Power Play Launch Prep

[albert]

Hi Commanders,

Having spent a little time acclimatising to the new Powerplay Beta it looks like we'll all be in for a shock.....

You will see a new Galaxy map and one tab will display the Powerplay map showing the territorial strength of various key figures from the 3 major factions and one independent leader (only one Alliance leader).

Each Leader will give you things for backing them, from weapons, to mining lasers, shield generators to credits. All are different.

The Game Admins and I would like our community to focus on one goal and try to play as a team to help one faction.

But.... rather than dive in right away we will be playing the waiting game to see how the landscape develops and trying to gather more info from the forums and in game to help make the right(ish) choices.

The reasons for this are:

- When you follow a faction, you lose rep immediately with every other faction, especially all your hard won rep with the 3 major factions.
- You will be hunted! You become Hostile in systems where you are not aligned!
- If your ships are dispersed all over the galaxy then you may want to think about moving them to our preferred eventual home sector(s).

Your active missions will be wiped out at the time of the upgrade (no penalties will be extracted for non-completion) but you must hand in all bounties or mission rewards before the update which will be possibly next week. Community Goals will persist.

- If you have any doubts about your load out, then sell your components before the update because afterwards you will lose 10% value (may change during the Beta but you've been warned!).

So my questions to everyone are 1) Would we be better all moving towards one location (one that does not require a permit)? 2) Which system/ station would be the preferred meeting point?

In the coming week, I'll be getting with Arithon and Sneakytiger to make some decisions on faction backing but this is the opportunity for you to make your voice heard before anything is set in stone (or jelly depending on the feeling of the community)!

I know this is a lot to take in but I hope I can count on the team and community collaborative effort that dMw is well known for.

See you in the void Cmdrs!

[ZigZag]

Which system/ station would be the preferred meeting point?

Like the Bard said, "I'm easy like Sunday morning" - apropos of nothing, I failed GCSE English. I haven't had much chance to play recently. Last time I did, I was monkeying around near Gliese 868/Ra in a newly minted Cobra (which desperately needs better everything) but I don't have any real attachment to systems/factions so I'll just follow you guys.

I know we did the vote a while ago, can't recall the outcome but I think the majority was Empire? Thats fine by me. The Empire are pragmatic b******s, the Federation are ineffective and corrupt and the Alliance... well, at least they showed up?

[albert]

Some more insight for those interesting in reading up:

http://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/37cejq/powerplay_list_of_powers_spoilers/

Only one player is 100% trade and finance driven:

Edmund Mahon (Alliance)

His weapon seems rather interesting as well.

Edmund Mahon (Alliance) - Retribution (small laser beam causes enhanced heat damage)

[Sneakytiger]

from what i can see it's gonna be a choice of feds or empire its just a matter of who we go with.
i'd say we put it to a vote of which 1 we want to go with,i'm sure oldie could put a vote system thing up on the forums.
http://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/37cejq/powerplay_list_of_powers_spoilers/

[Ranualf]

This guys posts a very nice article http://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/37zvsr/powerplay_mechanics_in_action_fun/, and the replies make a lot of sense...I think we may have to choose wisely about just who we want and how big their empire is/ will be... seems to be a lot more to the system mechanics than just scratching the surface.

I can foresee certain "big ships" cough cough ANACONDA Cough having to take a fuel limpet drone system and a few fuel cells with them for the "behind enemy lines" missions.. and tbh, it looks great fun, but it can turn into a clusterduck fast...

Overall, from what i`m reading it looks to be great, with a great deal of talk about the weapons and powers who are not yet active..

Edit: Ryski112
Wow, and suddenly the Diamondback seems useful. Think about it, pretty much the only thing going for the Diamondback over a Viper or Cobra is its jump range. Perhaps a Diamondback would be better for those long trips into enemy territory. Feels like what it was designed for

Seems the waiting game has started!
Now for something to relax to...
[video=youtube;rzM7R6Vzp4s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzM7R6Vzp4s[/video]

[Ranualf]

I also found this useful bit of information...well its a lot actually, but knowledge is power!
What is it- its only the official power play PDF document, explaining stuff- so GO GET IT and do some home work lads!:rtfm:
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=147543

[ArithonUK]

I’ve done some research to ascertain some hopefully relevant information about the ten powers. Not just what cool toys they offer as perks to allies, but how far their homeworlds are from Founders World, what their goals are and what trade is like in their neck of the woods. Or not, in one case!
Perks are available to allies after four weeks where they have rating 3 (top 50%).
Trades were calculated using a Thrudd search for profitable trades of 30Lyr or less in a 30Lyr range of the ally homeworld.
 
