So let me see if I'm understanding you correctly. You're saying small guilds should struggle to have fun playing a game that has been deliberately contrived to be less fun for them, so PWE can keep making money?
Logic would suggest that if the game has been designed to be less fun for small fleets, then those small fleets should just pack their bags and go play Guild Wars 2 or something.
The funny part is, as WoW demonstrated, that is exactly what WILL happen, whether it's "logical" or not. All these arguments about what players can or should do are moot. It's obvious from experience what players WILL do.
Mr Kotick and Mr Street thought that players would just tolerate the terrible Guild Perk system (WoW's version of the Fleet Mark system) because it would be convenient for their "business decisions". What happened instead was those players who weren't happy with the system's bias against small fleets simply quit playing and the game lost over two million players in a little over a year.
while that may have been a reason that 2 million people quit wow, i doubt it was the only one.
The rewamp of healing, the increased difficulty of raids at the beginning of cata had also a major part.
the guild system was actually one of the more funny things that were introduced in cata. i stopped because the game got too old. Needed something new...and after nearly 7 years of WOW many, many other felt the same...and with one or 2 people leaving a guild other followed. Also other games that came out after cata had their part.
I liked WOW guild perk system (was part of a 20 men guild) and i quit wow because i got bored of it after 7 years, not because the game developement went into a direction i was not happy with. And i know atlest 8 other people that felt the same.
So I log in today to schedule the special assignment. Then I see that in order to complete it, we have to first complete the previous special assignment -- which requires 600 fleet marks. I had this queued just in case we filled up all of the other assignment queues but we have never put a single fleet mark in it.
Fleet leaders really need some way to pause, disable, or cancel projects. We can cancel DOff assignments -- why not fleet ones?
As it stands, unless our small fleet of about 5 actives are able to grind (and make no mistake, it IS A GRIND) out 600 marks, we'll miss out on this assignment.
Hard way to learn not to pre-queue.
-Forjo
Whoever queued the Special Project was given a clear warning that it could not be canceled.
Also, I assume you are referring to the Interior Decorator Speical Project. If so, you have until August 9 to queue it up and then just plunk down 200,000 dilithium, which a bunch of players told me (in a different thread in these forums) is not a problem.
So you still have two weeks to grind 600 fleet marks and complete your currently queued Special Project.
With 5 actives, that's only 180 fleet marks each on average, easily done over a weekend or during one week, and even without any bonus from the calendar fleet events.
And if you miss this Interior Decorator Special Project, it's just ornamental. It will not have any affect on what you should consider more imporant: advancing the starbase itself.
Fleet starbases are only 3 weeks old (on Holodeck). There will be a learning curve and perceived mistakes. Don't get upset about it
that is needed, but i thinks it's hard to implement, since the items invested need to be distributed again...that may be hard to do.
Hard to do? It would be a friggin' nightmare ... not just returning hundreds of commodities, data samples, and duty officers to inventories of each contributor, but also TAKING BACK the earned fleet credits.
Some may say "oh, it's easily done with software" ... no, it would not be easy at all.
on the other hand, it says right there that special projects are suited for larger fleets...sorry but there was a warning ... don't bother with special projects or recruit more people...sorry to say that but thats how it is.
The Special Projects have two purposes, mentioned in their descriptions:
1. give fleet members the opportunity to contribute and earn fleet credits if the main starbase and military, engineering, and science projects are filled up, which is upsetting lots of fleet members; or
2. give the starbase some ornamental aspects, like a glass roof, or plants scattered around the starbase, or pretty consoles.
Small fleets should concentrate on the big, starbase-building projects. The Special Projects are optional and far less important.
There needs to also be smaller projects that reward less but would give some sense of progression for smaller fleets.
I like the thought, but I'm not sure how it could be done in a way that really made a difference and wasn't exploitable.
If, for example, you had a small project that earned half the XP but only cost half the resources so that you were completing two projects instead of one... why not just do the one? You're ultimately still having to gather the same amount of resources for the same amount of XP. No gain.
If the same small project earned half the XP but cost 60% of the resources of the larger project, it would be fair but it would also take longer than just doing the bigger project. The major benefit of this would be that more resource cost means more available fleet credits. Bigger fleets would be better off doing the smaller projects in this case, and smaller fleets would be better off doing the larger project. Not the outcome we're trying for.
