Grinding new content -> makes player happy (for a short time) and costs Cryptic money.
Grinding old content with new gear -> makes player happy (for a short time) and gives Cryptic money.
And that's the fallacy of these threads. The posters who feel they are "elite" and want the challenge ...
don't actually want the challenge. They just want better gear.
because its not the challenge most of these folks want, but rather being "special".
some however truly want harder challenge and should be allowed to have it obviously.
So what is wrong with introducing a Nightmare Mode that gives a better payout (more dilithium, more Marks, more purple Mk XII drops) than Elite? If Nightmare Mode doesn't introduce any new items that require doing Nightmare content, then the only complaints would be from people that want to show their Elitism or people that want all content nerfed so there is no challenge. Both groups of people should be completely ignored.
That's the problem with the powercreep. You might think a good nerf will help, but it will not. There is a huge gap between low DPS people (with 5K and less DPS), and high DPS people (a lot of player have 10k+ nowadays, up to a lot more). Nerfing would make the "noobs" even more useless, while the "veteran" would still be powerful enough to zerg through STF.
Still, some power are completely broken. A2b+dem+marion+technicians comes to mind. And they deserve some work (IE nerf).
Unfortunately, so far the idea of "challenge" for Cryptic is OP abilities that can OS the player, and mobs that keep running around the map. Nothing involving skills.
As you've said, there is a huge gap between the bottom and the top in terms of power and survivability. Narrowing this gap(by raising the bottom limit) is the best way to go. Nerfing the top is unnecessary and pointless. By raising the minimum power potential, we can improve the quality of life of the casual player, encouraging participation at the elite STF level. By simplifying combat mechanics(such that they require less constant button mashing and more tactical maneuvering and reactive gameplay), we can create more challenging encounters that require appropriate responses to particular situations. We see a rudimentary example of this with Donatra's aoe cone ability. We become well-trained to avoid that cone by the simple expedient of DYING when it fires with us in it. If we could survive it, we would probably just ignore it, which defeats the purpose of such a mechanic. An example of an unnecessarily frustrating mechanic is Donatra's cloak, which you usually can't prevent(unless you have some very specific abilities), and ends up prolonging the fight.
How would I go about simplifying the combat mechanics? Well I would start by reducing the number of buttons we have to keep on cooldown. For the most part captains have about 10 bridge officer abilities, and if they're playing appropriately, they should have all or most of them on cooldown constantly, just cycling through them as they go through their DPS rotations. For most situations, this is a no-brainer. If it's a no-brainer, why not just make them automatic toggle state abilities? Example: Cannon Scatter Volley / Cannon Rapid fire. These abilites are exclusive, you can't have both active at the same time. So I would make CSV the "on" state and CRF the "off" state for this ability. Once you've activated it, it will stay that way until you deactivate it. Thus, you could adjust it for different situations(one target vs many targets). You could do similar things for many of the abilities. Some, such as tractor beams, would be ideal abilities to use situationally.
I've seen plenty of creep threads on here, with plenty of suggestions for tweaks and fixes. I can't remember now who suggested what but some ideas I have seen I do like, for example:
1) Adding diminished returns across the board, taking out the stacking of stats all together
2) Adjusting the Doff system, perhaps with a limit of only a single doff of each type/career
There are no doubt more suggestions in this thread as in the others, some better than these and others no so good. Problem is no matter what is suggested there will always be objections.
Generally I blame fleet gear. Before that came along things were balanced pretty well in my opinion, for the vast majority the endgame was rep gear only which is easily accessible for everyone thanks to the rep system - something the idea got right. The rep gear itself is good stuff with some nice set bonus effects, but they never seemed over the top.
Then fleet gear came along, and now we have consoles that are basically 2 for the price of 1, elite fleet shields with crazy resistance potential, warp cores and no doubt even better stuff in the future. Now this is all here what is the point of rep gear? What is the point of every standard console in the game?
And that is the main issue I have. I don't mind seeing new toys in the game, but it needs to be introduced in such a way the stuff we do have is still competitive.
And that's the fallacy of these threads. The posters who feel they are "elite" and want the challenge ...
don't actually want the challenge. They just want better gear.
Just my 2 cents:
Nightmare modes should give +10-20% more rep marks than Elite. All Nightmare mode missions should give "Choice of Marks", and from any mission you could choose any type of marks.
The marks should be in a "bind on account" box - so you can give this box to your alts.
So yeah, Nightmare mode could give you a slightly better reward - but not new equipment just more marks and the more options.
And that is the main issue I have. I don't mind seeing new toys in the game, but it needs to be introduced in such a way the stuff we do have is still competitive.
