Speaking of encouraging people to play the game, I had bought a copy of the game for 2 of my friends, the week b4 the last Q bonus xp weekend. They still have yet to redeem either of their activation codes.
How will they respond when I tell them if they wait 2-4 months, they can skip 25 levels of grind?
That's 2-4 months I'm not going to get to play with them, duh.
We've already seen numerous posts from people stating their plans to make a Kdf toon, wait til F2P goes live, then level.
So, CS has just given anyone in-game who's considering going Kdf good reason to hold off 2-3 months and go ez-mode.
Do I respect these players? No. Furthermore, I don't want them on my faction. We're desperate for new blood, but not that desperate.
I'd start by telling them that they can't skip 25 levels of grind, they just have to perform that 25 levels of grind as a Federation.
As for creating a Klingon in EZ Mode, I had no idea farming experience in Empire Defense required such a high degree of skill. :rolleyes:
As DStahl has said, Cryptic has been avoiding new KDF content because klingon population numbers are low. Going forward, all new players will be prevented from creating KDF characters for a substantial amount of time, as will a significant portion of existing players. Every single new subscription will be Fed-only for a substantial period of time, and further lower the KDF population %.
With KDF populations having nowhere to go but down, so goes the business-case for KDF content in the future. Why in the world would Cryptic ever want to invest resources into an empty faction??
As DStahl has said, Cryptic has been avoiding new KDF content because klingon population numbers are low. Going forward, all new players will be prevented from creating KDF characters for a substantial amount of time, as will a significant portion of existing players. Every single new subscription will be Fed-only for a substantial period of time, and further lower the KDF population %.
With KDF populations having nowhere to go but down, so goes the business-case for KDF content in the future. Why in the world would Cryptic ever want to invest resources into an empty faction??
Except that this could have a positive effect on Klingon population numbers. Currently the Klingon population offers a very boring, very grind-y experience that scares away alot of experienced players and kills the enthusiasm of alot of new players. This change will make sure that attempts to play as a Klingon don't kill the enthusiasm of new players and that players who have an interest in playing the Klingons will be able to give them a chance knowing that they'll have a reasonably enjoyable leveling experience.
With KDF populations having nowhere to go but down, so goes the business-case for KDF content in the future. Why in the world would Cryptic ever want to invest resources into an empty faction??
That's a rather pessimistic view, I think.
F2P will bring a big influx of new players into the game, similar to how it worked with CO. These new Silver players will only have a single character slot dedicated to the Federation. Anytime they log in beyond level 25, they will basically be presented with a button saying "create a Klingon!".
The difference between level 7 and level 25 is marginal. The kind of people who cannot play for the very short amount of time it takes to get to 25 to create a Klingon will already experience the very same "barrier" today. It doesn't get worse, the "entry requirements" will remain as admittedly unfavorable as they already are - whilst a greater number of people will perceive a stronger temptation to try out the KDF, which will feel less "grindy" than the current version, thus also causing a larger number of players to stick with it instead of giving up due to lack of content.
Added to this comes the statement that the new publisher would prefer balanced factions for a better PvP experience, in turn providing a notable incentive for Cryptic to flesh out the Klingon faction, as seems to be the plan.
And here I always thought *I* was being a pessimistic person...
PS: my average level seems to be 30 - got one VA, one LtG and currently leveling another General, but whereas my Commander falls flat in the middle my two "RP Lieutenants" are dragging me down quite a bit.
F2P will bring a big influx of new players into the game, similar to how it worked with CO. These new Silver players will only have a single character slot dedicated to the Federation. Anytime they log in beyond level 25, they will basically be presented with a button saying "create a Klingon!".
To create a brand new free alt, they can just create a brand new free account.
To create a brand new free alt, they can just create a brand new free account.
Aye, but I do think this is still a barrier for many people (account C-Points were mentioned, but I think the alias and friendslists will be another). Oh, not so much that it would outright prevent anyone, no. But enough that it'd make creating a Klingon attractive enough to at least give it a try. And hopefully get sucked right in.
And even someone who does create more than one Silver account will still see that button ... waiting ... and tempting ...
I have a theory why they're doing this, and I don't think its all bad, even as someone with 9 KDF Lt. Generals and a number of Captains and Commanders. First off, KDF side is a bit Grindy, lets admit it. Experienced earned from pvp is slow. If you want to hit the leader boards you're going to have to spend a lot of time kitting your stuff out, and of course playing well. That's fine, but its much easier to just go to the expanses and grind and grind and grind and grind. Why?
