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Priority One Interviews CaptainGeko (Part 2)

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited February 2012 in Galactic News Network [PC]
The Priority One crew has released part 2 of their interview with Lead Designer Al Rivera. Check it out here.


Link to the news article.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Just finished it. A lot of information there.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Good interview. some nice bits in there

    I would say that it sounds like one sector space is just more trouble than its worth. do players really want to have one big zone ten times larger that what we fly around it, but a limited number of people in each. i always hear people complain when mmo's feel empty and i think that would make the game feel empty.
    not to mention it would affect every mission and foundry missions as well. i could see that becoming a bugfest.

    in terms of new ships. i dont think every new ship has to have a unique bridge officer layout. i think its ok to have similar layouts to existing ships, otherwise you get into a situation where you're trying to force new designs just to be different.

    i like the idea of some heavy cannon special ability on the bortas. or even some sort of heavy beam array. it would be very cool to see all those front weapons firing at once.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Thunder Cats carrier lol
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    My commentary on the Vesta discussion:
    I think the podcasters are completely nuts about what the Vesta-class should be. I've always fixated myself on considering it a science ship (justifying its tech and nimbleness) with dual cannon access like the Dreadnought. Making its LtC station for Tactical Boffs creates its layout identity in a way that hasn't been done by other ships yet (so no stepping on the roles of other sci ships) / this makes it a science ship cousin of the MVAE Prometheus (the latter having a Cmd Tac LtC Sci).

    I can emphasize with wanting to make the Vesta a 'Tactical Cruiser' (I assume they mean an Escort with a LtC Engineer Boff) but I feel that niche is far better filled by the Tier 5 Akira-class. The Vesta-class has a justifiable entitlement to science, whereas the Akira doesn't as much. Also, having the Akira as the Tactical Cruiser makes it a good contemporary to the Excelsior Retrofit (whom according to certain source the Akira was supposed to replace in the 'heavy cruiser' niche).

    My comments on the C-Store Odyssey plans:
    All of what was stated sounds good. I'm looking forward to seeing how saucer separation works for the Odyssey... I'm hoping I'll actually like the Star Drive section as a standalone ship.

    The auxiliary craft sounds like a fun combat pet (and having saucer/aux craft split off simultaneously as a MVAM-like ability could be cool), though I was dismayed nothing else about it. I really wanted to play that cute little escort! I was actually pondering if it would be eligible for shuttle play (like in 'The Vault' mission) or if it would be an actual escort vessel of its own.

    Al's naming mistakes during the interview:
    Was one of the Odyssey-class' possible names the "Olympus"? He called it several times that, making me feel that that's the name he got used to calling the ship before it was changed to "Odyssey" (kind of like how the Emissary-class was supposed to be the Nomad-class, but that then the class name was put up for a contest and the Nomad-class name was eventually reused for a C-Store ship skin). Or maybe "Olympus" is a class name variant?

    The Ambassador-class:
    *sigh*

    Just put the ship as an Excelsior skin. Then it's tier 3 for those that want it and can be used at Tier 5, and then new stats don't need to be done for it - plenty of people will be happy seeing it with Excelsior stats.

    We all agree on the 'it shouldn't be as powerful as the Galaxy-class' bit, but then the same applies to the Excelsior. Just put the two -older school- oddities together and the dilemma is over.

    Technically, the Akira, Norway and Steamrunner are all different ships but were shucked in the same configuration. I don't see why it couldn't happen for the Ambassador to be made an Excelsior variant. That way we could actually finally get the ship in-game.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    I would say that it sounds like one sector space is just more trouble than its worth. do players really want to have one big zone ten times larger that what we fly around it, but a limited number of people in each./QUOTE]

    Perhaps the "big" map could be something like this:

    Travel at high warp (current map)
    Travel at low warp - "treadmill" feel. Imagine the ship is "stationary" and everything moves around it from the fore horizion and wraps around. Slower times to get to location but could add in lots of random encounters, planets, nebula, asteroid belts, comets, ships, other encounters. I think this would make the game feel more spaceous and a chance to add in alot of "sandboxy" elements through these random encounters. Although this is not a "large map" the way it is set up could feel big. This is how I have always envisioned the exploration sector could run.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Good interview. some nice bits in there

    I would say that it sounds like one sector space is just more trouble than its worth. do players really want to have one big zone ten times larger that what we fly around it, but a limited number of people in each. i always here people complain when mmo's feel empty and i think that would make the game feel empty.
    not to mention it would affect every mission and foundry missions as well. i could see that becoming a bugfest.


