The Powerplay discussion thread.

[lefty1117]

I think there is a much larger contingent of the Empire players that are into roleplaying or otherwise more invested and hardcore, and in many cases are part of player groups or external guilds. These guys are coordinating far better than Fed players, which I believe trend to more casual players.

Of course there being ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TO COORDINATE IN GAME AMONG POWER MEMBERS certainly doesn't help things, and casual players aren't going to want to have to deal with 3rd party sites, TeamSpeak or other external tools. They just want to play the game.

So no, it's no surprise to me at all that the results would trend in the empire's favor.

 

[rain_walker]

I think there is a much larger contingent of the Empire players that are into roleplaying or otherwise more invested and hardcore, and in many cases are part of player groups or external guilds. These guys are coordinating far better than Fed players, which I believe trend to more casual players.

Of course there being ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TO COORDINATE IN GAME AMONG POWER MEMBERS certainly doesn't help things, and casual players aren't going to want to have to deal with 3rd party sites, TeamSpeak or other external tools. They just want to play the game.

So no, it's no surprise to me at all that the results would trend in the empire's favor.

I agree with everything you said.. thats why we have been asking for In-Game com since PP released ...

 

[Cadoc]

I think there is a much larger contingent of the Empire players that are into roleplaying or otherwise more invested and hardcore, and in many cases are part of player groups or external guilds. These guys are coordinating far better than Fed players, which I believe trend to more casual players.

Of course there being ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TO COORDINATE IN GAME AMONG POWER MEMBERS certainly doesn't help things, and casual players aren't going to want to have to deal with 3rd party sites, TeamSpeak or other external tools. They just want to play the game.

So no, it's no surprise to me at all that the results would trend in the empire's favor.

I'm not going to make a judgement on whether Empire players are better organised or not. However, the numbers I have posted have nothing to do with organisation. For example, Aisling has 4x times the Preparation of Hudson - I made no judgement over if those preparation are good or not, and I don't think it matters. I don't think you'll do significantly more Preparation, Expansion or Fortification by being 'organised'.

 

[Rockstep]

Yeah I expect to see a massive negative shift in Aisling's support after Week 4 or 5 when players have their prismatic shields and then defect.

But not me my Space Khaleesi. My pulse lasers and multicannons are yours!

Well said, Ser Friendzone

 

[JeffRyan]

Well said, Ser Friendzone

I prefer the term 'unrequited love'. But yeah...

 

[CMDRKNac]

The Empire is not better organized than the Federation. They have negative preparation systems in top positions, is stupid.

Is mostly clueless people or people who just cares about toys grinding everywhere.

 

[Conde]

Excellent observations and analysis thank you. Could you make it a weekly update?

 

[GluttonyFang]

Fold

Good analysis, but your avatar is distracting me so often that I can't read quickly >_>

 

[Cadoc]

Excellent observations and analysis thank you. Could you make it a weekly update?

It's something of a pain in the ass to compile, so it depends on how much I hate myself that particular week. So, likely, yes.

Good analysis, but your avatar is distracting me so often that I can't read quickly >_>

You know, looking at your avatar and sig, I can see why

 

[GluttonyFang]

You know, looking at your avatar and sig, I can see why

Put yours away man, don't torture me so ;-;

 

[Maxulic]

Seems to me that a bunch of people with absolutely zero sense of strategy are playing this game... It's not much an issue of numbers but the fact that people have no clue what to do...



Zeta Trianguli was in a tie when I logged in, I have been trying to keep Winters ahead for hours as we kept being in a tie with the opposition doing the same. I can safely say that I have been alone doing this except maybe someone would gave a few points (it's not hard to monitor the progress and see that no progress was made outside yours). This system is the one with the highest CC value, it's super close to our borders... yet no one tries to fight for it. Go figure.

I just came back yesterday to try out this new patch, I guess there is no point since people are beyond clueless.

 

[jprelph]

Zeta Trianguli was in a tie when I logged in, I have been trying to keep Winters ahead for hours as we kept being in a tie with the opposition doing the same. I can safely say that I have been alone doing this except maybe someone would gave a few points (it's not hard to monitor the progress and see that no progress was made outside yours). This system is the one with the highest CC value, it's super close to our borders... yet no one tries to fight for it. Go figure.

I just came back yesterday to try out this new patch, I guess there is no point since people are beyond clueless.

I've been concentrating on that system the last three days and it's damn close. The problem I've had is being constantly interdicted which has left me escaping with about 15% hull left on three occasions. There are a LOT of Aisling-Duval supporters camped there. I've managed to get a tactic of running through with a Cobra specced as a "fast picket" so I can just submit and outrun, but that limits the cargo space.

We probably only need a hundred aid drops to draw level again at the moment.

