I've been doing a little experiment, in an attempt to get the Jem'Hadar Heavy Escort Carrier.
I knew I could save up the EC and buy one from the Exchange for ~150m at the time (they're now as low as 63m), but I wondered what my chances would be of acquiring one through lockboxes before reaching the same price point. I also wanted to see if I could acquire ~800 lobi at the same time, so I could also buy the Dreadnought Carrier.
So far I've opened 130 lockboxes. I've bought keys at anywhere between 1.2m and 1.5m each. With an average of 1.35m per key, that brings me up to 171m+. So it definitely would have worked out cheaper to spend EC on the exchange.
Of course I'm not taking into account the other items I've gained from opening the lockboxes. Contrary to popular belief though, selling the other items doesn't really add up to much.
I earn an average of 5 lobi per lockbox, so I should be able to at least purchase the DC by the time I've opened 160 lockboxes. If by that point I still haven't been lucky enough to score an HEC, I'll give up
I am just curious. Some online games will make a particular prize giving event which will appear to be completely random, when it is actually premeditated.
For example, there is a certain FPS online which offer its players a "daily draw" which "randomly" puts 8 playing cards down in front of you, all have premium items which you can win for a limited time, or permanently. This appears to be a random win, but it has been confirmed that no matter what card you pick, the game would have already chosen your prize before you even pick a card. Once you pick the card, you see your prize, and all the other cards are revealed, just to annoy you, as they always contain more epic prizes.
I am wondering if the lock box ships are the same. After opening 20 or so lockboxes, I was rewarded with a Mirror Raptor on my KDF toon. I wonder if, for the really sought after ships, you would have to open a certain amount before it looks at giving you any decent reward?
So, I would like to ask those who have won the tal shiar destroyer, Jem'Hadar Dreadnought, the Jem'Hadar Escort, the Bug Ship, and the other exotic ships, roughly how many did you open before you got your ship?
It would be an interesting concept to see what is more worth it? buying from the exchange, or buying the lock box keys.
Most people who get these ships, or a lot of them, open like probably around 60 or so, or more. They make a lot of money in their real job, so it really doesn't matter.
They can afford to buy lots and lots of master keys.
Most people who get these ships, or a lot of them, open like probably around 60 or so, or more. They make a lot of money in their real job, so it really doesn't matter.
They can afford to buy lots and lots of master keys.
lol dude, I earn very good money in the real world, but I choose very carefully where I spend it. I do think howeveer, looking at the maths, the ones buying the keys with zen, and doing bulk-opening sessions seem to be the ones who are losing out the most. It does indeed look like buying ships with EC is much more affordable.
Per day (without breaking into a sweat) I can pull in 2 mill EC. That means that with patience, I can earn enough for a JHEC in the space of a month.
Oh, it's very random alright. The first gold Cardassian lockbox I've opened contained a Galor. And it took about 20 lockboxes to obtain the Jem'Hadar Heavy Escort. And it took about 60 boxes before I realized I would never get the Temporal Science Vessel.
By those results, I'm one of the lucky ones. :rolleyes:
I've opened a hundred or two back when the Zen exchange rate was favorable to the dilithium farmers and I got no ships. But lots of easy to sell Doff packs and heaps of rich mining claims.
Good times, good times.
Anyway, you not winning is how they make their money. They have no reason to change it.
No it's totally randomized. There are people who spend 100's on keys and never get a ship. out of 10 keys the other day I got 6 mirror ships.
Holy TRIBBLE! Let's go to Vegas this weekend.
__________________________________
STO Forum member since before February 2010. STO Academy's excellent skill planner here: Link I actually avoid success entirely. It doesn't get me what I want, and the consequences for failure are slim. -- markhawman
There's no pattern to when or if you win, except that it's a very low chance per box, at least for the "premium" ships like the JHEC, D'Kora, Temporal Destroyer, Tal Shiar Destroyer, and so on.
I think I got a JHEC after about 170 boxes, and I got a Tal Shiar after maybe 40. Both of those were better than the expected average, so some where there's a guy who has opened 400 boxes and never gotten a premium ship (although he can afford a few of the excelllent lobi ships, I'm sure).
