Idea - Add Passive BOFF Abilities to Fix Useless BOFF Syndrome

squadracorse

Escorts often suffer from 'Useless Tac Ensign syndrome'. For those that don't know - this occurs when you have BOFFs with abilities you can't use. It happens a lot on escorts because there are no ensign cannon abilities. You often already have 2 better abilities with the same cooldown so you end up with a usless one (or two) - almost always on the 3rd Ensign Tac BOFF.

I think they should add a new BOFF ability (or two) to each field (Tac/Engi/Sci). This ability would just be a small passive bonus. Like the Tac ones might be a 3-5% Accuracy bonus or a small damage bonus. The Engi ones could be a small kinetic dmg resist bonus or hull regen bonus. The Sci ones could be a small energy dmg resist bonus or a shield regen bonus.

This way, when you have a spare BOFF ability slot - you could put the passive ability in it so it wasn't a complete waste.

Was just an idea I wanted to share,

- SC

woodwhity

You know there are Humans, Saurians, Romulans you could slot there

marc8219

I think the idea is for people to not just only use DHC and try a variety of weapons like adding a torp or DBB, so I don't think tac should get a new ensign boff power. I own a Defiant and Armitage and don't have problems using that slot. I like how there are some ships you can't just spam only DHC on them, we need more variety.

Engineering does need a new ensign boff ability though.

majortiraomega

marc8219 wrote: »

I think the idea is for people to not just only use DHC and try a variety of weapons like adding a torp or DBB, so I don't think tac should get a new ensign boff power. I own a Defiant and Armitage and don't have problems using that slot. I like how there are some ships you can't just spam only DHC on them, we need more variety.

Engineering does need a new ensign boff ability though.

Science has more than plenty ensign abilities. Tactical discourages the use of the overpowered all cannon build on certain ships. Engineering...yeah...there are only two different abilities, Emergency Power to X and Engineering Team. A bit more variety would be nice in the engineering tree.

bluegeek

No, I like the idea of giving BOFFs a passive ability that takes effect if they're slotted.

In fact, Cryptic likes the idea too. They call them Traits.

The trouble is that there are only a few traits that are useful in space and most of the time a BOFF doesn't have it unless it's a racial trait like Leadership.

What we need are more space traits for players and for BOFF's and more variety in BOFF's.

snoggymack22

bluegeek wrote: »

In fact, Cryptic likes the idea too. They call them Traits.

I disagree. Cryptic has mishandled space traits since Beta and has shown very little ability to expand, fix or implement them properly. I don't think they like the idea of them at all.

Let's take a look at how the longest standing space trait, Efficiency works.

For a captain (Player Character) it's accessed by being an Alien.

For a BOFF (NPC) it's found on uncommon Saurians, and the special pre-order Borg Engineering BOFF. Years later, they put them on Letheans on the KDF side.

There's no consistency to that trait (is it alien, borg or saurian? Something like pig headed can ONLY be found on Tellarites, showing consistency). There's poor implementation (something as desirable as efficiency is ONLY found on randomly generated Uncommon Saurians? But not any other rarity?) And there's been a definite track record of the company not being able to properly code these kinds of traits.

I'm not convinced Cryptic likes space traits at all.

qjunior

snoggymack22 wrote: »

I disagree. Cryptic has mishandled space traits since Beta and has shown very little ability to expand, fix or implement them properly. I don't think they like the idea of them at all.

Let's take a look at how the longest standing space trait, Efficiency works.

For a captain (Player Character) it's accessed by being an Alien.

For a BOFF (NPC) it's found on uncommon Saurians, and the special pre-order Borg Engineering BOFF. Years later, they put them on Letheans on the KDF side.

There's no consistency to that trait (is it alien, borg or saurian? Something like pig headed can ONLY be found on Tellarites, showing consistency). There's poor implementation (something as desirable as efficiency is ONLY found on randomly generated Uncommon Saurians? But not any other rarity?) And there's been a definite track record of the company not being able to properly code these kinds of traits.

I'm not convinced Cryptic likes space traits at all.

I never understood why Vulcans for example can't be efficient....

A small correction, rare and very rare Saurians can be efficient too. It used to be only uncommons could have the trait, that was changed ages ago.

lordmalak1

I keep a THY slotted just in case I mount a torp launcher for certain missions so I'm not forced to use 3 copies of TT.

haravikk

snoggymack22 wrote: »

Let's take a look at how the longest standing space trait, Efficiency works.

You forgot to mention as well that due to the way it works Efficiency is actually only of use to players running low on power, which is actually fairly difficult to do in the late-game, meaning Efficiency is generally worthless as well.

Wish I'd known that when I picked my player traits =/


As to the original idea; no thanks. It's the price you pay for over-specialising your ship, if it matters enough to you then slot a torpedo launcher or a beam somewhere, beam fire at will on a rear facing beam array can be surprisingly useful when faced with lots of projectiles, and the Romulan experimental array can be nice as a forward weapon as it draws zero power.

logicalspock

haravikk wrote: »

You forgot to mention as well that due to the way it works Efficiency is actually only of use to players running low on power, which is actually fairly difficult to do in the late-game, meaning Efficiency is generally worthless as well.

Wish I'd known that when I picked my player traits =/


As to the original idea; no thanks. It's the price you pay for over-specialising your ship, if it matters enough to you then slot a torpedo launcher or a beam somewhere, beam fire at will on a rear facing beam array can be surprisingly useful when faced with lots of projectiles, and the Romulan experimental array can be nice as a forward weapon as it draws zero power.

Um, no it's not. Unless you put all your console slots and skill points into maintaining power levels, at least some of your subsytems are going to be under 75, which means that efficiency boosts them. Additionally, efficiency boosts your power systems when you are hit with energy drain.

mandoknight89

snoggymack22 wrote: »

I disagree. Cryptic has mishandled space traits since Beta and has shown very little ability to expand, fix or implement them properly. I don't think they like the idea of them at all.

I think that Boff traits might be something that Cryptic's going to mess with during the May update... possibly to bring them in line with the current Leadership and Romulan space traits.

doffingcomrade

That is not how efficiency works: Efficiency boosts your power levels based on your power level SETTINGS. Any additional power gained by skills and other abilities does NOT reduce the amount of power you gain from it, only the raw 100/50/25/25 settings count. If THAT value is under 75, you will gain an Efficiency boost....it does not matter if spells and skills are boosting those levels above 75, you will still get a bonus if your setting is below 75.

marshalericdavid

I think they should make Reroute Power abilities that are universal and allow you to change the power bonus ships have for example change a science ships +15 Aux power to +15 weapons for a short period of time. Ensign lasts for 15 seconds Lieutenant lasts for 30 seconds Lt. Commander lasts for 45 seconds. Cooldown use time of 60 seconds when fully improved. Just a idea