There seems to be a fundamental element missing from PowerPlay. In many ways the improvements to PP2.0 have inevitably made PP2.0 more restricted and less likely to expand without a concentrated effort of a larger group of CMDRs. While that is one way to approach balancing the system, what about a different option. Welcome to my Ted Talk.
Similar to how the Titans worked with the Thargoid War. What about having a natural Powerplay expansion in the background (basically via NPCs working for said power) based around the Powers control state in the system?
The idea would be to limit the radius of impact to the current control limits in reinforced/fortified systems, thus preventing uncontrolled expansion. For example, a system in Stronghold/Reinforced state would naturally generate control points for that power in any uncontrolled system within the current 20/30 lys radius. Thus driving acquisition points in uncontrolled systems or undermining points if there are adjacent systems controlled by another power.
This would then provide an incentive to have tight overlapping control clusters for larger PP groups to manage. The overlap would help prevent other powers from naturally taking systems, and ALSO provide naturally occuring conflict zones where smaller groups of individuals could help shape the outer edges of the powers expansion.
This mechanic would also couple nicely with the control point decay system. As it would represent the Power using up its Stronghold/Fortified resources in order to supprt constannt expansion of the power.
The idea behind this is it would naturally drive in game conflict for Powerplay while allowing both bigger and smaller groups to participate and shape their power. This would also bring a more chaotic element to Powerplay as well as provide a mechanic if there was a narrative reason Devs wanted to push conflict for lore purposes by surging Control points in a sector using this background PP system.
The very nature of increased chaos would be a good narrative tool itself and it would allow single pilots to help drive expansions and operate at the fringe/edge of their power. While the larger groups focus on maintaining core clusters and regions. Perhaps easier said than in practice, but I believe the core functionality exists within the game that something could be done without significantly modifying current game functionality too heavily.
This idea also helps fix an area where NPCs don't really do anything meaningful on a larger scale, which I see as a disservice to the game. As this mechanic would represent Powerplay NPCs activity in-game. I really think the Powerplay leaders should act as independent entities for all things narrative. This wouldn't need full AI for Torvals PP NPCs to act a certain way and naturally push her borders.
I send this idea out for consideration. Hopefully others like such a suggestion that could help make things more interesting in the galaxy.
Similar to how the Titans worked with the Thargoid War. What about having a natural Powerplay expansion in the background (basically via NPCs working for said power) based around the Powers control state in the system?
The idea would be to limit the radius of impact to the current control limits in reinforced/fortified systems, thus preventing uncontrolled expansion. For example, a system in Stronghold/Reinforced state would naturally generate control points for that power in any uncontrolled system within the current 20/30 lys radius. Thus driving acquisition points in uncontrolled systems or undermining points if there are adjacent systems controlled by another power.
This would then provide an incentive to have tight overlapping control clusters for larger PP groups to manage. The overlap would help prevent other powers from naturally taking systems, and ALSO provide naturally occuring conflict zones where smaller groups of individuals could help shape the outer edges of the powers expansion.
This mechanic would also couple nicely with the control point decay system. As it would represent the Power using up its Stronghold/Fortified resources in order to supprt constannt expansion of the power.
The idea behind this is it would naturally drive in game conflict for Powerplay while allowing both bigger and smaller groups to participate and shape their power. This would also bring a more chaotic element to Powerplay as well as provide a mechanic if there was a narrative reason Devs wanted to push conflict for lore purposes by surging Control points in a sector using this background PP system.
The very nature of increased chaos would be a good narrative tool itself and it would allow single pilots to help drive expansions and operate at the fringe/edge of their power. While the larger groups focus on maintaining core clusters and regions. Perhaps easier said than in practice, but I believe the core functionality exists within the game that something could be done without significantly modifying current game functionality too heavily.
This idea also helps fix an area where NPCs don't really do anything meaningful on a larger scale, which I see as a disservice to the game. As this mechanic would represent Powerplay NPCs activity in-game. I really think the Powerplay leaders should act as independent entities for all things narrative. This wouldn't need full AI for Torvals PP NPCs to act a certain way and naturally push her borders.
I send this idea out for consideration. Hopefully others like such a suggestion that could help make things more interesting in the galaxy.
