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Nerf the Borg set - without changing it much
sophlogimo
Member Posts: 6,507 Arc User
Everybody knows: The Borg set is currently the most powerful space set in the game. Three pieces of it, that is, deflector, the engines , and the console, combined with a better shield, boost survivability enormously. And that set is essentially childishly easy to get, too.
The 3-piece set is in fact so powerful that no other alternative is even close to it. Choosing any other set is just not worth it, because one looses too much by not getting the 2- and 3-piece borg bonuses... (the only exception being 2-piece Omega plus 2-piece Borg set for cruisers, in some cases).
That is a pity. There are many wonderful sets in the game: MACO, Omega, Klingon Honor Guars, Jem'Hadar, Breen, Reman Prototype... none of these see widespread use because the Borg set is just so much better. That should not be the case.
But here is a solution: Simply change the order of set bonuses in the Borg set!
So instead of the current order, use this one:
So, in order to have the Multi-Regnerative Shield Array, you actually have to equip the Borg shield. Makes sense, hm?
With this, the other alternatives start to make sense. The usual 3-piece Borg plus MACO shield combo is still useful, but nerfed to a point where it is at least debateable whether the 3-piece Borg or the Omega or whatever are better.
The 3-piece set is in fact so powerful that no other alternative is even close to it. Choosing any other set is just not worth it, because one looses too much by not getting the 2- and 3-piece borg bonuses... (the only exception being 2-piece Omega plus 2-piece Borg set for cruisers, in some cases).
That is a pity. There are many wonderful sets in the game: MACO, Omega, Klingon Honor Guars, Jem'Hadar, Breen, Reman Prototype... none of these see widespread use because the Borg set is just so much better. That should not be the case.
But here is a solution: Simply change the order of set bonuses in the Borg set!
So instead of the current order, use this one:
- Set 2: Assimilated Tractor Beam
- Set 3: Autonomous Regeneration Sequencer
- Set 4: Multi-Regenerative Shield Array
So, in order to have the Multi-Regnerative Shield Array, you actually have to equip the Borg shield. Makes sense, hm?
With this, the other alternatives start to make sense. The usual 3-piece Borg plus MACO shield combo is still useful, but nerfed to a point where it is at least debateable whether the 3-piece Borg or the Omega or whatever are better.
Remember, STO is nothing but a cosmetics game, where only the rule of cool matters. The game mechanics are intentionally out of balance, don't try to "optimize" anything, as it would just frustrate you.
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Come join the 44th Fleet.
startrek.44thfleet.com[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
The Jem'hadar set is really a good one, but it's based on passive regen, which isn't strong enough in game.
There is no need to nerf this set, but making the existing ones usefull would be a great step.
God, lvl 60 CW. 17k.
You are very far off the mark.
The Borg set is the one people go for because many of the other set bonuses are completely terrible.
Magnetoplasma Arrays: Weak, and largely irrelevant bonuses.
Heavy Graviton Beam: A joke power, that does next to nothing and is on a 2 or 3 minute cooldown.
Gravitic Anchor: Another power saddled with a heinously bad cooldown. This power would be useful if it was either on a 30s cooldown or had a 30s duration.
Mask Energy Field: Again, a fairly pointless addition and certainly not worth using three pieces in the set for. 3 min cooldown.
People use 2 piece Omega and 2 piece KHG because the bonuses are actually useful. Most people don't worry about the above because they are terrible.
You'll also notice most people don't bother with the 4th power in the borg set 1) because it requires you to use the borg shield and 2) because it's a tractor beam with a massively bad 4 minute cooldown.
The Borg set should not have been nerfed last December in the first place. They should have adjusted all of the other sets to be equal or better then it.
This.
Don't nerf. Improve. There are reasons why people choose the gear they choose. The devs need to learn why and change other stuff accordingly, not remove the reason altogether.
Personally I stopped using the MACO because I can't stand the warp bubble effect. It gives me a headache after I look at it for a while and "disable visuals" only applies to the engine streaks. If the non-Borg sets were to get a once over I would like to see an option to hide the MACO warp field effect in addition to making the set bonuses more useful.
Cheers
I'm not grinding endlessly for PvP oriented sets or using loltastic PvE sets just for the sake of variety.
Like make the Breen set a viable alternative. For an end-game set it has a lot of "meh."
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] "I weary of the chase. Wait for me. I shall be merciful and quick."
LTS, here since...when did this game launch again?
A troll was spotted there.
God, lvl 60 CW. 17k.
