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There are Too Many Items/Not Enough Storage.

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
Dev Diary #19 announces the introduction of six new "Gamma Quadrant" Commodities and that got me thinking about storage. Where am I supposed to put all this new stuff? My bank/inventory is nearly full now. With what you ask? Well, let's see...
Crafting:
36x Data Samples
10x Trace Particles
20x Schematics (Admitantly, I don't usually keep these.)
2x Unreplicatable Materials

STFs:
EDCs
2x Salvage
18x Techs (I've only got a couple.)
X Requisitions (Ok, I don't keep these either.)

Invasion:
Nanopower Capacitors
Cybernetic Armatures
Fibro-Neural Interface Cabling
Plus there are assorted leftovers (keys and whatnot) from missions

DOffing/Aid-the-Planets:
17x "Alpha Quadrant" Commodities (15x "Old" Commodities + Contraband & Tribble Carcasses)
9x Prototype Plans (Maybe more, but this is how many types I've got now.)

Repair/Buffs/Misc:
3x Regenerators
3x Components
Hypos, Batteries, Cells, Ship Batteries
Deuterium Surplus, Computer Core Fragments
7x Holoemitters
2x Gold-Pressed Latinum Packages
Flagship Box

For most things I only "stock" one stack, but some I have multiples (hypos, for instance). Occasionally, I do have an extra schematic or STF requisition.

I have easily over 125x cells worth of "consumables" already, and now there will be six more "Gamma Quadrant" Commodities.

I've got a handful of Pets. I need free space to put Cadre Packs before I open them, Lore Chips before I read/sell them, BOs before I can claim them, etc. I'll need free space for Cardassian Lock Boxes, Gift Boxes, or whatever other "Grab Bag" comes along in-game (and apparently their keys). And what happens when the next Holiday Event comes round, am I going to need a half-dozen slots free for those "crafting" materials?

All this doesn't include my alternate weapons, equipment, gear, devices, turrets, special food, tribbles, and who knows what all else I'm missing/forgetting. To say nothing of empty bag space for hauling loot home from missions.

I'm a Vice Admiral Gold Player, meaning I've got 108 Bank Cells + 72 Inventory Slots, or 180 total cells worth of storage. I've already purchased all I can from the C-Store (+84 more slots, combined). What more can I do?

Workarounds:
I have Alts, including an Alt "Fleet" for an extra bank.
I have loaded my extra BOs and ships with gear.
I've mailed stuff to myself that's clogging my inbox.

I've consider putting stuff on the exchange for uber-steep prices, but that's too risky/extreme a choice so far. The problem with this and most of the other "cheats" is that many of these items are bound, so only I can hold them. Not to mention they're all very inconvenient.

I know part of the "scheme" is to get Silver Players (with a tighter native storage capacity) to pony up to subs and/or C-Store purchases, and I get it, and frankly, I'm on board with that But I've already done both of those! I sub and I happily bought as much space as I'm allowed. Still, the amount of objects is just getting out of hand.

What can be done?

== 04/20/12 Update ==
The problem only grows:
Understandably there are new sets, new batteries/consumables, and other new gear. Bemusedly there are now even more currency/commodities in the form of Lobi Crystals and Reman Datalogs that we're now supposed to keep stored.

Some suggestion resolutions:
Increase Storage.
This can be done a number of ways:
  • Give everyone (or at least Gold Members) a free increase in Inventory/Bank space.
  • Allow the purchase of Bank Tabs (like Fleet Banks).
  • Remove/increase the limit on the amount of Storage we can purchase from the C-Store.
  • Create "Cargo Holds" (or other "Bags of Holding"). These could just be special inventory spaces accessible only from certain locations (perhaps in our Ship Interior or on a "Storage" Planet/Starbase). And/or they could be just boxes we carry around (in our normal Bank/Inventory) that open into a set of expandable/collapsable cells (effectively allowing 1x normal cell to hold, for example, 10x different items/stacks).
  • Created Dedicated Holds: Special "banks" for Data Samples only, Commodities only, etc.
Reduce the Clutter.
So many "things" take up cells that really shouldn't, or could reasonably be changed to reduce their impact:
  • Spendables like EDC, Lobi Crystals, and other "Currencies" should be turned into cell-free numerics (like EC, GPL, and Dilithium).
  • Many have suggested things like Commodities and Crafting Materials could also be turned into numerics.
  • Make Pets and GPL Hologram Devices UI-accessable. Something like an Emote or Transwarp menu. Functionally this would be as Champions Online handles Action Figures (they are an "item" only until unlocked, then they no longer need to be "carried" and become accessed directly via a UI menu).
  • Increase Existing Stack Limits of Food, Consumables (hypos, batteries, deuterium surplus, etc.), Commodities, Crafting Goods, etc.
  • Allow Like-Item Stacking of Weapons and other Gear. Example: If I have three Antiproton Beam Array Mk XII [Acc][CrtH][Borg] weapons I can stack them so they take up only one cell (instead of three).