1 Zachary Hudson (Federation)

Ethos: Preparation/Combat, Expansion/Combat, Control/Combat
Perks: Pacifier Frag-Cannon (large frag cannon with decreased damage but increased range and tighter spread)
Benefits:  Bounties awarded are increased by 20% in  controlled or exploited systems, increased by your  standing level 3, 2 or 1 to 30%, 40% or 50% reduction respectively. In Empire/Alliance & others security 40% less. In Federation security is 20% higher and weapons are 10% off. In controlled systems Imperial slaves are banned, Shipyards all stock DIamonback and Dropship, weapons are 10% off and security is increased by 30%.
Homeworld: Nanomam â€" 82.03LY From Shinrarta Dezhra
Nearest extraction system:
Nearest high-tech system:
Current best trade: 20.01Ly         2255 CR Total
LHS 3549 (Carey Station) 10ls Superconductors â†' Anlave (Hogg City) 1075ls
Buy: 6511 (6h 35m)
Sell: 7474 (1h 35m)
Profit: 963
Anlave (Hogg City) 1075ls Progenitor Cells â†' LHS 3549 (Carey Station) 10ls
Buy: 6154 (1h 35m)
Sell: 7446 (6h 35m)
Profit: 1292
 
2 Felicia Winters (Federation)

Ethos: Preparation/Social, Expansion/Finance, Control/Finance
Perks: Pulse Disruptor (medium pulse weapon, causes module malfunction)
Benefits:  Any positive influence change is increased by 10% in controlled  or exploited  systems,  increased by your standing level 3, 2 or 1 to 15%,  20% or 25% increase  respectively. In Federation 20% more security, double production and consumption of basic foods and medicine and imperial slaves are banned. In Alliance/Indepenent doubled production and consumption of basic foods and medicine and imperial slaves are banned. In the Empire Imperial Slaves are 10% increased in cost.
Homeworld: Rhea â€" 56.03LY From Shinrarta Dezhra
Nearest extraction system:
Nearest high-tech system:
Current best trade: 20.26Ly         2304 CR Total
Neche (Descartes Station) 379ls Progenitor Cells â†' Namte (Johnson Orbital) 20ls
Buy: 6691 (1d 0h 20m)
Sell: 7431 (5h 35m)
Profit: 740
Namte (Johnson Orbital) 20ls Gold â†' Neche (Descartes Station) 379ls
Buy: 8744 (5h 34m)
Sell: 10308 (1d 0h 20m)
Profit: 1564
 
3 Arissa Lavigny-Duval (Empire)

Ethos: Preparation/Social, Expansion/Combat, Control/Combat
Perks: Imperial Hammer (multi shot rail gun)
Benefits:  Bounties awarded are increased by 20% in  controlled or exploited systems, increased by your  standing level 3, 2 or 1 to 30%, 40% or 50% reduction respectively. In  Federation/Empire/Alliance & others bounty is 20% more and black  markets pay 20% less. In controlled systems fines and bounties are doubled, pay outs for bounty are 20% extra, security is increased and black markets are closed.
Homeworld: Kamadhenu â€" 135.68LY From Shinrarta Dezhra
Nearest extraction system:
Nearest high-tech system:
Current best trade: 24.24Lyr       1661 CR Total
Kamadhenu (Couper Hub) 1072ls Marine Equipment â†' Yenici (Paola Hub) 52ls
Buy: 3752 (1d 14h 12m)
Sell: 4846 (1d 15h 16m)
Profit: 1094
Yenici (Paola Hub) 52ls Animal Meat â†' Kamadhenu (Couper Hub) 1072ls
Buy: 1058 (1d 15h 16m)
Sell: 1625 (1d 14h 12m)
Profit: 567
 