Instead, I think they want to be able to give the action a clear storyline from start to finish without having to put so much assets into the storyline that it makes new factions infeasible. I think the goal here is to simply make it so Romulans, Cardies, etc can be viable out the gate a lot easier and I think that's a good thing. This game isn't called Klingon Online its Star Trek Online. I don't mean to say this as any disrespect but clearly the bulk of storyline will focus around the Federation because that's what Trek is about.
That being said, I think they can likely put together some great storylines for us in the Klingon faction, as well as the other factions if they shorten the curve. This system would do that for them. I'm all for it. I'd rather see more content at the top being developed than a bunch of low level novice garbage being spewed out across a bunch of factions. Utterly pointless. For me anyway, I've found it mindnumbing, grinding out the characters I have on the Klingon side after a while. To some extent I'm a little frustrated that all the work I put into getting all the Commanders I have will get no payback, but what can I do?
In the balance of things, I think this is better for the game overall, and it will allow them to design stories moving forward a lot easier. This is why I think they are doing this, but I admit its purely conjecture.
Taken off the FAQ http://startrekonline.com/f2p_faq
We understand that the Klingon Faction is currently under developed. Due to this, we've decided that beginning with the free-to-play conversion, Klingon play will be unlocked at level 25, rather than the low level it is now.
This allows us to provide a better experience for Klingon play while we continue to work on improving the faction. A more complete, full-fledged Klingon Faction that we've always wanted to be able to provide will be launched in a future update. Our new owners and publishers at Perfect World are just as committed to having a fully developed Klingon Faction as we are and as our players are.
So, if it means we are getting a more full-fledged KDF faction, I'm more tha happy with that particular change
While I've stated already that I feel this has benefits for the faction I do have one axe to grind. All those characters I have that were levelled legitimately... get nothing from this. All that time I spent hard-grinding gets no special reward. Call me crazy, but I have a lot of Commanders who I built up that will really get nothing out of this deal. Maybe a level or two. How about my Captains and Generals? With this Marauder system coming out, it would be nice to at least get a little nudge in that direction so I can actually, reasonably go out and do the BORG invasion missions without having to grind yet something else out for no reason. It would be nice if we did get a little something for our efforts anyway.
Aside from this, while I would like to see the PvE storyline progress more deeply and richly for Klingon gameplay from 7-51, I can see why they want to do this. The customers/players really want to see a storyline for Klingons. I also know quite a few people in my fleet who really like the Romulan faction, and they would frankly drop everything else to play that (including other games that they play). I know people who are really wanting to play the Dominion. Again, that's another faction to look at. Even more there's groups like the Ferengi, and so forth. So what we have here is a difficult situation. How does Cryptic come up with 'full' content for all those factions in t his environment? I think giving them a shorter levelling experience isn't such a bad solution. It might not be an ideal solution, but ideal solutions are often too costly to ever actually be performed. The main story of Star Trek has and always will be the Federation. With that being said, if they can give us a reasonable amount of pve for Klingon side I'll be pretty happy with that. Furthermore, if we can get a much broader array of Endgame content, I'd be even happier with that. For me that's perhaps more to the point than the grind on the way up. Featured Episodes are really nice, and if we can see more and more of that kind of gameplay, that's what I really want to see for PvE. For PvP and STF's and Fleet actions I'd like to see interesting puzzles and variety and combat.
The storyline is great, and its an important part of a game... but lets face it, in an MMO its not the end all and be all of the game. Longterm, I'd rather see them develop things like Featured Episodes, Fleet Actions, Pvp Conflicts, Fleet Starbases (and associated pve/pvp/crafting elements), More Interesting Exploration/Conquering, Fleet Actions, and STF's.
What would you guys rather, a couple of baseline complexity spoon fed story missions, or would you rather get an STF as a Klingon where we go raid certain bases against the Federation? How about an STF where the Feds have to stop a Nausicaan Raider stronghold. That's the kind of content I want to see. Don't get me wrong I like the Borg, but I want to see variety. I want to see Iconians or their peers. I want to battle the Hurq. I want to STF vs. Romulans. If this means they shorten the low end game, HURRAH! Get on with it and crank out the end game!
As DStahl has said, Cryptic has been avoiding new KDF content because klingon population numbers are low. Going forward, all new players will be prevented from creating KDF characters for a substantial amount of time, as will a significant portion of existing players. Every single new subscription will be Fed-only for a substantial period of time, and further lower the KDF population %.
With KDF populations having nowhere to go but down, so goes the business-case for KDF content in the future. Why in the world would Cryptic ever want to invest resources into an empty faction??
First it was stated that half of STO players were level 21 or less...
