I am sure that some of this is planned. And I am also sure that there are a lot of things that cannot be done within the current framework of the game (like making all the independent planets independent) without significant other issues but i figured it would be fun to spitball some ideas to breathe life into the factions by modifying how the player interacts with them.
1) Differing favorability interactions. Right now each faction has the same favorability reaction. They like when you complete missions and bounties for them. They dislike when you smuggle etc etc. But just like not every faction pays the same for AI cores not every faction should have the same favorability interactions.
Specifically there are some ideas:
Pirates dislike actions against smugglers and like buying/selling on the black market. This is because this is how pirates fund their piracy.
Pirates LIKE when you attack non-pirate non-smugglers. Pirates still stick together a bit and so this is a good way to signal you're a pirate.
Pirates really like it when you attack non-pirate non-smugglers with your transponder on.
Pirates only kind of mind attacking pirates with your transponder on UNLESS its a bounty fleet. Pirates shoot each other every once and a while (they even have missions where you're supposed to deliver stuff for them and then they shoot you to take it from you!) so they understand when this happens.(a Bounty you had to go out of your way to collect though, that is different)
Independents have muted favorability interactions for the overall faction but enhanced favorability interactions with individuals. This could push their interactions to feel more separate. It would be easier to *** off a single administrator but harder to *** off the entire faction. That being said, i think this requires some more persistence in planet/administrator interactions than as currently set up. But its something to think about. Big downside here is that it makes understanding your general favorability standing with the independents much more difficult.
Independents do not mind you running with your transponder off unless you do something hostile(at which point they will want to scan and identify you. And they should periodically do black market scans to see if you're smuggling into their planet). Its none of their business who you are really.
Persean League could operate similarly with the exception that they really want to know who you are at all times.
Luddic Path should dislike when you do anything positive for a world that has active luddic cells and like when you do negative things to those planets. So smuggling into a planet with a luddic cell should be looked on favorably (as you're supporting the cell). They should really like when you smuggle marines and heavy weapons onto one of those planets. If you raid a planet and shut down an offending industry/take the AI core they also should really like it. (Also Luddic Missions to raid factions/shut down offending industries!)
Hegemony should dislike when you give AI cores to TT(so if you want to avoid the rep hit you would have to go in with your transponder off) since they do not trust them to properly dispose of them.
TT should dislike it when you give AI cores to the LP or Hegemony... since they trust them to properly dispose of them.
TT should invert the effects of the LP on worlds with luddic cells. Even if that planet is an enemy of the TT.
Persean League(or Diktat not sure which) should invert the effects on the LP worlds if the planet is allied to them and mimic the effects if the world is hostile to them. (I.E. The PL is OK with using terrorists against its enemies)
Diktat could/should like anything that reinforces their fuel monopoly. They could also like military attacks on their enemies but dislike attacks on civilian enemies or vise versa. (how this spread works out could also apply to lots of factions)
2) Differing Faction Commission rewards and effects
Different factions should give you different bonuses for their commission (if they have one) or a high favorability rating.
When restoring a ship it could be possible to instead convert it to a faction modified version instead of restoring it if one exists. (and more faction specific versions of various ships should exist because they're awesome). Bring a Shrike to the pirates and they will rip that sucker apart and install a ballistic slot. Bring a Prometheus to the LP and they will MK II it for you. Bring any low tech ship to the LP and they will happily remove those pesky safeties(permanently). The Hegemony will turn a ship into an auxiliary version etc.
Different factions could have different relationships with the transponder relative to your commission. The Hegemony might want your transponder on all the time even in hostile space. So turning your transponder off is always a minor rep hit with them if you have a commission. But independents or TT or diktat might being able to take some commission papers in order to ignore the fact that your transponder was off. Some might be OK with your transponder being off in hostile space but not like it when its not on in friendly space.
They also might not care that your transponder is off at all if you have a commission/are favorable. This must be possible because pirates are able to determine your favorability even when you have your transponder off as they do not attack you with your transponder off in hyperspace if you're favorable but they will if you're hostile.
3) Differing interactions with transponders
Currently some of this already exists. In hyperspace only pirates will attack you with your transponder off and only if your favorability is negative with them.
Different factions can have different relationships/interactions with bribes. Right now you can tithe the LP. But you could also bribe maybe the PL/Hegemony/TT into ignoring your transponder being off with varying prices based on how much that faction likes you.
Some factions might accept combat help from people who have their transponder off. Pirates and independents as an example probably don't care which side you're normally on if you're willing to help them out(So a prompt for which side to join)
4) differing interactions with loot from shared battles.
Different factions have different resource constraints and laws. In a shared battle the hegemony might confiscate all equipment of a certain type as an example and leave all the rest. As an example they could claim all XIV battlegroup salvage. (and then if you want it you would have to fight them over it).
Pirates could have a bias for who engaged first. IF they're supporting you you get most of the loot and if you're supporting them they do. Or of course you could fight them for it. Similarly it could be the case that loot would be distributed by "damage taken" rather than "damage received".
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I know this stuff is a long way out if its even planned. But i figured it was worth spitballing some ideas.
