This post, while primarily targeting Deep Space Nine, applies to pretty much all of the bases littered around the various sectors.
Recently I decided to come back to STO after having a break from it and decided to have a look around on Deep Space Nine. The first thing I noticed was how few players were actually there (even in other instances), as well as the fact the STF store is no longer there and has been shifted to the Reputation screen. The more I thought about it the more I realized there was no real reason to go there anymore other than the fact that you would happen to be in the vicinity and make a stop there to visit the bank, the exchange or the other usual "stock standard" facilities found at other bases.
I think it's a real shame the STF store is no longer there. While I think the Omega Force reputation system is a good idea, I can't see any reason why the store itself can't stay on DS9 thereby giving the station a unique reason to visit it. The other stores on the station are all pretty mediocre selling items that no one wants. It seems like a wasted opportunity when it could be turned into something that could attract players and make it worthwhile visiting.
It would be great to see stations like DS9 with unique stores offering better quality items (and I don't mean just vanity items) and services that would benefit players. So items at DS9 wouldn't be available at other stations like Drozana and vice versa. Adding additional services similar to the STF concept would be great. This would mean that in addition to their visual distinctiveness, each station would be more unique in content as well.
IMO, the main reason for you to go to DS9 is the layout. On ESD and First City, you need to do some running around to get from destination A to destination B. DS9 is a more compact layout, so you can get more things done during your "pit-stop" in a shorter amount of time.
I agree with giving each station a different specialty store, though.
Considering the STF store only has generic ground weapons that cost dilithium and you have to unlock them with rep projects, I don't see how it would bring all that many people to DS9 even if it was still there. I certainly haven't unlocked anything in it, and don't plan to.
One reason I still transwarp to DS9, doff trade missions, doff diplomatic missions. You can find unrefined Ketracel, bajoran incense and other rare commodities only in cardassian sectors and ds9 is best for that.
Jamal : Tactical space specialist. USS Bug Warrior and many others
E'Mc2 : Science Reman torp T'Varo, deadly annoyance :P
Kunmal: Tactical fed Klingon, ground specialist, USS Kanewaga
Ka -tet Tier 5 fleet fully completed Starbase and fleet property
IMO, the main reason for you to go to DS9 is the layout. On ESD and First City, you need to do some running around to get from destination A to destination B. DS9 is a more compact layout, so you can get more things done during your "pit-stop" in a shorter amount of time.
I agree with giving each station a different specialty store, though.
DS7 has a better layout than DS9. Surprised it isn't more popular.
One reason to go to DS9 is that Cardassian space has a lot of juicy Duty Officer assignment chains, particularly recruitment ones.
This!
DS9 is a great hub for doffing, especially when one is creating a new KDF.character working on the consular and support chains. Exchange, Bank, Ship Selector, Space/Ground consumables and most importantly: contraband turn-in.
If you don'T have any reason to visit DS9, you probably won't have any to visit ESD or First City.
A lot of people have posted some excellent reasons here for visiting DS9, with DOFF missions and item bartering being good examples, but it's still not enough. They're more the "under the hood" features rather than being up front and obviously visual features such as the old STF store.
One of the reasons why I raise this subject is because, by and large, I'm a social gamer.
I'm not big on MMO's in general and STO is the only one I play simply because of the fact that it's Star Trek. While I enjoy PvE and I especially love PvP (despite the fact the current PvP system is pretty much garbage and VERY poorly supported) and the the story missions, in between those events I also just like to chill, look around and explore and catch up with friends. My mate and I will often sit up at the third level of Quarks bar and chat while playing Dabo.
I like the idea of being able to look around on a base and see if there's anything I want from a shopfront or if there's a service I want, maybe even add a few more mini-games. In other words, make the Starbase environments more immersive than they actually are. Let them be a pleasant distraction between gameplay events.
1. It's obvious the devs are all DS9 fanboys since it looks like most of the love and effort (pre New Romulus, anyway) went into it and Bajor. Even if Bajor is a small map it's quite lovely and I'd go there over DS9 if there was a security officer to turn contraband in to.
2. As mentioned above, that sector of space has some of the better Diplomacy and Marauding Doff missions. And when you turn in contraband, it's not too far of a hike. It's also one of the few places where KDF and Feds can hang out together that doesn't involve weirdos standing on tables e-flirting.
3. Most of the political and religious bickering in zone chat seems to have moved to ESD, so you might be able to get your questions answered there.
I like the idea of being able to look around on a base and see if there's anything I want from a shopfront or if there's a service I want, maybe even add a few more mini-games. In other words, make the Starbase environments more immersive than they actually are. Let them be a pleasant distraction between gameplay events.
I feel this to be an excellent idea. I'd like to see all of the "worlds" have this. Risa and Andoria too.