Then, they raised the level to unlock Klingons to 25...
What are they trying to say?
After long saying they have held off from additional Klingon content from low population, they bring into play measures almost designed to lower the number of new Klingon players.
Is that so they can say, "Well, we've got a lot of new Feds, but Klingon numbers havn't gone up, so we'll hold off until they do"?
After all the other times we have been told additional Klingon content will come "soon" or "at a later time"
I cannot begin to really wonder if we will ever actually see it.
I believe that in this case Cryptic is makeing the right choice here. The current grind on the KDF side is a huge DISINCENTIVE for anyone wanting to roll a Klingon. The horrible grind is the only reason I still only have 1 general.
By truncating the leveing proces they make the leveling process so much more enjoyable. I believe this really will boost the number of people who play as klingon.
Many times I have come accross people stating that the grind was too much for them, or that the Klingons lack enough content for them to roll as a klingon. This effectivaly solves both issues.
As for the the Cryptic naysayers, I say look to the track record that Perfect World has with thier games. They do add content regularly. Perfect World International has had at least 2 expansions adding new races, new classes and new lands in the last few years. Forsaken world has recently recieved new endgame content. The point is, Perfect World has deep pockets, and they support thier games. Neither of which could be said of Atari.
Now, I take it the post above is from someonw who plays mainly the Federation. And has multiple max-level Federation toons.
So it's only natural players like him/her want 1/2 the way to level cap gone , of course this makes the faction a viable choice for them. It's not their faction going on a "1/2 OFF SALE"
But how do people that play KDF as their mains feel? I'll tell you.
Scroll down a bit, and you'll see a poll, "STO F2P: Good or Bad?" (Feel free to cast your vote)
THe #'s as of this post, are
80.65-Good,
19.35%-Bad.
It's already been comfirmed the KDF playerbase is around 12-18%. By the Executive Producer himself.
Is it merely coincidence that the % of people that think F2P is good mirrors the % of people that play Fed-only or mainly?
Is it merely coincidence that the % of people who think it's bad is close to the % of people playing KDF only or mainly?
I think not. Where others see coincidence, I see providence.
The writing's on the wall, in black-and white. DEVS- Klingons don't want our faction's gameplay cut. PERIOD.
Is it merely coincidence that the % of people that think F2P is good mirrors the % of people that play Fed-only or mainly?
Is it merely coincidence that the % of people who think it's bad is close to the % of people playing KDF only or mainly?
Yes to both.
Personally, I think F2P is a good thing. Pushing back the KDF unlock is in no way, shape, or form a necessary condition of F2P, and is just a short-for-Richard move on its own.
I don't think your percentages are necessarily correct. The only real way to know would be to properly sample Federation and Klingon responses separately, which we can't do with the data given. That aside, I have mixed feelings about the whole issue.
On the one hand I think it has potential to make it easier for them to fill out the rest of the faction and focus on End game. If that happens I'm all for it. I've never been about grinding. I like to get out there guns blazing and I suspect so do you. On the flip side, I've worked my *** off grinding a huge number of klingons, 9 of whom are lt. general, some of whom are captains and the remainder a big pile of Commanders. By giving level 25 away for free, they've nullified quite a lot of my work, which is frankly frustrating. Part of me wants to say 'GIVE ME MARAUDER POINTS FOR FREE DAMMIT' or something along those lines. Personally I like 'DSE' game play so its not so bad, but I still put in the work, and it saddens me my efforts are cheapened like this. So hopefully they will reward those of us who did it the hard way, at the very least.
Finally, I think it'd be awesome if levels 7-25 could be developed on its own from the start for all players of all factions. I just think the reason they opted this route is that setting up new factions inhibits their ability to put money effort and time into things like Fleet Actions, STF's, Starbases, Minigames, and certain other meaningful gameplay off the endgame. Its an ugly patchwork repair I'll admit, but its a patchwork I think that will pay in dividends that are better overall for us. So like I said I'm not without my irritations on this matter, but I can see where they're coming from.
The other thing that is irritating me right now is the way they've made all the races free. I bought them all, and levelled most of them to Admiral by now, with only a few left at Commander. Did I get my use out of them? I guess. It still bothers me that the items in question went free after I've paid for them. This sort of behavior makes me want to just tighten my wallet and wait for all my purchases. I've dealt with f2p companies before, that did this kind of thing, and that's exactly how I've solved the problem. I don't like feeling like Items I've purchased get devalued... Ever. So that's another issue on the table.
Yes to both.
