Crystalline Catastrophe vs. Crystalline Cataclysm

peterconnorfirst

Hey folks!

After playing the event map with its new adjustments yesterday I must admit that I was positively surprised at first. Watching Netflix while setting my teddy bear on spacebar and let him handle getting first place did not work anymore. Paying attention again pays off as some rudimentary design mechanics actually begin to surface despite all the DPS rofl-stomping peeps can do there.

Hence my question:

Which version of the map do you like more and why?

After passing on my enthusiasm about Cataclysm in one of the chats Hellspawny replied that he would get back to me in two weeks again which really gave me a good laugh. And sure, he is right. Some things are better not to be judged too fast. But nevertheless I’d really love to hear the ups and downs on both version of the map from the community and the event will run for a few weeks so we have enough time for this. If u haven’t made up your minds yet feel free to discuss and place your vote option when certain.

I thank everybody for their participation in this poll in advance!

- Connor

seriousdave

Crystalline Catastrophe (regular map)

While it's nice that they tried to change things up it's kinda BS that they make stuff outright immune to ctrl effects. High resistance you can deal with and a ctrl focused build can still work with it but complete immunities make some powers & builds outright pointless and that really shouldn't be the case. It may be no more than a nimor inconvinience for most people but it still irks me since this is kinda bad game design.

Might also be my pessimism coming through since I also got the feeling that this is the testing run for their new method of dealing with powercreep.
"Backed up into a corner, no idea how to prevent people from stomping NPCs? Slap all kinds of immunties on everyone and their grandma, that will make things better."

As for the entity's damage immunity, kindy feels like a desperate attempt to negate the instant wins. Dosen't really do much besides adding time.
Honestly I'm neither here or there on this poll but I do think these changes could be an omen of what's to come and I'm really worried they TRIBBLE up again if that's the case.

tunebreaker

Crystalline Catastrophe (regular map)

While I don't necessarily hate the new design, I prefer the old one. Yeah, I know, some would argue "the queue was too short and easy before". But to counter that, is adding a timegate (which 100% immunity on CE during absorption phase pretty much is) really a reasonable solution?

For the event, the new map works. I'm not going to yell "change it back! I can't finish the event with all my 6 toons in 12 minutes! waaaah!", because that'd be outright childish and at least for me, it doesn't really matter too much whether I spend on average 3 or 5 minutes per toon (toonswapping and queueing and all that included).
However, I'm afraid they want to also implement it to replace the regular queue in the future, something I'd rather not see. Sure, it wouldn't make CCA still any longer than any other queue in game, but it kinda devalues the experience. Plus, should it replace the old map, it would add a dangerous precedent of revamping an old queue with timegates added in.

lordsteve1

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

Are there really timegates in the new version though? Aside from the pre-fight timer to let people warp in and launch pets etc I’d not consider anything else a timegate. Sure it takes a few seconds to charge up and it’s immune whilst doing so but honestly, the damned enemy needs some sort of breathing space where it can do something more than just be a duck-hunt.
We’re this an older game then those recharge periods would be when you try to heal up and buff ready for the next round of brutal combat. Perhaps the issue really is that the mission has no real challenge or threat so those breaks in combat don’t serve a purpose, and people see them as artificially inflating the timer.

tunebreaker

Crystalline Catastrophe (regular map)

I have absolutely no problem with briefing time, this is absolutely a welcome change and should be added to any queue that hasn't got it yet (although 15s for event CCA sounds like a mistake from Cryptic's part).

However, the forced waiting time where you can't damage the CE during absorption phase serves absolutely no use, in my opinion, and essentially serves as a timegate, as you don't have any other option to wait it end. It's no way gamebreaking, and is only a minor annoyance, but given a choice, I'd prefer not having it.

szim

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

The event map is more interesting to play than the regular map. But I've fought the CE so many times over the years, a few shards flying around and some dark clouds just isn't enough to get me excited anymore.

