Powerplay Profits - why are people complaining ?

Fireclown · Jun 10, 2015

I'm pretty much a casual and I've been doing my usual stuff in ED but mixing up some powerplay (mainly undermining and some prep tasks as I go).
Has been fun (especially roving around in a little DBS interdicting couriers in fed space).

I now have about 1,000 merits and may hit the 1,500 for rating level 4 before end of cycle which gives a 5 million 'salary'.
I've heard there is a 10% decay next cycle so I'll be reduced to around 1,350 (correct me if I'm wrong).
So that means I have to do very little every week to maintain my rating level 4 and keep the salary.
With such a small decay I could eventually hit rating 5 for huge 50mill salary.
Then I'd have to make 1000 merits a week to maintain it.

Seems pretty generous to me. Maybe over-generous, especially at rating 5.
So....why are people complaining about not making money in powerplay ?
I know the merits earned in crime sweeps is a bit low but apart from that I'm not sure what the issue is.

(Disclaimer: there is a good chance that I've totally misunderstood the powerplay mechanic in which case sorry to waste your time if you read all this)

xDreadnoughtx · Jun 10, 2015

I think its 50% decay.

Fireclown · Jun 10, 2015

Oh I read 10% on a few threads.
Ok if 50% then I suppose it's not so generous

jmp470 · Jun 10, 2015

1000, merits.... I'm at 88

I did get side tracking though.... I had to fly multiple ships and settle on my new role in life..... Not just focus on trading....

What are you doing to get the merits?

Dbrn47 · Jun 10, 2015

I'm still trying to figure out why. I'm not sure I'll ever understand, but I was pretty down on the game before 1.3 so that's probably why.

Fireclown · Jun 10, 2015

jmp470 said:
1000, merits.... I'm at 88 I did get side tracking though.... I had to fly multiple ships and settle on my new role in life..... Not just focus on trading....

What are you doing to get the merits?

Undermining powers seems to fastest way, at least for the power I support.
Go to one of the enemy powers' control systems and get 15 merits a kill destroying certain types of ships.
Sometimes interdict weak wings of 3 so thats 45 merits.

lilikin · Jun 10, 2015

15 per kill?? WTH I am getting 1 for an anaconda

Fireclown said:
Undermining powers seems to fastest way, at least for the power I support.
Go to one of the enemy powers' control systems and get 15 merits a kill destroying certain types of ships.
Sometimes interdict weak wings of 3 so thats 45 merits.

Alex Brentnall · Jun 11, 2015

Back on OT of why people are complaining:

From a personal point of view I've not tried it yet so if you want to ignore everything below this go right ahead

By reading forums & instruction manual etc I just see it as an easy way to get interdicted more often in both your factions home/controlled space and every other faction space. Its like hanging a neon sign on your ship saying "Interdict this!" for a few credits.
As macho as that sounds I just prefer being able to fly around human space too much for the meagre bonuses that it gives.
Sure its extra income but extra risk and it dictates where/what you fight/trade. I much prefer to be a mercenary and use CG's to give me the credit boost where I feel they are worth it (currently exploring for the sirius one).

I will join powers periodically to benefit from their unique weapons/modules but I expect I will do this by going exploring for the mandatory 4 weeks and come back to get the required level 3 merits and buy the things I want before instantly defecting.

Way I see to improve it: Make it so that you are only hostile in the major faction territory not the sub-factions. So Empire (Patreus etc) isn't hostile in Duval territory and so-on until those characters actively declare hostilities.

Feel free to argue but I just don't see the incentive as worth it when it restricts my earning choices and movement.