I can't get motivated to grind out a decaying rep with a power. I know if I invest 25 hours this week, then have to go to my daughters wedding out of state for a week, I completely wasted 25 hours. So I've decided that spending those hours making money is an investment that will at least stick around when RL comes calling. I don't think this is how FD wants us to think about PP, but it is what it is. I think many people other than myself are having motivation issues connected to this issue, so I thought we could come up with some good suggestions about balancing merit rewards, rep decay, etc. . . Please stay on topic, and all suggestions welcome!
I'll get the ball rolling:
Gaining/Keeping Ranks: I think a balance could be struck between rank 3 (max reasonable attainment for casual players) and Rank 4 (Hardcore grinders, and big rewards for efforts can be found). What I propose is this:
Merits needed for Rank 2, and Rank 3, are increased, however they do not decay. You can work your way to rank 3, and gain the equipment bonus of the chosen power. Whether through a hard 1 week grind, or a slow, casual 6 weeks of just popping in and helping. However, this is as far as you can get without investing serious time (See Below), and if you leave the power, you forfeit said equipment. No "Collectors".
Merits needed for Rank 4, and especially the nearly impossible to attain Rank 5, would be lowered slightly, but these would decay at the current rate. You would earn more power, a really useful gameplay bonus (+100% on bounty vouchers? Yes please!), but when RL bites you, or your internet goes down, you will decay back to Rank 3, and have to earn your way back up.
I think this is better than someone working their way, SO CLOSE to Rank 5, then a CPU/Modem/ISP issue arises and they lose so much, instantly. I cannot imagine investing so much effort into a goal, and losing all of your gains in such a way that you ended up wasting your entire career, not to mention being flat broke, because you've been grinding merits instead of cash.
I will likely flesh this out more when I get some time, just wanted to start a convo on the topic when I realized I'm not motivated to invest time, for the first time in forever.
Your turn!
I'll get the ball rolling:
Gaining/Keeping Ranks: I think a balance could be struck between rank 3 (max reasonable attainment for casual players) and Rank 4 (Hardcore grinders, and big rewards for efforts can be found). What I propose is this:
Merits needed for Rank 2, and Rank 3, are increased, however they do not decay. You can work your way to rank 3, and gain the equipment bonus of the chosen power. Whether through a hard 1 week grind, or a slow, casual 6 weeks of just popping in and helping. However, this is as far as you can get without investing serious time (See Below), and if you leave the power, you forfeit said equipment. No "Collectors".
Merits needed for Rank 4, and especially the nearly impossible to attain Rank 5, would be lowered slightly, but these would decay at the current rate. You would earn more power, a really useful gameplay bonus (+100% on bounty vouchers? Yes please!), but when RL bites you, or your internet goes down, you will decay back to Rank 3, and have to earn your way back up.
I think this is better than someone working their way, SO CLOSE to Rank 5, then a CPU/Modem/ISP issue arises and they lose so much, instantly. I cannot imagine investing so much effort into a goal, and losing all of your gains in such a way that you ended up wasting your entire career, not to mention being flat broke, because you've been grinding merits instead of cash.
I will likely flesh this out more when I get some time, just wanted to start a convo on the topic when I realized I'm not motivated to invest time, for the first time in forever.
Your turn!