Blackcompany
Banned
First: Separating the BGS and PowerPlay into two separate systems is an unmitigated disaster. Consider:
Rui is the CEO of Sirius. Unlimited funding. His Corporation is the controlling faction of Procyon and Avik. So naturally, he controls those systems, right?
Wrong. Both are Federation.
But sure he is exploiting them? Again, no. Because...video games.
Likewise, surely Sirius is in charge of every system Rui controls. Right? I mean, unlimited funding. Their CEO controls the system.
Again, no. And this one makes even LESS sense. Rui could literally just...buy everything. That's what he DOES. But no. His systems can belong to him and his corporation doesnt even have a presence. At all. And vice versa.
Because PowerPlay and the BGS are - for some inexplicable reason - two completely separate systems.
Lets fix this.
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Privateer Status and the Abolition of Power Play as a Game Mode:
=========================================
Kill Power Play. No one likes it. No one enjoys it. They do it literally for the shields and weapons and outfittings. Hence, people change alliance as soon as they max one. Its...silly...is a polite way of saying it.
So kill it. Make the custom weapons buyable at any station controlled by one of the powers. Offer compensation to players who already have them if you need to.
Then, allow players to sign up for Privateer status. Privateer means you are working on behalf of the power you signed up with. You can now attack any ship belonging to opposing powers anywhere - and they can attack you. Just like in PowerPlay.
Now, however, everything you do, contributes to the power you signed on with, as opposed to any other faction in a system. When you turn in Exploration Data, Bounties, complete missions, etc...if you are signed up for Privateer status, everything you turn in, contributes to the power and BGS influence of your chosen Power.
Simple. Easy to understand. No more grinding out merits. Just...play the game, and contribute.
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Swapping Powers - Timed Lock Out
=======================
If you opt back out of Privateer status with your current power, you cannot sign up with another faction for 1 week or until you have achieved Friendly status with the faction or one of their allies through the BGS system. This ensures you dont just flip whenever its convenient for your traveling purposes.
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Privateers and Delaine
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Privateers for Delaine can bring any goods stolen from any ship of any opposing power to any Archon Delaine controlled station. No smuggling needed. Bring them in and gain +10% bonus to the sell price of any goods stolen from opposing powers. He's a Pirate Lord, for crying out loud. Act like one. Addition through subtraction from his opposition should be a primary focus for this guy.
Likewise, stolen goods should be able to move freely inside his system. No smuggling needed, so long as they were not stolen from another Archon ally.
=================
Special Privateer Missions
=================
Once you achieve, say, Friendly or Allied status with a power and/or their allies, if you are a Privateer, you will begin to receive special missions from them based on the Power:
-Aisling might want propaganda spread. Delivering Data to sytstems who oppose her would be a big thing with her. Some smuggling of that data might be required given its nature.
-Hudson might want to "Project Power." That means a Military Class ship, flying the flag in opposing systems. It means flying to certain points, entering normal space and putting yourself on display. Both not getting destroyed and taking down enemy ships offer bonus payouts for these missions.
-Rui might want certain systems explored and/or information from them: Drive round and collect Core Samples. Explore gas giants or stars and obtain DSS scans from them. Mine an Ice Ring in a system and bring back samples.
-Archon may wish for pirate raids. Attack a RES or other site on his behalf. Gain additional bonuses for goods stolen and security ships shot down while on the Raid. Stay as long as you can, take down a certain number of ships or even compromise a Nav beacon.
Whatever the Power and their leadership philosophy, Privateer missions should reflect their aims directly, not just be randomly drawn from the mission boards.
Anyway, this is the skeletal frame of my proposal to merge the BGS and PowerPlay into a single, coherent system. I think the game needs it for multiple reasons:
-Literally no one LIKES Power Play itself. The rewards, sure. Tolerates the game play. Ok. But genuinely likes the merit grind? Nope.
-FDEV obviously does not have time or desire to continue to support PP. Why would they? It released as an underwhelming waste and no one likes it. So why improve it? Catch 22 that's best simply removed from the game.
-It makes the game more coherent: If systems were merged Rui and his Corp could rule systems TOGETHER. Which would MAKE SENSE. His coming to power could automatically transfer control of a system to his corp, who would then maintain or lose that control through the BGS - and if they lose it, then whoever they lose it to, would boot Rui from System control as part of a single, coherent, cohesive system.
