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Path to F2P Dev Blog #3

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited October 2011 in Galactic News Network [PC]
This next entry in our Path to Free-to-Play Dev Blog series presents a detailed look at the new Duty Officer System, available to try out now on the Tribble F2P test server!

Link to F2P Dev Blog #3
Post edited by Unknown User on
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  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Thanks for the overview Heretic!

    So if you obtain a teir 1 unlock in one category, and a tier 1 unlock in another is that double the reward? or will it only count for the 1st time you unlock tier 1 in any category?

    Sorry to be all talk about rewards - only my Doffs are already all out on assignment, I hope none come back into sickbay!

    Are the times all:

    45 m
    1 hour
    12 hours
    1 day
    2 day
    3 days?
    or any other time slots?
    And funniest missions so far 'tribble gene splicing'.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    *nevermind*
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Gain enough commendation points in a category in order to gain unique duty officers and, in some cases, even bridge officers that can’t be earned by other means.

    As a bonus, playing on Tribble can earn your character on Holodeck some free random Duty Officers, awarded within the three weeks after free-to-play goes live on Holodeck. Complete any Tier 1 Duty Officer commendation category accolade to receive an unique blue-quality duty officer. Complete any Tier 2 Duty Officer commendation category accolade to receive an unique purple-quality duty officer. Complete any Tier 3 Duty Officer commendation category accolade to receive a unique purple-quality duty officer with an active roster ability not attainable anywhere else in the game.

    These parts constitute promises of what's to come.

    If:
    • These rewards do not show up on time, it can be forgiven.
    • These rewards do not occur, or are scaled back, it cannot be.
    • The rewards you say are exclusive wind up on the C-Store, it will be thrown in your face again, and again, and again, don't do that.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Will you only be able to get the blue and purple doffs on the character you create on tribble once it goes free to play? or will your blue and purple officers be given to current character on holodeck?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    After reading through the initial postings about the Doff system (the wall of text, as it was so aptly named), I thought that it might take a while to get to grips with it. However, now it's finally arrived on the F2P test server, I can see I was wrong..

    Throw a couple of random Doff''s into the assignment, wait for a period of time to elapse, & hey presto, job done... nice simple reward earnt... OR.... (to paraphrase), "Put your thinking cap on", & spend a few minutes studying it & the Doff system could give even better rewards... :)

    The complexity of this is staggering, & I know that the STO community will see the possibilty for depth of play, that the game has been short of, for the last few months... No wonder that you, (the dev team), held off on it's release. I can only guess at the amount of time/coding it took to get it working.. (I say with everything crossed that it is bug free)..:rolleyes:

    I will be spending alot of my game time tinkering with this, as I'm sure will others...

    Big round of applause to all involved...

    Now if only I could have my (1st year Anniversary) Q's fountain, Fed Targ pup pet back, I'd be an even happier bunny...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Question: if I level diplomacy on Tribble (using a combination of Doff and mission) will I still get the rewards?

    Also, from what I have seen so far, the doff system is amazing (nice job Heretic! :)).

    Got assignments on the go at the moment, and I'm really looking forward to getting my main onto Tribble to test it further.

    One feature I would like to see added, is a little notification when the assignments reset, so I know there are new ones to grab.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Will the first officer/ department head options for your Boffs be released concurrent with the Doff system, or will it come later?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    nynik wrote:
    So if you obtain a teir 1 unlock in one category, and a tier 1 unlock in another is that double the reward? or will it only count for the 1st time you unlock tier 1 in any category?

    45 m
    1 hour
    12 hours
    1 day
    2 day
    3 days?
    or any other time slots?

    Only the first time; we actually had a very involved set of discussions trying to find a way to make it work for multiple categories, but it wound up being incredibly impractical, logistically speaking.

    Other times: 5m, 10m, 15m, 30m, 2h, 4h, 8h, 7d.

    SeaCat wrote:
    Will you only be able to get the blue and purple doffs on the character you create on tribble once it goes free to play? or will your blue and purple officers be given to current character on holodeck?

    I believe it is any character on Holodeck, same as the special tribbles.

    Firix wrote:
    Question: if I level diplomacy on Tribble (using a combination of Doff and mission) will I still get the rewards?

    One feature I would like to see added, is a little notification when the assignments reset, so I know there are new ones to grab.

    Regarding Diplomacy, yes.

    Assignments notify when reset by the icon in the HUD blinking - if that's not in yet on the current build it will be soon.

    Odyssey47 wrote: »
    Will the first officer/ department head options for your Boffs be released concurrent with the Doff system, or will it come later?

