Powerplay A note on PvP in powerplay

[Sophokles Logimo]

One thing many players will take time to get used to is the fact that PvP (or Player-versus-Player combat) is actually just a hindrance for gaining merits. PvP kills usually take a lot (!) longer than PvE (Player versus Engine, so fighting against NPC's) kills, especially when taking into account the time that some PvPers take to hunt down opposing players.
Our recommendation: Do not PvP, unless you enjoy it as an activity in and by itself. For Powerplay, it is a waste of time that could be spent better.
However.
If there are wings of PvP-seeking players in a system, and you can get them to hunt down you in a single or smaller group, you can play "hunt me, so you can't gain merits" with them, which results in them wasting time and thus earning fewer merits (and thus, fewer control points) for their Power. As they are more and you are fewer, ultimately the balance works out for your Power, assuming other players will gain merits for your Power that counteract anything you did not earn while you kept a multiple of your own at bay (while they also cannot earn merits during that time).

 

[Screemonster]

counterpoint: it's FUN

 

[SteveWW57]

One thing many players will take time to get used to is the fact that PvP (or Player-versus-Player combat) is actually just a hindrance for gaining merits. PvP kills usually take a lot (!) longer than PvE (Player versus Engine, so fighting against NPC's) kills, especially when taking into account the time that some PvPers take to hunt down opposing players.
Our recommendation: Do not PvP, unless you enjoy it as an activity in and by itself. For Powerplay, it is a waste of time that could be spent better.
However.
If there are wings of PvP-seeking players in a system, and you can get them to hunt down you in a single or smaller group, you can play "hunt me, so you can't gain merits" with them, which results in them wasting time and thus earning fewer merits (and thus, fewer control points) for their Power. As they are more and you are fewer, ultimately the balance works out for your Power, assuming other players will gain merits for your Power that counteract anything you did not earn while you kept a multiple of your own at bay (while they also cannot earn merits during that time).

It has previously been mention elsewhere that PvP is very much a waste of time for PP, as the time can be spent elsewhere better.

 

[Rubbernuke]

counterpoint: it's FUN

Counter- counter point.

Its easier (being out of Open), especially since nearly every NPC is made out of paper.

 

[Sophokles Logimo]

counterpoint: it's FUN

Are you sure everyone involved agrees on that?

 

[Darrack]

One thing many players will take time to get used to is the fact that PvP (or Player-versus-Player combat) is actually just a hindrance for gaining merits. PvP kills usually take a lot (!) longer than PvE (Player versus Engine, so fighting against NPC's) kills, especially when taking into account the time that some PvPers take to hunt down opposing players.
Our recommendation: Do not PvP, unless you enjoy it as an activity in and by itself. For Powerplay, it is a waste of time that could be spent better.
However.
If there are wings of PvP-seeking players in a system, and you can get them to hunt down you in a single or smaller group, you can play "hunt me, so you can't gain merits" with them, which results in them wasting time and thus earning fewer merits (and thus, fewer control points) for their Power. As they are more and you are fewer, ultimately the balance works out for your Power, assuming other players will gain merits for your Power that counteract anything you did not earn while you kept a multiple of your own at bay (while they also cannot earn merits during that time).

Play in Solo or PVE PG like Mobius, no issues with PvP there.

O7

 

[Felix DiCestria]

Play in Solo or PVE PG like Mobius, no issues with PvP there.

O7

Nothing in Open either TBH. I had 3 encounters with Cmdrs over the 10 days I was doing PP only one of which could have been potentially hostile. Though even then there was no engagement.

 

[Sophokles Logimo]

Nothing in Open either TBH. I had 3 encounters with Cmdrs over the 10 days I was doing PP only one of which could have been potentially hostile. Though even then there was no engagement.

Yes.

But in the rare circumstances when it happens, keeping them busy distracts them from doing useful stuff. It's an option to do all kinds of "play for time" moves if one enjoys that.

 

[Sophokles Logimo]

Play in Solo or PVE PG like Mobius, no issues with PvP there.

O7

Have you not been able to read the OP, yet felt the urge to reply to it?

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Are you sure everyone involved agrees on that?

Well, no, it's really boring for both parties in my experience. But I'm still going to shoot you if I see you flying a ship I can take in a system where the kill has some quantitative value, purely because it's the sort of occasion which comes up quite literally once a decade and it would feel rude not to.

One thing many players will take time to get used to is the fact that PvP (or Player-versus-Player combat) is actually just a hindrance for gaining merits.

Though you could also reasonably say that about contesting the same system in entirely different instances: the CP used on the contest could probably have been far more effective elsewhere (especially for whichever side eventually loses, but the nominal winner also still massively overpaid)

 

[Sophokles Logimo]

Well, no, it's really boring for both parties in my experience. But I'm still going to shoot you if I see you flying a ship I can take in a system where the kill has some quantitative value, purely because it's the sort of occasion which comes up quite literally once a decade and it would feel rude not to.

