After recent events in the last four weeks of time, I have seen the light as to what Cryptic Studios is doing with these changes for F2P. Now that I understand what they are attempting to do, I support all the changes completely. I say, 'great job team!'
I would like to propose some ideas to help.
With the changes to crafting:
Why only charge dilithium for even items? I think that is unfair. Cryptic Studios should include the odd items as well. There is no sense in not applying one rule or method equally to all items in crafting. Since a great portion of our wonderful community have a significant amount of money and time to purchase purple items with energy credits, why not balance out the game and have them pay for all items in the game with dilithium and energy credits?
Someone mention in TTS channel this weekend that it is important to release F2P first before December 20, 2011. I do not know why this is so important. I say, 'bravo' let's do it. There is no need to wait for the skill changes to be tested. I think the F2P is ready to go live now.
These improvements have really made the economy better. It has certainly made the game tougher to play and acquire items, but I think this a great thing. In fact, Star Trek Online is to easy. It does not make sense that people can become Admirals in the game in a period of four days.
I think the skill points reward in the game needs an adjustment. The skill point should be lower to just five points at a time like the dilithium ore and diplomatic experience points are rewarded. If they [Cryptic] lowered the the skill point rewards in the game, then people would not be flying around with admiral ships with ensign equipment. The longer time period to 'grind' out skill points will give people a chance to acquire enough wealth to pay for their items in a balance way.
I think there should be a dilithium charge when people make rank. In Star Trek, getting promoted is a difficult decision for most officers to make. Look at William Riker, he turned down promotion and command three times because he loved his first officer job. I think Cryptic Studios is passing up a real opportunity here to make some cstore money.
Also, PVP should be automatically set to advance difficulty with and option to play elite. I know that may seem harsh, but it does make sense.
Since PVP players all desire to have the best equipment in the game, and do not play in the non-PVP game, then their energy credits serve no purpose to the actual game. They are just 'token' economy rewards. It seems beneath their standards that they should only play PVP in normal difficulty with elite gear. Since PVP players want 'realism' of combat, I say let them have it.
Combat is expensive. PVP players should have to fix their ships since they do the most combat in the game. Also, PVP players are the only people who need elite gear to play. I think the people who do STFs should use this same fair system. Why keep such a good thing to one population. The only reason people do STFs is it is the cheapest and fastest way to make energy credits and high end gear. So if they charge dilithium for doing each phase of STFs, that would make the event more realistic. STFs should only be played by elite players.
My current skills as a player only allow for me to play on advance in the PVE side of the game. However, the real economic impact of the higher cost for combat is exciting. It really inspires me to try harder and play more. I prefer the longer developmental time required to make the high end of the game. Also, if it takes people a year or two to make admiral, then that gives the developers a longer time to develop more end game content.
One of the reasons in the first year of the game people ran out of 'end game content' was that it was to easy to level and make money. If a game is too easy to play, then people get bored faster.
The main point of my post today was to say 'bravo' I love these changes Cryptic Studios is doing. I want more of it. I think the development team is not going far enough with these changes. The dilithium prices on crafting are to low for my taste. I want them to be higher.
Thank you for these changes and great job development team. I was wrong before about saying Cryptic Studio's development team were 'morons.' I did not have the intellectual capacity before to understand the true intent of these great changes. I was the 'moron' for speaking and writing prematurely.
Again, I love all the changes and I want more.

Love you all and thank you.
Comments
I have a sneaking suspicion she is being sarcastic. I think I was being baited in the last thread I was discussing crafting changes with her.
However, I have stated what I want and that is all I an ever hope to do.
If these changes force lazy players, people who seek an easy way to get elite equipment, or who have nothing better to do with their time then bug paid employees at Cryptic Studio with issues that are not important, then I say "these changes are awesome."
I know as an adult that I have plenty of time to grind out dilithium in the game. I do like that the changes to dilithium has caused some lazy people to avoid crafting all together. There has been less 'ninja' looting in exploration zones lately. I would pay 100,000 dilithium for a ninja free game with whiny players.
Seems to me a sacrifice worth making for my moment of peace.
Thank you
So you want a game crafted for you, not a game for everyone?
If thats the case I can recommend some great console games.
... My goal is not to make a game for the "flavor of the month" club or the people who wish the game to be only geared for the PVP type.
