Worth it to start playing again?

Maltavius · May 31, 2015

So in a month or so I'll become a father, I'll have even less time than I have right now to play any games.

Last time I played ED was a while after 1.2 and I managed to grind a couple of CGs to get some millions. Since then I haven't even logged in. I read about and wait for the Powerplay Update but the more I read the more I get scared. It seems like it's all turned into Community Goals, grinding on a weekly basis. I don't have time for that... It took me since launch to get friendly with the Federation and now it seems like if I manage to get a higher level of trust with the federation it will decay and I'll be back to where I started a couple of weeks after that...

I'm sort of happy with my Vulture, but for me there isn't anything drawing me in to play, other than the chance of flying another (bigger) ship. But that will take a whole lot of time, time I could spend on another game.

My X52 Pro is standing collecting dust while I play Witcher 3 on my PS4 instead as it is now.

Should I wait for 2.0 instead and see what the game has become?
Star Citizen will be out next year (knock on wood).

Elgered · May 31, 2015

You already have the game!
Come! Have a look and enjoy or decide not to play for a while!

The only thing you need to do is, log in and start the game!

Alex Brentnall · May 31, 2015

I don't think your standing with the factions decay, only with the "power player person" you support (patreus, Hudson, Duval etc). Your Federation/Imperial ranking and status shouldn't be affected.
Yes it does look more grindy and geared towards high hours per week players but bigger things have changed after player responses before.

I'd check back in 2-3 weeks and see what the actual powerplay looks like once Devs make changes from Beta. After that you can decide what you want to do. Maybe try a different profession like exploring/mining so its not a "grind" anymore.
Thats a problem many people have, their goal from the game is to get the biggest/best ships when the goal should be make money by having fun and enjoying the game.

Either way I'd leave it until PP comes out properly and take a look. The best idea is probably to keep up with the weekly newsletters to see if anything takes your interest since they only take 10minutes to read a week.

Edit: Can't believe I forgot but Congratulations and best of luck!

Further Edit: On further comments, people talking about smaller indie games like plants vs zombies I can recommend a pausable space game called "FTL" that dragged my attention for a number of hours I won't even care to admit but is very easy to pause/quit and resume without any problems.

RancidRance · May 31, 2015

I agree with Elgered, best way to find out is to do it, maybe join a group to get more out of the game.

Also, congrats!

Perseus · May 31, 2015

Congratulations on your forthcoming fatherhood - it'll be the best thing you ever do.

Being restricted (by playtime) can make things more valuable/enjoyable but this can also be coloured by your gameplay motivation. ED should continue to be developed so maybe when you get time playing, you'll be more into it.

emacinnes · May 31, 2015

You answered your own question really, if the baby's due in a month, the only time you're going to have for any game that requires more than 5 minutes, is now. After mini-you appears, it's 2-3 years of, really, no practical game time beyond plants v zombies.

Logging in now gets access to the powerplay beta, and powerplay itself is entirely optional. The bounty missions have been improved, the AI is harder, gfx are smoother, and also everything's really cheap, so you can sell your vulture at full price (as it'll have copied over from the live game), and buy every ship in the game, including the 2 new ones (you'll still get your vulture back in live). The Anaconda is currently only 1.4mil in the Beta, try that one out, or the FDL, etc.. etc.. the imperial courier is rank-unlocked and is 222,000, so give your self a 1 month "elite blowout" (assuming the beta lasts that long).

Ancipital · May 31, 2015

emacinnes said:
You answered your own question really, if the baby's due in a month, the only time you're going to have for any game that requires more than 5 minutes, is now. After mini-you appears, it's 2-3 years of, really, no practical game time beyond plants v zombies.

I have it on good authority that Kerbal Space Program is compatible with caring for unpredictable small children, too

WO-One · May 31, 2015

You don't have to join a faction, you don't have to grind your gaming life away.

You can log in and play when you feel like it, Res bashing as lucrative ever, Mining is now a little more lucrative, there are 3 classes of USS to hunt for, Combat zones are likely to be more common as powers battle it out having started a takeover and there are now resistance zones but not sure if these are visible or open to non-faction players.

xDreadnoughtx · May 31, 2015

Congratulations! I hope it will be as much a defining moment for you as it was for me....two times so far.

As for ED.

Don't grind. Forget the time based stuff. Forget PP mechanisms. The only race to a goal would be the one you set yourself.

If you are hell bent on winning everything in games/sport/life, then I would say from experience fatherhood might change your perspectives. It did for me. My 2 girls regularly remind me to get a grip, and they are 3 and 6.

Very best of luck to you.

Maltavius · Jun 1, 2015

Thanks everyone for all the answers!

I'll take a break and finish Witcher 3 before all hell breaks loose and then I'll revisit ED when it has had some time to mature.

I'll be back!

CorruptedSoul · Jun 1, 2015

Selling the kid on the black market can get you a nice down payment on a stock FDL. Not to mention all that free time... Just sayin.