Honestly, hate to be that guy yet again, but, factions proves itself to be a successful plugin. All it requires is a dedicated admin and a staff team that knows what they're doing to moderate the server. So many people hate factions instantaneously because they have a rough start, it's not really a fair judgement. To enjoy factions, you WILL be raided a few times, and you will, yes, lose all your items before you get good. However, it has been proven time and time again that tekkit servers, vanilla servers and otherwise are simply unsuccessful. Honestly, TNS has had a few great MC servers in the past, but, those seem to be forgotten as the members who played on them - mostly - no longer reside in TNS. I hate to sound like an ass, but, a good deal of the people who are hardcore anti-factions are the same people who played on the vanilla & tekkit server for under a week and were never seen again. If you want to make a server that will last, factions honestly is the way to do it. Factions allows for the game to essentially never get boring - there is always something to do. In vanilla, sure, you can mine or build, but it's rather useless upon the realization that it amounts to nothing. In factions, players must build to defend their base from attackers, and utilize tactics, potions, enchants, etc. Factions just has so many dimensions going towards it, that's why it works. If an admin were put in place that 1. Knew what they were doing, and 2. Were not bias whatsoever, I believe the server could thrive. I guarantee there are many ex-TNS faction players that would be willing to give a new faction server a chance, so population would be not too much of an issue. I know factions seems to be despised by the majority of the community, but, I encourage everyone to give factions an attempt - if you are willing to accept that you are able to be raided, it makes it a lot more fun. What's more entertaining then building an empire with your friends, and defending your title? Factions is a great plugin beyond all the crap spread of it; give factions a real chance, it has great potential.