Gates of Sto'vo'kor recently intercepted a couple of communiques from Dan Stahl, the Executive Producer of Star Trek Online. The first is a written Q & A Session with Dan. Give it a read here.
The other is our newest episode, Subspace Messages. G'hargh picked up an old subspace transmitter and while attempting to use it to intercept Federation subspace chatter, he finds instead the Dan Stahl audio interview. Give it a listen and talk about it in this thread or send us an email with your comments to hosts@gatesofstovokor.com.
Finally, we would like to thank Dan Stahl for coming on the show, answering some of our questions about the past, present, and future of the Klingon faction, and lending us your voice for the episode. You're welcome to come back any time you have something to share with us about the KDF or to even just play a role. How's your Nausicaan by the way
Qa'Pla!
Korrath
Warrior of Sto'vo'kor
UPDATE: Sorry for the inconvenice. We've been experiencing technical difficulties. The issues are being worked on. In the meantime here a back up of the episode from our sister site http://k-l-i-n-g-o-n-s.com/gos/
Gates of Sto'vo'kor recently intercepted a couple of communiques from Dan Stahl, the Executive Producer of Star Trek Online. The first is a written Q & A Session with Dan. Give it a read here.
Thanks so much for providing the written interview, too!
Thanks so much for providing the written interview, too!
Cheers,
Brandon =/\=
We of the Klingon Empire believe in open and honest communication. We hide very little .... Except G'hargh when he has gone belly-up in the bloodwine barrel.
You should have asked: have you ever seen a faction as poorly done in an mmo as the kdf?
So nothing new about the kdf? I understand what Dan is saying but I disagree.
Factions in all games even out. It didn't take CBS 's numbers to realize that the fed faction would be filled first.
And do you think daoc should have decreased the content of the lesser factions?
If Dan wants to focus on end game content, I respect that.
But the kdf needs some respect.
At minimun A kdf wrapper for the website. A kdf history perspective of the "road to..,"
I get he will never play the faction but others do.
Good interview. I could have done without the static and klingon conversation between questions though. Dan's mic/pc/internet/voice comms have enough problems
As far as the faction agnostic content, I think it's great to share the love and kill two birds with one stone, but I've got to say that 90% of what's been offered up so far in this department feels so wrong playing through as a Klingon. I think more could be done, particularly with dialogue, to deliver an experience that fits the KDF better.
You should have asked: have you ever seen a faction as poorly done in an mmo as the kdf?
So nothing new about the kdf? I understand what Dan is saying but I disagree.
Factions in all games even out. It didn't take CBS 's numbers to realize that the fed faction would be filled first.
And do you think daoc should have decreased the content of the lesser factions?
If Dan wants to focus on end game content, I respect that.
But the kdf needs some respect.
At minimun A kdf wrapper for the website. A kdf history perspective of the "road to..,"
I get he will never play the faction but others do.
To give you my personal 2 GPLs, Nagus, I suspect there's a gulf between what you want to hear and the truth. As much as it would be cool to have Klingon content from the Academy all the way to Dahar Master, I suspect that it will be unlikely that we'll see that in the near future, largely becuase the faction doesn't have that big of a draw.
But to preempt any "chicken and egg" arguments, I will simply ask, rhetorically: with all of the various Star Trek series that have come out between TOS and now, we have there never been any movies or series based on the Klingons? Because people don't watch Star Trek for the Klingons. Similarly, most players don't play STO for the Klingons, or the Romulans, etc.: they play it for the UFP.
and here are my thoughts
1) If someone says X but people here Y and say Y over and over again on the boards and doesn't correct, that person is called a Hack where I come from. I am not sure what it is called elsewhere, but where I come from that is what it is called.
2) You could argue the chicken and the egg scenario all you want. I am just saying that in every single MMO do you think they should have just not done the other factions because it wasn't going to be as popular? Imagine ANY small time MMO developer doing that.