A borg set is easy to obtain so it clearly shouldn't be the most desirable choice. But there it is. On far too many ships. What happened to "perfection"? What is that malformed growth on the front of your starship that makes it look like a stag beetle made out of garbage from a junkyard? I hate the borg set; especially on a fed cruiser when it disrupts those crisp, clean lines.
If you won't disable the haphazard visuals at least balance the sets so I don't have to look at ships that resemble victims of a Victorian steampunk dentist.:)
The vast majority of PvE is basically a DPS race and the 2 part Omega gives free shield damage, the deflector adds free targeting, the engines have the best stats (aegis is close to the mkx/xi w/defense +5% boost). Then you could use KHG, Omega, or MACO shields based on flavor. The exception maybe certain sci build which don't use engergy weapons for damage, but instead TSSx to assist team while they spam CC & Torps.
The procs really do effect PvP balance, but there's a lot that effects PvP balance that's not being addressed (eg Doffs). That said I don't know that giving people a free TB (one w/extended range) at such a low cost would be good for PvP either. Perhaps just have no 2 part bonus and bump the others up to 3/4 part set bonus while dropping the TB to 3 part bonus.
Other set bonuses are more situational:
Breen for transphasic mine/torps
KHG for torps/aux
Jem for polaron damage
Aegis for defense % boost/hull resists
MACO (not sure don't use Fed a lot, but I thought it reduced Boff cooldowns @ one point which would be good for builds w/long cooldown Boff skills)
Reman for Plasma builds
Borg still gives repair procs/TB
Also, the 3 part Omega is very good if timed well. It lowers defense (more and better hits) prevents turn (more and better hits) and adds kinetic damage resists debuff which applies to torps, mines, and some Sci Boff abilities. If anything it's on the OP side, but so many use Borg as crutch they don't think to use it. For all that it does think of it as a free Captain ability.
Random Quote from Kerrat
"Sumlobus@****: your mums eat Iced Targ Poo"
C&H Fed banter
Borg set is fine the way it is. And actually I disagree with the setup you suggested as well. I use a 3-piece Borg set, and its the Engine, Shield and Console. Using a Positron Deflector to boost shield performance and structural integrity.
Which set is the BEST is, like most other questions of this sort, dependent on the ship type, crew, bridge officers, skill point allocation, power allocation, setup, and of course the captain himself and playstyle.
What I dont understand is this... if in your opinion the set is the best one in the game and is incredibly easy to get, why would you want it to be nerfed??
Legendary Starfleet Captain
STO Forum Member since December 2010
Sets SHOULD be better than the basic items. That is part of the point of them being sets so yes.
The basic equipment is just that -- basic.
It's like complaining about purple / elite gear in any other game, it's there for a reason -- because you have to go through something to get it. I've never understood this impulse to suggest everything should be utterly mediocre, but it usually emits from those who feel upset someone else has something they don't.
As for the OP's suggestion, that will only ensure that the only set being used is Borg. An earlier poster hit it on the head -- the only thing the other sets have is nice looking graphics, the set bonuses are either laughable or completely useless. Nerfing what works into something broken will only upset people more and not fix any issues.
You can start out with The 'Retro' Borg Set. It has already been nerfed. It is the cheapest of the STF sets in terms of grind time and thus very popular.
The other sets - MACO, Omega, KHG are supposed to be better than the Retro Set. Why? Because they require much more time for the player to obtain.
If people are saying the 3 main STF sets suck compared to the Retro set then the 3 main sets need a boost. People have played much longer to get those sets.
And those who have played to get the Retro set shouldn't have it nerfed (yet again) probably just because some PvPers see it too much in their matches and don't like it's heal. :rolleyes:
I had to quote this, I just had too. It's funny cause it's true.
This is an idea I've always liked, also I'd much rather see improvements to the non Borg sets, rather than a nerf to the Borg set.
I use 2 piece Borg set and 2 piece Honour Guard Mk XII set on my Hegh'ta Heavy BoP because of the obvious reasons stated in the OP.
I've also always wondered if Cryptic ever plan to make it so there is Mk X, XI and XII items for the Borg set as well as the Aegis set (or any other set that could potentially have a Mk XII upgrade).
Though I must agree that it does make more sense for the shield regen Borg set bonus to only activate if the shield is equipped along with the other 3 pieces, but I'm not to bothered, that's more of a technicality than a balance issue.
P.S. If you're interested check out my concept idea/proposal for a Borg ground set (have any ideas of your own, feel free to post them (link below))...
Here in this month old thread "Ideas for New Mission Items/Rewards!"