I actually enjoy the BGS while creating Allies

[STARFIRE REVMEUP]

I try to play Elite to the fullest.

So yes, the Back Ground Simulation (BGS) is part of it for me. I study the star maps, economy, state, allegiances and try to pick out area's that are good places to plant myself.
Start tweaking the systems, try to find the factions that have numerous locations so when you ally with them you gain that benefit of multi systems.
For those that have not actually done this, there are many hours of game play here alone.

Encouraging expansion, driving out others. Yes its time consuming.

The odd thing is, when you study the map enough, all kinds of new idea's of what one can do start to reveal itself.
When i hit a wall of what i should do in the game, falling back to studying the local map slows me down enough to reopen the idea door.

 

[noldunar]

Exactly. I try to set up different home bases as well. In one place I try to get allied with the local criminal factions, to become their smuggler of choice, just like Han Solo on Nar Shaddar. In another place I work as a mercenary during a war or civil war.

I have been playing since premium beta and still enjoy myself.

 

[Schlack]

Welcome to the real game!

 

[tafkabb]

Some of my best times were doing this. Creating chaos and fortune wherever I laid my helmet [up]

 

[tafkabb]

I am not interested in powerplay (I just read some guides and it doesn't appeal to me), but this small scale powerplay sounds like fun.
How do I start? [big grin]

Look on the galaxy map for somewhere you'll be interested in. Look at economy types - agricultural, high tech, tourism, whatever - and whether it's Fed, Empire, Alliance or independent, and go there. I use a Diamondback Scout to, er, scout.
Read the Galnet entries, the local news, check out the local traffic, etc.
More and most importantly: Is the system pretty?
You'll eventually find somewhere you'll want to call home. Drop in some exploration data or bounties to gain rep with the local leading faction.
Start doing missions. Gain rep. Do more missions. Make millions, create a boom and, hopefully, civil war. Make more millions.
Expand your local faction into other systems, create your own little Empire.

Make millions [up]

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

I already have a home system, but it never occurred to me I could try to create havoc
I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

When you do, pay attention to the news bulletins in the stations. The faction summary gives an idea of what is going on, the traffic report shows how many player ships have passed through the system, the crime and bountyhunting reports show the balance of crime and indicate if the controlling faction may go into lockdown or civil unrest.
If your system is low population and player traffic is low (one ship can show up multiple times if going back and forth), it will be easy to manipulate. If the population is high and there are lots of other players around, you will have to spend a huge amount of effort to even make small changes in the system.

 

[Daniel Cloudsifter]

I sort of do the same thing.

I'm not so concerned about the BGS as far as determining which faction(s) are in charge of the system. However, I do move from system to system getting all Empire (or Fed, or Alliance) reps to allied. I try to do this with a cluster of systems, so that (once I'm done) I can take missions to other systems, deliver there, and pick up more with all of them having a maxed pay out. Plus I like helping the super powers (particularly the Empire). I call the process "My {insert superpower here} goodwill tour".

I'll also try to prop up nonaligned factions, provided they aren't Anarchy, Criminal, or something similar.

 

[STARFIRE REVMEUP]

I already have a home system, but it never occurred to me I could try to create havoc
I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

BTW, if a faction in the system does not include the current systems name, they expanded into it, and can be driven out. As far as i know, the others can only be suppressed.
Love it when i beat the snot out of a faction and finally see them leave. And same thing goes with supporting ones own in expanding into another system.

- - - Updated - - -

I already have a home system, but it never occurred to me I could try to create havoc
I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

I also wanted to add, that when i shop for a area, I try hard to make sure, most of what i need, is no more then 2 jumps, food, medicine, high tech etc. And I try to make sure there is a metallic ring very close. Feeding Painite or other things into a appropriate stations seems to supercharge it.

 

[STARFIRE REVMEUP]

Look on the galaxy map for somewhere you'll be interested in. Look at economy types - agricultural, high tech, tourism, whatever - and whether it's Fed, Empire, Alliance or independent, and go there. I use a Diamondback Scout to, er, scout.
Read the Galnet entries, the local news, check out the local traffic, etc.
More and most importantly: Is the system pretty?
You'll eventually find somewhere you'll want to call home. Drop in some exploration data or bounties to gain rep with the local leading faction.
Start doing missions. Gain rep. Do more missions. Make millions, create a boom and, hopefully, civil war. Make more millions.
Expand your local faction into other systems, create your own little Empire.

Make millions [up]

Yes, I agree, a couple of pretty systems is the icing on the cake, not to mention, I look for station placement, and proximity of other systems for the use of maximizing missions. Recently found a prison colony system, next to a system that has 10 ringed planets ALL Different colors and sizes, one with metalic and atleast 6 haz. Can you say combat missions LOL

 

[MottiKhan]

+1 rep to the OP. Yes, the BGS can be a lot of fun.

If you're fighting to raise Imperial factions, remember to keep an eye on your faction and the other faction's states, (Boom, Election, War, etc.), as they can affect how much effort is needed for a particular result, There's a list around here somewhere (I think in the first post of this thread) and although outdated, it's mostly correct.

If you're fighting for the Feds, please disregard the above and remember to fly without shields.