I don't know how this may be done but:

Why not allow anyone (perhaps with a certain experience) to create a faction, then allow anyone to join the faction of their choice? This would work on several levels:
- A group of three fighters who want to take on a trade ship
- A posse of 15 vessels creating a pirating organisation
- A rich guy wants to own a sector and recruits a few guards
- An empire, spanning multiple sectors (like te current nations)

Each would work on the same principal. The leader would be able to define ranks (and the conditions to achieve them), policies (how bounties are distributed), maybe even an ensigna. The 'T' would put you through to all people in your group, be it empire-wide or just you and your buddies. Each faction would be able to define anamies and allies, all the others being neutral.

For small groups, that's all thats needed. For large empires, however, an administration system would need to be assembled: I was tinging a homeworld-style interface for a 'sector commander' and a Master of Orion-style for 'empire leaders'. This would allow for powerful space control and tactics, as well as a new way of playing.

There would be large components that caould be mounted on large vessels that would grant people this control: large so that they are only used by powerful/rich groups who could afford a base/flagship (capital). The right to use one of these devices would be defined by a player's rank: only the high-ranking ones would get to control a sector or even an empire.

Leaders would be able to build bases and capital-class vessels (in space). Each base and large vessel would have it's own supply/demand. Money for these factions, especially the large ones would be assured by trade, giving the leaders a motive to protect these vessels (and then levy a tax on their economic activities in their territories...).

Just my 2 cents worth

w00t to F*SH, you said exactly what I've been thinking right up until the part with the "administrating system". Now, Homeworld is a strategy game. Repeat after me, strategy. Vendetta is a FPS game (whether you like it or not, it is first-person and you shoot, so it is fps). We don't want to just click a spot and have the ship move there under AI. No way. As for the Master of Orion style, well, that just focus WAY too much on the big picture. We want to see the world through the eyes of a single person, not through the eyes of an omnipitent critter. My 2.1 cents worth.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Vendetta is a FPS but it is also an RPG. That's what makes it great.... because the successful balance between the two has never been done successfully before.

So yes, it's first person and you shoot which makes it an FPS... but you also have to play a role with other real people which makes it ann RPG. That is, if a reputation system, etc. every get implemented (which I believe is the plan).

It's a MMORPFPSG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing First Person Shooter Game)

:-)

I know that. I was just trying to point out that it is not a MMORPRTSG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Real Time Strategy Game).

Perhaps, some missions could create some of these factions, while others are created by players themselves. Both would have strengths and weaknesses

Ok ok sorry...

I read all about the factions thing after I posted.

But I still think a control element would go far... (like the commander mode in Half-Life: Natural Selection. That never stopped the FPS bit..)