If the small project earned half the XP but cost 40% of the resources of the larger project, who would bother doing the larger project? Except that this kind of project would earn fewer fleet credits and there would be more competition to complete it. It's pretty exploitable, IMO, and would exaggerate the problem members of large fleets already have in earning fleet credits.
Still, I wouldn't mind seeing a greater variety in the kinds of projects offered, even if there's no real net gain in efficiency.
The Special Projects have two purposes, mentioned in their descriptions:
1. give fleet members the opportunity to contribute and earn fleet credits if the main starbase and military, engineering, and science projects are filled up, which is upsetting lots of fleet members; or
2. give the starbase some ornamental aspects, like a glass roof, or plants scattered around the starbase, or pretty consoles.
Small fleets should concentrate on the big, starbase-building projects. The Special Projects are optional and far less important.
THIS. Those special projects that only earn 5 XP per category are not meant for small fleets. I queued up the limited time projects for our fleet instead because they enhance the appearance of the base and provide a way to earn fleet credits for those who want 'em.
My views may not represent those of Cryptic Studios or Perfect World Entertainment. You can file a "forums and website" support ticket here Link: How to PM - Twitter @STOMod_Bluegeek
Folks, in every civilised society purchasing process has got a grace period, that aforementioned society worked hard to implement. This is the part of that thing you call democracy, and it is so everyday, that sometimes you stop noticing it.
I'm surprised some of the players consider what cryptic has blessed us with to be the holy scripture and not to be argued against. Cryptic ain't gods, they are people, they make mistakes. And above all Cryptic is a business that still continues to exist because the player base gives it money. No players - no sto - no cryptic. As simple as that.
Hell, I just made a mistake of queuing a purchase for 10 buks. In convenience shop where I live I can go back and return it. And they will refund the money. Because there are laws, and they value me as a customer.
Why should this be any different? Why should the player base be punished for THEIR MISTAKES IN THE GAME, that above all should be entertaining?
Go grind fleet events for 900 fleet marks, you'll know what I'm talking about.
I would just be happy if they gave us Nukara back or reduced the fleet mark cost for missions. As it stands, for tier two projects you need 900 marks a day. For a fleet of 50+ people you can just have everyone muddle through a single Fleet Alert, but for a small fleet you need to assemble a full team, conform to Cryptic's time gate, and grind the missions ad nauseum. Why? The projects are already incredible EC and dilithium sinks. Must you take our very wills to live as well? I shudder to think of how badly the Mark costs will scale up for Tiers 3+
Folks, in every civilised society purchasing process has got a grace period, that aforementioned society worked hard to implement.
Grace periods for purchases are not universal. Also, many vendors in RL will NOT return the purchase price, but will instead insist on store credit. And good luck trying to get your sales tax or VAT back
No, it looks more like Sparta was a constitutional monarchy AND not all members of Spartan society had rights, such as the Perioeci (free but non-citizen inhabitants of Sparta).
We got Special Projects because a large Fleet will have more total resources than they can contribute.
Then smaller Fleets complain because they can't do the Special Projects, and they're at a disadvantage because larger Fleets can spend 40 times more resources to be 0.16 times faster. (Comparing 0 Special Projects to as many as possible, Tier 1.) :rolleyes:
It's not hard to get Marks. You can easily get 500 to 1000 Marks during the Tholian Even when on Nukara. But I agree, we should be able to cancel the projects. Especially those that are on standby for the next project.
But as a Small Fleet Leader, I'm not happy with these "Limited Time" Projects that cost 200,000 Dilithum. My little fleet isn't rich and can drop that kind of funds on a whim. (People tell us to recruit, well there is a reason we chose to be small).
Why "limited time" offers in a time-gated fashion? Why can't fleets be allowed to choose their own decoration projects at the time they choose fit?
Not anymore you can't at Nukara after Thursday's patch.
We got Special Projects because a large Fleet will have more total resources than they can contribute.
Then smaller Fleets complain because they can't do the Special Projects, and they're at a disadvantage because larger Fleets can spend 40 times more resources to be 0.16 times faster. (Comparing 0 Special Projects to as many as possible, Tier 1.) :rolleyes:
Lol smaller fleets complain because they cannot do even standard projects... let alone special
(kicks other guy into a deep pit, ala the movie 300 )
Look at zen prices on dil exchange. There's nobody left to grind dil anymore... People are leaving. And this ever increasing lag can only mean one thing: silly tribbles did not buy enuff of new space suits for 700 zen (what is it? 7 buks?), so cryptic didn't pay their internet hosting fees on time and the internet company now shutting down servers.
