im also really not a fan of the game defaulting to shooter mode from the start. when you first play i think you want to be rpg mode and then have it suggested in combat about shooter mode.
The number of changes is good but I am also disappointed about the lack of new tutorial being set at SF Academy or KDF Academy, does anyone know whether this is still being looked into or has been shelved?
Would also recommend that if you go onto tribble don't be surprised if you are disconnected from the server, I have been disconnected about six times already, mainly due to the amount of people.
I thought the NEW new Tutorials would be coming here, you know, the one that takes place at Starfleet Academy, with the Borg stuff at Vega Colony becoming a part of the Borg STFs at the end of the game..?
What the heck? IS this all we're getting as far as "new" Tutorials go? Another polishing of the same thing we've had since launch?
Cryptic, I am Dissapoint.
So, since that's not happening... where is the solid new content that was made in lieu of more Featured Episodes? I had kind of assumed that the content teams were diverted to this but, uh...
this is why i think it should be rpg as default. that way people can click on the on screen tags rather than have to worry about what button to press.
you cant resize the info window to read all the test in shooter. you cant even talk to the first person you meet with the F key for some reason. its all very clumsy with the shooter mode set to default.
Y'know, after reading the patch notes and going through the tutorial with a new character, all I kept thinking is "As a lifer with a bunch of maxed out characters, this affects me how exactly?" Granted, I do like some of the UI improvements and the scaling of the old episodes, but mostly, it all seems geared for the F2P players coming in.
So looking from just a "new content" perspective that Tribble is supposed to satiate:
1) Tutorial = Mostly superficial changes with no integration of Starfleet Academy as previously talked about. And no Klingon version yet. Disappointed.
2) Duty Officer System = Oh, gee, I have to grind up 10 levels to even start testing this? Awesome...not!
3) STF = Can't even think of starting of testing this out by grinding up to level 45 or waiting who knows how long until we can transfer characters over. And Invasion (you meant Infected, right?) will only be available for now?
4) Lore Mission Reward = Free STO book? Lame. And just adds to the overall lameness of the Academy as a zone to, like, actually do stuff.
5) Mirror Universe Event = don't think I was able to start yet. But yay, maybe finally one new thing right away to do without grinding!
6) Ground Invasion = didn't see anything, so I'm assuming the can got kicked down the road yet again.
So, nothing on the live server for who knows how long and a bunch of grinding on Tribble to even start with the new content stuff that won't even get carried over to my main. My suggestion is to allow us to start at a higher level sooner rather than later (by transferring our character or by some Q thing), or if you really want to have us grind to let us know how it'll be for the F2P players, then let us know what alleged "reward" will be for testing for them. Other than the whole "maybe someday you'll get something cool" empty, speechifying that has been plaguing the game for far too long...
If the tutorial going to shooter mode by default rather than RPG is a prelude of the RPG controls being wiped out, I'm going to be livid. I hate the shooter mode.
Technically speaking, four genders isn't canon for Andorians - only that "Andorian marriages typically require groups of four people." Four genders was a (logical) extrapolation made by the novelverse and has been explored in the novels to great effect.
I am disappointed that it has been removed from this game, particularly since the inclusion didn't have an effect in the game but still served as a nice link between the game and the novels.
If the tutorial going to shooter mode by default rather than RPG is a prelude of the RPG controls being wiped out, I'm going to be livid. I hate the shooter mode.
doubtful, no need to get rid of them at all. that would just annoy too many people.
Seriously, I don't know why you guys are bothering with all the monthly subscription portion (beyond LTS players like myself) - as honestly, you DO NOT give enough incentive for ANYONE to "go Gold" (IMO) in STO.
That's interesting in that in one of the lst interviews given by DSthal; he said that you guys didn't want to 'destroy their subscription business - but honestly - I don't see what people get for paying $10.00 a month (with $5 of that effectively reimbursed with 400 CP.)
