test content
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc

To explore strange new worlds...

ricorosebudricorosebud Member Posts: 11 Arc User
....a familiar phrase for Trekkies, and something you would expect in a Trek game. But if you are familiar with the Exploration missions in STO, you know that they are pretty lackluster. I think most of us can agree they need reworked, so I would like to know your thought on this STO community! What should be done to improve the exploration missions?

Keep in mind that we must balance what we would want and expect from exploration missions against the fact that this is a video game and not a TV show. Any sort of revamp couldn't be purely walls of text, nothing but using tricorders or gathering flora and fauna. It can't be all diplomatic talks, it must have some action in there. I feel certain that such a balance can be achieved.

I'll start us off: How about some sort of 'competing for resources' type planets/zones/missions? Feds chart a new planet that give a variety of missions. Explore some mysterious ruins (that have hostile wildlife). Repel Klingon invaders. (space and/or ground) 'Duckblind' theme missions. Easy enough to write these missions on the opposite side for our KDF players as well. Invade/conquer type missions. Frame/dispute Feds for claiming resources. (I would love a "It's a faaaaaake" mission moment somewhere) Incite civil war. Lots of possibilities for both sides using fairly simple themes from a variety of Trek episodes. You get the idea.

Maybe even integrate PvP into such scenarios giving us territory PvE/PvP conquest that many have been asking for. Heck, I would PvP a lot more if it involved some PvE and territory.

Just spitballing here, tell me what you think, contribute your ideas. There is room for improvement in the final frontier and I doubt this community lacks ideas. And please, try to play nice everyone: we all want to help make the game better. Thank you!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Post edited by ricorosebud on

Comments

  • yomatofanyomatofan Member Posts: 90 Arc User
    edited July 2013
    ....a familiar phrase for Trekkies, and something you would expect in a Trek game. But if you are familiar with the Exploration missions in STO, you know that they are pretty lackluster. I think most of us can agree they need reworked, so I would like to know your thought on this STO community! What should be done to improve the exploration missions?

    Keep in mind that we must balance what we would want and expect from exploration missions against the fact that this is a video game and not a TV show. Any sort of revamp couldn't be purely walls of text, nothing but using tricorders or gathering flora and fauna. It can't be all diplomatic talks, it must have some action in there. I feel certain that such a balance can be achieved.

    I'll start us off: How about some sort of 'competing for resources' type planets/zones/missions? Feds chart a new planet that give a variety of missions. Explore some mysterious ruins (that have hostile wildlife). Repel Klingon invaders. (space and/or ground) 'Duckblind' theme missions. Easy enough to write these missions on the opposite side for our KDF players as well. Invade/conquer type missions. Frame/dispute Feds for claiming resources. (I would love a "It's a faaaaaake" mission moment somewhere) Incite civil war. Lots of possibilities for both sides using fairly simple themes from a variety of Trek episodes. You get the idea.

    Maybe even integrate PvP into such scenarios giving us territory PvE/PvP conquest that many have been asking for. Heck, I would PvP a lot more if it involved some PvE and territory.

    Just spitballing here, tell me what you think, contribute your ideas. There is room for improvement in the final frontier and I doubt this community lacks ideas. And please, try to play nice everyone: we all want to help make the game better. Thank you!

    I think its a great idea but I will play Cryptic on this "How can we make money out of it?"
  • ricorosebudricorosebud Member Posts: 11 Arc User
    edited July 2013
    yomatofan wrote: »
    I think its a great idea but I will play Cryptic on this "How can we make money out of it?"

    Sell some new type shuttles, new EV suits and new lockboxes themed with the exploration vibe. Not necessary to complete, but new shinies to sell us that are in keeping with the brand new exploration missions vibe.

    Plus good advertising and customer retention. I would bet dollars to donuts the Star Trek magazine would write an article on it.

    (P.S. Give me an idea of what you would like to see or how you would add something to buy out of the deal yomato! We need suggestions to 'make it so')
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • ricorosebudricorosebud Member Posts: 11 Arc User
    edited July 2013
    To put you in the mood and get those creative juices flowing:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTuU4a9jOqw
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • wildmousexwildmousex Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited July 2013
    Ya know I always thought that if Cryptic could work out a deal with Will Wright to incorporate a spore style galaxy - with the types of missions that are in the explore missions that exist now, we would have a pretty good exploration game here.

