Powerplay ETA for pp data theft.

[CMDR Nathan Atterlein]

Any info when the Odyssey element will be turned back on for Powerplay?

With the exception of whatever that exploit was, that deleted not only dozens of systems (from SH to unclaimed to ALD Fort ) for non-data thieving PP flags, but Kumo systems as well, the general balance of the offensive game loop was still nothing significant compared to the nowadays 150~ system claims by a single PP flag in a single cycle. Which is still ongoing btw.

So I'm just curious when are we handful of Pirates going to get our buffed activity back, finally. People aren't feeling the current balance system too hot if we're selectively disabling strengths for some, but not others.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

They've not given any hints on that. Since escape pods are still disabled almost nine months on and rares took four months to bring back, I wouldn't expect anything quick, though.

 

[CMDR Nathan Atterlein]

They've not given any hints on that. Since escape pods are still disabled almost nine months on and rares took four months to bring back, I wouldn't expect anything quick, though.

That's pretty depressing, as personally I loved having Odyssey gameplay finally inserted into the broader happenings of the Galaxy. But you've a point, I totally forgot about escape pods by now.

 

[Shurimal]

I believe the devs confirmed a few updates back that escape pods are officially off the Powerplay menu and won't be coming back. I suspect the same would happen with the data, unless they find a way nerf them sufficiently so they can't be used for sniping without them becoming completely infeasible.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

I believe the devs confirmed a few updates back that escape pods are officially off the Powerplay menu and won't be coming back.

They never specifically said that, as far as I remember - they just switched the ethos bonuses for them to other activities, strongly implying that they don't expect to bring them back any time soon.
(Since "salvage" can't be used for Acquisition and escape pods still clutter up over half the cargo in the Power signal sources, this just makes that whole part of the game a lot worse. It used to be good enough to Undermine a weak system with, if the other side wasn't paying attention...)

Of course, even though they switched the ethos bonuses, they didn't take them off the weekly tasks. Whether that's because they expect to bring them back eventually some year or because that would be too much effort, I don't know.

I suspect the same would happen with the data, unless they find a way nerf them sufficiently so they can't be used for sniping without them becoming completely infeasible.

The easiest way to stop sniping with data would be to have it score when you download the data, not when you hand it in.

 

[CMDR Nathan Atterlein]

I believe the devs confirmed a few updates back that escape pods are officially off the Powerplay menu and won't be coming back. I suspect the same would happen with the data, unless they find a way nerf them sufficiently so they can't be used for sniping without them becoming completely infeasible.

They might as well remove rare trading by that analogy.

When we collapsed bubbles like Paesi via data, it was all because the local power didn't bother to have fortified systems along their single point of failure. Sniping is countered by competence.

Also, the solution to multi-cycle data gathering is easy: give it an expiration date. Not exactly rocket science imo. It becoming separated from clandestine operations is impossible, and it's arguably better that way, as it introduces variety in tactics. No point in trying to turn it into another commodity grind.

 

[Shurimal]

They never specifically said that, as far as I remember - they just switched the ethos bonuses for them to other activities, strongly implying that they don't expect to bring them back any time soon.

That's as good of an official confirmation as it gets from typical corporate comms for me

Since "salvage" can't be used for Acquisition

I distinctly seem to remember using black boxes for acquisation once, but I may misremember it since it was months ago...

The easiest way to stop sniping with data would be to have it score when you download the data, not when you hand it in.

Yeah, that could do the trick. It's not like you can lose that data in ship destruction (like for PP cargo, rares and salvage), anyway. Making them expire at the end of the cycle (like with PP cargo) could also work.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

I distinctly seem to remember using black boxes for acquisation once, but I may misremember it since it was months ago...

Same here. I think Black Boxes used to be "rescue" rather than "salvage" and got moved to "salvage" when they decided escape pods weren't coming back.

 

[Melanthes]

Currently it looks as if Fdev just cuts PP 2.0 down to a hauling game. Combat is nearly meaningless now, despite there being a host of gameplay loops they could use...

 

[DemiserofD]

If I had to guess, I would say that power play data will just give you the merits when you download it, rather than when it gets turned in. It seems pretty evident to me that they don't want sniping to take place.

 

[cblue22]

I believe the devs confirmed a few updates back that escape pods are officially off the Powerplay menu and won't be coming back. I suspect the same would happen with the data, unless they find a way nerf them sufficiently so they can't be used for sniping without them becoming completely infeasible.

They didn't turn off data due to sniping. They turned it off due to someone putting millions of control scores through an exploit/cheating using data. They are looking for a way to fix that so it doesn't happen again and future proofing other systems so it doesn't happen with other things.

Expect it to either be back on by Vanguards or a few months depending on how long making sure other systems can't be affected also.

 

[[VR] Bulbulunufus]

They didn't turn off data due to sniping. They turned it off due to someone putting millions of control scores through an exploit/cheating using data. They are looking for a way to fix that so it doesn't happen again and future proofing other systems so it doesn't happen with other things.

Expect it to either be back on by Vanguards or a few months depending on how long making sure other systems can't be affected also.

This , no idea why people think it's about FDev not liking this or thay gameplay.

But I don't share the faith they'll turn it back on. Creating the decay mechanism feels like it might be a compensation for data, and the devs not being confident of fixing whatever netcode or whatnot jiggery pokery enabled the exploiters. We'll see.

 

[cblue22]

This , no idea why people think it's about FDev not liking this or thay gameplay.

But I don't share the faith they'll turn it back on. Creating the decay mechanism feels like it might be a compensation for data, and the devs not being confident of fixing whatever netcode or whatnot jiggery pokery enabled the exploiters. We'll see.

If they hadn't had to turn off data. I still think they would have added decay. Based on how long it would have taken to implement the mechanic. I have doubts that it's a replacement.

 

[Grincake]

I would be very happy if Data came back. For me, it's a bit like the icing on the cake; it makes PP lively and interesting. I think it's a shame that some idiots have found a way to abuse this, because in my opinion, a very important aspect of PP has been lost as a result.

 

[CMDR Nathan Atterlein]

At this point, I'd be happy if there was anything within the UM repertoire that could match forting. Realistically the best way to harm a movement is to take out it's workers, so exploding actual enemy ships should be the highest yielding UM option imo. I did enjoy data collection as well, because it's Ody gameplay. Data leaks and hacks could cripple an initiative almost as well as the previous example, especially when it's exposing exploitative practices (which pp basically is).

Data sniping was a perfect tool to "pipcheck" powers that didn't do their homework fortifying, and propagated single points of failure. We had a couple cmdrs destroying a bubble of 14 systems through eliminating the single system (halfway to stronghold) supporting them, it was a blast. I've no idea how people managed to exploit data collection specifically, as carrier storage killed it's pp value, and there wasn't really any other room for shenanigans, perhaps repeating the same settlement run over and over again, but that's intended gameplay.

It was similar to mining as a fortification effort, in this regard, and without it, the balance of um and fort is severely off. Especially now that "command capital" doesn't exist, you don't need to upkeep systems anymore. That's why a snipe here and there was ultimately within acceptable boundaries for balance imo, especially how it's available for every power.

Ok eulogy rant over. F