PaKettle's comments recently (and others as well), have reminded me that UIT starters have it HARD. Itani/Serco guys truly have it easy (nearly no rats around), but the UIT do NOT have it easy. The problem is that noobs do have no idea what they are signing up for when they start their first character on UIT. Not only are they signing up to travel an area full of experienced players, but they are barred (as far as I am aware) from fast-leveling experiences like BP and the like.

It might be useful to mention in the character/faction selection page that the UIT areas are plagued by its proximity to grey space... and that pirates often invade UIT terr to prey on traders. Granted this is already partially done, but a somewhat stronger warning would be nice. Say, something that mentioned (in addition to "However, this societal structure has also made UIT space a heaven for pirates, unscrupulous merchants, and the results of autonomous technological experiments gone awry") that "these menaces make the life of a young UIT pilot much harder than those of his Itani and Serco brethren". The warning that is there sounds too much like a "ya ya... that's just background story". Adding the second part to that warning might make it sink in a little more (and change the expectations of new UIT pilots).

I admit that this would limit the number of UIT noobs that play the game... but UIT is already heavily populated by advanced players anyways. I believe a warning would provide a buffer against new players leaving because of UIT griefers.

As a noob player (as of yesterday), I can safely say I would have been quite frustrated if I picked UIT (almost did), only to discover its the least newbie-friendly faction.

Who told you that, Rama? Might it have been a Serco or Itani? They're jealous of us. Or maybe it was a pirate. On the other hand, you might've been talking about the location, not the people.

Okay, first off, a lot of this has been suggested before. Please, use the search function first. Secondly, UIT is not that hard. I started as UIT, and while it is closer to grayspace there's not much else that's horrible about it. It has a few less systems, sure, but aside from that, not much. We don't have BS or BP, but if you've completed Basic and a bit of Adv. Training, there *are* HS missions in grayspace (which, as I mentioned, is very close).

The main problem with UIT are pirates and griefers. Aside from that, it's no big deal. Why else do you think there are quite a few advanced UIT players?

"The main problem with UIT are pirates and griefers"

That's precisely my point. I'm saying we should warn noobies of that before they get scared off the game.

...And you ignored the rest of my post. Unless griefing has increased tenfold since I left, it's not that big of a deal. Are you saying we should tell them not to go UIT *at all* because it might be hard in the beginning? Often what they start with is what they stay with. Overall, UIT is, I think, the most advantageous faction.

I'm saying they need to have expectations that they will be griefed/ratted if they pick UIT. If they go into it thinking that everything will be peachy, they are more likely to leave. See: http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/20142?page=2#251343

And while it may have been suggested before, given that we have a large influx of noobs I believe its useful to have a new post on this... as its pertinence has increased.

While it might not be tenfold, griefing has increased. A fair number of pirates make a point of hunting the less-protected areas of Azek, Nyrius, and Verasi for newbies. I'm not saying that you don't have a point, but the griefing has increased a fair bit.

It was my intention to reword the initial selection paragraphs to warn of this, during the whole "newbie redux" thing.. which is behind schedule and still hasn't happened yet. I do agree that there should be some notice.

You should also reword the Serco and Itani paragraphs with the goal of making the Serco more appealing.

FatStrat, that is more or less off topic, and will probably spark a debate about the whole "making the Serco more appealing" thing.

Diqrtvpe, thanks. I've been in game recently and for a long enough period of time to see that. I've only been killed in UIT space once, and I was afk at the time. That's what I'm going on.

Atice, the idea is okay (to warn them about griefing), I just don't particularly care for your answer the problem.

I'd like to see just how many newbs are being griefed, and how many leave because of it. However, I'm pretty sure that most that are griefed don't say much about it. It's a space game. If you don't expect to be shot at, why are you playing?

Tell them about the proximity to gray space, tell them there are pirates, but don't say "these menaces make the life of a young UIT pilot much harder than those of his Itani and Serco brethren." Like I've said, I don't think it makes it that much harder, and scaring people away from UIT is not a good thing.

I'm actualy result of that uit-griefing and as you may see, i stayed just to kill yoda (i'm still after your corpse ;p) and tbh, ppl who will quit because they will get pvped once, won't last too long in vo (till they get killed i belive).
But yea, info while registering that uit is pierat infested may be good idea, will cut some whining.

The story of UIT in VO has been doctored.
Sure they are greedy capitalist pigs, no good swindlers that would sell their mothers to the best buyer but considering their origin it comes as a no surprise..
The somewhat abridged real UIT story is... due to a significant overproduction of cheap Serco cyborgs, planets were getting overpopulated fast so ruling caste decided it was about time to get rid of some esteemed members of their society.
It was announced all over news network that a big mothership is being built to carry "The cream of society" to a wonderful new worlds.
Only people that were allowed to apply to become new colonists first were: public accountants, civil servant clerks, bankers, lawyers, brand & marketing managers, hair stylists, beauty consultants & fashion designers.

Before they loaded them on the big ship and shot them into big nowhere, they told them they are just an advance party and that others will follow shortly.

Governments are known to lie to its people, nothing new there but getting rid of those "esteemed members of society" was a good cause for a month of festivities. :)

After some time of blind roaming thru space (no flight crew aboard, nobody wanted to mix with "those" passengers) big ship crashed at Dau and a new society of UIT started taking shape.

There, now you all know the true story.

bojan, you forgot the telephone sanitizers...

Yes, and 6 * 9 = 42.

I never understood how there was a "nation" of "independent traders." Oh well. It works I suppose.

UIT = Union of Independent Territories

At the beginning it was called "Hairstylists United" but then a horrible marketing managers uprising started.
Lawyers and bankers sided with marketing managers and overtook the hairstylists provisional government.
Unhappy with the new government, packs of vigilante public accountants rebelled and started terrorizing everyone.
Situation became unbearable so finally they reached an agreement to divide new worlds among factions and form a loose union.