Anyway, as I've said, the problem increases and is reaching (du-duhhhhh!!) critical mass. No official word on what's to be done or expected of us, or even if this issue is on Cryptic's radar. :(

== 06/07/12 Update ==
More Storage Space now available - Shared Account Banks:
http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?p=4248663

Is it enough to solve all the problems listed above? Not with just 10 slots, no. But more is more, and it helps. Plus eventually we'll get to buy additional slots for the Shared Bank. Depending on how many they limit us to purchase will determine how much this affects the over all issue.

ETA: Dstahl has said the Shared Banks will be expandable up to 40 slots (via purchase, later this month). That limit is disappointingly too small.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    I agree what we need is a cargo bay where all or an overflow for all the extra stou get
    I am out room in bank just frm samples I have 4 rows of samples
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    I'd like to see commodities rolled into the doff UI, and data samples into the crafting UI, making both effectively numerics instead of discrete items.

    For commodities, we already have a cargo bay section in the doff system, which shows what you have back in the bank as well as in your inventory. I'd basically make that the only point of existence for commodities.

    And data samples, they are called just that - data. The only place they should take up space is on the ship's computer, which could be added as a tab on the crafting system.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Step 1: Buy space.
    If you ran out of it, repeat from step one.

    Alternatively, there's replicator and Exchange. Do you really need all that TRIBBLE?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    hevach wrote: »
    I'd like to see commodities rolled into the doff UI, and data samples into the crafting UI, making both effectively numerics instead of discrete items...
    Not a bad idea, but one I doubt Cryptic would go for. We had numeric currencies before (badges, medals, etc.) but those got rolled into Dilithium to "simplify the economy" and they gave us "new currencies" (EDCs, Unreplicatable Materials, Salvage, Cybernetic Armatures, etc.) that actually take up space so they can charge us "rent" :D
    Step 1: Buy space.
    If you ran out of it, repeat from step one.

    Alternatively, there's replicator and Exchange. Do you really need all that TRIBBLE?
    I know my post was a bit TL;DR, but it's in there twice: I've already purchased all the space I can. :p

    And yeah, I really kinda do need all that "TRIBBLE", as I actively DOff, Craft, STF, etc... All these game activities require that I keep these items on hand. I could replicate most of the commodities ad hoc, but that's not efficient or cost effective. I admit some of the alt gear I probably don't need anymore, but find it hard to get rid of. And frankly, that's not taking up the majority of the space. It's all the "craftables" (ie currencies) and "commodities" that take the bulk. :o
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Well, they wouldn't so much be currencies as alternate inventories - we have an awful lot of those as it is.

    Though, your point does stand - removing them from the existing inventory system would remove the main selling point for bank and inventory slots. Even with everything else on your list and a bunch of the things people keep around that they don't really need to and it's still not really a space crunch if you don't have to worry about your data and commodities.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Would be nice to have an Account Bank, so you can swap stuff between your characters.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    snip

    I put all my hypos/cells/shiled recharges/misc ground devices into my BOFF's pockets. 9 BOFFs can hold plenty of stuff and I can access them anytime.

    Ship stuff, I put them onto my old ships. I can't swap out on the fly, like the BOFF pockets, but 5-6 ships can hold lots of weapons and consoles.

    The commodities can be replicated anytime if needed. I have 10s of millions of EC so I won't go bankrupt if I have to create a few 1000 EC/unit items.

    The samples go to the bank right away and the STF items stay in my inventory. This way they don't take up double slots.

    I sell every excess TRIBBLE on the exchange or to a vendor.

    Food, mostly worthless so they get replicated. Tribbles immediately go to the fusion reactor.

    All in all I have plenty of room all the time.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Step 1: Buy space.
    If you ran out of it, repeat from step one.

    Alternatively, there's replicator and Exchange. Do you really need all that TRIBBLE?

    It's quite clear you've not been playing very long, because yes... after a time in end game, you really do need all that stuff.

    And OP, yeah... I have the same problem. Even my 'Gopher' toon who exists solely to service my inventory needs is beginning to feel a bit weighed down. :p
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Totally agree.

    I've maxed out expansion for my Bank and Inventory already.
    Any more gear and I am going to overflow and might have to consider dumping some bound gear.

    Please let us buy Bank Tabs just like Fleet banks
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    What I think they should do, is create a new and unlimited inventory space called "cargo bay", which is exclusively dedicated to commodities.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    hevach wrote: »
    I'd like to see commodities rolled into the doff UI, and data samples into the crafting UI, making both effectively numerics instead of discrete items.

