12-02-2011, 03:25 PM
Hi,
Another Phoenix player here, enjoyed the review.
To answer your question Cort, whilst its possibly to run a lot of paid for starbases and in theory have more in-game power through them, you can't really write a cheque for success in this game nor do you need to.
Firstly, the affiliation structure and the in-game political blocs means that you are not competing as individuals and the game flows based on storyline, diplomacy and strategy.
For example, the DEN (which I lead) are as Matrim puts it, grouchy viking werewolfs who enjoy a good drink and a good fight. In terms of paid for assets we probably dwarf House LiQuan (HLQ) and House Ravenstone (RVN) combined but who is to say who has the most power in the game? They put up a spirited fight by calling on their other human allies.
The HLQ is a classic showcase of what a one-man affiliation, admittedly seeded in a position of some political clout and run by a clever and diplomatically skilled person, can achieve.
Likewise, Matrim's affiliation, the Detinus Republic (DTR), is by most measures one of the largest and most powerful in the game. Yet they are opposed politically, if not directly militarily as of yet, by a range of smaller affiliations.
Ultimately, there is a finite amount of paid positions you can run effectively without running out of personal time and energy. There are also in game resources limit your ability to do so, from needing populated worlds with friendly civilians that will allow merchandising / trade to ores and technologies that need to be acquired or researched over a long period of time.
Success in this game can mean a lot of different things and can be achieved at the small scale and at the large depending on your interests. Whether being a highly profitable trader, a noisy senator, or a mercenary who dances with the big power and gets away with it, its not all about big fleets and big starbases.
The biggest drain on my personal wallet has been the infectious nature of exploration. I don't think most of what I've done here adds anything but narrative and personal enjoyment to the game but that is a big part of it. This is offset by the roleplaying that happens on the forums which is free. So overall I feel I get a good deal.
Another Phoenix player here, enjoyed the review.
To answer your question Cort, whilst its possibly to run a lot of paid for starbases and in theory have more in-game power through them, you can't really write a cheque for success in this game nor do you need to.
Firstly, the affiliation structure and the in-game political blocs means that you are not competing as individuals and the game flows based on storyline, diplomacy and strategy.
For example, the DEN (which I lead) are as Matrim puts it, grouchy viking werewolfs who enjoy a good drink and a good fight. In terms of paid for assets we probably dwarf House LiQuan (HLQ) and House Ravenstone (RVN) combined but who is to say who has the most power in the game? They put up a spirited fight by calling on their other human allies.
The HLQ is a classic showcase of what a one-man affiliation, admittedly seeded in a position of some political clout and run by a clever and diplomatically skilled person, can achieve.
Likewise, Matrim's affiliation, the Detinus Republic (DTR), is by most measures one of the largest and most powerful in the game. Yet they are opposed politically, if not directly militarily as of yet, by a range of smaller affiliations.
Ultimately, there is a finite amount of paid positions you can run effectively without running out of personal time and energy. There are also in game resources limit your ability to do so, from needing populated worlds with friendly civilians that will allow merchandising / trade to ores and technologies that need to be acquired or researched over a long period of time.
Success in this game can mean a lot of different things and can be achieved at the small scale and at the large depending on your interests. Whether being a highly profitable trader, a noisy senator, or a mercenary who dances with the big power and gets away with it, its not all about big fleets and big starbases.
The biggest drain on my personal wallet has been the infectious nature of exploration. I don't think most of what I've done here adds anything but narrative and personal enjoyment to the game but that is a big part of it. This is offset by the roleplaying that happens on the forums which is free. So overall I feel I get a good deal.