Crystalline Catastrophe:
+ quickly done
- requires no skill or thought

Crystalline Cataclysm
+ quickly done
+ shards and blasts to evade
+ you can no longer sit at the same spot during the entire run
+ excellent marks payout
- still rather dull

pottsey5g

Crystalline Catastrophe (regular map)

szim wrote: »

The event map is more interesting to play than the regular map. But I've fought the CE so many times over the years, a few shards flying around and some dark clouds just isn't enough to get me excited anymore.

Crystalline Catastrophe:
+ quickly done
- requires no skill or thought

Crystalline Cataclysm
+ quickly done
+ shards and blasts to evade
+ you can no longer sit at the same spot during the entire run
+ excellent marks payout
- still rather dull

What? Nothing has changed I still sit at the same spot during the entire run only to move back to the spot when the blast pushes me. Shards and blast just like the old one are almost harmless and I ignore them. From what I can see nothing has changed it still requires no real skill or thought.

storules

Crystalline Catastrophe (regular map)

Sorry but did not notice anything major changed. Probably just me but just blew that thing in less than a couple of mins as always before getting 1st place. I actually felt asleep doing them on my alternates since was way too easy still.​​

tigeraries

Crystalline Catastrophe (regular map)

regular map is better... rock & roll works on regular map. I use that on event map and I still blow up. Also I find that after I cant hit those salvageable crystals while using cannon scatter volley... it seems to all miss, every single shot. but when it's on cool down, my cannons do dmg. that's borked, cause FAW still hits all crystals.

iamynaught

I don't even get the point of those "salvageable" shards at the end. The way I read it is you're supposed to get salvage for destroying them, but I've never gotten anything from them.

Is it only a chance at salvage, do you need to do a majority of the damage to get the salvage, or is it just plain broken?

seaofsorrows

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

I am going to wait and do it a few more times before voting, but right now I am leaning toward the Event Map.

sheldonlcooper

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

I like to see Crystal blowing up a few ships. She's been getting destroyed millions and millions of times - she's due a little revenge!

rattler2

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

Kinda happy its no longer something you can just faceroll in two seconds.

tigeraries wrote: »

regular map is better... rock & roll works on regular map. I use that on event map and I still blow up. Also I find that after I cant hit those salvageable crystals while using cannon scatter volley... it seems to all miss, every single shot. but when it's on cool down, my cannons do dmg. that's borked, cause FAW still hits all crystals.

I used Rock & Roll on my Crossfield today. I survived. Only difference between normal and event is on Normal using R&R you immediately stop and turn to face the CE. In the event you keep going but get knocked back.

As for the salvage shards... 2 days and I think I only got 2 salvage total. Seems you have to be the one to land the kill shot on the salvage shards to get the salvage, which means you're pretty much boned unless you have DPS. Even with FAW on my Crossfield, I'm not landing the kill shots. Just helping others get it.

Honestly the Salvage Shards are an interesting idea... but if it only caters to the DPSers getting the salvage... it needs some work as they can deny everyone a shot at any of it with a single barrage.

mustrumridcully0

It's still overall too static, just shoot one big target. They changed a bit on how the shards work, but nothing really substantial.

Ultimately, a single big boss fight just doesn't work so well in STO in my opinion. (Even though, ironically, it might be the closest tp what we actually see in terms of space combat in Star Trek TV and movies.)

It isn't a big change, so I have no preference either way.

anazonda

Crystalline Catastrophe (regular map)

I prefer the original map over this one TBH, even with people not understanding the mechanics.

Unnecessary wait times everywhere.

ltminns

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

My only problem was that I set for Advanced but I didn't check only specified and ended up in Normal Queues. I never used to have to do that for the regular Queue. I guess too many people were trying to get in and out quick for the Shard and Queued for Normal, making them pop.

warmaker001b

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

I just fly around and never worry about shards This is still easy compared to how CE originally was.

nikephorus

Crystalline Catastrophe (regular map)

I barely changed tactics. I still just sit there shooting at the CE, but now i have to move out of range for the aoe....yippy.

echatty

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

I like the Event Map. It didn't seem too difficult to complete despite the timer at the beginning and the discharges. I just sat about nine km above it and flew out of range, flew in and helped kill it. The salvage? I already have plenty of that. No worries of DPS monsters get them all.

markhawkman

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

echatty wrote: »

I like the Event Map. It didn't seem too difficult to complete despite the timer at the beginning and the discharges. I just sat about nine km above it and flew out of range, flew in and helped kill it. The salvage? I already have plenty of that. No worries of DPS monsters get them all.