I really don't think they should hamstring themselves in that fashion. This game has an awful lot of horizontal progression already. A certain amount of vertical progression is inevitable, as new content is released, new game mechanics are invented and flashy new toys are created. You can't stand still in this kind of industry, and that's what you're suggesting. Frankly, this game is overdue for a level cap increase, and a gear reset. I just wonder if Cryptic is going to have the balls to actually do it...
Nightmare modes should give +10-20% more rep marks than Elite. All Nightmare mode missions should give "Choice of Marks", and from any mission you could choose any type of marks.
The marks should be in a "bind on account" box - so you can give this box to your alts.
So yeah, Nightmare mode could give you a slightly better reward - but not new equipment just more marks and the more options.
Nightmare mode should introduce a new tier of currency and rewards not available to elite mode. Remember that fourth borg STF? The one nobody does? The one that is super hard? Why does nobody actually do that one, I wonder? Because it IS hard, and doesn't actually provide anything that you can't get from the other three. Why should players go through the hassle of dying over and over to complete a queue for that one when they can spend the same amount of time completing 3 others? Answer: if hive had better rewards that you could ONLY get from hive, and they were desirable rewards, then people would bother with it. Right now, it languishes at the bottom of the list.
In my opinion, a problem with the 'Powercreep' in this game is also:
Weapon Buffs and Consoles add a percentage bonus to weapons (and outgoing damage of non-weapon effects).Example: MK XII Romulan Plasma DHC, 125 Weaponpower: removal of a 24.4% (blue, MK X) Plasma Damage console lowers the damage of the cannon by roughly 70 DPS.
Science Consoles add a 'Skill' Bonus that is ran through a formula. At 125 Aux,removing a (Fleet quality) MK XII Particle Gen Embassy console lowers Gravity Well 3 by full 36 DPS, GW1 'only' loses 20 DPS.
All 3 Embassy consoles removed, GW1 does 60 DPS less, compared to the value with them.
When I remove all 3 Science consoles and activate AP:Omega 3, on the tested character, the DPS on GW1 rises by 80 (over base with no APO3 and all 3 consoles).
Now, same calculation (without maxed out consoles, mind you! 3 Blue Tac Consoles, 2x MK XI, 1x MK X), on the weapon.
DHC MK XII, 125 Weapon Power, 3 Embassy consoles equipped, combined 76.8% Bonus from the 3 Tac consoles: 1274 DPS.
All 3 Tac Consoles removed: 1051 DPS on the same cannon. that's 223 DPS less.
Now, lets fire up AP:O3 and check, still no Tac Consoles on the ship: 1299 DPS.
With all 3 Tac Consolesan AP:O3: 1575 DPS.
In MY Opinion, it would help the game a lot if ALL Percentage Modifiers for Damage, Defense and EPS (All types of damage, that includes drains) would be switched to 'Skill' modifiers.
A tactical Console giving a 30% Damage Bonus would instead give a bonus of 32 to the firing of that damage type, like the skill system worked before the F2P dumbing down, when a Tac still had to spec the Weapon Specialization for each Weapon type individually, so a Phaser user did not get the bonuses with Plasma, for example.
Or, since nerfing will have the Escort Pilots and Tacs screaming: Change non-Tactical Consoles to Percentage Bonuses. Defensive Consoles (Neutronium) already give a diminishing return, so even a 5 ENG console ship won't be able to become immune to damage.
1) Adding diminished returns across the board, taking out the stacking of stats all together
2) Adjusting the Doff system, perhaps with a limit of only a single doff of each type/career
These 2 suggestions right here would make a huge difference.
Just think about those 30k+ DPS configs, what would happen if they could only have 1 of each DOFF and a negative return on any other stacked items.
Would also help the newer players out, some DOFFs that people use 3 of, are 30, 40, 50 mill or higher - so "needing" 3 costs a lot. Only having to buy 1 would help those newer players who are eternally skint (poor)
I will admit that i have ran the missions in an oberth, shuttle and on elite difficulty and various combinations of these.
The first and foremost reason for doing so is getting a challenge.
Having said that, i have completed the reps, have over 1 million unrefined dilithium and most marks are above 5-10k just sitting in my inventory. I don't need to do the daily dilithium/marks grind anymore.
And i am pretty sure i am not the only one in a similar situation who yearns for more challenging content.
On the other hand there are players who have only recently finished leveling a character and are looking for ways to gain dilithium, marks and experience.
Here is where a tremendous opportunity lies.
What if replaying the missions on elite difficulty gave an X amount of experience, marks or dilithium. E.g. experience from the klingon arc, Romulan marks from Romulan arc, omega from dominion, borg and undine arc.
