Player effect on the Galaxy

[TannakaObi]

I have heard it said that players have no effect on the Galaxy and this is bad.

I'd like clarification on what people mean by this, have people actually spent the time building rep in one faction to the max? I couldn't say if a player has much effect on the galaxy at this point. One thing I will add though is, it's Elite, it won't be done with a couple of missions. I'm new to Elite and even I know that.

Have people been following the Galnet and following any of the story? Have you been to the sorbago system to see if you can add anything to the slave rebellion? (for example) I have not, but every time I hear people say the 'story' is not working or the like, they fail to actually say why.

My own opinion is if anyone had had a noticeable effect on the galaxy after a couple of weeks then it would be a pretty flimsy galaxy. I'm not disagreeing with anyone I just want to understand the thinking behind this.

 

[WalterHWhite]

It's already been shown that player actions have caused political changes in a system. The extent of it and the mechanics of it are just being discovered.

 

[StephenB]

People quickly assume that they, themselves will have a notable effect. They don't. They do have an affect but it's so minor that they won't see anything change thus they complain that nothing's happening. the game isn't about the individual, it's about groups of individuals choosing sides, playing how they want too, making an effect in bulk.

The warzones are a perfect example of this. One person won't change the outcome of a war from their actions, a combination of people will.

From what I understand when you get to 'Elite' status you will have effects on the outcome of the storyline based on your individual decisions. Something along the lines of transporting a VIP to a location but getting blown up will kill that person and affect the story. From early dev videos it was planned that you will get VIP transport missions whereas other players will get assassination missions of that VIP. Hopefully soon to come

All in all players directly affect the storyline. Not always by themselves but with help from other players.

 

[Dortmunder]

One player with a big enough ship can definitely affect the trading economy of a couple systems. It will eventually sort itself out again over time because of AI trading, but, yeah.

And what the guy above said, if you're looking to solo affect government actions, you're probably not going to do it. You'll need a group of people doing stuff to do that.

 

[PillowTalk]

Those that claim they don't have an effect are either just not paying attention or are expecting things to change rapidly, and only based on their personal influence.

Things change, and depending on what you're trying to change, can take a long time.

I think a lot of people are expecting to see something as dramatic as a system take over happening in just a few days. It's likely going to take a lot longer; even if in the end the only real difference is what color dot appears on the Galaxy Map.

 

[CMDRKNac]

You need groups and depending on the systems population, governments and wealth you may need A LOT of effort.

We are yet discovering how it all works, but it works. An other thing I would like to know of if there are, right now, some limits to the system in terms of direct concentration between major power blocks. I think this hasn't been allowed yet for some reasons (talking about Alliance vs. Federation here from some experiment we are running around Alioth).

 

[Bambi]

People quickly assume that they, themselves will have a notable effect. They don't. They do have an affect but it's so minor that they won't see anything change thus they complain that nothing's happening. the game isn't about the individual, it's about groups of individuals choosing sides, playing how they want too, making an effect in bulk.

Which, in effect, is the same as a static universe. Content that you cannot see, doesn't exist. Is this a game only for large groups?

 

[natte hond]

if you trade in a certain area and support the local factions wisely.
you will see their influence rise.
together with my brother we saw a faction rise to 97% when we first got there it was 53%.
the result of this was I got a permit to Achernar and all imperial systems are now green to me.
even the one I never visited before.

get into the game and follow the story line.
choose wisely and you'll progress quite fast.
only today I have progressed two ranks.
just dont always choose for the credits.

my advise , get into it now.
as the story unveils more and more becomes clear.
and your character will grow with it.
glory to the empire!

 

[StephenB]

Which, in effect, is the same as a static universe. Content that you cannot see, doesn't exist. Is this a game only for large groups?

It's not a static universe or similar to one. The story changes slowly over time, influenced by everyone's actions. My point was that players who complain nothing happens based on their actions are presuming they will have some major effect to the universe by themselves, which they don't since that would make the universe ridiculous. Look at the group of players who are changing Lave; One person wouldn't change the system in a way that's noticeable, they still make a difference but it's so minor they won't see much or anything change (it still changes, just not noticeably), whereas a large amount of players will change a system because of the culmination of minor changes from multiple individuals.

You don't need to play in a group to make a change. There are players playing solo doing the same thing you are which in effect change the story noticeably.

 

[Stoo]

I think the OP has jumped the gun a bit. There's been definite influence from players, it's all adding up to political changes in certain systems.

 

[Bambi]

It's not a static universe or similar to one. The story changes slowly over time, influenced by everyone's actions. My point was that players who complain nothing happens based on their actions are presuming they will have some major effect to the universe by themselves, which they don't since that would make the universe ridiculous. Look at the group of players who are changing Lave; One person wouldn't change the system in a way that's noticeable, they still make a difference but it's so minor they won't see much or anything change (it still changes, just not noticeably), whereas a large amount of players will change a system because of the culmination of minor changes from multiple individuals.

You don't need to play in a group to make a change. There are players playing solo doing the same thing you are which in effect change the story noticeably.

Ad nauseaum, straw man

not calling for universal change, just some feeling that my presence in a local area has some effect.

 

[StephenB]

not calling for universal change, just some feeling that my presence in a local area has some effect.

When you think about the amount of people in the universe it's unlikely you, an individual will have an affect in any system. This is just the nature of the game. I think you can have some change but it's only when you reach either Elite or when you are allied to a faction that is initiating a change in that station.

Ad nauseaum, straw man

I'm unsure as to how I misinterpreted your question? You asked if the game was for only groups of players and stated that the universe was effectively static. I answered that it was not. I went on to explain that any individual can make change but the effects are minute.

 

[Ydiss]

I'm going to take part in a civil war in Ho Hsi this evening. This was initiated by players and their actions.

This could change the political ownership of the system and has already had an impact on missions and trade.

So, based on that alone, I'd say player impact is significant.

 

[Roybe]

Which, in effect, is the same as a static universe. Content that you cannot see, doesn't exist. Is this a game only for large groups?

It's considered an MMO. There are solo players, small group players, and guild players. There is a part to play for all in the ecosystem...

 

[Roybe]

Ad nauseaum, straw man

not calling for universal change, just some feeling that my presence in a local area has some effect.

As a single player you will not make huge changes to the galaxy. This is not a story about an elephant doing wonderous things around its small village. These are stories about ants, who, working in many different ways, live in the world around them. If the ants organize and move in concert, great things will occur, they can even kill and eat an elephant. But one ant's efforts will not hurt or help the area significantly. (Unless it is an area that is very tiny and weak. Look up the story of the Duke system...one person did make a large difference...yet in the end, more people had to join to keep the effort moving). Found the link:

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=84770&highlight=Dukes

 

[Flavourless]

I really have a hard time understanding why players think that they should be able to change the political and or economic systems of a 400 billion star environment.
You could have an apocalypse that totally annihilated a couple of hundred star systems and the galaxy would not even blink.

Yet folk think that flying a freighter a few times with a few hundred tonnes of stuff, or destroying a few spaceships should change the course of history. Such egos.
The fact that it might do so in ED is actually a flawed game mechanic (and philosophy).

The galaxy and its microcosms are there to be survived - not altered.