Neutral players are my problem!

Muzz UK · Jun 20, 2015

So anyway I'm well into powerplay now and bar a few bugs it's pretty good! needs a tweak here and there but the added danger of PvP and actually taking over star systems is good. I've seen a lot of people moaning about PP but so far bar a few scuffles my problems have been people that haven't pledged and remained neutral.

You guys just love interdicting me for the bounty on my head through doing PP in enemy space and upsetting that local police.... it's quite a fun element to the game really.

Neutral guys I don't really think your losing anything by not going into PP... maybe FD should give none PP players a reward too for staying out of the conflict. Some sort of permit for increased trade money or passive peace keeper reward.

Bokugo · Jun 20, 2015

....mans gotta eat :T

CMDR Beltane · Jun 20, 2015

While i agree that PP is quite a lot of fun... giving non pledged players even more bonuses than they already get (waves with system bonuses)? Would be counterproductive imho, especially as there are already enough players asking themselves "why should i join, for the puny (compared to system bonuses) rank bonuses?"

DrakeAurum · Jun 20, 2015

You can't trust them.

[video=youtube;k8ws_APXilE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8ws_APXilE[/video]

Lord_Crazy · Jun 20, 2015

steve_muzz said:
Neutral guys I don't really think your losing anything by not going into PP... maybe FD should give none PP players a reward too for staying out of the conflict. Some sort of permit for increased trade money or passive peace keeper reward.

Neutral players already earn something: being able to travel in human space without being shooting at for just being in the wrong system. It makes sense and it's enough. Neutrality should not entail any specific reward: if you don't make a choice why should you receive something from someone?

Flavourless · Jun 20, 2015

The one saving grace of PP is that it is optional, even though you can't entirely avoid its negative effects.
Now people start to whine that other people elect not to opt-in? Good grief.

(Corollary: If the OP is humor then ignore, but if so it is really hard to spot)

Zulu Romeo · Jun 20, 2015

I'm not neutral... I'm just browsing.

Sgt.Barnes · Jun 20, 2015

Zion Ravescene said:
I'm not neutral... I'm just browsing.

This^^

But besides that as a serious trader there is no benefit. In fact its actually a burden to be pledged whilst trading as it affects your safe passage in some systems. The prime goal for a dedicated trader is to be "unnoticed" as much as possible. Sticking a red or blue badge on my status is just asking for trouble. remember the best arms dealers sell to both sides simultaneously. Its just good business to remain neutral.

Switzerland cough cough.

peteuplink · Jun 20, 2015

I still think that traders should have their own faction. Something like The Alliance of Free Traders. This faction won't fight for territory like the others do, but will protect traders and allow them free passage into other factions territory without fear of attack. Anyone who attacks and kills a trader protected by the Alliance of Free Traders is hunted down by the factions hired hit men.

Sgt.Barnes · Jun 20, 2015

peteuplink said:
I still think that traders should have their own faction. Something like The Alliance of Free Traders. This faction won't fight for territory like the others do, but will protect traders and allow them free passage into other factions territory without fear of attack. Anyone who attacks and kills a trader protected by the Alliance of Free Traders is hunted down by the factions hired hit men.

I think the ability to hire an escort for high volatility systems could have legs too.

Copy/pasta ref me

"How about an in station too station option to hire an NPC escort for credits ? Options could be - high risk systems or unfriendly system escorts cost more etc or you could pay more for an dangerous/elite NPC than a novice escort ?"

CMDR Cresol · Jun 20, 2015

steve_muzz said:
So anyway I'm well into powerplay now and bar a few bugs it's pretty good! needs a tweak here and there but the added danger of PvP and actually taking over star systems is good. I've seen a lot of people moaning about PP but so far bar a few scuffles my problems have been people that haven't pledged and remained neutral.

You guys just love interdicting me for the bounty on my head through doing PP in enemy space and upsetting that local police.... it's quite a fun element to the game really.

Neutral guys I don't really think your losing anything by not going into PP... maybe FD should give none PP players a reward too for staying out of the conflict. Some sort of permit for increased trade money or passive peace keeper reward.

Being neutral, is of course, optional but doesn't mean were not involved.

I am neutral and that is the way i like it.. and having the freedom to go anywhere i like without retribution.

Or so I thought....

I was interdicted yesterday by 2 CMDR's in Clippers expecting me to be with a rival power. I got the feeling they were kind of disappointed I wasn't, so threatened me with death unless I joined their power !

They were pretty clever about it too I'll give them that - rather than just blasting away at me and getting a bounty on their heads, they slowly and gradually bumped my shields down to the point where, if I had retaliated, they would have had an easier time trying to turn me to space dust :/

Not wanting a bounty on my head for such a petty reason either and giving them a real excuse to attack, in a 'conda you can just hit that SC button and away you go....

So, being neutral isn't quite as simple as you might think....