Personally, I think F2P is a good thing. Pushing back the KDF unlock is in no way, shape, or form a necessary condition of F2P, and is just a short-for-Richard move on its own.
I hope you're right. And I'll agree, F2P is a good thing... depending on the steps they take to get there.
And I really, REALLY hope they change the KDF unlock and don't implement. It is very much an epic Rooster-block, IMO.
lol
I don't think your percentages are necessarily correct. The only real way to know would be to properly sample Federation and Klingon responses separately, which we can't do with the data given. That aside, I have mixed feelings about the whole issue..
True. But still, the similarities between the %'s.... I dunno.
The Poll I would like to see, about the whole debate, (to delete the first 1/2 of KDF content, or not to delete it) would be one right here on the website.
It seems to me that these chages indicate that Crytic is taking the easy way out of a lot of problems & shafting all of us who worked for it. I have 5 KDF Lt Gens & am thankful I made the rank before these changes take place. However, if they diminish any of the work that i have put into any of my characters it will be time to quit this game.
It should be noted, in the Nagus poll that directly asks if you agree with the KDF unlock @ level 25 feature, 55% as of this post diagree with the idea.
Pushing back the KDF unlock is in no way, shape, or form a necessary condition of F2P, and is just a short-for-Richard move on its own.
I feel this is an accurate analogy...well said and reflective of about I feel about it.
How am I ever going to convince my fellow Klingon fan friends (over 30 in my fleet alone started this game, then left due to lack of Klingon content, they went back to EVE) to come try (or come back to) STO if I tell them that not only do we still lack content after almost 2 years, but now you also now HAVE to play halfway to level cap before you even get the chance to try the Race to came to the game to play?
I don't see how this is going to help the Klingon players at all get content.
Cryptic has stated over and over that they have held off on Klingon content because of a lack of players.
Then a statement that half of STO players are under lvl 21...
So, to "enhance the enjoyment" they raise the ability to unlock Klingons to lvl 25...
THAT's gonna encourage more new Klingon players...yeah...who came up with that idea?
A Smooth-head obviously...
So they can have time to create more Klingon content...?...right...
Like they have over the past year and a half...?
It's like money from Klingons fans isn't as good as money from some Kirk/Picard/Janeway wannabe.
Cryptic seems to never learn...Not everyone wants to play as a member of the Federation, if they did there wouldn't be so many cries of adding other factions since game launch. How many of those have we seen?
PW said they want a Romulan faction as well...Bet we see that soon...probably before Klingons get very much additional content.
How will the Romulan players react if their Faction is released in the same shoddy shape the Klingons are now, much less the way they were at launch?
Silly Richard...
Given the logic behind the earlier poll analysis, that must obviously mean KDF numbers suddenly swelled to surpass the Feds.
There are also issues that muddy the situation as well. If a character splits time between his KDF and FED characters does that make him a KDF voter or a FED voter? What percentage of characters or time spent must you have to be considered valid to vote for KDF or FED? Its too Muddy. Frankly, some of the most gung ho KDF Hardcore PVP players I know, are also Gung Ho Fed players as well. Its just too difficult to quantify these things.
Again tho, for NOW, whats the problem? Yes content needs to be added, and improved upon, but FOR NOW...the hardest part for someone leveling a KDF is getting thru those first 20 levels. I've heard soo many times from players that just can't stand the grind, the monotony of it all, and Our roster is full of fleetie fed transfers sitting at LTC 2.
I AGREE that its the easy way out, I AGREE that they should still make early game content, and FINISH THE KDF, but what I"M saying is, that for NOW, this will IMPROVE KDF POPULATIONS BY HALVING THE LEVELING REQUIREMENTS.
To be completely honest with you all though, I'd be perfectly ok with the federation being the primary faction, and they release the rommies, and cardies at a level 25 + as well, make them kind of Subfactions as it were. But I'm not one who enjoys leveling.
Lets see. I've been playing since Beta and the important part of the early grind is this:
1.) BO Skills and builds get planned out and adjusted to best suit end game.
2.) Crafting is achieved.
3.) Exchange sales.
4.) Accolades.
5.) Builds are tweaked.
Does the implications on PvP now become apparent when you are faced against a Fed of "equal" standing?
Ahhh, but you see, I can't say that. The reason is, we have not stated at what level Klingon Characters will be starting at after the free-to play transition. We've only stated what level they will unlock at.
The actual starting level has not been locked down 100% yet.
I do wonder what will happen to the early raptor, bird of preys and K'tanco. The B'rel?
Can't have a Klingon faction without a B'rel to start with...
