So I've yet to play CQC (PS4 player here, never get a match) but I do enjoy the fairly rare encounter in Open...I've lost most, mind you, but I'm an EvE Online veteran so salt is a healthy part of my balanced breakfast. I don't really engage in Powerplay a whole lot but as I understand it, it's meant to be a sort of Faction Warfare equivalent and essentially 'legal' PvP. This is what I'd like to see some expansion on or an entirely separate feature(s):
IDEA: 'King of the Hill' Stations and Planetary Bases
-These stations (of varying sizes) are 'capturable' via a point system, with either Powerplay Factions of the involved commanders seizing possession or their associated squadron if not a Powerplay Feature.
-Points are accumulated through combat with other commanders or the local NPCs when no power controls the station. When an arbitrary amount is reached, the station begins 'transfer of ownership' which takes a certain amount of time (say, 2 hours) before completing.
-Once 'captured' a station remains in that faction/squadron's control for 24 hours before it can be contested. So, literally, just one day (to keep cycling and therefore combat fairly constant). When the control expires, the owners can retain ownership via their presence by shutting down 'rebellious' NPCs or another faction/squadron can swoop in and challenge them both.
-Transfer of Ownership begins after arbitrary point total is reached, but will reset in favor of the highest points after - in other words, the various competing factions must continuously maintain 'the most points' for two hours or it will keep resetting. NPCs continuously spawn to challenge the commanders until capture is complete.
BENEFITS: 'King of the Hill'
- There are no bounties or fines incurred in these instances - they are free for all PvP zones
- Station / Base can only be docked at by owner, all others will be assailed by local NPC force (which is allied during ownership)
- Station could offer rare goods, or discounted ship prices, or unique high-value missions (150% payout compared to normal)
- A simple objective smaller squadrons and wing mates can tackle, could benefit Powerplay as distinctive objectives to fight over and generate extra CC
IDEA: 'Faction High-Value Convoys' - Mobile NPC Targets 'Capture the Flag'
- Rare NPC Convoys (Five or more NPCs protecting a cargo vessel) travel from fortified system to fortified system of their faction. Only one to three per faction exists at any one time. Destroying the cargo vessel spawns 'Critical 'Faction' Intel' as a transaction for your commander and their wing mates present.
- 'Critical 'Faction' Intel' can only be turned in at your HQ for your faction. Due to the volatile nature of the data, your FSD range is reduced to 10ly and you are broadcasted on the contacts of every ship in a system as a 'strong anomalous signal'.
- Turning in the intel grants significant credits and points with your faction. If intercepted, an opposing faction can capture the intel from you but will be afflicted with the same reduced range and revealed.
- If the 'owning' faction intercepts the intel, they need only return it to one of their fortified systems for a less significant reward.
- Convoys spawn on a 24 hour schedule, up to three per faction depending on order and timing of destruction. i.e. if all three were intercepted inside of twenty four hours, then for some hours there would be no convoys as they'd all be waiting to respawn.
- Commanders can review Power Play pages to determine if a convoy 'is detected' to know whether or not one is currently spawned.
BENEFITS: Convoys
- Convoys provide a 'flash point' for power play commanders. Though secret to all, faction members can discover their own convoy and choose to 'escort it' in the hopes of encountering enemy faction commanders and engaging in PvP.
- 'Man Hunts' can be instituted by commanders while fellow commanders can choose to defend their comrade as they deliver the intel.
- Like 'King of the Hill' this can create more emergent conflict
IDEA: "FACTION'S MOST WANTED" Bounty Hunting
- Commanders who are the 'Top 5 Menaces' for a faction (i.e. destroyed the most of that faction, PvP OR PvE) are listed and have special bounties associated with them for that faction if killed.
- Due to the nature of these declared targets, the faction has spent resources in tracking these commanders and provides hourly updates on the system they are located in to assist in bringing them to justice!
- Killing a 'Most Wanted' will grant rewards and, depending on your own performance, may see YOU become Most Wanted for that faction!
BENEFITS: Most Wanted
- Ups the 'dangerous' in Elite Dangerous for our top PvP pilots!