3) Dstahl doesn't like the kdf being compared to the horde, but how is it any different? Warcraft IP is about the humans, and then the alliance. When the game came out, yes, the population really skewed towards the alliance. But it evened out. CBS is confusing IP statistics against MMO statistics.
Now, I agree that if all of the KDF wishes came true and they completely evening out the content in the factions by year 3, the kdf and feds population will NO LONGER even out. It is too late. People have too much investing in there guild and character to start over. I get it. Feds who get there frieinds to join, will be feds. It snowballs from there.
I agree that making big systems is the way to go. I always have. A Guild/Starbase/PVP system is the way forward.
But give the KDF the respect of being an MMO faction. Give them equal customization with character and ship.
When PVP comes out, Give them a bit more of an interesting slant toward it than the feds so it isn't a 100 fed Tacs in Cruisers vs a BOP like Kerrat always is.
You should have asked: have you ever seen a faction as poorly done in an mmo as the kdf?
The Cryptic STO KDF bashing needs to stop. The interview by GatesofStovokor.com with Dan Stahl addressed some fantastic points about the in-game history of the KDF, plus how Mr. Stahl has continued to champion KDF faction growth.
Yes, we're customers (of Cryptic/Perfect World) by playing STO. And, yes, the customer base is clamoring for more content. Based on their business model, their metrics, their budgets, I think Cryptic/Perfect World is making progress. (Albeit slow progress.) I REALLY hope the hard work by the STO community on Klingon Awareness Week #2 gives Mr. Stahl some SOLID metrics to demonstrate player commitment (and sales revenues) for Klingon faction development to Perfect World executive management.
Let's hope players stay engaged with KDF play after KAW #2 is over. Maybe "Alpha" will draw even more players to the KDF side. Time will tell. And if KDF players still around as KDF toons, then Mr. Stahl has a better argument for more dev resources/budgeting.
I get he will never play the faction but others do.
Mr. Stahl clearly states that he has played STO as a Klingon, most recently on the Tribble test server. Maybe you mean "play the faction" in a different context. (?)
After reading the transcript of the show it appears that nothing has changed. Sounds like Dan trotted out the same old tired and busted arguments of staffing issues, money, faction population size... etc etc.
I think the overall telling statement was when he was asked if he played KDF and he replied, "Only occasionally when I want to test some new content. Like most of our players, I prefer to play my Federation character.." This speaks volumes to me of the underlying attitude and assumptions by management.
Sigh. I'm no doomsayer or conspiracy believer in terms of Cryptic and I certainly don't believe they hate KDF players. I know some of the individual Devs have really gone out of their way to try and get things into the game for us. However after watching events unfold over time since launch and then seeing this interview... it is obvious that at a management level Cryptic's prevailing attitude of apathy towards the KDF simply has not changed, we'll always be an afterthought at best. I would love to be proven wrong in the future, but I gave up holding my breath for it long ago.
After reading the transcript of the show it appears that nothing has changed. Sounds like Dan trotted out the same old tired and busted arguments of staffing issues, money, faction population size... etc etc.
I think the overall telling statement was when he was asked if he played KDF and he replied, "Only occasionally when I want to test some new content. Like most of our players, I prefer to play my Federation character.." This speaks volumes to me of the underlying attitude and assumptions by management.
Sigh. I'm no doomsayer or conspiracy believer in terms of Cryptic and I certainly don't believe they hate KDF players. I know some of the individual Devs have really gone out of their way to try and get things into the game for us. However after watching events unfold over time since launch and then seeing this interview... it is obvious that at a management level Cryptic's prevailing attitude of apathy towards the KDF simply has not changed, we'll always be an afterthought at best. I would love to be proven wrong in the future, but I gave up holding my breath for it long ago.
I can't see/hear the interview because, well, the Gates are broken apparently.
However I can say this:
I started KDF Awareness Week as what was supposed to be an Annual event last July.
I did so because a Mod edited one of my posts and gave me a warning for saying "KDF players need to stop whining about lack of content and do something to make the faction more populated and worthwhile to develop content for."
