Feature to protect newbies/casuals from PK's in certain areas, as they could use the train to travel to major locations and complete quests, enjoy game content.
Split the player base into at least two major groups fighting each other thus giving some purpose for the 'mindless' PvP. (should someone desire that ofc)
Note: While lawful groups are more limited in offensive interactions between themselves, outlaw groups can also fight each other thus there would be more than two big groups engaging in PvP
Some NPC's, factions and players shall be categorized as outlaws. In case of NPC's, this is pretty straightforward, take Slavers Guild for example. For players, this means that they will be outlawed from starting zones and 'good' factions, as these NPC's will attack them on sight and also raid them if they come close on world map. If a player kills another player in friendly territory, they will be outlawed and loose their status with most 'good/lawful' factions. Same goes for repeated offensive action against NPC factions, which is measured by a players karma toward specific faction.
Outlaw factions don't care much about players killing other players, as long as they maintain a neutral or better reputation with them, they won't attack them and be able to do quest, trade, live in outlaw towns, etc.
Lawful factions and zones, act as kind of a newbie, casual player protection, but also should incite faction wars towards some direction.
Lawful factions and locations:
Brotherhood of Steel
NCR
Hub Police
Junktown Scouts
LA factions and zones
Vault City
San Francisco
Any random encounter in the vicinity/patrol range the zones above
Outlaw factions/zones:
Every other faction or zone falls into outlaw category as they would not attack on sight outlaw players or player that kill other lawful players.
A player will become outlaw once:
They either choose to be a slaver or something 'evil' in the eyes of the 'good' factions
They start killing players in lawful zones or in encounters near lawful zones.
Interface and interaction between lawful and outlaw players:
Contour colors when pressing 'A' should reflect on targetable players or NPC's outlaw state. (for example: all lawful players are yellow instead of red in lawful zones, but orange in lawless areas/TC, where/when lawful pvp is enabled)
Names of outlaws would appear in orange or redish colors (needs preferred faction name coloring by players to be refactored)
There should either be a warning when trying to attack lawful players, or simply a player shall not be able to attack lawful players.
A player shall be able to flag themselves as an outlaw with some command.
A player can kill or interact in any non-lawful way with other lawful players in certain cases, like Town Control, or in outlawed zones where PvP is 'expected' over resources: for example Reno sewers, Glow, Mariposa, some of the world Events, etc.
The penalty for being lawful:
With the exception of not being able to kill other lawful players who insult you in lawful zones, nothing.
Note: Outlaw players rolling lawful alt and troll or trick into outlaw behavior is expected as usual in such mmo's, and accepted in the concept.
The penalty for being outlaw:
Lack of safety because other outlaws may attack you whenever they want, and they will get no faction/NPC/reputation penalty, and neither of you will get any protections from guards.
Not being able to visit lawful locations, and cannot trade or do quests for lawful NPC factions.
Note: This can abuse with alts if said players want to, but this is to be expected and accepted in the concept, as there would be no items or transferable goods only available if you are lawful
Becoming lawful again:
A player can visit the Cathedral to pay and pray for forgiveness (for example 10k caps).
Outlaw player would have to repeat this action 7 times, with a 20 hours CD on praying to have their outlaw flag reset to 0 and all of their reputation reset to 0.
If they kill any lawful player anywhere in between pray sessions, they would need to restart, and pray 7 times again.
Possible exploits
Friendly fire:
Lawful players could mask friendly fire from burst weapons to kill lawful players being close to NPC's and loot with outlaw alt, or just wait to pick up stuff from ground after replication
Counter: Most newbie zones will be loot/pvp protected, other locations to be ignored for now. Server admins may have to do rules against this, if they dislike and ban players doing it. I cannot imagine a 100% counter solution only by code.
Design in progress
Outlaw concept
Some NPC's, factions and players shall be categorized as outlaws. In case of NPC's, this is pretty straightforward, take Slavers Guild for example. For players, this means that they will be outlawed from starting zones and 'good' factions, as these NPC's will attack them on sight and also raid them if they come close on world map. If a player kills another player in friendly territory, they will be outlawed and loose their status with most 'good/lawful' factions. Same goes for repeated offensive action against NPC factions, which is measured by a players karma toward specific faction. Outlaw factions don't care much about players killing other players, as long as they maintain a neutral or better reputation with them, they won't attack them and be able to do quest, trade, live in outlaw towns, etc. Lawful factions and zones, act as kind of a newbie, casual player protection, but also should incite faction wars towards some direction.
A player will become outlaw once:
Interface and interaction between lawful and outlaw players:
The penalty for being lawful:
The penalty for being outlaw:
Becoming lawful again:
Possible exploits