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Coliseum was awesome, BUT... (spoiler alert)

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  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    WOW! I am another one that posts too rarely on the forums, but I had to crawl out of my cave to applaud this latest episode.

    To put on my critical feedback hat and to be really picky I would say that the mission felt like it ended a little abruptly. It would have been the icing on the cake to show a clip of your ship swooping away from the planet and warping out of the system to close the episode, though it sounds like the space cinematics are tricky to work with.

    As it is this episode genuinely had me grinning like a maniac almost the whole way through. Some people I see have been bashing the puzzles or the large environments and the distances that you have to cross, but I have no criticism on that front. The number puzzle was a welcome representation of the SMART TECHNICAL STUFF that is a signature of Star Trek. I enjoyed sitting with pen-and-paper for a moment to try figuring it all out, it felt like I was really at the workstation and engaging my brain to come to a solution. It was also good to see that there were provisions made so that you can methodically crank through it if you aren't mathematically-minded.

    The environments were awesome. I think that the scale was just right; they were sprawling but not tedious and it goes without saying that they were absolutely gorgeous from start to finish. The stomp from one area to another didn't bother me so much because it gave the sense of exploring a strange new world (remember that?!), rather than hopping from one enclosed space to the one beside it. We were crossing the plains under cover of night and evading the search ships overhead, then we were traversing the rocky crevice, or climbing over rocks and up into the hills and caves and all the while collecting survival gear and trying not to disturb the wildlife. Some missions don't call for expansive scenery or periods without OMGACTION, but I think that this one really did and the pacing of the journey up to the cave was just right for me.

    I have enjoyed all of the Featured Series, but I have to say that this one especially has blown me away. I care about these characters, the story is compelling, there's exploration, investigation, calculation and variety alongside the thrills. There are questions of allegiance and morality and consquence raised. This is Star Trek in a nutshell. There's passion for the IP here and it really shows.

    Many pats on many backs for the guys at Cryptic. I can't wait for next week, and then... THE FUTURE!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    count me as one of those. 90% of shield regeneration comes from abilities, why would i even need a regeneration rate?
    That's really big issue. Instant heals make regenerative and resilient shields worthless.

    It takes too long to rely on regenerative shields to get your shields back up: Use science team and transfer shield strength.

    The damage resisted due to resilient shields isn't worth the loss in capacity: Use engineering team and hazard emitters.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Same problem here. I go where it says to go, nothing happens. Mission stalls....after I spend 10 minutes getting to the other end of the map, where nothing happens.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    other then the BEDMAS i really enjoyed this but come on really? BEDMAS i felt like i was in math class
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Fantastic mission! I felt like I was in a movie! It was epic!

    I really appreciate all the work that went into this! Good job.....no, GREAT JOB!

    And for anyone who thought this mission "sucked"......

    ....go play Tic-Tac-Toe with yourself, because you will never be satisfied with anything.....ANYTHING.

    Again, great job guys!

    Uh... by that logic, doesn't it mean they wouldn't be satisfied with Tic-Tac-Toe either? >_>;


    About the mission... Sure, it took a while to get from place to place but geez, that arena and everything in it, especially the music, made my day. That was invariably awesome. C:
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    1. They had an Iconian Gateway.

    I never saw myself pass through one, nor did the episode display one. This needs to be improved if that's the official explanation of that happened. If it's just your explanation, then that's not good enough. I refuse to make something like that up to aid in my suspension of disbelief.
    2. I assume your comm badge was disabled or more likely it's signal wasn't powerful enough to break through any potential Reman interference.

    Expositional dialogue should've happened. Like oh, I dunno.. having the "CONTACT SHIP" button on the bottom right. You click it and get static, leading you to understand you have to escape via another method.
    3. Who said they were lions? Maybe they're just mistaken. People aren't perfect. Even fictional people. :P

    Dude, they had lean feline bodies and manes on their heads. They look too much like lions and not enough like bears. They were called Sehlats, but their appearance contradicts what a Sehlat actually looks like.
    4. So what? This episode had the best ground combat yet by far and the best ground boss fight in this game.

    I don't want one aspect sacrificied for another. I enjoy space combat. There has been barely any in this entire series. Imagine if Cryptic had a "so what?" attitude if players said they wanted something that Cryptic could easily do.
    5. Yep, I agree. I want a Reman shield that doesn't suck. HOWEVER remember this: The Reman shield is rewarded on any level so it's good for lower level players.