I got mad about the warning because the Mod had no idea what was going on with that statement. So I set out to generate more attention. It was a moderate success due almost entirely to a couple of mentions on podcasts (like STOked and I think at least one other podcast mentioned it last year) and more so due to the dedication of those who volunteered their time and knowledge.
The KDF needs more attention from both the Devs and the Fanbase. Alpha is a step in the right direction and it's one more KDF-only mission we have now that we had before. Even if we only get drops, you get enough drops you have an ocean.
Unfortunately this unauthorized sequel derailed my plans for another KAW this July so I'm looking into developing another, similar, event to take it's place around the same time that will draw attention to the KDF and maybe get more people into it for a weekend event.
I will agree that it's a certain amount of Chicken and egg involved but I do believe that the more the community draws players into the KDF and the more missions Cryptic adds just for the KDF (like the new Alpha mission which sounds really cool) the closer we'll get to having "Two True Factions".
I think they have some terrible leadership at the executive level over all the production teams and so they're obviously being overstretched and forced to NASA this game and the others they're running/developing (faster, cheaper...). Hopefully, the higher ups will realize once Neverwinter is finally released that they can't keep making more games without damaging their reputation to the point that no one buys anything with their name on it because of the assumption that it's hardly finished at launch (relatively speaking in the world of MMOs of course). Then and only then will they dedicate resources to getting a roof on their house before that start pouring the foundations of another house...at that time I hope to see a fully fleshed out Klingon Faction.
With more PvP options (Territory Control), a new STF (WTH is Into the Hive?!) and Fleet Starbases that require a large time committment and a new Crafting system I think they'd have enough to keep Feds busy while they go nose to the grindstone on KDF content. It doesn't even have to be as flashy as the Fed stuff or this Alpha mission. Even some basic simple additional Raiding missions in other sectors or infiltration missions or something would be great.
You should have asked: have you ever seen a faction as poorly done in an mmo as the kdf?
Why? He would not have answered such a question, just as he has never answered such a question. We asked what we thought would be answered with as little political-ease as possible. I actually learned more than I expected and came away from it a little less bitter but no less sad.
So nothing new about the kdf? I understand what Dan is saying but I disagree.
No. We will continue to have to wait and watch the KDF grow slowly over a long period of time. I understand what DStahl has siad as well and garnered more hope from it than I had before the interview started, but as I stated above we still have a long wait ahead of us before we see a level of gameplay we would like for the KDF.
Instead of "chicken and the egg" the term should really be "the KDF and the Fed". As Dstahl pointed out in the interview, we KDF fans and our faction fell victom to a lack of time and a resource crunch in the very begining, before STO was even released, and have been playing catch-up ever since under the blade of damocles that is "needed revenue stream".
It did hurt the faction and many fans left then and many left afterwards over time, but we have gotten better over time and it seems time is the only thing that will see us get better as the game progresses.
We are the unwilling creature caught in a trap of Cryptics own devising but I would rather have what we have now and at least a hope for the future than no KDF at all..
So now we wait and see how long it takes Cryptic to fill the missing pieces in and hope we as a fanbase do not completely disapeer in the meantime.
Good interview. I could have done without the static and klingon conversation between questions though. Dan's mic/pc/internet/voice comms have enough problems
The static and popping was a by-product of what medium we used to record so we came up with an episode setting that used it. As well we at GoS are not a talk show normally but a drama. I personally would have prefered that DStahl came on the show and played a Character of his own choosing and had a little more fun with it, maybe relaxed a little and answered our questions in said character. Still it was a new experience and an honor to have the EP on the show and I enjoyed it no less for how it came to fruition.
As far as the faction agnostic content, I think it's great to share the love and kill two birds with one stone, but I've got to say that 90% of what's been offered up so far in this department feels so wrong playing through as a Klingon. I think more could be done, particularly with dialogue, to deliver an experience that fits the KDF better.
I agree. A better solution to dialouge tracking that gives the player a sense of immersion would be excellent. The problem evidently lies in how to do that dialouge tree that hits not just the fact that one is KDF or fed but also the individual races within the factions. Not all KDF are Klingons and not all Klingons are brusque and caustic in speech.
