Powerplay Newbie to Powerplay dumb questions

[Rimllar]

Firstly, let me apologise if these questions have been asked before and answered elsewhere but I could not easily find answers on the forum or in the wiki.

i have recently rejoined the game and am trying to get into Powerplay. I have read the guide but still have some uncertainty.

1. Having joined a power, I am often interdicted by enemy forces (who fortunately leave me alone in disgust). They are shown as ENEMY in my target, but what happens if I attack them. Will I get a bounty or fine placed on me? Does it depend on whether I am in system controlled by my Power?

2. I have read that you can gain MERITS by killing in Conflict Zones. Where do you take the bounties from these kills? To a base in the zone where the CV is (controlled by your Power) or to a zone that your Power has under control (assuming not the same)?

3. I understand that Merits decay - is it best to keep them up by running fortification supplies, killing enemies, or what is the best way to get merits (note I do not have the best ships.... Yet)

4. Fortification involves taking "supplies" from your Power home base to a system (have done this successfully), but what is UNDERMINING? I have yet to find a simple clear description of how you Undermine an enemy (system)?

thanks for the help....

 

[DR_KATTZ]

Hello there! Welcome back to ED!

1. Enemy NPCs will interdict you more often then not, never had one leave me alone though. The short of it is, attacking a PP npc in his territory will always get a bounty put on you, care of the control systems minor faction that is in charge(On behalf of their PP overlords). Yes, even if he attacks first, since you are considered fair game by any NPCs who go around and interdict rival PP ships. On the other hand defending yourself in your territory will usually hand you a small bounty voucher, however recently the vouchers can increase to levels akin to killing a wanted person as most often those PP NPCs have accrued bounties in the system from their activities. This goes for killing players as well, you can KOS(Kill on Sight) any enemy pledges in your powers control or exploited areas with no repercussions

EDIT: That is to say in game, however you may cause diplomatic problems for your power with the other powers CMDRs. For instance, Utopia has a free navigation policy and does not interdict enemy players unless they act suspicious, such as flying in a wing, or chasing Utopian messengers. We do have some pledges break this rule, but when they are caught they are summarily processed for ReEduCaTion-AntaL{RECTAL}™ and will be immersed in a week's worth of social therapy Sims™ at Polevnic. All complaints can be directed to the Bureau Of Moral Enforcement and Sim Therapy(MOBEST) on Tanner Settlement in Polevnic. If you however see a fellow named Zaan, it might be best to come back another time...

2. Some powers expand through force of arms and these zones have unique names. For Utopia it's called Violent Protests. You get 10 merits per enemy NPC ship killed, 30 for killing players in the zone. These merits can be shared among a wing, so a wing of 4 will get 40 effective merits for their power, which is why it's important to coordinate with other players in your power, all have very active redit forums, linked somewhere in this forum. Here's my power's forum, https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteAntal. You can then turn in these merits at any control system your power has, you check this by highlighting the PP map in galactic map and then clicking on control system. You'll see a bunch, just choose the nearest one and cash it in at your powers representative in any base in the system.

3. I believe merits decay by about 50-55%? I tend to do just enough to maintain my rank 4, however for most players it's worth the grind to get rank 5(all powers pay 50mil a week + other bonuses). Rank 5 is the only rank that you can sustain your rank just on the money paid out per week. As 50million = 5000 merits of fortification fast tracking, so maintaining 10000+ merits is gravy. The best way to get merits in my opinion is to join a power that has combat expansion zones(such as Utopia's VPs). Here you can grind merits, especially in wings, far easier than shipping missions. I've known a few new pledges get rank 5 in their first week of joining.

4. Undermining is different for each power, and also in relation to whom they are undermining. This info is found in the powerplay system information. If I need to refresh myself, I got to the powers ranking page, select the enemy power, then click on control on the upper tab. There, you'll see a list of systems. Click one, then after reading the stats you should see the way to undermine it for your power if you are pledged.

You're welcome to check these out as well:
https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteAntal...e_for_beginners_the_very_basics_of_powerplay/
https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteAntal/comments/3qjoad/guides_central_all_our_guides_in_one_place/

 

[Rimllar]

Dr Kattz - meant to post sooner, but just wanted to say thank you - veru useful and helpful information and links. Starting to get a handle on this new (well for me) aspect of the game.

Much appreciated....