Pledged to Patreus: Did we kill the Emperor? (Problem with PP)

[Vyvian]

So a member of Patreus's entourage assassinated the Emperor.

The question is, as CMDRs pledged to Patreus, could we have in anyway contributed to this?


Is it because we took Vaka back from ALD, she planted her assassin in Patreus's party, to cause him some trouble? Is it because the Empire is engaged in a combined action against Archon Delaine, he choose to hire an assassin to kill the Emperor and hopefully turn the Empire powers on each other rather than him? Is it because Patreus is the weakest Empire power that the Emperor's enemies used him to facilitate the assassination? If Patreus had been larger and stronger, would the assassin have used Torval's party instead to infiltrate the Wedding? Had no one pledged to Patreus at all and he had been knocked out of Powerplay in the first few weeks, would he still have an entourage at the wedding for the assassin to hide in?


To me the answer is simple: No, nothing we have done has any impact on this what so ever.


So really the question is, not did we cause the Emperor's death, but what is the point of Powerplay?


If our actions have no effect on the Story arc, then why bother to include these characters in Powerplay? Why not just call each power red, blue, green etc.?


Before Powerplay, we saw regular snippets of the story involving these characters, Torval putting down slave rebellions, Patreus invaiding small independant systems. Arissa and Aisling stating a claim to the throne.


I have fought for Denton Patreus since this game was released. In the early days, before Community Goals, I fought in Jera and Durius. After CGs had been added, we had wars in Kui Hsein and Quivera, with branches to the Quivera storyline with Arissa and Aisling competing for hearts and minds.

Before, during and after these events we were given parts of the story, we were given information about these characters. Since powerplay has been released we have been given nothing about these characters other than a breif bio for each.




TL; DR Powerplay was meant to give life to the characters of this universe, but to me at least it has removed all interest in them, as they are now nothing but colours on a map.

Are we going to see the story line change because of our actions in Powerplay?

Surely Powerplay is there to create more story regarding the powers involved in it, not less?




If it possible, could we please keep this thread dedicated to discussion about the story and characters of powerplay and not about the failings of PP mechanics.

 

[CMDR Kiethoo Wolfsong]

Forgive me, but you are assuming that Senator Patreus had something to do with the murder.

This hasn't been proven.

I don't think ANY of the Imperial Senators had anything to do with it....

The Real Murderer was...

Pranav Antal, In the Observitory, with the Candle Stick.


You see CMDR Vyvian,
what you couldn't know is that Brendan Paul Darius once had a wife, who became quiet ill while working as an Imperial Slave to Princess Asling herself. Not wanting a Sick Slave around her with the Media always in her face, she banished the slave leaving her unable to pay off her debt. A major mark os shame among you Imperials. Growing more sick, she finally died. With an intense hatred of Princess Asling he wanted to get revenge for what he saw as the murder and shaming of his beloved wife.
That is where Pranav Antal comes in. Failing in his first attempt at murdering the Princess with poison, the very poison that almost killed the Emperor Darius fleed from Imperial Space where he came to Pranav Antal's territory and slowly become one of his believers.

Still with me? Good, now then. After months of Subliminal Messages and Training, Pranav Antal ordered Darius to return to his master Senator Patreus. He provided his Senator with a great deal of Secret information he had "gathered" exploring Pranav Antal's information networks. Information on Tech, Communications, and most important to Senator Patreus as we all know....Fianancing.

Becoming one of his most trusted followers, it was only too assured that Mr.Darius would be invited to the Emperor's Wedding along with his master Senator Patreus.


But the last question you might ask is, why did Pranva Anton want the Emperor dead?

Well I could answer that for you.

But then I would probably end up on Gal Net in a news report about how my ship suddenly experaince a power failure...or how I was trapped in a elevator that experainced explosive decompression....or perhaps how I chocked to death eating a turkey sandwhich.....

Still.....soon everyone will know the truth.

Its only a matter of time.

 

[Vyvian]

@ CMDR Kiethoo Wolfsong: +Rep for you sir. Love the story, let's hope FD's story (if we every get one) can live up to it.


It still leaves the question; If we had destoryed Antal in the first few weeks of Powerplay would the Emperor still be alive?

