Powerplay 2.0 first impressions and feedback from the test server
- Thread starter rootsrat
- Start date
A long exposure image, while he managed to stand remarkably still his fingers did move part way through probably because the pie dish was still too hot.
It's not a beta. You get a build to create guide / review content from, a couple of days in advance (if that, normally it's less than 24 hours). It's the same build that's released later. The difference with this one is there were CTDs and weird AI behaviour reported within minutes of its deployment, it would be Odyssey all over again if they proceeded with that build.
So fair play for them to delay it.
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Thanks for the feedback! I didn't know what to expect from the next update re: PP2 - I'd never been "into" PP at all - but this looks really interesting!As FDEV Partner I had an opportunity to test the upcoming patch. I sent this first impressions and feedback to FDEV, but might as well post it here for y'all to read
The good
As a constructive feedback - a similar thing was done with the recent engineering update, but only to a small degree. Adding new material acquisition methods is great. But when we look at using the existing stuff - only 1 type of acquisition method got a boost for each material type. High Grade USS for manufactured, Jameson Site for Data and Crashed Anaconda sites for raw.
- Mandaley. What a ship!
- Powerplay 2.0 first impressions are good. It seems to be well thought out from a mechanics point of view.
- I absolutely LOVE the linking of the day-to-day activities to Powerpaly. The way it's described in the Codex is really good as well. It makes sense. It's definitely THE BEST addition to the game for me personally, as I was always a strong advocate of linking more of the game layers together, and connecting the dots between the existing content with the new one. Please do more of that kind of stuff!
- Continuing, the activities like "Flood the market with low value goods" are absolutely brilliant! It is a use of an old and - in practice - pretty useless part of the game to animate the overhauled game feature.
There are so many other locations related to material gathering, both in space and on the surface that could use a similar boost as well - to truly diversify gathering methods and allow for varied gameplay, visiting different places and doing different things, while all types of materials flow to us organically - rather than pushing everyone towards the ones that were boosted.
Additionally Odyssey locations like the hidden caches and old Horizon locations like Artificial structures could be boosted with more materials too. The Artificial structures all have ALWAYS the same amount of random skimmers and the same amount of literally worthless commodities. They are interesting locations, but there is literally no reason to visit them.
Generally my feedback would be to introduce engineering materials to most (if not all) of the old Horizon and new Odyssey locations, in the form of cargo racks with various loot of all possible materials.
The so so
Current gameplay:
- While the new minor activity of holoscreen hacking is most welcomed and actually a really cool idea (so simple, yet so cool!), I don't understand why the hacking mechanics were change and are not consistent with the current gameplay.
- Get a recon limpet controller
- Target the device (i.e. Comms Array)
- Scan the device with Datalink Scanner to reveal Subtargets
- Send limpet to the Limpet Docking Point subtarget of the device - hacking starts
- Hacking sends a message of Security Forces being notified
- Security forces deployment timer is shown
- If player not in Silent Running - a Fine is applied
New gameplay with holoscreens:
- Get a recon limpet controller
- Target the device (i.e. Comms Array)
- Send recon limpet, hacking starts.
- If player not in Silent Running - a Fine is applied
This seems very simplified and inconsistent against the existing scanning mechanics. It boils down to: Press button 1 to target, press button 2 to fire limpet. That's it, done. Gameplay wise it's just boring and not very engaging. The existing gameplay is more complex with risk elements more pronounced - and therefore as a whole much more interesting and engaging. As a general feedback related to this - there is an impression that Elite is going less sim and more "gamey/arcade" direction, which is a concern for dedicated and passionate player like myself.
Overall I really like what I see, apart from some elements of the game that were interesting and were working really well (hacking) being simplified for no apparent reason, in addition to being inconsistent with the existing gameplay.
- The 100 ranks within powerplay and rewards for each rank seem very gamey and "MMO-like". Another example of sim elements replaced with more simple and gamified elements. This is purely a UI thing and obviously a subjective opinion.
- Mandaley seems almost overpowered in its Super Cruise manoeuvrability. Maybe it should be dialled back a bit? It's really on the border of being almost silly for the ship to be THIS agile in SuperCruise.
That's unacceptable! Indeed!
Archon Delaine wants to end slavery as well, so for that reason we're bringing marked slaves to Harma!
And grind'em into Kumo Burgers!
Fdev could set requirements and exclude ones that are too lewd.
KUMMY Bears!
Its like Haribo, just slightly illegal.
Not under PP2 rules, I would assume
Aisling certainly would not like them.
I take it all powers are hostile to all the others? There's nothing like the old system where you could only pirate fellow imperial powers, not alright blow them up?
This is one of the big questions. Going by that screenshot of Brother Sabathias Alec posted, you could aid allied powers by killing opponents of expansion races though (sort of a helping hand).
Who can tell where the gelatine did come from without a very thorough genetic analysis?
Its organic and free range.
FIFY
So doubly overpriced then.
It takes a lot of effort to chase after the produce.