- Creates opportunities for man-hunts and organized PvP with faction overtones
- If a leaderboard were fully incorporated into the game, this feature would directly feed off of that board - more bragging rights to be had!
Just some ideas for 'structured' PvP within Open Play that could add more life and consequence to interacting with Powerplay Factions.
IDEA: 'King of the Hill' Stations and Planetary Bases
-These stations (of varying sizes) are 'capturable' via a point system, with either Powerplay Factions of the involved commanders seizing possession or their associated squadron if not a Powerplay Feature.
-Points are accumulated through combat with other commanders or the local NPCs when no power controls the station. When an arbitrary amount is reached, the station begins 'transfer of ownership' which takes a certain amount of time (say, 2 hours) before completing.
-Once 'captured' a station remains in that faction/squadron's control for 24 hours before it can be contested. So, literally, just one day (to keep cycling and therefore combat fairly constant). When the control expires, the owners can retain ownership via their presence by shutting down 'rebellious' NPCs or another faction/squadron can swoop in and challenge them both.
-Transfer of Ownership begins after arbitrary point total is reached, but will reset in favor of the highest points after - in other words, the various competing factions must continuously maintain 'the most points' for two hours or it will keep resetting. NPCs continuously spawn to challenge the commanders until capture is complete.
BENEFITS: 'King of the Hill'
- There are no bounties or fines incurred in these instances - they are free for all PvP zones
- Station / Base can only be docked at by owner, all others will be assailed by local NPC force (which is allied during ownership)
- Station could offer rare goods, or discounted ship prices, or unique high-value missions (150% payout compared to normal)
- A simple objective smaller squadrons and wing mates can tackle, could benefit Powerplay as distinctive objectives to fight over and generate extra CC
IDEA: 'Faction High-Value Convoys' - Mobile NPC Targets 'Capture the Flag'
- Rare NPC Convoys (Five or more NPCs protecting a cargo vessel) travel from fortified system to fortified system of their faction. Only one to three per faction exists at any one time. Destroying the cargo vessel spawns 'Critical 'Faction' Intel' as a transaction for your commander and their wing mates present.
- 'Critical 'Faction' Intel' can only be turned in at your HQ for your faction. Due to the volatile nature of the data, your FSD range is reduced to 10ly and you are broadcasted on the contacts of every ship in a system as a 'strong anomalous signal'.
- Turning in the intel grants significant credits and points with your faction. If intercepted, an opposing faction can capture the intel from you but will be afflicted with the same reduced range and revealed.
- If the 'owning' faction intercepts the intel, they need only return it to one of their fortified systems for a less significant reward.
- Convoys spawn on a 24 hour schedule, up to three per faction depending on order and timing of destruction. i.e. if all three were intercepted inside of twenty four hours, then for some hours there would be no convoys as they'd all be waiting to respawn.
- Commanders can review Power Play pages to determine if a convoy 'is detected' to know whether or not one is currently spawned.
BENEFITS: Convoys
- Convoys provide a 'flash point' for power play commanders. Though secret to all, faction members can discover their own convoy and choose to 'escort it' in the hopes of encountering enemy faction commanders and engaging in PvP.
- 'Man Hunts' can be instituted by commanders while fellow commanders can choose to defend their comrade as they deliver the intel.
- Like 'King of the Hill' this can create more emergent conflict
IDEA: "FACTION'S MOST WANTED" Bounty Hunting
- Commanders who are the 'Top 5 Menaces' for a faction (i.e. destroyed the most of that faction, PvP OR PvE) are listed and have special bounties associated with them for that faction if killed.
- Due to the nature of these declared targets, the faction has spent resources in tracking these commanders and provides hourly updates on the system they are located in to assist in bringing them to justice!
- Killing a 'Most Wanted' will grant rewards and, depending on your own performance, may see YOU become Most Wanted for that faction!
BENEFITS: Most Wanted
- Ups the 'dangerous' in Elite Dangerous for our top PvP pilots!
- Creates opportunities for man-hunts and organized PvP with faction overtones
- If a leaderboard were fully incorporated into the game, this feature would directly feed off of that board - more bragging rights to be had!
Just some ideas for 'structured' PvP within Open Play that could add more life and consequence to interacting with Powerplay Factions.
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