Since DS9 and pretty much the entire Bajor sectors have no reson to go there after you complete the story missions the Zone chat at ESD has gotten waaaaay out of hand. Not only do you have "How do I equip personal shields noob questions" to Trolls spouting off about Obama is try'n to "Take my Guns" every 3 seconds. We need to have something that people "need" to go to DS9 for, if for no other reason than to save the ESD Zone chat from being completly taken over by trolls from the Teaparty. There needs to perhaps be a Fleet mission or some reputation mission that cannot be launched from "quick- que" but has to be launched from there.
I noticed there were a couple of small vacant stalls on DS9 as well as a few doors that I haven't seen be used for anything. I can't see why these coulden't be opened up to allow players to lease for a predetermined amount of time to sell their own items.
Yeah I know you could use the exchange but there's a certain amount of anonymity when selling as the buyer doesn't know who they're buying from. At least having a stall encourages face to face bartering with other players and saves having to spam Zone Chat to sell something. The same thing could be done on Bajor. That would encourage players to visit certain bases.
Bank, Exchange, Mail, and Sickbay all in the same room. Fully functional Shipyard that can be accessed without having to change maps. Vendors that sell everything under the sun (regens and shield recharges included, things that are not only crucial to the rep system, but also quite useful in general for ground combat), a tailor, a security officer to give contraband and prisoners to (fed and KDF) plus tribbles (KDF). A trader that can give you sometimes very nice DOff assignments that would otherwise take a while to find (ex. Haggle for X (extras), secure trade routes with minor species, establish long distance trade routes, etc).
Also there is a commodities broker. And you get a great view from the upper promenade.
Reasons NOT to visit DS9:
Gorn jokes galore. Bad political jokes/arguments. Constant fleet recruitment messages. Occasional swindlers.
Overall? Why NOT visit it?
It is said the best weapon is one that is never fired. I disagree. The best weapon is one you only have to fire... once.
Bad political jokes/arguments. Constant fleet recruitment messages.
You haven't been to ESD recently? Since gun control popped up as a current affair, political and religious arguments happen with alarming regularity, with an unhealthy dose of ignorance and keyboard bravado.
Since the STF store is gone the only reasons to go there is for the doff chain assignments and transfer contraband. lately the only time I use DS9 is if i'm in the Omega Leonis sector block and need to use a bank when doing Defera Dailies and then fancy using that rater then the defera bank/exchange.
It seems since Season 7 that the social zones need a major overhaul and a shop in each social zone where you can buy specific weapons will get a tick in my book
NO TO ARC
Vice Admiral Volmack ISS Thundermole
Brigadier General Jokag IKS Gorkan
Centurion Kares RRW Tomalak
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
You haven't been to ESD recently? Since gun control popped up as a current affair, political and religious arguments happen with alarming regularity, with an unhealthy dose of ignorance and keyboard bravado.
Q winter event requires that I go there. And I just ignore it for the most part. At DS9 it's funny. At ESD it's just sad.
It is said the best weapon is one that is never fired. I disagree. The best weapon is one you only have to fire... once.
I still go to pick up Self Sealing Stem Bolts for my Rep projects when I'm running low, to get Contraband hand in assignments or to visit Quarks and play some Dabo.
I'll also be switch to it as my main hub when I finish replaying the Romulan missions and move onto the Cardassian ones.
Something I'd like to see is stations having more duty officer givers on them. Ideally, NPCs able to give specialist duty officer assignments for an entire region; for example, the Ferengi might provide all Trade assignments for the Beta Ursae, Alpha Trianguli and Zeta Andromedae regions (as well as their nebulas) as a single convenient location. This way I don't need to fly through all those sectors to find the best set of assignments that I can, instead I'd be visiting Deep Space 9.
Ops could give out military and diplomatic missions and so-on. This could even be expanded to give Task Force Omega a bunch of duty officer assignments that can be obtained from their old store on Deep Space 9 as well as at the fleet rallying point where the U.S.S. Victory is stationed.
They really need to add more daily missions as well that can be performed at visitable locations. For example Vulcan could have missions may potentially reward unique Vulcan duty officers or Vulcan rewards for telepathic/resistance training. Otherwise there is pretty much no reason to go to Vulcan at all. Andoria could expand the combat arenas to help you earn Military or Development experience, Deep Space 9 and other space stations could have daily engineering quests to help them out and earn Engineering experience.
Basically there are loads of ways they could flesh these places out; I mean the constantly on the brink of falling to pieces Deep Space 9 should be a haven for Engineer classes!
Comments
I agree with giving each station a different specialty store, though.
The Specials with 'Ghost town' playing in the background!
I like the idea on the idea of the store being there. At the moment you don't need to leave the two home systems now which is a shame.
Join The Space Invaders,..... Federation and KDF fleets.
Yep precisely.
Att Cryptic: Put the STF store back at DS9....please?
E'Mc2 : Science Reman torp T'Varo, deadly annoyance :P
Kunmal: Tactical fed Klingon, ground specialist, USS Kanewaga
Ka -tet Tier 5 fleet fully completed Starbase and fleet property
Since DS9 is the one easy place to pick up supplies, it's convenient to that.
Wicks and Things: NW-DI4FMZRR4 : The Fenwick merchant family has lost a caravan! Can you help?
