Pledging Alligance

[Skorne Tet'Zu]

Greetings Captains:

Can anyone explain to me (or lead me to an explanation) of what Pledging to a faction really does... the Good and Bad. I've read the benefits (though I don't truly have enough experience to understand them), but I'm more interested in the actual purpose of Pledging. Will I become instant enemy to others? Will I be unable to go (safely) to certain sectors? Will I gain better prices with my faction? Or is this just to give the Pilot a Purpose in life... a feel of Immersion?

I consider myself a bit of a noobie on this game; I played for a while a couple of years or so ago, but only focused on me and getting a better ship. Now I'm back... relearning how to play this game again (aka; learning to die with dignity (grin)); and would like to understand a bit more about the underlying elements of this universe.

Any all information is greatly appreciated. Advanced Thanx!!!
o7

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

You will be marked as an enemy in opposing factions' space. But NPCs will not actively attack you, unless you carry power play materials/merits. You can dock at enemy stations, no problems.

Players of opposing factions can kill you, and they should be exempt from the generic galaxy-wide notoriety/bounty. If I recall right, there is a specific power-related bounty system for such cases.

Each faction gives you a weekly pay, depending on how high your involvement with the power play is. They also give you access to special modules after 4 weeks of pledging and having a 3+ power play rank with them. Different factions also give you some extras, like better prices for luxury stuff, extra bonus for bounty hunting, exploration data... It's written in each power's description.

[Skorne Tet'Zu]

Very good to know... Thank You.

I should also mention that I play Solo; so I'm assuming the 'player' attacks will not be an issue. As well, at the moment I'm playing as a merchant, so it sounds like that also will not be a factor; though I am assuming Power Play materials are something specific, and not just any Trade Good such a Food, Weapons, etc..

For the most part I'm looking to have a home; but as well... I'd like to make a difference to my Home/Faction.

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

Originally posted by skorne_tetzu:

though I am assuming Power Play materials are something specific, and not just any Trade Good such a Food, Weapons, etc..

Yep. Those are special materials that you load at your power play contact, and transport them to where they are needed, in return for merits.

The number of merits dictate what power play rank you will have at the next power play cycle (happens every Thursday, at 07:00 GMT - game time).

[Ratt]

Originally posted by skorne_tetzu:

For the most part I'm looking to have a home; but as well... I'd like to make a difference to my Home/Faction.

You'd be better off helping a minor faction (one of the mission dispensers at stations) than a powerplay faction (the ones you can pledge to), then. Powerplay is tuned such that each faction's territory stays very close to its base size no matter what you or any number of players do, but minor factions are allowed to expand indefinitely unless opposed (either actively by players pushing their own factions or passively by players taking missions regardless of faction).

[Skorne Tet'Zu]

Originally posted by Dolphin Bottlenose:

Yep. Those are special materials that you load at your power play contact, and transport them to where they are needed, in return for merits.

The number of merits dictate what power play rank you will have at the next power play cycle (happens every Thursday, at 07:00 GMT - game time).

Ahhh.... So I can't just be a 'Member' of a Power Play Faction, and "Just" be a merchant to help them; I have to actively take on Specific Missions and/or Task....correct?

Originally posted by Ratt:

You'd be better off helping a minor faction (one of the mission dispensers at stations) than a powerplay faction (the ones you can pledge to), then. Powerplay is tuned such that each faction's territory stays very close to its base size no matter what you or any number of players do, but minor factions are allowed to expand indefinitely unless opposed (either actively by players pushing their own factions or passively by players taking missions regardless of faction).

With the Minor factions; do I pledge or join or in some way show I'm a part of that faction; or would I just be more of a Freelancer with no direct affiliation???

[Con.RoXP]

To help minor factions you do regular missions for them which can be found in the mission board in the starport services when you dock. Note that it is hard and it takes a lot of time and effort for a single person to single-handedly change the controlling faction of a system. You're aiming to increase their influence until a certain point and then assist them in deposing the current controlling faction.