Star Trek is not a combat oriented show. In Star Trek, the characters use their heads to overcome problems. They learn to solve problems by discussing the problem based on evidence.
I wish the game had more content for exploring. To much of the game centers around combat. I want to see that changed.
I am not sure why you are recommending playing a console game. We are discussing Star Trek Online here and discussing our opinions on the up and coming F2P changes. Which I have come to support and say 'bravo!'
Thank you
Are you a housewife? Cause I have to work 50+ hours a week, spend time with the spouse (who also works more than full time), sometimes i have to buy groceries or clothes or clean a house.
So then, this game basically, according to you, which has been able to offer me alot of fun and enjoyment for $15 a month must now offer me the same fun and enjoyment for 20+ hours of grinding for a product who financial losses will not be recouped through energy credits, which are in a sense going to soon be worthless.
Star Trek Online takes place during a massive war in the Alpha quadrant.
From the FAQ:
Q: When does the game take place?
A: Approximately 30 years after the events in Star Trek Nemesis. The game starts in 2409. Technology has advanced and the galaxy is a much more volatile place.
Star Trek is not hippies in space, no matter what you'd like it to be.
Kirk was always STOMPING people. He was patterned after Horatio Hornblower. He violated the prime directive, the temporal prime directive, instigated wars, and was a super macho warmonger.
Picard was often violent and often made no bones about using violence as a means to an end. He would be the Adminral Nelson of the bunch. Picard as Locutus killed millions of people.
Janeway was forced to make war upon nearlty every third species her ship encountered. She would be Cook, without the canibals. A serial killer lived on the Voyager for the love of pete!
Sisco was a hippie in star fleet uniform, I despised him and cannot offer a fair description. However, he often committed violent acts and even acts of war against entire civilizations.
Archer was always in a fist fight with someone...Trip too....Enterprise was one of the more violent of the various series. Archer threatened to use weapons of mass destruction if the situation called for it.
How in the name of all that is Trek, can you not call Star Trek warlike?
Your post appears entirely sarcastic. If you aren't being sarcastic, then you surely you MUST see how your words to others are inflammatory. Frankly, I get the feeling that you are trying to get soemone's goat.
Hey Stormy? Where the *bleep* is my space goat? haha
{{{{Superluminous abruptly beams out}}}}
...if you spend 50+ a week working and there are only 168 hours in a week...168 - 50 = 118 hours. If you use 56 of those hours to sleep, then that will leave you 62 hours to spend quality time with the wife and kids. If you are suffering so hard in the labors of life, then I would think you would rather spend that quality time with the family then on some fictional imaginary game.
Cryptic Studios has in turn improved the quality of your life by allowing you more time with the family.
I think they deserve more credit than you think for thinking of your hard labors in life. However, on the bright side 2 hours a day for 7 days is 14 times 4 weeks is 56 hours month you can make dilithium which is at least 43,200 refined dilithium at a minimal and at least 50 times 56 equals 2800 dilithium ore you can make in a month to refine.
You have plenty of time if you stop to think about the numbers.
Love you and Thank you.
...is your operational definition for 'trolling' and 'flaming' in the forum.
So my options as a member of the community is to agree with what ever you write and support what ever you do not like Cryptic Studios is doing to improve the game. That is not an option.
I am sorry you will be leaving the game. Good luck to you.
Thank you.
I'm sorry are you talking about this Sisko
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-YyL7X4CWw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKR_RWkLgAE&feature=related
I mean he punched Q for god's sake how can he be a space hippie.
Did I say I was leaving? No. Sorry to disappoint you, but I fight for what I believe in. Not once did I say ANYONE had to agree with what is written and or supported. The facts of your posts (past and current) led to my statement, and I stand by my statement. And since my repartee with you has now become stale, I bid you good day. :rolleyes:
OP did bring up an interesting point in there, though. Why not EC instead? God knows there's more EC floating around this game than there is money in the real world. We need sinks, this seems like a natural one.
It's because a poorly financed game that no one's ever heard of called Star Wars: The Old Republic releases on that date. The expectation is that that game will be some kind of black hole that draws every gamer in the civilized world to play it. In other words, the population of this (and most other) games will drop precipitously, at least for a while, due to the release of such a high profile title. Release F2P before then and you stand to have SOME momentum (and additional players) to ride out TOR's "new game smell" period. Release afterward and the chances of success are much lower, due to people still being over there.
