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Exploring regular sector space.

anazondaanazonda Member Posts: 8,399 Arc User
How many of you spend time in the exploration zones? I mean really spend time, not just for farming the occasional samples, or just to do daily for dil?

Now I may be wrong about this, but I don't think the Exploration maps are being used properly, and I don't think people are visiting them enough for them to actually make them worth Cryptic's attention (they seem to agree, as the zones haven't gotten ANY attention since Season 2 apart from the occasional Exploit fix and the "Aid the planet nerf").

Another ongoing issue I see, is that with the PvE queue and transwarp abilities we have, use of sector space is limited once you are done with the story-line missions and/or have accumulated enough EC to use the mission transwarp function.

Let me emphasize that I am not purposing we remove them all together... After all, they MAY eventually find a solution to making them useful again.

BUT... The tech used is somewhat sound. I am speaking of the random encounters of cause.

Think back to TNG: One of the Enterprises main tasks was to explore the space bordering federation space, going into nebula and making contact with new species. This mostly happened in what equals the exploration zones we have today.

BUT, on occasion the Enterprise was also on patrol or exploration inside federation controlled space, or ran into previously unexplored anomalies and readings.

So: Why not use the tech that already exists in the game, and introduce it to regular sector space? Have the same types of random spawns, that you can head to scan and investigate.

Some of the current exploration missions are even reusable for this:
  • Save the ship.
  • Scan asteroid field anomalies.
  • Regular anomaly scanning (not mission).

You can also add missions where you find some artifact that you have to salvage, with a variant where to have to defend it against scavengers, and missions alike.

Obviously, the frequency of appearances should be significantly less than what they are now, but it would bring back usefulness to sector space, once you are through with the missions.

This was just the irregular brain-TRIBBLE from me.
Don't look silly... Don't call it the "Z-Store/Zen Store"...
Let me put the rumors to rest: it's definitely still the C-Store (Cryptic Store) It just takes ZEN.
Like Duty Officers? Support effords to gather ideas
Post edited by anazonda on

Comments

  • jmaster29jmaster29 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    anazonda wrote: »
    How many of you spend time in the exploration zones? I mean really spend time, not just for farming the occasional samples, or just to do daily for dil?

    Now I may be wrong about this, but I don't think the Exploration maps are being used properly, and I don't think people are visiting them enough for them to actually make them worth Cryptic's attention (they seem to agree, as the zones haven't gotten ANY attention since Season 2 apart from the occasional Exploit fix and the "Aid the planet nerf").

    Another ongoing issue I see, is that with the PvE queue and transwarp abilities we have, use of sector space is limited once you are done with the story-line missions and/or have accumulated enough EC to use the mission transwarp function.

    Let me emphasize that I am not purposing we remove them all together... After all, they MAY eventually find a solution to making them useful again.

    BUT... The tech used is somewhat sound. I am speaking of the random encounters of cause.

    Think back to TNG: One of the Enterprises main tasks was to explore the space bordering federation space, going into nebula and making contact with new species. This mostly happened in what equals the exploration zones we have today.

    BUT, on occasion the Enterprise was also on patrol or exploration inside federation controlled space, or ran into previously unexplored anomalies and readings.

    So: Why not use the tech that already exists in the game, and introduce it to regular sector space? Have the same types of random spawns, that you can head to scan and investigate.

    Some of the current exploration missions are even reusable for this:
    • Save the ship.
    • Scan asteroid field anomalies.
    • Regular anomaly scanning (not mission).

    You can also add missions where you find some artifact that you have to salvage, with a variant where to have to defend it against scavengers, and missions alike.

    Obviously, the frequency of appearances should be significantly less than what they are now, but it would bring back usefulness to sector space, once you are through with the missions.

    This was just the irregular brain-TRIBBLE from me.

    Exept, Klingons scanning anomalies? :eek: Feds and Romulans I can see doing that, but Klingons? Nope
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • anazondaanazonda Member Posts: 8,399 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    jmaster29 wrote: »
    Exept, Klingons scanning anomalies? :eek: Feds and Romulans I can see doing that, but Klingons? Nope

    Look at it the warrior way: Could an anomaly be converted into a weapon? Yes... You can weaponize pretty much everything.

