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Traits and Species: My Take in a Nutshell

leviathan99#2867 leviathan99 Member Posts: 7,747 Arc User
1. On the backend, eliminate traits and species. Make everyone "custom aliens."

2. Allow people to have more (unlimited) number of traits but only a set number active. I'm thinking: 4 Ground, 4 space, 1 cosmetic. These can be respeced from any earned traits. Respecs can be earned and purchased.

3. Have people select a "homeworld" which gives you your starting trait pool.

4. Costume restrictions are a trait.

For example:

Trait (Cosmetic): Human Species - Unlocks all human cosmetic options at the tailor when active.

Trait (Cosmetic): Orion Species - Unlocks all Orion cosmetic options at the tailor when active.

Trait (Cosmetic) Basic Alien Species. (Possibly with upgrades like Superior Alien Species with more options.)

5. Traits can be earned. You still need to respec into them when earning them. However, with traits being an advanced unlock feature that requires effort, you receive ONE trait respec when you unlock a trait.

6. All traits are unlockable although they may involve getting reputation with a particular homeworld or a C-Store trait bundle purchase..

You choose one cosmetic trait as your default at character creation. Which ones are available depends on your homeworld at character creation. More or alternate cosmetic traits can be unlocked through a mix of game mechanics, including reputation, DOff commendation categories, PvP and more.

For example: Maybe you get Talaxian through queueing for random groups. Gorn augment through PvP. Romulan through a Romulan reputation project. Fed Orion or KDF Ferengi through Trade DOffing, etc.

Unlike active space and ground traits, you select which cosmetic trait is active at the tailor, from the list of available traits. This determines what template and species specific costume parts you can use in that costume slot.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • leviathan99#2867 leviathan99 Member Posts: 7,747 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    lso, branching off this, the system could be further expanded down the road to include a trait category beyond Space, Ground, and Cosmetic traits:

    Personality traits.

    These would be retrofitted as Duty Officer awards and would allow alternate mission completions and non-combat perks as well as opening up super-brief daily missions, rep boosts with certain factions, and the like. The existing Diplomacy dialogue options would be retrofitted into a "Diplomatic" personality trait. The most "combat" oriented this might get could be, say, an enemy threat modifier.

    Personality traits unlock team-wide based on player and BO traits, which gives teaming some powerful combos for teams in missions and opens up different options depending on which bridge officer is with you.

    So, for example, you have a BO with "Nurturing." You visit the Epohh researcher on New Romulus. They offer you a once a week mission that gives you a bonus Epohh pup for 10,000 EC. It works if you have "Nurturing" OR if you have a teammate or BO that has the trait.
  • centersolacecentersolace Member Posts: 11,178 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    While there is some merit to this, and Traits and Races do need to be looked at again, turning this into Spore is a very bad idea. What I would prefer, is that all races got the same amount of space and ground traits, or all traits did something in both ground and space. That would solve a lot of problems traits currently have, and we wouldn't have to redesign the whole game.

    Your idea sounds really cool, but how in the hell would you handle the tailor with that sort of system? Changing how your character looks would have to be redone too. How would you tie appearances to traits? How would you change them? So you allow for Respecting, would it cost Dilithium or Zen? How much? How often could you do it? Would you be able to use traits independently of their appearances? Or vice versa?

    The traditional race selection suffices in this case.

    Non-Combat or "Personality" traits as you say could offer up quite a few interesting possibilities.
  • leviathan99#2867 leviathan99 Member Posts: 7,747 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    While there is some merit to this, and Traits and Races do need to be looked at again, turning this into Spore is a very bad idea. What I would prefer, is that all races got the same amount of space and ground traits, or all traits did something in both ground and space. That would solve a lot of problems traits currently have, and we wouldn't have to redesign the whole game.