The salvage amount is pitiful anyways. If I get it it's only 1 or 2. Yes, really, when you typically need hundreds or thousands to reroll stats. I'm still gonna shoot them to get it, but it's really not worth worrying about.

echatty

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

^I didn't think so. I'm doing it for the goodies. Over the same accounts I did the Flying Highs for.

smokebailey

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

I like the new one. Looks nicer, and lasts more than 20-30 seconds. Each one I did lasted at least several minutes. It's GOOD when DPS gods can't make it into a 1990's Mike Tyson match.

echatty

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

That's what I like about it too. My SiL's computer shows a lot of lag, even with the lowest video settings. So that extra time at the beginning is very nice. I can at least get him up to do enough to not get AFK'd.

ltminns

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

The initial timer is about 18-20 seconds by the time I load in.

leemwatson

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

Hands down the new version is better. It's great the big one has new tricks to stop vaping.

asuran14

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

I prefer the event version even though it needs still more refinement, and additions, it has alot more potential than the old previous/reg que. As has been noted the Tholians an even the environment anomalies are pretty much just scenery that can be ignored, and the new wave has potential though is still pretty much just a road bump overall.

• Afew suggested changes to make things abit more interesting,a nd expand on the potential of the new event que map
• Tholians: I would work around using the Tholians as an actual obstetrical, and show them as more defending an working with the entity, as right now they just seem more like random mob spawns. What I would suggest is look into them using some control ability on ships that are fighting the entity, such as tractors an even confuses on them, could also have them tractor the shards back towards the entity. Also seeing the Tholians use web walls, or other such things to block an impend the players would make them feel less like just mobs you disregard/ignore.
• Shards: For me the shards are not that big a deal in either of the ques, and felt they needed more functions in the que. A good idea could be if the shards based on size collided with the entity it would regain a specific percentage of hp back, which if you have the Tholians tractoring the shards back towards the entity such as during the wave phase players would need to actually deal with both elements like thru grav-wells or killing them off. THis would allow the devs to remove the weird immunity the shards have to grave-well drawing.
• Wave: For me this is one area i liked, but found alot of issue that make it fall flat. For one the immunity is annoying though it is something the devs use alot to push players, also the fact that you can use a immunity to bypassing moving is abit of a let down. I personally would think it would have been more interesting to maybe have the immunity tied to the shard that are active so that if the group wipes them out they can damage the entity during the wave phase as a reward for getting rid of the shards. It would also have been interesting if they made it less that if you get hit by the wave it repels you, and more if you use a immunity to bypass the wave damage instead of moving out of the wave range you are disabled for a short duration, which makes leaving the wave area worthwhile an still allows you to se the immunity if you can't get out of the area.

seaofsorrows

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

I like the Event Map, just seems to be a bit more fun.

pottsey5g

Crystalline Catastrophe (regular map)

The event map feels boring to me. I cannot help but feel all I am doing is sitting waiting for half the map doing nothing. Plus the static is horrible and its even more simple with even less attention needs paying to what's going off.

markhawkman

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

asuran14 wrote: »

Wave: For me this is one area i liked, but found alot of issue that make it fall flat. For one the immunity is annoying though it is something the devs use alot to push players, also the fact that you can use a immunity to bypassing moving is abit of a let down. I personally would think it would have been more interesting to maybe have the immunity tied to the shard that are active so that if the group wipes them out they can damage the entity during the wave phase as a reward for getting rid of the shards. It would also have been interesting if they made it less that if you get hit by the wave it repels you, and more if you use a immunity to bypass the wave damage instead of moving out of the wave range you are disabled for a short duration, which makes leaving the wave area worthwhile an still allows you to se the immunity if you can't get out of the area.

Heh, using immunities(or at least Rock and Roll) causes you to get punted like a football.

ltminns

Crystalline Cataclysm (event map)

Now, last night I set Advanced and checked the box that said 'only selected' type and still ended up in a Normal Queue. Never had this problem before.