I wanted to wait until I hit VA1 to post on opinion.
I hit VA1 on tribble this weekend so my take.
I liked that the main missions leveled with you. It kept it interesting and helped with level appropriate loot drops. I didn't like not being able to move into a new area do those missions but this seemed a good compromise.
The DOFF system feels like an online CCG. You get a starter deck at level 8, you gotta buy booster packs.
You dont have to but I found myself unable to complete most DOFF missions until I had purchased 2-3 DOFF packs in the cstore. Even then, there are about a third of the DOFF missions I am unable to attempt because I still dont have the right type of DOFF. This new change where traits dont affect the outcome... I dont have time to troll the forums thoroughly so they may have been addressed already. Since I have an even chance at an unprofitable trade outcome I dont bother with those. After several missions, a significant number of my DOFFs are in sick bay. Heres to changing it back.
Dilithium.... I wanted STO to go to a unified currency. Jeez Louise this aint it. I get that ya'll want people to work for the highend stuff but the prices are RIDICULOUS. Crafting does not save you that much. And ALL of the high level crafting requires dilithium. I transferred my main to tribble. This is a main that Ive had since the game launched. He transferred with 200,000+ dilithium. I spent nearly all of it making (thats crafting) a decent of ship gear for capt I started. I didn't even get a full kit. 4 weapons 3 consoles engine shield deflector and some personal gear. Thats a character Ive grinded since the game started. I dont play nearly as much as other people and my main has spent badges and marks on holodeck but seriously... I have a lifetime sub and this alone is enough to make me not wanna play.
I dont mind working for stuff but this is aint it.
Crafting.. I liked the ability to craft to odd gear with spending dilithium for even gear. on the low end I think it works. on the high end it fails and fails badly. one armor item costs ~8000 dilithium plus mats and rare traces while its 12,000 just to buy. There is no option to craft a dilithium less items. I categorically dislike this.
I didn't get a ship at commander. not even a discount token. the only reason I had a ship was because I bought in the cstore... the dilithium prices for ships are freekishly high. I think it was 70,000 for a heavy cruiser. I'm a VA1 now and Ive only earned maybe 30,000. I didn't get a ship at RAUH but I knew that was going away. I didn't get one at VA. Theres no point in revamping the skills so that players can more easily try other ship then make the ships prohibitively expensive.
Skills... the skills aren't even close to parity. Engineers and to a lesser degree Science have to invest heavily at the higher levels to open up the training. Tactical gets their stuff early.
I also think (and Ive thought this from the beginning) that any captain should be able to train any skill. I get that you want people to swap and trade and interact etc....
- Missions don't really level correctly in all cases. Loot is often way off. (e.g. Mk II as a Captain.)
- DOFFs: I didn't find it the system that compelling. As noted, most missions can't be completed at start, and the rewards are low, which basically made me put the system aside and ignore it.
- Dilithium prices are crazy. Essentially, this is another thing I just began to ignore. No one needs DL gear while leveling, so it becomes just an end-game thing, like emblems. But I definitely have less quality gear under this system.
- Crafting is laughable.
- Skills...I actually think the system is ok, even if you are science. But the console situation is seriously messed up. Side note: The new skill system is FULL of mis-spelled words, even 'thier' instead of 'their'.
I think the fact that you didn't get a free ship at Commander must either be a bug, or you missed something.
I achieved Commander rank this weekend on the character I started on Tribble, and received a free Commander ship, Akira class Escort.
The only issues that I am having with my leveling is that there is hardly any level appropriate ship loot either dropping, or rewards from missions. I'm Commander 6 and most of my ship is still decked out in the equipment it started with.
I've purchased a few things off the exchange with EC, but I don't have near enough Dilithium to purchase MX VI gear.
Is it assumed that we should be grinding missions for dilithium for gear in these mid-levels? Right now I am leveling so fast, that doing any other missions other than story missions seemed pointless. I'm already Commander 6 and still haven't finished the Klingon line of missions.
- Missions don't really level correctly in all cases. Loot is often way off. (e.g. Mk II as a Captain.)
- DOFFs: I didn't find it the system that complelling. As noted, most missions can't be completed at start, and the rewards are low, which basically made me put the system aside and ignore it.
- Dilithium prices are crazy. Essentially, this is another thing I just began to ignore. No one needs DL gear while leveling, so it becomes just an end-game thing, like emblems. But I definitely have less quality gear under this system.
- Crafting is laughable.
