Is Powerplay 'endgame' content?

[DrakeAurum]

I've largely stayed out of the Beta forum because I didn't want to have too much about the new update spoiled ahead of time - but now I have a decision to make, and would welcome the opinions of those who've been playing it.

It seems like the best way to experience many of the new game mechanics - the new mission structures, new ships, enhanced mining and smuggling professions - might be to start from scratch, with a cleared save.

However, what I've heard of the central Powerplay feature itself makes it sound like it takes a big commitment of time and resources to participate effectively.

Is it possible to be playing up through the ranks in low-end ships, and still participate meaningfully in Powerplay, or is it something that only those who've progresed through to the higher-end ships and have credits to spare can hope to get the most out of?

 

[avow555]

It's not endgame, barely amusing tbh.

 

[nighthawk71]

Elite will never have an Endgame, as long as it's a Wide Open Sandbox with things to do.

 

[Soon(TM)]

It's not end game by any means, its another mini game if anything.

Just like community goals or the mission system, you can completely ignore these mini games too and still play the game without any negative impact on yourself.

You can trade, pirate, mine or combat without touching power play at all.

Blaze your own mini game

 

[Araviel]

not end game and there is allot of tasks small ships can do better than large, for example fortifying.
i quite liked using my viper for that as it can easy out run any pesky agents who tries to stop me.
larger ships can be more useful when doing things like undermining deep into hostile territory where you need the jump range and fuel capacity (and possible teamwork too)

 

[Steve50]

Elite will never have an Endgame, as long as it's a Wide Open Sandbox with things to do.

^^this^^

 

[JeffRyan]

There is an element of Endgame content to it, in the sense that it would be something to do when you've 'done everything' that you want. So yeah, I get why 'Endgamers' would be attracted to it.

The beauty of course though that anyone can do it, but yeah, I think it'll be attractive to people who're 'done' and can see a big agenda they want to push over the very long term.

 

[ape808]

The most dramatic effects of PowerPlay apply to everyone, even if they don't join a power. It has a big impact on markets, minor faction growth, trading, bounty hunting and smuggling.

Each power has different economic policies that apply to all the stations in their territory.
Like 20% boosts to black market profits, 20% increased bounties, passive bonuses to trade prices, high punishments for crime, new legal and illegal goods. Even large discounts on outfitting and ships. They also apply effects to how minor factions grow and overtake systems.

As they move across the map, local economies will change drastically.



You can find a bit more detail linked here:

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=151089

 

[Zulu Romeo]

And where you the player come into this is that by joining a Power and serving with them, you can help dictate where the Power spreads and thus what new bonuses it can confer to the system. In a sense, it's not what your system can do for you, but potentially what you can do for your system.

 

[spatula]

the endgame will happen when Sag A* expands to swallow the entire universe and the stars blink out one by one as everything is consumed by the inky blackness at the end of time... powerplay looks fun though!

 

[geoffreybeene]

Elite will never have an Endgame, as long as it's a Wide Open Sandbox with things to do.

It's hardly a sandbox right now, though... more like a jungle gym. A sandbox lets the players use the tools at hand to create and destroy the universe as they see fit...the jungle gym lets you figure out new ways to interact with rigid structure--which is what we face right now with people saying to RP your pilot or make up your own story to fill in content gaps.

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

Elite will never have an Endgame, as long as it's a Wide Open Sandbox with things to do.

Shame it's not a sandbox game then but "open world"

(Hint: There are no editor tools to manipulate the world, you can't move stations / planets about : ergo it's not "sandbox" game)

- - - Updated - - -

It's hardly a sandbox right now, though... more like a jungle gym. A sandbox lets the players use the tools at hand to create and destroy the universe as they see fit...the jungle gym lets you figure out new ways to interact with rigid structure--which is what we face right now with people saying to RP your pilot or make up your own story to fill in content gaps.

You see this man understands - ED is not a sandbox game, though I do like the term "jungle gym" over "open world" .. it has more of a monkey feel to it and given the posters in this forum kind of fits better too

 

[Drakkir]

There is no endgame, it's just the same old boring game... Again... and again.... and.... Again.

 

[Nonya]

Endgame is when you've bought and outfitted all the ships you want and have 100+ million credits in the bank.
And then you join The Code and become a gentleman pirate.

 

[DrakeAurum]

not end game and there is allot of tasks small ships can do better than large, for example fortifying.
i quite liked using my viper for that as it can easy out run any pesky agents who tries to stop me.
larger ships can be more useful when doing things like undermining deep into hostile territory where you need the jump range and fuel capacity (and possible teamwork too)

Thanks to everyone who responded. I'm somewhat reassured, and will most likely begin Powerplay with a clean slate.