    The department head system will come later.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    I'm curious.. and this question is unrelated to the DOff system. I was under the impression we were to receive a skill point revamp.. merged ship commanding skills and what not. Is that still happening later in the beta or has it been shelved for the time being?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Heretic wrote:
    Only the first time; we actually had a very involved set of discussions trying to find a way to make it work for multiple categories, but it wound up being incredibly impractical, logistically speaking.

    Other times: 5m, 10m, 15m, 30m, 2h, 4h, 8h, 7d.

    So, are you stating that all leveling of BOs will be on a time progression in which you have stated here and if so, and if it is going to be accomplished correctly then you will have to off balance that time progression with that of content in which will be needed to offset that time instead of grinding? I agree that this game needs some type of time progression, but at the same time it has to be offset by content in which also plays a role in the next leveling or obtaining materials in order to successfully met that criteria.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    So as reward plaing on Tribble we will get get some doffs on Holdeck but if we maxed for ex military and sience we will get
    2 unique purple-quality duty officer on Holdeck as a reward?
    or 2 random doff on Holdeck as a reward?
    or 1 unique purple-quality/random doff on Holdeck as a reward?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Now I've tinkered with the Doff's for a few hours, I'm proving my earlier post right, boy-o-boy this is deep.. There is more complexity here than you can "shake the proverbial stick at"...

    I do have a couple of questions though ..

    I've noticed the "Doff" passive's kicking in, when I use the relevant skill, indicated by a timer on the Hud. When the timer runs out, obviously so does the passive... But... Does the passive re-activate after a period of time, or is it a "one-shot" ???... Scratch this one... I think the timer may refer to one of the "Skill bonus plaques" that I picked up as an assignment reward, although I don't remember activating it.. (my bad..lol)

    It has been stated that more Doffs can be aqquired via game time/missions... I have yet to find any... "Where at be they, please".. (LOL, my four year old granddaughters way of asking where her sweets are)...

    I have more, but I'm using game time here, so I'll keep digging & hopefully I'll trip over the answers "in-game"

    Oh & one other thing.. off Doff topic though...

    I was suprised to see that the existing FE's are now part of the mission progression arc... I can only summise that this is deliberate to bring them "into the fold", so to speak... But.. will any future FE's also get slotted in ??

    Thanx in advance if these get answered...;)

    & finally... Isn't it about time that the "Atari" name was removed from the Log-in screen, & replaced with PW ?? (hehe)

    Can I have my (1st year anniversary) Q's fountain, Fed Targ Pup Pet back...Please... :rolleyes:
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Heretic wrote:
    Only the first time; we actually had a very involved set of discussions trying to find a way to make it work for multiple categories, but it wound up being incredibly impractical, logistically speaking.

    Other times: 5m, 10m, 15m, 30m, 2h, 4h, 8h, 7d.


    Kinda reminds me of the skill training times that are used in Eve, which works for me because it makes the game feel a little more realistic. Some away missions did take several days to a week, well least in some TNG, DS9, and Voyager episodes.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    I was suprised to see that the existing FE's are now part of the mission progression arc... I can only summise that this is deliberate to bring them "into the fold", so to speak... But.. will any future FE's also get slotted in ??
    As far as I understood it, yes. The Featured Episodes will first run as "special" episodes for a limited time that basically anyone can play, but after a while they get integrated in the leveling path.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Have the Dividian missions integrated or are they still separate? I couldn't find them when I had a glance at the the episode list
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Blue_Fire wrote:
    This next entry in our Path to Free-to-Play Dev Blog series presents a detailed look at the new Duty Officer System, available to try out now on the Tribble F2P test server!

    Link to F2P Dev Blog #3

    Loving these blogs - they're a really nice open way of communicating exactly where things are. Thank you.

    Now on a seperate point - I feel the DOff system needs more hand holding at first, a bit of tutorial to guide you through the first steps. I've tried it, used it, but not convinced I'm using it right or well. Maybe it's worth some thought? Don't know what other people thing.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Cryptic,

    Really love this idea, thanks for adding this content!:)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    So, can we earn 1 blue + 1 purple + 1 special purple DO overall, or can we earn these 3 per commendation category, meaning, we could theoretically grind for 12 blues + 12 purples +12 special purples?
    I don't know if there's enough time for that during the test phase, but it would be pretty cool.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Tribble looks great, you guys have had a good forum presence since it's opened, and it seems like you're taking feedback well. Lookin' good Cryptic, keep it up! :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Getting the Level 3 DOFF reward shouldn't be hard due to diplomacy. I already hit Level 1 Diplomacy (still got a ton of the way to go with the others, not even a drop in the bucket).


