Powerplay How would YOU revive Powerplay?

[6xes]

having thought about the original question posed by the OP

If i had the ability to change something, that i believed would Revive powerplay

I would make it OPEN PLAY ONLY!!

LETS MAKE POWERPLAY GREAT AGAIN!!
Where Credits can buy influence
Where Threats are backed up with Actions, no more shadow punching
Where Ship Destruction is possible at every turn
Where Module engineering and Fitting makes sense
Defending of Ideals can be echoed and re-inforced and fought for!!
Treachery is paid off with a Vengeance
Where safe spaces are no longer the NORM
Where Cmdr's of greatness can be forged!!
Where REAL NEWS of system takeovers are reported on Galnet
Where the galaxy is ruled by an IRON FIST!! and not the unseen forces of Darkness!!
LETS MAKE POWERPLAY GREAT AGAIN!!

this would push aside all political correctness advocates calling for safe spaces, have increased political Battles, Less bureaucratic rubbish, and let the Real War Mongers rear their ugly heads.. NO HOLDS BARRED!!

Rewards would be ONE of the following Ship's/Engineers Rolls/Module's/Engineer unlock's/Credits/Reputation increases/Influence peddling/lowered Rebuy all dependant on Participation levels

and thus encouraging participation

 

[Spinoza]

Oh man, PP needs to be killed nine times and reinvented only after the devs spend a minimum of three weeks meditating in some ashram.

 

[CMDR RAY-ZOR'SHARP]

1. Make interdiction merits 200

2. Make Merits from CZ's = usual CZ's ratios, 10 for a condor 80 for a Vett, round the other ship types down to match, 10 for a Condor or a Vett is just wrong.

3. Reduce the 10k rank to 5k for 25mil payout.

4. Increase media pay outs by x24 for a once a day amount and refresh on the daily tick. no hanging about or having to use the extortionate buying system.

5. If pledged add merits and media to all missions globally so that you can go about your normal biz and still earn something for PP, It's nigh on as separate as CQC IMO.

As you can see from the above I know nothing about PP, I have been pledged for a paltry 20 weeks and do the minimum required to keep rank 4, and follow the instructions given on reddit so as not to hinder other players.

As Sandro has declared PP a niche part of the game with commensurate resources given to it, (I wonder who's fault that is)!

The above is nothing but a bucket of grease for a rusty clunker, which I want to do more with, as well as my Player Group support.

 

[CMDR BlackHogg]

I was put off powerplay by the complexity of it personally. To me it should just be like CGs. Each week each faction should have 2 or so Powerplay CGs with a clear defined goal and decent reward. none of the merit nonsense and all the layers of confusion. That's just me, I know some people love the detail.

 

[Iskariot]

I made a few remarks and proposals about PP a long time ago. I have not been involved with PP for a long time, so some things might have changed already

Some PP related proposals:

Proposal A:
I do not mind some decay, but I think it would be more reasonable if decay would only start when you did not earn a certain reasonable minimum of merits in a cycle.
The current system is too corrosive as far as I am concerned and in the long run it is demotivating. It is for me at least.
I really love PP. It adds a necessary political layer to Elite's universe and gives it and identity and direction.
That is all great stuff, but the way decay works feels really unpleasant to me and in the long run it will make me stop participating because it is too demanding.

Proposal B:
I have been transporting corruption reports from controls system A to station B in a preparation system.
In the other direction there is nothing to transport in connection with pp.
Why not make it a two way street?
I'd like to transport collected information from the prep station to the control system.
In the control system they make organized reports out of it and then I bring these back to the preparation system.

Proposal C:
I'd like to feel first hand that there is more npc opposition to what I am doing.
I want to be intercepted and attacked a few times by opposing forces. Currently this is quite rare I think.
Or an NPC could offer me a bribe to give the reports to him.
Or an NPC could offer me an even bigger bribe to defect.
Stuff like that would be cool.

Proposal D:
A bit more integration of PP with the existing game systems would be cool.
This could be achieved by for example adding some PP missions to the bulletin board and make them pay out money and also merits.
These missions could be more rare and should only be visible to those that have pledged to a power.

Proposal E:
It would also be cool if PP could become a bit more personal.
This could be done by something simple as a popup screen after you docked at a station in which you are addressed personally with your commander name to do special/secret missions for your PP master.
Or a ship in space could deliver a personal message to you in which you are asked to do a mission for your Power.