4 Zemina Torval (Empire)

Ethos: Preparation/Finance, Expansion/Finance, Control/Covert
Perks: Mining Lance (mining lase capable of inflicting combat damage)
Benefits:  Trade profit in a controlled/exploited system is  rewarded with a voucher worth 5%, increased by your standing level 3, 2  or 1 to 10%, 15% or 20% increase respectively. In controlled systems you  get 20% off Imperial slaves and mined materials. In Federation/Alliance/Independent 10% reduction of price for mined material due to market flooding.  Imperial ships available at all shipyards. In the Empire production(!) and consumption(?) of Imperial Slaves is doubled.
Homeworld: Synteini â€" 27LY From Shinrarta Dezhra
Nearest extraction system:
Nearest high-tech system:
Current best trade: 19.04Ly         2087 CR Total
Jeterait (McIntosh Terminal) 19ls Superconductors â†' Gongalungul (Andoyer Station) 61ls
Buy: 6179 (14h 13m)
Sell: 7504 (4h 23m)
Profit: 1325
Gongalungul (Andoyer Station) 61ls Indite â†' Jeterait (McIntosh Terminal) 19ls
Buy: 1855 (4h 23m)
Sell: 2617 (14h 13m)
Profit: 762
 
5 Edmund Mahon (Alliance)

Ethos: Preparation/Finance, Expansion/Finance, Control/Finance
Perks: Retribution (small laser beam causes enhanced heat damage)
Benefits:  Trade profit in a controlled/exploited system is rewarded with a voucher worth 5%, increased by your standing level 3, 2 or 1 to 10%, 15% or 20% increase respectively. In controlled systems you get 20% off hull reinforcement and cargo racks and 10% off agricultural goods and equipment. In Federation/Empire 50% reduction of production/consumption of agri-goods and 10% price increase of the same. In Alliance/Independent 10% price increase on agri-foods, 10% price decrease on agri-equipment and four times consumption of both.
Homeworld: Gateway â€" 94.17LY From Shinrarta Dezhra
Nearest extraction system:
Nearest high-tech system:
Current best trade: 29.42Ly         2250 CR Total
Tellus (Ahern Enterprise) 204ls Consumer Technology â†' BD+31 2373 (Lopez De Villalobos Terminal) 50ls
Buy: 6639 (3h 11m)
Sell: 7496 (15h 4m)
Profit: 857
BD+31 2373 (Lopez De Villalobos Terminal) 50ls Gold â†' Tellus (Ahern Enterprise) 204ls
Buy: 8804 (15h 4m)
Sell: 10197 (19h 44m)
Profit: 1393
 
6 Denton Patreus (Empire)

Ethos: Preparation/Finance, Expansion/Combat, Control/Combat
Perks: Advanced Accelerator (specialist plasma weapon)
Benefits:  In Federation/Alliance & others 10% off high-value goods to cover new taxes. 30% extra consumption and production of high-value goods. 10% extra paid for high-value goods. In controlled systems Imperial slaves are legal and Imperial ships are all 10% off.
Homeworld: Eotienses â€" 123.55LY From Shinrarta Dezhra
Nearest extraction system:
Nearest high-tech system:
Current best trade: 14.95Ly         2376 CR Total
Aymifa (Hunziker Orbital) 825ls Beryllium â†' Fawaol (Sutter Hub) 1041ls
Buy: 7628 (3h 31m)
Sell: 8985 (3h 5m)
Profit: 1357
Fawaol (Sutter Hub) 1041ls Resonating Separators â†' Aymifa (Hunziker Orbital) 825ls
Buy: 5602 (8h 17m)
Sell: 6621 (3h 31m)
Profit: 1019
 
7 Aisling Duval (Empire)

Ethos: Preparation/Social, Expansion/Finance, Control/Social
Perks: Prismatic Shield Generator (particularly strong shields)
Benefits:  Any influence change is increased by 10% in controlled  or exploited  systems,  increased by your standing level 3, 2 or 1 to 15%,  20% or 25% increase  respectively. In Federation/Empire/Alliance & others slaves are  banned and production and consumption of high-value goods increases. In  controlled systems imperial slaves are illegal. 10% extra on high-value goods. Security level raised. Increased production and consumption of high value goods.
Homeworld: Cubeo â€" 196.28LY From Shinrarta Dezhra
Nearest extraction system:
Nearest high-tech system:
Current best trade: 16.42Ly         1970 CR Total
Karsuki Ti (West Market) 28ls Tobacco â†' Cubeo (Adelman Station) 425ls
Buy: 4338 (1d 4h 16m)
Sell: 5401 (7h 7m)
Profit: 1063
Cubeo (Adelman Station) 425ls Marine Equipment â†' Karsuki Ti (West Market) 28ls
Buy: 3752 (7h 7m)
Sell: 4659 (1d 4h 16m)
Profit: 907
 
