I'd like to give a nod to Earl_Parvisjam on some good thinking, I'm with you on these:
'In order to counter a 5C attack, a faction has to outperform their efforts in at least 2 systems. For example, if they prep a system 10k, the power must coordinate prep of two systems over 10k to negate it...'
'Getting rid of 5C operations entirely isn't the issue. The issue is that the most effective tactic to derail a major power is to join them and do a crappy job. There's no compelling reason to bother with any other tactic...'
'5C tactics have become the most powerful tactic in PP....'
'My hope is that by addressing it, we can all have a dialog and look for something that will make things closer to fair for all involved.'
When I put my feelings asides as much as possible, here is what I notice:
"Fifth columning is a better strategy than playing fair in powerplay, and causes nearly-permanent damage."
That's two points. Explained separately it would be about like this:
1-When 5C prep a bad system, let's say the power has enough CCs to prep three. The 5C put 10K into a bad system. The fair players would have to put above 10K in THREE to equal their work. Thus, the 5C work is more effective.
2-The current mechanic of powerplay is to lose high-cost (typically faraway) systems during turmoil, regardless of their net profit. 5Cers need only pick a low-cost and low-profit system, and they give a loss-per-week system to a power that will not be chosen for removal during turmoil. Ergo, a 'fair player's work' is likely to be removed as good systems are further and further away from their capital. But a 5Cer's work is likely to be near-permanent.
Now, this being such an effective strategy causes these long-term negative impacts:
-Slowing down powers to a standstill, instead of dynamic opposition.
-Players who -care- for their power and like to play fair often get disgusted and leave powerplay (or the game entirely, as a matter of fact). And sure that's the 5Cer's intent but
that is not good for the game as a whole.
-It is rather denaturing to a competition game, that joining a power for the purpose of hurting it is more effective than staying in the power you want to fight for. (That one is more my opinion, but I beleive it's a defendable opinion)
-Picture when more powers will come in, player groups will have put -months- of work into their NPC faction. Now they join Powerplay, 5C come in and they can't stop them and their future prospects are -wrecked- without their having a chance? That's not good for the game.
That's what I believe is wrong with the current situation and what worries me about the future.
And to stay constructive, well I'd propose to slightly change the turmoil mechanic: Instead of removing high-cost systems during turmoil, remove systems that have a low net profit (earnings-costs). That would make 5Cs work less permanent, much like an 'honest player's work and even things up a bit. (Admittedly it's not perfect, doesn't stop their work being overly effective, but it'd be a pretty simple start.)