And before anyone starts in with the "You hate Silvers" line - No, I honestly don't. I want to see STO continue to be profitable; and UNLIKE Champuions Online - where Gold (subscription) get you access to Free Forn character creation; STO (with Foundry access being sold on a oer slot basis) (and again IMO) doesn't really give Gold enough in that honestly - taking that $15.00 a month and using it in the C-Store will effective get them LTS access for one character very quickly under the cuurrent C-Store price structure (which it has been said in many an interview and Dev post that they DON'T see C-Store prices rising and again while that isn't a bad thing per se - again; I don't see anything left that would temp me if I were not an LTS already and were an F2P Silver player coming in - to subcribe for gold access to STO - and from what I saw of CO's overall success in F2P - maintaining Subscribers does help; but they seem to be comp;letely abandoning trying to lure monthly subscriptions in STO - and unless they know something I don't; I just don't see how that helps STOs profitability long term.
Never thought I say this but I agree with you Armsman But I do.
So in 24 hours cryptic remove the 500 day 250 emblem vet reward. Add a 1billion EC cap when the martix still reads unlimited ec.
And you want to let silver get access to foundry.
If i was not life time. I would cancel my subscription in heart beat. I am glad I bought my life time back in beta. But now I am wonder why we bother to get my wife one.
If the tutorial going to shooter mode by default rather than RPG is a prelude of the RPG controls being wiped out, I'm going to be livid. I hate the shooter mode.
They stated long ago that the new tute would have the shooter mode as the default.. after many pages of people saying they didn't like the idea.. evidently, the devs went the other way.
If the tutorial going to shooter mode by default rather than RPG is a prelude of the RPG controls being wiped out, I'm going to be livid. I hate the shooter mode.
I agree, and from my view they just destroyed usability with this ground change. Oh it looks pretty and all, but I feel I can't really do anything with it now they removed all the functionality.
If that is the their attempt at making ground "fun" or more interesting, I think they need to think again.
Many of us don't like the Shooter mode because we were so used to the way RPG worked. With the coming in-flux of new players it makes sense to use the Shooter mode as the default. But they should make UI navigation easier to deal with.
Since it's in the Tutorial I'm sure they can add the default keybinds as part of the text or make a power button to switch in and out.
Well all I can say is if this is Season 4.1 pre-launch F2P this game is going to suffer pretty fast.
The last 8-9 months have been very difficult for me to even justify paying a sub and if this is all that is going to come out with a "new F2P" beta then there is really no reason for anyone with a monthly sub to continue. I know I will gladly downgrade and pay a few bucks in the C-store to get right back where I am at.
First off, I beta tested this game once for free. Then for the last 18 months I feel like I have still been beta testing but paying to beta test this time. Constant delays, lack of creating deeper content systems, and only polish treatment of SOME existing systems has left me feeling that way. Now I will have to grind and pay to beta this game game a 3rd time? That is how I feel Cryptic. Let's give a quick run-down of the current state of the game systems:
PVE Content - very few developer created missions added since launch and only a "polish" that we can repeat those same missions over and over and over again. Continued "imbalance" in content between the two factions maintained since launch. End-game content is sorely lacking and what is there has been in a constant "polishing" phase for months and geared for continual repeat. No new raids, so to speak, only tweaking the existing few. Overall there is not enough content in this game to support a highly active community of subbers let alone F2Pers.
Crafting - Got a small pass but compared to other games is a poorly designed system, probably the single most poorly designed crafting system I have ever come across. Not really fun and engaging, merely an item trade system. There is no need to even go further into this as it needs to be far more detailed and fun.
Resource Gathering - Let's not get started on this one.
PvP Content - a smattering of maps and continual imbalances. No real effort has been placed on PvP in the last 18 months, only token effort. Hence this game will not be able to retain F2Pers who want to PvP and it is clearly evident that the subbed population of PvPers has diminished.
Social Content - persistent zones are present but really have little purpose aside from RPing. Beam down to Risa and have a dance party, that is about it. These zones need to have quests and other things to do so they can be social hubs. Overall the way the game is structured is fairly "anti-social" not because there are not enough group missions but because of 1) all the instanced zones, 2) lack of inter-class dependency, and 3) a lack of social things to do.