    Also the klingons DO need anomalies for crafting... Granted, not much use for that at this point, but eventually... who knows?
    Don't look silly... Don't call it the "Z-Store/Zen Store"...
    Let me put the rumors to rest: it's definitely still the C-Store (Cryptic Store) It just takes ZEN.
    Like Duty Officers? Support effords to gather ideas
  • jmaster29jmaster29 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    anazonda wrote: »
    Look at it the warrior way: Could an anomaly be converted into a weapon? Yes... You can weaponize pretty much everything.

    Also the klingons DO need anomalies for crafting... Granted, not much use for that at this point, but eventually... who knows?

    Good point. If they can weaponise it, GIVE ME NAOW!!

    I'm in :D
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • voporakvoporak Member Posts: 5,621 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    jmaster29 wrote: »
    Exept, Klingons scanning anomalies? :eek: Feds and Romulans I can see doing that, but Klingons? Nope

    *Klingons scan an anomaly*

    Officer: There is a .02% phase variance!

    Captain: .02%? Wonderful! We must celebrate!

    *Captain plays music while the bridge crew gets up and does the chicken dance*
    I ask nothing but that you remember me.
  • kurumimorishitakurumimorishita Member Posts: 1,410 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    Some nice ideas there.. really would love this as part of a big exploration overhaul. And I'd also like to see much more combinations of "Away Missions" and "DOFF"-Missions.. yeah.. we already have some.. esp. ones that use particles, but why not build upon that, too? I think with some creativity they could pull so much more out of these systems. It would also be very cool to be able to visit some of the colonies, that you helped during the "Support Colonization Efforts"-Missions - perhaps even to be able to do some Away Missions there, too.
    "We might get pretty singed at that range, but not as singed as they're going to get. Engage."
    - Captain Six of Nine aka Ashley "Don't Call Me Ash" Campbell
    q4F10XV.jpg
    ALWAYS OUTNUMBERED, NEVER OUTGUNNED
  • angrytargangrytarg Member Posts: 11,016 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    jmaster29 wrote: »
    Exept, Klingons scanning anomalies? :eek: Feds and Romulans I can see doing that, but Klingons? Nope
    voporak wrote: »
    *Klingons scan an anomaly*

    Officer: There is a .02% phase variance!

    Captain: .02%? Wonderful! We must celebrate!

    *Captain plays music while the bridge crew gets up and does the chicken dance*


    :D

    Although, canonically, keep in mind Klingons aren't Orcs, Gorn even less. Even though the KDF is, unlike Starfleet, the military arm of the empire, Klingons still need to conduct surveys just like Starfleet. They need ressources, new colonies and it's not wise to fly through space blindly in search for people to shoot - Klingons aren't supposed to work that way.

    Even the Empire conducts scientific surveys.
    lFC4bt2.gif
    ^ 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
  • cbrjwrrcbrjwrr Member Posts: 2,782 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    anazonda wrote: »

    .Snip.

    Great idea.
  • anazondaanazonda Member Posts: 8,399 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    Was just thinking...

    If they could introduce a "Exploration" option to the voting on foundry missions, they could be added to that list as well... say, if a mission has 25 votes on Exploration, it would automatically be added to list of missions for the exploring in the sector they start out in?

    Granted there would be some problems with that, but still...
    Don't look silly... Don't call it the "Z-Store/Zen Store"...
    Let me put the rumors to rest: it's definitely still the C-Store (Cryptic Store) It just takes ZEN.
    Like Duty Officers? Support effords to gather ideas
  • grendelthewise#0990 grendelthewise Member Posts: 640 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    I remember starting this game two years ago that the exploration areas were great to get stuff. Now I see it has a waste of space and if Cryptic can use these areas to expand the game I am all for it.
    Fleet Admiral of the U.S.S. ATTILA KHAN-CDA (NX-921911).
  • the1tiggletthe1tigglet Member Posts: 1,421 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    As a real veteran of this game I've spent alot fo time in there ending up with millions of points on my main before they had projects to sink them into.

    I am glad that they are removing them if they aren't planning on updating them because the load times on them are just stupid long. I'd much rather see more missions like we see in EA where we can help a cargo ship by providing medical assistance and defense or save deuterium tanks from True Way raiders.

    I would however love to have some science/medical missions in federation space that has dilithium or other special rewards (like those handy deuterium tanks) for our ships or ground use inside federation space. It would liven things up a bit.
  • revandarklighterrevandarklighter Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    anazonda wrote: »
    Was just thinking...