    For commodities, we already have a cargo bay section in the doff system, which shows what you have back in the bank as well as in your inventory. I'd basically make that the only point of existence for commodities.

    And data samples, they are called just that - data. The only place they should take up space is on the ship's computer, which could be added as a tab on the crafting system.

    This. I hate having to replicate commodities all the time, yet I don't want to waste space. This would be a perfect solution.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Considering the Technology to store things in transported buffers like in Star Trek Elite Forces & Elite Force 2 ..

    We do need at VA Atleast
    100 Bank Slots, Tabbed
    80 inventory slots, Untabbed
    and 300 Fleet bank slots, Tabbed (ability to set a tab or so many rows to specific player in Fleet)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    I posted in this thread with some idea's

    http://forums.startrekonline.com/showpost.php?p=4024597&postcount=7

    We should really push this Idea home, I'm not one to shy away from C-store purchases like others, so I really get hit hard with bank space with all these goodies. The number of collectible commodities and crafting items is insane. We need a cargo hold or something for them where they go and not crowd our current inventory/bank space.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    The solution to the problem.


    Do like they do in other MMO's.


    Make containers that fit in your regular inventory slots that you can buy from the C-Store.

    That way you can put all your craftable materials in one and all your cargo items used for missions in another.

    From your regular inventory area you can open up a container which is basically a new inventory area.

    It helps keep things organized.

    I know you can buy more inventory slots as things are, but that is simply not good enough.

    There are far too many craftable items and a seemingly ever expanding list of cargo inventory necessary for missions.

    Having seperate containers that fit in a regular inventory slot that you can in turn open as a new inventory area would make things far better organized.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    inventory space is ridiculously limited in this game. in game terms, the back pack of a small dwarf has more carrying space than the cargo bays of an odd-hundred-meters spaceship. but the inventory is just another instance of the general theme.. call it ********** or amateurish, there are so many things in this game where i think "hey, that has been a great idea, hey, that has really potential!" but then the execution is so mediocre that i want to weep.

    my approach to the game is "Lowered Expectations", and it kinda works.. at least i get to play a star trek game, right?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Cpt.William2 posted in another thead a request to allow pets to reside in their own inventory. I'd like this idea too. Or better yet (as I suggested in that thread), change pets into something more like an emote or power (like a transwarp). Once unlocked, it shows up on a UI list that you can click on and is no longer an item you have to equipt or otherwise carry around in your inventory to use.

    This would free up over a dozen cells for me.

    I would recommend a similar unlock/emote/power list for the GPL Ship Hologram devices.

    Anyway, I would really like to know what Cryptic thinks and what their plans are for future storage. They just keep adding to the problem by introducing more and more inventory items (sets, commodities, "currencies" and "crafting items", batteries, etc.) with no apparent regard for what to do with them.

    I'm not complaining here. I'm trying to solve a problem. I'm also not necessarily asking for anything for free. I appreciate that I'm a "collector" and more of a hard-core player than most. I would buy more C-Store space, but I've already purchased my limit.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    By-the-by, I would totally love both of these options:
    tahna_los wrote: »
    Would be nice to have an Account Bank, so you can swap stuff between your characters.
    Champions Online has Account Banks (with C-Store expansions, even) that are great and handy. I really can't wait for that tech to get added to STO.
    jkstocbr wrote:
    Please let us buy Bank Tabs just like Fleet banks
    Fleet Bank-style EC purchasable tabs for Character Banks would be awesome. Not only would it give me more space, but it would be another Energy Credit sink that this game needs more of anyway.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    I think there should be a random drop mystery boxes where you buy keys from the C-Store. You might get extra bank spaces, or you might get a ship's battery.

    And, of course, we need to announce to the entire server when somebody gets more bank slots.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    The solution to the problem.


    Do like they do in other MMO's.


    Make containers that fit in your regular inventory slots that you can buy from the C-Store.

    That way you can put all your craftable materials in one and all your cargo items used for missions in another.

    From your regular inventory area you can open up a container which is basically a new inventory area.

    It helps keep things organized.

    I know you can buy more inventory slots as things are, but that is simply not good enough.

    There are far too many craftable items and a seemingly ever expanding list of cargo inventory necessary for missions.

    Having seperate containers that fit in a regular inventory slot that you can in turn open as a new inventory area would make things far better organized.

    You've got a point here.

