IF Space Legs, Atmospheric Planets and Base Building are not part of New Era...

The execution was/is awful though.


Except there is nothing to fight over. PvPers generally want to fight over something, not just a rank.

So no, I don't think any of those really hit the mark very well. Now if there was a territory game in CQC, then that could have changed everything.

Its not that sort of game and was never intended to be. No direct player control of territory.

If Powerplay was more integrated into the BGS and more of a PvE with optional PvP experience, then again that could have changed everything and made it and the BGS much more interesting. Instead we got a abstract layer on top which does nothing in the grand scheme of things within the game.

I don't think anyone was asking for any of that.

Exactly the same as above.
 
Here there is a big IF, because tbh all discussions about Legs and Base Building come from an unofficial leak and, even worse, atmospheric planets is purely players speculation.
So what IF the New Era of Elite Dangerous is about none of the three?

Let's prepare ourselves to a B-Plan: with such a "big" manpower of roughly 80 developers working at this project for more than 2 years, what would you expect or wish to see as an alternate content release?
My priorities have shifted greatly since becoming a VR convert. If anything, space legs may complicate my VR experience. On the other hand, there is something amazing about being able to walk around interiors of places (where VR really shines), and if I could build my own place to feel amazing in VR, I wouldn't complain.

But right now my top priorities are atmospheric planets, skimming gas giants (let me decent into the clouds a little ways), mine a comet, etc. I also want all the NPCs to get legs, even if I don't have legs. I'm tired of empty stations, empty bridges and chairs, empty cars driving in circles for all eternity, etc. Even when just sitting in the cockpit, everything feels EMPTY. Stations are like those fake towns we used to blow up for bomb testing, and this is long overdue for an overhaul.

doomtown.jpg.662x0_q70_crop-scale.jpg


Even these fake towns had mannequins, LOL. Speaking of mannequins, some interesting, story-driven missions and much-improved NPC dialog and persistence would also be very much welcome.
 
It won’t be. We’re getting bug fixes, Fleet Carriers, maybe some graphical upgrades, possibly another chunk of Thargoid story stuff, and if we’re really lucky, the first foundations for the next evolution in game play for the next DLC.

Probably this.. But it needs some marketing hook, so..
 
If Powerplay was more integrated into the BGS and more of a PvE with optional PvP experience, then again that could have changed everything and made it and the BGS much more interesting. Instead we got a abstract layer on top which does nothing in the grand scheme of things within the game.

I don't think anyone was asking for any of that.

Powerplay was the only part of the game at the time to promise advanced consequences via collapse (which never made it in to begin with) along with potent PvP piracy (which got taken out as they broke the game). Whats transpired is that FD let it wither while they beef up the BGS, leaving Powerplay in an odd place without a shift in its remit, not to mention its PvE roots being far too repetitive and limited by EDs underpinnings.
 
Powerplay was the only part of the game at the time to promise advanced consequences via collapse (which never made it in to begin with) along with potent PvP piracy (which got taken out as they broke the game). Whats transpired is that FD let it wither while they beef up the BGS, leaving Powerplay in an odd place without a shift in its remit, not to mention its PvE roots being far too repetitive and limited by EDs underpinnings.
Issues of powerplay:

1. Designed for PvP but is available to all modes.

2. Doesn't effect the game world in any meaningful way.

3. Bland gameplay.

The problem is that if you made it open only, but I caused major changes to the gameworld, the people in the other modes would have no way to counteract those changes if it effected them as we all share he same galaxy.

So you either make it an abstract layer that doesn't change anything like it is and make it open only, but somewhat unfulfilling as nothing really changes or roll it into the BGS and have it as a more fulfilling experience that can be played in all modes and is mainly a PvE experience with some PvP if you want to play in open. Remove the poor gameplay and use the BGS missions to push your chosen power with allied factions.

For me the former would make much deeper version of the BGS but would be pointless for pirating other players or PvPers.

There is one other option and that is FDev make a new game called Elite:tactics that has a specific amount of systems, let's say a few hundred which the Alliance, Empire and Federation are all fighting over. There won't be modes and it will be an online only PvP fest with territory to fight over.
 
If anything, space legs may complicate my VR experience.