I still agree though and as much as I enjoy playing new content, it does dampen the mood when an NPC sounds more like the represenative of you side of the gameplay than you as the player get to sound.
I started KDF Awareness Week as what was supposed to be an Annual event last July.
We could use more than one awareness week style event in my opinion. maybe Blasten_blaster would relenquish the name to you again and we could hold another one in JUly?
KAW2 alpha and KAW2 omega?
The begining and the end of getting to know the Klingons?
The KDF needs more attention from both the Devs and the Fanbase. Alpha is a step in the right direction and it's one more KDF-only mission we have now that we had before. Even if we only get drops, you get enough drops you have an ocean.
I agree. It seems that drops are all we will see and I can now live with that as hopefully overtime the faction will grow to cover the what,why's and where's of how the KDF fits into STO.
My many heartfelt thanks to all those Devs that have worked to help us grow in the last 2 years to become more than we started as and please keep the work comming so that the KDF can take its full stance within STO.
I will agree that it's a certain amount of Chicken and egg involved but I do believe that the more the community draws players into the KDF and the more missions Cryptic adds just for the KDF (like the new Alpha mission which sounds really cool) the closer we'll get to having "Two True Factions".
I agree, the closer we get to two whole factions the better the game will become, even if half of the playerbase can not see it from inside thier own forest of content.
Then again I have always hoped and seen the future of STO as a multifactional game with the KDF, feds and Romulans as the big 3 involved in the storyline to allow the players to enjoy not just playing the faction they like best but being able to see the mindset and PoV of those they may know little about and possibly finding enjoyment in a little alt creation.
Here's to hoping the recent opening of STO into the EU draws many of the Klingon fanclubs that exist there and breathes new life and see a return of some of those clubs that left in the early days due to a lack of attention back into the Empire we love and enjoy.
I agree, the closer we get to two whole factions the better the game will become, even if half of the playerbase can not see it from inside thier own forest of content.
Then again I have always hoped and seen the future of STO as a multifactional game with the KDF, feds and Romulans as the big 3 involved in the storyline to allow the players to enjoy not just playing the faction they like best but being able to see the mindset and PoV of those they may know little about and possibly finding enjoyment in a little alt creation..
even the village idiot can figure that out.
Which is why game deverlopers would never ever have the idea to release a broken faction and keep it that way.
I did so because a Mod edited one of my posts and gave me a warning for saying "KDF players need to stop whining about lack of content and do something to make the faction more populated and worthwhile to develop content for."
Unfortunately for you discussing moderation is against the forum rules.
I understand that the KDF faction has taken a backseat due to revenue problems both at launch and later, it's a bad time economically and we're all feeling the crunch. But to say the KDF doesn't warrant the investment of said revenue because of the numbers is unethical when as a direct result of the decisions Cryptic has made have skewered those numbers, i.e. the lack of content and inability to make a KDF character at the start of the game. I also realize some of these decisions were made because of revenue problems but there again part of the reason for the revenue loss is due to the incompleteness of the KDF faction. Cryptic has stuck itself into a rut with its mindset concerning the KDF faction and have turned into some type of self fulfilling prophesy.
And there's no chicken or the egg scenario here. If it was built you'd have more people there. There are several indicators that backup the truth of this -
-The fact that the KDF faction has had a percentage (12% - 18%) throughout its existence even through the worst of the content draught tells me there is a fanbase there but is lacking in diversity and content to attract more.
-The fact we have had KAW, KAW2, and maybe having another Klingon event in July says there is a big interest in the KDF faction or at least that they are more involved with their community/faction and in the game. You don't see any events like these or the loyalty for the game on the blue side.
-The fact that there are books, websites, and various other media/items that are Klingon says they are part of our popular culture. There is a Klingon language and martial arts form that fans use and you have two options when buying Star Trek costumes, Starfleet uniforms and Klingon uniforms. This all points to a rather large fanbase for Klingons.