    Then it should scale with your level and be a unique item. It should have SOMETHING that makes it worthwhile at least, beyond pretty looks.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    THE SWORD. OH MY Q THE SWORD.

    I must either purchase or farm an awesome one. I simply cannot exist without MOAR of that sword.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    I'm right with the OP on the space combat. I love fighting in space. Ive spent most of my resources and skill points on space and Ive killed 3 wimpy Orian sips with my escort in the 1st 4 episodes. Granted the 1st mission was all space and the shuttle thing was interesting but the combat got old quickly. With the lack of BO skills and the presence of 360 degree phaser arcs shuttle combat was the same from beginning to end with little need for player input. I would like to see more compelling space combat added to the game on par with the recent additions to the ground game in the recent episodes.


    edit: forgot about 1 Warbird and 1 Magi Escort. Brings the total up to 5 kill stickers for my escort
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    I just finished this weeks Episode and it was absolutly stunning. It felt like a real TV Episode, great work devs. :)

    The math part was really funny (i didn't do some of that for about 10 years or so ;) )
    I loved the Arena Part, great TOS Feeling especially the Music was atmospheric.
    But the best part was the Desert where you had to take care of the wounded Reman and wander through the Desert, which was unusual Big, so it took really long to walk the hole distance (which was absolutly impressive to do).
    Near the end i really felt homesick for my ship, lol.
    The final was classic trek in its finest, first the construction of a beacon, the appearance of the Badguy and the last minute escape.
    So whoever made this Episode, you man are a genius.
    It is without doubt one of the best missions i have ever played in any game.

    10/10 points from me.


    Thank you for reading.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    After I get to Marooned, the mission won't progress. The guy I'm escorting says there's Scorpions flying around, but none ever spawn, and there are no quest markers on the map or minimap.

    Did I miss something, or is something wrong?

    yeah, you get a message to "hide in the rocks"

    if you don't hide in the rocks like he tells you then you receive no further mission details / markers are given.

    i missed this bit as well on my first run through, sure i hid in some rocks, just wasn't the correct bunch of rocks :p
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Yeah me too. I am doing it right now as we speak.... stuck in the cave. I am assuming I didn't take proper cover....
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    I never saw myself pass through one, nor did the episode display one. This needs to be improved if that's the official explanation of that happened. If it's just your explanation, then that's not good enough. I refuse to make something like that up to aid in my suspension of disbelief.

    I think it is supposed to be mysterious. And who would do the technobabble?
    Expositional dialogue should've happened. Like oh, I dunno.. having the "CONTACT SHIP" button on the bottom right. You click it and get static, leading you to understand you have to escape via another method.

    Wouldn't have been that bad. But imo, pointless.
    Dude, they had lean feline bodies and manes on their heads. They look too much like lions and not enough like bears. They were called Sehlats, but their appearance contradicts what a Sehlat actually looks like.

    I kinda agree but perhaps its another species of them or some sehlats look like that (reember they are alien animals.)

    I don't want one aspect sacrificied for another. I enjoy space combat. There has been barely any in this entire series. Imagine if Cryptic had a "so what?" attitude if players said they wanted something that Cryptic could easily do.

    Perhaps it was to balance out The Vault which featured no Ground at all.
    Then it should scale with your level and be a unique item. It should have SOMETHING that makes it worthwhile at least, beyond pretty looks.

    1) It's good for lower level characters and people that don't craft.

    2) They're are plenty of look only rewards. TOS phasers, etc. The point is the look.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Haven't really noticed the comments (maybe I'm blind or missed it) but did anyone recognise the Kirk vs Spock battle music in the coliseum?
    For those who had their music players playing their own music, when you redo this mission, turn off your music, and let the game play its music while you are doing the actual holographic and worm battles to hear the music.
    I hope Cryptic brings in more music snippets like this :)

    On a note about the puzzle - I didn't blink an eye at it, I just worked through it and liked it. Don't understand the angst over it?
    Since my char is a sci officer, in a way I saw that it was my duty to work it out (and like others have said, pretend your calculator is a tricorder or something). I guess for players who can't be bothered doing a puzzle, provide a dialogue option for the appropriate away team member to solve the problem. Though if that is done, I would like some little accolade for solving the puzzle myself instead of delegating to an officer.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    4. So what? This episode had the best ground combat yet by far and the best ground boss fight in this game.

    Think Scooby: HHHHUUUUHHHHH?