It could, but it could also enhance it a lot!
Have you tried Lone Echo, or the free version Echo Arena? Damn I have shiver when I think we could get the same in ED inside our ships!
Echo Arena has been my very first experience in VR. The very first VR application I tried and I was terrified and excited at the same time. I will remember that moment for the rest of my life!
 
My priorities have shifted greatly since becoming a VR convert. If anything, space legs may complicate my VR experience. On the other hand, there is something amazing about being able to walk around interiors of places (where VR really shines), and if I could build my own place to feel amazing in VR, I wouldn't complain.

But right now my top priorities are atmospheric planets, skimming gas giants (let me decent into the clouds a little ways), mine a comet, etc. I also want all the NPCs to get legs, even if I don't have legs. I'm tired of empty stations, empty bridges and chairs, empty cars driving in circles for all eternity, etc. Even when just sitting in the cockpit, everything feels EMPTY. Stations are like those fake towns we used to blow up for bomb testing, and this is long overdue for an overhaul.

doomtown.jpg.662x0_q70_crop-scale.jpg


Even these fake towns had mannequins, LOL. Speaking of mannequins, some interesting, story-driven missions and much-improved NPC dialog and persistence would also be very much welcome.
Space legs could also be great for VR. We will just have to wait and see.
 
[insert Thread Title], I will take New Era for what it is ( anyways...), and since I have no clue what it is going to be and honestly do not think I am going to be disappointed , I will very likely just buy it to give Frontier a bit of money . Because you know, I love the Game, and want it to keep going .
 
Issues of powerplay:

1. Designed for PvP but is available to all modes.[/QUOTE]

What we have now is best suited to Open only (but see later). It has all the features needed.

2. Doesn't effect the game world in any meaningful way.

It does to a point- however due to how the BGS works PP will always sit on top of it. Plus, if it is destined to be Open only (or parts of it) then it would be best. In any case, the point of Powerplay is to A remain in the game and B collapse your enemies. Its was not about anything else.

3. Bland gameplay.

Down to limited PvE- Powerplays problems come from NPCs not pushing back in solo or PG while players in open do- the way drop zones for stations are limited and NPCs lack of persistence mean that its impossible for NPCs to hunt haulers or disrupt plans in a coherent way.

The problem is that if you made it open only, but I caused major changes to the gameworld, the people in the other modes would have no way to counteract those changes if it effected them as we all share he same galaxy.

Sandros proposed changes would limit Powerplays footprint BGS wise. Plus, I thought above in 2 you said it 'Doesn't effect the game world in any meaningful way' ?

The answer (which Sandro alluded to and what I developed into various suggestions) is to divide Powerplay into tasks that suit each mode but work hand in hand, rather than trying to make what is essentially two basic PvE tasks stretch across 3 modes.

So you either make it an abstract layer that doesn't change anything like it is and make it open only, but somewhat unfulfilling as nothing really changes or roll it into the BGS and have it as a more fulfilling experience that can be played in all modes and is mainly a PvE experience with some PvP if you want to play in open. Remove the poor gameplay and use the BGS missions to push your chosen power with allied factions.

But why? I have suggested making PP more like the BGS, but in the end you can't have two BGS systems because they are then just duplicating the same systems. Each feature has to offer something unique otherwise its a waste of effort, at least IMO.

As I said it was supposed to be that powers could be removed from the game- that was its draw and something the BGS can't do. The other point I made earlier too was that Powerplays version of PvE is effectively an open ended massacre mission and wing based cargo missions with no NPC opposition. BGS missions work because they are self contained and small, whereas in Powerplay those same structures don't scale.

My preferred idea was to make what Powerplay is now (and with Sandros suggestions) Open only for the delivery and fighting part and make solo and PG have tasks that gather the items that need transporting, have missions etc and also have the BGS. What this does is expand Powerplay in a logical way that pleases everyone.

For me the former would make much deeper version of the BGS but would be pointless for pirating other players or PvPers.

Again, FD need to see each feature catering for certain playstyles.

There is one other option and that is FDev make a new game called Elite:tactics that has a specific amount of systems, let's say a few hundred which the Alliance, Empire and Federation are all fighting over. There won't be modes and it will be an online only PvP fest with territory to fight over.

But what you describe is essentially what the superpowers in the BGS are now.
 
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