Are we being bored into PowerPlay?

[Quantis Trap]

I've tried many of the things you can do in Elite and I have no problem making my own fun in an open world / galaxy game. I've played thousands of hours in this game since December of last year, so yes I am addicted to this game.

While making my own way in this game, I've always watched for and come to expect the creative little bits of good game content from Frontier to help my enjoyment. When PowerPlay came out, however, I came to the conclusion, after studying it in depth, that it wasn't of much interest to me.

I didn't mind, at that time because Community Goals (CGs) were a lot of fun for me. Lately, however, Frontier has succeeded in taking the fun out of those for me!

CGs which have been enjoyed by many in the past have been reasonably winnable in the short term and long term. They've had multiple tier goals the first of which were reachable by 500-1000 players playing casually within one days time. Not every tier has been easily achievable, just several of the fist ones to get people interested.

All of the current DEBILITATING DISEASE... CGs (and nearly every other CG for the last two months) have a combination of unwinnable, repetitive and uninteresting. I'm beginning to believe that Frontier has contracted a DEBILITATING DISEASE which keeps them from providing interesting game content!

This may sound harsh, but most of us are in this galaxy for an interest gaming experience, not to help endless streams of imaginary sick people.

Is Frontier is trying to bore people into using PowerPlay more? If so, it's not working on me.

I'm trying so hard to stay addicted to this game and lately Frontier is making it very hard.

 

[Ralph Vargr]

It's part of a secret project to end Internet Addiction.

 

[Nonya]

Thanks to Elite: Dangerous I've discovered entire TV series and films I didn't know existed.
Halt and Catch Fire, Humans, KillJoys, Dark Matter, Orange is the New Black, Sharknado 3....to name a few.

 

[h347h]

Petition to start a new goal to cut off those systems to the rest of human space and blow up any ships coming in or out. Planetary landings later could be cool when they all die off. Post apocalyptic planet exploration!

 

[Nonya]

It's a trap!

[video=youtube;4F4qzPbcFiA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F4qzPbcFiA[/video]

 

[Quantis Trap]

It's a trap!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F4qzPbcFiA

LOL. +rep

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

They fix the day to day monotony of missions, they fix the game through one simple thing.
Variety.
Then players won't care so much how long other things take to happen because it would be a more fun environment.

It's not so much about the rewards, but the taking part in things that are interesting and beyond a simple grind for credits.

 

[Quantis Trap]

Petition to start a new goal to cut off those systems to the rest of human space and blow up any ships coming in or out. Planetary landings later could be cool when they all die off. Post apocalyptic planet exploration!

I have no idea why you would suggest such a thing based on what I was saying!

On the other hand, I do understand the other comical responses from others who are finding ways to use their time way from addiction to this game. Thanks Frontier!

- - - Updated - - -

They fix the day to day monotony of missions, they fix the game through one simple thing.
Variety.
Then players won't care so much how long other things take to happen because it would be a more fun environment.

It's not so much about the rewards, but the taking part in things that are interesting and beyond a simple grind for credits.

Not quite that simple. The variety has to be interesting and rewarding. All three the current content is lacking!

 

[Ben Ryder]

Ive found power play is fun, adds to the game and has helped me blaze a trail with others and on my own. It's been far better in many ways than A to B runs with tiered reward or resource extraction site high score tables. This should not be at the expense of entertaining community goals or advancing a strong story line.

 

[Vasious]

Personally I think the flow of the Outbreak CG have been well done.

Why, we have the initial out break, which reach tier two and was cured.
Then it was discovered that three new systems near by have the same plague.
We spread our selves to thin and far to contain the outbreak.
It spreads again, not only in the local cluster but from Eleu to other Rare Goods Hubs, and the initial three systems suffer a loss of essential services.
With the consequences know, the community elects one system to save. One place to focus on the get a cure in the works.
We succeed and find we need to ship in Heike Tea for the cure.

I think that all makes quite a cool narrative, as we didn't know at time if we were going to succeed for fail and what the consequences would be
Not the greatest of Credit making outcomes but more to the game than that right?

