What's a more efficient way of obtaining money in Factions?
This is a really broad question, and that I have no clue which server you're playing on (as each server configures the rules and worlds differently).
As you've probably already realized, the micro-transactions are meant to do three things:
- Incentive you to spend money on in-game ranks.
- Provide you a boost that will take ages to obtain fairly (with nobody else trying to kill you), for example; diamond gear in one transaction.*
- Give you an edge (in other means) against other players, for example; cosmetically (ie. flying in lobbies or color chat).
*This is against the Mojang EULA.
Aside from the blanting obvious: "Farm", there are several things that can be suggested you can do:
- If you go for the farming method, and there is an allowed teleport between your base (or
/home) and the shop, you'll want to set up a base far away from spawn; as far as you can get to minimize your chances of being found and killed.
Also, don't forget to apply any standard hidden-base conventions while building it, and expand as much as possible.
Finally, leave an alt on the server to ensure the crops keep growing (chunks are loaded). - Should you choose to go for the PvP option, make sure you have friends who can assist you, as [unless the other person is using aim-hacks] - He can't battle three people at once, especially when they're not clumped together (ie. one to the left, to the right and behind/in front).
Also, only target lone wolves (players not in a group).
In effect, staying apart will render a fully-charged swing useless as the angle of swipe is not large enough (for 1.9 ONW), and that the defending player is only able to focus on one person at a time while another comes from the back, etc. (all versions) - Bring multiple accounts (they do not need to be played by multiple people). This way, you can reap the starting gear and any time-based kits/drops/whatever multiple times.
If you feel that the server you're playing on is deliberately making it difficult to play fairly without buying gear from the shop, it's probably a cash-grab server. In that case, it'd be better to move on.
And also report it. If it seems dodgy, it probably is.
You can see this by the following general traits (general, open to subjectivity and opinion):
- Ranks that go into the thousands of dollars. (A general guideline is ranks shouldn't be more than $300 or 6 months of rent^)
- It is impossible to sell anything for server money, and the rate that you get money is that it'll take weeks to even buy iron.
- Servers that do not let you do vanilla actions without a paid rank (ie. mine Diamond). Those that ask you to register for free are alright; they're trying to break griefers and those who cheat their way to Diamond.
^Actual amount in cash is open to debate