    Your idea sounds really cool, but how in the hell would you handle the tailor with that sort of system? Changing how your character looks would have to be redone too. How would you tie appearances to traits? How would you change them? So you allow for Respecting, would it cost Dilithium or Zen? How much? How often could you do it? Would you be able to use traits independently of their appearances? Or vice versa?

    The traditional race selection suffices in this case.

    Non-Combat or "Personality" traits as you say could offer up quite a few interesting possibilities.

    The way I would handle the tailor is with a dropdown menu for all available species.

    Some BOs would get an additional dropdown option or two.
  • sollvaxsollvax Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    Assimilation is futile

    We will RESIST
    Live long and Prosper
  • centersolacecentersolace Member Posts: 11,178 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    The way I would handle the tailor is with a dropdown menu for all available species.

    Some BOs would get an additional dropdown option or two.

    But if appearances are tied to traits, how would you handle the dropdown menu? Would every time you use it cost Zen or Dilithium?
  • leviathan99#2867 leviathan99 Member Posts: 7,747 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    But if appearances are tied to traits, how would you handle the dropdown menu? Would every time you use it cost Zen or Dilithium?

    Cosmetic Traits would be costume slot types.

    I'd just call them "traits" because they'd be acquired as options the same way traits would be.

    So what this would entail would be:

    Characters have no assigned species. There is no such thing as species as a defining character attribute.

    Traits are tied to Homeworld and subsequent unlocks, which open up all other traits you didn't choose to start with as options. Some BOs have unique traits.

    Costumes have a species template dropdown on the facial customization screen. This includes all normal species. You can unlock more via progress and C-Store. Some BOs have an extra species costume dropdown for things like "Reman" or "Android."
  • sollvaxsollvax Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    So all current characters are deleted ??

    As its impossible for a character to suddenly have no species no soul and no loyalties otherwise

    This Metagame idea is not acceptable to anyone who believes in and character being even remotely real
    Live long and Prosper
  • leviathan99#2867 leviathan99 Member Posts: 7,747 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    sollvax wrote: »
    So all current characters are deleted ??

    As its impossible for a character to suddenly have no species no soul and no loyalties otherwise

    This Metagame idea is not acceptable to anyone who believes in and character being even remotely real

    Not deleted. There's a database change run.

    And I kinda think any trait revamp is going to have a metagame component to it.

    And players metagaming shouldn't be restricted, in general, because your belief in your character is just as solid, whether or not you have options to change them. And right now, by these standards, rolling an alien is metagaming.

    Content is what should enhance immersion. Systems should support customization over immersion.
  • sollvaxsollvax Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    I disagree

    Some of us like to actually have characters that are not "generic Alien "
    And you want to deny everyone that

    So you will take away everyones characters and create hundreds of morphic mutations with no reason to be anything at all
    Live long and Prosper
  • centersolacecentersolace Member Posts: 11,178 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    sollvax wrote: »
    I disagree

    Some of us like to actually have characters that are not "generic Alien "
    And you want to deny everyone that

    So you will take away everyones characters and create hundreds of morphic mutations with no reason to be anything at all

    As much as I hate to say this, but I agree with Sollvax. You know this would happen. I know this would happen. People are idiots. They create horrible, horrible monstrosities with what we have already. This..... this would only encourage that behavior.

    I think some sort of guidelines need to be in place.
  • neoakiraiineoakiraii Member Posts: 7,468 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    sollvax wrote: »
    I disagree

    Some of us like to actually have characters that are not "generic Alien "
    And you want to deny everyone that

    So you will take away everyones characters and create hundreds of morphic mutations with no reason to be anything at all

    It's the end of the world......I.......Agree. :(
    GwaoHAD.png
  • sollvaxsollvax Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    Believe it or not its ok to agree with me on occasions
    Live long and Prosper
  • neoakiraiineoakiraii Member Posts: 7,468 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    sollvax wrote: »
    Believe it or not its ok to agree with me on occasions

    But then we get, Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria! ;)
    GwaoHAD.png
  • sollvaxsollvax Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    Not for another six days

    But of course the answer is to Eat the giant twinky
    Live long and Prosper
  • centersolacecentersolace Member Posts: 11,178 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    sollvax wrote: »
    Not for another six days

    But of course the answer is to Eat the giant twinky

    But Hostess went out of business remember?
  • leviathan99#2867 leviathan99 Member Posts: 7,747 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    As much as I hate to say this, but I agree with Sollvax. You know this would happen. I know this would happen. People are idiots. They create horrible, horrible monstrosities with what we have already. This..... this would only encourage that behavior.

