Power Play for Explorers

[Cula-Ta]

In another thread Sandro has asked for feedback based on a number of suggestions. One idea I suggested to Sandro which we received a favourable response was the opportunity to make Power Play a possibility for Explorers.

Below are a few ideas, I'm hoping explorers would like to comment, suggest their own or refine those already suggested.
Remember this is for explorers so please consider that when making your suggestions.

Knowledge is Power!
Explorers will be rewarded for returning data to all Powers. After all that newly discovered Metal Rich Planet is bound to be useful when making new ships...
Suspend the degradation
The ability to suspend the weekly degradation when heading into the black. During this period you cannot earn power by completing missions.
You may choose to renew degradation at any point but there is a cool off period of one week where power again cannot be earned. Therefore some renown will be lost but not all.
This enables explorers to renew the degradation when they are a week from home enabling them to have the ability to earn power credits upon their return.

 

[AnnuverScotinExile]

I really couldn't give a damn about powerplay. I cannot see how the (stupid) weekly cycle thing (stupid because it encourages CMDRs do ebay-like sniping at the last minute) can work with 'real explorers'. I have not docked for a couple of months. Anything you can do to fit into a weekly cycle is not 'proper exploration', unless you are one of those fortunates who can pour lots of hours each week.

But, of course, if there are immediate freebies to gain by playing normally, and then taking advantage of PP, I would consider it. Perhaps.

 

[Cula-Ta]

So please read my suggestion. It makes an allowance for Explorers.
You can suspend your Power Credit decay whilst you are in the Black.
This also allows you to pledge to whichever Power you so choose and will be able to offer a meaningful contribution. You just won't be able to do the 'Kill or deliver' type missions. Which you wouldn't any way.

 

[Leo Sagan]

Excellent thread OP. As an explorer myself, here is what I would like to see added in PP.

1) A way to avoid decay. Your suggestion is right on the spot.
2) A way to earn merits / PP when selling exploration datas to your Power home system
3) Exploration missions, like having to deep scan X planets in enemy / prepare territory (could be used to undermine as well maybe ?)

Those missions should probably be offered by an explorer friendly power (Riu comes to mind). It doesn't seem to much work in terms of dev time either.

 

[Brakespear]

They already spent far too much time developing something that amounts to yet more arbitrary number grinding. What exploration desperately needs is more of a galaxy to actually explore (black holes that are more than just a post process effect; systems that contain more than just the usual shuffled list of celestial furniture; a scanning system that involves more actual gameplay than just waiting for an arbitrary timer to finish; actual dangers and challenges in deep space, so we're not spending all our time cruising along watching youtube videos).

Personally? I find the idea of devoting any more time to power play rather disconcerting, when the developer has demonstrated (given that we're now... what, 7, 8 months down the line?) that they are not exactly swift with their updates. So speaking as someone who was once an idealistic, starry-eyed explorer... adding more numbers to the mix would merely sound like nails being hammered into a coffin.

 

[Cula-Ta]

Excellent thread OP. As an explorer myself, here is what I would like to see added in PP.

1) A way to avoid decay. Your suggestion is right on the spot.
2) A way to earn merits / PP when selling exploration datas to your Power home system
3) Exploration missions, like having to deep scan X planets in enemy / prepare territory (could be used to undermine as well maybe ?)

Those missions should probably be offered by an explorer friendly power (Riu comes to mind). It doesn't seem to much work in terms of dev time either.

Thanks Delazure, we're on the same wavelength.

 

[Pilot Mark]

I do not participate in Powerplay right now, largely because it doesn't give me anything back that I really want. Now, if there should be an overpowered frame shift drive on offer (say for example 50ly for 12 tonnes of fuel in a 'conda), that may change.

 

[Mikalus]

In another thread Sandro has asked for feedback based on a number of suggestions. One idea I suggested to Sandro which we received a favourable response was the opportunity to make Power Play a possibility for Explorers.

Below are a few ideas, I'm hoping explorers would like to comment, suggest their own or refine those already suggested.
Remember this is for explorers so please consider that when making your suggestions.

Knowledge is Power!
Explorers will be rewarded for returning data to all Powers. After all that newly discovered Metal Rich Planet is bound to be useful when making new ships...
Suspend the degradation
The ability to suspend the weekly degradation when heading into the black. During this period you cannot earn power by completing missions.
You may choose to renew degradation at any point but there is a cool off period of one week where power again cannot be earned. Therefore some renown will be lost but not all.
This enables explorers to renew the degradation when they are a week from home enabling them to have the ability to earn power credits upon their return.

Makes a lot of sense to me.

 

[Cula-Ta]

Thanks Mikalus, I thought so too!

Hopefully Sandro will take this on board. Obviously it would require some work to implement but it would certainly give us explorers some say in Power Play.

 

[Cula-Ta]

Any other explorers want to contribute to this thread?