I'm gonna have to vote separate, though I'd like to see it take a bit further. I've got reasons and of course I not expecting people to accept or understand them.
PvP has gotten so dependent on items that the introduction of these new faction arties will have a strong effect. I've seen people say they won't, and true some of them won't but a handful and will have a major factor. Some artifacts are considered key pieces in a PvP suit, now with the faction artifacts these pieces will be easily available which is good, but only to factions, not only that but they will have bonus resists and mods that will make them simply the most useful artifacts in the game. Non-Faction players won't have access to them, not every one goes to Fel wanting to PvP this is FACT. Not everyone that wants to join factions this is FACT, restricting the best PvP equipment in the game to factions imbalances PvP on the whole and stacks the odd even farther against the Trammies that are just trying to sneak a spawn in when a raid occurs.
My view on this, Unless this system of Faction Only changes or modified to only have the bonus' have effect in side of Faction Strongholds (call it Home Field Advantage or Visitors Rallying or what ever), then I say either Factions be restricted from attacking Non-Faction players and vice versa or all PvP and Stealing in Fel have Faction membership made a requirement, and the PvPer's can kiss their control of spawns bub-bye.
I've said it before I don't think the PvP and Non-PvP communities can really have a peace, setting up Factions to have an advantage over both groups is just tossing a 3rd group into the pot. There NEEDS to be a definitive separation between all three of these groups that is a little more solid than a moongate, or the devs are just setting themselves up for more work on balancing, and setting the players up for, who knows how much longer, the constant bickering and flaming on these forums and others.
