Don't throw the whole thing out! Tying BGS to powerplay without a complete redesign
I've been part of the leadership team for Patreus for over a year, and have been active in powerplay since cycle 14. I have seen a lot of proposals that are meant to offer suggestions on improving powerplay, but would often require a fundamental rework of powerplay itself, if not wholesale replacement.
My suggestion is written with powerplay as it is now in mind. I may be in the minority, but I don't believe that powerplay is deeply mechanically flawed in its present state. I believe the main issues keeping CMDRs away from powerplay are related to the ways in which we interact with it mechanically.
Here are the complaints and concerns this proposal is meant to address:
1. Powerplay is inaccessible for new pilots.
2. Powerplay is too abstract.
3. Powerplay is a grind.
4. Powerplay is a credit sink.
5. Powerplay is not tied to the BGS.
My proposal starts at the bottom, tying powerplay into the BGS in a way that allows CMDRs to have an impact regardless of the depth of their pockets or the size of the ship, while building this bridge in a way that will guide players into having a positive impact.
Powerplay and the BGS Now
Powerplay is tied to the BGS, but in a very abstract, limited way. Local factions impact control systems in the expansion stage, again modifying the expansion triggers. Local factions can also impact system authority, which in turn impacts the resistance CMDRs face while undermining.
More importantly, BGS actions impact powers by reducing or raising fortification triggers. Roughly, if the governments of a control system and its exploited sphere are 50% favorable, the base fortification trigger is reduced by 50%. If they are unfavorable, the base trigger is increased by 50%.
This is a strong impetus for organized communities, as fortification is a constant need for every power while probably being the least-beloved activity in the game. But local factions are not tied in a visible way to powerplay while you work on them. There is no acknowledgement of control or exploitation. A community might install hundreds of governments in the name of their power. You'd think those governments would show their gratitude by supporting the power.
So Let's Make Them.
Local governments that are favorable to their exploiting or controlling powers should declare their support. Hostile governments should covertly oppose, and they should do this by tying the missions they give to pledged CMDRs into the fortification and undermining levels of their local control system.
Apam Napat Empire Assembly Office, Tsim Binba, Control System of Senator Denton Patreus. I see that the system is being undermined, so I load my Cutter with garrison supplies and head out. When I dock, I go into the power contact menu to deliver my supplies and am greeted by an Apam Napat Empire Assembly representative.
"A welcome return, Commander Misaniovent. Thank you for your continued support of Senator Patreus. Our partnership with him has made our economic output the best it's ever been, but we've detected suspicious activity in a nearby system."
EGM 823 is exploited by Tsim Binba, but is controlled by an independent dictatorship. It's a safe bet that the Freedom Party of EGM 823 is not happy with Senator Patreus' exploitation of their system, and we believe they've reached out to Archon Delaine for support. Fly to Fozard Barracks and make contact with Umaspi Emperor's Grace. They'll tell you more."
Fozard Barracks isn't a landable base, so I'll need to bring my SRV. When I arrive, I'm told about a Kumo Crew listening post in system. I'm tasked with scanning the data point and then destroying the listening post's generator. I'm told it will be well-defended, so I contact a friend who joins my crew.
We head to the listening post and destroy the local patrols. I land my Cutter outside the exclusion zone and drop my crewmate off in a SRV, and keep station while I wait for him to complete the task.
He scans the data point and destroys the power. I pick him up and we return to Tsim Binba, mission complete.
What's the Effect?
First, we've helped protect the system. Completion of this mission nets us a small credit reward, reputation with the local faction, and since we are pledged to Senator Denton Patreus, a small boost in our naval rank.
It also:
1. Helps fortify the system. By completing this mission, I've boosted Tsim Binba's fortification progress by 350 merits, which go toward my rank as well. My crewmate, who is also pledged, boosted it by 125. If I'd had a third crew member, they each would have earned 63 merits for the system and themselves.
2. It supports a favorable local government.
3. It hurts a local unfavorable government.
4. It introduces me to a local favorable government that could overthrow the independent dictatorship in EGM 823.
Most importantly:
1. I've increased the system's fortification level without spending money.
2. I've done it in a suboptimal way. I could have run 700 tons in the same amount of time, but I accepted less efficiency in exchange for less cost.
3. I've participated in the BGS while directly supporting my power this week.
4. I've engaged in Horizons content while supporting my power.
Numbers, Ranks, Bonuses, and Balance
1. This is not meant to replace powerplay as it is now. It's additive. This means that fast-tracked fortification would remain the fastest way to fortify a system, while giving CMDRs another way to play defense. I could run missions like this all day, or, if my power is truly threatened, I can fast track and move forts the old-fashioned way.
2. Your power rank should impact the missions available to you and the impact they have. We don't want a CMDR to jump from Rank One to Rank Three in two missions, but you _do_ want to give CMDRs in Cobras a way to participate in powerplay without feeling like they are not having an impact unless they spend what little money they have.
3. Existing BGS influence bonuses could tie into how effective these missions are. Or they could be affected by a new bonus.
4. Powerplay is not balanced. This would be outstanding for Patreus. It would do absolutely nothing for Hudson, whose ethos is broken and has left him unable to benefit from BGS work.
I've been part of the leadership team for Patreus for over a year, and have been active in powerplay since cycle 14. I have seen a lot of proposals that are meant to offer suggestions on improving powerplay, but would often require a fundamental rework of powerplay itself, if not wholesale replacement.