    I think they should abandon the idea of one gigantic sector space map and just work on an option to do automatic map progression. Allow us an option to click an arrow on the overhead map and do away with the pop up window.

    I didn't get a chance to hear the entire interview, not yet at any rate. We don't need one giant map, if we can skip the pop-up when we move to new sectors.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    OOh i got 2 questions in that. :)

    Btw about sandbox gameplay i meant, things like constructing stations (not just starbases like they want for fleets) so that would be something to do ranging from small outposts in undiscovered systems to creating science stations in undiscovered nebulas etc. Also building ships, getting skills to build ships, like in eve and other games. Also alot of sandbox space gameplay from X series of games from Egosoft http://www.egosoft.com/community/news_en.php so plenty of sandbox things to think of. As when Al answered i just heard missions or events which that isnt anything like sandbox because its something you do and thats it like a mission but sandbox is tools to make your own adventure.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    bu but but... No St Patty's day Event?!?!? :(
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    One giant sector map was always going to be iffy the longer time went on, at least now we have an answer for why it won't happen.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    No T5 Ambassador Class? - Booooooooooooooooooooooo!

    (Sorry, when you're talking a T5 Dekyr Class - circa 2150 and Andorian Battlecruiser - also cica 2150; and given te Ambassador predates that Galaxy Class design by 15 -20 years; the 'it's too old' arguement doesn't stand up IMO)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Armsman wrote: »
    No T5 Ambassador Class? - Booooooooooooooooooooooo!

    (Sorry, when you're talking a T5 Dekyr Class - circa 2150 and Andorian Battlecruiser - also cica 2150; and given te Ambassador predates that Galaxy Class design by 15 -20 years; the 'it's too old' arguement doesn't stand up IMO)

    And the Excelsior, which is now 124 years old.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    I haven't had a chance yet to listen to it, but if there is no T5 Ambassador, then there needs to be some changes. The Ent-B is T5, so....can I have my Ambassador now?

    As another poster noted, just do what WAS done with the Excel or something a la the new ship lineups. Heck, I'll probably get some radiation burns for this, but split it into the T3 or T4 with a T5 version as well. I just would like to have THE LAST ENTERPRISE in the game.

    Just make it a T4 and shove it in with the Galaxy. Heck, why bother with 'too old, or shouldn't be the same strength as' stuff. There is no continuity to the ships, why do you have to try and start with the Ambassador? Besides, I try not to think of them as old hulls been in service for years, but tried and true designs that continually constructed.

    Again, as I saw someone post in another thread, wouldn't it be a great wallpaper, advertisement, etc of having all the Enterprises in one shot?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Ok, this is my thoughts on the entite interview. 1 & 2

    First off STO has pigeonholed it's self in many ways,

    #1 Story...


    A war with the klingons, can only last so long, Once your past the episodes the war should end. Either in Peace of Defeat for the Klingons, they cannot support a long term war. They don't have enough resources.


    #2 Only two factions Fed & Klingon

    Al said it would take 8 months to make a new faction from level 1 to 50. This would be the DEATH of STO.
    So make Mini Factions level 1 - 15 And feature each new faction with a feature episode of 5 major stories of that Faction. Enough done. Create a home location and base / home / world / sector for each new faction. Supported with a full range of ships for each faction. and Be done with it.


    #3 Al said it's getting harder and harder to get ships in the game.

    Well you've created this problem from the start. In Star Trek ships aren't by Tier. Each captain & crew make up how strong that ship is. We didn't see only Galaxy's fighting in the DS9 wars. It was all ships Great and small who fought in battle along side eachother. So get rid of the Tier system and Let us command the ship we all want to have in the game. This removes the artificial tier / ship bottleneck you've created with your current system.

    As a Captain i should be able to fly any ship in the game.

    The Miranda should be removed from the game as a started ship, Give us a new 2409 heavy long range shuttle craft type. That can support what the tutorial has us do.Very light combat.

    Give us a ship token ever few levels, that way i can choose to get a new ship or not... As i rank up i should earn new bridge consoles and ship weapon slots and console slots, Not be forced into a new ship every rank. Untill we reach VA. Then let us BUY the V.A. ship token that unlocks all bridge officer stations / consoles / and slots for a Max VA rank number of each. This still keeps blance of the game.

    Unlock Ship from Rank / Ship Tier system.