Gozer has intimated on at least two occasions that more EC sinks are coming and that we'll "care about EC's soon." But I agree, EC would be far more preferable to Dilithium in crafting. Of course, that wouldn't accomplish the stated goal of slowing crafting except at low levels, so...
Z
I do not agree with you nor would I ever support this suggestion. It amounts to, "Shoot the horse, set it on fire and shoot it some more." The crafting system already has a time sink called Samples and Rare Particle traces adding another time resource to the system is just over kill. What you're suggestion is even worse.
December 20, 2011 is the date that Star Wars the Old Republic launches.
Of which economy do you speak? Not EC, that currency is worthless already and is being made more worthless with Dilithium. Not Dilithium to C-points, that system isn't in place yet.
We're testing on tribble right now, experience gains have been raised to allow players to reach level cap faster so players can test STFs and other level cap content.
No, just no. We're already seeing jokes about dilithium or c-point charges for basic operations of the game. You want to add a grind to an existing grind?
You want everyone to do more damage to each other?
I know pvp needs work but not what you're suggesting. Also, If they added a dilithium charge to run STFs I'd never look at this game again. Seriously an incredibly bad idea.
If you like spending several years grinding for something, you should try some of the old school MMOs or even a few Korean MMOs. They have loads of grinding.
More like Cryptic wasn't producing any new content.
I hope you're wearing extremely thick fire protection because I'm pretty sure you're trolling at this point.
I agree. But if this was the case, then CP ought to be tradable for EC.
I don't mean to sound insane, but bear with me.
They are going to tie cpoints to a currency, lets just accept this and get past it.
If they tie it to EC, people would purchase EC to gain the stuff they want. AND it wouldnt be a grind to make EC in the game, unless they diminish the selling costs of engines or the like.
They would make scads of cpoint sales, people earn scads of ec anyway. The economy woouldn't overly rely on any single influence. a balance could be adjusted by a cp-> exchange rate that can be used to meter or maintain a fair or balanced exchange rate.
I've boiled down my thoughts on this, and it may sound crazy, but I believe that they are going to make a resouce cstore bound, and that we need to work with them to find the least bitter pill.
If we demand that they compromise, and that they be honest, we ought to all do the same. (not saying that to anyone directly.)
...your rebuttle is well thought out and concise. However, I do not agree with your analysis. I think Cryptic Studios knows what they are doing, and I support them 100 percent. For the record in Star Wars Galaxy, I spent a year and a half grinding out Master Bio-Engineer. I had to hand make and craft over a million items in that time to make Master level and also gain the require apprentice points training other people. Hard wok for reward does not bother me in the least.
My operational definition of economy is the free flow of commerce. Nothing Cryptic has done so far has prevented anyone from acquiring any item in Star Trek Online. The community has been suggesting the game is to easy for people to level in and to easy to make energy credits. They have changed that. The community has stated the badge system for rewards is to complex and to cumbersome to understand and manage. They have changed that. The community has complained over the last two years that elite items are to easy to acquire in the game and people are using the exchange to manipulate the market. The developers have changed that.
The developers have simply responded to what the community has suggested and developed a method of accommodation that meets the statistical means for the average player in their model. They know what they are doing.
I am just a simpleton and I agree with what they are doing. I am sorry if people of a better nature and mentality feel this is the reason to up rise against Cryptic Studios. I do not support this idea. This is not a real event. This is a fictional game. It is not that important to me.
With the DOFF system, you don't really even have to physically do anything to make dilithium ore or energy credits. I made it from Commander 1 to Admiral 1 in a period of two weeks just using the DOFF system. Granted, I do not have much in terms of energy credits, but that is not important to me. I enjoy all the time I am doing exploration missions at night.
My real enjoyment I get from STO is that I have the time and ability to make things for the people in my fleet that do use these items and do like these areas of the game. I am glad I have the ability to free them from that burden and have developed a system in the game that they won't have to grind.
I'm sorry I am one of the only few who like the changes going on. I do not know why this make me a 'troll' or 'flamer' or someone of a lesser capacity or lesser game status. Then again, I am not part of any establish 'click' in the game. I just want a fair system I can enjoy exploring space with.
