SO. MUCH. YES.
To those that do not understand what Powerplay adds to the game.
- Thread starter HeimdallofHavn
- Start date
SO. MUCH. YES.
When I came into Elite: Dangerous after the Steam release a few months ago, I kind of presumed that it was at least up to the level of X3 (a seven year old game), because I recalled Braben's spiel about the Gold Rush economics he was so fascinated by. So, like in X, I was expecting there were NPCs actually mining, hauling and trading in and between systems. A living economy that would be interesting and fscinating to learn to trade and exploit. I was very disappointed when I discovered it was just a spreadsheet simulator, with you mindlessly trucking between identical stations with different stats, hardly any different from 1984.
I'm close to letting go I think, at least for a prolonged period of time, until I see some proper updates that give me a reason to play, besides popping to a RES to get a combat fix every now and then. There's simply too many better games out that I'm not playing while I'm wasting time with out-dated mechanics in this one.
The other thing with that is they can just use their developer's console to give themselves as many credits as they need whenever they want something new. I don't believe for a minute they actually spend their own precious leisure time playing this game.
OP:
Point (1) of bringing players together : I agree as something (anything) was required by FD to make people care about the game. Accumulating wealth is all very well for an act in itself but for most people that act alone will become tiresome.
Point (2) is illogical - the powers were introduced as a way of presenting a risk game in space. That's the reduction of power play to it's most basic, only the actual players of the game are NPCs and the pieces that move about the board are you. FD themselves called it space-risk and I honestly don't understand why they introduce such a slap-on overlay as this. All the powers from the outset are hostile to each other (though some are more tolerant of each other due to them being from the same major power) and there's nothing you, nor any player, can do about it.
Pilots can band together and "agree" on anything you want but the game does not support your decision. If you, as players in opposing powers, "agree" (or should I say self appointed "leaders" agree on something - they don't speak for the entire power but only a tiny subset of players) that you are no longer hostile the game doesn't reflect this wish. It's irrelevant what you agree as you can't enforce it, other than to arbitrarily handicap yourself in a similar way that I do with self imposed IM. (Die - delete your character. That's a personal preference but the game doesn't care about that; other players are not required to follow suit; it's basically irrelevant what I decide to the overall progression of the game. I still do this of course as it's my choice, just like it's your choice to call and enact a cease fire, but the game doesn't and won't reflect your views)
Already repped you earlier for your intelligent post - have another +1 as this quote sums up how I feel about PP.
Point (1) of bringing players together : I agree as something (anything) was required by FD to make people care about the game. Accumulating wealth is all very well for an act in itself but for most people that act alone will become tiresome.
Point (2) is illogical - the powers were introduced as a way of presenting a risk game in space. That's the reduction of power play to it's most basic, only the actual players of the game are NPCs and the pieces that move about the board are you. FD themselves called it space-risk and I honestly don't understand why they introduce such a slap-on overlay as this. All the powers from the outset are hostile to each other (though some are more tolerant of each other due to them being from the same major power) and there's nothing you, nor any player, can do about it.
Pilots can band together and "agree" on anything you want but the game does not support your decision. If you, as players in opposing powers, "agree" (or should I say self appointed "leaders" agree on something - they don't speak for the entire power but only a tiny subset of players) that you are no longer hostile the game doesn't reflect this wish. It's irrelevant what you agree as you can't enforce it, other than to arbitrarily handicap yourself in a similar way that I do with self imposed IM. (Die - delete your character. That's a personal preference but the game doesn't care about that; other players are not required to follow suit; it's basically irrelevant what I decide to the overall progression of the game. I still do this of course as it's my choice, just like it's your choice to call and enact a cease fire, but the game doesn't and won't reflect your views)
Already repped you earlier for your intelligent post - have another +1 as this quote sums up how I feel about PP.
Hm. Somehow, I still don't understand what PP brings into ED... An impenetrable turn-based strategy mechanic? I don't know.
Yeah, powerplay is a bit technical and still void of sould AND lore.
There is not even a character bio in the powerplay UI.
To me that would have been an obvious and zero effort thing to add. What do you think Drew?
When Kahina becomes a power and I defect, I want a biography and it needs to include who she boosts inside Federation station, the legend of legends that she is
I think the OP makes some good points. Clearly there is a desire for many players to be 'tribal' and join a cause. What remains missing for me is a reason to 'join the cause'.
I haven't joined a power because:
A: Little interests me given I can only play 2 hours a week.
B: None of the characters engage me at all.
Some of the characters were introduced a little during the GalNet articles, but none have what I would call a real 'backstory' (at least, not one that has been revealed to us). They have all just 'appeared' in the Lore. I will reveal that none of these characters existed when the writers were writing their books, so they are a relatively new entrance to the Elite universe.
An example of what I mean is as follows. Aisling could be:
A - A pretty piece of fluff and a mouthpiece for Patreus
B - She could genuinely be trying to revolutionise the Empire and move away from Slavery
C - She could be pandering to anti-slavery sympathisers to win a popular vote just to get into power at which point she'll return to Imperial norms.
Without knowing where she came from, her background, or what she has done previously before appearing on the stage, we've got no way to evaluate her character. It's complete guesswork. If whoever is behind these characters wants to end up with a 'Game Of Thrones in Space' storyline (nothing wrong with that) these people can't afford to be in a vacuum (ahem!). A bit like Daenerys Targaryen, we should see her overcome obstacles and rise to power - not just be in power. A whole piece of the story has been skipped.
I would follow Daenerys in a heartbeat - because I like her integrity, sense of purpose. She can make the tough decisions and will dish out justice. She can deliver on what she promises. I have faith in her. You know you must be utterly loyal... or not.