    Use the featured episodes to build the other factions. If you can't do one or the other then DO both at the same time. Include each faction as the Featured Episode story content, Use what is already in the game to make each factons. Otherwise we will never have any other factions. BTW I don't belive at the end of each factions story they should have to choose to be federation OR klingon. They have there own faction. They should choose it at the slection screen when making a new toon. I hope you read what i spent the time to write, Thank about it.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    The starter ship should have been the Runabout or a new similar ship, that alone should have placed at least 1 slot open if they had done that.

    As for the other Factions, i would not mind it piecemeal but i would not want to roll my 3rd faction character into a old faction, he just goes into limbo until the next series adds content.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Oh one other thing; if you're wondering where those "comments" about the impulse drive lowering ship mass comes from it is written in the TNG Technical Manual. It mentions that Rick Sternbach and Michael Okuda "invented" a subspace field generated in the impulse driver coils, to lower the apparent mass of the ship. This was because American theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss had written that a starship would require much more fuel than the ship's mass to accelerate it to high sublight speed.

    Another by-product of this subspace field is in the reasoning for the Nebula-class not having visible impulse drive ports, as stated here by Rick Sternbach himself: http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/nebula-class/#comment-14934
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Just a couple things to note.

    As far as the Ambassador class If there are arguments that its too powerful for this tier or too old. Its not to old and it was If i remember correctly the only Enterprise that was designed as a warship because of the war with I cant remember the Klingons or the Romulans. Its meant to be OP.

    With another Faction it in a way is a must but if its going to take a while then Take your time. If you can make another Team to work on it, but take your time and do what is necessary. One of the things that Im getting from my clan mates that just started is omg bugs. Please you should introduce content but do step up your QA and testing. Heck Im a bug magnet I would be happy to work for you but cant move out of my state. With the Romulan faction you already have a starting point. Just work on it and take your time. The game can last more than 7 seasons its a game not a show. There are ways to overcome it and if it takes a year then so be it but we would like more than just the Klingons and Fed but do also provide more to the Klingons in ways of missions. If its missions that you need the community would probably be more than happy to help.

    You dont have to make the whole galaxy one sector space, for one its a pain to plan the servers for, two if you do you will have to increase the player amount on the instances by more than 3 times hence the server nightmare. Build off what you have already.

    One side note for later on with possibly a Featured Episode series would be to do something with the Xindi. Would be really nice to see something with them.

    As far as your website you took a lot away that was very nice and useful. You took away the calendar which was very nice and only gave us a text schedule, this is not a calendar. Another element of the site that you took away was the ships and stats section for information.


    But always with everything that you do take your time and test it and make sure it works and get as many bugs out as possible. Another thing to focus on in a community level is that you will find that game communities love it when you tell them stuff just never give out a date. You can say what your working on and a schedule but give a disclaimer that everything is subject to change. Then get the communities feedback and figure out what we want more and change around the priorities list a bit. But you need to set yourself a schedule and focus on QA and improve upon quality. If you havent noticed people joke about the quality of what you release.



    Just a pet peeve of mine is it would be nice to get better hull textures. To me even Legacy had better textures that worked with curves and other surfaces.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    I had the same thoughts regarding the Ambassador. If there was a LT JG Rank, then you could squeeze in the Ambassador nicely.


    As for Klingon ships, surprised you guys didn't mention the K'Vort-class BoP.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Zoberraz wrote: »
    My commentary on the Vesta discussion:
    I think the podcasters are completely nuts about what the Vesta-class should be. I've always fixated myself on considering it a science ship (justifying its tech and nimbleness) with dual cannon access like the Dreadnought. Making its LtC station for Tactical Boffs creates its layout identity in a way that hasn't been done by other ships yet (so no stepping on the roles of other sci ships) / this makes it a science ship cousin of the MVAE Prometheus (the latter having a Cmd Tac LtC Sci).

    I second this. Vesta is a Science Cruiser, based on what I've gathered from the books.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Just one other note. Why not 2 Andorian ships and give the players a choice or they can get both a Battlecruiser and an escort. But my vote is for Battlecruiser.


    One other ship I would love to see for no other reason but it looks awesome was the Enterprise J.

    And please no drop box ship for Andorian It would ruin the mood of hearing this news. Looking forward to new C-Store ships and not just new ship in boxes i didnt even get the first one i really want.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Kill-Jack wrote:
    As far as the Ambassador class If there are arguments that its too powerful for this tier or too old. Its not to old and it was If i remember correctly the only Enterprise that was designed as a warship because of the war with I cant remember the Klingons or the Romulans. Its meant to be OP.

    The logic is shockingly bad here. I know it's a video game based on a TV show and inconsistencies about but this is a terrible justification.

    I guess that's why I shouldn't engage in debates about this stuff.
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