I'd like to see a higher level of player groups where guilds can form alliances or coalitions (whatever name sounds better to folks). Maybe we could reduce the necessary number of officers in guilds that are part of alliances or coalitions so that we can have more social differentiation while still interacting. The alliance/coalition could be displayed by the guild info on the character page and alliances/coalitions could have their own chat too.
I don't know how hard this would be to implement so if it's out just shout.

Before people jump on and flame you too bad for this:

Everything you are suggesting already takes place, just slightly behind the scenes. Most large guilds implement their alliances, and enemies in some way using plugins.

For example, using plugins FAMY has it so if I target someone, I get immediate info in a pop up listing them as ally or enemy, plus whether or not they have paid for protection.

Other guilds simply list it in the guilds msg of the day, or on their forums.

Oh, and you can make any chat channel you want in game both securely with plugins, or unsecured by just making a random chat channel and telling your allies about it:

/J 75367443

Would put you in channel 75367443 and anyone you gave that number to could join you. The reason it's not secure is because anyone can hear that guesses, stumbles upon, or intercepts that number could listen in and you wouldn't know they're there.

I understand an know all of what you said, however I think this is a thing that would be even better as a feature in the game, and having a channel that is not reliant on a plugin or dumb luck is better, and it's just cooler to have it officially.

Ok, flame on:

It's called the faction system.

And there are nation specific chat channels

And there are groups plus guild that have chat.

And GS let's you write notes in game

And they created three different Nations

And you can put a posted note on your monitor

And that note should say "FAMY NOT ALLY" and "buy warranties"

And this is a non issue

Oh and
-1

+1 I agree that larger community based features need to be implimented to provide a platform between guilds officially based on existing game code instead of third party plugins.

Personally, I feel that the individual way different groups do it add an element not seen in other games that makes VO stand apart. But an actual suggestion that would make sense, is something that is already "in the works" in the livery system. Just my opinion...but group submitted images would fill the visual that the OP was asking for (kinda) and there are so many features to "group" I don't see the need for more. At least not until the playerbase can justify it....and Im sorry, but even the huge studio games usually use third party programs for communication. Some things, that would actually retain people....like end game content, and cool new ships, are things that would be more productive suggestions....things we cant do in other ways.
-Nith

+1 it would force TGFT and VOID to finally come clean about their secret alliance.

You don't get it Space Pancakes. This is not a suggestion to limit the way players interact, its a suggestion to make that interaction more supported. You can still have your plugins that tell you the status of the pilot in your sights, you can still have guilds that you are neutral with but were this implemented you could also have guilds that you have friendly relations with be more like allies and less just guys you go "o/" in sector chat at when you see them. And if your guild decides it doesn't care for any other guilds then that's fine too, you don't need to have an alliance, just like players can play guildless. The purpose of this suggestion is to expand player interaction, not decrease it.

However, Space Pancakes does raise a good point. If there's already existing plugins that do it just fine, there's no reason you can't use those plugins as well. One of the big reasons that Raging John opened the sandbox API is to encourage the community to add functionalities so that his extra-small dev team doesn't have to waste time on them and work on other important things.

Now can you stop complaining about "lack" of features that are actually there, and let the devs work on other more important things??