Proposal F:
Why not make it possible to view control systems and expansion systems together in one view.
Currently you have to select one or the other, which for example is irritating if you need to travel from an expansion system to a controlled system.

Proposal G:
Give us some feedback when we kill a target in the service of our PP master.
The number of earned merits and total merits not yet turned in could be displayed where bounty money normally would be displayed in the top right popup.

Proposal H:
If we are interdicted by minions of a hostile power in our home systems give us a few merits for destroying them.
I think it is strange that we still do not get merits for them. There should be recognition for defending a home system.
Also these targets are always clean, which is weird, because they should have been attacking other ships too and have accumulated a bounty.
That is what happens to me if I operate in enemy systems, so that is what should happen to npc too.

Proposal I:
Why not insert 1 or 2 ranks between what is currently rank 4 and 5 and also add some more ranks to a total of for example 10 after 5.
People like to climb ranks (I do) and I also feel that it is better to have smaller increments.
It would make climbing the PP ranks more interesting and addictive for me.

Proposal J:
Currently when you're earning merits in military strikes or by undermining enemy systems by interdicting their ships in supercruise the reward in both merits and credits is the same regardless of the ships killed.
I would like to see this scaled by the ship type destroyed. Currently an anaconda and a sidewinder earn me the same number of merits, and credits when I turn in my bonds for powerplay.
It would be great if this could be changed for the various PP combat zones too.

Proposal K:
From seeing the PP trailer I was under the impression we would get badges for our ships with the symbol of the Power we pledged for.
But that did not materialize. I was somewhat disappointed about that to be honest. I think it would be a nice touch.
Of course the badge should be taken away if we leave a power or defect.
(We got badges, but I think we should only be able to apply them if we are pledged)

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Some more remarks:

I do not think PowerPlay is completely bad.
Like others have stated elsewhere PP is great at introducing a necessary expandable political layer to the ED universe that gives an identity to otherwise faceless star systems and perhaps even more importantly it gives a framework for direct and indirect player interaction. PP adds quite a bit of new dimensions to the game; it brings the Galaxy to life, it puts characters in context to the galaxy, it gives players who want that direction in what to do.
I believe this is important stuff and I would not want these PP elements to be removed from the game ever.
PP's political map also made the Human universe easier to digest and comprehend where at first the size of it felt overwhelming.

But there are reasons that made me stop participating in PP:

1- The merit decay system is very unpleasant, totally demotivating and disheartening.
2- The merit decay system is very unpleasant, totally demotivating and disheartening.
3- The merit decay system is very unpleasant, totally demotivating and disheartening.

Yes, the first three points are the same. That is because that is what ultimately broke my back and killed my resolve.

4- A more personal side needs to be added to PP. This could be done by something simple as a popup screen after you docked at a station in which you are addressed personally with your commander name and are asked to do special/secret missions for your PP master.
I want to do missions for my PP master and they do not have to have an effect on the general PP balance. It does not have to influence the owning of systems for example. This could be separate form the multiplayer part of PP.

5- There needs to be a better integration with the Mission Board (or there could be a separate PP mission board) so that we can also take on certain missions for our PP masters. For example a mission to kill a bunch of pirates, or transport battle weapons, or free slaves, or espionage missions etc. This should then earn us merits as well as credits.

6- The previous point would also guarantee more variation in what you can do in PP. Because that is very much needed. There needs to be a broad range of things you can do to support a power. And as I said not every action needs to directly influence the PP's expansion.

7- Merit earning needs to be better balanced. Killing hostile intruders in a home system should earn you much more merits. I think at least two thirds of killing hostiles in an enemy system.

8- Each PP faction needs a more individual style of operations with some unique mechanisms. For example a pirate faction overtly ruling entire systems seems a bit out of character.
(for example see here: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=168164)

 

[NavyBee]

Going with what some previous post already said, the thought of shutting down and rebuilding PowerPlay has its merits.