Personally, I kinda hope they'd ditch the T3 BoP they invented and put the B'rel there or something like that. Nothing against their own designs, they look cool. But at the same time, the effect of recognition is important and classic beats invented. And removing two tiers of invented ships might just make the Klingon part of the KDF look a bit more true to the series. Personal opinion, tho.
Lets see. I've been playing since Beta and the important part of the early grind is this:
1.) BO Skills and builds get planned out and adjusted to best suit end game.
2.) Crafting is achieved.
3.) Exchange sales.
4.) Accolades.
5.) Builds are tweaked.
Does the implications on PvP now become apparent when you are faced against a Fed of "equal" standing?
I really don't think KDF-play is that much different from Feds that people would have that much of a difficulty to adapt when they have acquired that knowledge in the other faction. Exchange profits can be achieved on the character you play until having unlocked KDF (you don't "play less" after all). And accolades ... really?
The only problem I see there is crafting. Not that losing the two or three days it currently takes people to level from 7 to 25 would make that much of a difference, but this is an area where it does get a bit harder. Would be easily tweakable by tweaking the content to yield more crafting materials as compensation, though.
But let's see what the starting level actually ends up to be, now. Given Stormy's latest comment, my new guess would be 20 so that people get to enjoy the full tier.
Now, I take it the post above is from someonw who plays mainly the Federation. And has multiple max-level Federation toons.
So it's only natural players like him/her want 1/2 the way to level cap gone , of course this makes the faction a viable choice for them. It's not their faction going on a "1/2 OFF SALE"
Actually my main is a klingon Engineer in a Carrier. It months of gametime later to get my first fedside toon to max.
The point I was trying to make is that the klingon side does not have enough content to be considered a full faction. Condencing what little content we have to only 25 levels makes sense. We have the best missions in the game. Unfortunately we also have one of the most irritating grinds I have ever seen. By condencing the content we have, new players will experience the absolute very best that STO has to offer. Instead of the rather thankless grind we have now.
Then go back to, I dunno, level 6 (the current starting level?). And kind of do what you do now.
But ... they also said they'd be removing low level KDF PVP?
So ... I'm just confused.
More details need to be given.
I couldn't believe that Stormshade posted that after describing in another thread the advantages to unlocking Klingons at level 25 and starting playing them at that point. It makes no sense not to have Klingons start at level 25 if they unlock at that level and when low level PvP is turned off. All that does is needlessly delay players from making Klingon characters, gets them set playing their Federation players to an extent they would have to be crazy to play a Klingon, and takes away yet another way for Klingons to gain experience.
It appears to me that really the delayed unlock of Klingons is nothing but a way of hiding the flaws of the Klingon faction from incoming players. They'd much rather have them come in, be stuck playing the Federation for 25 levels and grow to like the game rather than picking the Klingon faction from the start and seeing the flaws. Stormshade's most recent statement that they haven't decided what level that Klingons will start at seemingly contradicts the goals stated in the FAQ and what he said just two days ago.
Not a happy camper with this. This move is a huge negative for the faction.
It removes half of it. Literally just removes half of the faction.
And it also pretty much bottlenecks the KDF playerbase from growing. All the free players will be 25 levels into a new character before unlocking a Klingon. And will most likely continue to ignore the KDF after getting 25 levels. All the "new population growth" will be completely fed side.
So someday in 2012, we'll get a post detailing why they plan to not develop anything new for the KDF and it'll read something like "Our statistics show KDF playerbase to be .05% of the playerbase, and it's been shrinking since going free to play started, so we can't justify spending the resources on something so small."
PVP will be Fed vs. Fed dominated even more.
This whole thing is just ... ugh ... classic Cryptic though.
All I have to say is, how can you actually expect an improvement when they only jsut realized that the Academy uniform was the first ever Klingon-only uniform?
Opening Klingon play at level 25 is designed to make the grind shorter, not improve game play.
Comments
I'd start by telling them that they can't skip 25 levels of grind, they just have to perform that 25 levels of grind as a Federation.
As for creating a Klingon in EZ Mode, I had no idea farming experience in Empire Defense required such a high degree of skill. :rolleyes:
Touche, salesman.
With KDF populations having nowhere to go but down, so goes the business-case for KDF content in the future. Why in the world would Cryptic ever want to invest resources into an empty faction??
Except that this could have a positive effect on Klingon population numbers. Currently the Klingon population offers a very boring, very grind-y experience that scares away alot of experienced players and kills the enthusiasm of alot of new players. This change will make sure that attempts to play as a Klingon don't kill the enthusiasm of new players and that players who have an interest in playing the Klingons will be able to give them a chance knowing that they'll have a reasonably enjoyable leveling experience.