    I got Spore specifically so I could have that type of experience, fueled by my love for trek, but the combat, graphics, and variation of things to do was so cheesy - I usually just ended up rushing to the center of the galaxy and then quitting. - I did one time do a battle star thing and went off in search of earth. - but that was only entertaining for so long - then non stop cry's for help from home just made it annoying.

    but they could use that style of galaxy map for when we go to the explore outside of the current sector maps. randomly populate those planets with random species from their current character creator, and have them draw on the missions that we already get now.

    when they are being hounded by alien races, set the enemies to which ever the nearest race to them is.

    - better yet - make money on it. let players generate their own races, and buy planets to populate with their creatures. incorporate it with the foundry so the players can create their own missions for their people, instead of getting the random ones that currently exist.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    Me playing UT2k4 (red guy) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz0DnP7wXnU
  • f9thaceshighf9thaceshigh Member Posts: 1 Arc User
    edited July 2013
    That's kinda how the Exploration missions work now, actually. Unfortunately, the Genesis system (the system that randomly generates maps) is just not versatile enough for anything more complicated, they would have to manually create thousands of unique missions in order to get anything like what the OP describes. I don't see that happening any time soon.
  • ricorosebudricorosebud Member Posts: 11 Arc User
    edited July 2013
    That's kinda how the Exploration missions work now, actually. Unfortunately, the Genesis system (the system that randomly generates maps) is just not versatile enough for anything more complicated, they would have to manually create thousands of unique missions in order to get anything like what the OP describes. I don't see that happening any time soon.

    No they wouldn't. I would not suggest something that isn't feasible. The Genesis system would need to be revamped to add more variables. Think Nemesis missions in Champions Online, yet randomized. It can be done.

    By no means am i any sort of programming expert, but even I can hash out a few 'if this, than this' parameters that could lead to a much wider variety of missions than we have now.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • ricorosebudricorosebud Member Posts: 11 Arc User
    edited July 2013
    Something along these lines would be an excellent idea IMO:

    http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=780521
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • latiasracerlatiasracer Member Posts: 680 Arc User
    edited July 2013
    I'd like to see some more epic missions that have multiple outcomes.




    Like, you warp into a system where massive battle is ongoing between two alien fleets, and you can either choose to aid one side (Each faction will be claiming different things about the other) or you can try and negotiate a peace between the two (Which would reward a sizable mark choice crate) or it'l all go bottoms up and the fleets will focus their efforts on your ship.


    Another idea could be a normal "we need x of this please" But you come back later, and the system will have been invaded by the Borg/Undine and you have to battle your way out.



    None of these may sound very intune with the Federation, but let's face it, Space combat is just awesome
    warp plasma can't melt neutronium beams
  • theanothernametheanothername Member Posts: 1,513 Arc User
    edited July 2013
    Flat out: A massive expansion (+ slight overhaul) to the already existing genesis system. The basic idea is great: fly into the unknown and get something new every time. The amount of variables is what makes a lot of ppl stop using it sooner than later.

    It could and actually should be the ultimate filler between big new storyline expansions.

    If the amount of variables has become big enough I could imagin it generating random mini-story arcs. An example:

    Something that stats similar to one of the current exploration missions. You ship enters a system, gets some strange readings from some ancient artefacts. So you and your teams beams down to scan half a fistful of them. On the last one following happens:
    50% - thats it. Solved the riddle, beam up, do something else. Like it is now.
    40% - A guardian of some kind gets activated and you have the choice to talk or to shoot it down.
    9,5% - you find some hints to a nearby asteroid belt and a hidden base from the same species. You get a new mission as "follow up" and do something there which might even lead to a third final mission which then might offer a above average reward (charged artefact for XII consoles or something else fancy depending on the rarity to get a certain string of missions).
    0,5% - you accidently rip open the time-space continuum and start a Dalek invasion.


    Something else: I have read of several different ideas towards the exporation system from connecting it to the foundry to make it some browser like metagame or doff minigame. I dislike these ideas since
    a) foundry missions would be to static (Foundry Mission X will always be foundry mission X; a planet in that mission would always be the same) and
    b) the metagame takes this IMO very important aspect of Trek away from the direct player-char / player-ship contend/interaction which is the most fun part of STO and actually its main selling point.
  • ricorosebudricorosebud Member Posts: 11 Arc User
    edited July 2013
    ^ Great post! Agree and support! (Also+5 internets for the Dalek idea! lol)
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Sign In or Register to comment.