Maybe not enough to replace playing the STF, but enough to be a viable alternative for those who grow tired of replaying the same content over and over.
This program, though reasonably normal at times, seems to have a strong affinity to classes belonging to the Cat 2.0 program. Questerius 2.7 will break down on occasion, resulting in garbage and nonsense messages whenever it occurs. Usually a hard reboot or pulling the plug solves the problem when that happens.
Another way to look at this is that PUGs are much easier than they use to be. I remember one person blowing a gen early meant DDOOOOOMMMMMMM. Now I alone can make up the difference.
Sure there is less of a challenge but there is also less stress.
nerfs stink. A nerf is what you get when something is poorly tested, turns out to be game breakingly strong, and the developers compound this initial mistake with a second mistake (the nerf) due to lack of creativity.
Why nerf things? Why not just have new content that is tougher? Or a third mode (normal, elite, insane?) for the content? Or a level cap increase (eventually, this has to happen)? In almost all cases, overly powerful gear and items can be *enjoyed* against tougher content without the nerf, rather than giving people something, allowing them to spend time (and often here, real money) to earn it and then take it away from them? MUCH, MUCH better to allow the OP items and builds to be put to good use than to take them away.
I guess I'm a terrible, casual player. In certain missions, even on Normal I still get kaboomed/KO'd.
Not so much my main, who's gotten most of the Rep, Gear, and DOFF love. But even there, I still get challenged and the Voth are still able to inflict a few moments of "oh, cr*p!" now and then.
I refuse to min-max. That might be part of it. I pick more or less sensible gear, but I don't sweat it and I take what I want to take. I don't break the bank trying to get purple gear for everything... I take what I get. I'm sitting on more than a couple unused respecs.
I can see why folks who take their gear and skills seriously would have an issue with things being too easy. I think a PvP revamp would help. And I think there's still room for new, more powerful enemies in the game.
My views may not represent those of Cryptic Studios or Perfect World Entertainment. You can file a "forums and website" support ticket here Link: How to PM - Twitter @STOMod_Bluegeek
Challenge in STFs shouldn't consist only of increasing mob HP and damage. We need fresh mechanics. Remember that a Borg cube is supposed to be something terribly strong? A fight against a cube with five ships should take much longer and afford more than just shooting away. Let the fight require different careers of captains that need to upload a viral matrix at a certain point, engineers to insert boarding parties at a specific time to achieve something, player assimilation/permadeath (during a battle, if all players KO the battle restarts), just SOMETHING that requires more than point and shoot.
^ Memory Alpha.org is not canon. It's a open wiki with arbitrary rules. Only what can be cited from an episode is. ^
"No. Men do not roar. Women roar. Then they hurl heavy objects... and claw at you." -Worf, son of Mogh
"A filthy, mangy beast, but in its bony breast beat the heart of a warrior" - "faithful" (...) "but ever-ready to follow the call of the wild." - Martok, about a Targ
"That pig smelled horrid. A sweet-sour, extremely pungent odor. I showered and showered, and it took me a week to get rid of it!" - Robert Justman, appreciating Emmy-Lou
just SOMETHING that requires more than point and shoot.
Point and shoot is really what the players of this game prefer. Hence why we had shooter mode integrated into an MMO for the so called "Ground Revamp."
Because FPS is exactly the kind of gameplay MMO player prefer!
People have no self control. Thats why i don't go for any of that Fleet gear or STF gear. It would make the game really boring for me. But the dps players are putting out now is insane. And Crypitic has let it get out of control. I run purple mark 10 and 12 gear and find the game slightly challenging still. I don't pvp so i can only imagine how easy the game would be if i was running Fleet or STF gear. I would probably quit out of boredom.
Nightmare mode should introduce a new tier of currency and rewards not available to elite mode. Remember that fourth borg STF? The one nobody does? The one that is super hard? Why does nobody actually do that one, I wonder? Because it IS hard, and doesn't actually provide anything that you can't get from the other three. Why should players go through the hassle of dying over and over to complete a queue for that one when they can spend the same amount of time completing 3 others? Answer: if hive had better rewards that you could ONLY get from hive, and they were desirable rewards, then people would bother with it. Right now, it languishes at the bottom of the list.
I'd do this mission - however it is simply bugged as hell a few month ago. Also the borg queen's "I Win" button is not challanging it is annoying.
One of the devs in a podcast mentioned the idea of a Nightmare Mode which makes Elite seem like Normal. As long as Cryptic is not gating content, then all content must be kept as the same level of difficulties. The more Reputations that a player completes, the stronger they become, but Cryptic must keep content viable for those players that just reach 50. Nightmare mode will allow Cryptic to raise the difficulty level while keeping the players that like Elite and Normal difficulties they way they currently are happy.