No, it looks more like Sparta was a constitutional monarchy AND not all members of Spartan society had rights, such as the Perioeci (free but non-citizen inhabitants of Sparta).
The most prominent Greek oligarchy, and the state with which democratic Athens is most often and most fruitfully compared, was Sparta. Yet Sparta, in its rejection of private wealth as a primary social differentiator, was a peculiar kind of oligarchy and some scholars note its resemblance to democracy. In Spartan government, the political power was divided between four bodies: two Spartan Kings (monarchy), gerousia (Council of Gerontes (Elders), including the two kings), the ephors (representatives who oversaw the Kings) and the apella (assembly of Spartans).
since those early democracys have little in common with modern democracys i think it may even qualify as one, but it is not considered as one in history books.
i ofcourse am a follower of elitism, the best political system there is!^^
(People tell us to recruit, well there is a reason we chose to be small).
I agree with that sentiment. If I wanted to play with strangers, I'd play with strangers. I don't want that, I want to play with my friends. It takes me a bit to warm up to people.
Let us upgrade the Seleya Ceremonial Lirpa and Kri'stak Blade
I agree with that sentiment. If I wanted to play with strangers, I'd play with strangers. I don't want that, I want to play with my friends. It takes me a bit to warm up to people.
fact is, that you don't have to play with them...only thing you have incommon with them is a base and a fleet...you can still play exclusively with your friends and chat with your friends.
There is no law that says if you join a fleet you need to play with them.
only disadvantage i see is, that you may not name the base and fleet as you want to...other than that i see no disadvantage in joining another, bigger fleet.
fact is, that you don't have to play with them...only thing you have incommon with them is a base and a fleet...you can still play exclusively with your friends and chat with your friends.
There is no law that says if you join a fleet you need to play with them.
only disadvantage i see is, that you may not name the base and fleet as you want to...other than that i see no disadvantage in joining another, bigger fleet.
Fair point. But I still like having my fleet named what we want it and our starbase named what we want it. I'm fine in a small fleet. I don't care if it takes us SEVEN YEARS to get our base to tier 5, we're doing it.
Let us upgrade the Seleya Ceremonial Lirpa and Kri'stak Blade
Just wanted to add my voice to this thread on the subject of cost for small fleets.
It's crippling right now... we have about 7 actual active members and 2-3 of those guys aren't even lvl50 yet.
I'm fine with the base levelling having some perceived value to it but it needs to scale according to fleet size surely?
Lvl1 must be so easy for the much larger fleets (I'm guessing) but we're being absolutely bled dry by it - it's literally crippling and is in *serious* danger of turning the game into a grind.
... is in *serious* danger of turning the game into a grind.
It was, is, and will be an grind ... it's an MMO!
Currently, the best gear is from grinding STFs. Previously, it was from grinding emblems. And since Season 5 and 6, the best skills and perks are from grinding duty officer assignments and fleet starbase projects.
Name an MMO which was NOT a grind for the best gear, skills, or other perks or advantages.
STO's never felt like a grind to me before ...that was just "stuff to do" but the Starbase system requires *so much* stuff even to get to level 1 that *now* it feels grindy to me.
As I've said I've no problem with attaching a value to the Starbase levelling - that absolutely makes sense ...the price just feels a little too high in a small fleet right now.
Just wanted to add my voice to this thread on the subject of cost for small fleets.
It's crippling right now... we have about 7 actual active members and 2-3 of those guys aren't even lvl50 yet.
I'm fine with the base levelling having some perceived value to it but it needs to scale according to fleet size surely?
Lvl1 must be so easy for the much larger fleets (I'm guessing) but we're being absolutely bled dry by it - it's literally crippling and is in *serious* danger of turning the game into a grind.
The devs have said that it doesn't scale to fleet size because it can be exploited. Have large fleet kick all members except for a few (or have rotating membership so the size never goes above 5-10). Level base up to max. Have all old fleet members re-join. Ta-da. Max base for large fleet without putting in all the resources.
_____________________
Come join the 44th Fleet.
startrek.44thfleet.com[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
STO's never felt like a grind to me before ...that was just "stuff to do" but the Starbase system requires *so much* stuff even to get to level 1 that *now* it feels grindy to me.
You are probably the exception here as most people have done hundreds of STFs and Dailies.
