Main faction decay

[Allitnil]

The problem I have with this sort of decay is that, being automatic, it doesn't take into account even in-game circumstances (let alone perfectly legitimate out-of-game ones such as vacations). It's fine for the Feds to, say, be not so hot on you if you've been ignoring them. But we explorers are not ignoring anyone. We're doing what we are supposed to do which is go out into the galaxy and explore which inevitably takes time.

6 weeks ago I was allied with both the Feds & Alliance. Since then I have been exploring the very limits of the galaxy and, as far as I can tell, have set records for how far you can get. If this were real I would expect at least a little fanfare on returning with both the Feds & Alliance offering me inducements to hand my data to them. Instead they are going to snub me by not even greeting me as a respected ally like they would have when I left. This is only a little thing, but it's also the kind of thing that puts me off because it breaks immersion and shouts "this is a game!". Ultimately, if the factions care so little for me, why should I care about them? Answer: I don't and won't.

 

[Lobstris]

Hmmmm. Two weeks ago I was allied with the Empire. I went on a week long exploration jaunt, then spent a week smuggling and pirate hunting in a backwater federation system, only dropped to friendly last night. First set of Empire missions completed today and I'm back to allied. The big deal in all this is...?
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If you are off exploring, by definition you are ignoring the factions as you aren't performing any useful function to them. It would be nice if, instead of a monolithic 'Universal Cartographics', we had individual factional cartographics departments (and I think a lot of people thought that was going to be the case - but alas, yet another rushed feature in Elite), that contributed to your faction standing on return, but, as it stands, the rep decay seems fine to me.

 

[babelfisch]

The problem I have with this sort of decay is that, being automatic, it doesn't take into account even in-game circumstances (let alone perfectly legitimate out-of-game ones such as vacations). It's fine for the Feds to, say, be not so hot on you if you've been ignoring them. But we explorers are not ignoring anyone. We're doing what we are supposed to do which is go out into the galaxy and explore which inevitably takes time.

6 weeks ago I was allied with both the Feds & Alliance. Since then I have been exploring the very limits of the galaxy and, as far as I can tell, have set records for how far you can get. If this were real I would expect at least a little fanfare on returning with both the Feds & Alliance offering me inducements to hand my data to them. Instead they are going to snub me by not even greeting me as a respected ally like they would have when I left. This is only a little thing, but it's also the kind of thing that puts me off because it breaks immersion and shouts "this is a game!". Ultimately, if the factions care so little for me, why should I care about them? Answer: I don't and won't.

Just sell your exploration data to them and you will be allied again.

 

[Allitnil]

Just sell your exploration data to them and you will be allied again.

I know that. But why should I crawl to them when they have chosen to snub me? I sold them lots of data previously and proved my worth to them, if they then turn around and say "so what?" then my response is not permitted by the forum rules...

 

[babelfisch]

I know that. But why should I crawl to them when they have chosen to snub me? I sold them lots of data previously and proved my worth to them, if they then turn around and say "so what?" then my response is not permitted by the forum rules...

They did not turn around, they call you a very good friend... Almost allied...

 

[Allitnil]

are[/B] ignoring the factions as you aren't performing any useful function to them.

So basically you are saying that exploring is worthless. That's not too far from what FDev are telling us so, OK. But it's just another reason why so many experienced explorers are either quitting or close to it.

 

[Javert]

And this thread nicely indicates that many people complaining about decay even don't know in detail what's the buzz is about. *Sigh*.

There was a huge thread about this before the changes were made and no matter how many times it was pointed out that the rep would only decay to just inside the friendly barrier, so you'd probably only have to do one thing or one mission to get back to allied, it still wasn't accepted by those who saw it as a point of principle that nothing should change while they are not logged in.

 

[FAAmecanic]

Actually it is 2 weeks until your rep is decayed to zero.

You can be King with the Empire, go exploring for 2 weeks and when you come back no one will even recognize your face...

This is the only game I have ever seen that actively punishes you for returning after having a break. Genius.

^^ This ^^

So sad as a MAJOR part of the game could be geared off of faction, and semi-faction reputation ... but as of the last couple of days I stopped giving a hoot about Rep.

Just like PP...loved it at first but due to the horrible Merit decay (and me having a family and full time job, thus limiting play time), Im going back independent.

Frontier REALLY needs to reconsider the whole decay thing. All they are doing is forcing us to remain at the same state we were when the game started and making Rep/Merits totally meaningless.

/Rant Off

 

[Allitnil]

They did not turn around, they call you a very good friend... Almost allied...

In game, all I know is that they've told me I'm no longer worthy to be their ally.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Actually it is 2 weeks until your rep is decayed to zero.

You can be King with the Empire, go exploring for 2 weeks and when you come back no one will even recognize your face...

This is the only game I have ever seen that actively punishes you for returning after having a break. Genius.

Please stop spreading lies. Decay is only from extremes to next best thing.

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In game, all I know is that they've told me I'm no longer worthy to be their ally.

So they changed their minds because you where gone. How it is bad again?

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So basically you are saying that exploring is worthless. That's not too far from what FDev are telling us so, OK. But it's just another reason why so many experienced explorers are either quitting or close to it.

