Does powerplay even matter?

[DemiserofD]

power collapse was never supposed to exist by itself. power promotion was also supposed to exist. Allowing factions that you push to expand to a certain number of systems into automatically becoming a power.

So there would be a mechanism for creating new powers and removing powers and this would keep going.

If it turned out one power grew to rule them all then so be it. However given the rules of expansion and the cost ...that would be highly unlikely if not impossible.

But whatever the layout turned out to be, it would be the players deciding it. If it ruined the makup of the who's in power in the galaxy, (big players in the empire or federation etc) then so be it. That's the way it would just have to be and the narrative would have to adapt.

If one group can dominate the entire game, it's a sign of poor game design. In an ideal world, movement of powers is strategic, not about taking or losing of numbers, but about tactically beneficial systems, for the purposes of winning short-term objectives, not for the sake of dominating enemy factions in outright combat.

The last thing you want is to wipe out underdogs. Underdogs are generally far more interesting than the dominant factions.

 

[Yure]

BWAH! LOL so true. Happened to pledge this week to get me some of those sweet lances (don't judge, I like them for the distance from rapids, and exploration builds) got greeted by the friendliest bunch. Very indicative of her faction, that she supports a non-popular out of game ideal, with players whom might mirror such haughtiness out of game. Keep on trucking crypt keeper's wife, I'm sure you'll make it next week.

 

[shevek]

Mahon’s trade vouchers are worth it, a nice bonus for trading and mining.

 

[Rebel Yell]

I love PP bounties.

 

[Rubbernuke]

Powerplay mattered to FDs managers for all of five weeks really.

 

[galahad2069]

People have been playing it for years, has it made any difference?

Absolutely. If you kill a pledged CMDR you won't get notoriety.

Also a couple of nice modules.

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

When PP was initially released, there was no repercussion for the murder-hobo's killing people pledged to the same side. At the time I queried the logic to FDEV, citing that it would be a great mechanic to "force" people to respect their pledged side and play together. Arguing that if you denounce in-faction killing, you endorce instead escort and other meaningful interactions, in effect bring together the PvP & PvE playstyles (yeah, I know, foolish of me). It was still shot down by FDEV <shrug>

Is it still the same today? Can you sign up for faction A and murder any and all that you see, or are there repercussions now since the new ( ) C&P was introduced? It's been that long since I played to know otherwise.

 

[Rebel Yell]

Is it still the same today? Can you sign up for faction A and murder any and all that you see, or are there repercussions now since the new ( ) C&P was introduced? It's been that long since I played to know otherwise.

Yeh... you can do that, ofc if there's ENEMY shown in the player's profile it's even better

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

Yeh... you can do that, ofc if there's ENEMY shown in the player's profile it's even better

Thankyou, but what you confirmed then is a bad thing (imho) .. why would Power A sanction/condone/permit the murdering of one of its followers? Typical FDEV logic

 

[stripealipe]

Being able to undermine in Solo = complete joke. Missed opportunity, but then nothing in this game that could've been organic in nature was ever able to work with Solo being a thing. BGS, nope. Lucrative trade routes and the ensuing piracy, nope. etc etc etc etc.

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

Being able to undermine in Solo = complete joke. Missed opportunity, but then nothing in this game that could've been organic in nature was ever able to work with Solo being a thing. BGS, nope. Lucrative trade routes and the ensuing piracy, nope. etc etc etc etc.

That's because the game isn't purely a MP game ... FDEV took a frankenstein approach, trying to cater to everyone, and in doing so, suffering from an identity problem.

Even if PP was a pure MP addon, it lacks integration in to the main game. The fact that system X has aligned with power Y means .... what, exactly?

 

[Peshees]

The fact that system X has aligned with power Y means .... what, exactly?

well, you got a small bonus depending on PP faction there. question is if that bonus is worth it and/or if its not just easier to do stuff in already controlled systems instead gaining new systems.

maybe if that bonus would be better/different (= making real difference) and scale with PP faction standing... players would care.

 

[Sonoskay]

PP matters to me. It's the system I engage in the most anyway.
It adds background and modivation to a lot of what I do as a CMDR in elite dangerous.
And there has been some effort put into the story and drama of the powers.