I do not really care for the combat, STF's, PVP elements of the game. They are not important for me. Also, none of these changes affect our role play show because we use a system Cryptic Studio cannot effect. It is immune to whatever they develop.
Love you and Thank you.
He quit Starfleet in the end to wander the galaxy in deference to a mythical deity kind of Hippie? (ROFLOLZ)
Cryptic is putting their own interests and those of Perfect World a head of their current player base. I don't believe they know what they're doing because the changes they're required to implement are not the sort of changes the community wants to see in Star Trek Online.
Effort for reward is certainly a great thing but the type of effort you're looking for is more along the lines of Korean Grind. I shouldn't have to treat a game like a second job and "work" for a extremely prolonged period of time just to reach level cap.
If Cryptic wants to slow the leveling process, they're quite welcome to so long as they add more content in the place of more grind.
The very core of your definition relies on supply and demand. What happens when it no longer becomes viable to produce something due to higher costs and the currency you might trade for becomes devalued?
The ability to craft is restricted by the amount of refined dilithium you have. Dilithium ore is easily obtained, refined isn't. On Holodeck right now the value of a crafted item is based on the materials that it is made up plus supply and demand. With these changes demand would remain strong but supply would be non-existent. Who would trade dilithium for EC? You? If you say yes than I think you're lying.
Once we see the dilithium to c-point change come in the main currencies that will be traded are C-points and diilithium ore. That means if you want to buy a crafted item you'll have to pay the material cost, refined dilithium cost, time cost (refining does take time) plus any tips. I doubt you'll get anything under 10000 ore, assuming anyone is willing to sacrifice their own supply of refined dilithium in order to craft.
But you're more than willing to make the game a Korean Grind which would require a substantial amount of time to progress your character to level cap. Per your own suggestion of course .
As I have stated before, EC is a worthless currency and you'll need to do more than just doff missions to collect the 8000 ore needed to hit the refinement cap each day.
Per your suggestions and per the current build you would have to sacrifice your own character progression if you wanted to continue crafting goods for your fleet. No one ever says how much fun being a Martyr is.
You're lucky number 3 or 4 person who is apathetic or likes the changes. Out of the vast number opposed.
If you do not care for the combat in STFs and PvP then it might be an idea to not make suggestions about things you don't care for or take part in. What you consider to be an improvement would be utter devastation to a lot of people
I have been using Tribble to better understand how to evolve that system when F2P goes live.
Also, just because I have decided not to do STFs and PVP does not mean I cannot share the opinion Cryptic Studies is right about their plan. Many people in my two fleets do STFs and PVP. The market I plan to sell to use those systems too.
Free flow of commerce is 'supply and demand'. Dilithium is not going to prevent you from crafting items. Since I will not be doing any activity that will involve elite equipment, there is not a need for me to waste dilithium on those items. I will have more dilithium for capital cost.
Most of my toons are already high end and have high end gear in both Federation and Klingon sides of the game. I am not really feeling the coming doom and gloom people are discussing on the forum these days.
In every game I have played from Everquest to STO...I have always manage to become wealthy. As an example...in Everquest...I decided to spend two years collecting gems and metals and not sell them to build up my warehouse. People were saying that is nuts...but it turned out to be a great economic decision.
World of Warcraft too. I have a nice bundle of cash in it, but I have never bought high end gear in WoW because I do not do raids. I just like to collect resources in these games. That is what gives me joy and fun.
Crafting is what it is currently. We as a community have to accept what it is now. We need to prepare for the future of what it will be. We don't really know the reasons the crafting is where it is at. I think it is for a better reason that we do not know of yet.
We have to let them build the factory first.
Love you and Thank you.
When was that? What year? Was it before or after the themepark revolution? If you don't know what that is, it might be a good idea to find out. What you suggest would never fly in TODAY'S MMO marketplace. People's tolerance for overt grind mechanics designed to hide a game's lack of depth, is very very low. You're not "working hard", you're hitting a lever repeatedly for a pellet. That's not "hard work" (or maybe it is in today's entitled society).