    What ground boss? I went to a side panel and pushed a button, and a big worm spit on me then died. That is the best in the game?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    1.
    Yes, a Gateway is VERY visible right before you go through the sewers. In fact there are two consoles. One which explains a lot about the motivations behind the arena and another which explains the GateWay (which is a pretty large gateway looking thing :P). It doesn't say flat out that the Gateway is what was used to steal you away but it's heavily suggested and the most probably way.



    2.
    Eh, maybe. I just assumed that my signal was blocked so I was okay.


    3.
    I though someone SAID they were lions. I wasn't arguing about their looks. But honestly I don't really care about them. :P


    4.
    There was no sacrafice. Not every episode in Trek had both. Not every episode had only space battles. This episode was perfectly fine without a space battle. There's no sacrafice at all and FORCING space battles would be counter intuitive to the storytelling.

    5.
    I agree and disagree. It would be too easy to get a great shield if you jsut do this mission. Instead I'd love to see a purple rarity Reman shield available elsewhere that would take more time to get.



    CrustyMac wrote: »
    Think Scooby: HHHHUUUUHHHHH?

    What ground boss? I went to a side panel and pushed a button, and a big worm spit on me then died. That is the best in the game?

    Yes, because it was different than the same old "hit until they die" stuff.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Section-31 wrote: »
    I hardly call BASIC math a game stopping puzzle...the game is rated "Teen" and all persons teenage and above should be able to figure those out (you can even cheat with a calculator)

    This is one of the best missions yet!!

    You don't even need math.. just try every number till they are green and tada -> done.


    SO pleas cryptic don't refrain from using math in the future... maybe make some missions with more complex math
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Yes, you can't just hide in any rocks - you have to go to a specific location. It should be marked with a small white circle on your map, but there have been some reports of it not showing up. If you don't see the circle, you need to run straight east from where you begin, and bear slightly to the right to find the proper rock formation.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    ZOOM in to the map. The circles are often tiny and hard to see.

    My guess is that people are having trouble because of user error. However the mission is a bit hard to follow. Also you might not see the Scorpions if you don't look up. Especially if shadows are off you won't see the shadows of 'em pass you.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Section-31 wrote: »
    I hardly call BASIC math a game stopping puzzle...the game is rated "Teen" and all persons teenage and above should be able to figure those out (you can even cheat with a calculator)

    This is one of the best missions yet!!

    Yep, it's a good thing that you have to do window out of the game to do math when you have a Science Officer with a tricorder.

    This episode was at least as stupid as NIght of the Comet where while the galaxy's fate is in the balance, you have to figure out how to mix drinkypoos for a traumatized friend of Scotty. Your Science Officer doesn't offer to hypospray the victim and get the information or even question if making some unknown cocktail might cause her more harm.

    Or Spin the Wheel where you go into the basement of a remote base to fix the plumbing. That's one thing about remote bases from Nome, Alaska to the Falkland Islands, they're just full of admirals with pipe wrenches gettting dirty in their basements. I have a Starship you know. A big one with engineering teams.

    A big question that should be asked about these puzzles before they're put in the game is if they make any sense at all.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    I think it is supposed to be mysterious. And who would do the technobabble?

    How about, ME talking to the captive next to me? He could say "How were you captured?" and I could say "I was beaming up to my ship and wound up here. Our captors must have a transporter-interception technobabble device, etc."
    Wouldn't have been that bad. But imo, pointless.

    Pointless to you, which shows how much logic and consistency you like your missions to have. I personally like to know why the obvious options aren't available to me. It was done before, like in Drozana station in the reactor levels when I couldn't communicate with my ship. I liked that. It's all that was needed here too.
    I kinda agree but perhaps its another species of them or some sehlats look like that (reember they are alien animals.)

    I suppose if Sehlats were bred like earth dogs, they could come in different shapes and sizes.

    Perhaps it was to balance out The Vault which featured no Ground at all.

    Still didn't get to use my Starship. Shuttle combat is not the space combat I want, and besides it seems mostly there to let you take your delta/captain's yacht out for a spin.

    1) It's good for lower level characters and people that don't craft.

    Who wouldn't craft, now that crafting is so awesome and costs you nothing but a little time?
    2) They're are plenty of look only rewards. TOS phasers, etc. The point is the look.

    Look-only rewards don't have to be such. They should all add something a little unique that makes them a decent option beyond their appearance. The final mission reward could be a Reman console for example, that coupled with the shield, would boost plasma damage resistance to shields and hull. Something to make the shield useful in certain situations, but not necessarily in all of them.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    I've found the Reman shields from this episode to outperform in sheer strength and regeneration any other shield I've put on my Tank-ubla refit. I get 13.4-13.6 k shield strength, depending on my settings, possibly more if I put a battery in (haven't tested). And since I haven't gotten the borg shield yet, but have the rest of that set, I just swap out the AEGIS shield I was running over to it.