8 Li Yong-Rui (Independent)

Ethos: Preparation/Social, Expansion/Finance, Control/Finance
Perks: Pack-hound rack (medium seeker missile that fires a salvo of "drunk" missiles)
Benefits:  Ship insurance cost is reduced by 5% in controlled or exploited systems, increased by your standing level 3, 2 or 1 to 10%, 15% or 20% reduction respectively. In controlled systems the price paid for high-tech goods is 20% higher and all shipyards will stock Cobra, Diamondback, Asp and Python with outfitting discounted by 15%.
Homeworld: Lembava â€" 165.83LY From Shinrarta Dezhra
Nearest extraction system:
Nearest high-tech system:
Current best trade: 9.36Ly           1044 CR Total
Yimakuapa (Frobisher Terminal) 33ls Consumer Technology â†' Momus Reach (Tartarus Point) 416ls
Buy: 6422 (21h 15m)
Sell: 6949 (4h 12m)
Profit: 527
Momus Reach (Tartarus Point) 416ls Resonating Separators â†' Yimakuapa (Frobisher Terminal) 33ls
Buy: 5986 (4h 11m)
Sell: 6503 (21h 11m)
Profit: 517
 
9 Archon Delaine (Undefined)

Ethos: Preparation/Combat, Expansion/Combat, Control/Social
Perks: Cytoscrambler (burst laser, highly effective against shields, but no hull damage)
Benefits:  Bounties and fines incurred are reduced by 20% in controlled or exploited systems, increased by your  standing level 3, 2 or 1 to 30%, 40% or 50% reduction respectively. In Federation/Empire/Alliance & others security is halved and black markets pay 20% more. In controlled systems all weapons, slaves, narcotics and medicines are legal with huge increase in production and there will always be a black market paying an extra 25%.
Homeworld: Harma â€" 194.25LY From Shinrarta Dezhra
Nearest extraction system:
Nearest high-tech system:
Current best trade: 29.42Ly         2250 CR Total
Tellus (Ahern Enterprise) 204ls Consumer Technology â†' BD+31 2373 (Lopez De Villalobos Terminal) 50ls
Buy: 6639 (3h 11m)
Sell: 7496 (15h 4m)
Profit: 857
BD+31 2373 (Lopez De Villalobos Terminal) 50ls Gold â†' Tellus (Ahern Enterprise) 204ls
Buy: 8804 (15h 4m)
Sell: 10197 (19h 44m)
Profit: 1393
 
10 Pranav Antal (Independent)

Ethos: Preparation/Social, Expansion/Social, Control/Covert
Perks: Enforcer Cannon (reduced fire rate but improved damage)
Benefits:  Positive influence change is increased by 5% in controlled or exploited systems,  increased by your standing level 3, 2 or 1 to 10%, 15% or 20% increase respectively. In Federation/Empire/Alliance & others black markets pay an extra 20% but fines are 50% more. In controlled systems all black markets are closed, fines and bounties are double and all Narcotics, slaves and most medicines are illegal.
Homeworld: Polevnic â€" 181.98LY From Shinrarta Dezhra
Nearest extraction system:
Nearest high-tech system:
Current best trade: none

EDITED TO ADD POWER BENEFITS.

[albert]

We've been having discussions on TS to look at the pro's and con's of each Power group and try to fit one or two with the way dMw play the game and our ethos of teamwork.

I was concerned about each of us maintaining our reputation with the major factions but that will be difficult since there is a new reputation decay solution coming in 1.3 where over time you slip from Allied to Neutral (20 days or so offline). The only way to keep your rep up at Allied level is to take missions for each major faction. It also means hostile status also naturally moved back to unfriendly over time.

So far my personal thinking around the possible outcomes of the Powerplay first few weeks are that:

- Folks will probably get the impression Frontier are putting a lot of weight with the Empire. This will drive players to support the other major factions.
- The Federation are not generally backed unless there is a good community reward.
- Cmdrs tend to flock to the underdog, Alliance or Independent rather than back the Empire or Federation in a conflict. It's very possible this will happen from the moment the PowerPlay update comes out.
- dMw players tend to either a) work as a group to participate in conflict based missions or more often b) trade a lot as a group and share the knowledge of where to make credits.