Aisling? A few poorly thought out (so it seems so far) populist rambles about slavery. Sorry, my dear, you haven't convinced me.
Thus players don't care much, because there's not much to care about.
I hope with my character from Elite:Reclamation (Senator Kahina Tijani Loren, currently residing on Achenar, but not a current power player) players/readers at least have the opportunity to decide what kind of person she is based on where she came from.
By contrast, Kahina has the following backstory. (Spoiler hidden if you haven't read my book)
- She starts out as a spoiled Imperial brat
- She is abused and used as a pawn by her Imperial family (to be married off for political gain)
- She is trained in secret to be a fighter and military strategist
- She is betrayed by those she felt she could trust
- Due to reasons completely beyond her control she is stripped of privilege and forced to live a miserable existence far from civilised space
- She learns the value of real friends, friends that she would never have considered prior to her experiences
- This ultimately teaches her compassion and allows her to see past the Imperial Propaganda
- She fights for her own system against rebel and Federation Intrigue - and wins
- She makes peaceful overtures to the Alliance and the Federation afterwards
- She has a bit of a problem with authority and has a habit of breaking established rules and process
- She really doesn't like being late
- She is abused and used as a pawn by her Imperial family (to be married off for political gain)
- She is trained in secret to be a fighter and military strategist
- She is betrayed by those she felt she could trust
- Due to reasons completely beyond her control she is stripped of privilege and forced to live a miserable existence far from civilised space
- She learns the value of real friends, friends that she would never have considered prior to her experiences
- This ultimately teaches her compassion and allows her to see past the Imperial Propaganda
- She fights for her own system against rebel and Federation Intrigue - and wins
- She makes peaceful overtures to the Alliance and the Federation afterwards
- She has a bit of a problem with authority and has a habit of breaking established rules and process
- She really doesn't like being late
Kahina 'Boosting' inside a station and effectively giving Mars High traffic control the 'middle-finger' is a my way of showing you her character. I don't need to say "She's a feisty girl who has little tolerance for authority" - you can see that. This is simply called 'Show don't tell" in writing circles. You'll expect to see her baiting authority whenever she gets the chance. That does and will continue to get her into trouble.
You may or may not 'like' Kahina as a character, but you do know where she's coming from. Those on the forum and reddit who have asked for Kahina to be a power in the game have done so not at my bidding, but because here is a character they can relate to, care about and want to be associated with. (Or just want to see more of her antics)
This is why many are playing 'PowerPlay', and it's the wrong reason. (IMHO). Not because of the cause or the characters, but because of the shiny.
There's a difference between a compelling character and a nice picture who hands out a special weapon/upgrade after a few weeks of playing.
It's called 'writing'.
Cheers,
Drew.
ps. Kahina does have a biography! - See my sig.
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I sincerely hope that someone from FDev reads your post here Drew. Immersion is sadly lacking in the game and it's really turning me off to the future of Elite. This is a way to restore it and bring the feel of the game to where it should be.
Frontier are in receipt of a proposal from me that, I think, provides a very compelling, adventurous, intriguing, mysterious and (occasionally) maddening quest throughout space.
It's entirely up to them if they run with it. If not, I will continue to write my stories, but my input to Elite as a franchise will sadly stop until Frontier decides otherwise.
I (and I imagine many of the other writers of the fiction books) stand ready to assist. Frontier has our contact details.
Cheers,
Drew.
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I bought ED at premium backer level to play Elite... the game described in the ddf and promised in the kick staarter. If I wanted to play fantasy football with spaceships I'm sure I'd be happy right now. Glad you're enjoying PP, but it's not the game I signed on for though. Considering backing/playing Rogue System instead.
I don't understand you?
Bring a bottle of champaigne from France to Finland and change everything. Riots in France and Finland throwing the champaigne away because they only touch vodka?
People who expect their trade runs, their little thing to change the galaxy, systems have not really understood the game I think
THANK YOU for this. My thoughts are along the same line. Have some rep.
How much can an individual (not born politician) affect your state's politics? Your country's? Even your own local school- or city-board decisions? At least in PowerPlay, we can see the puppeteer strings - can you say the same about real-life national politics? Local politics?
Reading these threads, I can't help but see a lot of naivete in the stances taken by many. Yes, I have my own opinion of PP; some changes need making, some things adjusting. But people's views that, as an individual or a small group, you can affect whole star systems' politics without being super-rich or in with the mongers is very small thinking.
DISCLOSURE: I did not pledge nor intend to - I am a trader and must be as neutral as I can be (in a strict RP way) because my livelyhood depends on goodwill & my business reputation.
Yes, one player should not have an unreasonable about of impact on a system. But when you get 40 players trading non-stop with a common goal, you should be able to have an effect. Currently, you cannot. It doesn't matter how many people you pull together, trading still has absolutely no effect on the game economy any deeper than making the supply and demand numbers deplete for a few hours. That's as deep as the economy goes, whether it be 1 player or 1000 players.
I agree with many of your points.
The unknows artifact incident was really fascinating, and hopefully Frontier Development noticed how it even got the attention of the gaming press and led to presumably more sales.
Hopefully they have not dropped the ball with that one, and some new developments should be introduced as soon as possible in my opinion.
They could even involve the different powers into it to deepen the lore and experience from both ends - solo players and power players...
I just hope the message is not just "stop slavery stupid" in Thargoidese
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Yea... my trail got removed, too...
I utterly support you GluttonyFang,
I will go and bump your thread.
There had to be some other way to get rid of "station bombing"
Why introduce cargo collecting drones, then reduce their reason for being needed in the first place...
Cheers.