- Skills...I actually think the system is ok, even if you are science. But the console situation is seriously messed up. Side note: The new skill system is FULL of mis-spelled words, even 'thier' instead of 'their'.
A lot of truth here. IMHO the following observations:
1. unplug the DOFF system (note really worth the time. I personally prefer to focus on other aspects of the game. If or BO's are doing their jobs correctly and we have the skills available for them done correctly that should be enough.)
2. Dilithium and other related items (ie. crafting) is a TRIBBLE shoot and impossible to farm correctly. IMHO that is why most folks are NOT the slightest bit interested. ( keep in mind that there are a few folks that do like it ... but why ... I have NO idea). I've built other toons in other games that were VERY successful at minning, crafting and the like ... IT CAN BE FUN ! BUT the way it is set up here in STO there is little ryme or reason to finding the stuff that is needed to complete specfic tasks or build specfic componants. IMHO that is where the real problem is at.
3. Skills ... skil tree needs to be tweaked... expanded to make a bit better sense. IMHO right now it is a bit too generalized. Just needs more work.
I think the fact that you didn't get a free ship at Commander must either be a bug, or you missed something.
I achieved Commander rank this weekend on the character I started on Tribble, and received a free Commander ship, Akira class Escort.
The only issues that I am having with my leveling is that there is hardly any level appropriate ship loot either dropping, or rewards from missions. I'm Commander 6 and most of my ship is still decked out in the equipment it started with.
I've purchased a few things off the exchange with EC, but I don't have near enough Dilithium to purchase MX VI gear.
Is it assumed that we should be grinding missions for dilithium for gear in these mid-levels? Right now I am leveling so fast, that doing any other missions other than story missions seemed pointless. I'm already Commander 6 and still haven't finished the Klingon line of missions.
Starting as early as regulas sector.... I quit doing patrols because the loot wasnt usable. They may have done That so tribbleers could level fast. But yeah the current pricing on dilithium is enough to make quit. I did submit a bug report when I didn't get a ship at commander. They shouldn't even bother with a dilithium refinement cap. The stuff is too hard to.come by in the amounts necessary for buying and crafting. Everything's bop and the crafting is too expensive to sell. That's what I did with my main. My main was the fleet crafter but the dilithium nonsense kicks that in the jewels. If had huge surplus of rare traces like 20+ dekyon parts... I'd craft some stuff and could sell it for more than the mats. Not a huge profit but worked.
Once I got my latinum accolades I quit dabo... there's a grind. Holoemitters were too short lived for their price. I'd like to see a D'Kora playable ship. In Canon they are cruisers that are on par or more poowerful than the exploration cruiser. The skin is already there. That's not tribble ill leave it alone.
3rd option is to say forget this money grubbing game, swtor is only 43 more days away
If I wanted to play World of WarCraft, I'd go play World of WarCraft. Been in the beta for SWtoR for about a month....it's just WoW with lightsabers. I will be amazed if the game isn't free to play in a year, I can't see anyone really sticking around when everything in that game you have essentially done before.
I am very disappointed with it. Expected so much more from BioWare...but then I forgot EA was in charge.
STO is a different game. It doesn't even compare to SWtoR, not even similar in any way. SWtoR is like a well done WoW skin...
You can take from that what you wish.
Now, for the OP:
I agree the prices are sick. Slowing down the game? This isn't slowing down the game, it's forcing people to pay for ships because you'd need a chinese gold farmer on your payroll to get them without paying for them.
The 8k ore refine limit is going to really show it's ugly face as people reach the highest ranks. 120k RD for a single ship? Okay, no prob...that's only a 15 day grindfest of ore and refining what you can each day.
OH! You want gear on that ship too? Just add in another 45 days of grinding ore and refining max amount each day.
Oh, did I mention you can just buy some C-Points and make short work of that 60 day grind?
60 days to grind for a ship and gear is insane. I won't do it. If I were to make a new character, and I actually thought about doing so when the game went F2P, I'd be miffed in 3 hours and probably quit.
btw... the time fram you have mentioned is with the provision that you actually FIND the mats you are needing ... not withstanding the accumulated waste!
Also, don't forget that crafting has a huge opportunity cost in terms of the storage required. If you have the initial F2P bank slots, it is literally more than half your bank space.
Also, don't forget that crafting has a huge opportunity cost in terms of the storage required. If you have the initial F2P bank slots, it is literally more than half your bank space.