Nightmare mode is just the LAZY way to fix a broken game. The problem lies in at the core of the game mechanics: the benefits per stat point the tactical abilities and boff abilities get.
ESTFs were the old 'nightmare' mode and look at where the power creep got to. Adding a new level of difficulty incarnated through even stupider changes is not the answer.
You know for a FACT the AI is not going to be improved to make it challenging. Cryptic has proven they don't have the skills, the will or the interest to do this.
You know for a FACT that any increase in difficulty is just going to be 'oh ok lets make npcs have five times more hull HP, increase their weapon damage or rate of fire and resists by 200%' ... but NPCs will still be the same stupid no-challenge, easy to outwit npcs.
You know what this last increase in difficulty is? The Borg Queen. That NPC is merely a sphere with all those boosts, a different skin and they added a couple of abilities to its randomly-do-this list.
Furthermore, the core problem remains: to defeat the queen you only use weapon damage...science does SQUAT against her (no debuffing), cruisers and escorts just spit out dps and avoid her attacks. If you have a carrier with you the carrier just exploits the AI NPC's fascination with swarms of pets and keeps spamming cheap pets so the AI just keeps shooting at them and not your team-mates.
The game needs to be fixed, not have its stupidity level increased.
No No No.. the power creep will continue.. that is how we make sales on on new items while leaving old ships like the b'rel unchanged for the last 3 years.
No! The power creep will continue on schedule and you will buy the newest OP item that we put on sale!
I AM NOT A FAN OF PWE!!!!
MEMBER SINCE JANUARY 2010
Nightmare mode is just the LAZY way to fix a broken game. The problem lies in at the core of the game mechanics: the benefits per stat point the tactical abilities and boff abilities get.
ESTFs were the old 'nightmare' mode and look at where the power creep got to. Adding a new level of difficulty incarnated through even stupider changes is not the answer.
You know for a FACT the AI is not going to be improved to make it challenging. Cryptic has proven they don't have the skills, the will or the interest to do this.
You know for a FACT that any increase in difficulty is just going to be 'oh ok lets make npcs have five times more hull HP, increase their weapon damage or rate of fire and resists by 200%' ... but NPCs will still be the same stupid no-challenge, easy to outwit npcs.
You know what this last increase in difficulty is? The Borg Queen. That NPC is merely a sphere with all those boosts, a different skin and they added a couple of abilities to its randomly-do-this list.
Furthermore, the core problem remains: to defeat the queen you only use weapon damage...science does SQUAT against her (no debuffing), cruisers and escorts just spit out dps and avoid her attacks. If you have a carrier with you the carrier just exploits the AI NPC's fascination with swarms of pets and keeps spamming cheap pets so the AI just keeps shooting at them and not your team-mates.
The game needs to be fixed, not have its stupidity level increased.
You forgot the insta gib weapons the Borg were given - apart from that, spot on list.
I really don't think they should hamstring themselves in that fashion. This game has an awful lot of horizontal progression already. A certain amount of vertical progression is inevitable, as new content is released, new game mechanics are invented and flashy new toys are created. You can't stand still in this kind of industry, and that's what you're suggesting. Frankly, this game is overdue for a level cap increase, and a gear reset. I just wonder if Cryptic is going to have the balls to actually do it...
I suppose, I see no harm in the game growing sideways instead of just up all the time though. Instead of another even better version of a disruptor beam array why not introduce an all new energy type with corresponding consoles?
I can take or leave the level cap increase, but I like the gear reset idea. A good spring clean to get the cobwebs out.
These 2 suggestions right here would make a huge difference.
Just think about those 30k+ DPS configs, what would happen if they could only have 1 of each DOFF and a negative return on any other stacked items.
Would also help the newer players out, some DOFFs that people use 3 of, are 30, 40, 50 mill or higher - so "needing" 3 costs a lot. Only having to buy 1 would help those newer players who are eternally skint (poor)
Exactly. And think of all the ships we do have with only 2 tac console slots, they'd be bought right back into the game if there is only a marginal increase with more slots available.
I refuse to min-max. That might be part of it. I pick more or less sensible gear, but I don't sweat it and I take what I want to take. I don't break the bank trying to get purple gear for everything... I take what I get. I'm sitting on more than a couple unused respecs.
This is probably the best solution to the creep, and the one I tend to use too. Just don't get involved in it to begin with. I know full well I can't compete with the big boys but I am far from useless, it's all just experience in playing.