There are many more but it is plain to see if it was built there would be a bigger percentage playing the red side. I liked the analogy someone made about not building a framework for a new house until you had a roof over the previous one. To put that analogy into perspective very few are going to live in a house with no roof, put the roof on and they will move in.
I play STO mainly for the KDF side of things. I just find it to be more exiting, interesting, and fun than playing as the Federation. If management/Devs are concerned about population of the KDF faction I think it's quite obvious that more folks would play as KDF if it were a fully fleshed-out faction. Why not have a small team dedicated to the KDF faction?
even the village idiot can figure that out.
Which is why game deverlopers would never ever have the idea to release a broken faction and keep it that way.
From some of the responses from some fans in the forums about thier desire to not need a KDF faction level of gameplay or any other faction level of gameplay other than the majority that exists, the village may not have enough common sense to go around. Xenofactionaphobia.
As I said we are caught in a trap and the only way out is to wait and hope we don't contiue to fall prey to the mindset of XFP's.
I no longer doubt the "desire" of the Devs to create KDF content.
The saddest thing is that the longer the Level-capped KDF'ers have nothing to do the more the fans that only play the KDF will slowly disapeer and be replaced by those whom only do it as alternative when they are bored of teh fedplay, which in themselves will become bored and stop playing or just end up changing the KDF into something that no longer resembles anything Klingon and just falls back into monster play.
From some of the responses from some fans in the forums about thier desire to not need a KDF faction level of gameplay or any other faction level of gameplay other than the majority that exists, the village may not have enough common sense to go around. Xenofactionaphobia.
I think it's mainly a fear of PVP that people have. Take a notice around the forums where mention of open-PVP concepts are discussed and the majority of Feds seem to notify all their friends and start lighting their torches. Completing the KDF faction might cause mass hysteria, lol.
I apologize for the troubles with site. We've had to bring in a new engineering team. Gorn this time. I think G'hargh distracted the Orions. The website will be back up soon. I will post an announcement here, when it's back. Thank you for your patience.
Are there any ISPs that block gatesofstovokor.com? Even when I put the website name in the address bar, my ISP vomits back 'suggested websties', none of which are remotely associated with Star Trek, Stovokor, or Klingons. Wierd. It must be a Texas/Suddenlink thing.
Comments
The other is our newest episode, Subspace Messages. G'hargh picked up an old subspace transmitter and while attempting to use it to intercept Federation subspace chatter, he finds instead the Dan Stahl audio interview. Give it a listen and talk about it in this thread or send us an email with your comments to hosts@gatesofstovokor.com.
Finally, we would like to thank Dan Stahl for coming on the show, answering some of our questions about the past, present, and future of the Klingon faction, and lending us your voice for the episode. You're welcome to come back any time you have something to share with us about the KDF or to even just play a role. How's your Nausicaan by the way
Qa'Pla!
Korrath
Warrior of Sto'vo'kor
UPDATE: Sorry for the inconvenice. We've been experiencing technical difficulties. The issues are being worked on. In the meantime here a back up of the episode from our sister site http://k-l-i-n-g-o-n-s.com/gos/
.... BTW ... let me know of I need to smack the subspace relay a few more times for good measure.
GREAT job, GatesofStovokor.com! Qapla!
Thanks so much for providing the written interview, too!
Cheers,
Brandon =/\=
We of the Klingon Empire believe in open and honest communication. We hide very little .... Except G'hargh when he has gone belly-up in the bloodwine barrel.
So nothing new about the kdf? I understand what Dan is saying but I disagree.
Factions in all games even out. It didn't take CBS 's numbers to realize that the fed faction would be filled first.
And do you think daoc should have decreased the content of the lesser factions?
If Dan wants to focus on end game content, I respect that.
But the kdf needs some respect.
At minimun A kdf wrapper for the website. A kdf history perspective of the "road to..,"
I get he will never play the faction but others do.