I don't have a problem with the storage issues. I know how to maximize what I have. F2P, .. well IMHO this is where they will have to pay for the useage.
I still feel that F2P is going to hurt us in the long run.
I don't have a problem with the storage issues. I know how to maximize what I have. F2P, .. well IMHO this is where they will have to pay for the useage.
I still feel that F2P is going to hurt us in the long run.
Hurt worse than the game shutting down because it doesn't have enough subs to pay for it?
Hurt worse than the game shutting down because it doesn't have enough subs to pay for it?
Well if they FINALLY finished the Klingons and got around to doing the Romulans then it would be more of a Star Trek game and MAYBE people would show up but it's been nearly 2 years and the Klingons STILL don't have the love the deserve and the Romulans are treated like a red-headed stepchild at a family reunion and ignored.
BTW does anyone know of an MMO that went f2p and actually not only survived but thrived? Not an MMO expert by any measure so I'm asking the more knowledgeable members of the community.
My biggest complaint has been the dilithium system. The cost for purple gear is just insane. WHy would you want to **** off your long term/monthly/lifers with the cost of all those items.
I can understand about silver players (Stuff being expensive) but why would I want to spend days upon days grinding for the better gear?
Can Cryptic throw us long term players a bone will ya for christ's sake? Drop the price on upper purple gear, allow gold/lifers to refine more dilithium per day, and take out the dilithium cost in crafting. It is pretty simple.
If something does not change, Myself (and a lot of other players) are going to leave. Star Trek Online needs us...we do not need Star Trek Online...
Well if they FINALLY finished the Klingons and got around to doing the Romulans then it would be more of a Star Trek game and MAYBE people would show up but it's been nearly 2 years and the Klingons STILL don't have the love the deserve and the Romulans are treated like a red-headed stepchild at a family reunion and ignored.
BTW does anyone know of an MMO that went f2p and actually not only survived but thrived? Not an MMO expert by any measure so I'm asking the more knowledgeable members of the community.
Lord of the Rings online not only went Free 2 Play...but they are doing a lot better than they thought. A ton of new content for eh people that play free, but a ton more stuff for the people that keep their subscriptions. Plus their subscription base grew 5 fold to boot...
Well if they FINALLY finished the Klingons and got around to doing the Romulans then it would be more of a Star Trek game and MAYBE people would show up but it's been nearly 2 years and the Klingons STILL don't have the love the deserve and the Romulans are treated like a red-headed stepchild at a family reunion and ignored.
BTW does anyone know of an MMO that went f2p and actually not only survived but thrived? Not an MMO expert by any measure so I'm asking the more knowledgeable members of the community.
DDO, LotRO, Age of Conan, Pirates of the Burning Sea.
They all went F2P and increased revenue by 200% at least.
Comments
...and if you don't want to grind, do you think you will be one of the players who spend C-Points to use it on the C-Point/Dilithium exchange?
Because those are the 2 options you will have now.
he can also say "TRIBBLE it, not making any new chars ever" and just ignore cryptics desperate grabs for money.
- Missions don't really level correctly in all cases. Loot is often way off. (e.g. Mk II as a Captain.)
- DOFFs: I didn't find it the system that compelling. As noted, most missions can't be completed at start, and the rewards are low, which basically made me put the system aside and ignore it.
- Dilithium prices are crazy. Essentially, this is another thing I just began to ignore. No one needs DL gear while leveling, so it becomes just an end-game thing, like emblems. But I definitely have less quality gear under this system.
- Crafting is laughable.
- Skills...I actually think the system is ok, even if you are science. But the console situation is seriously messed up. Side note: The new skill system is FULL of mis-spelled words, even 'thier' instead of 'their'.
I achieved Commander rank this weekend on the character I started on Tribble, and received a free Commander ship, Akira class Escort.
The only issues that I am having with my leveling is that there is hardly any level appropriate ship loot either dropping, or rewards from missions. I'm Commander 6 and most of my ship is still decked out in the equipment it started with.
I've purchased a few things off the exchange with EC, but I don't have near enough Dilithium to purchase MX VI gear.
Is it assumed that we should be grinding missions for dilithium for gear in these mid-levels? Right now I am leveling so fast, that doing any other missions other than story missions seemed pointless. I'm already Commander 6 and still haven't finished the Klingon line of missions.
A lot of truth here. IMHO the following observations:
1. unplug the DOFF system (note really worth the time. I personally prefer to focus on other aspects of the game. If or BO's are doing their jobs correctly and we have the skills available for them done correctly that should be enough.)