    But I'm hoping you can answer a curious question Devs. Let's say I leveled up to 51 on Tribble and getting Level 3 Diplomacy, then I went back and leveled another toon to level 31 and then obtained level 1 diplomacy. Would I get both or just the first character rewards?

    Don't want to sound greedy but just wondering.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Got a question regarding the rewards. Are they per account (i.e. every toon gets them on Holodeck) or are they only obtainable on one character? I would like to know if both my Fed and Klingon mains can get everything or if I have to choose only one. This is regarding both leveling and DOff rewards.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    SeaCat wrote:
    Will you only be able to get the blue and purple doffs on the character you create on tribble once it goes free to play? or will your blue and purple officers be given to current character on holodeck?

    that right there is the question i have asked. my second question. how do i set up my characters from the holodect to the test server?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Further investigation has proved my previous guess, that the "Assignment Buff rewards", auto-activate as soon as you pick them up.. Which is a bit of a waste really (depending on what you receive)...
    As an Engineer, my "+6 to Modification Training", which is a "ground" skill, is running while I'm in space !!!, Likewise the "+6 to Energy Weapons training", (space skill), is running while I'm on the ground... Yeah okay... Maybe "modification" to this is needed ?? Like being able to choose when to activate it...

    In answer to a couple of preceeding posts, (sorry for not quoting, I'm just being lazy)...

    Heretic posted earlier in this thread, that the "rewards" will most likely be received by ALL toons on an account on Holodeck, as "special" tribbles are, (Crossfire. etc)... I would think the exception to this will be any KDF toons we may have... To get the "reward" for them, it will need us to create & grind a KDF toon to the required level...

    As for being able to copy a toon from Holodeck to the F2P server, that hasn't been implemented yet..

    To help answer any other questions that y'all may have, I strongly advise you to read the "Path to" post, that details the Doff system, (again I apologise for not providing a link)... It's a hefty read, but well worth it...

    Once more I'd like to say thanks to all the Dev's who have contributed to this eagerly awaited addition to STO.. Good work people...

    Oh & can I have my (1st Anniversary) Q's fountain Fed Targ Pup pet back please... :cool:
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    i didnt get the fountain or pug... and ive been hear sense beta testing. heck i was a beta tester and i dont even get career member statues...

    thanks for the input, ill grind.

    on that note thou, how many days do we have remaining til this goes live, and what do we have to do for the accolades to get the purple special? anyone know yet?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    So, can we earn 1 blue + 1 purple + 1 special purple DO overall, or can we earn these 3 per commendation category, meaning, we could theoretically grind for 12 blues + 12 purples +12 special purples?
    I don't know if there's enough time for that during the test phase, but it would be pretty cool.

    I am thinking that we earn 3 unique Doffs in total instead of 36, but I would like confirmation of this as well.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    So just curious, we will only be awarded for getting to Tier 3? So if I level Diplomacy to Envoy, I get all the rewards possible for the Duty Officer awards? Just wanted to make sure, I am testing the Duty Officer system, but the DXP seems to come in very slowly, so plan to just grind Diplomacy in between duty officer missions...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    As a bonus, playing on Tribble can earn your character on Holodeck some free random Duty Officers, awarded within the three weeks after free-to-play goes live on Holodeck. Complete any Tier 1 Duty Officer commendation category accolade to receive an unique blue-quality duty officer. Complete any Tier 2 Duty Officer commendation category accolade to receive an unique purple-quality duty officer. Complete any Tier 3 Duty Officer commendation category accolade to receive a unique purple-quality duty officer with an active roster ability not attainable anywhere else in the game.
    Does the highlighted part mean that we have to wait until F2P goes live before we can pursue the commendations or may we start today and then look forward to receiving the rewards within the first 3 weeks after F2P goes live?

    Thanks!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Does the highlighted part mean that we have to wait until F2P goes live before we can pursue the commendations or may we start today and then look forward to receiving the rewards within the first 3 weeks after F2P goes live?

    Thanks!

    Testing on Tribble NOW is what will earn your reward on holdeck LATER. You holodeck characters will receive the reward after the official F2P conversion (within 3 weeks of that, whenever that is).

    and to the Devs, ME LIKEY the DOFF system. I can see myself spending quite some time sinking my teeth into it. Thanks!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    Latinumbar wrote:
    Testing on Tribble NOW is what will earn your reward on holdeck LATER. You holodeck characters will receive the reward after the official F2P conversion (within 3 weeks of that, whenever that is).

    and to the Devs, ME LIKEY the DOFF system. I can see myself spending quite some time sinking my teeth into it. Thanks!
    Neat! Thanks, Latinumbar! :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited October 2011
    segma wrote: »
    I'm curious.. and this question is unrelated to the DOff system. I was under the impression we were to receive a skill point revamp.. merged ship commanding skills and what not. Is that still happening later in the beta or has it been shelved for the time being?