My suggestion is written with powerplay as it is now in mind. I may be in the minority, but I don't believe that powerplay is deeply mechanically flawed in its present state. I believe the main issues keeping CMDRs away from powerplay are related to the ways in which we interact with it mechanically.
Here are the complaints and concerns this proposal is meant to address:
1. Powerplay is inaccessible for new pilots.
2. Powerplay is too abstract.
3. Powerplay is a grind.
4. Powerplay is a credit sink.
5. Powerplay is not tied to the BGS.
My proposal starts at the bottom, tying powerplay into the BGS in a way that allows CMDRs to have an impact regardless of the depth of their pockets or the size of the ship, while building this bridge in a way that will guide players into having a positive impact.
Powerplay and the BGS Now
Powerplay is tied to the BGS, but in a very abstract, limited way. Local factions impact control systems in the expansion stage, again modifying the expansion triggers. Local factions can also impact system authority, which in turn impacts the resistance CMDRs face while undermining.
More importantly, BGS actions impact powers by reducing or raising fortification triggers. Roughly, if the governments of a control system and its exploited sphere are 50% favorable, the base fortification trigger is reduced by 50%. If they are unfavorable, the base trigger is increased by 50%.
This is a strong impetus for organized communities, as fortification is a constant need for every power while probably being the least-beloved activity in the game. But local factions are not tied in a visible way to powerplay while you work on them. There is no acknowledgement of control or exploitation. A community might install hundreds of governments in the name of their power. You'd think those governments would show their gratitude by supporting the power.
So Let's Make Them.
Local governments that are favorable to their exploiting or controlling powers should declare their support. Hostile governments should covertly oppose, and they should do this by tying the missions they give to pledged CMDRs into the fortification and undermining levels of their local control system.
Apam Napat Empire Assembly Office, Tsim Binba, Control System of Senator Denton Patreus. I see that the system is being undermined, so I load my Cutter with garrison supplies and head out. When I dock, I go into the power contact menu to deliver my supplies and am greeted by an Apam Napat Empire Assembly representative.
"A welcome return, Commander Misaniovent. Thank you for your continued support of Senator Patreus. Our partnership with him has made our economic output the best it's ever been, but we've detected suspicious activity in a nearby system."
EGM 823 is exploited by Tsim Binba, but is controlled by an independent dictatorship. It's a safe bet that the Freedom Party of EGM 823 is not happy with Senator Patreus' exploitation of their system, and we believe they've reached out to Archon Delaine for support. Fly to Fozard Barracks and make contact with Umaspi Emperor's Grace. They'll tell you more."
Fozard Barracks isn't a landable base, so I'll need to bring my SRV. When I arrive, I'm told about a Kumo Crew listening post in system. I'm tasked with scanning the data point and then destroying the listening post's generator. I'm told it will be well-defended, so I contact a friend who joins my crew.
We head to the listening post and destroy the local patrols. I land my Cutter outside the exclusion zone and drop my crewmate off in a SRV, and keep station while I wait for him to complete the task.
He scans the data point and destroys the power. I pick him up and we return to Tsim Binba, mission complete.
What's the Effect?
First, we've helped protect the system. Completion of this mission nets us a small credit reward, reputation with the local faction, and since we are pledged to Senator Denton Patreus, a small boost in our naval rank.
It also:
1. Helps fortify the system. By completing this mission, I've boosted Tsim Binba's fortification progress by 350 merits, which go toward my rank as well. My crewmate, who is also pledged, boosted it by 125. If I'd had a third crew member, they each would have earned 63 merits for the system and themselves.
2. It supports a favorable local government.
3. It hurts a local unfavorable government.
4. It introduces me to a local favorable government that could overthrow the independent dictatorship in EGM 823.
Most importantly:
1. I've increased the system's fortification level without spending money.
2. I've done it in a suboptimal way. I could have run 700 tons in the same amount of time, but I accepted less efficiency in exchange for less cost.
3. I've participated in the BGS while directly supporting my power this week.
4. I've engaged in Horizons content while supporting my power.
Numbers, Ranks, Bonuses, and Balance
1. This is not meant to replace powerplay as it is now. It's additive. This means that fast-tracked fortification would remain the fastest way to fortify a system, while giving CMDRs another way to play defense. I could run missions like this all day, or, if my power is truly threatened, I can fast track and move forts the old-fashioned way.
2. Your power rank should impact the missions available to you and the impact they have. We don't want a CMDR to jump from Rank One to Rank Three in two missions, but you _do_ want to give CMDRs in Cobras a way to participate in powerplay without feeling like they are not having an impact unless they spend what little money they have.
3. Existing BGS influence bonuses could tie into how effective these missions are. Or they could be affected by a new bonus.
4. Powerplay is not balanced. This would be outstanding for Patreus. It would do absolutely nothing for Hudson, whose ethos is broken and has left him unable to benefit from BGS work.
… how about a special type of 'minor' Community Goal that is issued by each Power's HQ system from time to time (ie so Frontier can turn it off if there is an issue with balance) that will allow all the Powers followers to participate in a mission? Eg Smuggle 20,000 tons of Battle Weapons to station X in y system to support a coup. If successfully there is an X percent chance of the 'enemy' controlling faction collapsing & switching allegiance to the issuing Power. A mission to counter this such as 'Shoot down Weapons Smugglers' could be issued in the system X & advertised on Galnet. You could make the goal only accessible to CMDRs of the issuing Power's Rating 3, for instance, with the reward being cash, Merits, a medal, or some other benefit of supporting a Power (that may be added 
