Indeed, I quite enjoy the race too.... wish they would leave the ramps up really so I can run around it when the race isn't going on. IT's just fun to find spot to jump the board. But alas, this is what makes it so different between you and I and some of hte others...... we do the race because we have fun doing, and we can get tags out of.... they are doing only because they want tags. Ultimately nothing will appease them because they are not doing it for fun, they are doing it for grind; and therefore their problem isn't the race, but their own attitude.
I agree it mostly has to deal with their attitude. I got like 2-3 tags from it for a monkey. So I do it again, I should able to get a monkey.
Most players comes either a positive or negative attitude. Mine is positive as I see the more fun factor out of the game.
Other attitude when it mostly comes to PVP (race included) is a spirit of competition. Which can leads to boasting and lot of hurt feelings. Or the feeling you thought it wasn't being fair.
In all its a game, have fun. If not then don't do it. As its not for you.
USS Casinghead NCC 92047 launched 2350
Fleet Admiral Stowe - Dominion War Vet.
It could be fun but needs some work. First of all it needs to be more often, and maybe a pve version you can run anytime you want. Also the flag grabbing at the end is a bad idea, it can make you get disqualified and get no reward , which is unfair. I would like to be able to choose just favors as a reward instead of feathers.
It'd be nice if there was at least the appearance that enough skill with a standard board could have a slim chance against a superior but when the superior is out of render distance in 5 seconds it's superior or go home.
And to the inevitable "get a superior board nub!" responses if I don't feel they are fair in competition why would I get one?
Give them better handling and a touch more speed, not full impulse while standards are stuck in a nebula.
This is my Risian Corvette. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
It'd be nice if there was at least the appearance that enough skill with a standard board could have a slim chance against a superior...
I wouldn't have believed it myself, but this morning my Standard 50-Favor board was in a race against two other players with Superior boards. I came in second.
Sure, one of the Superiors came in first, by far, but I beat the other Superior with a Standard board. I'll further give you the fact that it was likely a "Perfect Storm" situation where my bad-assery skills met with his utter-incompetence, but I'm just saying, there's your slim chance. Skill Matters.
...to the inevitable "get a superior board nub!" responses if I don't feel they are fair in competition why would I get one?
I've asked this before in this thread, but never got a reply from that player (or anyone else):
I'm curious of anyone complaining about fast-vs-slow boards, how do you feel about PvP ship-to-ship combat? Should all players be playing with the same Common Mk XII weapons and gear, in the same ships?
Getting an advantage through a better board is no different than how players put effort into improving their Levels, Skills, Reps, DOffs, Traits, Weapons, Gear, etc. to be competitive in other PvP.
It's not a matter of unfair, it's a matter of willingness to put effort into being better.
...[The Race-Ending Grab The Flag Mechanic is] only "unfair" (Oh, how I've come to loathe that word) if different players have different mechanics in play, and the race finish is the same for everyone.
Agreed, and very well said.
You can find/contact me in game as @PatricianVetinari. Playing STO since Feb 2010.
I'm curious of anyone complaining about fast-vs-slow boards, how do you feel about PvP ship-to-ship combat? Should all players be playing with the same Common Mk XII weapons and gear, in the same ships?
I don't PvP in games where you don't do it with the same gear and by same gear I don't mean gear that is only acquired after slamming your head into the raid wall with 79 of your closest friends.
This is my Risian Corvette. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
I wouldn't have believed it myself, but this morning my Standard 50-Favor board was in a race against two other players with Superior boards. I came in second.
Sure, one of the Superiors came in first, by far, but I beat the other Superior with a Standard board. I'll further give you the fact that it was likely a "Perfect Storm" situation where my bad-assery skills met with his utter-incompetence, but I'm just saying, there's your slim chance. Skill Matters.
Not that skill matters, it's the utter lack of skill that matters. Between a basic and superior board, it's the utter LACK of skill of the player on a superior that will be the only reason for the basic to win. There's nothing the player on a basic can do himself (above not TRIBBLE up himself) in order to win with it against a superior unless that one screws up.
I actually came in second today among a good number of the 500 favor boards (advanced, or what they're called?). There was curiously not a single superior and of course, one of the 'advanced' was the winner by a huge margin. Despite the fact that I managed a really nice run, I certainly didn't come up with anything that would guarantee competitivness with better boards (as that first placed one clearly shows). Clearly the other ones must have stopped for a long time or get downright disqualified (at least some definitely got to the finish later).
I still think creating such inegalities in a Summer event minigame (that is the unique source of one item) was a very bad idea.
But let's say my anger's dissipated and I don't really participate with the basic boards for wins or tags anymore, mainly just to get the 20 runs for the accolade.
TOIVA, Toi Vaxx, Toia Vix, Toveg, T'vritha, To Vrax: Bring in the Allegiance class. Toi'Va, Ti'vath, Toivia, Ty'Vris, Tia Vex, Toi'Virth: Add Tier 6 KDF Carrier and Raider. Tae'Va, T'Vaya, To'Var, Tevra, T'Vira, To'Vrak: Give us Asylums for Romulans.
Considering how much time I've been spending playing Mario Kart 8 recently, I think I know what this needs to balance everything out:
Blue Shells
:P
I'm not entirely joking though. Mario Kart has a mechanic by which players further back are granted more powerful weapons to use against those ahead of them. This creates an element of chaos that gives a beginner at least a fighting chance against a veteran. Maybe some sort of items to use against the other players would give more people a decent chance to win their 6 tags?