I personally don't mind "grinding" as I just consider it playing. I log in, live out some Trek fantasies for a couple of hours, and before I know it my Dailies are done for 1 alt. Whether I'm doing Dailies, STFs, PvP, or Fleet Mark events, it's all just playing for me. I'd be doing those things with my VA even if they weren't "paying" me Dilithium or Fleet Marks just to play.
STO is about my Liberated Borg Federation Captain with his Breen 1st Officer, Jem'Hadar Tactical Officer, Liberated Borg Engineering Officer, Android Ops Officer, Photonic Science Officer, Gorn Science Officer, and Reman Medical Officer jumping into their Jem'Hadar Carrier and flying off to do missions for the new Romulan Empire. But for some players allowing a T5 Connie to be used breaks the canon in the game.
The devs have said that it doesn't scale to fleet size because it can be exploited. Have large fleet kick all members except for a few (or have rotating membership so the size never goes above 5-10). Level base up to max. Have all old fleet members re-join. Ta-da. Max base for large fleet without putting in all the resources.
Any scenario where Fleets are equal (with no advantage to more members) is a situation where members in a larger Fleet are at a disadvantage. If 500 players' contributions are equal to 5 players' contributions, then each of the former's contributions are worth 1% of the latter's. (500 = 5)
Any scenario where players are equal (with no advantage over another) is a situation where smaller Fleets are at a disadvantage. If every player's contribution is of equal value, then 500 players' contributions will be 100 times more than 5 players' contributions. (500 : 5)
The former scenario is untenable and impossible to create, as a larger organization will always be able to bring more manpower and resources to bear. Attempting to create such a scenario would result in the "exploit" you described - which would simply change the former scenario into the latter, as the advantage for the smaller Fleets are neutralized and player contributions are equalized in value.
The current system is clearly neither based on the smallest Fleets (of 5 or less) or on the largest Fleets (of 500), but on a particular target size - where a Fleet of that size can meet project requirements without undue difficulty, but would not expect to be able to do special projects either. Fleets smaller than the target size would struggle to meet the requirements for projects, while Fleets larger than the target size get to (at most) spend 40 times more resources to build 0.16 times faster.
I'm guessing the target (the Fleet size this system is based on) came from the observed average they mentioned before. As the complaints about difficulty seem to stem only from Fleets with around 5 active players, with very little from Fleets with over 10 players, it would seem the size the system is calibrated around isn't all that high. For now, I would guess around 20 or so?
Comments
while that may have been a reason that 2 million people quit wow, i doubt it was the only one.
The rewamp of healing, the increased difficulty of raids at the beginning of cata had also a major part.
the guild system was actually one of the more funny things that were introduced in cata. i stopped because the game got too old. Needed something new...and after nearly 7 years of WOW many, many other felt the same...and with one or 2 people leaving a guild other followed. Also other games that came out after cata had their part.
I liked WOW guild perk system (was part of a 20 men guild) and i quit wow because i got bored of it after 7 years, not because the game developement went into a direction i was not happy with. And i know atlest 8 other people that felt the same.
Whoever queued the Special Project was given a clear warning that it could not be canceled.
Also, I assume you are referring to the Interior Decorator Speical Project. If so, you have until August 9 to queue it up and then just plunk down 200,000 dilithium, which a bunch of players told me (in a different thread in these forums) is not a problem.
So you still have two weeks to grind 600 fleet marks and complete your currently queued Special Project.
With 5 actives, that's only 180 fleet marks each on average, easily done over a weekend or during one week, and even without any bonus from the calendar fleet events.
And if you miss this Interior Decorator Special Project, it's just ornamental. It will not have any affect on what you should consider more imporant: advancing the starbase itself.
Fleet starbases are only 3 weeks old (on Holodeck). There will be a learning curve and perceived mistakes. Don't get upset about it
LAUREN RULZ !!!!!!!!
Hard to do? It would be a friggin' nightmare ... not just returning hundreds of commodities, data samples, and duty officers to inventories of each contributor, but also TAKING BACK the earned fleet credits.
Some may say "oh, it's easily done with software" ... no, it would not be easy at all.
The Special Projects have two purposes, mentioned in their descriptions:
1. give fleet members the opportunity to contribute and earn fleet credits if the main starbase and military, engineering, and science projects are filled up, which is upsetting lots of fleet members; or
2. give the starbase some ornamental aspects, like a glass roof, or plants scattered around the starbase, or pretty consoles.
Small fleets should concentrate on the big, starbase-building projects. The Special Projects are optional and far less important.
LAUREN RULZ !!!!!!!!