    In other words, it makes minds go boom from the awesome. If nothing else, I'd use it just for having a pearly space black hull when using it.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Pointless to you, which shows how much logic and consistency you like your missions to have. I personally like to know why the obvious options aren't available to me. It was done before, like in Drozana station in the reactor levels when I couldn't communicate with my ship. I liked that. It's all that was needed here too.

    1) Who would be doing the analyzing to figure it out?

    2) I love logic and consistency. The simple fact I didn't use it was enough for me to know it was probably blocked. No need to get insulting and angry.

    I suppose if Sehlats were bred like earth dogs, they could come in different shapes and sizes.

    I actually like the fact that they look different.
    Still didn't get to use my Starship. Shuttle combat is not the space combat I want, and besides it seems mostly there to let you take your delta/captain's yacht out for a spin.

    Not every mission is always going to to please everybody and for the most part, most missions are space heavy. They are trying to make the ground players happy.

    Who wouldn't craft, now that crafting is so awesome and costs you nothing but a little time?
    Some people don't like to sit there and work they're way to the top. They would rather just complete a mission and get an awesome shield.
    Look-only rewards don't have to be such. They should all add something a little unique that makes them a decent option beyond their appearance. The final mission reward could be a Reman console for example, that coupled with the shield, would boost plasma damage resistance to shields and hull. Something to make the shield useful in certain situations, but not necessarily in all of them.

    I think the Reman shield is just the start of a set. And what makes the TOS phaser better than just a pretty weapon? I would like to clarify that I think it would be nice for it to have some special stats, but not every reward has to have super uber stats.


    But to each their own, I don't necessarily agree but I respect your opinion. :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Not gonna lie, it's kind of disappointing that a HUGE part of the storyline is explained in those two optional consoles. Someone playing just for the objectives won't see them, and head straight for the waste pipe.

    I agree, something to explain intercepting the transporter would have been nice, or at least seeing my away team as fellow gladiators, or something maybe. Iconian gateway doesn't explain that.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    1.
    Yes, a Gateway is VERY visible right before you go through the sewers. In fact there are two consoles. One which explains a lot about the motivations behind the arena and another which explains the GateWay (which is a pretty large gateway looking thing :P). It doesn't say flat out that the Gateway is what was used to steal you away but it's heavily suggested and the most probably way.

    I saw the gateway. Still no explanation as to how it can yank me out of a transporter beam. Hey, they could have shown the beamup from the satellite with my boffs getting out okay, but me still being on the station with a comm from my science officer saying something was jamming the transporter from beaming me up... and then I'd be beamed away by a Romulan transporter. That subtle little event would've been more than enough.
    2.
    Eh, maybe. I just assumed that my signal was blocked so I was okay.

    I would have assumed the same, but you see I have this little personality disorder: I like to think about why things are the way they are, and I like to look for answers.

    4.
    There was no sacrafice. Not every episode in Trek had both. Not every episode had only space battles. This episode was perfectly fine without a space battle. There's no sacrafice at all and FORCING space battles would be counter intuitive to the storytelling.

    Yes this episode was fine without space combat. But I think the whole series is sorely lacking in it too. Cryptic has offered us no illusions in the past that space combat is a minor part of STO, so why start now?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Kudach wrote: »
    Then don't play, I don't need people like you ruining my fun and taking away the gear I worked to get

    Ps thanks for the shield cryptic

    Ooh, that's very healthy and helpful to the game, encouraging people NOT to play it.

    Believe it or not, I'm entitled to my opinion. I'll also point out I didn't say anything about taking away your shiny toys.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    I am having different issue with mision, tnae wont give me option to do coliseum, even tho i have done frozen , not once but twice, already filed ticket.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Agreed that it needs further polishing to treknofy it, but really, it's off the scanners for the trekgasm count anyway, so who cares at the moment, other than to point to cryptic and say 'good job, naow be more awesome, and you'll get extra subscribers for a reward!'
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Cuatela wrote:
    Who cares if it's "super effective!" or not? it looks cool. that's enough for me.

    Amen Brother.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    @Pyro: You have to go to SB39 and "Hail" Obisek.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Sanford42 wrote:
    @Pyro: You have to go to SB39 and "Hail" Obisek.

    thx i was in t'nae's office :))
This discussion has been closed.