I've just got back from reading something about power play. It was interesting.
Here it is, go read it and come back. Don't just pretend, because I'm going to be asking questions later.
But reading that, then
reading this, then
reading this, then
reading this made me realize what has been missing from the game, and what I was hoping powerplay would bring to it. One word:
Culture.
Such a wasted opportunity to bring that to the cold and barren universe. 10 societies, all different, all supposedly with a different ethos and organizational structure, but I can't feel it because;
a) it's set up poorly (merits fast-tracking, merit decay, no real "family" unity or feeling that you're part of something)
b) there is barely any story, rule, or invented "tradition" to each power.