Free Companies(FCs) more appealing to join, give FCs a reason to interact with each other, and make the Company ranks have more impact and immersion in the game.

My Issue with Free companies

As it currently stands, people join FC's generally for social purposes, buffs, access to a mansion, or to have a group to play with. However, with link shells, party finder, and the newly added Fellowships, I believe there are less reasons to be in a Free company as they provide 2 of the previous things mentioned. Also Free company buffs and housing may also be arbitrary to a lot. Next, Free company ranks are only a show of activity or how many Grand company credits are spammed but not any type of real prestige or challenge. There is no type of competitiveness to the ranks. Lastly there is little to no reason for FCs to interact with each other or form alliances outside of friendship. These combined make it so players have no real reason to join or stay in one Free company. I have an idea to add incentive to both ranking up and FC player retaining.

Add a Free Company ranking called influence/prestige

This could be a new ranking for Free companies. Companies gain influence by monopolizing and taking control of map zones. Rewards for controlling a map zone could be exclusive access to special gathering nodes on the acquired maps, free company exclusive fates, lowered Teleport rates, more gil for selling to npcs, lowered taxes on Market Board, etc. This ranking will run on a season schedule similar to Feast and reset when it's over with a special reward for the top ranking FCs in influence. The rewards will add incentive to joining a strong and active FC but won't change how you can enjoy the game without a Company.

Now how do you gain control of map zones?

At the beginning of the season players can spend grand company credits earned to bid on initial control of a map. Each map will have varying GC credit prices. This gives an advantage to FCs with high activity. After that and once a week, Free companies can challenge another Free company in a special competitive battle, for control over a map. You could also attempt to buy off control from a FC for set amount if they accept. You can only challenge and get challenged once. So you have to choose carefully on what maps you want to conquer and defend.

(1/2)

[LxrdKeiji]

The Challenge

The challenge will be an instanced siege style 24 v 24 or 36 v 36 battle. Participating players form 4man or 8man teams and Queue up for battle. The battle will combine both PVP and PVE(Crafting and Gathering) as to cater to all play styles. Players will work together to defend or capture various select nodes on a map for a select amount of time or until all nodes are captured for a victory. DOH/DOL and Warriors can gather and craft mats to create defensive or offensive machinery for the siege combat. Machines will vary from Mech Suits, Catapults, towers, etc. Fishers can gather food for npcs that will defend. Warriors defend the crafters and gathers while they acquire materials. Warriors can also kill random mobs for materials. All players will gain access to the machines to defend or attack. Both Companies will coordinate which nodes to siege, with various tactics, in order to achieve victory. Non-participating FC members may also spectate the match on delayed timing.

Conclusion

I believe this will add many positive aspects to the game for people who want their Company to have some type of impact and brand in the game. Players will also have something to do, outside of PVE content, when there is a content drought. Besides the competitive aspect, this could also add some form of politics to the game and allow leaders to talk and form alliances (Alliance company chat possibly?). Because this is additional content with minor incentives, it shouldn't affect non-competitive FCs in anyway and allow everyone to coexist. Let me know what you think. I hope some Yoshi P or any Dev sees this.

(2/2)

[Insertusernamehere]

FC not useful outside XP buff.. gardening not worth your time, discord does better as social platform.
One thing I am sure of.. SE avoiding competition at any content. I doubt they will include any competition other than current PvP content.

About you suggestion:

-24v24 / 36v36 unlikely I never see 24 / 36 people online in same time at any FC.
-I doubt anyone will join faction war with crafter or gatherer . Crafting is a necessity for gil IMO not considering it fun.

I do have some ideas but... probably waste of time to write all of it SE have a static template and its unlikely they change anything from this template.