So we have a few options based on this:

- Back an Independent (Li Yong-Rui or Pranav Antal) or the Undefined (Archon Delaine). Li is Finance and trade based which fits well with our trading ethos, Pranav is social which is a little wooly to me and Archon is combat based. All have homeworlds a long way from the central points (Shinrarta Dezhra). Archon as has good trade route in his area right now which might be a positive indication that we could fight for him but trade nearby with good profit.
- Back Edmund Mahon, homeworld close to Shinrarta, all Finance oriented and has a few good trade routes close to the homeworld.
- Both Archon and and Edmund are on the extremities of the bubble of powers so have outward expansion potential.
- Zeta and Beta Trianguli Australis are both Independent and are not owned by any power. Zeta Guest City is our current homebase (no DIY references) and it may be easier to wait out the initial update there.
- Avoid Empire and Federation entirely.

I'll issue one command to our fleet. Once we have decided on who to back and where to base ourselves. Each dMw player should make their way to the homeworld in time for the 1.3 update being deployed. One ship there is fine but you can move your entire fleet there if you wish.

We're still open to suggestions and logical thinking around this whole PowerPlay thing but as it stands the above ideas are what we consider the logical choices.

[OldBloke]

Excellent information.

I trust you and your team to make the right decision so tell me what to do and where to go and I'm sorted

[ShadowFax75]

Haven't played this game in a while, because I got a bit bored. But this seems really interesting to me.

[Sn00ks]

Do you have to join a faction and if you didn't what would be the impact on your status? Could we be independents that float about lending a hand where they feel it is most required, make money where we can.
Freebooters in the grand old British tradition, living life on the high seas, taking our pleasure where and when we want. A tot of rum each day and a weevil infested biscuit to suck on with our scurvy infected gums.

[albert]

Excellent information.

I trust you and your team to make the right decision so tell me what to do and where to go and I'm sorted

You must be mad!

[albert]

Do you have to join a faction and if you didn't what would be the impact on your status? Could we be independents that float about lending a hand where they feel it is most required, make money where we can.
Freebooters in the grand old British tradition, living life on the high seas, taking our pleasure where and when we want. A tot of rum each day and a weevil infested biscuit to suck on with our scurvy infected gums.

You mean we all get to look like this:

https://a2-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/37/d31650434ccd91505700a2ad25306350/300x300.jpg

Seriously. If we do not join a faction, reputation/ status will decay from allied downwards and recover from hostile upwards over time and eventually we'll be neutral with all factions.

Frontier have stated that there will be definite benefits to being aligned to a Power Faction. Now I read the PDF here that Sneaky found: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=147543 and it pretty much explains the dynamics and this topic: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=149489 which explains the way rep will decay. I think there are 2 points to be gleaned from the reputation article. 1) You'll have to work pretty hard to stay allied with all factions if you stay neutral but will remain allied with one of them if you join their cause and 2) If you do not have ranking already, you will struggle to get high enough to buy a Dropship or Clipper from the update. So I recommend getting to the required levels fast as it's unlikely Frontier will reset your military rank in the Empire or Federation.

In the PDF page 8 is important:

PLEDGE BENEFITSPledge benefits are available at the various ratings for a power. As rating increases, additional powerplay cargois made available, as well as increased preparation votes. These benefits are the same across all powers.In addition, each power has one or more unique benefits. Such benefits might include reduced costs inoutfitting or increased rewards for bounties.You can see what the pledge benefits are for a power by looking at the “Pledge” tab for the power in thepowerplay interface.

@ArithonUK - Could you add the benefits for each power to your handy reference post above please? The screenshots are here: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=150199 and you will see that The Alliance power will help it's members make profit through agricultural good prices, handy since there are some very large wealthy agrri systems near Gateway, their homeworld.

This pretty much sums up what we as a community should be thinking when playing E:D as a team: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=149366

Lots of info here


Edit: Basically if you are a trader, Edmund Mahon is your man for aggri goods and Li Yong-Rui is your person for High Tech goods. Archon the Undefined power is your drug dealing pimp.

[ArithonUK]

@ArithonUK - Could you add the benefits for each power to your handy reference post above please?

Done!

[ZigZag]

If you do not have ranking already, you will struggle to get high enough to buy a Dropship or Clipper from the update. So I recommend getting to the required levels fast as it's unlikely Frontier will reset your military rank in the Empire or Federation.

Thats me out then, I haven't had much time to devote to the game completely so never made much headway with any faction (perhaps I'm being dullwitted but the whole faction thing was a tad obtuse), tending just to drift from system to system, doing some jobs before moving on. 'Tis a shame, I quite liked the Clipper. Oh well. Much like OB, I'm content to let wiser, more well-read minds decide and I'll happily follow along.

with our scurvy infected gums.

Hey man, my gums are lush and space-worthy. Don't be slandering my gums.