Ahoy Crew!
Off we go! Every time a Distant Worlds launches, the most incredible videos are those of the "mass jumps" (watch CMDR Heliaxx "Distant Worlds 3 Mass Jump", CMDR TrishTech "Sidewinder Syndicate Briefing Mass Jump", CMDR Dan Kay "Elite Dangerous - DW3 Mass Jump" for some cool ones). Back in the days from the first editions of this expedition, there are now new ships so with the many Anacondas, ASP/DBXs, and, for those who love luxury travel, Orcas or Belugas, in DW3 we see (of course) Mandalays and Caspians. According to data shared by the organizers, around 8k CMDRs (last available data) have signed up for DW3, so there will (probably) be fewer ships around the Bubble for a few weeks.
It's no coincidence, in fact, that after Alrai's hauling CG (>18.3k subscribers and >313m tons delivered), a new one has not been announced
In last week's report (as well as previous ones), we took a look at the situation in the Enclave, where the (7) remaining Powers continue to battle for control of its 49 systems. The numbers put down used to be quite relevant, especially those that hit the simguru Pranav Antal, with millions of UM CPs (most likely the result of Empire/ZYADA hostile combined actions).
Curiously there haven't been any further updates on GalNet, as if there were other things to mind about, but what surprised us most is that at the end of Cycle 63, after at least a couple of weeks of intense attrition, the Enclave Powers "signed" a temporary NAP (non-aggression pact, as we understand it).
Last week we published the Cycle 63 report earlier than we knew for sure that this NAP existed (before the tick it was just "rumored"), however well before the "official" news came out, Felicia Winters' report had taken the NAP for granted. We're not looking to discuss the NAP's bullet points here, or its rationale... or how it was drafted (i.e. the "backstage"), but it's certainly surprising how the parties involved believe that "freezing" the Powers' confrontation will do anything good for all of them. Or even, in a broader sense, that this is what the player base and FDEV would have liked to see... who knows? Throughout the history of the game, agreements/pacts/conglomerates of this kind have had their ups and downs: some have succeeded while others have failed miserably. Glory or death! ...cool but for Archon Delaine's powerplayers, freedom is more important: so that's liberty or death!
One more [
Powerplay Numbers
As might be expected, the implementation of the NAP has shifted the focus from some activities to others: in particular, a few more acquisitions have been completed, while both reinforcements and undermining have been more scattered outside the Enclave. In fact, after a rather "anemic" Cycle 63, in Cycle 64 +50 systems were added (net of losses) and two Powers closed with double-digit expansions. Councillor Nakato Kaine (+14/1210) takes the lead for acquisitions, with a double win, also increases the gap with shadow-president Jerome Archer (+2/1193, who could also have finished in double digits if he hadn't suffered the loss of some systems). The Sirius' CEO Li Yong-Rui (+13/1529) follows in the second place, whilst senator Denton Patreus (-14/636) closed with the only one negative count:
- Kaine +14
- Yong-Rui +13
- A.L. Duval +6
- A. Duval +5
- Grom +5
- Antal +5
- Winters +5
- Delaine +3
- Mahon +3
- Archer +2
- Torval +1
- Patreus -14
The contribution of decay (about 25m CPs) is less and less relevant, having dropped to about half since its introduction... and still remains an element of annoyance for the Powers (again: it should be removed). However, as we have already highlighted many times, balancing issues should remain the priority in the PP2 adjustments, as these are clearly exacerbated by the extreme top-down granularity (every single system needs to be managed) and the poor scaling of contributions.
The Pirates
Yep, right up until the very end the Crew pirates continued to collect "donations" at the Alrai CG... and it couldn't end without another piracy video from the Kumo Crew boatswain CMDR HairyHogg "CG Piracy! Alrai Nights". We make no secret of the fact that these are the moments when the Crew has the most fun... but that said, Cycle 64 was definitely intense... or rather: "dense".