As far as the faction agnostic content, I think it's great to share the love and kill two birds with one stone, but I've got to say that 90% of what's been offered up so far in this department feels so wrong playing through as a Klingon. I think more could be done, particularly with dialogue, to deliver an experience that fits the KDF better.
Here are my thoughts from another thread:
and here are my thoughts
1) If someone says X but people here Y and say Y over and over again on the boards and doesn't correct, that person is called a Hack where I come from. I am not sure what it is called elsewhere, but where I come from that is what it is called.
2) You could argue the chicken and the egg scenario all you want. I am just saying that in every single MMO do you think they should have just not done the other factions because it wasn't going to be as popular? Imagine ANY small time MMO developer doing that.
3) Dstahl doesn't like the kdf being compared to the horde, but how is it any different? Warcraft IP is about the humans, and then the alliance. When the game came out, yes, the population really skewed towards the alliance. But it evened out. CBS is confusing IP statistics against MMO statistics.
Now, I agree that if all of the KDF wishes came true and they completely evening out the content in the factions by year 3, the kdf and feds population will NO LONGER even out. It is too late. People have too much investing in there guild and character to start over. I get it. Feds who get there frieinds to join, will be feds. It snowballs from there.
I agree that making big systems is the way to go. I always have. A Guild/Starbase/PVP system is the way forward.
But give the KDF the respect of being an MMO faction. Give them equal customization with character and ship.
When PVP comes out, Give them a bit more of an interesting slant toward it than the feds so it isn't a 100 fed Tacs in Cruisers vs a BOP like Kerrat always is.
Yes, we're customers (of Cryptic/Perfect World) by playing STO. And, yes, the customer base is clamoring for more content. Based on their business model, their metrics, their budgets, I think Cryptic/Perfect World is making progress. (Albeit slow progress.) I REALLY hope the hard work by the STO community on Klingon Awareness Week #2 gives Mr. Stahl some SOLID metrics to demonstrate player commitment (and sales revenues) for Klingon faction development to Perfect World executive management.
Let's hope players stay engaged with KDF play after KAW #2 is over. Maybe "Alpha" will draw even more players to the KDF side. Time will tell. And if KDF players still around as KDF toons, then Mr. Stahl has a better argument for more dev resources/budgeting.
Mr. Stahl clearly states that he has played STO as a Klingon, most recently on the Tribble test server. Maybe you mean "play the faction" in a different context. (?)
I think the overall telling statement was when he was asked if he played KDF and he replied, "Only occasionally when I want to test some new content. Like most of our players, I prefer to play my Federation character.." This speaks volumes to me of the underlying attitude and assumptions by management.
Sigh. I'm no doomsayer or conspiracy believer in terms of Cryptic and I certainly don't believe they hate KDF players. I know some of the individual Devs have really gone out of their way to try and get things into the game for us. However after watching events unfold over time since launch and then seeing this interview... it is obvious that at a management level Cryptic's prevailing attitude of apathy towards the KDF simply has not changed, we'll always be an afterthought at best. I would love to be proven wrong in the future, but I gave up holding my breath for it long ago.
"History of the KDF & Cryptic"
Just a note ... The written questions are what he supplied to us before the interview took place and are well worth reading.
The actual interview went candid (thanks for that, DStahl) with him doing an excellent job giving us a little deeper thoughts and views.
Worth reading the written Q & A and definitely worth listening to. ... but suggest both.
However I can say this:
I started KDF Awareness Week as what was supposed to be an Annual event last July.
I did so because a Mod edited one of my posts and gave me a warning for saying "KDF players need to stop whining about lack of content and do something to make the faction more populated and worthwhile to develop content for."
I got mad about the warning because the Mod had no idea what was going on with that statement. So I set out to generate more attention. It was a moderate success due almost entirely to a couple of mentions on podcasts (like STOked and I think at least one other podcast mentioned it last year) and more so due to the dedication of those who volunteered their time and knowledge.
The KDF needs more attention from both the Devs and the Fanbase. Alpha is a step in the right direction and it's one more KDF-only mission we have now that we had before. Even if we only get drops, you get enough drops you have an ocean.