Would our actions have any effect?

Also what would be the effect of our actions? Seeing as the powers have all become virtually mute since Powerplay was introduced, we have little or no idea what the consequences of our actions could possibly be.

Would the removal of Antal as a power have saved the Emperor's life, but in turn led to the destruction of the Empire by a Thargoid invasion that Antal was holding back by secret negotiations with the Thargoids?


We can write up all the fiction we like (and great respect to those that do), but we aren't the ones in charge of the story. FD control the story, and maybe Powerplay does have some influence on how the story will develop but currently that influence is either non-existant or invisible.


My point again, is what is the point of Powerplay if our actions are seen to have no effect on the influence of the Universe and the stories of intrigue found within it, other than the colours on the map?


I'm all for using a bit of imagination, in fact I enjoy this game because it does allow us great room for imagination (see the titles I have given myself under my sig for my actions throughout my time playing), but in addition to this FD are giving us a story and have in the past allowed us to interact and effect the story through events they created early on, and then the more structured and transparant Community Goals. It seems though now with Powerplay this interaction has been stopped and now we just effect the Galaxy Map.

 

[GluttonyFang]

Fold

Aisling hired Patreus to kill the Emperor so she can take over, quite simple of a conspiracy. (Did you know that Patreus' underming for Aisling targets "deceptive propaganda media"?)

*Chuckles in the background*

 

[Psycho Romeo]

Power play is just how some people interact with the galaxy. Others choose to put their name on the first discovered by list. Others choose to have the highest player bounty. Others sit in Lembava and duel others all day. None of these interest me (okay, the bounty one kind of does) but that doesn't mean they aren't legitimate.

Some people look at their rank 5 and that newly acquired system and say 'yep, that was me', your welcome Patreus.

In reality it probably wasn't, but that's irrelevant.

 

[CMDR Kiethoo Wolfsong]

Always did find it funny that those two were lovers. The only LESS likely match, imho, would be Aisling and Torval.

Where does it say or where is it written they are lovers?

All I have seen is that they were seen together at a few Imperial Events.
While I can see it being possible they might be working together for mutual support of their agendas, I dont see them as lovers.

 

[Vyvian]

Power play is just how some people interact with the galaxy. Others choose to put their name on the first discovered by list. Others choose to have the highest player bounty. Others sit in Lembava and duel others all day. None of these interest me (okay, the bounty one kind of does) but that doesn't mean they aren't legitimate.

Some people look at their rank 5 and that newly acquired system and say 'yep, that was me', your welcome Patreus.

In reality it probably wasn't, but that's irrelevant.

I'm not against Powerplay, I've held rank 4 for Patreus since the start and take time to be active within Patreus's community in the strategy side.

The taking of Wangal by Angeli Imperial for Senator Patreus in the first couple weeks of Powerplay was important to us and we were proud of our acheivements.

The problem is that since Powerplay has been released we haven't heard a word from Patreus. Is he proud that we took Wangal? Or Vaka, or Cuchua?

How has his new holdings affected his support in the Imperial Senate? Or more senators moving to support Arissa because she has become more powerful?

I am a supporter of Powerplay but I am asking the question of why Powerplay has seemed to make the Powers more shallow, simply a 2d picture and nothing more, when they used to have personailty?

- - - Updated - - -

Aisling hired Patreus to kill the Emperor so she can take over, quite simple of a conspiracy. (Did you know that Patreus' underming for Aisling targets "deceptive propaganda media"?)

*Chuckles in the background*

That is of course the most obvious conclusion and the most boring.

Personally I like to give Frontier's story writers a little more credit than that.


My post really isn't about who actually killed the Emperor, it's more about if we as players actually had any effect on it.

 

[Vasious]

Interesting question

How much does Player activity and action in Power Play, and the Background sim for that matter, affect the larger narrative in the Universe.

Is player activity the helping steer the story down one of many possible paths

 

[GluttonyFang]

Personally I like to give Frontier's story writers a little more credit than that.


My post really isn't about who actually killed the Emperor, it's more about if we as players actually had any effect on it.

For your first sentence, I wish you good luck. So far what I've seen is "bash everything that isn't Empire to the ground and bask!"