I like the thought, but I'm not sure how it could be done in a way that really made a difference and wasn't exploitable.
If, for example, you had a small project that earned half the XP but only cost half the resources so that you were completing two projects instead of one... why not just do the one? You're ultimately still having to gather the same amount of resources for the same amount of XP. No gain.
If the same small project earned half the XP but cost 60% of the resources of the larger project, it would be fair but it would also take longer than just doing the bigger project. The major benefit of this would be that more resource cost means more available fleet credits. Bigger fleets would be better off doing the smaller projects in this case, and smaller fleets would be better off doing the larger project. Not the outcome we're trying for.
If the small project earned half the XP but cost 40% of the resources of the larger project, who would bother doing the larger project? Except that this kind of project would earn fewer fleet credits and there would be more competition to complete it. It's pretty exploitable, IMO, and would exaggerate the problem members of large fleets already have in earning fleet credits.
Still, I wouldn't mind seeing a greater variety in the kinds of projects offered, even if there's no real net gain in efficiency.
THIS. Those special projects that only earn 5 XP per category are not meant for small fleets. I queued up the limited time projects for our fleet instead because they enhance the appearance of the base and provide a way to earn fleet credits for those who want 'em.
Link: How to PM - Twitter @STOMod_Bluegeek
I'm surprised some of the players consider what cryptic has blessed us with to be the holy scripture and not to be argued against. Cryptic ain't gods, they are people, they make mistakes. And above all Cryptic is a business that still continues to exist because the player base gives it money. No players - no sto - no cryptic. As simple as that.
Hell, I just made a mistake of queuing a purchase for 10 buks. In convenience shop where I live I can go back and return it. And they will refund the money. Because there are laws, and they value me as a customer.
Why should this be any different? Why should the player base be punished for THEIR MISTAKES IN THE GAME, that above all should be entertaining?
Go grind fleet events for 900 fleet marks, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Grace periods for purchases are not universal. Also, many vendors in RL will NOT return the purchase price, but will instead insist on store credit. And good luck trying to get your sales tax or VAT back
Democracy? This is not a democracy.
THIS ... IS ... STAR TREK ONLINE!!!!
(kicks other guy into a deep pit, ala the movie 300
LAUREN RULZ !!!!!!!!
No, it looks more like Sparta was a constitutional monarchy AND not all members of Spartan society had rights, such as the Perioeci (free but non-citizen inhabitants of Sparta).
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta
Anyway, this game is neither a democracy nor Sparta ...
THIS ... IS ... STAR TREK ONLINE!!!
(kicks anybody in sight into a deep pit
LAUREN RULZ !!!!!!!!
Then smaller Fleets complain because they can't do the Special Projects, and they're at a disadvantage because larger Fleets can spend 40 times more resources to be 0.16 times faster. (Comparing 0 Special Projects to as many as possible, Tier 1.) :rolleyes:
Not anymore you can't at Nukara after Thursday's patch.
OP *is* the new balance, whether you know it or not! Gecko says so.
Season 7 - Exodus, available online. U buy nao!
http://seekingalpha.com/article/738221-monetizing-perfect-world-s-latest-update
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Lol smaller fleets complain because they cannot do even standard projects... let alone special
Look at zen prices on dil exchange. There's nobody left to grind dil anymore... People are leaving. And this ever increasing lag can only mean one thing: silly tribbles did not buy enuff of new space suits for 700 zen (what is it? 7 buks?), so cryptic didn't pay their internet hosting fees on time and the internet company now shutting down servers.
One
by
One...
yes a democracy
no true democracy gives the vote to everyone
So Sparta, with its kings whose "duties ... were primarily religious, judicial, and military" (from the Wikipedia article), was a democracy?
Okay, fine, sure, whatever. :rolleyes:
Debating political science is no fun.
THIS ... (still) ... IS ... STAR TREK ONLINE!!!
(kicks SWTOR players into a deep pit!!
LAUREN RULZ !!!!!!!!
Oh, so you were there in the many centuries of the existence of the real Sparta to know there was never any deep pit?
Who are you, Flint? (a TOS reference, by the way
How DARE you suggest that the movie 300 was a fictional description of Sparta? 'Twas a documentary! :P
THIS ... IS ... A ... FORUM ... THREAD ... FOR ... STAR TREK ONLINE!!!
(kicks the creators of 300 into the deep pit from their Sparta movie set
LAUREN RULZ !!!!!!!!
