[maximus_asinus]

Why not remove gangs and expand the party system, it sounds like it would have more potential. Build parties like a guild/gang. Allow players to partner up, and if their party reaches a certain threshold it becomes a gang (activity, party size, etc) and have it lose gang status once it starts to fail requirements. Parties can absorb other parties if the leader of the other party accepts. You cannot be in a party if you're already in a party already (to keep from multiguilding).