 

[Quantis Trap]

Ive found power play is fun, adds to the game and has helped me blaze a trail with others and on my own. It's been far better in many ways than A to B runs with tiered reward or resource extraction site high score tables. This should not be at the expense of entertaining community goals or advancing a strong story line.

Nice to have you input Ben. I'd like to like PowerPlay but I just don't yet. I remember from past CGs that you also like smuggling runs even when it makes no logical sense to do so.

I'd love to be convinced that PowerPlay is cool, but I haven't see the compelling argument yet. I guess I'm just the former Han Solo, not the latter.

 

[Quantis Trap]

Personally I think the flow of the Outbreak CG have been well done.

Why, we have the initial out break, which reach tier two and was cured.
Then it was discovered that three new systems near by have the same plague.
We spread our selves to thin and far to contain the outbreak.
It spreads again, not only in the local cluster but from Eleu to other Rare Goods Hubs, and the initial three systems suffer a loss of essential services.
With the consequences know, the community elects one system to save. One place to focus on the get a cure in the works.
We succeed and find we need to ship in Heike Tea for the cure.

I think that all makes quite a cool narrative, as we didn't know at time if we were going to succeed for fail and what the consequences would be
Not the greatest of Credit making outcomes but more to the game than that right?

Just think of it from the viewpoint of new players coming into the game though. Many of the CGs had only one tier set extremely high. Many new players come into CGs having heard largely about fun and rewarding CGs of the past. Not knowing exactly how they work, they invest days and days into a CGs and then get a failure and no reward at the end.

This is particularly true in the case of the XBox One version where Frontier starts all the "Preview" (Alpha) players (I play all the versions) out with these totally depressing DEBILITATING DISEASE CGs. When I pointed this out the Frontier in a bug report their response was that CGs were not fully working in the XBox One version. Many people tried them in that version and they were fully working enough to off quite a few players let me tell you!

Bad moves by Frontier lately!

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

Personally I think the flow of the Outbreak CG have been well done.

Why, we have the initial out break, which reach tier two and was cured.
Then it was discovered that three new systems near by have the same plague.
We spread our selves to thin and far to contain the outbreak.
It spreads again, not only in the local cluster but from Eleu to other Rare Goods Hubs, and the initial three systems suffer a loss of essential services.
With the consequences know, the community elects one system to save. One place to focus on the get a cure in the works.
We succeed and find we need to ship in Heike Tea for the cure.

I think that all makes quite a cool narrative, as we didn't know at time if we were going to succeed for fail and what the consequences would be
Not the greatest of Credit making outcomes but more to the game than that right?

This pretty much says what I mean.
The CG's are more story driven.
I know there will always be those who will farm, and farm till they get the ship they want but as ED is a Universe, these things need to exist and don't necessarily need to boost your rank or funds by "x" amount.
It's a choice a player makes. Maybe FD might need to have the System involved state they are poor and it will, most likely be a charitable action with little monitory reward.
Some players will still do it, if they can afford it. Smarter, poorer players may find a way to profiteer from it on the return journey and there's game play in that.
But, if the story arc is good and seems to be leading somewhere, then players will become more involved.

It's not at the level where I would like it to be, but I would really like things to be more Universe driven, than what a player themselves does just to rank up...because that's all I see mostly. How to gain credits the fastest...and that's not good.

Players should get maybe a title for participating in a Story arc, the more they do, the more they become enlightened as to what really happened. That would keep players interested.

 

[Quantis Trap]

This pretty much says what I mean.
The CG's are more story driven.
I know there will always be those who will farm, and farm till they get the ship they want but as ED is a Universe, these things need to exist and don't necessarily need to boost your rank or funds by "x" amount.
It's a choice a player makes. Maybe FD might need to have the System involved state they are poor and it will, most likely be a charitable action with little monitory reward.
Some players will still do it, if they can afford it. Smarter, poorer players may find a way to profiteer from it on the return journey and there's game play in that.
But, if the story arc is good and seems to be leading somewhere, then players will become more involved.