Beggar's Hollow: NW-DR6YG4J2L : Someone, or something, has stolen away many of the Fenwicks' children! Can you find out what happened to them?
Into the Fen Wood: NW-DL89DRG7B : Enter the heart of the forest. Can you discover the secret of the Fen Wood?
Because Quark is fun!
DS7 has a better layout than DS9. Surprised it isn't more popular.
This!
DS9 is a great hub for doffing, especially when one is creating a new KDF.character working on the consular and support chains. Exchange, Bank, Ship Selector, Space/Ground consumables and most importantly: contraband turn-in.
If you don'T have any reason to visit DS9, you probably won't have any to visit ESD or First City.
But Morn never gives you a chance to say anything, just talks about his latest romantic conquest, trading, sex, STO, sex... :rolleyes:
Talk to him... just dont ask him where hes been... you wont get away if you do.
One of the reasons why I raise this subject is because, by and large, I'm a social gamer.
I'm not big on MMO's in general and STO is the only one I play simply because of the fact that it's Star Trek. While I enjoy PvE and I especially love PvP (despite the fact the current PvP system is pretty much garbage and VERY poorly supported) and the the story missions, in between those events I also just like to chill, look around and explore and catch up with friends. My mate and I will often sit up at the third level of Quarks bar and chat while playing Dabo.
I like the idea of being able to look around on a base and see if there's anything I want from a shopfront or if there's a service I want, maybe even add a few more mini-games. In other words, make the Starbase environments more immersive than they actually are. Let them be a pleasant distraction between gameplay events.
I think Bajor could be put to better use as well.
1. It's obvious the devs are all DS9 fanboys since it looks like most of the love and effort (pre New Romulus, anyway) went into it and Bajor. Even if Bajor is a small map it's quite lovely and I'd go there over DS9 if there was a security officer to turn contraband in to.
2. As mentioned above, that sector of space has some of the better Diplomacy and Marauding Doff missions. And when you turn in contraband, it's not too far of a hike. It's also one of the few places where KDF and Feds can hang out together that doesn't involve weirdos standing on tables e-flirting.
3. Most of the political and religious bickering in zone chat seems to have moved to ESD, so you might be able to get your questions answered there.
I feel this to be an excellent idea. I'd like to see all of the "worlds" have this. Risa and Andoria too.
Since season 7 DS9 has become the best place to go to avoid the general chat spam.
Yeah I know you could use the exchange but there's a certain amount of anonymity when selling as the buyer doesn't know who they're buying from. At least having a stall encourages face to face bartering with other players and saves having to spam Zone Chat to sell something. The same thing could be done on Bajor. That would encourage players to visit certain bases.
Bank, Exchange, Mail, and Sickbay all in the same room. Fully functional Shipyard that can be accessed without having to change maps. Vendors that sell everything under the sun (regens and shield recharges included, things that are not only crucial to the rep system, but also quite useful in general for ground combat), a tailor, a security officer to give contraband and prisoners to (fed and KDF) plus tribbles (KDF). A trader that can give you sometimes very nice DOff assignments that would otherwise take a while to find (ex. Haggle for X (extras), secure trade routes with minor species, establish long distance trade routes, etc).
Also there is a commodities broker. And you get a great view from the upper promenade.
Reasons NOT to visit DS9:
Gorn jokes galore. Bad political jokes/arguments. Constant fleet recruitment messages. Occasional swindlers.
Overall? Why NOT visit it?
You haven't been to ESD recently? Since gun control popped up as a current affair, political and religious arguments happen with alarming regularity, with an unhealthy dose of ignorance and keyboard bravado.
It seems since Season 7 that the social zones need a major overhaul and a shop in each social zone where you can buy specific weapons will get a tick in my book
Vice Admiral Volmack ISS Thundermole
Brigadier General Jokag IKS Gorkan
Centurion Kares RRW Tomalak
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Q winter event requires that I go there. And I just ignore it for the most part. At DS9 it's funny. At ESD it's just sad.
I'll also be switch to it as my main hub when I finish replaying the Romulan missions and move onto the Cardassian ones.
There's still plenty of reasons to visit DS9.
Ops could give out military and diplomatic missions and so-on. This could even be expanded to give Task Force Omega a bunch of duty officer assignments that can be obtained from their old store on Deep Space 9 as well as at the fleet rallying point where the U.S.S. Victory is stationed.
They really need to add more daily missions as well that can be performed at visitable locations. For example Vulcan could have missions may potentially reward unique Vulcan duty officers or Vulcan rewards for telepathic/resistance training. Otherwise there is pretty much no reason to go to Vulcan at all. Andoria could expand the combat arenas to help you earn Military or Development experience, Deep Space 9 and other space stations could have daily engineering quests to help them out and earn Engineering experience.
Basically there are loads of ways they could flesh these places out; I mean the constantly on the brink of falling to pieces Deep Space 9 should be a haven for Engineer classes!
Game Balance - Ship Size and Wingmates