Please consider such a change, FDEV. The current, split system is a mess and it makes no sense.
Rui is the CEO of Sirius. Unlimited funding. His Corporation is the controlling faction of Procyon and Avik. So naturally, he controls those systems, right?
Wrong. Both are Federation.
But sure he is exploiting them? Again, no. Because...video games.
Likewise, surely Sirius is in charge of every system Rui controls. Right? I mean, unlimited funding. Their CEO controls the system.
Again, no. And this one makes even LESS sense. Rui could literally just...buy everything. That's what he DOES. But no. His systems can belong to him and his corporation doesnt even have a presence. At all. And vice versa.
Because PowerPlay and the BGS are - for some inexplicable reason - two completely separate systems.
Lets fix this.
=========================================
Privateer Status and the Abolition of Power Play as a Game Mode:
=========================================
Kill Power Play. No one likes it. No one enjoys it. They do it literally for the shields and weapons and outfittings. Hence, people change alliance as soon as they max one. Its...silly...is a polite way of saying it.
So kill it. Make the custom weapons buyable at any station controlled by one of the powers. Offer compensation to players who already have them if you need to.
Then, allow players to sign up for Privateer status. Privateer means you are working on behalf of the power you signed up with. You can now attack any ship belonging to opposing powers anywhere - and they can attack you. Just like in PowerPlay.
Now, however, everything you do, contributes to the power you signed on with, as opposed to any other faction in a system. When you turn in Exploration Data, Bounties, complete missions, etc...if you are signed up for Privateer status, everything you turn in, contributes to the power and BGS influence of your chosen Power.
Simple. Easy to understand. No more grinding out merits. Just...play the game, and contribute.
=======================
Swapping Powers - Timed Lock Out
=======================
If you opt back out of Privateer status with your current power, you cannot sign up with another faction for 1 week or until you have achieved Friendly status with the faction or one of their allies through the BGS system. This ensures you dont just flip whenever its convenient for your traveling purposes.
==============
Privateers and Delaine
==============
Privateers for Delaine can bring any goods stolen from any ship of any opposing power to any Archon Delaine controlled station. No smuggling needed. Bring them in and gain +10% bonus to the sell price of any goods stolen from opposing powers. He's a Pirate Lord, for crying out loud. Act like one. Addition through subtraction from his opposition should be a primary focus for this guy.
Likewise, stolen goods should be able to move freely inside his system. No smuggling needed, so long as they were not stolen from another Archon ally.
=================
Special Privateer Missions
=================
Once you achieve, say, Friendly or Allied status with a power and/or their allies, if you are a Privateer, you will begin to receive special missions from them based on the Power:
-Aisling might want propaganda spread. Delivering Data to sytstems who oppose her would be a big thing with her. Some smuggling of that data might be required given its nature.
-Hudson might want to "Project Power." That means a Military Class ship, flying the flag in opposing systems. It means flying to certain points, entering normal space and putting yourself on display. Both not getting destroyed and taking down enemy ships offer bonus payouts for these missions.
-Rui might want certain systems explored and/or information from them: Drive round and collect Core Samples. Explore gas giants or stars and obtain DSS scans from them. Mine an Ice Ring in a system and bring back samples.
-Archon may wish for pirate raids. Attack a RES or other site on his behalf. Gain additional bonuses for goods stolen and security ships shot down while on the Raid. Stay as long as you can, take down a certain number of ships or even compromise a Nav beacon.
Whatever the Power and their leadership philosophy, Privateer missions should reflect their aims directly, not just be randomly drawn from the mission boards.
Anyway, this is the skeletal frame of my proposal to merge the BGS and PowerPlay into a single, coherent system. I think the game needs it for multiple reasons:
-Literally no one LIKES Power Play itself. The rewards, sure. Tolerates the game play. Ok. But genuinely likes the merit grind? Nope.
-FDEV obviously does not have time or desire to continue to support PP. Why would they? It released as an underwhelming waste and no one likes it. So why improve it? Catch 22 that's best simply removed from the game.
-It makes the game more coherent: If systems were merged Rui and his Corp could rule systems TOGETHER. Which would MAKE SENSE. His coming to power could automatically transfer control of a system to his corp, who would then maintain or lose that control through the BGS - and if they lose it, then whoever they lose it to, would boot Rui from System control as part of a single, coherent, cohesive system.
Please consider such a change, FDEV. The current, split system is a mess and it makes no sense.