Will Powerplay get a rework in future?

[KG_Jedi]

I understand that developers hands are full with Odyssey stuff along with possible soon-ish Thargoid on-foot combat... but I keep a hope that Powerplay will also get some love in 2022.

Because, despite it's numerous issues, like hugely unbalanced faction module rewards (some OP, some worthless), despite mind-numbing grind of reinforcing/expanding systems, Powerplay did one thing really well - it promoted PvP encounters. There were tons of these engagements, almost all over the place. But very quickly it died off, due to it's own design flaws. Aside from giving a legal reason to PvP (and common locations for that too), it didn't do much else - same "kill NPC for merits" or "deliver stuff from A to B for merits". Worst of all, is that, aside from Powerplay modules, rewards were utter crap. Nowadays nobody gives a anymore about someone's allegiance, because everyone only ever joins Powers to grind out special modules/weapons and gtfo. Even FDev seemingly have forgotten about it, and haven't updated rewards or anything about it for years. 5,000,000 Cr as a weekly bonus if you have 1,500 merits - by today's standards it's terrible at best.

Anyway, here's my little glimmer of hope for Powerplay. I hope it will once make comeback, less grindy, less dumb, more fun and dynamic.

 

[Bottom Hat]

Paging @Rubbernuke ...!

 

[Drelthar]

The rework should be, a complete one, from design phase.

It is poo. Total and utter poo.

The interaction are just the exact same ones you already do, but with "points" items.

Make unique gameplay for it - then attach that to the strategic guffins.

Otherwise, it will remain poo.

 

[Kamiyoda]

Rework it by removing it from the game and moving the modules to tech brokers

 

[Rebel Yell]

There have been many discussions / proposals regarding PowerPlay... including one regarding the game mode divide (open vs. solo/PG). Just to mention the main arguments:

• move modules to tech brokers (i.e. no "module shoppers")
• remove dependency of fortification triggers from the government types (as this feature requires a lot of BGS micromanagement)
• ^^the power becomes like a sort of faction for the system // with a range of new specific power play missions and rewards
• redesign the interface with reports regarding enemy presence and mini-CGs to improve players' confrontation

Never say never but...

 

[metatheurgist]

Paging @Rubbernuke ...!

I think you're supposed to say it 3 times...

 

[Ryox]

Sorry, a bit off topic, but I always wondered if Powerplay was good to find on-foot PvP? Are surface CZ also popular in this mode?

 

[Rubbernuke]

I've annoyed FD and the CMs for about six years on the topic, and suggested (along with others) multiple small and large scale changes.

It may get looked at next year, but then.....

The only way to get FD to change anything is to pester them about it.

 

[Factabulous]

The only way to get FD to change anything is to pester them about it.

Though you are making the case that this doesn't work at all

Looking forward to this summer and the 2 year Anniversary of Arf saying he was looking into PP ....

 

[Rubbernuke]

Though you are making the case that this doesn't work at all

Looking forward to this summer and the 2 year Anniversary of Arf saying he was looking into PP ....

Not exactly true-about three years ago Powerplay was almost due a total rework, but due to what I call 'The Great Reorganization' inside FD it was shelved. FD do have meetings about it and it is on their minds- the problem being it is complex and I think scares them a little because its not adding in a multi limpet controller but replacing / augmenting a whole layer of the game.

Saying that FD are running out of road for things to add to Odyssey, and at some point have to look at base game features.

Although six years is inexcusable, its not entirely surprising considering how chaotic FD have managed EDs development.

 

[Factabulous]

its not adding in a multi limpet controller

Ahem - and that work started with Steve Kirby, 3+ years ago ... they ain't fast

 

[Rubbernuke]

Ahem - and that work started with Steve Kirby, 3+ years ago ... they ain't fast

Well, the Powerplay rework was due before what became fleet carriers. When Sandro was rotated out the new guy focused sadly on other areas. Then FD went through the 'Chaos Era' and here we are.....ermm...in the Second Chaos Era...

 

[Welsh Wizard]

Sorry, a bit off topic, but I always wondered if Powerplay was good to find on-foot PvP? Are surface CZ also popular in this mode?