But ultimately it matters as much any anything else in ED.

If you don't care about it.
Then it's not important.
If you do.
Then it is.
It's that simple.

With most things in ED it adds some flavor. And also like most things in ED, it doesn't have much substance.

Powerplay, local factions and an overall narative could be the driving force of ED.

But instead, it's about a grind and the friends you make while grinding. That's okay, but it does suck it doesn't mean a little bit more.

 

[Danieros]

It's my main activity and what gets me to login every day and play as part of a community, so for me it's a yes.

Maintaining R5 is not a full-time job, by the way. You just need about 5400 per week. That's about 8 cutter/T9 trips, so about an hour and a half.

 

[SouthernGorilla]

Being able to undermine in Solo = complete joke. Missed opportunity, but then nothing in this game that could've been organic in nature was ever able to work with Solo being a thing. BGS, nope. Lucrative trade routes and the ensuing piracy, nope. etc etc etc etc.

How does solo mode effect any of that? And, outside of a handful of psychopaths, who cares if piracy works?

 

[St0rmFury]

Mahon’s trade vouchers are worth it, a nice bonus for trading and mining.

Problem is the stars have to literally align to get the most out of it.

Mahon space + civil liberty/boom/pirate attack combo + rating 3 + standing 1

 

[Rubbernuke]

Problem is the stars have to literally align to get the most out of it.

Mahon space + civil liberty/boom/pirate attack combo + rating 3 + standing 1

Its the same with LYR's bonus- its lop sided in that the people who use it most use it the 'wrong' way for doubling explo data and little else.

I was kind of hopeful FD would make good on the Powerplay rebalance that Bruce and Arthur talked about, but with current events thats a slim chance

 

[stripealipe]

That's because the game isn't purely a MP game ... FDEV took a frankenstein approach, trying to cater to everyone, and in doing so, suffering from an identity problem.

Even if PP was a pure MP addon, it lacks integration in to the main game. The fact that system X has aligned with power Y means .... what, exactly?

Well precisely.. trying to cater for everyone mean't the 'living' galaxy they created and any interaction from players within it was always going to have to be diluted and in the end pointless. If PP did tie into the the game as a whole and affected economies and movement throughout the bubble, maybe it would be relevant and fun to be a part of.

How does solo mode effect any of that? And, outside of a handful of psychopaths, who cares if piracy works?

? Solo means no power can win or be truly fought back. Beavering away en-masse increasing your powers standing in solo makes for a very diluted gaming experience.
And piracy?! Why not exactly? Never understood the hellbent negative reactions at the want to have a remotely living breathing galaxy to play in..
Piracy back in the day when rare good runs were one of the mainstay ways to make some good money early on in the game made for some amazingly cool emergent gameplay.

 

[Sonoskay]

Well precisely.. trying to cater for everyone mean't the 'living' galaxy they created and any interaction from players within it was always going to have to be diluted and in the end pointless. If PP did tie into the the game as a whole and affected economies and movement throughout the bubble, maybe it would be relevant and fun to be a part of.


? Solo means no power can win or be truly fought back. Beavering away en-masse increasing your powers standing in solo makes for a very diluted gaming experience.
And piracy?! Why not exactly? Never understood the hellbent negative reactions at the want to have a remotely living breathing galaxy to play in..
Piracy back in the day when rare good runs were one of the mainstay ways to make some good money early on in the game made for some amazingly cool emergent gameplay.

Maybe because if your not the pirate, it really ing sucks to have your stuff stolen?

So many people fled from open because it sucks to be a victim of piracy.

 

[stripealipe]

Maybe because if your not the pirate, it really ing sucks to have your stuff stolen?

So many people fled from open because it sucks to be a victim of piracy.

Well yeah, it sucks, sure.. But it can be nerve wracking and great fun at the same time as well as a learning experience. I mean, it's just a game, right? Anyways, piracy hit a minority at best and ended up a 'being in the right place at the wrong time' kind of thing. I doubt it drove many into solo. Plus, NPCs interdict and mess with your game stance too right, so, where next? Out of solo and off moaning to mum (FDEV) at the injustice of it all?!