I Really Have a Zero Asshole Tolerance (i.e. Player Factions are Coming to Elite)

I recently read that player-based factions are coming to Elite: Dangerous, in the form of what are called “Minor Factions” that seem to operate similarly to the powers in the PowerPlay portion of the game. As I read this Q&A thread, I have to admit, I’m just filled more and more with dread. Why? Because I hate random Internet assholes. I mean, I’m sure some of them are good people, but for the most part random Internet assholes are what kept me away from multiplayer gaming for so long. One of the reasons I’ve enjoyed Elite more than other online space games that I won’t name but you’ll know to which I’m referring is the distinct LACK of player-run factions/corporations/groups/etc. Now, this worked fine in Jumpgate because the squadrons there weren’t squabbling over territory (which was still factionally controlled), rather the squadrons were player groups that supported each other and added a sense of camaraderie.

I don’t see that happening in Elite.

Because territory appears to be involved, it’ll just be large groups of roving pricks just shooting off random pilots who just happened to be in their territory because it was on the way to somewhere else. Just like it happens in other games I won’t mention.

Fuck. That.

Since this is being implemented, it’s unlikely I’ll ever play in open ever again. I dabbled in it here and there and thankfully had a fine time, but adding this? Fuck, it’s private groups or solo all the god damned way. Frontier is letting the crazies loose in the asylum, and I hope they realize what that means in the long run.

Am I overreacting? Maybe. I just hope the roving bands of assholes that will form because of this — and oh yes, trust me, they will form if they haven’t already — don’t affect play in private or solo mode. If they do, heck I might be done with the game entirely, and I so hope it doesn’t come to that because I loooooooove Elite.

Ah well, here’s to hoping it’s nowhere near as bad as I fear. I so would love to be proven wrong in this case.