The Powerplay discussion thread.

GriM_AoD · Jun 8, 2015

Synther said:
I think the problem is that the trailer shows one thing and we're stuck doing some rather overly complicated thing instead.

https://youtu.be/CWPhk5Gclbo?t=33

I would much rather just have a powerplay bulletin board thing like the trailer suggests available instead of having to click around the UI like crazy in order to figure out what to even do.

Maybe they'll be added at a later date in addition to what we have now? That'd be nice...

tonaz said:
forgive me but you are very approximate
I am in troubles too:
I just pledged with Denton Patreus, and now for the preparation I have to "hands in with Marked Military Arms". I docked to the selected system station and they tell me that "I do not have Marked Military Arms to deliver".
Herm... What are those marked military arms? What do I have to do?

This sort of prep (for my power at least) requires you to pick up those items from one of your control systems (the main one, not something in the territory/exploited) these can be seen on the galaxy map.
We all start at Rating one, where we half a quota of 10 of those sort of items every half hour.

Hope this helps.

xDreadnoughtx · Jun 8, 2015

Tarman said:
So it's not Powerplay that's the problem, it's the fact that you have to bother learning how it works?

Maybe there is some truth in that, but everything I have personally read and experienced so far, in game and out have been less than clear. The best stuff is not produced by FD. Kudos for that. I'm starting to understand bits and pieces, but it really should not be that much of a chore.

The basic idea is sound, but the methods used to deliver a more involving gaming experience in ED are truly and fundamentally horrible.

It reads exactly like a homegrown RPG system that makes perfect sense only to the authors and the testers.

Anyone remember the friends episode "let's play bamboozle!!!"? That is what we have here.

Going to put a bit more time into it.

dreamer1986 · Jun 8, 2015

At least I like that there is a pirate/smuggler faction now, with a badass looking picture, and the spider faction symbol.

Colonel Kenney · Jun 8, 2015

SO many overlapping allegiances already makes a mess of a mess.

Like if I want to undermine another alliance member wouldn't that put me as risk of losing rep with the alliance? There are 3 Feds 3 Empire and 3 Alliance powers. If you undermine a similar allegiance then it would impact your overall standing.

What about local governments. What if I want to overthrow governments inside my own allegiance from Democracy to anarchy. Wouldn't that impact my power standing?

warlock · Jun 8, 2015

Hellhawk666 said:
Choose a Power

Run missions for the power - most don't pay directly, but you get merits which give eventual benefits, and you can still make cash from other activities while doing them

Prepare support in areas that will be expansion candidates

Contribute to expansion activity

Fortify your Power's holdings

Undermine the opponent Power's holdings (usually by combat), so they can't support their territory.

That's it in a nutshell

Well done have some rep for that, concisely explained. Now my only decision is who to side with, not an empire man but dont really like the look of anyone. Who have you gone for?

Enride · Jun 8, 2015

Its a little confusing but if reading the manual and testing it out a few hours you shouldnt have much of a problem understanding what its all about.
Not sure everything is working as intended yet though.

Tarman · Jun 8, 2015

POIDSLY said:
Maybe there is some truth in that, but everything I have personally read and experienced so far, in game and out have been less than clear. The best stuff is not produced by FD. Kudos for that. I'm starting to understand bits and pieces, but it really should not be that much of a chore.

The basic idea is sound, but the methods used to deliver a more involving gaming experience in ED are truly and fundamentally horrible.

It reads exactly like a homegrown RPG system that makes perfect sense only to the authors and the testers.

Anyone remember the friends episode "let's play bamboozle!!!"? That is what we have here.

Going to put a bit more time into it.

I will agree that FD probably thinks they've been a lot clearer about this due to the Bamboozle Effect. That said, wilful ignorance is a lot easier for some folks than picking up a bunch of game information and playing with the buttons. Not from you at least though, so that's good to see. There's a lot of stuff going on in Powerplay but none of it is so overly difficult that it's impossible to figure out; does take some time though. It looks a lot more daunting than it really is.

Galvinar · Jun 8, 2015

Something I just read in the PP Manual is that a system can't be selected for preparation if it is a control or exploited system for another faction.
How does one go about "expanding" into someone else's territory then?