    If they could introduce a "Exploration" option to the voting on foundry missions, they could be added to that list as well... say, if a mission has 25 votes on Exploration, it would automatically be added to list of missions for the exploring in the sector they start out in?

    Granted there would be some problems with that, but still...

    I like the Idea but I think that mission would have to match certain particular criteria to work as exploration mission.
  • originalshakkaroriginalshakkar Member Posts: 86 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    I've spent enormous amounts of time in the exploration zones. I used to level characters up principally between them and use them to get data samples to craft to sell. It's safe to say I've done every single iteration of the exploration system as it now exists. And of course the random nature of the system means you often get silly or incomprehensible stories or planets. The Borg are searching for relics of their Third Dynasty you say? Yeah, that's the reason lots of people gave up on the exploration.

    What the exploration needs are lots of little self-contained stories; mini-episodes if you will. But Cryptic isn't likely within the next few years to have the manpower to completely revamp the system. But we do have the manpower to make tons of little missions that could be added to the system. Eventually we take out the random missions entirely. Obviously there is room for abuse, but the fact is we already rate and review the content and some foundry missions become spotlighted.

    Just like a mission needs a certain number of requirements met before it becomes eligible for rewards, exploration missions would need a set of parameters. Then let the community crank out hundreds of them, and the ones which pass muster could be added to the exploration system, or to get back on the original topic, also implemented in sector space as random encounters.

    To make this idea happen more quickly, there are certain types of exploration missions that hold up well and could be implemented in sector space. Protect the station/ship and enemy confrontation ones come to mind. Of course we could also add scan anomalies either in sector space or as part of the random encounters there.

    Unfortunately, unless there is a way to make money from working on this system they probably will not work on it in favor of other things that will make them money. That's why I want the community to do much of the work for them.
    I used to be Shakkar with thousands of posts. My very identity was stolen from me so now I am originalshakkar, the original.
  • johngazmanjohngazman Member Posts: 2,826 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    anazonda wrote: »
    I don't think the Exploration maps are being used properly

    Obviously. Exploration as a whole isn't being constructed to it's fullest capabilities. Because it can't yet be monetised, obviously. I fully expect an Exploration Reputation at some point.
    anazonda wrote: »
    Now I may be wrong about this, but I don't think the Exploration maps are being used properly, and I don't think people are visiting them enough for them to actually make them worth Cryptic's attention (they seem to agree, as the zones haven't gotten ANY attention since Season 2 apart from the occasional Exploit fix and the "Aid the planet nerf").

    It's a Catch-22 situation. If Cryptic put more effort into the content featured in the Exploration maps, people would probably use them more. Sometimes, they need to work on a basis of "if we build it, they will come" rather than their current business plan of "we won't build it until they come."
    You're just a machine. And machines can be broken.
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  • snoggymack22snoggymack22 Member Posts: 7,084 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    anazonda wrote: »
    How many of you spend time in the exploration zones? I mean really spend time, not just for farming the occasional samples, or just to do daily for dil?

    I do. It used to be, back in the day, the only thing I really did in the game. For quite some time.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • gurugeorgegurugeorge Member Posts: 421 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    I still do exploration now and then, just to get a little bit of a Star Trek feel and get away from the gamey-game feel of the game. i.e. sometimes it's just nice to pretend to be a starship captain exploring. I agree it would be neat to mix up exploration type missions with sector space.

    Ideally, it would be great if Cryptic got more into refining the procedurally-generated content aspect of it, so the exploration missions are richer and more varied. But I guess that's unlikely to happen, if at all, for a long time.
  • jaymaverick007jaymaverick007 Member Posts: 116 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    I like this idea !

    In combination to with having deep space explorable
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    Known simply as -Maverick-
    Klingons should Beware of Maverick.
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  • snoggymack22snoggymack22 Member Posts: 7,084 Arc User
    edited March 2014

    In combination to with having deep space explorable

    Their engine won't allow for that.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • anazondaanazonda Member Posts: 8,399 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    Their engine won't allow for that.

    Nope... This is true...

    However, fly up to a sector border, and use the subspace jump... The area you can work with is before Tacos famous "jump-n-bump" becomes an issue HUGE. (Spend several hours a week ago flying outside the sector borders).
    Don't look silly... Don't call it the "Z-Store/Zen Store"...
    Let me put the rumors to rest: it's definitely still the C-Store (Cryptic Store) It just takes ZEN.
    Like Duty Officers? Support effords to gather ideas
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