It's not at the level where I would like it to be, but I would really like things to be more Universe driven, than what a player themselves does just to rank up...because that's all I see mostly. How to gain credits the fastest...and that's not good.

Players should get maybe a title for participating in a Story arc, the more they do, the more they become enlightened as to what really happened. That would keep players interested.

Yes ED is a universe/gallaxy, but first and foremost it's a game which needs to be successful and enjoyable long term. I play games for enjoyment. Maybe player who think they need to punish themselves helping imaginary people would find their time better spent helping real people in a hostpital or soup kitchen.

 

[Ben Ryder]

Nice to have you input Ben. I'd like to like PowerPlay but I just don't yet. I remember from past CGs that you also like smuggling runs even when it makes no logical sense to do so.

I'd love to be convinced that PowerPlay is cool, but I haven't see the compelling argument yet. I guess I'm just the former Han Solo, not the latter.

True I do have a slightly odd look at things. Sometimes I look deeper than most, for instance my highest single smuggling non mission run before 1.3, with no slaves involved, no seeking luxuries, no exploits or cheats (just imagination and planning on a paper pad) made me over 12 million credits profit in one sale at the time when smuggling was pretty much at its worst. In the last CGs when the plague started I told people two weeks ago they would need rare goods but was ignored . I guess because people think that grinding is all there is to it. I have had lots of adventures that have been far better than just climbing community goal ladders. In power play I manage to snipe a system I badly wanted in Antal. An anarchy one and its been home for 6 weeks and I've just flown over 500 LY in a D class Adder with an E1 fuel scoop to Sothis to take a look and get a Sirius Permit. The game is what you make of it and I've got a healthy imagination and dont do A to B. I play keyboard only with no mouse and use a pen and peaper as my trade tools. I'm just saying it's boring if you let it be and cant think of anything interesting yourself. If you people see only CGs and Power Play then they are truly missing out. I'm off to sell my exploration data now to some crooks and get a permit to Hecate where the sell illegal rare goods that I have yet to get my hand on. There's plenty in the game to make your own story.

 

[Quantis Trap]

True I do have a slightly odd look at things. Sometimes I look deeper than most, for instance my highest single smuggling non mission run before 1.3, with no slaves involved, no seeking luxuries, no exploits or cheats (just imagination and planning on a paper pad) made me over 12 million credits profit in one sale. In the last CGs when the plague started I told people two weeks ago they would need rare goods but was ignored . I guess because people think that grinding is all there is to it. I have had lots of adventures that have been far better than just climbing community goal ladders. In power play I manage to snipe a system I badly wanted in Antal. An anarchy one and its been home for 6 weeks and I've just flown over 500 LY in a D class Adder with an E1 fuel scoop to Sothis to take a look and get a Sirius Permit. The game is what you make of it and I've got a healthy imagination and dont do A to B. I play keyboard only with no mouse and use a pen and peaper as my trade tools. I'm just saying it's boring if you let it be and cant think of anything interesting yourself. If you people see only CGs and Power Play then they are truly missing out. I'm off to sell my trade data now to some crooks and get a permit to Crom where the sell illegal rare goods. There's plenty in the game to make your own story.

Good points Ben as always. As I said when I started this thread, I've made my own fun too. My rants in this thread are more thinking about the new players entering the game. They are most likely in the mode of learning and getting the next ship and find that they've wasted days on a pointless, failed CG which is not nearly as interesting ones of the past. I WEEP for the frustration and lost of those players, not the imaginary sick people!

BTW, 12 million on one sale and no rares? Did I read that wrong? I need details on that some time!

 

[Ben Ryder]

Good points Ben as always. As I said when I started this thread, I've made my own fun too. My rants in this thread are more thinking about the new players entering the game. They are most likely in the mode of learning and getting the next ship and find that they've wasted days on a pointless, failed CG which is not nearly as interesting ones of the past. I WEEP for the frustration and lost of those players, not the imaginary sick people!

