I think it might be the opposite.
Unless PP NPCs can do what players do, then it is cheap. I have never seen an NPC chase me all over, ambush me or push me to my limits.
I think it might be the opposite.
.... and what proportion of players find the reddit community?While on the Reddit the new players always struggled while they learnt.
Indirect PvP does seem to be characterised as that by some PvP proponents.But if no-one is opposing you at all, NPC or player, then PP becomes a blind grind race.
While some players might want surprise and dynamism, not all players play the game for the "rush", nor do all players play the game to engage in PvP.Its because PP is flat and lifeless, and that NPCs are flat and lifeless stuck in disconnected and abstracted layers. Players want surprise and dynamism.
It holds for the whole game, not just Powerplay.Which just condemns PP even more. They provide no opposition, and are simply toothless farm animals that occasionally shout at you- so it just becomes who can grind the most rather than actually push back intelligently.
It's probably why those modules are retained after defection - if they were lost then players might gravitate to the Power(s) with the "must have" module to the detriment of the rest.
Possibly. However players in highly Engineered ships complain of no credible NPC threat.
.... and what proportion of players find the reddit community?
Indirect PvP does seem to be characterised as that by some PvP proponents.
While some players might want surprise and dynamism, not all players play the game for the "rush", nor do all players play the game to engage in PvP.
It holds for the whole game, not just Powerplay.
I was referring to troubles in maintaining a competitive multiplayer environment in this game. It might just be easier and cheaper to focus on personal narratives and single player experiences, with occasional co-op, cockpit cats, nice pictures.Unless PP NPCs can do what players do, then it is cheap. I have never seen an NPC chase me all over, ambush me or push me to my limits.
Without numbers of Powerplay participants and numbers of players who found each Power's reddit to compare the contention that "nearly all" players found the reddits would seem to be an assumption.In the beginning (before the forums here had PP subs) Reddit was the sole platform for PP players. Every power had one and nearly all players went to them.
That's a consequence of no hostile PvP requirement.The only organized opposition you'll face as you fly will be in Open. In Solo or PG it won't exist, and is the same in Open (i.e. same ineffectual NPCs)
Conflict is not only PvP.So in a feature about directly challenging other powers you don't want conflict? Why pledge then?
The whole game would seem to revolve around PvE (and/or indirect PvP) - which, given the lack of requirement to engage in hostile PvP, will be characterised as a grind by some of those who prefer hostile PvP.True. But for PP more so since thats all it has currently.
I was referring to troubles in maintaining a competitive multiplayer environment in this game. It might just be easier and cheaper to focus on personal narratives and single player experiences, with occasional co-op, cockpit cats, nice pictures.
Without numbers of Powerplay participants and numbers of players who found each Power's reddit to compare the contention that "nearly all" players found the reddits would seem to be an assumption.
That's a consequence of no hostile PvP requirement.
Conflict is not only PvP.
The whole game would seem to revolve around PvE (and/or indirect PvP) - which, given the lack of requirement to engage in hostile PvP, will be characterised as a grind by some of those who prefer hostile PvP.
For a new feature maybe. For something already established over a number of years, to be remove from 3 out of 3 modes, is not on.Every player bought a game that is in continual development, which means features change. Having an entirely opt-in feature where PvP is not entirely optional would be a new string to the bow for a game that caters to a lot of different play-styles and which, afterall involves shooting things much of the time and has 'dangerous' in the title.
For me it was the last; when it was first added to the game.So I get the impression that a some people here don't agree with the evaluation that Powerplay was supposed to be 'Endgame Content' where consensual PvP and Power vs Power conflict is supposed to happen. The question I have to ask is what do you think Powerplay is supposed to be?
And to the people who play powerplay, why do you play?
What is it that makes you come back to it?
Is it the Power's Player community?
The Rewards?
The fact you like Dyed Blue Hair?
Fair enough - good to know.How is it then for a number of years the plans that these reddits (mine included) played out exactly as they were planned, with no shadow group fighting for control? The only outliers are 5C, and even then they are transparent in aims and are not actually having parallel plans for Powers.
Having been one of the leaders of Utopia for a number of years I have never seen any other group of the same size come along and attempt any other plans.
Which is the case for all game features that can be construed as having any potential for indirect PvP.So you then have two modes with no direct structured opposition at all - the only pan modal opposition that can be done is outgrinding each other, which is like eating cardboard and why PP is seen as it is.
True, however conflict in this game need not be direct.PvP is not only conflict. Its running away, supporting your team, as well as shooting.
Powerplay as a feature is not a simple duplication - it works on a much reduced list of protagonists, i.e. eleven rather than tens of thousands.If the whole game revolves around PvE, why have a mode that duplicates what already exists? If everything tastes of vanilla no-one is really going to care. Powerplay is about intelligent opposition, which is stuck in one gear (grind here or grind there). At least with Open PP the chance exists to make that much more dynamic.
Which is the case for all game features that can be construed as having any potential for indirect PvP.
True, however conflict in this game need not be direct.