I think that they can leave the STFs like they are, but add some new STFs, or PVE that will be harder and reward omega marks. In fact, I would love to see about 6 or 7 new missions that have choice of marks, and it will let you choose between any marks in the game.
One of the problems I have is that increasing the difficulty of STFs will only make it take longer to beat them. However, it is the same thing we have been doing. If you just want the stuff we have been doing to be harder, then you can Nerf yourselves by using weaker ships, weapons, and gear. You will have a greater challenge, and will still be doing the same thing.
I haven't run the Aux2Bat because I don't want an OP build on my ships. I would like to see more new missions, other then a featured episode every once in a while. If they do that, and make the missions harder, so that ones needs to use the higher gear, then I might try the OP builds.
That is just my thoughts on it.
Leader of Elite Guardian Academy.Would you like to learn how to run a fleet? Would you like to know how to do ship builds (true budget as well as high end)?The join the Academy today!
I keep the game challenging by simply handicapping myself. I have been level 50 for around 3 weeks now. I still have around 50k to 60k space skill points and probably around 20k -30k ground points that I have yet to use.
I keep my weapons fairly simple using only Phaser Beam Arrays MK XI. I have been collecting Antiproton Beam Arrays MK XI, but I have yet to install them on my ship. Since I have not progressed the main story beyond Treasure Trading Station (Federation) I have also limited myself access to many of the more powerful / unique equipment thus far.
Lastly, I have yet to assign any Doffs to my 10 available slots.
All-in-all, my setup is pretty basic which helps keeps the game challenging at Advanced and Elite settings. However, the only instance where I have been playing Elite is in the Crystalline Entity PvE mission.
I have been gathering reputation points, but so far I have not even bothered researching how to using them use them to get better equipment.
I have a better solution for those of you who find the game too easy which will not affect those who find it not so easy: use a T1 ship without any elite Fleet/Rep gear.
Looks like it's time for an Omega powered Mega-cube in a 20-player STF... is that Nightmare enough? It must require coordinated attacks and... TEAMWORK with multiple professions!
Yes, I totally agree... don't weaken the players/ships, make the enemies tougher.
I hope Cryptic is planning to beef-up their servers to be able to take bigger groups soon and have some true battles!
Star Trek Battles Channel - Play Star Trek like they did in the series!Avatar: pinterest-com/pin/14003448816884219Are you sure it isn't time for a "colorful metaphor"? --Spock in 'The Voyage Home' SCE ADVISORY NOTICE: Improper Impulse Engine maintenance can result in REAR THRUSTER LEAKAGE. ALWAYS have your work inspected by another qualified officer.
I have a better solution for those of you who find the game too easy which will not affect those who find it not so easy: use a T1 ship without any elite Fleet/Rep gear.
You're kidding because you think it's not possible? ...You need decent shields though.
I do this with my T2 Connie in Tau Dawa with Mk XI Rep gear, it's like flying an escort. :cool:
EDIT: ...With half the weapons OFFLINE, but it works.
Star Trek Battles Channel - Play Star Trek like they did in the series!Avatar: pinterest-com/pin/14003448816884219Are you sure it isn't time for a "colorful metaphor"? --Spock in 'The Voyage Home' SCE ADVISORY NOTICE: Improper Impulse Engine maintenance can result in REAR THRUSTER LEAKAGE. ALWAYS have your work inspected by another qualified officer.
I have a better solution for those of you who find the game too easy which will not affect those who find it not so easy: use a T1 ship without any elite Fleet/Rep gear.
And stay out of public queues please. (Use private matches please, e.g. do NOT cripple my elite STFs. Ty.)
And stay out of public queues please. (Use private matches please, e.g. do NOT cripple my elite STFs. Ty.)
Or to put it in a way that's just a little more polite... and to help not to "cripple" Bernatk's Elite STFs...
For public STFs, it is best to join with the best ship possible so that you can equally contribute to the efforts for the best outcome. Join the Elite STFs only when you are familiar with the missions and know the strategies required.
Otherwise, if you want to "kick-it low-tier" style with a group, gather some friends and create a private STF and have fun.
Star Trek Battles Channel - Play Star Trek like they did in the series!Avatar: pinterest-com/pin/14003448816884219Are you sure it isn't time for a "colorful metaphor"? --Spock in 'The Voyage Home' SCE ADVISORY NOTICE: Improper Impulse Engine maintenance can result in REAR THRUSTER LEAKAGE. ALWAYS have your work inspected by another qualified officer.
Comments
Grinding old content with new gear -> makes player happy (for a short time) and gives Cryptic money.