2. Dilithium and other related items (ie. crafting) is a TRIBBLE shoot and impossible to farm correctly. IMHO that is why most folks are NOT the slightest bit interested. ( keep in mind that there are a few folks that do like it ... but why ... I have NO idea). I've built other toons in other games that were VERY successful at minning, crafting and the like ... IT CAN BE FUN ! BUT the way it is set up here in STO there is little ryme or reason to finding the stuff that is needed to complete specfic tasks or build specfic componants. IMHO that is where the real problem is at.
3. Skills ... skil tree needs to be tweaked... expanded to make a bit better sense. IMHO right now it is a bit too generalized. Just needs more work.
just my own observations to this point.
Starting as early as regulas sector.... I quit doing patrols because the loot wasnt usable. They may have done That so tribbleers could level fast. But yeah the current pricing on dilithium is enough to make quit. I did submit a bug report when I didn't get a ship at commander. They shouldn't even bother with a dilithium refinement cap. The stuff is too hard to.come by in the amounts necessary for buying and crafting. Everything's bop and the crafting is too expensive to sell. That's what I did with my main. My main was the fleet crafter but the dilithium nonsense kicks that in the jewels. If had huge surplus of rare traces like 20+ dekyon parts... I'd craft some stuff and could sell it for more than the mats. Not a huge profit but worked.
Once I got my latinum accolades I quit dabo... there's a grind. Holoemitters were too short lived for their price. I'd like to see a D'Kora playable ship. In Canon they are cruisers that are on par or more poowerful than the exploration cruiser. The skin is already there. That's not tribble ill leave it alone.
If I wanted to play World of WarCraft, I'd go play World of WarCraft. Been in the beta for SWtoR for about a month....it's just WoW with lightsabers. I will be amazed if the game isn't free to play in a year, I can't see anyone really sticking around when everything in that game you have essentially done before.
I am very disappointed with it. Expected so much more from BioWare...but then I forgot EA was in charge.
STO is a different game. It doesn't even compare to SWtoR, not even similar in any way. SWtoR is like a well done WoW skin...
You can take from that what you wish.
Now, for the OP:
I agree the prices are sick. Slowing down the game? This isn't slowing down the game, it's forcing people to pay for ships because you'd need a chinese gold farmer on your payroll to get them without paying for them.
The 8k ore refine limit is going to really show it's ugly face as people reach the highest ranks. 120k RD for a single ship? Okay, no prob...that's only a 15 day grindfest of ore and refining what you can each day.
OH! You want gear on that ship too? Just add in another 45 days of grinding ore and refining max amount each day.
Oh, did I mention you can just buy some C-Points and make short work of that 60 day grind?
60 days to grind for a ship and gear is insane. I won't do it. If I were to make a new character, and I actually thought about doing so when the game went F2P, I'd be miffed in 3 hours and probably quit.
I don't have a problem with the storage issues. I know how to maximize what I have. F2P, .. well IMHO this is where they will have to pay for the useage.
I still feel that F2P is going to hurt us in the long run.
Hurt worse than the game shutting down because it doesn't have enough subs to pay for it?
Well if they FINALLY finished the Klingons and got around to doing the Romulans then it would be more of a Star Trek game and MAYBE people would show up but it's been nearly 2 years and the Klingons STILL don't have the love the deserve and the Romulans are treated like a red-headed stepchild at a family reunion and ignored.
BTW does anyone know of an MMO that went f2p and actually not only survived but thrived? Not an MMO expert by any measure so I'm asking the more knowledgeable members of the community.
I can understand about silver players (Stuff being expensive) but why would I want to spend days upon days grinding for the better gear?
Can Cryptic throw us long term players a bone will ya for christ's sake? Drop the price on upper purple gear, allow gold/lifers to refine more dilithium per day, and take out the dilithium cost in crafting. It is pretty simple.
If something does not change, Myself (and a lot of other players) are going to leave. Star Trek Online needs us...we do not need Star Trek Online...
Lord of the Rings online not only went Free 2 Play...but they are doing a lot better than they thought. A ton of new content for eh people that play free, but a ton more stuff for the people that keep their subscriptions. Plus their subscription base grew 5 fold to boot...
DDO, LotRO, Age of Conan, Pirates of the Burning Sea.
They all went F2P and increased revenue by 200% at least.
F2P isn't a bad thing, if it's done right.