Can you name any mission where we directly attack and kill the cops for the other fixers.
Dunno, maybe it's bad for fixer business to attack cops and have it trace back to you? There's IC implications of NCPD retaliating hard at least on gangs if the number of dead cops based on one faction goes too high. Why would a fixer actively targeting them as a whole (and not individual members for other reasons) be a difference?
Yes, the approach to faction interactions or "rep" can be criticized, just want to mention that up front.
But the problem about the "all or none" expectation (as much as I would like to have "all") is that it cannot be expected. It couldn't be expected before release because it was made clear how the general gist would go down. But between "all" and "none" there is compromise. And "compromise" is better than "none".
I'd love to have some kind of bigger or medium DLC that heavily expands on interactions on all various factions you encounter, but given how the game is set up, among the favored factions is NCPD (over others) because of how you interact with various members. As fpr why, I would assume that you are not purposefully pitted against NCPD in general because of lore/story/plot reasons.
But I don't want to speculate about this too much here, and focus on the topic:
It's currently more attainable or expectable to get in "bed" with NCPD, maybe TT, maybe the Mox etc than some other factions like the Claws, Kang Tao, etc. Due to the side content available that usually puts you into an either neutral or supportive position with some groups and a more opposed role with others.
Thus the "mission goal" of this idea or thread didn't change, in fact it got perhaps supported unknowingly or knowingly. The idea isn't to "fully join" NCPD for that matter however, nor can we expect to "fully join" other notable factions unless the devs surprise us with a new DLC in that regard. Simulating a full faction interaction would be too much work and need main quest redesign. It's too much to ask for, in a nutshell, at least for existing factions who are notably tied into parts of the game.
But a soft or blending compromise of "quasi joining" parts of factions or working very deep/close with them like you were a part of this, this can still work. Or maybe I should speak about sub factions. The game even offers us to join MAX-TAC, with a little encounter or mission that is a clear nod to the old 2013 teaser where the very same cyberpsycho once running amok now works for MT and offers the protagonist a job. You also have relative pro-ties with the Mox as I understand it, and backed by certain missions. This could be expanded with future content, as well. Trauma Team, as another example, didn't appear much as opponent in the game. Another new possibility for side content and taking missions with them actively.
Alright, before this post explodes length-wise, my point is, there are some (sub)factions the player character can perfectly, "legit", join without having to rewrite key parts of the main quest or without it becoming conflicting. Here's three examples:
- Join MAX-TAC as offered and have a deeper approach to not just maybe repeatable missions, but deeper or slightly more action involved takes on cyberpsychosis, what it means to be human, etc. Plus earn unique items or money.
Does it break lore/plot? Don't think so. Apart from the protagonist dying and questioning the motivation, it seems clear that MAX-TAC directly recruits people and you don't need to be a cop with a career ladder. Maybe V wants to go out / live the rest with a bang. Or several.
- Join Trauma Team. Dangerous job, action, new side content or quest chain, maybe action and extraction/healing focused, maybe mini-plot beyond saving people or trying to. They likely look for skilled people and would surely hire / contract V for missions and deployments. Same as above in terms of lore or motivation.
- Join/help some gangs like the Mox, etc. The gang I fought the least or not at all were the Mox and you have quasi-ties to them through Judy and some side gigs. This could be expanded in some DLC somehow, but I'm not sure how. More missions or getting them clubs or property in which you profit somehow, literally and figuratively.
- Maybe flesh out Nomad clans, got no big experience on that front or end though.
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TL;DR: We be the big cop / MAX-TAC lobby, but wouldn't mind if other (sub)factions get expanded with side content or deeper ties to the main protagonist. Some obviously are fitting (MAX-TAX agent even offers you to join, but you cannot... yet
) or non-intrusive, others are more tricky and complicated / impossible. Like Arasaka, for obvious reasons.
The key idea is to please players and give them more things to do in the city, while also being able to deepen the ties they want with select groups.
I personally think it's great they picked this neutral to semi-friendly even if still distanced approach to NCPD as a whole because it makes this idea or "mission" even more feasible, at least for MAX-TAC. Besides maybe altering some dialogue or possible adding a fourth background it would fit in.
But time will tell, I suppose. Hope dies last.