If you wish to expand the borders of a major power (federation, empire or alliance) then you work with the minor factions. Putting a system in the control of a character from Power Play does NOT change the allegiance of the system. For example if a system is being exploited by an imperial power play character but the controlling minor faction is federal then the system will belong to the Federation. The only way to make it a part of the Empire is if you help the Imperial minor faction in the system become the controlling one.

[Ratt]

Originally posted by skorne_tetzu:

Originally posted by Dolphin Bottlenose:

Yep. Those are special materials that you load at your power play contact, and transport them to where they are needed, in return for merits.

The number of merits dictate what power play rank you will have at the next power play cycle (happens every Thursday, at 07:00 GMT - game time).

Ahhh.... So I can't just be a 'Member' of a Power Play Faction, and "Just" be a merchant to help them; I have to actively take on Specific Missions and/or Task....correct?

Your choices are:

1. Join a powerplay faction, do powerplay-specific stuff (which costs money or earns a pittance) instead of some or all of your usual stuff, and gain powerplay ranks (that decay over time!) and the benefits that come with those, or
   
2. Join a powerplay faction, just be a member, do nothing for them, and sit at the bottom powerplay rank forever, collecting a tiny weekly stipend for nothing but exposing yourself to a little more risk of PvP (negated by your solo play)

Nothing you'd do without a powerplay membership gives you powerplay standing.

Originally posted by skorne_tetzu:

Originally posted by Ratt:

You'd be better off helping a minor faction (one of the mission dispensers at stations) than a powerplay faction (the ones you can pledge to), then. Powerplay is tuned such that each faction's territory stays very close to its base size no matter what you or any number of players do, but minor factions are allowed to expand indefinitely unless opposed (either actively by players pushing their own factions or passively by players taking missions regardless of faction).

With the Minor factions; do I pledge or join or in some way show I'm a part of that faction; or would I just be more of a Freelancer with no direct affiliation???

You can't directly join a minor faction, but you can form a squadron (what other games call a guild, clan, etc.) and pledge it to a minor faction. This has no useful mechanical effect. It lets you check on that minor faction's status without using third-party sites or visiting systems in which the faction is present, but that's not useful because third-party sites are still better for getting that or any other information.

[Skorne Tet'Zu]

@Ratt: Thank You... that wrapped this all up very nicely.

@ALL: And Thank You to All, as well. Great Info!!! Ultimately, I realize (or believe) the whole Power Faction thing is more for the Big Guys (and Gals). As stated, I've come back after a couple of years, but I have also started over; so at the moment it seems I'm best to just remain a cog in a much bigger machine, until I get to the point where I'm bored... but want to keep playing the game; and then Pledge. Though I'll probably stick close to (and do missions for) Federation supported Minor Powers (Go Feds - All Hail Felicia Winters (grin)) :).

But again... for All the info... major Thanx Commanders!!! o7

[Arc]

There is no real reason to bother with Power Play unless you want to profit from specific bonuses or want to have access to specific power play modules (weapons/utilities).

For PP there are only 2 ways to increase your rank and help the power, you either kill other agents (so combat) or you deliver PP specific cargo per 10 tons every 30 minutes (which increases up to 50t per 30 minutes).
You can skip the limit for 10k Cr per 1t of cargo, but the game design goes above and beyond to make this process as tedious as possible, it's just not worth bothering for regular player.

To this day i am still wondering what in the hell is this design suppose to achieve.

[Skorne Tet'Zu]

Originally posted by Arc:

There is no real reason to bother with Power Play unless you want to profit from specific bonuses or want to have access to specific power play modules (weapons/utilities).

I don't agree... Most games become Tedious and Repetitive over time; especially once you've gained all the best "Whatevers" (in this case... Ships, Weapons and Systems). Now this doesn't mean that you're no longer enjoying playing the game... it just means, without a reason, the game becomes pointless. I feel like the Power Play Faction stuff gives you new purpose; (first it was about being strong enough to survive, Then it becomes about Your Faction). You've got a powerful ship... you can afford to replace it several times over; so now you pick a side and push for them to become the most powerful. And... you can see your efforts payout -- or watch yourself being push back, thus giving you a greater challenge to motivate continued play.

At least... That's the way I see it!!!