Powerplay To Powerplay or not to Powerplay?

[Stealthie]

Basically, am I going to get any FUN out of it?

I was thinking of signing up to get myself some prismatic shields.
Not entirely convinced they're worth it but that's where the dilemma arises.

If there's actually FUN to be had with Powerplay then I'm up for it.
If, OTOH, it's just going to be another grind, of whatever kind, then I'll give it a miss.

Do I get to take on powerplay-related missions and get unique tasks to complete, or is it just a case of killing stuff (or doing something else over and over) to gain yet another kind of "rank"?

*EDIT*

FWIW, I'm completely neutral in any political stuff.
Don't give a toss who's ruling the galaxy or in charge of any systems etc.
I don't have any burning desire to see the federation/Empire/Alliance ruling the galaxy.
I'm just in it for the yucks.

 

[Jenner]

As much as I love Elite, and as much as I really *really* wanted to like Power Play.....

..meh?

I mean, sure...give it a shot. It didn't scratch the role play itch I hoped it would.

For me it's devoid of personality, which is ironic given that of all the updates to the game this one is centered on factions with unique leaders and all.

 

[sidereal6]

What do you find to be fun in the game right now?

Some people answer that question by listing specific activities. "I like to bounty hunt" for example. It doesn't really matter where they bounty hunt - they might jump systems to have a change of scenery, but otherwise they're all the same.

Other people answer that question in a way that essentially amounts to role playing. See, unlike a lot of games that present you with a single-player story that makes you the center of the universe (at the end of the story, you save the world and defeat the bad guy), elite doesn't give you any of that. Instead, it gives you is an environment with stuff going on in it, and you can choose to participate or not. For a lot of people, that's fun, but for others it's not.

If you're the first kind of person, then the only reason to join PP is to get the weapons or some extra money maybe. Beyond that, you wont find it to be fun. But if you're the second kind of person, you might find it fun. I guess it depends on how much imagination you have.

 

[Stealthie]

What do you find to be fun in the game right now?

Diversity.

I tend to spend a few hours running cargo missions, paying attention to what's going on in the places I visit, and then I go back in a trade-ship or a combat ship if I've found something where I might use them.
I also make a point of stopping off at a couple of USS's in every system I visit and then, when I've got a nice pile of bits, I'll go and get one of my ships pimped.

If PP offers anything like that, I'm up for it.
If it's just a case of doing the same thing over and over in pursuit of "rank" then I'm really over that whole idea.

 

[Flimley]

I have tried PP a couple of times. And didn't really feel I achieved anything at all....what so ever. It requires a dedicated and coordinated group to affect any real change.
ZH gave me some nice guns after a few weeks though, so not all pointless.

Flimley

 

[rjwhite41]

Diversity.

I tend to spend a few hours running cargo missions, paying attention to what's going on in the places I visit, and then I go back in a trade-ship or a combat ship if I've found something where I might use them.
I also make a point of stopping off at a couple of USS's in every system I visit and then, when I've got a nice pile of bits, I'll go and get one of my ships pimped.

If PP offers anything like that, I'm up for it.
If it's just a case of doing the same thing over and over in pursuit of "rank" then I'm really over that whole idea.

It all depends on how far you get into it. On the surface level it's just another grind. There are 4 activities in PP (dependent upon which power you choose). 1. Fortifying- Hauling packages from point A to point B. Unlike trading this costs credits instead of paying you credits. 2. Preparation- Same as fortifying except the packages have a different name and point A to point B is usually a shorter distance. 3. Expansion- For some powers this is more hauling of different titled packages and for others is a week long CZ. 4. Undermining- killing the same ships over and over again in enemy systems. Most people don't go any further than that and proclaim it just another grind (no one would argue that those activities aren't a grind).

However, if you get involved with the communities surrounding your chosen power you will find there is a lot more to it. For every mechanic I listed above you will find there is a strategy behind each and everyone as to when, where, why and how much to do each one. You will also find that every power has a dedicated BGS team (probably where you would find the most enjoyment) that have daily tasks and goals. You will find that some powers have dedicated PvP teams and/or player groups that you can get involved in to find more meaningful PvP, if you enjoy that sort of thing. Lastly, and most importantly, you will find a group of like-minded cmdrs to chat and play with. I encourage all cmdrs to give PP a proper chance by joining the organized players behind each power, mostly because of the last point I made.

 

[Valethar]

PP had potential. Now it's fairly stagnant, with several powers in a standoff just maintaining position.

Part of it is due to the choicer close-in systems already being taken, the rest is due to poor design and player apathy. Many people simply farm merits for whatever gear they want, then promptly forget PP exists at all.

When it was first announced, I thought there was going to be something more involved. It's turned out to be limiting in a lot of ways. If you want to go out and visit other areas, or even do CG's, you risk losing your rank unless you run back and chase merits before it the cycles resets again. The rank decay is way too steep to encourage staying with it for long when there are other things you might want to do. It basically encourages people to cluster in the 'home' space, instead of encouraging them to visit other places, which seems to me to be bass ackwards.

 

[Gunnet]

I enjoy PP, but it's entirely because I keep some moderate RP going. If you don't care about the leaders or superpowers, you probably won't get anything out of it aside from the modules.

If you do just want to get the modules it's not much of a grind. Sign up, completely ignore it until the fourth week, buy (should cost less than 10m credits all up, if memory serves) and deliver 750t of PP cargo before the tick, buy/store your modules after the tick and then leave the power if you want to.

