I think they busy on performance of game
C'mon FDev pay attention to your own game.
- Thread starter Cmdr Tel
- Start date
It's a mixed bag. I was part of an attempt to support those factions, but we stopped after a few months with nothing from Frontier, under the reasoning of "if the Federation playerbase want their civil rights they can bloody well put in the work themselves".
At our peak, the secessionist factions had gained quite a few systems among themselves, for a decent net positive in all three waves-. One of our particular goals was to help the third-wave factions, who started with no systems controlled, figuring that'd be the most notable. We didn't want to mess with some of the factions, however, as they were either detrimental to PMFs or various Powerplay spheres (including Winters, hilariously, which nixed Azaladshu).
Since we stopped, many systems have been lost. I haven't been monitoring for coordinated activity, but a cursory check doesn't look like it. Usually it's random PMFs moving in.
Anyway, actual point: the first wave of factions to leave are at -3 systems (-38%), the second wave at -7 (-21%), and the third wave is +5 systems (starting from none, so plus infinity). The third wave is still doing great, with every faction that could gain a system without trampling a PMF having done so. But we probably should have publicised it more when all three were doing well.
There are I think two problems with those reports, in terms of attracting attention:
1) They're on the Powerplay reddits, where very few people not already paying attention will go.
2) They're administrative posts aimed at existing supporters who already know the context. For what they do they're perfect. For bringing the action out of the spreadsheets and into a compelling story, to build up the wider player interest needed to attract Frontier's attention / give Galnet some hooks to write with ... they're not doing the job. They don't look all that different from the equivalent posts 20 cycles ago when things were more stable, to the casual glance.
Why does it matter - to someone not interested in the Powerplay score for its own sake - that Hudson has lost control of 40 systems? What in-game effects will people notice as a result? What's the overall narrative here - in a way that can be explained to someone who doesn't know their CC from their 5C? Have any lore-significant systems changed hands as a result? Are there any interesting characters (make up a Congress rep or a Patron or a Colonel, no-one will mind) who have things to say on this? What is Hudson doing to fight back and how can people help? Are Sirius just continuing to supply arms to both sides as usual? Is Delaine trying to take advantage of the chaos?
Still waiting for a story or a reason for it.
It's just coming across as something that could be done, with little regard for anything else.
It's just coming across as something that could be done, with little regard for anything else.
If they would tie mission boards into PP then you'd have more general knowledge and interest in it. I think the whole thing is a shame because PP should be the end-game activity. Moving front lines, systems changing hands - what could be better? Tie mission boards, ship & foot, into powerplay activities. Create foot combat zones for powerplay. I also think they should take steps to focus the front lines, the actual combat areas, to fewer systems in sort of neutral zones between the control zones, to funnel players together into conflict. So much can be done. I really wish Powerplay was the "core system revamp" they were discussing on the roadmap, but I suspect it's engineering. A shame. Big missed opportunity IMO with powerplay