If the current setup should merely be improved, I would love to see:

• dedicated PowerPlay missions or
• maybe an extension of the current mission system, rewarding PP merits to pledged CMDRs
• an easy mechanism to shed own systems
• FD to rethink their stance against 5c. Undermining an enemy from within should be a game tactic. Maybe make it less rewarding. (Yes, I am an Imperial saying this.)
• encourage PP and CG participation in Open mode by offering more rewards than in Solo or PG. Balancing this ... well, good luck FD. But PP would benefit from it IMHO.
• significantly more dynamics. There are systems controlled by the same power since the beginning of PP.
• differentiation between the powers. Some should be territorial, some should not.
• more integration into the lore, either by FD or by the players together with FD.
• slight buffs to most PP equipment. I do not need Uber-weapons, but Prismatic Shields show that *good* special equipment is attractive.
• a slightly better effort/reward ratio for pledged CMDRs, in effect slowing merit decay. Allow them to make a living comparable to an average trader/bounty hunter.
• more BGS interaction in general, esp. with minor factions.

There is more, but this is what came to my mind right now. As you may guess I am still participating in PP.

 

[Mr T]

I was put off powerplay by the complexity of it personally. To me it should just be like CGs. Each week each faction should have 2 or so Powerplay CGs with a clear defined goal and decent reward. none of the merit nonsense and all the layers of confusion. That's just me, I know some people love the detail.

I like this idea. Just have "CG like" tasks that you do for your power. Make it simple.

I understand why it is so complex but apart from "Powerplay Enthusiasts" who cares what power has control over what? There's no reason to care as doesn't directly affect anyone. The minor factions have control over system status' so it doesn't even affect that.

When I first saw Powerplay I thought something exciting might happen from it... like an actual war between the powers. There are civil wars between minor factions but not really between powers. There have been intimations and text about the Federation vs Empire but you don't really see anything like that (not yet, anyway).

 

[SciTrekker]

<snip></snip>

<sarcasm>Iskariot, you should put more thought into this.</sarcasm>

I don't agree with all of your proposals, but I do agree with a good majority of them. The one I agree most with is #8. Although you don't need it, have some rep.

I pledged back in the XB1's GPP but de-pledged once I'd gotten their special toy and got tired of the grind preventing me from enjoying other activities the game offers. Alas, I want another of the special toys so have started the PP grind again, but will only be involved until I get said toy. I'll be a good minion, though, and perform my duties such that my actions will help the PP faction even if it means more high waking.

 

[Vermill]

1. Removing depreciation and make it more PVP oriented (then I will have purpose to play in open).
2. No I don't because I don't like grinding...

 

[Darkminded]

First i would do it that only open play would count !
Second Guilding System in game related to the BGS and PP, PP pledged groups with a real Group Admin system.
PP Missions that there is a 11Th Power there should be an exit Mechanic, it could take 10 weeks minimum or even more but if it was possible to make a power revert to a Minor Faction size it would be Great -> I need a Carrot !
Let more Players Groups rise, with bigger diversity in mechanics and weapons.
Let the Powers that exist become Player Powers, a Power by definition is a Super Faction so why not Behave like one, if it is present in a system i should give missions and, expansion should be done through a BGS like mechanic, Preparation should be a voting of were to expand next, then in the next cycle the influence of the power would have to be raised above 50% for that expansion to succeed, because all was being done in open the community would have a ball with epic missions and battles to get the influence up that influence could be measured in CC, each mission would give 1 ,2 or 3 CC depending on the difficulty .... it would be AMAZING!!!!

 

[Strangepork]

I don't think I would...

 

[Buliel]

Remove FSD Disruptors from the game.

 

[avow555]

I would drop Powerplay like radioactive waste.
Just a terrible addon not worthy of Elite.

 

[Iskariot]

I would drop Powerplay like radioactive waste.
Just a terrible addon not worthy of Elite.

I disagree completely.
I do believe Powerplay needs to be improved upon.

I do not think PowerPlay is completely bad.
Like others have stated elsewhere PP is great at introducing a necessary expandable political layer to the ED universe that gives an identity to otherwise faceless star systems and perhaps even more importantly it gives a framework for direct and indirect player interaction. PP adds quite a bit of new dimensions to the game; it brings the Galaxy to life, it puts characters in context to the galaxy, it gives players who want that direction in what to do.
I believe this is important stuff and I would not want these PP elements to be removed from the game ever.
PP's political map also made the Human universe easier to digest and comprehend where at first the size of it felt overwhelming.