 

[Martin Schou]

If you're doing it on your own, I have no doubt that you'll hate the ever living hell out of it. For PowerPlay to be enjoyable, you need to work with a group of players to achieve something in PowerPlay, be it as a group of saboteurs or working with existing power groups to get things done.

 

[mp4x]

Im in a similar boat. I'm largely happy with what I do in game, but I do wonder if PP will add an extra element to my existing game. I don't grind-play, so I'm not too likely to focus entirely on PP, but I like the idea that being aligned with someone will introduce extra yucks when I'm in the wrong side of the galaxy, as Stealthie said.

Worth it for someone in that situation?

 

[khaos526]

Doesn't the rep or your standing decrease (merit decay) over time if you don't keep doing favors for the PP? I thought I read something like that and that turned me off because I don't want to feel obligated to get on every day or so to keep up my standing or lose my previous work.

Now I assume though if you do get up to level to get the Prismatic shields you have them forever without needing to keep up the PP correct?

But that's what really made me feel like it's a timed grind that needs to be kept maintained and that was why I didn't care to invest in it at all after trying it out a couple of times and not getting far...

 

[Gunnet]

Doesn't the rep or your standing decrease (merit decay) over time if you don't keep doing favors for the PP? I thought I read something like that and that turned me off because I don't want to feel obligated to get on every day or so to keep up my standing or lose my previous work.

Now I assume though if you do get up to level to get the Prismatic shields you have them forever without needing to keep up the PP correct?

But that's what really made me feel like it's a timed grind that needs to be kept maintained and that was why I didn't care to invest in it at all after trying it out a couple of times and not getting far...

You lose roughly half your merits each week (I believe it's slightly more complex than that because it tracks how old merits are, but half is a good rule of thumb).

You can keep any modules you've bought forever. But you can only buy more while you have the right pledge and rating.

 

[khaos526]

You lose roughly half your merits each week (I believe it's slightly more complex than that because it tracks how old merits are, but half is a good rule of thumb).

You can keep any modules you've bought forever. But you can only buy more while you have the right pledge and rating.

Ok that was what I thought then in a round about sort of way and why I didn't bother with the PP...

 

[Pakhuis1973]

For me powerplay is the umbrella that covers all activities in game.
It gives more sense to activities like where to bounty hunt, where to fight in a war and for whom. Where to sell your exploration data.
This combined with a good and pleasant player group makes the game feel more alive to me.

 

[DNA-Decay]

If you're doing it on your own, I have no doubt that you'll hate the ever living hell out of it. For PowerPlay to be enjoyable, you need to work with a group of players to achieve something in PowerPlay, be it as a group of saboteurs or working with existing power groups to get things done.

And when you work with a group - it has to get political.

It's like football. It's no fun unless you have a team.
If you have a team it's lots of fun.

 

[Rubbernuke]

Powerplay, like others have said is a team game. Get involved with a group and its loads of fun.

Its the only part of the game that forced me to get up at 4am and snipe a preparation with a team working in convoy. Look beyond the exterior as its the people that make it.

 

[Jendrassik]

Powerplay, like others have said is a team game. Get involved with a group and its loads of fun.

Its the only part of the game that forced me to get up at 4am and snipe a preparation with a team working in convoy. Look beyond the exterior as its the people that make it.

Absolutely this. Powerplay is 100% about the community and working together against the clock.

There’s no point to it if you’re not a team player. You’ve got to be motivated by seeing your team and your friend succeed in their goals and beat the competition. Most of the time it’s pretty sedate, combining fortification cargo runs with changing system governments to reduce the amount of work you need to do, and planning your next moves. But some weeks it’s a balls-out hell-for-leather race when you’re in direct competition with other players and that can be really exciting.

I know a lot of people aren’t inspired by it, but the pre-built community, clear team goals and the satisfaction of seeing something you’ve worked on for months finally come off are the reason I keep playing ED.

 

[mp4x]

That all helps. I suppose I'll leave it, and see if I feel like joining an active power play group or until I want to earn the special weapons.

 

[Martin Schou]

That all helps. I suppose I'll leave it, and see if I feel like joining an active power play group or until I want to earn the special weapons.

Join the group anyway - I can't speak for all powers, but most will likely have an active community that will be happy to have you, even if you're not pledged. You can often help by working on the background simulation by running missions, trade, combat, exploration etc., and this type of help is also quite useful, and if you're relatively new to the game, this gives you people to play with, ask questions and get tips from.

 

[JetsonRING]

Basically, am I going to get any FUN out of it?

I was thinking of signing up to get myself some prismatic shields.
Not entirely convinced they're worth it but that's where the dilemma arises.
If there's actually FUN to be had with Powerplay then I'm up for it.
If, OTOH, it's just going to be another grind, of whatever kind, then I'll give it a miss.
Do I get to take on powerplay-related missions and get unique tasks to complete, or is it just a case of killing stuff (or doing something else over and over) to gain yet another kind of "rank"?
*EDIT*
FWIW, I'm completely neutral in any political stuff.
Don't give a toss who's ruling the galaxy or in charge of any systems etc.
I don't have any burning desire to see the federation/Empire/Alliance ruling the galaxy.
I'm just in it for the yucks.

Do you like getting shot at for no apparent reason? That's Power Play. Gives a whole bunch of CMDRs a new reason to shoot at you. o7