Powerplay Sell me, an average space trucker, on galactic politics

[kamenriderabyss]

So I got this game about mid-way through December and have been enjoying it considerably since then. I tried a bit of every career path, but in the end I found space trucking was for me. Since then I have amassed a decent pile of cash and have got a fairly nice Cobra M.III to haul my goods in. Every so often I see stuff about powerplay in game and thought to myself "May be fun to get a little involved, change it up a bit from the usual space trucking." but then I also thought. "By joining a faction I may be painting a target on my back, so maybe sticking to trucking is a better idea."

In the end I figured it was best to consult the community here as you guys know it better than I do. As a simple space trucker who rarely engages in combat aside fro occasionally having to defend my cargo, is messing with galactic politics even worth my time? Or is there no point to it for me and thus I should stick to buying low and selling high across the galaxy?

 

[Apos]

Even the lowest contribution to PP counts, so yours won't be for nothing. But when it comes to making credits, it can hinder your cause:

You will be subject to more interdictions.
If you want to help with fortifications, you might have to do good, but less optimal trading routes, assuming the power you join has invested making a map.

Being a target won't be a problem, it's not as severe as it sounds in terms of player to player interaction.

What you will get in return is that you will be part of a larger community working towards a goal, assuming you come in contact with the organized communities.

It all depends on how much you want to invest yourself on the politics of the game. There's not much glory or wealth to be made when meaningfully contributing in PP.

 

[Alexander the Grape]

I'd hold off until you have a bit more cash. If you're happy where you are, stick with it!

But there may come a time when you're hauling hundreds of tonnes at a time, thinking "what's it all for"?

That's where power play comes in. Your actions make a real, tangible impact on your power's success

 

[kamenriderabyss]

Right now it looks like its worth plenty to the various factions though still not sure what it's worth for me just yet. More than anything my main goal is to make money, get myself a bigger ship, make even more. Perhaps when I'm sitting in an Anaconda with a mountain of money I'll see how the political situation is. Politics just dont seem to be much to the average space trucker at the moment, if anything they might be more of a burden than anything.

 

[Kaikel]

I'd vote for the "waiting longer" course of action, at least until you have a serious hauler (cargo measured in the 100s of tons) and a large of amount of bank to start with. The space trucking style of powerplay does involve hauling things from point A to point B, but in order to haul any meaningful amount you have to spend 10kcr per ton while only getting 100cr per ton back. This makes fortification aspect of powerplay a huge money sink that will slow your personal progression to an absolute crawl.

 

[kamenriderabyss]

I'd vote for the "waiting longer" course of action, at least until you have a serious hauler (cargo measured in the 100s of tons) and a large of amount of bank to start with. The space trucking style of powerplay does involve hauling things from point A to point B, but in order to haul any meaningful amount you have to spend 10kcr per ton while only getting 100cr per ton back. This makes fortification aspect of powerplay a huge money sink that will slow your personal progression to an absolute crawl.

Spending 10k per ton but only getting 100 per ton back? Yeah none of the leaders deserve any support from me whatsoever at those prices like ever. Im here for the profits not ideals!

 

[SCDudeDark]

Spending 10k per ton but only getting 100 per ton back? Yeah none of the leaders deserve any support from me whatsoever at those prices like ever. Im here for the profits not ideals!

Well it's more like donating, like being a supporter of a political candidate in RL is you spend your time and money so they do better, but for the average Joe space trucker probably not the best use of your time, but if you get to rank 5 the weekly income might help balance that out

 

[Bigglesof206]

With a Cobra, then you'd be looking at combat to earn merits to enable you to rank up with a power - the trucking side of powerplay is a very slow business unless you spend millions of your own credits to provide the supplies to truck... frankly it doesn't matter what rank you get to, trucking for a powerplay faction will always cost you more than you get back.... 1 million credits gets you 100 tons of supplies to haul, and whilst there is a small dribble of free supplies (how much depends on your rank, varying from 10 tons per half hour to 50) you'll die of boredom if you don't spend like a drunken sailor to fast track the supplies.
A slightly simplified version of the maths of it all, if you started from scratch - rank 5, pay packet 50 million a week, to buy the 10,000 supplies needed would cost 100 million. (Slightly less if you start above rank 1).

Subsequent weeks would need a bit over 5000 tons delivered to maintain your rank 5 (and that 50m pay packet) - with a 100 ton cargo hold you could take 50 free supplies plus pay 500,000 to fast track the other 50, and each 100 tons would cost half a million....earning 5000 points would entail parting with 25 million credits for fast tracking, and you'd fly 50 round trips each at least 30 minutes apart.... so to maintain rank 5 you're looking at spending half your pay from the faction, and committing to spend 25 hours a week on trucking where it's wanted.

There are much more efficient ways to make money in space, to be a PP trucker you really want to have a big ship and deep pockets - it's doable, but a lot slower than gaining rank by slaughtering the opposition <g>

To add to the fun, as the irregular appearance of 'where's my pay you welching bar steward' forum posts attests, you get paid a week in arrears (granted this does mean you get paid for a week after leaving, eventually) - so doing the 'instant rank 5' could see you heavily out of pocket for over a week before your pay catches up. eeek!