    I think some sort of guidelines need to be in place.

    I can see that but what reason is there to roll anything BUT alien right now?

    Until that's answered, I don't see what point there is in preserving species when all they do is penalize the people who choose anything other than alien.
  • ussweatherlightussweatherlight Member Posts: 16 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    I'm just gonna come out and be blunt. I hate the idea and I hope it's never implemented in any way.

    My toon is a Vulcan, not "generic alien that happens to have pointy ears"> Why is it all these ideas are incredibly complicated and convoluted? IMO, it would have been better if the alien option wasn't there.

    Also, this isn't Star Wars. Why does this system sound like it promotes the random background alien sorts, rather than the fleshed out races?
    _____________________________________________

    "Second star on the right, and straight on till morning."

    U.S.S. Weatherlight
  • leviathan99#2867 leviathan99 Member Posts: 7,747 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    I'm just gonna come out and be blunt. I hate the idea and I hope it's never implemented in any way.

    My toon is a Vulcan, not "generic alien that happens to have pointy ears"> Why is it all these ideas are incredibly complicated and convoluted? IMO, it would have been better if the alien option wasn't there.

    Also, this isn't Star Wars. Why does this system sound like it promotes the random background alien sorts, rather than the fleshed out races?

    The current system already does this but does it in a halfway approach that tempts people who want to be IP appropriate into rolling less effective characters.

    I really don't think immersion works well as something that players should be responsible for. It should fall on content design, not what other players look like or do or can look like or can do or what options you personally have or don't have.
  • ussweatherlightussweatherlight Member Posts: 16 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    The current system already does this but does it in a halfway approach that tempts people who want to be IP appropriate into rolling less effective characters.

    I really don't think immersion works well as something that players should be responsible for. It should fall on content design, not what other players look like or do or can look like or can do or what options you personally have or don't have.

    I think it best that the traits matter littel, which they seem to do. Other than a little extra ship power, I;ve never really wanted any of the traits available.
    _____________________________________________

    "Second star on the right, and straight on till morning."

    U.S.S. Weatherlight
  • centersolacecentersolace Member Posts: 11,178 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    I can see that but what reason is there to roll anything BUT alien right now?

    Until that's answered, I don't see what point there is in preserving species when all they do is penalize the people who choose anything other than alien.

    A valid point. But making everyone have the same amount of ground and space traits, or making all traits have effects in ground and space, then that would solve it too.
  • leviathan99#2867 leviathan99 Member Posts: 7,747 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    A valid point. But making everyone have the same amount of ground and space traits, or making all traits have effects in ground and space, then that would solve it too.

    That's why I think "Homeworld" as a starting point that is expandable does more.
  • centersolacecentersolace Member Posts: 11,178 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    That's why I think "Homeworld" as a starting point that is expandable does more.

    While being able to choose your homeworld has interesting possibilities (Characters could react differently based on whether you were born on earth or a cargo ship, or could open up different dialog trees), having them tied to traits is a bad idea.
  • sollvaxsollvax Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited December 2012
    perhaps its time to reduce "generic" aliens to 3 traits

    But in real terms what value has an alien ??
    I have Alien characters but each was created for a reason and with a distinct reason

    Thus one species I have are Small blue Aquatic fish eating Icthoprimates
    Another are physically identical caste system based Aliens with a complex social structure and a built in respect for "nurturer" caste members (their mothers)
    Live long and Prosper
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