F2P will bring a big influx of new players into the game, similar to how it worked with CO. These new Silver players will only have a single character slot dedicated to the Federation. Anytime they log in beyond level 25, they will basically be presented with a button saying "create a Klingon!".
The difference between level 7 and level 25 is marginal. The kind of people who cannot play for the very short amount of time it takes to get to 25 to create a Klingon will already experience the very same "barrier" today. It doesn't get worse, the "entry requirements" will remain as admittedly unfavorable as they already are - whilst a greater number of people will perceive a stronger temptation to try out the KDF, which will feel less "grindy" than the current version, thus also causing a larger number of players to stick with it instead of giving up due to lack of content.
Added to this comes the statement that the new publisher would prefer balanced factions for a better PvP experience, in turn providing a notable incentive for Cryptic to flesh out the Klingon faction, as seems to be the plan.
And here I always thought *I* was being a pessimistic person...
PS: my average level seems to be 30 - got one VA, one LtG and currently leveling another General, but whereas my Commander falls flat in the middle my two "RP Lieutenants" are dragging me down quite a bit.
To create a brand new free alt, they can just create a brand new free account.
And even someone who does create more than one Silver account will still see that button ... waiting ... and tempting ...
Instead, I think they want to be able to give the action a clear storyline from start to finish without having to put so much assets into the storyline that it makes new factions infeasible. I think the goal here is to simply make it so Romulans, Cardies, etc can be viable out the gate a lot easier and I think that's a good thing. This game isn't called Klingon Online its Star Trek Online. I don't mean to say this as any disrespect but clearly the bulk of storyline will focus around the Federation because that's what Trek is about.
That being said, I think they can likely put together some great storylines for us in the Klingon faction, as well as the other factions if they shorten the curve. This system would do that for them. I'm all for it. I'd rather see more content at the top being developed than a bunch of low level novice garbage being spewed out across a bunch of factions. Utterly pointless. For me anyway, I've found it mindnumbing, grinding out the characters I have on the Klingon side after a while. To some extent I'm a little frustrated that all the work I put into getting all the Commanders I have will get no payback, but what can I do?
In the balance of things, I think this is better for the game overall, and it will allow them to design stories moving forward a lot easier. This is why I think they are doing this, but I admit its purely conjecture.
We understand that the Klingon Faction is currently under developed. Due to this, we've decided that beginning with the free-to-play conversion, Klingon play will be unlocked at level 25, rather than the low level it is now.
This allows us to provide a better experience for Klingon play while we continue to work on improving the faction. A more complete, full-fledged Klingon Faction that we've always wanted to be able to provide will be launched in a future update. Our new owners and publishers at Perfect World are just as committed to having a fully developed Klingon Faction as we are and as our players are.
So, if it means we are getting a more full-fledged KDF faction, I'm more tha happy with that particular change
Aside from this, while I would like to see the PvE storyline progress more deeply and richly for Klingon gameplay from 7-51, I can see why they want to do this. The customers/players really want to see a storyline for Klingons. I also know quite a few people in my fleet who really like the Romulan faction, and they would frankly drop everything else to play that (including other games that they play). I know people who are really wanting to play the Dominion. Again, that's another faction to look at. Even more there's groups like the Ferengi, and so forth. So what we have here is a difficult situation. How does Cryptic come up with 'full' content for all those factions in t his environment? I think giving them a shorter levelling experience isn't such a bad solution. It might not be an ideal solution, but ideal solutions are often too costly to ever actually be performed. The main story of Star Trek has and always will be the Federation. With that being said, if they can give us a reasonable amount of pve for Klingon side I'll be pretty happy with that. Furthermore, if we can get a much broader array of Endgame content, I'd be even happier with that. For me that's perhaps more to the point than the grind on the way up. Featured Episodes are really nice, and if we can see more and more of that kind of gameplay, that's what I really want to see for PvE. For PvP and STF's and Fleet actions I'd like to see interesting puzzles and variety and combat.
The storyline is great, and its an important part of a game... but lets face it, in an MMO its not the end all and be all of the game. Longterm, I'd rather see them develop things like Featured Episodes, Fleet Actions, Pvp Conflicts, Fleet Starbases (and associated pve/pvp/crafting elements), More Interesting Exploration/Conquering, Fleet Actions, and STF's.
