Take back the official names
The main reason I see for FunCom to take back the official names is that they need to be able to have open doors to all players. I think this is more important to omni's who are actually part of a structured company rather than the neuts or clans who are a bit more indepenant. If an organization is going to be set up in game that allows omni-citizens to be a part of it, having someone who probably doesn't know where the storyline is going completely and in every detail just wont work. Another issue is the politics that happen within an organization and with the people around them.
Taking Omni-pol for example, the main guild I am familiar with that uses the name of an actual department of omni-tek within the game, they have their own agendas which have little to do with anything storyline based. As the individual players go within Omni-pol, some are nice people and some are your average morons who seem to just hang around to insult people in the game and get off on some sort of superiority trip because they're 'omni-pol'. As a guild they probably really try to BE omni-pol. As individual players, certain members ruin it for the whole either by ignorance or lack of role-playing ability. Another problem with them currently is that they have no power to enforce any sort of laws. If an omni-pol (the current guild) employee is standing next to clanner in omni-trade, the most he can do is either plead with the clanner to leave or shout obscenities. The most I've ever seen Omni-pol (the guild) do really is line up for pictures, which most players try to interfere with due to omni-pol's arrogant nature around 'normal' omni citizens...
As for such organizations opening their door to the public, this is a good idea, however the screening process needs to be something that is regulated by FC, not something where you go to your local adv shop, pick up an application, right click and you're in. I'm thinking of something more like the process to become an ARK, because after all, a player needs to be thuroughly told what they are doing as part of a guild that is part of a company, and where that guild's intrests lie on a day to day basis. They need to be told what the limits of their power are as to what claims they can make, what laws they can uphold, etc. Dropping people in unversed in how they are supposed to act in a roleplaying style guild is like putting an actor on stage without giving him a script, he's going to suck.
The problem with leaving this sort of management in the hands of players is politics on an individual to individual level, and the fact that once on person seizes control of a department there's almost no way that person is going to give it up to anyone else. How fun will it be when some complete stranger is bossing you around because he's your superior officer. Now imagine one of those 13-16 year old players who barely make any sense in the first place and tend to get violent at the drop of a hat. No thanks, I'll get a job at some low end fast food chain if I want that.
In synopsis: take the official names back.
P.S. Gaute, great ideas, but will you #$%# adding crap so the programmers can fix what's already there?! This game needs a massive retooling before it's ready for anything like this!
1. Pathing, fix it.
2. Tradeskills, fix them.
3. Any of about a billion more bugs, FIX THEM.
4. Envision ideas.
The Number 2 Option it is :)
I am in favor of the "forcefully taking back the story names" option
They shoulda know when they took the name, Yadda yadda yadda.
Sounds like they could Name their Guild something that points to support of an Offical Department.
And I like the Forced elections for Clans, or lack of them for OMNI.
Though not an OMNI player, I know if I was one I'd like to be promoted Past the Gimp who is just a friend of the Leader if I was doing more, and in a FC run Org on the OMNI side, that sure would be more likely.
" Darkd00d, you were 20 mins late to the last 2 Meetings, and you were 12 late to this one, YOU are DeMoted! "
LeaderGuy turns to SlyJedi " Welcome to the Inner Circle Sly. :) " *Slyjedi was Promoted to General*
*Slyjedi is a trademark of Nanokiss Inc :P