Then don't be so arrogant as to think your opinion is actually valid in these areas. I don't like the PvP model here (or in Champions) since I prefer zero-sum systems so guess what I do? I stay the hell out of PvP discussions here. Your playstyle is not one that generates enough revenue to perpetuate the continued existence of this game. You're like college baseball: nice to talk about and nice to see once a year (College World Series) but you're not going to pay the bills off of it. That's not to say that your playstyle is unimportant, but know your place (and I don't say that derisively). Just think about. If combat or PvP or STF players asked for a new encounter (or a revamp of an existing encounter) and RP folks asked for a new RP area (or a revamp of an existing area), who's more likely to get their wish? Gozer's working on lots of stuff for the combat/STF people. Who's working on the RP content? Now, ask yourself why that is. Fact is, a game can do very well with zero developer created RP content (no zones, no areas conducive to social gathering, nothing). But a game without combat or group content or "raid" content.....draws like A Tale in the Desert (10,000 players, at most?). You're like a suburban soccer mom trying to impose her will on the development of the new Gallardo or Bugatti Veyron or a dude deciding what a comfortable fit on a bra is. It's not meant for you. Why not let the intended audience decide or give feedback on that?
What I don't understand is, why is your understanding the least bit important? I've made more than 22 Aegis SETS in the last six weeks. And I farmed up those mats MYSELF, whether through all the scanning or buying them on the exchange. I honestly don't care about the crafting changes because in my mind, Cryptic is either going to torpedo their own crafting system (to their detriment) or folks will adapt and a year from now, we'll be back in the same position with them trying to revamp things. Again. Spending (wasting?) ever more dev resources trying to reinvent a wheel that still rolls fine.
There are people who play more than you. These people play the parts of the game that offer the greatest reward (so, they don't RP much, if at all). Thus, in this new system, they're going to generate A LOT of ore over time. But their progress will be TRIBBLE by a refining scale that was meant to fit YOU (as an example) or someone who plays even less or consumes less rewarding (in dilithium) content. The amount of refining that works for you is immaterial because you probably don't craft for a fleet of any decent size. Here's an obvious counter to your "so what if they have to wait a week or a month" idea: in that time, they've gone up two tiers so no longer need the item. You're essentially telling fleet crafters to go to hell.
Yeah, that'll go over well. :rolleyes:
First you call people lazy, that isn't good.
Then when you make comments liike: Star trek isn't about combat, I rebutt you, and you fail to respond.
Then you come up with this post, ending with the above statement.
We don't have to accept anything. We provide our feedback, and they respond. Sometimes we get painful changes, other times they work with us to achieve something greater.
That is how the system works. We don't however, do what you are suggesting: stick our heads in the sand and live with it.
If Paul revere had minded his own business, if John Paul Jones gave up the ship....if Thomas Jefferson didn't hold truths to be self evident.....then the world's greatest nation wouldn't have existed.
Within bounds, any concerned person should 'put up the fight' and 'fight the good fight'. If we all chose to do as you have suggested, we wouldn't go anywhere.
Lastly, bringing up how you did this or that in other games is pointless. My gaming experience is just that, mine. Just because I started playing online games in 1991 and haven't stopped doesn't make me better than you. Just because I played one of those online games for 13 years doesn't grant me any special powers over anyone else around here. Just because I worked for one of those companies, just because I was a gamemaster who built realms means nothing. Using my past as a tool to lord over other people gets me nowhere. Your opinion is so laced with personal value judgements of the way others do things that it is almost pointless reading what you have to say.
I don't get your point. From a PvPer's perspective:
1. PVP should be automatically set to advance difficulty
You don't play PvP. That's obvious. Do you mean Kerrat and Otha are PvP, don't you? Those are PvE with a small distraction by other players. Premade PvP is actually Elite Difficulty^4. You can win most PvE encounters by pressing the spacebar, normal, advanced and elite alike, but you won't survive a single PvP match.
Personally I'd like to have NPCs to use the same skills we do. The mirror universe event i.e. is a step in the right direction, but it would be so much more fun if the enemies actually use more than one skill at a time, are set to 100 weapons energy, scramble, shock, scatter etc. The game would be so much cooler by offering a challenge. Players should work hard for their progress. Atm. it's more a return of invested time not skill. The DOff system of granting XP for missions is another step in the wrong direction. All you need is to assign missions once or twice a day and after 4 weeks or so you're a VA1. Epic fail.