Let's face it, this game may be built on an amazing engine and have spectacular models and graphics but overall all of the game systems (aside from the foundry which is probably the only big selling point of STO) are very shallow and sorely lacking the depth of where they should be heading with a game 18 months in. In fact, most of these basal systems should have been there before launch.
With every update I see I hope I will see something meaningful, some reason to keep me in game playing with friends and making friends in game but I just see shallow systems and trinkets. Unless these things get fleshed out, this game will not have longevity no matter how many C-Store trinkets are added. What is the point of having Ground Combat 2.0 when we have nothing new to do with it??? Hopefully our new Acting Exec can pull us out of this spiral and be more focused.
We are in the process of adding a way for Silver players to pay C-Points or Dilithium to unlock a single foundry editing slot. The details aren't available yet, but know that it is probably coming soon.
So... At what point are you guys going to step back and say "Maybe this isn't such a hot idea after all?" After we tell everyone that even bothering to sign up for this game, even as a Silver, is a bad idea because at some point the devs will find neat little ways to say "TRIBBLE you?"
I'm telling you right now: Stop it. In the end, you're only hurting your already fragile reputations. Another company took this path, and they suffered a backlash so horrible, they almost went out of business. I will edit this post when I remember.
EDIT: It was TSR. They bought out the company that made Battles & Tactics magazine. They told the lifers they inherited to go pound sand, and *that attitude* nearly destroyed the entire pen and paper RPG industry.
So... At what point are you guys going to step back and say "Maybe this isn't such a hot idea after all?" After we tell everyone that even bothering to sign up for this game, even as a Silver, is a bad idea because at some point the devs will find neat little ways to say "TRIBBLE you?"
I'm telling you right now: Stop it. In the end, you're only hurting your already fragile reputations. Another company took this path, and they suffered a backlash so horrible, they almost went out of business. I will edit this post when I remember.
As the matrix of features continues to skew and shift more wildly than trying to ride an angry bronco, I'm only more convinced that the direction being communicated vs the direction actually traveled is vastly dissimilar. Indeed, it seems like the direction shifted substantively when dstahl decided to step down (prior to the announcement to the population). It will have, as the Lady Q once said, "cosmic consequences".
I'm not surprised, to be honest. Coincidentally enough, I canceled the day before dstahl announced his departure. I had a feeling the direction was going downhill. Unfortunately, I continue to have nothing but continuing proof of this with every Cryptic post except from Heretic (as a rule).
As the posters above me have mentioned, remove shooter mode for initial start up upon entry of STO. It feels detached and souless for a newcommer.
If STO wants to 'relaunch' for the free to play crowd it needs to be more sociable. Currently as it stands which has been since Febuary 2010 the game is too instanced for real connectivity within the player base. There is no incentive to group with your fellow players untill the Borg STF's which come as a rude shock the first few times for players.
It has been difficult for me to justify subscription over the recent months from the lack of 'actual work' done by Cryptic Studios regarding this title which its split from Atari should in no way bare as an excuse for this. Star Trek Online going free to play will have another injection of interest yet only to be dismissed by an even more fickle and demanding audience who come from the free to play realms. Long time Star Trek players and fans have been too tollerant of such mired and muddied development concerning this title. Free to play members will not be as forgiving.
As it stands there is little incentive for future silver members to upgrade to gold once their C store purchases are unlocked.
I honestly believe this is not the new and improved tutorial they have been promiseing, it's just a few minor tweaks to the existing tutorial. Hope they have the real McCoy up soon though...
I honestly believe this is not the new and improved tutorial they have been promiseing, it's just a few minor tweaks to the existing tutorial. Hope they have the real McCoy up soon though...
I fear that is what we get instead of the new tutorial.
Comments
you can still see it in the character status window.
Would also recommend that if you go onto tribble don't be surprised if you are disconnected from the server, I have been disconnected about six times already, mainly due to the amount of people.
many of us have that and many times that.
ok we been playing far too long.
I think for a silver account 100 mill is too much. 10 mill is more realistic.
Who tells a new player this stuff?
This will encourage the purchase of additional boff slots later on by F2Prs...