On the acquisitions side, it has to be noted that we had a contested one at Epsilon Microscopii, a small extraction/industrial system controlled by Erion Corp. (a Federal faction loyal to the barman Archer, not present in this area) and where the Crew found agents of the blue-haired princess Duval as opponents (
A Pegasi Sentinel correspondent reached the alcaldesa Isabel Mendez at Bridger Camp: "Frankly, we didn't expect Harma to be interested here in Epsilon Microscopii, and the local population, mostly miners, was already resigned to ending up under Imperial rule" she said. "If the price of our freedom is paying tribute to Delaine's pirates, well... we're ready to do that now. Better that than becoming slaves to the Empire!" she concluded. Not that the Archon doesn't appreciate slavery, on the contrary... but as long as Harma collects its due, there's little to worry about. May be.
During Cycle 64, enemy activity in Delaine's territories required targeted responses from the Crew's reinforcers. At HIP 117809, a colonial system (controlled by Harma Silver Cartel) just outside the frontline with the bald hippie Antal (Milcenu/Bentani stronghold), health inspectors sent by Harma blocked an attempt to open a local quiche shop. The signs "49 Fantastic Quiche Recipes" (including the Smoky Bush Meat Quiche and the Ultimate Onionhead Quiche) had already been put up and the owners were ready for the opening. Everything was promptly dismantled, the owners misteriously disappeared and the canisters of quiche were (
Other hostile actions, at this point less random than they would have us believe, have been countered in Mecht, HIP 110483 and Prism (and other systems in the Pegasi and Ceti sectors), while repairs remain to be made to HR 8737, Natera, Autamkindia and Yum Kaia. The Crew will have to stay alert, as the NAP in the Enclave remains in effect this week... and that means our enemies will have one less thing to worry about. One less there, perhaps... but during the Cycle 64 some of our enemies had their worries.
Let's make no secret of the evidence (it is what it is) that in recent weeks/months, strategic plans at Harma have focused on fixing what happened in the first PP2 cycles. Several of those (let's say) "pending" situations have largely been resolved with some titanium and composite aluminum wreckage scattered around, and then more or less "clarified" [
Something had to be done: and so the Crew did it.
With the liberation of Cuchua, and the fall of the bubble [on whose remains other Powers, like hungry vultures, are also ready to feast] controlled by the jelly-haired Patreus, this campaign comes to an end... perhaps it's just another page or chapter, of what was eleven years ago the war in the Pegasi sector. Anyway, it's over... kudos to the ones who will bear that legacy.
When asked about the recent events in Cuchua by the Pegasi Sentinel, salty old space dog Black Jack Winter laughed out loud "they thought picking over broken ships would make a difference, they should've learned to fight instead". Not that the opponents didn't put up resistance. The "Port Royal", the Kumo Crew squadron carrier, was also deployed in the system just in case things got too hot for the UM specialists. Other locals witnessed to the Pegasi Sentinel that in one of the planetary settlements, before plunging into total chaos, the space darkness was suddenly broken by an unidentified shadow figure wearing a golden-bright flashing sticker. And that was the last thing they saw before the station imperial flags fell on the ground.
Archon Delaine's scallywags, the Crew, along with the damned souls of the Ghosts, the Raiders of Tortuga and the Ryfters, mighty demonic creatures appearing in the tales at the Wise Sharks tavern in Harma, were all part of this big picture. Their epic deeds will undoubtedly be talked about again... and so the time has come to turn the page and focus our attention away and on the new campaigns that are starting (
So, what else but to put down below a handful of preliminary goals for Cycle 65? Just in case, for our updates follow the Tortuga Radio Frequencies broadcasts (take note that all “Oppose enemy takeovers” targets are now being opposed by enemy Powers).
Cycle 65: Preliminary Targets
All systems below the 25% CPs “decay threshold” are good/eligible targets to be reinforced (as these systems will not be hit by decay). Prioritize strongholds over fortified and leave exploited as last ones. All acquisitions above 100k CPs (or being contested during the Cycle) are good/eligible targets to be acquired.
Reinforce (new acquisitions): Epsilon Microscopii and Bered.
Reinforce (counter [
Acquire (new/backlog): Cuchua, Chedita, Bamuti and Phrasika.
Re-acquire (previously lost systems): Shaplini (56) and HIP 110623.
Oppose enemy takeovers: T Tie (60), Ngurd (56) and LTT 9276 (52).
Undermine: OpSec.
FOR THE ARCHON!!!
Source: Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/kumocrew/comments/1qka62z/cycle_64_pirates_dont_take_naps/
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