Due to the need to manage government types to get half triggers for forts, conflicts often are required, and on foot is a good way to earn bonds for your faction. Come to discord.gg/FUC , join us Feds and take your Eliteangerous experience to the next level. Most PvP tends to be ship v ship, but that is sooo much fun with a few buddies - Last night we had huge wingfights in Belgitan, which allowed Winters to recapture it after years of trying. At one stage we had about 8 pilots circling an FC like hawks waiting for the Imps to try to escape from their hidey hole we had driven them to.

 

[[VR] Bulbulunufus]

Worth noting for people reading that while driving back and taking merits from the Imp underminers/attackers you simultaneously were defending the Winters haulers - players of all levels, in cargo ships - delivering the merits to take the expansion. Powerplay offers a unique opportunity for players with contrasting playstyles to play equal and crucial roles within the same team, on the same field. Unengineered T6 with a wing of elite FDL pilots pushing everyone out of your way, just a normal day in PP.

Expansions like Belgitan that come around semi-regularly are a great advert for PP, with both sides clashing in open in this case thanks to the involvement of a number of open-only imperial squads.

Now imagine all that with PvE content revamped to be diverse and interesting (while differentiating from BGS activities), years old bugs and bad mechanics/design elements fixed. And (the dream), mode choice not being equal to an optional difficulty level; having an "easy mode" is a nonsense within a competitive feature.

For me, PP shouldn't be personal reward-driven, that's the source of a lot of the current problems and encourages dysfunctional engagement. Join a PP group and opportunities for riches will be queueing for you anyway - you can accept as much as you feel you've earned.

 

[zimms]

Though you are making the case that this doesn't work at all

Looking forward to this summer and the 2 year Anniversary of Arf saying he was looking into PP ....

"If you look into the abyss...."

 

[Rubbernuke]

"If you look into the abyss...."

You'll see me asking about Powerplay.

 

[zombieapocalypse]

Powerplay is such a wasted opportunity but, then again, you could say that about a number of ED features

 

[NoVR - What_The_X_F_Dev]

The rework should be, a complete one, from design phase.

I'd like to see it intertwined with, rather than disconnectedly parallel to the BGS, where a Powerplay Figure's alegience affected the BGS and BGS Allegiance influenced the ease/diffuculty of taking and retaining the system. For talkng sake Hudson "taking" a system ran by imperial patronages should be like space vietnam for him, but the down trodden 4% influence fed democracy should get a bgs influence bonus, so every mission ran for them would carry say 20% more influence for them than it ordinarily would, and any imperial faction in a hudson system would suffer a 20% downshift in influence rewards bcause the system is rigged against them.

The only way to get FD to change anything is to pester them about it.

When VR players did that in the light of an existential threat we were branded entitled boxhead whiners. Although those six months of blue orange migraine inducing avatars did shift Frontier from NO VR to 60%VR. Although TBH when I seen what was in Alpha, and how little time was between the end of Alpha and Launch, I realised not even a deity, including the exalted randominous could save this expansion - it was doomed. And while "the team" are up to their collective knecks in the effort to try and squeeze this turd onto last gen consoles, both your powerplay and my VR are pretty much boned.

Looking forward to this summer and the 2 year Anniversary of Arf saying he was looking into PP ....

And then what? What are you going to do about it? "@" ping him, and his colleagues? Most campaigners on here, VR / Ship Interiors / ETC will tell you this CM team does what they, or their corporate overlords want, not what we want.

 

[metatheurgist]

This is the most perplexing thing about PP. The natural evolution of it should be that it's a narrative layer on top of the normal BGS. The one that gives you a reason to poke all those systems and fight for things in the game universe. That's why we made all those PP personalities, right? So they could stand for something? Instead we got this weird disconnected...thing...and those "personalities" are just empty figure heads that represent nothing in the game universe (except maybe a PP module). At least Archon gets some cartoon villainy once in a while I guess.

 

[DemiserofD]

I just want it to matter. If I see someone flying archon delaine colors, I want to know they are probably a pirate, and I should run away. I want them to know that flying those colors is an active disadvantage to them, and yet still want to do it anyway.

If I see someone flying Felicia Winters colors, I want to know they are probably a fuel rat, or from operation Ida.

I want players doing things that thematically fit their power to actively help their power.

Biggest problem with power-play right now is it's basically just an elaborate PVP simulator. That's not enough to get enough players invested to keep it alive. It needs to be more than that. It needs to be the backbone of the game.