I agree with what Michael Brooks said in another thread:

Michael Brookes replied to a thread Dev Update (23/07/2015) in News and Updates
Okay, I'll bite. Powerplay fulfills a number of functions within the game. Most obviously it provides a high level interaction for players getting involved in the high level politics of the galaxy. While there is a higher level abstraction of the superpowers which is controlled by us, it is influenced by the actions that occur within powerplay. The powers are the principal movers and shakers and so provide a framework for guided activity and story within the game. As with other parts of the game this will continue to be refined and expanded as we progress. Beyond that the powers add some useful geography to the game. At it most simplistic you have the bubbles on the map that help give it shape and makes it easier to navigate several hundred thousand stars. On a star system level is creates predictable effects that ownership by the power provides. The third major benefit is an additional layer of dynamism within the galaxy, laws changes, benefits and hindrances change with power ownership which increases the level of variety within the game. It's clear that some players don't like it - and that's fine, the game is about choice and there are different areas of the game that people enjoy or dislike. Some people don't like trading, others don't like combat, some can't appreciate the joy of discovering an earth-like planet in a new star system. That's all fine because it's a choice that you as a player make

 

[StiTch]

Not enough of a PP nerd to provide specifics, but I would like to see it routed to match its original intention/strongest area of potential...facilitating and giving meaning to player interactions, whether that be hostile or otherwise.

It felt like PP was giving us a reason to unite under banners and fight a war/deliver leaflets to yer neighbours to further your campaign, with the ability to help or hinder others. But without other players getting involved, PP is just the dullest kind of PvE grind. From where I stand, this happened perhaps because PP is utterly overcomplicated to more casual players or even those like myself that just don't want to get tangled in more politics than gameplay, and so participation is at an all time low.

So my fix? Leave PP with the depth it has, but make the activities and their rewards far more clear and engaging. Why do I want to sit in a station picking up a few leaflets every now and then to deliver them somewhere? Why do rewards have to be so bizarre?

Why was it so strongly directed at repetition, when there could have been mini PP faction CG equivalents and the like? Dynamic events that would draw people to interact and work together to best another power? I could have sworn we had enough mindless and meaningless repetition. PP had to be anything but mindless repetition to work.

 

[EdzUp]

To revive it simply ditch merit decay and the hostile everywhere but in our space. Other factions attacking yeah but anyone and everything, security should be run by something like Galcop.

 

[CMDR Do]

I have read many suggestions from other posts that suggest Powerplay should revolve around the standardized missions. I believe that could be the most viable, practical change.

We are all familiar with the Comunity Goals tab within the Mission Board? Why not have an additional one that shows only when pledged to a faction? Offering missions that players can "Sign Up" for the same as they do with the CGs. These missions would have the same goals as popular CG tropes. "Deliver goods to this system." "Turn in bounties in this system." Each helping to prepare/expand/reinforce a system based on the powers methods and intentions.

This concept isn't so terrible a leap from what exists. CGs that directly connect to factions are already a thing. Bounting hunting for the Alliance and the Federals were both recently successful. Though salvaging for the Alliance and Imperials seemed to fall short. People still understood the expectations and knew how to participate.

I don't suspect any player would have trouble navigating such a menu. Due to their frequent successes, it is clear that large numbers of players understand the CG mechanics. Don't reinvent the wheel when there is already a system in place that brings thousands of players together, for a single cause, often for the benefit of the Powers that be. Just start paying in Merits at the weeks end...just intime for determining Rank in powerplay calculations.

Certainly seems easier than creating an all new classification of mission to be handed out by every Power aligned minor faction. Though that idea also has...oh holy crap this is happening...merit.

I for one have played the crap out of Powerplay. Aligned to every faction at one point or another. I know myself and many others will continue to utilize it for our own purposes, regardless. Though it would always be nice to see new people eager to try their hand at shaping the identity of the bubble.

 

[lefty1117]

Power-specific bulletin board missions that contribute to fortification, undermining, etc., but ALSO HAVE PAYOUTS. Powerplay shouldn't be a rich player's game!

Reduction or removal of merit decay.

Power-wide chat channel.

If you aren't a member of the power, you can't use the power-specific equipment.

 

[Gavin Burke]

What do you think would "revive"/improve powerplay?

And are you currently in a PP faction and doing PP work?

Press the DELETE button

 

[Arkadi]

Press the DELETE button

Such messages always make me sad