    I wouldn't mind seeing a "Pattern Buffer" container that you could store things in.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    The more items they add to the inventory via pets, consumables, etc, etc... the more inventory slots you have to buy from them. You buy more slots to hold more TRIBBLE, etc. It's a vicious cycle.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Sprint01 wrote:
    The more items they add to the inventory via pets, consumables, etc, etc... the more inventory slots you have to buy from them. You buy more slots to hold more TRIBBLE, etc. It's a vicious cycle.
    It would be a cycle, if it wasn't broken by the limited number of slots we can buy. :o
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    It would be a cycle, if it wasn't broken by the limited number of slots we can buy. :o

    Why, how many is it?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Sprint01 wrote:
    Why, how many is it?
    Read the OP. :p

    >ahem<

    Inventory is increased by 12 slots per purchase and you're limited to three purchases (36 slots). Your Bank is increased by 12 slots per, with a four purchase limit (48 slots). Total available for purchase: 84 slots per character.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Read the OP. :p

    >ahem<

    Inventory is increased by 12 slots per purchase and you're limited to three purchases (36 slots). Your Bank is increased by 12 slots per, with a four purchase limit (48 slots). Total available for purchase: 84 slots per character.

    Right- so.

    Buy more slots. :P
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    I find it aggravating that people can "start their own fleet" and have access to a fleet size bank, but those of us who do belong to a fleet are limited to individual sized banks. I've actually considered quitting the fleets I'm in just so my characters can each have fleet size banks.

    With the new commodities, new sets - including the STF sets - and new devices, I'm fast running out of space. This will only get worse as more featured episodes are added.

    At the risk of hijacking the thread, any good ideas for a fleet name for my Crusty toon?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Sprint01 wrote:
    Right- so.

    Buy more slots. :P
    >Sigh<

    May I suggest that if you're going to comment in a thread, you really should read/comprehend the thread, or at least the Original Post. :rolleyes:

    I have already purchased all available slots allowed to be purchased for my character.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    >Sigh<

    May I suggest that if you're going to comment in a thread, you really should read/comprehend the thread, or at least the Original Post. :rolleyes:

    I have already purchased all available slots allowed to be purchased for my character.

    I was being sarcastic. My point being that Cryptic will likely offer more bag space in the near future, because of all the item requirements. Or conversely, they won't. They'll force you to sell off and or destroy items you would normally keep.

    All in the name of keeping you in game longer so they can sell you more C-Store stuff.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Sprint01 wrote:
    I was being sarcastic...
    Sorry, I didn't read that. Forgive if I offended. :o
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    The long and short of this is simple: Storage/Cargo on ships needs to be enabled to allow off-load AND the ability to build out function to allow sell-off of junk that's no longer needed. I know, that game in a "Galaxy far, far away" has this built in from day 1, and trust me, it works to keep your inventory down to a bare minimum. The ST canon has all this future "transporter buffer" technology, which was introduced in ST:EF years ago. Why hasnt the devs looked at enabling this for storage off-load. Instead of playing the "cryptic money game", why not throw a bone to the gamers guys??
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2012
    Here's a few things Vetinari left out, just to make matters seem worse:

    36 Tribbles. At least 12 pets (space/ground). The min-maxer's change of weapons, as those [Borg] tags just don't work so good in PvP, and maybe two dozen unique C-store and mission reward weapons, devices and fluff items (skates, Nimoy's diary, Party Poppers, the Azura comm code, etc.) and there's 12 piles of consumable satellite turrets, one for each set of prototype plans in the game.

    We need not just more space. We need a way to organize the space we have. Everything's pressed up together, and whenever I have to drop off something new, I either have reorganize the whole thing or let it turn into a jumbled mess. Cryptic doesn't seem to care about neat, it seems sometimes. (Let's convert anything and everything into one currency! And then create a dozen new ones that take up inventory space! Also, search criteria for the Exchange? When will people ever need that?)

    Tabs in the traditional MMO sense, though, (pay X gold, double your storage space) just aren't going to happen. They love bleeding us 12 storage slots at a time way too much to let a silly thing like that happen. So more than just space, I'd like to be able to spread the storage space I have among tabs created by the player him or herself. (Rightclick top, select "Create New Tab", enter a name for the tab and a number of slots to be moved from the main tab to this tab, and click Okay.)

    I wouldn't be opposed to Cryptic introducing storage modules as drops from PvE enemies, buyable with EDC, craftable at Memory Alpha, etc, that when put into one of say 4 logistics slots at the bottom underneath your bank expand your inventory by anywhere from 2 to 6. Maybe make it so that you can slot quartermaster Doffs into it as well, achieving basically the same thing. Like almost every other MMO out there, including CO.

    But there's no money in that for them. At least until someone clues them into Iconian pocket dimensions for the C-store...

    Your best hope for getting more storage space, at least those of you who are in fleets, is to go find a thread on fleet starbases and argue for fleet starbases to come with member storage space. (Maybe going so far as letting fleet bankers view and drop items into member safety deposit boxes directly, but not remove.) I doubt you'll be able to pry more than 24 slots from their cold iron clutches, more than likely only 12, but I can see them caving in a little bit on that one at least.
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