What would you guys rather, a couple of baseline complexity spoon fed story missions, or would you rather get an STF as a Klingon where we go raid certain bases against the Federation? How about an STF where the Feds have to stop a Nausicaan Raider stronghold. That's the kind of content I want to see. Don't get me wrong I like the Borg, but I want to see variety. I want to see Iconians or their peers. I want to battle the Hurq. I want to STF vs. Romulans. If this means they shorten the low end game, HURRAH! Get on with it and crank out the end game!
They've made that promise time and time again. And never once bothered to deliver on such a promise.
First it was stated that half of STO players were level 21 or less...
Then, they raised the level to unlock Klingons to 25...
What are they trying to say?
After long saying they have held off from additional Klingon content from low population, they bring into play measures almost designed to lower the number of new Klingon players.
Is that so they can say, "Well, we've got a lot of new Feds, but Klingon numbers havn't gone up, so we'll hold off until they do"?
After all the other times we have been told additional Klingon content will come "soon" or "at a later time"
I cannot begin to really wonder if we will ever actually see it.
http://www.stowiki.org/User:Peregrine_Falcon#The_History_Of_The_Klingon_Empire_With_Cryptic_Studios
Let the record speak for itself.
By truncating the leveing proces they make the leveling process so much more enjoyable. I believe this really will boost the number of people who play as klingon.
Many times I have come accross people stating that the grind was too much for them, or that the Klingons lack enough content for them to roll as a klingon. This effectivaly solves both issues.
As for the the Cryptic naysayers, I say look to the track record that Perfect World has with thier games. They do add content regularly. Perfect World International has had at least 2 expansions adding new races, new classes and new lands in the last few years. Forsaken world has recently recieved new endgame content. The point is, Perfect World has deep pockets, and they support thier games. Neither of which could be said of Atari.
So it's only natural players like him/her want 1/2 the way to level cap gone , of course this makes the faction a viable choice for them. It's not their faction going on a "1/2 OFF SALE"
But how do people that play KDF as their mains feel? I'll tell you.
Or, rather, STOked will tell you.
Scroll down a bit, and you'll see a poll, "STO F2P: Good or Bad?" (Feel free to cast your vote)
THe #'s as of this post, are
80.65-Good,
19.35%-Bad.
It's already been comfirmed the KDF playerbase is around 12-18%. By the Executive Producer himself.
Is it merely coincidence that the % of people that think F2P is good mirrors the % of people that play Fed-only or mainly?
Is it merely coincidence that the % of people who think it's bad is close to the % of people playing KDF only or mainly?
I think not. Where others see coincidence, I see providence.
The writing's on the wall, in black-and white.
DEVS- Klingons don't want our faction's gameplay cut. PERIOD.
Personally, I think F2P is a good thing. Pushing back the KDF unlock is in no way, shape, or form a necessary condition of F2P, and is just a short-for-Richard move on its own.
On the one hand I think it has potential to make it easier for them to fill out the rest of the faction and focus on End game. If that happens I'm all for it. I've never been about grinding. I like to get out there guns blazing and I suspect so do you. On the flip side, I've worked my *** off grinding a huge number of klingons, 9 of whom are lt. general, some of whom are captains and the remainder a big pile of Commanders. By giving level 25 away for free, they've nullified quite a lot of my work, which is frankly frustrating. Part of me wants to say 'GIVE ME MARAUDER POINTS FOR FREE DAMMIT' or something along those lines. Personally I like 'DSE' game play so its not so bad, but I still put in the work, and it saddens me my efforts are cheapened like this. So hopefully they will reward those of us who did it the hard way, at the very least.
Finally, I think it'd be awesome if levels 7-25 could be developed on its own from the start for all players of all factions. I just think the reason they opted this route is that setting up new factions inhibits their ability to put money effort and time into things like Fleet Actions, STF's, Starbases, Minigames, and certain other meaningful gameplay off the endgame. Its an ugly patchwork repair I'll admit, but its a patchwork I think that will pay in dividends that are better overall for us. So like I said I'm not without my irritations on this matter, but I can see where they're coming from.
The other thing that is irritating me right now is the way they've made all the races free. I bought them all, and levelled most of them to Admiral by now, with only a few left at Commander. Did I get my use out of them? I guess. It still bothers me that the items in question went free after I've paid for them. This sort of behavior makes me want to just tighten my wallet and wait for all my purchases. I've dealt with f2p companies before, that did this kind of thing, and that's exactly how I've solved the problem. I don't like feeling like Items I've purchased get devalued... Ever. So that's another issue on the table.
I hope you're right. And I'll agree, F2P is a good thing... depending on the steps they take to get there.
And I really, REALLY hope they change the KDF unlock and don't implement. It is very much an epic Rooster-block, IMO.
lol
True. But still, the similarities between the %'s.... I dunno.