For your second sentence, only the Imperials and the Empire matters, everything else can die. So if you're an Imperial pilot, congratulations! You made the right chose in spending your money for Elite Dangerous and didn't commit some sort of deadly sin that you must be punished for!

*Chuckles in the background*

 

[Vyvian]

Interesting question

How much does Player activity and action in Power Play, and the Background sim for that matter, affect the larger narrative in the Universe.

Is player activity the helping steer the story down one of many possible paths

Well in the past, with the Community Events at launch and then the more refined community goals, we have seen story lines regarding a number of the Powerplay characters.

Whether our actions changed the story lines is unknown (I believe Frontier have stated that they do), but our actions were at least acknowledged.

Since Powerplay Fontier have made no acknowledgment of our actions in Powerplay. Note that the CGs regarding the plague have a continuing storyline that is seeming to progress with player actions and is certainly acknowledging the work that they have done.


I understand that the actions of the Powers are not overt military actions, but instead covert operations, tricking governments into debt, framing political oppoents, corporate buyouts etc., and as such the Powers can not openly discuss their ploys and successes, but surely Powerplay should be creating news within the Universe.

For example:

Federation calling Arissa to explain why money from Federation Governments is being used to pay Imperial Bounty Hunters at above the standard bond.

Federation and Imperial fleets facing off in deep space as the cold war escalates due to the actions of politicians on both sides.

Archon Delaine threatening to lay waste to Shinrarta Dezra in response to so many Pilot's Federation members attacking his ships.

More independant systems seeking ties with the Alliance as Mahon's power grows.



We are seeing much writing being done by the community and I have great respect for the people taking the time to do this, but these are not the people who have chosen the story and know where it is heading and more importantly it does little to flesh out the characters of the Powers.

 

[Vyvian]

For your first sentence, I wish you good luck. So far what I've seen is "bash everything that isn't Empire to the ground and bask!"

For your second sentence, only the Imperials and the Empire matters, everything else can die. So if you're an Imperial pilot, congratulations! You made the right chose in spending your money for Elite Dangerous and didn't commit some sort of deadly sin that you must be punished for!

*Chuckles in the background*

You really are taking this Empire bias to heart aren't you.


Every considered it's all part of DB's grand plan to lure the majority of pilots to the Empire, before unleashing the Thargoid invasion that wipes out most of the Empire overnight, therefore destroying all of the ships they have stored in Imperial stations, wiping out all of their profitable trade routes and well just generally being one of the greatest greifing acts by a developer ever. (Please remember that I called this now in this post. I want to be able to be really damn smug when it actually happens.)



Personally I don't think that most people give FD enough credit for their machinations. I think they clearly bias the Empire to give you all a reason to hate us. Would Archon's supporters defiance be so strong if we were on completely equal terms or is it your hatred of us that drives you on?

Many people complain when Frontier set a CG tier to high, or the goods are less profitable than another CG that is running in opposition. Do you think the unbalance is a mistake? No it's on purpose, they have a story line that they want to push, but if enough players can band together and overcome the odds then they will acknowledge that they succeeded and possible even change the story to fit.


Nobody *Chuckles in the Background* more than David Braben.

 

[GluttonyFang]

Nobody *Chuckles in the Background* more than David Braben.

I wonder about that, take a glimpse at my badge

RP: on [off]

I joined Archon, because my syndicate made a decision to commit. Then we realized the bias is real and there's nothing to gain. I personally stayed because of the friends I made while in Archon, plus I run a pretty prominent position in the power since Cycle Two and would feel bad if I bail for no urgent reason.

I have an "odd" personality and study "odd" subjects, so I enjoy RP as a "deviant."

I don't "hate" the Empire, but RP kind of "demands" it, so I "compromise"

 

[Brimstone]

The only thing you CAN do is quit everything, including all contact with outside powers.

Now come back, and look at where you can earn some easy profit.

?

hmm.

 

[Vyvian]

I wonder about that, take a glimpse at my badge

RP: on [off]

I joined Archon, because my syndicate made a decision to commit. Then we realized the bias is real and there's nothing to gain. I personally stayed because of the friends I made while in Archon, plus I run a pretty prominent position in the power since Cycle Two and would feel bad if I bail for no urgent reason.