So what do you think they will do?
and then you prove the problem isn't the difficulty at all, basically you want unique "shinies" that prove how "awesome" you are, and thats it.
the challenge should be its own reward, you know... the allegedly fun part? otherwise you're not that different from the "casuals" who want the items.
because its not the challenge most of these folks want, but rather being "special".
some however truly want harder challenge and should be allowed to have it obviously.
As you've said, there is a huge gap between the bottom and the top in terms of power and survivability. Narrowing this gap(by raising the bottom limit) is the best way to go. Nerfing the top is unnecessary and pointless. By raising the minimum power potential, we can improve the quality of life of the casual player, encouraging participation at the elite STF level. By simplifying combat mechanics(such that they require less constant button mashing and more tactical maneuvering and reactive gameplay), we can create more challenging encounters that require appropriate responses to particular situations. We see a rudimentary example of this with Donatra's aoe cone ability. We become well-trained to avoid that cone by the simple expedient of DYING when it fires with us in it. If we could survive it, we would probably just ignore it, which defeats the purpose of such a mechanic. An example of an unnecessarily frustrating mechanic is Donatra's cloak, which you usually can't prevent(unless you have some very specific abilities), and ends up prolonging the fight.
How would I go about simplifying the combat mechanics? Well I would start by reducing the number of buttons we have to keep on cooldown. For the most part captains have about 10 bridge officer abilities, and if they're playing appropriately, they should have all or most of them on cooldown constantly, just cycling through them as they go through their DPS rotations. For most situations, this is a no-brainer. If it's a no-brainer, why not just make them automatic toggle state abilities? Example: Cannon Scatter Volley / Cannon Rapid fire. These abilites are exclusive, you can't have both active at the same time. So I would make CSV the "on" state and CRF the "off" state for this ability. Once you've activated it, it will stay that way until you deactivate it. Thus, you could adjust it for different situations(one target vs many targets). You could do similar things for many of the abilities. Some, such as tractor beams, would be ideal abilities to use situationally.
1) Adding diminished returns across the board, taking out the stacking of stats all together
2) Adjusting the Doff system, perhaps with a limit of only a single doff of each type/career
There are no doubt more suggestions in this thread as in the others, some better than these and others no so good. Problem is no matter what is suggested there will always be objections.
Generally I blame fleet gear. Before that came along things were balanced pretty well in my opinion, for the vast majority the endgame was rep gear only which is easily accessible for everyone thanks to the rep system - something the idea got right. The rep gear itself is good stuff with some nice set bonus effects, but they never seemed over the top.
Then fleet gear came along, and now we have consoles that are basically 2 for the price of 1, elite fleet shields with crazy resistance potential, warp cores and no doubt even better stuff in the future. Now this is all here what is the point of rep gear? What is the point of every standard console in the game?
And that is the main issue I have. I don't mind seeing new toys in the game, but it needs to be introduced in such a way the stuff we do have is still competitive.
Just my 2 cents:
Nightmare modes should give +10-20% more rep marks than Elite. All Nightmare mode missions should give "Choice of Marks", and from any mission you could choose any type of marks.
The marks should be in a "bind on account" box - so you can give this box to your alts.
So yeah, Nightmare mode could give you a slightly better reward - but not new equipment just more marks and the more options.
I really don't think they should hamstring themselves in that fashion. This game has an awful lot of horizontal progression already. A certain amount of vertical progression is inevitable, as new content is released, new game mechanics are invented and flashy new toys are created. You can't stand still in this kind of industry, and that's what you're suggesting. Frankly, this game is overdue for a level cap increase, and a gear reset. I just wonder if Cryptic is going to have the balls to actually do it...
Nightmare mode should introduce a new tier of currency and rewards not available to elite mode. Remember that fourth borg STF? The one nobody does? The one that is super hard? Why does nobody actually do that one, I wonder? Because it IS hard, and doesn't actually provide anything that you can't get from the other three. Why should players go through the hassle of dying over and over to complete a queue for that one when they can spend the same amount of time completing 3 others? Answer: if hive had better rewards that you could ONLY get from hive, and they were desirable rewards, then people would bother with it. Right now, it languishes at the bottom of the list.
So how about balancing the op setups?
Weapon Buffs and Consoles add a percentage bonus to weapons (and outgoing damage of non-weapon effects).Example: MK XII Romulan Plasma DHC, 125 Weaponpower: removal of a 24.4% (blue, MK X) Plasma Damage console lowers the damage of the cannon by roughly 70 DPS.
Science Consoles add a 'Skill' Bonus that is ran through a formula. At 125 Aux,removing a (Fleet quality) MK XII Particle Gen Embassy console lowers Gravity Well 3 by full 36 DPS, GW1 'only' loses 20 DPS.