 

[Maxulic]

I've been concentrating on that system the last three days and it's damn close. The problem I've had is being constantly interdicted which has left me escaping with about 15% hull left on three occasions. There are a LOT of Aisling-Duval supporters camped there. I've managed to get a tactic of running through with a Cobra specced as a "fast picket" so I can just submit and outrun, but that limits the cargo space.

We probably only need a hundred aid drops to draw level again at the moment.

Well I gave up on that system. We were pretty much in a tie the whole time, like till 1 hour before I took that screenshot. I have spent 3 millions to get 300 units (I'm still rank 1) and that barely made a difference since they dropped like a few thousands points in no time.

 

[_Flin_]

It is not surprising that the Empire powers have that many more players, given the story bias present before the start of powerplay.

We at AEDC have seen how much publicity does. Whenever we were mentioned on Galnet or on the newsletter, se had a massive influx of people. When we made our CG public, the numbers boomed. This is a two sided thing for a player group, but not for a power.

All of the Empire powers were involved in a long lasting story arc. The only other power with anything close to this exposure is Hudson. Winters? Unknown. Mahon? Mentioned once during the Lugh event (but with the advantage of being the only Alliance power). Antal? Rui? Delaine? All unknown. With Delaine being the only pirate power and pirates being are a rather present gameplay element and visible playergroup.

Overall my impression is that FD can steer the mass of players as they see fit. News Items and Community Goals steer the mass of the players. Maybe this will change now that the news are displayed less prominently and you have to click to access.

Whether FD actively pursues a strategy of pimping the Empire i cant judge. With the amount of 4 well defined powers vs 1 Defined Hudson power vs 0 Alliance/Independent powers (plus things like Imperial Slaves being the best trading commodity and getting pimped even further), plus the faction exclusive ships being very good...

It certainly looks that way.

And therefore it's not surprising that most players play Empire. They have toys, cash and story in a way that noone else has it. I dont know whether it's intended, but the "Empire bias" is so huge and blatantly obvious it's hard to assume it isn't.

 

[Roycie]

I can safely say that I have been alone doing this except maybe someone would gave a few points (it's not hard to monitor the progress and see that no progress was made outside yours). This system is the one with the highest CC value, it's super close to our borders... yet no one tries to fight for it. Go figure.

I just came back yesterday to try out this new patch, I guess there is no point since people are beyond clueless.

A very arrogant take on things, since i've taken close to 1,000 aid there personally...

 

[jprelph]

Well I gave up on that system. We were pretty much in a tie the whole time, like till 1 hour before I took that screenshot. I have spent 3 millions to get 300 units (I'm still rank 1) and that barely made a difference since they dropped like a few thousands points in no time.

Given the percentages infolved we don't need to take anywhere near as much there in order to expand though.

 

[jgm]

Powerplay: Upkeep and Overheads

Taking Hudson as an example:



Please could someone explain to me exactly what overheads are? Specifically:

• How are they calculated?
• Is there anything that can be done to reduce them?
• When are they taken from the CC total?

The screenshot doesn't add up in that income - upkeep - overheads does not equal available CC.

 

[StarJim]

I’m the only one who see parallels to real world ?

FDEV are british… British empire of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
And the Federation is the EU
Not sure where to put alliance though …

 

[Bortas]

I’m the only one who see parallels to real world ?

Yes

FDEV are british… British empire of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

The definition of "empire" has to be alleviated VERY far in order to regard that little island as an "Empire"

And the Federation is the EU

The EU is not a Federation, and the British "Empire" is part of the EU, although they are acting more like the 51st state of the USA, which indeed are a federation

Not sure where to put alliance though …

In fact the EU comes pretty close to the Alliance.

 

[random_tangent]

The simplest grind is the killing of agents in a Power's controlled system. eg: To get 15 points:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm5WQwfcoGc

I did this a dozen times or so, realised how insanely grind-tastic and farcical ED had finally gotten - actually promoting/designing this as a good way for the game to go - that I just gave up with PP really.

Anyway to get your 1250 = 1250/15 = 84 of these kills if your brain doesn't have a spasm in protest in what you're making it put up with...

Note: It will cost you over half a million in bounty/fines.

The thing is, my current "in game goal" is to save up for a combat load-out for my Python. I have no desire to trade, I've done a bit of exploration (until I got bored), but got almost no money for it, so combat is generally my preferred profession (yay, alliteration!). Now that RES are fixed, I'll probably go back to a mixture of that, pirate kill missions, and CZ. I was just wondering whether i'd be better off earning 1250 merits a week and working up to that 50M salary instead.

I'm getting to the point where I feel I've seen all ED has to offer for the time being, but I don't want to leave a bare-bones Python sitting in a hanger for when more content is added and I return. I'd rather fit it out now then I have a choice of well kitted out ships to choose from. I imagine the bounties aren't too much of a problem outside of the system being undermined, given the new bounty system?