How many keys would it take to get 800 lobi though for a Lobi ship? I would guestimate about 600-800 keys. Thats a lot.
The ships on the exchange for EC seem to be much more "affordable" in that sense.
Each lock box has a minimum of 4 lobi, with a chance to get more. The average has been determined to run at 5.5 lobi per box. So no more than 200 keys to get 800 lobi, probably only need around 145 keys, and if you are really lucky, less than that.
Still that is a lot. And you are correct, depending on several factors, it is often better to sell keys, and use the EC to buy the lock box on the exchange.
__________________________________
STO Forum member since before February 2010. STO Academy's excellent skill planner here: Link I actually avoid success entirely. It doesn't get me what I want, and the consequences for failure are slim. -- markhawman
It is totally random, my first few Lock box experiences net me a D'kora, a Galor, and 2 Orb weavers - since then I have yet to win any of the new Lock box vessels.
I've long and sold the ones mentioned - but I have yet to win a Temporal vessel or any of the new featured Lock Box ships.
Best just save the EC and buy it straight out. I only open Lock Boxes purely for the Lobi Crystals and special Doff packs - If I randomly win a Lock Box special vessel, then I have been blessed.
Comments
I knew I could save up the EC and buy one from the Exchange for ~150m at the time (they're now as low as 63m), but I wondered what my chances would be of acquiring one through lockboxes before reaching the same price point. I also wanted to see if I could acquire ~800 lobi at the same time, so I could also buy the Dreadnought Carrier.
So far I've opened 130 lockboxes. I've bought keys at anywhere between 1.2m and 1.5m each. With an average of 1.35m per key, that brings me up to 171m+. So it definitely would have worked out cheaper to spend EC on the exchange.
Of course I'm not taking into account the other items I've gained from opening the lockboxes. Contrary to popular belief though, selling the other items doesn't really add up to much.
I earn an average of 5 lobi per lockbox, so I should be able to at least purchase the DC by the time I've opened 160 lockboxes. If by that point I still haven't been lucky enough to score an HEC, I'll give up
Most people who get these ships, or a lot of them, open like probably around 60 or so, or more. They make a lot of money in their real job, so it really doesn't matter.
They can afford to buy lots and lots of master keys.
lol dude, I earn very good money in the real world, but I choose very carefully where I spend it. I do think howeveer, looking at the maths, the ones buying the keys with zen, and doing bulk-opening sessions seem to be the ones who are losing out the most. It does indeed look like buying ships with EC is much more affordable.
Per day (without breaking into a sweat) I can pull in 2 mill EC. That means that with patience, I can earn enough for a JHEC in the space of a month.
Would you mind if at some point I used your data on my website (referencing you of course)?
By those results, I'm one of the lucky ones. :rolleyes:
Good times, good times.
Anyway, you not winning is how they make their money. They have no reason to change it.
Holy TRIBBLE! Let's go to Vegas this weekend.
STO Forum member since before February 2010.
STO Academy's excellent skill planner here: Link
I actually avoid success entirely. It doesn't get me what I want, and the consequences for failure are slim. -- markhawman
I think I got a JHEC after about 170 boxes, and I got a Tal Shiar after maybe 40. Both of those were better than the expected average, so some where there's a guy who has opened 400 boxes and never gotten a premium ship (although he can afford a few of the excelllent lobi ships, I'm sure).
Each lock box has a minimum of 4 lobi, with a chance to get more. The average has been determined to run at 5.5 lobi per box. So no more than 200 keys to get 800 lobi, probably only need around 145 keys, and if you are really lucky, less than that.
Still that is a lot. And you are correct, depending on several factors, it is often better to sell keys, and use the EC to buy the lock box on the exchange.
STO Forum member since before February 2010.
STO Academy's excellent skill planner here: Link
I actually avoid success entirely. It doesn't get me what I want, and the consequences for failure are slim. -- markhawman
I've long and sold the ones mentioned - but I have yet to win a Temporal vessel or any of the new featured Lock Box ships.
Best just save the EC and buy it straight out. I only open Lock Boxes purely for the Lobi Crystals and special Doff packs - If I randomly win a Lock Box special vessel, then I have been blessed.
Happy Hunting
MIM