Well, as explained, it's your time to waste.

Though you could also reasonably say that about contesting the same system in entirely different instances: the CP used on the contest could probably have been far more effective elsewhere (especially for whichever side eventually loses, but the nominal winner also still massively overpaid)

That is true, but not the point of this thread.

 

[Azdraugr]

Its pretty worth to set up some PvPers for a blockade tho. They wont engage much in PvE based PP anyway. And if they kill you, they also wasted your time. If you are not able to dodge them or get them into chain interdicting you, its pretty much worth it.

 

[Sophokles Logimo]

Its pretty worth to set up some PvPers for a blockade tho. They wont engage much in PvE based PP anyway.

That is an important point. If they are limited to PvP, then they are of no use to their faction anyway. In that case, it is of course the smarter move to just block them and neutralize them fully.

 

[Azdraugr]

Well they get merits for every kill they get while blocking the other power to act in these systems.
Also, i would say, everyone who contributes at least one merit, is of use to the faction.

 

[Darrack]

Have you not been able to read the OP, yet felt the urge to reply to it?

Nope PvP is a complete waste of time in PP, always has been always will be

O7

 

[Bigmaec]

Not related to PP2.0, but when we fought our little BGS war for Carcosa, we did all the PvP stuff for fun.

Neither PP nor BGS can be won with PvP, as OP wrote it's a waste of time.

But it is sooooo much fun and so nerve wracking, it was amazing.

Shameless self-promoting, 23 minutes of wing fighting. And yes I still suck at PvP

Source: https://youtu.be/13dJ3cyu5P8?feature=shared

 

[Rebel Yell]

Ah, there are some errors in your original post... I've amended it for you.

One thing many players will take time to get used to is the fact that PvP (or Player-versus-Player combat) is actually one of funniest activities for gaining merits. PvP kills usually take not much longer than PvE (Player versus Engine, so fighting against NPC's) kills, especially when taking into account the time that some PvPers take to hunt down opposing players flying paper ships.
Our recommendation: Do PvP, as you will enjoy it as an activity in and by itself. For Powerplay, it is the best investment of time that could be done.
However.
If there are wings of PvP-seeking players in a system, and you can eventually get them to hunt down you in a single or smaller group, you can "hunt them, so you can gain merits" with wingmates, which results in them having fun as well and thus earning some merits (and thus, some control points) for their Power only if they kill you. If they are more and you are fewer, ultimately fight until death in order to avoid shame for your Power, assuming other players will always have respect of players engaging in PvP combat instead of fleeing like frightened chickens. Once the fight is over, you can go back at normal activities to earn merits.

 

[Sophokles Logimo]

Yes, as I wrote, do it if you enjoy the activity in and by itself, but don't kid yourself into thinking that this was helping your Power in any meaningful way.

 

[Lateralus]

PvP should be one of the core gameplay areas of Powerplay, but it is not for many frustrating reasons (mainly game design related):

• The game area is too large to find any opponents who are actively engaged in Powerplay activities, when fighting would have tactical relevance.
• There is no real-time alert system directing players to enemy activity.. only galaxy map overlays that show what happened an hour ago (no good).
• The learning curve to PvP skill is very steep and punishing - you have to pay your dues in many many rebuys. This discourages most players from getting involved.
• The in-game rewards for winning PvP encounters are tiny and hampered by anti-exploitation-aimed game mechanics that limit rewards
• FDEV seem to have some strange policy towards PvP where they treat it like a non-entity. Like its inclusion in the game was an accident or something and they want to allow it but not encourage it (a bizarre approach considering how massively popular PvP games can get)

For many though, PvP is the true end-game for Elite. Long after swatting NPCs in conflict zones has got laughably easy and tedious, - fighting a skilled player will always offer a challenge because despite all the issues mentioned above, FDEV have managed to create a game that lends itself extremely well to PvP when it's allowed to. Some of the best gaming experiences I've had in an online game have been PvP scenarios in ED when things come together for organic wing-fights, I just wish there was more of that in the game..

Powerplay is the one area in Elite where PvP-specific game mechanics could be added in such a way that would greatly enhance the overall game without affecting uninterested players. You have plenty of players in all powers that are willing to fight enemy pledgers - but Powerplay just needs some extra mechanics that would facilitate the PvP it's currently missing.

My Powerplay PvP Missions idea would be the ideal way to go about it (Good rewards, easier to find active opponents, meaningful purpose, consequences for combat logging - so many boxes could be ticked if we had this). I think the spice of easily accessible PvP would totally ignite PP2.0 and make it 10x more interesting than it currently is.. I've shifted from wanting open-only PP2 to this, as I think it would work better.

 

[Darrack]

but it is not for many frustrating reasons

There's another reason, there is a lack of folks interested in PvP, not many come here for that gameplay.

O7