I second what Kismet says. A linkshell only becomes a "general discussion" linkshell if you let it. FC chat will fall prey to the same trap, if you let it... with the added problem that FC chat is where you'll be discussing game mechanic stuff like use of the company workshop, chest, actions, and so on.
That's why I'm in the FC I'm in - it provides, alongside agreeable people and a loose RP backdrop, terms and conditions I can agree to regarding the use of those OOC game mechanic conveniences that are only available to FCs. But I seek the huge majority of my roleplay outside of it.
Having an FC house is a boon, but constructing the majority of your social side of things around FC-only chat channels will mean that anyone who would prefer to stick with their old FC is inherently on lesser footing. They'll get to join in IC on events, but they won't be able to share OOC character-building, plot-planning, development-sharing...
And it means it has to be all-or-nothing. You're either in the FC or you're not. So if someone starts burning out on the plot, or wanting to diversify, or their character develops in a diffent direction, or even they just want to have an FC room in a different housing district to the one you picked... if the majority of your communication is FC-only, it's not like they can keep in touch and join in with stuff they want to. They either stay or leave.
But you can have up to eight linkshells, and a billion discord servers - it's much easier for someone to drop in and out as their character's attitudes and OOC schedule dictate. The thing that will dictate whether they want to drop in, and the extent to which they participate in the thing you want them to (i.e. RP-focussed conversations about Othard resistance matters), is the structure you provide as leader - in terms of events, plotlines, in-character social nights...
TL;DR: Free company VS linkshell is inconsequential. The thing that makes the difference between a general social group and an RP-focussed group is strong leadership and clear direction.
That's why I'm in the FC I'm in - it provides, alongside agreeable people and a loose RP backdrop, terms and conditions I can agree to regarding the use of those OOC game mechanic conveniences that are only available to FCs. But I seek the huge majority of my roleplay outside of it.
Having an FC house is a boon, but constructing the majority of your social side of things around FC-only chat channels will mean that anyone who would prefer to stick with their old FC is inherently on lesser footing. They'll get to join in IC on events, but they won't be able to share OOC character-building, plot-planning, development-sharing...
And it means it has to be all-or-nothing. You're either in the FC or you're not. So if someone starts burning out on the plot, or wanting to diversify, or their character develops in a diffent direction, or even they just want to have an FC room in a different housing district to the one you picked... if the majority of your communication is FC-only, it's not like they can keep in touch and join in with stuff they want to. They either stay or leave.
But you can have up to eight linkshells, and a billion discord servers - it's much easier for someone to drop in and out as their character's attitudes and OOC schedule dictate. The thing that will dictate whether they want to drop in, and the extent to which they participate in the thing you want them to (i.e. RP-focussed conversations about Othard resistance matters), is the structure you provide as leader - in terms of events, plotlines, in-character social nights...
TL;DR: Free company VS linkshell is inconsequential. The thing that makes the difference between a general social group and an RP-focussed group is strong leadership and clear direction.
![[Image: tUzrT.png]](https://puu.sh/tUzrT.png)
