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Cryptic, fix the mp universe

ursusmorologusursusmorologus Member Posts: 5,328 Arc User
The multiplayer universe in this game has no cohesion about anything and is just a giant dumping ground for bits and pieces of whatever was around when a map was created. You can see how this was all supposed to work, when you encounter different mini-factions in different places (like Orions and Gorn in Regulus sector patrol missions, for example), but that was abandoned long ago--where are the the Fek'Ihri, or the Elachi? You have areas with the Reman resistance faction running pirate operations, but they have no independent representation outside of Obisek and his tenous relation to the Romulans (while the vault is inaccessible).

Worse is that the mp universe is not a living dynamic thing. When you fly around and approach different landmarks, it becomes clear that sector space is basically just a lobby system for private instances and PVE queues. The MP universe doesnt even reflect the SP story that is the main focus of development (Qo'Nos shipyard destroyed? nope, there it is).

Even where there is spontaneous action its nothing but the same Red Alert over and over, the same enemy on the same instanced map everytime. Where is the Red Alert for ~Orions are pirating a Federation transport convoy, or Romulan forces are attacking Khitomer, or Elachi are attacking Crateris, or whatever?

Simply put, the mp universe is a shambles.

Clearly, most of this is due to the fact that you have prioritized the single-player story arc, but at some point you need to realize that the MP universe is where long-term players spend the majority of their time. It needs to be made whole, it needs to be a living breathing dynamic place where players can interact and participate.

You have an opporutnity here to create something beyond a story arc followed by repeatable grinding of the same queued maps over and over and over. Start with developing the NPC Factions. You already have them (as can be seen from faciton icons on ships and ground toons. Give them a capital system, make it into social zones, with faction-specific reputation chains. As characters develop reputation with the factions, they get to buy gear, buy uniforms from the tailor, buy ships, etc. Setup faction-specific commodities for trading, unique crafting resources, etc. Give them different assignment officers ("help defend this system" or "take these supplies to this base", etc). Make it a living breathing universe where players can immerse themselves into STAR TREK.

Or are you going to just keep dumping content into a lockbox/rep production line, same gameplay every day with different baddies standing in for the borg each season?

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  • ursusmorologusursusmorologus Member Posts: 5,328 Arc User
    edited April 2014
    [I wanted to put this separate from the main point]

    Imagine a United Federation of Planets faction and reputation system. Perhaps a character wants to ally with the faction (play as Starfleet). They can gain reputation by doing assignments and missions (deliver these medical supplies, establish colony contact, etc), or they can run the faction-specific storyline missions for accelerated reputation gain (which lets them get promoted at the same pace as currently), or they can just grind it like with the regular reputation system. As they work the reputation system, they advance in rank, and unlock access to various assets. Perhaps you unlock the Founder of the Federation trait that gives some buff. Maybe if you use Phasers with a Federation ship, you unlock a 2-pc Federation Combat set bonus (why did you put Phaser set bonus in Undine rep? omfg).

    Or maybe you choose to aliign with a militant Klingon house [bring the ghost of General Chang into the game!] or as a Nausicaan or something. You can see how this might play out for a dozen factions, Remans, Cardassians, etc. Forget Red-v-Blue, forget season-specific rep, make it a universe.
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