Exploring is worthless? It is your choice to go and explore. Of course faction WILL forget about you. You are not around to help it!

 

[Lobstris]

So basically you are saying that exploring is worthless. That's not too far from what FDev are telling us so, OK. But it's just another reason why so many experienced explorers are either quitting or close to it.

Ummmmmm. No, not quite what I meant. I'll rephrase. When you are off exploring, you are off on your own recognisance, and are not performing missions directly of relevance to the day-to-day running and well-being of the faction (i.e. shifting things they want shifted, or making things they want dead, dead), so it strikes me as reasonable that your reputation decays - "out of sight, out of mind". On your return, you sell your data and then you should get your accolades, fanfares and reputation boost, but not before.
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I'd suggest that 'experienced explorers' are 'quitting' (if indeed they are) not just because of lack of reputation rewards, but lack of gameplay mechanics, lack of interesting things to see out in the black, mechanics that encourage just firing off the ADS then moving on, rather than 'true' exploration, a mentality with some explorers that credits per hour = good exploration (encouraged by the aforesaid mechanics), lack of the simulation's ability to do anything meaningful with the exploration data (e.g. generate forward bases itself, or flag interesting systems for follow-up missions via the bulletin board) and the fact that, until you get quite a way from Sol these days, a lot of things have been discovered).
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Personally, I explore when the mood takes me because I like going off alone, and looking at the different configuration of systems that Stellar Forge throws up. Cash or reputation is a very distant secondary motivator - as long as my costs are covered, I'm happy(ish) .
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(I don't recall a statement from FDev saying exploration is worthless either - just that they were continually looking for feedback and improvements on rewards. I think if you asked a Dev directly they would say 'no we're not entirely happy with it either, but it'll do for now and improvements are on the list. Somewhere. Soon(™)'.)

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

And I suggest mods to close it as it turns into another giant rep decay thread.

 

[Lobstris]

In game, all I know is that they've told me I'm no longer worthy to be their ally.

Do a mission or two for them and I'm sure you'll get their trust back.

 

[IronGremlin]

Yeah I don't really get the design decision behind the decay, but if it's that easy to get back to allied it's basically irrelevant.

And per exploration, I fail to see the impact if you're back at allied as soon as you get back and sell your data.

 

[Commandr Sam]

Please stop spreading lies. Decay is only from extremes to next best thing.

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So they changed their minds because you where gone. How it is bad again?

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Exploring is worthless? It is your choice to go and explore. Of course faction WILL forget about you. You are not around to help it!

This was not a lie this is what happened to my account.

The iteration now of decay might be down to the top of friendly but my account had gone all the way down to neutral.

People are complaining as this mechanic was introduced to stop people being allied with all factions and this was much more easily acheived and much more sensibly done by having increasing one decrease the others rather than an arbitrary decay.

Once i reach elite in trading and go and do combat should i expect that to decay as well?

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

This was not a lie this is what happened to my account.

The iteration now of decay might be down to the top of friendly but my account had gone all the way down to neutral.

People are complaining as this mechanic was introduced to stop people being allied with all factions and this was much more easily acheived and much more sensibly done by having increasing one decrease the others rather than an arbitrary decay.

Once i reach elite in trading and go and do combat should i expect that to decay as well?

Elite is a *rank*. That's something you have achieved.

Reputation is contract between you and entity. Both you will become trusted allies, or will fall out because of lack of commitment, time and whatelse not.

Reputation decay is GOOD - good for the game FD actually designs. Not so good people who just grinds ED. But that's not game's problem, isn't it?

edit: your problem - wasn't that a bug with major faction decay?

 

[Allitnil]

So they changed their minds because you where gone. How it is bad again?

How is it good?

In the real world, explorers left home with the authorities often sceptical about their trips. On return they were lauded as heroes. In ED it's the other way around.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

How is it good?

In the real world, explorers left home with the authorities often sceptical about their trips. On return they were lauded as heroes. In ED it's the other way around.

As long as you don't return, you are someone useless wondering around, not helping at home. If they return with something, they are welcomed back with open arms. Just like ED does. Where's problem?

Also I don't get this - we can't lose anything - attitude. Things should change. Modules should irreversibly tear down. Reputations decay (to reasonable levels). Ok, it should take longer time and it should take multiple of parameters into account (like someone not playing for very long time).

As I have said before, it seems to me that instead of challenge players actually want just moving forward, not to lose anything, etc. despite the fact that devs have seriously nerfed income and allow for easy way to regain your leverage against minor factions and other entities.

 

[Commandr Sam]

Elite is a *rank*. That's something you have achieved.

Reputation is contract between you and entity. Both you will become trusted allies, or will fall out because of lack of commitment, time and whatelse not.

Reputation decay is GOOD - good for the game FD actually designs. Not so good people who just grinds ED. But that's not game's problem, isn't it?

edit: your problem - wasn't that a bug with major faction decay?

Please enlighten me on the way a mechanicism that discourages players from playing the game after taking a break from playing is a good thing?

 

[PavelKCZ]

Actually the rep decay with major factions is nothing dramatic. I had a lot work, did not played for couple of days and my reputation with all three major faction dropped from Allied to Friendyl. After some trading and couple of missions (basically one evening of playing) it is back to Friendly without any problem.