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Money making suggestion.

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
Ok its been suggested before but with the skill tree the way it is now it is even more obvious what needs to happen.

We all know no-one is particularly interested in becoming a Gold member come F2P. This isn't a good thing as far as Cryptic are concerned.

We all also know the new skill tree is very tight on skill points. It also does not really address the problems faced when trying to fly multiple very different ships. This isn't a good thing as far as the players are concerned.

Now anyone who has played Champions Online knows that the biggest benefit going Gold has in that game is access to the Freeform character system. It alone probably assures a sizable number of subscriptions at any one time.

The STO matrix does not include anything this monumental which is why people keep saying there is very little point in going gold.

So onto the suggestion. To address all the above points the solution is simply to remove the skill point cap for Gold members.

Allow them to earn and spend as many skill points as they like. If their subscription lapses, force a respec similar to Champions Online and only allow them to spend skillpoints up to the cap.

I know the skill point cap exists for a reason. However I think Cryptic need to ask themselves if that reason is good enough. Removal of the skill point cap for Gold members will net you a LOT of subscriptions. You have seen it happen in Champions. You know I am right.

Thanks for reading.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2011
    Korhil wrote:
    Ok its been suggested before but with the skill tree the way it is now it is even more obvious what needs to happen.

    We all know no-one is particularly interested in becoming a Gold member come F2P. This isn't a good thing as far as Cryptic are concerned.

    We all also know the new skill tree is very tight on skill points. It also does not really address the problems faced when trying to fly multiple very different ships. This isn't a good thing as far as the players are concerned.

    Now anyone who has played Champions Online knows that the biggest benefit going Gold has in that game is access to the Freeform character system. It alone probably assures a sizable number of subscriptions at any one time.

    The STO matrix does not include anything this monumental which is why people keep saying there is very little point in going gold.

    So onto the suggestion. To address all the above points the solution is simply to remove the skill point cap for Gold members.

    Allow them to earn and spend as many skill points as they like. If their subscription lapses, force a respec similar to Champions Online and only allow them to spend skillpoints up to the cap.

    I know the skill point cap exists for a reason. However I think Cryptic need to ask themselves if that reason is good enough. Removal of the skill point cap for Gold members will net you a LOT of subscriptions. You have seen it happen in Champions. You know I am right.

    Thanks for reading.

    Personally, I think Cryptic knows that there's no real reason to sub post-F2P and that that situation is intentional. STO is sub-based now. If that was working out for Cryptic they wouldn't be changing STO over to F2P. Going F2P means Cryptic is giving up on subs and pinning their hopes on microtransactions. That's why the matrix sucks for Gold. Cryptic doesn't need us once all the freepers show up ready and willing to drop money in the C-$tore (whether they actually show up and are willing to buy C-$tore stuff is irrelevant. Cryptic thinks they'll show and pony up, so that's how they're designing F2P).

    If Cryptic used your skill cap idea they'd make far more money putting it in the C-$tore where anyone could buy it (5000 points sounds about right). They probably won't, though, because the first iteration of the skills revamp looks like they're trying to stretch what points we have as thin as they can, which is diametrically opposite of your suggestion.

    They could offer limited skill cap increases in the cash shop, though. Maybe enough to level an additional T3 skill to max rank per C-$tore purchase? That would spur some sales (and lots of hate. But Cryptic doesn't seem too concerned about player hate, so all ahead full on the U.S.S. Pay2Win).


    Z
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2011
    You may be right but it is foolish to not want subscriptions. Steady income > irregular income any day.

    There are already a few things Cryptic could put in the C-store but haven't maybe because it would appear too money-grabby.

    For example. 3000 CP for a package that includes: Antimatter spread Console, Impulse Boost console, Photonic Shockwave Torpedo Console, Photonic Displacement Console, Point Defence Console and Grappler Console.

    People would pay this. Most people only buy the new ships for the consoles anyway and bundling them like this is a great way to get people to part with more money than they might otherwise have.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2011
    Gotta bump as I doubt the Cryptic guys browsing the forums check past the first page.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2011
    Korhil wrote:
    You may be right but it is foolish to not want subscriptions. Steady income > irregular income any day.

    There are already a few things Cryptic could put in the C-store but haven't maybe because it would appear too money-grabby.

    That's true, I was really surprised that Cryptic would focus on microtransactions rather than steady income from subscriptions. Most MMOs would try to retain as many subs as possible when moving from sub-based to F2P, while trying to get as many free players on board to spend money. That's just logical. Unless you're a terribly fussy gamer you could pretty much not spend a single cent on the game. Nothing in the C-Store is a necessity. In most free games restrictions for free players is a burden that would entice you to buy stuff, usually things like restricted bag space, money cap, etc. These restrictions are also in STO F2P but I don't know if limited bag space is going to be any inconvenience at all considering there are replicators.

    But having said all that there are things that Cryptic knows but we don't. Retaining subscribers when moving from sub-based to F2P involves the assumption that there are lots of existing paying subscribers. This may not be the case. Many current STO players are lifetime subscribers and don't continue to pay a monthly subscription. New subscribers won't subscribe in F2P, if they wanted to they would already have before F2P. Perhaps Cryptic sees the future of STO in microtransactions...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2011
    Here is a novel money making suggestion...CONTENT.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2011
    Not only do they not care about ****ting off their current player base, I think it has to be a game to them now, haha. Whichever dev can enrage the most people gets a bonus! As for the term freepers... SCORE! I am so using that from now on!

    I would have no problem buying skill points. I pay $15 a month now, I plan to do so when pay to win comes out, though sure as hell am not wasting it on gold account. Rather than spend all $15 on dilithium, I could spare some for skill points.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2011
    Toddula wrote:
    Here is a novel money making suggestion...CONTENT.

    I am pretty sure D'Angelo will receive the PR of the year award before that blasphemous miracle comes to pass.

    Besides, the content will be fed only, so meh :mad:
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