Unfortunately this unauthorized sequel derailed my plans for another KAW this July so I'm looking into developing another, similar, event to take it's place around the same time that will draw attention to the KDF and maybe get more people into it for a weekend event.
I will agree that it's a certain amount of Chicken and egg involved but I do believe that the more the community draws players into the KDF and the more missions Cryptic adds just for the KDF (like the new Alpha mission which sounds really cool) the closer we'll get to having "Two True Factions".
I think they have some terrible leadership at the executive level over all the production teams and so they're obviously being overstretched and forced to NASA this game and the others they're running/developing (faster, cheaper...). Hopefully, the higher ups will realize once Neverwinter is finally released that they can't keep making more games without damaging their reputation to the point that no one buys anything with their name on it because of the assumption that it's hardly finished at launch (relatively speaking in the world of MMOs of course). Then and only then will they dedicate resources to getting a roof on their house before that start pouring the foundations of another house...at that time I hope to see a fully fleshed out Klingon Faction.
With more PvP options (Territory Control), a new STF (WTH is Into the Hive?!) and Fleet Starbases that require a large time committment and a new Crafting system I think they'd have enough to keep Feds busy while they go nose to the grindstone on KDF content. It doesn't even have to be as flashy as the Fed stuff or this Alpha mission. Even some basic simple additional Raiding missions in other sectors or infiltration missions or something would be great.
Oops! Google Chrome could not find gatesofstovokor.com
Try reloading: gatesofstovokor.*com
Same. And im using Firefox.
Shot the GoS servers.
Unfortunately for you discussing moderation is against the forum rules.
And there's no chicken or the egg scenario here. If it was built you'd have more people there. There are several indicators that backup the truth of this -
-The fact that the KDF faction has had a percentage (12% - 18%) throughout its existence even through the worst of the content draught tells me there is a fanbase there but is lacking in diversity and content to attract more.
-The fact we have had KAW, KAW2, and maybe having another Klingon event in July says there is a big interest in the KDF faction or at least that they are more involved with their community/faction and in the game. You don't see any events like these or the loyalty for the game on the blue side.
-The fact that there are books, websites, and various other media/items that are Klingon says they are part of our popular culture. There is a Klingon language and martial arts form that fans use and you have two options when buying Star Trek costumes, Starfleet uniforms and Klingon uniforms. This all points to a rather large fanbase for Klingons.
There are many more but it is plain to see if it was built there would be a bigger percentage playing the red side. I liked the analogy someone made about not building a framework for a new house until you had a roof over the previous one. To put that analogy into perspective very few are going to live in a house with no roof, put the roof on and they will move in.
He means "Maude" from the old Bea Arther TV show.
Thanks was intrested in listening to the intervjew.
From some of the responses from some fans in the forums about thier desire to not need a KDF faction level of gameplay or any other faction level of gameplay other than the majority that exists, the village may not have enough common sense to go around. Xenofactionaphobia.
As I said we are caught in a trap and the only way out is to wait and hope we don't contiue to fall prey to the mindset of XFP's.
I no longer doubt the "desire" of the Devs to create KDF content.
The saddest thing is that the longer the Level-capped KDF'ers have nothing to do the more the fans that only play the KDF will slowly disapeer and be replaced by those whom only do it as alternative when they are bored of teh fedplay, which in themselves will become bored and stop playing or just end up changing the KDF into something that no longer resembles anything Klingon and just falls back into monster play.
I think it's mainly a fear of PVP that people have. Take a notice around the forums where mention of open-PVP concepts are discussed and the majority of Feds seem to notify all their friends and start lighting their torches. Completing the KDF faction might cause mass hysteria, lol.
No! This goes there and that goes here. ...
Now where did I leave my hypospanner? ...
The fact that the website is broken: NOT awesome. (Says it can't find the server)
Edit: sorry didn't see that last post. Still awesome that you provided a write-up. Most podcasts here neglect that duty.