Change The Discount Ship & Module Model

[Old Duck]

I suggest and request that Frontier change the current discount model, were pilots go to Li Yong-Rui systems for discounts on ships and models, to a more logical model where players receive discounts from systems 'owned' by the power the player is pledged to.

First, this makes way more sense than the current model. Why would Li Yong-Rui offer me a discount, especially if I'm 'hostile' in his eyes? That's like taking my Microsoft loyalty card to an Apple store and expecting a discount on a MacBook. It makes much more sense to get these discounts from the power we're pledged to.

Second, this makes PowerPlay more interesting for a couple of reasons. Not only will you need to pledge loyalty to a power to get said discount, but it also provides motivation to "flip" systems to you power's ownership, as that would cause said system to offer these discounts for that power's players. This will give us reason to actually care about flipping systems, and it will also make certain systems more strategic, since some systems offer much more variety in ships and modules than others.

I also recommend adding some other related perks to being pledged to a power and visiting 'loyal' systems. For example, a discount on purchased commodities and a bonus on sold commodities. Material brokers might also give better exchange rates to players in 'loyal' systems.

Please Frontier, consider this, as it could potentially make PowerPlay way, way, way more engaging than it currently is, especially if you tweak some of the other "numbers" associated with PowerPlay (like merit decay and points needed to flip a system).

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FWIW - my idea came about as part of this discussion.

 

[MadDogMurdock]

Personally, I think that the major ship-builders should have centres of production, and that ships should get a little more expensive and perhaps a little less common the further away you get.

Like you see loads of Renaults and Citroens in France, but then its all VW and BMW in Germany.

 

[John Streutker]

Personally, I think that the major ship-builders should have centres of production, and that ships should get a little more expensive and perhaps a little less common the further away you get.

Like you see loads of Renaults and Citroens in France, but then its all VW and BMW in Germany.

I like this idea. Maybe Imperial systems give 5% off their military ships. Gutamaya gives 5% off their ships at the factory. If you find an Imperial system with a factory, they give 10% off.
I do agree that Li shouldn't be the only one to give discounts, I'm pledged to him right now so I can get the missiles and it seems like I'm hostile in every system I go to. Plus it seems like nobody pledges him anymore so he might be the one of the first powers to get replaced (or wiped out by the Targoids if they stay on path).
I don't know about the trade bonus idea though, just because it's an Imperial system or even Imperial station, doesn't necessarily mean the trader (who is just a generic non-existent npc right now) is Imperial. That would be more of a sub-political deal. Maybe if each station had multiple traders at any given time you could choose the one that's offering the best deal on your wares.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Why would Li Yong-Rui offer me a discount, especially if I'm 'hostile' in his eyes?

Sirius Corp famously extended the original Empire-Federal war by a significant time at great profit to itself by supplying both sides (and setting up convenient supply shortages to prevent either side winning)

Giving a discount to everyone, making themselves useful enough that everyone has higher-priority enemies, not being showy but just sitting back and profiting from the war. Exactly what Sirius have always done.

 

[Bunkerkind Anni]

well, i will still buy my weapon at federal stations in hudson control space -
unless someone manages to put patreus into place 1. because 30% discount would make that large turret laser or cannon a bit more affordable