    The space skill tree revamp is still happening; we are hoping to have it in for the launch of F2P, in which case it will appear later in the beta. It is the next major task on Geko's plate, in fact.

    Acidrain wrote: »
    So, are you stating that all leveling of BOs will be on a time progression in which you have stated here and if so, and if it is going to be accomplished correctly then you will have to off balance that time progression with that of content in which will be needed to offset that time instead of grinding? I agree that this game needs some type of time progression, but at the same time it has to be offset by content in which also plays a role in the next leveling or obtaining materials in order to successfully met that criteria.

    The times listed are the current possible assignment times for the duty officer system. The times do not have any relation with leveling commendations or anything else. I may not have understood your response correctly, however...

    I've noticed the "Doff" passive's kicking in, when I use the relevant skill, indicated by a timer on the Hud. When the timer runs out, obviously so does the passive... But... Does the passive re-activate after a period of time, or is it a "one-shot" ???... Scratch this one... I think the timer may refer to one of the "Skill bonus plaques" that I picked up as an assignment reward, although I don't remember activating it.. (my bad..lol)

    It has been stated that more Doffs can be aqquired via game time/missions... I have yet to find any... "Where at be they, please".. (LOL, my four year old granddaughters way of asking where her sweets are)...

    The duty officer active roster passive abilities either happen anytime you use that ability, or on a chance every time you use the ability.

    For the timer on the HUD, that is a buff from an assignment, and will not reappear until you do that assignment again.

    To acquire more duty officers inside the system rather than through the C-Store, the most reliable way is to go to Earth Space Dock and Starfleet Academy and check the duty officer user interface there for assignments to recruit more duty officers.

    Kinda reminds me of the skill training times that are used in Eve, which works for me because it makes the game feel a little more realistic. Some away missions did take several days to a week, well least in some TNG, DS9, and Voyager episodes.

    I am actually quite a fan of EVE and a lot of the way they do things. EVE was definitely an influence on the way we designed this system.

    tobar26th wrote:
    Now on a seperate point - I feel the DOff system needs more hand holding at first, a bit of tutorial to guide you through the first steps. I've tried it, used it, but not convinced I'm using it right or well. Maybe it's worth some thought? Don't know what other people thing.

    Yes, we're definitely aware that the system needs more introductory handholding and are working to find a way to get more of that in by the time F2P launches.

    So, can we earn 1 blue + 1 purple + 1 special purple DO overall, or can we earn these 3 per commendation category, meaning, we could theoretically grind for 12 blues + 12 purples +12 special purples?
    I don't know if there's enough time for that during the test phase, but it would be pretty cool.

    Originally, we wanted to do it by tier by commendation category, but for logistical reasons it proved not feasible, so in this case it will mean a maximum of three unique duty officers, as I recall.

    Further investigation has proved my previous guess, that the "Assignment Buff rewards", auto-activate as soon as you pick them up.. Which is a bit of a waste really (depending on what you receive)...
    As an Engineer, my "+6 to Modification Training", which is a "ground" skill, is running while I'm in space !!!, Likewise the "+6 to Energy Weapons training", (space skill), is running while I'm on the ground... Yeah okay... Maybe "modification" to this is needed ?? Like being able to choose when to activate it...

    We want to avoid too much stacking all at once, otherwise we would have made these activatable items, but I will look into seeing if we can have the buffs delay until you are in the appropriate region - ground or space - for that buff. Not sure offhand how we could pull that off, though.

    Palmera wrote:
    on that note thou, how many days do we have remaining til this goes live, and what do we have to do for the accolades to get the purple special? anyone know yet?

    The special duty officers are gained by the highest tier you gain in any commendation category. Tiers are gained by doing assignments of specific types like Engineering or Science or Espionage.

    As for how long this will be on Tribble, we haven't officially announced this, but I can say this is going to be a robust period of testing.

    Does the highlighted part mean that we have to wait until F2P goes live before we can pursue the commendations or may we start today and then look forward to receiving the rewards within the first 3 weeks after F2P goes live?

    Start today on the commendations on Tribble; the rewards will be available on Holodeck several weeks after F2P goes live.
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