Powerplay 2.0 : what we know from partners' streams

[Tifu]

Passing this on for the benefit of PP 2.0 players using exploration data to gain merits

source :

Release - Neutron Highway long range route planner

Hey, @Spansh. o7 Is there a way to tell the System Search tool to find systems that are not Thargoid-controlled? Is there is, I can't seem to figure it out. ☹️

forums.frontier.co.uk

 

[Alec Turner]

Did you folks know you can hack the holoscreens of stations your power is attempting to take over and change them to display your banner!

Source: https://youtu.be/S97otK0lu8M

 

[St0rmFury]

Cool new activity. Seems rather low risk since you can just hack, pay the miniscule fine, and continue hacking for easy merits.

 

[Alec Turner]

Cool new activity. Seems rather low risk since you can just hack, pay the miniscule fine, and continue hacking for easy merits.

Yup, exactly so. Even easier merits from simply scanning ships and wakes. Fairly low merits tho' so probably not the way to efficiently climb the ranks.

 

[Rebel Yell]

Cool new activity. Seems rather low risk since you can just hack, pay the miniscule fine, and continue hacking for easy merits.

Is that hacking thing coming out in the power UI?

I.e. it should appear that some one hacked the station so players can converge and deploy immediately containment measures (i.e. shooting the haxxors!).

 

[St0rmFury]

Is that hacking thing coming out in the power UI?

I.e. it should appear that some one hacked the station so players can converge and deploy immediately containment measures (i.e. shooting the haxxors!).

But if you shoot the haxxors, the station will fire at you...

 

[Ian Doncaster]

But if you shoot the haxxors, the station will fire at you...

There's a question - will it? Does hostility between pledged ships (especially defender shooting attacker) in Power territory attract non-Power bounties and law enforcement? It feels like it shouldn't or it's just getting the mess of the game's general legal system involved in a system which doesn't need it. [1, 2]

(It would also be a no-fire-zone breach, but that's only a fine if you're not shooting from within the docking bay itself.)

[1] Secondary question, if it's Archon Delaine territory and the defender's bounty is reduced to zero credits by their high rank, do they stay Clean or become Wanted but with a bounty level of zero? If they stay Clean, does that stop the station opening fire?

[2] I was reminded of just how odd this was yesterday when I picked up a "rebel leader" passenger, who appeared to have been rebelling against absolutely everyone in the galaxy on a scale not seen since Theta Seven and the NMLA. "Your Power will have you shot if you try to defend their systems" would certainly fit with the rest of C&P but I'm not sure it would be helpful!

Is that hacking thing coming out in the power UI?

I'd assume it'd show up in the hourly update for "total undermining this cycle" at least; finding out what source those merits had might be trickier.

 

[Rebel Yell]

But if you shoot the haxxors, the station will fire at you...

evil laugh

There's a question - will it? Does hostility between pledged ships (especially defender shooting attacker) in Power territory attract non-Power bounties and law enforcement? It feels like it shouldn't or it's just getting the mess of the game's general legal system involved in a system which doesn't need it. [1, 2]

Shooting enemy-pledged ships doesn't make a player "wanted" (as that's a powerplay bounty)... but that depends if the enemy has crimes ON or OFF (if that changes in PP 2.0 it will need to be tested) and if there are security ships in the area as when a crime is detected they sometimes open fire at powerplayers engaged in combat (not sure it's a bug). On the other side, if the shooter keeps crimes ON, the station may defend her/him and fire at the opponent pledged player.

(It would also be a no-fire-zone breach, but that's only a fine if you're not shooting from within the docking bay itself.)

[1] Secondary question, if it's Archon Delaine territory and the defender's bounty is reduced to zero credits by their high rank, do they stay Clean or become Wanted but with a bounty level of zero? If they stay Clean, does that stop the station opening fire?

That's still a weird mechanic even in current system... as the UI displays that a "bounty/fine crime" has been committed, but checking the "transaction panel" there's no bounty/fine displayed and player remains totally clean. Same happens when smuggling, you get scanned but a zero cr fine is issued... and station services work as normal (i.e. no anonymous access).

This video pretty much shows how it works:

Source: https://youtu.be/eyaCg3AcVmY

I'd assume it'd show up in the hourly update for "total undermining this cycle" at least; finding out what source those merits had might be trickier.

Hmmm that's not really helpful then...

 

[Rubbernuke]

evil laugh


Shooting enemy-pledged ships doesn't make a player "wanted" (as that's a powerplay bounty)... but that depends if the enemy has crimes ON or OFF (if that changes in PP 2.0 it will need to be tested) and if there are security ships in the area as when a crime is detected they sometimes open fire at powerplayers engaged in combat (not sure it's a bug). On the other side, if the shooter keeps crimes ON, the station may defend her/him and fire at the opponent pledged player.


That's still a weird mechanic even in current system... as the UI displays that a "bounty/fine crime" has been committed, but checking the "transaction panel" there's no bounty/fine displayed and player remains totally clean. Same happens when smuggling, you get scanned but a zero cr fine is issued... and station services work as normal (i.e. no anonymous access).

This video pretty much shows how it works:

Source: https://youtu.be/eyaCg3AcVmY



Hmmm that's not really helpful then...

The only time rank 5 becomes a problem is (in the old V1 / BGS combo) is that by zeroing bounties it also zeroes any info you get from murder.