Bluefalcon8560 · Jun 8, 2015

I don't know if this helps but the sticky manual in the discussion thread helped ma lot in beta to gets the idea.

Steve50 · Jun 8, 2015

warlock said:
There is a manual for it, read it last night now more confused than ever

Me too, at this point I think it's just safer for me to totally ignore it and not get involved than stumble about in the dark.

Xander Phoenix · Jun 8, 2015

Hellhawk666 said:
Choose a Power

Run missions for the power - most don't pay directly, but you get merits which give eventual benefits, and you can still make cash from other activities while doing them

Prepare support in areas that will be expansion candidates

Contribute to expansion activity

Fortify your Power's holdings

Undermine the opponent Power's holdings (usually by combat), so they can't support their territory.

That's it in a nutshell

Best summary ever.

Juniper · Jun 8, 2015

From what I have seen so far, Powerplay is Elite's version of Mornington Crescent.

Surely that's not good?

Samosa · Jun 8, 2015

Steve50 said:
Me too, at this point I think it's just safer for me to totally ignore it and not get involved than stumble about in the dark.

It doesn't really hold much interest for me, although I'd hoped it would. I just can't see the benefit - doesn't make me money nor does it make things feel more "multiplayer".

On the other hand, various 1.3-related bugs handed me ~40M this weekend, so there's that.

dannysquid · Jun 8, 2015

I do hope that the next free expansion (assuming there is one) improves some of the core gameplay rather than just adding extra layers of complexity to an already unwieldy and old-fashioned user interface -- more menus to look at, more numbers to crunch. I can see what Powerplay is attempting to do, and I suspect in the long run it will add interest, but at first glance it just feels like complexity for complexity's sake.

LameoveR · Jun 8, 2015

Galvinar said:
Something I just read in the PP Manual is that a system can't be selected for preparation if it is a control or exploited system for another faction.
How does one go about "expanding" into someone else's territory then?

You need to undermine enemy system. Then it will be revolted and become independent. Then you can prepare and expand there.

Colonel Kenney · Jun 8, 2015

dannysquid said:
I do hope that the next free expansion (assuming there is one) improves some of the core gameplay rather than just adding extra layers of complexity to an already unwieldy and old-fashioned user interface -- more menus to look at, more numbers to crunch. I can see what Powerplay is attempting to do, and I suspect in the long run it will add interest, but at first glance it just feels like complexity for complexity's sake.

Exactly - Exploration needs the next boost. Including exploration based missions.

Armour · Jun 8, 2015

I think the names are wrong. The people you pledge to should be called Leaders. That's what they are, after all. It's their faces you see. Also, "Command Capital" is a lame term, which sounds like it was pinched from a 4X title or a tabletop RPG. It should be called "Power". "Which leader has the most power?" sounds right. "Which power has the most CC?" makes me wonder when the D10s are going to get handed out.

Perhaps the leaders should have more than one picture, denoting their current status. A dull-coloured portrait of them all stressed out when things aren't going well, and a colourful, confident pose when they are bossing it.

Parmo · Jun 8, 2015

Smugallo said:
When this hits XB1 expect a horde of confused console gamers.

Aren't they too simple to get confused?

OriginalBadBoy · Jun 8, 2015

cherbert said:
Powerplay Expansion video.. 4minutes long. Really? Seriously?

Gets your facts right ... There are three vidoes already which combined are around 12 minutes. And there is more to come.

SquidofLove · Jun 8, 2015

Matt said:
just looked at the new stuff in 1.3.... what the hell is all this stuff?! What does it mean?!?! I've not been following the forums but I am so utterly confused by what all this new stuff is or what I am supposed to be doing?

It looks like some sort of Civilisation 5-thing (incidentally, I love Civ5 so no harm there) but on special Confusion-Pills? What does it all mean? Is there some sort of tutorial to tell me what to do? How to play? What all the stuff means? Gah.

Utterly confused and frustrated. Rather than try and work out what the hell all this stuff is I just closed ED. Tl;dr - sorry FD.

I made a guide about Powers and how you can gain merits in general. I hope it will help you and everyone else that wants to get involved with that part of the game.
https://youtu.be/SOIsPnkbHYU