Dave

 

[SMcA]

I've been playing since Beta and have yet to join a power. I've enjoyed the game immensely.

 

[kamenriderabyss]

In the end I decided to stay out of politics for now, the lines on the map just aint as important as the numbers on the commodities market to me right now

 

[Rudolphus]

Mine advise is only to step in powerplay when you have minimal earned 200 million credits.
when you have around 10-25 million keep it by rating 2 or 3

 

[Bigglesof206]

Rating 4 is relatively easy to get and maintain, provided you don't mind shooting NPCs. Doing it via delivery is s-l-o-w.....
Rating 5 takes dedication or a big credit balance you don't mind blowing..... you can do it by, for example, earning millions and millions via other activities like BH, smuggling, conflict zones, community goals, and use that to subsidise deliveries.

Dave

 

[Ant_Solo]

Powerplay is a bit like owning an Alfa Romeo. It can be a lot of fun but it is also frustrating and you would never recommend one to a friend.

 

[Rubbernuke]

So I got this game about mid-way through December and have been enjoying it considerably since then. I tried a bit of every career path, but in the end I found space trucking was for me. Since then I have amassed a decent pile of cash and have got a fairly nice Cobra M.III to haul my goods in. Every so often I see stuff about powerplay in game and thought to myself "May be fun to get a little involved, change it up a bit from the usual space trucking." but then I also thought. "By joining a faction I may be painting a target on my back, so maybe sticking to trucking is a better idea."

In the end I figured it was best to consult the community here as you guys know it better than I do. As a simple space trucker who rarely engages in combat aside fro occasionally having to defend my cargo, is messing with galactic politics even worth my time? Or is there no point to it for me and thus I should stick to buying low and selling high across the galaxy?

It depends on your level of involvement, and what you want.

With any power, just trading with the right government in a system will help the ruling power, or mixing fortification with trading.

For example, with my power (Antal) if you are a naughty smuggler you get 10% extra on black market deals as everything fun is illegal. If you enjoy space trucking this could become quite lucrative if you join up and do it well.

Although rank 5 mass haulers are what make powers work, having others just messing about also helps too- and after a while you can do as much as you want.

 

[Kazacy]

Some people will say because of the lack of credits to hold off from power play. Maybe, but you will also lost a lot of fun. Personally after the power play was introduced i started with an imperial courier, some insurance credits and joined the Archon Delaine faction. It was one of my best decisions in this game because i can really have a lot of fun being hunted by almost any commander in this game. I also manage to get enough credits by maintaining a comfortable rank 4 evry week, which for my little play time was 5 millions per week.
Now these days you can run long range smuggling missions in you Cobra, make at least 10 millions per hour, and you can have a lot of fun on every faction you choose.
Good luck, and don't forget the smallest factions are the best factions.

 

[Ian Skippy]

Right now it looks like its worth plenty to the various factions though still not sure what it's worth for me just yet. More than anything my main goal is to make money, get myself a bigger ship, make even more. Perhaps when I'm sitting in an Anaconda with a mountain of money I'll see how the political situation is. Politics just dont seem to be much to the average space trucker at the moment, if anything they might be more of a burden than anything.

If your goal is to get rich as quickly as possible, powerplay only works if you have the time available to get to rank5 each week without fail. I'd personally recommend powerplay only if you'd enjoy the meta-tactics or for roleplay. If you dont care about any of them intrinsically I'd say don't bother.

Oh, and yes, you will have a giant target on your back. If you love being interdicted by NPCs powerplay is perfect for you!

 

[DNA-Decay]

I pledged in as soon as I joined a Player Group.

Yes there were downsides.
More interdictions.
And uh The Retribution Lazer.

And
I was told "you need to be rich first"
"PowerPlay is the endgame".

But I didn't care about that and pledged it.
It gave the game a depth and meaning that chasing credits and the next ship didn't.

Your mileage may vary.

But without PowerPlay, I wouldn't be able to despise the Empire, regard with suspicion the Federation, friend the Independents and love the Alliance .

 

[Daynen]

None of the opinions on powerplay matter, in the end. If you want to start affecting the shape of the galaxy, dive in. Don't be afraid of it, and don't think you have to use it for maximum profit if you're happy with your current ship. Just involve yourself on the level that you enjoy, and take your opportunities where you find them.

Nothing says you can't mix hauling and PP, either. Grab some aid or propaganda, check the market and your route, and plan your trip for a monty haul and rep gain all in one go. Successfully combining activities is where the real fun (and greatest total reward) really emerges, IMHO. It won't always be a paydirt run every time, but if planned well, you'll gain a steady source of merits while continuing to make your fortune at a respectable pace.

Just don't get greedy; use your map, buy trade data liberally, and watch out for interdictions, and you'll have a blast making money and ranks all at the same time. Check for data transport missions on the way too; those take up no cargo space, require no weapons, and literally require a simple stop at another station somewhere for some extra cash.

Once you've got a good rhythm going and find a good route to circle, you can rake in the money almost as fast as before while also getting in good with your preferred faction. Have fun with that.