I have an odd personality and study odd subjects, so I enjoy RP as a "deviant."

I don't hate the Empire, but RP kind of demands it, so I compromise

And between yourself and other ardent Delaine supporters you have survived many weeks of coordinated attack by the Empire, and I'm sure the Feds are quite happy putting the boot in where they can to.

You have a very active thread on this forum, which I enjoy reading, and all of this for a character who had 2 short articles about him in Galnet before powerplay and a couple of bland CGs at launch of Powerplay.

Does it not bother you that Archon has had basically nothing to say for himself since PP started?

 

[GluttonyFang]

And between yourself and other ardent Delaine supporters you have survived many weeks of coordinated attack by the Empire, and I'm sure the Feds are quite happy putting the boot in where they can to.

You have a very active thread on this forum, which I enjoy reading, and all of this for a character who had 2 short articles about him in Galnet before powerplay and a couple of bland CGs at launch of Powerplay.

Does it not bother you that Archon has had basically nothing to say for himself since PP started?

I don't know what the Federation is doing or what their stance is on the current tension between Archon and the Empire, and frankly we don't have the time to worry about them. They don't seem to be attacking us, so we have no need to attack them.

As for Galnet, if we think about it "realistically."

How often do the mass media interview the criminal mastermind for a piece of his/her/its mind?

The mass media like Galnet is used as a propaganda against anything non-mainstream. Plus, Archon is the silent type, from what I understand.

Mechanic wise, it feels a little off-putting for not mentioning every power relatively equally. (I feel bad for Antal @-@)

But I think many of us Archon backers really enjoy a small, close-knit community where all of our opinions matter to one another to an extent (relative direct democracy). Despite that I'm a prominent figure in the faction, my word has just as much weight as another Delaine backer diligently doing his/her/its part in helping Archon. Many of us serve as mere coordinators instead of order barkers.

I get that it kind of contradicts the dictator image FD gives Archon, but ironically we have some of the most creative and free pilots the Universe has to offer while still supporting the basic principles of Archon.

Archon's loudness on Galnet doesn't bother me much, other than slight complaints against the Empire bias being somewhat counterproductive in retaining and enlarging the playerbase/audience.

 

[Kazacy]

But I think many of us Archon backers really enjoy a small, close-knit community where all of our opinions matter to one another to an extent (relative direct democracy). Despite that I'm a prominent figure in the faction, my word has just as much weight as another Delaine backer diligently doing his/her/its part in helping Archon. Many of us serve as mere coordinators instead of order barkers.

I get that it kind of contradicts the dictator image FD gives Archon, but ironically we have some of the most creative and free pilots the Universe has to offer while still supporting the basic principles of Archon.

Archon's loudness on Galnet doesn't bother me much, other than slight complaints against the Empire bias being somewhat counterproductive in retaining and enlarging the playerbase/audience.

And this is one of the reasons i really enjoy my choice to pledge to Archon Delaine. As Mark Twain says once:
"Go to heaven for the climate, hell for the company."

 

[Iori]

I think if Patreus wanted the Emperor dead and then deny it, he would have chosen a method that doesn't vinculate him, probably trying to frame someone else in the process. Which is probably what is happening to Patreus right now.

 

[Brimstone]

Join Arissa Lavigny Duval, earn PP credits, and then earn bonuses on top of your bounties or combat bonds.

You can't trust them silly feds anyway! They are a bunch of old farts.

 

[aws357]

Next on fednet : Hudson death by pretzel. <---- it almost happened once, a long time ago.

 

[Commander Starcloak]

Yes, simply. Vyvian knows how I feel about this. Since Powerplay came out it feels like the Powers have less personality than before. This is all kinds of wrong. It's not exactly spurring on the commanders. Powerplay should be giving us MORE personality, more colour, more depth to this world and more roleplay! We should be getting sucked in to this story and thrilled to be making a difference for our Powers. Instead the difference we do make goes unacknowledged by the Powers, and sometimes FD just plonk a plot twist right down that our commanders couldn't have done anything about or effect in any way, basically wrenching away the control we've supposedly been given with Powerplay and dropping us right in it.