 

[Bard Voronwe]

If the "no bounties" top bonus will stay the same, it's a pretty Powerful tool in players' hands. I used to abuse it A LOT in raiding settlements for example, with basically no consequences.
But I agree that the black market bonus is kinda useless, mostly because pirating is much more "slower" and less efficient than basically anything else and about smuggling... we should consider IF narcotics/slaves/weapons and every other usually illegal commodity will become legal in Archon Delaine spaces.

Becase, what we are missing the most in these streams, is to see the actual effects that Powers will bring to the SYSTEMS themselves in terms of security, market stocks etc.

 

[Stukjes]

Are the ship & module discounts related to the controlling power of the system gone in PP 2.0?
(i.e. the -15% on all ships & modules in LYR systems, the -20% on hardpoints in Zachary Hudson systems, etc.)

 

[Tifu]

Heads up everyone!

Source : https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threa...ons-and-feedback-from-the-test-server.628787/

 

[[VR] Bulbulunufus]

Did you folks know you can hack the holoscreens of stations your power is attempting to take over and change them to display your banner!

Source: https://youtu.be/S97otK0lu8M

We've been doing that since August

[FEDERATION] - Federal Liberal Command - Winters Powerplay

"We are Winters" Federal Liberal Command is the organisation driving Felicia Winters powerplay, representing the vast majority of efforts in her support. If you're a Winters supporter, this is the place to go to help grow and maintain her influence within the bubble - standing sentinel against...

forums.frontier.co.uk

 

[Alec Turner]

As requested by @Arsen Cross .. thought you folks might appreciate this.

Source: https://youtu.be/HzUz4QDa5tg

If anyone wants to provide a better list of timestamps then let me know and I can edit them in.
Also, if there's anything else you want to see that I missed then just give me a shout.

 

[Rubbernuke]

As requested by @Arsen Cross .. thought you folks might appreciate this.

Source: https://youtu.be/HzUz4QDa5tg

If anyone wants to provide a better list of timestamps then let me know and I can edit them in. Also, if there's anything else you want to see that I missed then just give me a shout.

On this screen, can you scroll down to show the full list please?

I want to see what differences there are (like who commits crimes)

EDIT: looking on with the video you do- but what I'd like to know is what Aisling does to reinforce, to expand and to undermine from the list shown in the handbbok entry.

 

[Nowski]

I want to see what differences there are (like who commits crimes)

The Pilot's Handbook at 11:52

Each activity involved in Powerplay can be performed to either Acquire, Reinforce, or Undermine. Powers will have preferred activities for each of these actions ... but an agent can undertake any activity to perform an action they just won't receive the bonus if it is not one of their Powers Ethos activities.

And then later in the Undermining section:

Commit Crimes - Commit crimes in system controlled by Powers that you are not pledged to

So it looks like criminality is rewarded when undermining on behalf of all powers, but particularly rewarded when working for pro-criminality powers.

Have to say the Pilot's Handbook is looking very well fleshed out and informative.

 

[Rubbernuke]

I get all that, but what I want to know is what they are for each power (as listed on the UI task panel). Its hard finding information because each stream is not the same, nor a standardised test, because it gets cut off or not shown on screen.

To me it makes no sense that Aisling rewards doing things she hates, or the reverse with The King. For example, why would ALD reward committing crimes (even if it less) when she rewards bounty hunting?

 

[Nowski]

I get all that, but what I want to know is what they are

Ah, yeah, the Handbook's Ethos section would be better if it explicitly listed the Ethos activities for each power.

To me it makes no sense that Aisling rewards doing things she hates, or the reverse with The King. For example, why would ALD reward committing crimes (even if it less) when she rewards bounty hunting?

Realpolitik Probably lower level functionaries handle these off-book operations on a black budget and the Head Honcho remains ignorant on a "what you don't know can't hurt you" basis. God forbid Delaine should ever find out his minions were doing something to help anyone!

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Also, if there's anything else you want to see that I missed then just give me a shout.

Thanks Alec, some interesting stuff there.

Kaine starting with enough Controls already not to be last ... might have trouble maintaining them all, of course, if that's realistic to the live game. I wonder where they are and how that fits with their FAQ statement that 99% of systems would keep their PP1 alignment and status on start.

An interesting thing I've not seen anyone else mention yet: the "exponential progress curves" fan at Frontier appears to have been on holiday for this one; past the first few ranks it's a flat 8000 merits a time. That's good for avoiding module shopping (it'd pretty much always be quicker to stick with your current power) and should stop it ever feeling like a massive slog to get to the next rank.

I notice the documentation talks about systems being "in range" of a Fortified/Stronghold system a lot ... without ever giving away the crucial information of what that range is. I know it'll be pretty obvious from the map, but still...

Another question I've not seen the answer to yet: as an Aisling Duval pledge, can you go and undermine ALD/Patreus/Torval systems, or is the Empire still one big happy family?

For example, why would ALD reward committing crimes (even if it less) when she rewards bounty hunting?

- in ALD's territory, criminals are destabilising, so hunting them down is good
- in other powers' territory, criminals are destabilising, so encouraging them is good ... right up until ALD takes over, and then we know where they all live and they can be quietly disposed of as an inconvenience if they don't clear out, further proving the power of the Emperor to prevent crime and stabilise systems

 

[Rubbernuke]

What I'm concerned about is that all powers essentially operate and 'feel' the same as you play until perks kick in. A follow on would be by how much extra do these specific tasks count (something only testing will really show).

I notice the documentation talks about systems being "in range" of a Fortified/Stronghold system a lot ... without ever giving away the crucial information of what that range is. I know it'll be pretty obvious from the map, but still...

IIRC the stream I looked at had this in chat (from memory it was regards what can be used to do the weekly missions). The streamer was Brother Sabathius.