All 3 Embassy consoles removed, GW1 does 60 DPS less, compared to the value with them.
When I remove all 3 Science consoles and activate AP:Omega 3, on the tested character, the DPS on GW1 rises by 80 (over base with no APO3 and all 3 consoles).
Now, same calculation (without maxed out consoles, mind you! 3 Blue Tac Consoles, 2x MK XI, 1x MK X), on the weapon.
DHC MK XII, 125 Weapon Power, 3 Embassy consoles equipped, combined 76.8% Bonus from the 3 Tac consoles: 1274 DPS.
All 3 Tac Consoles removed: 1051 DPS on the same cannon. that's 223 DPS less.
Now, lets fire up AP:O3 and check, still no Tac Consoles on the ship: 1299 DPS.
With all 3 Tac Consolesan AP:O3: 1575 DPS.
In MY Opinion, it would help the game a lot if ALL Percentage Modifiers for Damage, Defense and EPS (All types of damage, that includes drains) would be switched to 'Skill' modifiers.
A tactical Console giving a 30% Damage Bonus would instead give a bonus of 32 to the firing of that damage type, like the skill system worked before the F2P dumbing down, when a Tac still had to spec the Weapon Specialization for each Weapon type individually, so a Phaser user did not get the bonuses with Plasma, for example.
Or, since nerfing will have the Escort Pilots and Tacs screaming: Change non-Tactical Consoles to Percentage Bonuses. Defensive Consoles (Neutronium) already give a diminishing return, so even a 5 ENG console ship won't be able to become immune to damage.
These 2 suggestions right here would make a huge difference.
Just think about those 30k+ DPS configs, what would happen if they could only have 1 of each DOFF and a negative return on any other stacked items.
Would also help the newer players out, some DOFFs that people use 3 of, are 30, 40, 50 mill or higher - so "needing" 3 costs a lot. Only having to buy 1 would help those newer players who are eternally skint (poor)
The first and foremost reason for doing so is getting a challenge.
Having said that, i have completed the reps, have over 1 million unrefined dilithium and most marks are above 5-10k just sitting in my inventory. I don't need to do the daily dilithium/marks grind anymore.
And i am pretty sure i am not the only one in a similar situation who yearns for more challenging content.
On the other hand there are players who have only recently finished leveling a character and are looking for ways to gain dilithium, marks and experience.
Here is where a tremendous opportunity lies.
What if replaying the missions on elite difficulty gave an X amount of experience, marks or dilithium. E.g. experience from the klingon arc, Romulan marks from Romulan arc, omega from dominion, borg and undine arc.
Maybe not enough to replace playing the STF, but enough to be a viable alternative for those who grow tired of replaying the same content over and over.
Sure there is less of a challenge but there is also less stress.
nerfs stink. A nerf is what you get when something is poorly tested, turns out to be game breakingly strong, and the developers compound this initial mistake with a second mistake (the nerf) due to lack of creativity.
Why nerf things? Why not just have new content that is tougher? Or a third mode (normal, elite, insane?) for the content? Or a level cap increase (eventually, this has to happen)? In almost all cases, overly powerful gear and items can be *enjoyed* against tougher content without the nerf, rather than giving people something, allowing them to spend time (and often here, real money) to earn it and then take it away from them? MUCH, MUCH better to allow the OP items and builds to be put to good use than to take them away.
Not so much my main, who's gotten most of the Rep, Gear, and DOFF love. But even there, I still get challenged and the Voth are still able to inflict a few moments of "oh, cr*p!" now and then.
I refuse to min-max. That might be part of it. I pick more or less sensible gear, but I don't sweat it and I take what I want to take. I don't break the bank trying to get purple gear for everything... I take what I get. I'm sitting on more than a couple unused respecs.
I can see why folks who take their gear and skills seriously would have an issue with things being too easy. I think a PvP revamp would help. And I think there's still room for new, more powerful enemies in the game.
Link: How to PM - Twitter @STOMod_Bluegeek
Get the Forums Enhancement Extension!
Point and shoot is really what the players of this game prefer. Hence why we had shooter mode integrated into an MMO for the so called "Ground Revamp."
Because FPS is exactly the kind of gameplay MMO player prefer!
I'd do this mission - however it is simply bugged as hell a few month ago. Also the borg queen's "I Win" button is not challanging it is annoying.
Nightmare mode is just the LAZY way to fix a broken game. The problem lies in at the core of the game mechanics: the benefits per stat point the tactical abilities and boff abilities get.
ESTFs were the old 'nightmare' mode and look at where the power creep got to. Adding a new level of difficulty incarnated through even stupider changes is not the answer.