Me too. I tried to explain that CGs dont always payout but they were too saddened and maddened to see it. I know I would be miffed. It was a bit like the Power Play folk who gambled on the special weapons and got novelties. They all bet on an unknown and expected treasure. If the recent community goals were my first experience of them I'd be miffed, especially if there was no story follow through... I think I'd get borderlands 2 back out and have some light hearted action fun laced with jokes, a layered story and big guns and fullsome figures.

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

Yes ED is a universe/gallaxy, but first and foremost it's a game which needs to be successful and enjoyable long term. I play games for enjoyment. Maybe player who think they need to punish themselves helping imaginary people would find their time better spent helping real people in a hostpital or soup kitchen.

There is more to this game beyond the "how to max profits". That's a very "corporate" style of thinking and very alien from "freedom to your own thing".

Players will invest time in CG's "if" there are viable trade routes on the way back. Sure, they may be a bit out of the way but worth it and players need to look for opportunities. That's a challenge in itself.
CG's revolve around "low cost" items so the financial damage isn't too great, it's like they're almost challenging players to make the best of the situation. If, a smart player takes the time to work out what is viable though then they may actually make money while participating.

There is more to this game beyond farming and what makes a player the most cash in a period of time.
By simply expecting a hefty financial reward for just participating in an event does nothing but dumb the game down and make it very one dimensional.
Elite has always been about engaging one's noodle.
If it becomes a simplistic merry go round of do this and do that for "x"...it will kill the game.

Story arcs are cool things to have, it creates an interest. If they manage that right then players will still involve themselves with it. This is something that needs a bit of a boost at this time though and needs updating to keep interest.
Edit: Because I see what they did in Galnet which I like very much, also the backgrounds on some characters. This is all good.
I really like this kinda thing and can't stress it enough.

It's only punishment if you allow it to happen.

The grind mechanics in this game are it's worst enemy...it forces one dimensional playstyles.

 

[Vasious]

Yes ED is a universe/gallaxy, but first and foremost it's a game which needs to be successful and enjoyable long term. I play games for enjoyment. Maybe player who think they need to punish themselves helping imaginary people would find their time better spent helping real people in a hostpital or soup kitchen.

This statement says
I didnt enjoy activity X, thus nor could have anyone else. Anyone who did X was self inflicting punishment on themselves.

Just becuase you gain nor enjoyment doesnt mean the no one else could possbily ever in any way do so.

Your last sentince is absurd.
How about
"Maybe those that enjoy trading should go get a job trading in the real world and not play games?"
Or "
Those that focus on getting as many CR as they can should get a second job rather than play computer games"

And before say, "But I find x y or z Fun." refer to my first statement about it only being about what you enjoy


This entire thread is you saying you didnt enjoy X so Frontier is doing the entire game wrong.
You didnt enjoy X and that is all that matters.
Complete with it must be a conspriacy to make YOU play Power Play.

We got presented as a problem, failed round one, rallyed together, succeeded round two.
Yeah sense of acheivement when failure is a real possibility could never be considered worthwhile and fun.

That is far more engageing and a CG which guarantees success and massive returns for "participation"

 

[drorelith]

I was at first miffed when we completed the first Bast cg but was hopeful there was more to it. FD did deliver that.
It gives more depth to it and a real sense of accomplishment to achieving this goal then the other like the bounty CG that completed during it.
It toke alot of effort by those of us that were in it and we even got a local news that was rather lengthy regarding it. That restored faith I had in FD by alot. I don't want something that is just an endless grind for credits. I want something that actually gives depth to this galaxy. I don't really like trading. I however like what FD is doing here and I support it. I just hope that the next one isn't trading cause I need a break from it.
I like there being more to this then simply a big bonus check in credits but a real feel you accomplished something in the game.

Ben I would like to apologize if I was at all brash with you yesterday. My temper was alittle hot at the time. I like how these CGs are going now. Like how I said yesterday I wanted to see a continuation of the story or something for our effort and FD delivered. I admit it could of been done slightly better but it is enough to make me happy. Hopefully FD continue to improve.