Powerplay as a feature is not a simple duplication - it works on a much reduced list of protagonists, i.e. eleven rather than tens of thousands.
While with Open Powerplay the chance exists to make it more dynamic (i.e. require hostile PvP, in the context of the discussion), the chance also exists that the hostile PvP requirement will drive off current participants who don't enjoy PvP (and the fact that some players, who can't play in multi-player will definitely lose access to it). It would be a step into the unknown - where the full extent of the consequences are similarly unknown.
Complaints were made when player supported Factions were introduced that they could be affect by players who couldn't be shot at - Frontier don't seem to see the need for mandatory direct opposition in their game, in any feature.But in a feature about opposing directly or indirectly thats crazy. There is no consistent opposition to stop you in solo other than time.
It's a consequence of every player being sold a game where hostile PvP is an option when engaging in any game feature.And PP generally suffers for it.
Players who want Open only features have been discussing the possibilities for over six-and-a-half years - Frontier have not yet chosen to acquiesce to their demands.It is a step into the unknown, its why I'm trying to highlight that by making content like the BGS and missions available for solo PP you then leave the open parts discussed at length to open players- both are catered for with better fitting features for minimal FD expense.
Complaints were made when player supported Factions were introduced that they could be affect by players who couldn't be shot at - Frontier don't seem to see the need for mandatory direct opposition in their game, in any feature.
It's a consequence of every player being sold a game where hostile PvP is an option when engaging in any game feature.
Players who want Open only features have been discussing the possibilities for over six-and-a-half years - Frontier have not yet chosen to acquiesce to their demands.
Different in detail, not in philosophy.Which is different here- mainly as Powerplay is vestigial duplication of an outdated feature, and outshone by the BGS.
Whether the game "needs" hostile PvP to be a requirement of participation in any feature is an opinion not shared by all.And is why this part needs an overhaul, or Open mode made essential for at least part of it.
Roughly the same things included "no ETA, no guarantees" - in the latest incarnation pains were taken to reassure those opposed to the proposals, included in what was pitched as "an investigation", that it was by no means a fait accompli and that no decisions had already been made. We'll see, in time, which of the proposals Frontier are prepared to implement within the resource allocation available.True, but each time FD have come back to us they say roughly the same things- its reflected in Sandros topic. More and more intelligent divisions of features within Powerplay give it new life, as well as not excluding anyone. Solo guys get new stuff, and so do Open players, all under the same roof.
I don't know if it was. Considering competitive gameplay, it doesn't make sense. What's the point if anyone could as well do it in solo. It could be Frontier thought there would be enough players choosing to play in open, and participating in powerplay in this way anyway, so it would look good enough, at least superficially. Pledging to a power in this way is more like roleplaying, with optional pvp elements, like a personal narrative.None of which is Powerplay- if that was FDs ultimate aim for ED PP would never fit and should be removed in that case.
Different in detail, not in philosophy.
Whether the game "needs" hostile PvP to be a requirement of participation in any feature is an opinion not shared by all.
Roughly the same things included "no ETA, no guarantees" - in the latest incarnation pains were taken to reassure those opposed to the proposals, included in what was pitched as "an investigation", that it was by no means a fait accompli and that no decisions had already been made. We'll see, in time, which of the proposals Frontier are prepared to implement within the resource allocation available.
Something for everyone would be the ideal, rather than gating existing base game content to Open (and therefore introducing a requirement for hostile PvP).
I don't know if it was. Considering competitive gameplay, it doesn't make sense. What's the point if anyone could as well do it in solo. It could be Frontier thought there would be enough players choosing to play in open, and participating in powerplay in this way anyway, so it would look good enough, at least superficially. Pledging to a power in this way is more like roleplaying, with optional pvp elements, like a personal narrative.
However, I would believe the current situation was not their ultimate aim for powerplay. I think they had wished for a more engaging, and more serious-minded aspect for this game, but at some point something went wrong, they got scared of open, they realized they couldn't handle what would come with it, and managing a competitive multiplayer environment.
I'd suggest that those that participate in Powerplay but don't enjoy PvP are currently playing it for both.But people play for that detail, and not philosophy though.
One proposal would gate content behind a hostile PvP barrier. Not every player agrees that that is a desirable outcome.Thats why not all of it is about that.
It's entirely about gating - that is the whole point of making any game feature Open only. It's about making all participants play in a manner that only some choose at the moment.In the end its not about gating, its about providing something that suits what we have if FD won't put in the time needed. BGS and missions suit all modes, leaving the haul and shoot part Open, which is great because that part is mechanically simple letting players fill in the blanks.
Probably because the lack of participation in the feature made it difficult to prioritise in terms of features competing for resource allocation. Engineers, exploration and mining are available to all players (who own Horizons, in the case of Engineering), in any mode. Open only Powerplay would not be available in all game modes and would therefore cut its likely playerbase before any development began.But looking at all of what Sandro posted re PP, none of it was a total rewrite, and none of it was at the level of engineers, exploration or mining in FD dev time.