The Poll I would like to see, about the whole debate, (to delete the first 1/2 of KDF content, or not to delete it) would be one right here on the website.
I feel this is an accurate analogy...well said and reflective of about I feel about it.
How am I ever going to convince my fellow Klingon fan friends (over 30 in my fleet alone started this game, then left due to lack of Klingon content, they went back to EVE) to come try (or come back to) STO if I tell them that not only do we still lack content after almost 2 years, but now you also now HAVE to play halfway to level cap before you even get the chance to try the Race to came to the game to play?
I don't see how this is going to help the Klingon players at all get content.
Cryptic has stated over and over that they have held off on Klingon content because of a lack of players.
Then a statement that half of STO players are under lvl 21...
So, to "enhance the enjoyment" they raise the ability to unlock Klingons to lvl 25...
THAT's gonna encourage more new Klingon players...yeah...who came up with that idea?
A Smooth-head obviously...
So they can have time to create more Klingon content...?...right...
Like they have over the past year and a half...?
It's like money from Klingons fans isn't as good as money from some Kirk/Picard/Janeway wannabe.
Cryptic seems to never learn...Not everyone wants to play as a member of the Federation, if they did there wouldn't be so many cries of adding other factions since game launch. How many of those have we seen?
PW said they want a Romulan faction as well...Bet we see that soon...probably before Klingons get very much additional content.
How will the Romulan players react if their Faction is released in the same shoddy shape the Klingons are now, much less the way they were at launch?
Silly Richard...
There are also issues that muddy the situation as well. If a character splits time between his KDF and FED characters does that make him a KDF voter or a FED voter? What percentage of characters or time spent must you have to be considered valid to vote for KDF or FED? Its too Muddy. Frankly, some of the most gung ho KDF Hardcore PVP players I know, are also Gung Ho Fed players as well. Its just too difficult to quantify these things.
Lets see. I've been playing since Beta and the important part of the early grind is this:
1.) BO Skills and builds get planned out and adjusted to best suit end game.
2.) Crafting is achieved.
3.) Exchange sales.
4.) Accolades.
5.) Builds are tweaked.
Does the implications on PvP now become apparent when you are faced against a Fed of "equal" standing?
Can't have a Klingon faction without a B'rel to start with...
... scratch that.
I just found out starting level isn't set.
I really don't think KDF-play is that much different from Feds that people would have that much of a difficulty to adapt when they have acquired that knowledge in the other faction. Exchange profits can be achieved on the character you play until having unlocked KDF (you don't "play less" after all). And accolades ... really?
The only problem I see there is crafting. Not that losing the two or three days it currently takes people to level from 7 to 25 would make that much of a difference, but this is an area where it does get a bit harder. Would be easily tweakable by tweaking the content to yield more crafting materials as compensation, though.
But let's see what the starting level actually ends up to be, now. Given Stormy's latest comment, my new guess would be 20 so that people get to enjoy the full tier.
Yeah, I read that and got thoroughly confused.
Like, so, you unlock a Klingon at 25.
Then go back to, I dunno, level 6 (the current starting level?). And kind of do what you do now.
But ... they also said they'd be removing low level KDF PVP?
So ... I'm just confused.
More details need to be given.
Actually my main is a klingon Engineer in a Carrier. It months of gametime later to get my first fedside toon to max.
The point I was trying to make is that the klingon side does not have enough content to be considered a full faction. Condencing what little content we have to only 25 levels makes sense. We have the best missions in the game. Unfortunately we also have one of the most irritating grinds I have ever seen. By condencing the content we have, new players will experience the absolute very best that STO has to offer. Instead of the rather thankless grind we have now.
I couldn't believe that Stormshade posted that after describing in another thread the advantages to unlocking Klingons at level 25 and starting playing them at that point. It makes no sense not to have Klingons start at level 25 if they unlock at that level and when low level PvP is turned off. All that does is needlessly delay players from making Klingon characters, gets them set playing their Federation players to an extent they would have to be crazy to play a Klingon, and takes away yet another way for Klingons to gain experience.
It appears to me that really the delayed unlock of Klingons is nothing but a way of hiding the flaws of the Klingon faction from incoming players. They'd much rather have them come in, be stuck playing the Federation for 25 levels and grow to like the game rather than picking the Klingon faction from the start and seeing the flaws. Stormshade's most recent statement that they haven't decided what level that Klingons will start at seemingly contradicts the goals stated in the FAQ and what he said just two days ago.
100% agree...
Opening Klingon play at level 25 is designed to make the grind shorter, not improve game play.