Edit: Carriers currently only use 4 boffs.. We could see an increase in those ships at F2P launch... "I see fighter spam in the Federations future!"
Because they all look the same to Cryptic??.... just sayin...
So, since that's not happening... where is the solid new content that was made in lieu of more Featured Episodes? I had kind of assumed that the content teams were diverted to this but, uh...
this is why i think it should be rpg as default. that way people can click on the on screen tags rather than have to worry about what button to press.
you cant resize the info window to read all the test in shooter. you cant even talk to the first person you meet with the F key for some reason. its all very clumsy with the shooter mode set to default.
Y'know, after reading the patch notes and going through the tutorial with a new character, all I kept thinking is "As a lifer with a bunch of maxed out characters, this affects me how exactly?" Granted, I do like some of the UI improvements and the scaling of the old episodes, but mostly, it all seems geared for the F2P players coming in.
So looking from just a "new content" perspective that Tribble is supposed to satiate:
1) Tutorial = Mostly superficial changes with no integration of Starfleet Academy as previously talked about. And no Klingon version yet. Disappointed.
2) Duty Officer System = Oh, gee, I have to grind up 10 levels to even start testing this? Awesome...not!
3) STF = Can't even think of starting of testing this out by grinding up to level 45 or waiting who knows how long until we can transfer characters over. And Invasion (you meant Infected, right?) will only be available for now?
4) Lore Mission Reward = Free STO book? Lame. And just adds to the overall lameness of the Academy as a zone to, like, actually do stuff.
5) Mirror Universe Event = don't think I was able to start yet. But yay, maybe finally one new thing right away to do without grinding!
6) Ground Invasion = didn't see anything, so I'm assuming the can got kicked down the road yet again.
So, nothing on the live server for who knows how long and a bunch of grinding on Tribble to even start with the new content stuff that won't even get carried over to my main. My suggestion is to allow us to start at a higher level sooner rather than later (by transferring our character or by some Q thing), or if you really want to have us grind to let us know how it'll be for the F2P players, then let us know what alleged "reward" will be for testing for them. Other than the whole "maybe someday you'll get something cool" empty, speechifying that has been plaguing the game for far too long...
Thanks for mentioning this, I thought merits were going away along with the currency consolidation.
I am disappointed that it has been removed from this game, particularly since the inclusion didn't have an effect in the game but still served as a nice link between the game and the novels.
doubtful, no need to get rid of them at all. that would just annoy too many people.
Never thought I say this but I agree with you Armsman But I do.
So in 24 hours cryptic remove the 500 day 250 emblem vet reward. Add a 1billion EC cap when the martix still reads unlimited ec.
And you want to let silver get access to foundry.
If i was not life time. I would cancel my subscription in heart beat. I am glad I bought my life time back in beta. But now I am wonder why we bother to get my wife one.
They stated long ago that the new tute would have the shooter mode as the default.. after many pages of people saying they didn't like the idea.. evidently, the devs went the other way.
Jolan'tru
I agree, and from my view they just destroyed usability with this ground change. Oh it looks pretty and all, but I feel I can't really do anything with it now they removed all the functionality.
If that is the their attempt at making ground "fun" or more interesting, I think they need to think again.
But they should make UI navigation easier to deal with.
Since it's in the Tutorial I'm sure they can add the default keybinds as part of the text or make a power button to switch in and out.
neither have I. Silver should limit should be 100,000 credits
no way... im happy with my 65 mil.
Remember this isn't a demo, it's F2P. If you limit it that much, you'd never be able to buy things off the exchange.
The last 8-9 months have been very difficult for me to even justify paying a sub and if this is all that is going to come out with a "new F2P" beta then there is really no reason for anyone with a monthly sub to continue. I know I will gladly downgrade and pay a few bucks in the C-store to get right back where I am at.