(the city)
also he would not have said "this is sparta" he would have said "THIS IS THE CITY" or "citadel"
and 300 is only slightly less accurate than meet the spartans
since those early democracys have little in common with modern democracys i think it may even qualify as one, but it is not considered as one in history books.
i ofcourse am a follower of elitism, the best political system there is!^^
I agree with that sentiment. If I wanted to play with strangers, I'd play with strangers. I don't want that, I want to play with my friends. It takes me a bit to warm up to people.
Let us upgrade the Seleya Ceremonial Lirpa and Kri'stak Blade
fact is, that you don't have to play with them...only thing you have incommon with them is a base and a fleet...you can still play exclusively with your friends and chat with your friends.
There is no law that says if you join a fleet you need to play with them.
only disadvantage i see is, that you may not name the base and fleet as you want to...other than that i see no disadvantage in joining another, bigger fleet.
Fair point. But I still like having my fleet named what we want it and our starbase named what we want it. I'm fine in a small fleet. I don't care if it takes us SEVEN YEARS to get our base to tier 5, we're doing it.
Let us upgrade the Seleya Ceremonial Lirpa and Kri'stak Blade
Im thinking three years for mine
Ditto (but may take me 10 years, srsly :mad:)
LAUREN RULZ !!!!!!!!
It's crippling right now... we have about 7 actual active members and 2-3 of those guys aren't even lvl50 yet.
I'm fine with the base levelling having some perceived value to it but it needs to scale according to fleet size surely?
Lvl1 must be so easy for the much larger fleets (I'm guessing) but we're being absolutely bled dry by it - it's literally crippling and is in *serious* danger of turning the game into a grind.
It was, is, and will be an grind ... it's an MMO!
Currently, the best gear is from grinding STFs. Previously, it was from grinding emblems. And since Season 5 and 6, the best skills and perks are from grinding duty officer assignments and fleet starbase projects.
Name an MMO which was NOT a grind for the best gear, skills, or other perks or advantages.
LAUREN RULZ !!!!!!!!
STO's never felt like a grind to me before ...that was just "stuff to do" but the Starbase system requires *so much* stuff even to get to level 1 that *now* it feels grindy to me.
As I've said I've no problem with attaching a value to the Starbase levelling - that absolutely makes sense ...the price just feels a little too high in a small fleet right now.
My 10 cents anywho..
The devs have said that it doesn't scale to fleet size because it can be exploited. Have large fleet kick all members except for a few (or have rotating membership so the size never goes above 5-10). Level base up to max. Have all old fleet members re-join. Ta-da. Max base for large fleet without putting in all the resources.
Come join the 44th Fleet.
startrek.44thfleet.com[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
I personally don't mind "grinding" as I just consider it playing. I log in, live out some Trek fantasies for a couple of hours, and before I know it my Dailies are done for 1 alt. Whether I'm doing Dailies, STFs, PvP, or Fleet Mark events, it's all just playing for me. I'd be doing those things with my VA even if they weren't "paying" me Dilithium or Fleet Marks just to play.
Any scenario where Fleets are equal (with no advantage to more members) is a situation where members in a larger Fleet are at a disadvantage. If 500 players' contributions are equal to 5 players' contributions, then each of the former's contributions are worth 1% of the latter's. (500 = 5)
Any scenario where players are equal (with no advantage over another) is a situation where smaller Fleets are at a disadvantage. If every player's contribution is of equal value, then 500 players' contributions will be 100 times more than 5 players' contributions. (500 : 5)
The former scenario is untenable and impossible to create, as a larger organization will always be able to bring more manpower and resources to bear. Attempting to create such a scenario would result in the "exploit" you described - which would simply change the former scenario into the latter, as the advantage for the smaller Fleets are neutralized and player contributions are equalized in value.
The current system is clearly neither based on the smallest Fleets (of 5 or less) or on the largest Fleets (of 500), but on a particular target size - where a Fleet of that size can meet project requirements without undue difficulty, but would not expect to be able to do special projects either. Fleets smaller than the target size would struggle to meet the requirements for projects, while Fleets larger than the target size get to (at most) spend 40 times more resources to build 0.16 times faster.
I'm guessing the target (the Fleet size this system is based on) came from the observed average they mentioned before. As the complaints about difficulty seem to stem only from Fleets with around 5 active players, with very little from Fleets with over 10 players, it would seem the size the system is calibrated around isn't all that high. For now, I would guess around 20 or so?