You know for a FACT the AI is not going to be improved to make it challenging. Cryptic has proven they don't have the skills, the will or the interest to do this.
You know for a FACT that any increase in difficulty is just going to be 'oh ok lets make npcs have five times more hull HP, increase their weapon damage or rate of fire and resists by 200%' ... but NPCs will still be the same stupid no-challenge, easy to outwit npcs.
You know what this last increase in difficulty is? The Borg Queen. That NPC is merely a sphere with all those boosts, a different skin and they added a couple of abilities to its randomly-do-this list.
Furthermore, the core problem remains: to defeat the queen you only use weapon damage...science does SQUAT against her (no debuffing), cruisers and escorts just spit out dps and avoid her attacks. If you have a carrier with you the carrier just exploits the AI NPC's fascination with swarms of pets and keeps spamming cheap pets so the AI just keeps shooting at them and not your team-mates.
The game needs to be fixed, not have its stupidity level increased.
No No No.. the power creep will continue.. that is how we make sales on on new items while leaving old ships like the b'rel unchanged for the last 3 years.
No! The power creep will continue on schedule and you will buy the newest OP item that we put on sale!
I AM NOT A FAN OF PWE!!!!
MEMBER SINCE JANUARY 2010
You forgot the insta gib weapons the Borg were given - apart from that, spot on list.
I suppose, I see no harm in the game growing sideways instead of just up all the time though. Instead of another even better version of a disruptor beam array why not introduce an all new energy type with corresponding consoles?
I can take or leave the level cap increase, but I like the gear reset idea. A good spring clean to get the cobwebs out.
Exactly. And think of all the ships we do have with only 2 tac console slots, they'd be bought right back into the game if there is only a marginal increase with more slots available.
This is probably the best solution to the creep, and the one I tend to use too. Just don't get involved in it to begin with. I know full well I can't compete with the big boys but I am far from useless, it's all just experience in playing.
One of the problems I have is that increasing the difficulty of STFs will only make it take longer to beat them. However, it is the same thing we have been doing. If you just want the stuff we have been doing to be harder, then you can Nerf yourselves by using weaker ships, weapons, and gear. You will have a greater challenge, and will still be doing the same thing.
I haven't run the Aux2Bat because I don't want an OP build on my ships. I would like to see more new missions, other then a featured episode every once in a while. If they do that, and make the missions harder, so that ones needs to use the higher gear, then I might try the OP builds.
That is just my thoughts on it.
I keep my weapons fairly simple using only Phaser Beam Arrays MK XI. I have been collecting Antiproton Beam Arrays MK XI, but I have yet to install them on my ship. Since I have not progressed the main story beyond Treasure Trading Station (Federation) I have also limited myself access to many of the more powerful / unique equipment thus far.
Lastly, I have yet to assign any Doffs to my 10 available slots.
All-in-all, my setup is pretty basic which helps keeps the game challenging at Advanced and Elite settings. However, the only instance where I have been playing Elite is in the Crystalline Entity PvE mission.
I have been gathering reputation points, but so far I have not even bothered researching how to using them use them to get better equipment.
Yes, I totally agree... don't weaken the players/ships, make the enemies tougher.
I hope Cryptic is planning to beef-up their servers to be able to take bigger groups soon and have some true battles!
In the meantime, you might consider joining the Star Trek Battles channel:
http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=1026351
SCE ADVISORY NOTICE: Improper Impulse Engine maintenance can result in REAR THRUSTER LEAKAGE. ALWAYS have your work inspected by another qualified officer.
You're kidding because you think it's not possible? ...You need decent shields though.
I do this with my T2 Connie in Tau Dawa with Mk XI Rep gear, it's like flying an escort. :cool:
EDIT: ...With half the weapons OFFLINE, but it works.
SCE ADVISORY NOTICE: Improper Impulse Engine maintenance can result in REAR THRUSTER LEAKAGE. ALWAYS have your work inspected by another qualified officer.
And stay out of public queues please. (Use private matches please, e.g. do NOT cripple my elite STFs. Ty.)
Or to put it in a way that's just a little more polite... and to help not to "cripple" Bernatk's Elite STFs...
For public STFs, it is best to join with the best ship possible so that you can equally contribute to the efforts for the best outcome. Join the Elite STFs only when you are familiar with the missions and know the strategies required.
Otherwise, if you want to "kick-it low-tier" style with a group, gather some friends and create a private STF and have fun.
There's also a nice group of people joining the Star Trek Battles channel that are about having fun without the DPS overhead
SCE ADVISORY NOTICE: Improper Impulse Engine maintenance can result in REAR THRUSTER LEAKAGE. ALWAYS have your work inspected by another qualified officer.