First off, I beta tested this game once for free. Then for the last 18 months I feel like I have still been beta testing but paying to beta test this time. Constant delays, lack of creating deeper content systems, and only polish treatment of SOME existing systems has left me feeling that way. Now I will have to grind and pay to beta this game game a 3rd time? That is how I feel Cryptic. Let's give a quick run-down of the current state of the game systems:
PVE Content - very few developer created missions added since launch and only a "polish" that we can repeat those same missions over and over and over again. Continued "imbalance" in content between the two factions maintained since launch. End-game content is sorely lacking and what is there has been in a constant "polishing" phase for months and geared for continual repeat. No new raids, so to speak, only tweaking the existing few. Overall there is not enough content in this game to support a highly active community of subbers let alone F2Pers.
Crafting - Got a small pass but compared to other games is a poorly designed system, probably the single most poorly designed crafting system I have ever come across. Not really fun and engaging, merely an item trade system. There is no need to even go further into this as it needs to be far more detailed and fun.
Resource Gathering - Let's not get started on this one.
PvP Content - a smattering of maps and continual imbalances. No real effort has been placed on PvP in the last 18 months, only token effort. Hence this game will not be able to retain F2Pers who want to PvP and it is clearly evident that the subbed population of PvPers has diminished.
Social Content - persistent zones are present but really have little purpose aside from RPing. Beam down to Risa and have a dance party, that is about it. These zones need to have quests and other things to do so they can be social hubs. Overall the way the game is structured is fairly "anti-social" not because there are not enough group missions but because of 1) all the instanced zones, 2) lack of inter-class dependency, and 3) a lack of social things to do.
Let's face it, this game may be built on an amazing engine and have spectacular models and graphics but overall all of the game systems (aside from the foundry which is probably the only big selling point of STO) are very shallow and sorely lacking the depth of where they should be heading with a game 18 months in. In fact, most of these basal systems should have been there before launch.
With every update I see I hope I will see something meaningful, some reason to keep me in game playing with friends and making friends in game but I just see shallow systems and trinkets. Unless these things get fleshed out, this game will not have longevity no matter how many C-Store trinkets are added. What is the point of having Ground Combat 2.0 when we have nothing new to do with it??? Hopefully our new Acting Exec can pull us out of this spiral and be more focused.
So... At what point are you guys going to step back and say "Maybe this isn't such a hot idea after all?" After we tell everyone that even bothering to sign up for this game, even as a Silver, is a bad idea because at some point the devs will find neat little ways to say "TRIBBLE you?"
I'm telling you right now: Stop it. In the end, you're only hurting your already fragile reputations. Another company took this path, and they suffered a backlash so horrible, they almost went out of business. I will edit this post when I remember.
EDIT: It was TSR. They bought out the company that made Battles & Tactics magazine. They told the lifers they inherited to go pound sand, and *that attitude* nearly destroyed the entire pen and paper RPG industry.
As the matrix of features continues to skew and shift more wildly than trying to ride an angry bronco, I'm only more convinced that the direction being communicated vs the direction actually traveled is vastly dissimilar. Indeed, it seems like the direction shifted substantively when dstahl decided to step down (prior to the announcement to the population). It will have, as the Lady Q once said, "cosmic consequences".
I'm not surprised, to be honest. Coincidentally enough, I canceled the day before dstahl announced his departure. I had a feeling the direction was going downhill. Unfortunately, I continue to have nothing but continuing proof of this with every Cryptic post except from Heretic (as a rule).
If STO wants to 'relaunch' for the free to play crowd it needs to be more sociable. Currently as it stands which has been since Febuary 2010 the game is too instanced for real connectivity within the player base. There is no incentive to group with your fellow players untill the Borg STF's which come as a rude shock the first few times for players.
It has been difficult for me to justify subscription over the recent months from the lack of 'actual work' done by Cryptic Studios regarding this title which its split from Atari should in no way bare as an excuse for this. Star Trek Online going free to play will have another injection of interest yet only to be dismissed by an even more fickle and demanding audience who come from the free to play realms. Long time Star Trek players and fans have been too tollerant of such mired and muddied development concerning this title. Free to play members will not be as forgiving.
As it stands there is little incentive for future silver members to upgrade to gold once their C store purchases are unlocked.
I fear that is what we get instead of the new tutorial.