Fly safe CMDR's

Herik · Jun 20, 2015

CMDR Cresol said:
Being neutral, is of course, optional but doesn't mean were not involved.

I am neutral and that is the way i like it.. and having the freedom to go anywhere i like without retribution.

Or so I thought....

I was interdicted yesterday by 2 CMDR's in Clippers expecting me to be with a rival power. I got the feeling they were kind of disappointed I wasn't, so threatened me with death unless I joined their power !

They were pretty clever about it too I'll give them that - rather than just blasting away at me and getting a bounty on their heads, they slowly and gradually bumped my shields down to the point where, if I had retaliated, they would have had an easier time trying to turn me to space dust :/

Not wanting a bounty on my head for such a petty reason either and giving them a real excuse to attack, in a 'conda you can just hit that SC button and away you go....

So, being neutral isn't quite as simple as you might think....

Fly safe CMDR's

Yeah but being neutral and being Solo or in private group, makes it very simple and fun...

Stigbob · Jun 20, 2015

CMDR Cresol said:
threatened me with death unless I joined their power !

Someone tried to press-gang me, I shot my way out but now I regret it. I should have joined their power and started undercutting from within, now I cant remember who they were pledged to.

HeavyGroovez · Jun 20, 2015

There were entire wings of filthy unaligned do gooders at Te Uira sniffing around trying to pickup bounties from the hordes of underminers there.

They want the PvP at their discretion without the risk that alignment brings from what I can tell.

Rep for the Zapp Brannigan clip.

ste · Jun 20, 2015

If a neutral can fly through everyones territory and show up as non hostile thats bonus enough.

Zulu Romeo · Jun 20, 2015

Stigbob said:
Someone tried to press-gang me, I shot my way out but now I regret it. I should have joined their power and started undercutting from within, now I cant remember who they were pledged to.

Now there's an idea.

WR3ND · Jun 20, 2015

I'm not neutral. I work for myself and my interests. I can't be bothered with petty politics. I tend to prefer Alliance space more since they're less outwardly hostile and narrow-minded, but really, I'm only allied with the Pilots Federation, if you could call it that.

You lot can have fun running about in your petty power grab games. Don't mind me as I won't mind you beyond trying to avoid the messes you're making.

raeat · Jun 20, 2015

I'm not really inclined to be in a power ATM, although I do know who I would join if I were to join any, but the two words that really made my decision whether to get involved or not are "shadow ban." A dev talked about shadow banning players for cheating in power play stuff, but nothing specific was mentioned. I don't want to involve myself in something that threatens my game play and game status (as opposed to in-play reputation) like a shadow ban does. I don't know what is or is not considered cheating and it's best just not to risk it.

Sorry, I recently came from a game where the devs would screw up and then the players, playing precisely as you would expect them to - seeking the best benefit for their time and effort, would be declared exploiters and blamed for playing the damned game. One of the main reasons I no longer play that game.

So, until I know what is cheating and what is not, no power play for me. I didn't pay full price for the game just to have it hobbled inexplicably.

And right now, I'm enjoying being a free agent, building economies and causing civil unrest - even if unwittingly. When there are no upgrades available for my ship here anymore, I go thataway.

Zulu Romeo · Jun 20, 2015

raeat said:
I'm not really inclined to be in a power ATM, although I do know who I would join if I were to join any, but the two words that really made my decision whether to get involved or not are "shadow ban." A dev talked about shadow banning players for cheating in power play stuff, but nothing specific was mentioned. I don't want to involve myself in something that threatens my game play and game status (as opposed to in-play reputation) like a shadow ban does. I don't know what is or is not considered cheating and it's best just not to risk it.

Sorry, I recently came from a game where the devs would screw up and then the players, playing precisely as you would expect them to - seeking the best benefit for their time and effort, would be declared exploiters and blamed for playing the damned game. One of the main reasons I no longer play that game.

So, until I know what is cheating and what is not, no power play for me. I didn't pay full price for the game just to have it hobbled inexplicably.

And right now, I'm enjoying being a free agent, building economies and causing civil unrest - even if unwittingly. When there are no upgrades available for my ship here anymore, I go thataway.

That's an interesting viewpoint. I hadn't considered that cheating was going on in PowerPlay, for whatever reason, by whatever means, or to whatever end. It wouldn't have been a reason for me not to take part. However, if an exploit is found, from what I've seen here, the community seems good at alerting the devs so that a workaround can be implemented.

As for me, PowerPlay does tickle my fancy, but I have too many other things I want to do first. Besides, I want to watch and see how the early adopters fare first (and it may take some time

). Also, I have minor faction allies to build, people to help, money to make, and lots of other things to see and do.

Lucifer Hate · Jun 20, 2015

Neutral players should not get a bonus as they already get the passive bonuses of the Power controlled systems without the hostile tag in any of them.