2. Combat is expensive. PVP players should have to fix their ships since they do the most combat in the game.
I've got hundreds of critical components and you can have your repairs for free at ESD. Sorry, but I don't see any logic in you point. FvF arena matches are labeled combat exercises btw.
3. Since PVP players want 'realism' of combat, I say let them have it.
Realism in the way of Star Trek canon? No, we want balanced skills, a properly working game engine, no Pay2Win C-Store. Of course we'd like to have a more detailed damage model, system failures due to damage, crew casualties etc., but I guess that's way beyond the limits of STO's combat system.
4. Since PVP players all desire to have the best equipment in the game, and do not play in the non-PVP game, then their energy credits serve no purpose to the actual game.
Actually we have to grind STFs to get the stuff we need. At least once. And we need ECs to buy certain things on the exchange (and we pay millions and millions for gear again and again). To be competitive we need a lot of senseless grinding (i.e. Deuterium farming, Kerrat / Otha), playing the same content again and again to raise different chars, even collect samples for crafting.
There's a common misconception that people that play PvP don't have the faintest idea of PvE missions and STFs. The opposite is true. On the other hand it's sad that people who never tried PvP beyond one or two matches think that they truely understand game mechanics and skills.
5. STFs should only be played by elite players
Are you serious? STFs and PvP are the only end game content this game has to offer. Do you really think that a casual gamer should be limited to levelling his char to VA1, set him aside and start with a fresh Ensign? The way is the goal, isn't it? If you want to make the game more challenging, reduce skillpoint awards, let NPCs use more skills, punish failure. There's no point in letting people grind dilithium just for paying a signing bonus to take part in a mission.
a). Congratulations, you're posting in a troll thread.
b). The OP is utilizing ypical "lalalalalala I can't hear you you're stupid love you goodbye lalalalalala" rubbish that most people outgrow around 8 or 9 years of age, and YOU'RE ALL FALLING FOR IT.
c). /b/ can be located on a variety of imageboards. I didn't realize it had spread to this corner of the internets.
d). Certain humans with personality disorders tend to do weird and somewhat irrational things when ticked-off, like smashing the windows of an ex's car, drowning their own offspring and blaming it on hypothetical minority gang members or the deity of their choice, or repeatedly posting drivel on teh internets in hopes of garnering some sort of attention.
They'll usually try to justify this later after coming to their senses by claiming it was "sarcasm" or they were just "having a bit of fun" or something to rationalize what is essentially silly behavior.
Don't worry, though-- for most, it usually passes after the object of their ire has been removed from their immediate attention.
e). As satire and performance art, OP's post falls flat, since she's probably not as practiced at it as most. She'll either try to salvage the performance in question by doggedly embracing the hyperbole established in her initial posts, or go even more immature, just to garner a reaction of any sort, devolving from nonsensical politeness to even more childish taunting.
So yeah.
Anyway, thank you, love you, goodbye!
See, I can act like a tool on teh internets too! Yay!
THIS is when I knew this was total TRIBBLE
Heads up buddy, Prior to posting, I checked her list of posts going back to....before you even joined.
Just because someone posts something that we all disagree with and appears to be flaming, or trolling, doesn't mean it IS.
I absolutely agree with what you said about crazy people posting however. Sometimes I posty and afterwards ask myself why didn't I see the craziness the first ten times I read my post prior to posting.
The OP repeatedly espouses the same thing, and argues their point with conviction, however insane it sounds.
Perhaps your conjecture that the OP is a troll is incorrect. I actually wondered that myself, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt.
I will tell you this however, She tried to state that Star Trek was not combat oriented, I rebutted her, and she ignored me. Apparently facts don't deserve a response from her.
The problem I see with her post is the same problem I see with my own posts sometimes; assumptions; self righteousness; one-sided thinking; and an attitude of arrogance. Perhaps her method of delivery is confusing people into seeing her as a troll.
While such descriptions are helpful, sometimes they are unjustified and unfair. Its a fine line that is crossed when you label someone's opinion to be unvaluable trollish behavior. The true troll would not care what you think. She apparently cares, or wouldn't react to those who are condescending to her.
But thats my opinion, and hey, I don't like her behavior either.