More like to spite or to deliberately TRIBBLE them off, because the only one who has fun is the winners and those who laugh at those who go from first place or second to last place, because they suck so bad they can't grab the flag. Yeah, who cares about handicapped players who are mechanically incapable.
That flag mechanic is one of the worst things that has ever been put into STO, and whomever thought of it should be xxxxx.
And on top of it all, I have no idea why they ignore the requests for ways to earn Monkey tags that doesn't involve this stupid race.
The flag-grab mechanism strikes me as having several design purposes, but the one that immediately sprung to mind is anti-botting.
I hadn't thought of that, but it's a possibility all right. you could do one run to capture the key presses you made and use a script to repeat it. Nowhere near reliable, it definitely has the potential to go horribly wrong, but it's definitely a way to bot the race. Well, would be except that the flag positions are not set.
In a couple days, we'll have grinded out the high end boards, and the P2W advantage will be gone. No need to panic about being at a disadvantage on day one. I'm not going to spend a dime, and I think I'll have my UFP powerboard tomorrow.
The UFP board has the same specs as the other superior boards. Why waste the favors?
I remain empathetic to the concerns of my community, but do me a favor and lay off the god damn name calling and petty remarks. It will get you nowhere.
I must admit, respect points to Trendy for laying down the law like that.
The race is essentially one to the first boost. If 2 racers are essentially equal to that point, the one who is slightly ahead is going to get the boost while the one in 2nd place is going to fall further behind without any way of catching up because the boost has a timer attached to it before it resets. Meanwhile, the person who is in third or fourth is likely to pass that 2nd place person because they will actually get the boost that the 2nd place person missed out on.
I don't PvP in games where you don't do it with the same gear and by same gear I don't mean gear that is only acquired after slamming your head into the raid wall with 79 of your closest friends.
So you're not a fan of MMO PvP Gear Progression. Got it. Personally, I like itemization and the ability to work for something better. Just a difference of opinion, then.
...I have no idea why they ignore the requests for ways to earn Monkey tags that doesn't involve this stupid race.
Just a guess, but maybe their arbitrary intention is simply that Monkeys be a PvP-only reward? I remember in the pre-F2P days, STO had some particular items that could only be purchased with Medals of Honor (PvP-currency). It's existed before, it could be happening again.
And besides, you don't have to Win (or even Place) to get Monkey tags. You just have to participate. You get two tags just from finishing, which is pretty easy to do. I showed my 64-year-old dad how to run the race for the first time last night (he ran it, I just stood over his shoulder and provided suggestions on how to steer his way). He came in near last on his 50-Favor board, got his two tags and really enjoyed himself. An hour and a half later he called me up all happy that his first Monkey DOff assignment was in-progress.
But, I suppose, if you think it's stupid, you're welcome to that opinion, and no one's forcing you to do it. >shrug<
The race is essentially one to the first boost. If 2 racers are essentially equal to that point, the one who is slightly ahead is going to get the boost while the one in 2nd place is going to fall further behind without any way of catching up because the boost has a timer attached to it before it resets. Meanwhile, the person who is in third or fourth is likely to pass that 2nd place person because they will actually get the boost that the 2nd place person missed out on.
The boosts are inconsistent. I've been right behind, in front of, and several behind ...virtually every possible position and most times (90%+) the boost is supplied regardless of where I'm at and how many people have or have not already gone over it. That being said, there are times I'm the first to go over and get nothing.
You can find/contact me in game as @PatricianVetinari. Playing STO since Feb 2010.
The boosts are inconsistent. I've been right behind, in front of, and several behind ...virtually every possible position and most times (90%+) the boost is supplied regardless of where I'm at and how many people have or have not already gone over it. That being said, there are times I'm the first to go over and get nothing.
I've been observing very much the same. At this point I'd even dare say it's random. Or maybe random whenever several racers are close to each other. When racing far from other racers, typically the boosts are applied (though I encountered the oposite cases as well).
I pretty much gave up on getting better than 2 tags out of this. At least as long as there are so many people racing. Any better than that should then be a nice surprise...
TOIVA, Toi Vaxx, Toia Vix, Toveg, T'vritha, To Vrax: Bring in the Allegiance class. Toi'Va, Ti'vath, Toivia, Ty'Vris, Tia Vex, Toi'Virth: Add Tier 6 KDF Carrier and Raider. Tae'Va, T'Vaya, To'Var, Tevra, T'Vira, To'Vrak: Give us Asylums for Romulans.
I've been observing very much the same. At this point I'd even dare say it's random. Or maybe random whenever several racers are close to each other. When racing far from other racers, typically the boosts are applied (though I encountered the oposite cases as well).
I pretty much gave up on getting better than 2 tags out of this. At least as long as there are so many people racing. Any better than that should then be a nice surprise...
I've also noted that sometimes you won't see the colored flash until you're halfway to the next boost..
So you're not a fan of MMO PvP Gear Progression. Got it. Personally, I like itemization and the ability to work for something better. Just a difference of opinion, then.
Would chess be fun if you started with a pawn and king and your opponent had all his pieces upgraded to queens, an extra row of pieces, and to checkmate his king required simultaneous check from five different pieces?
This is my Risian Corvette. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
Would chess be fun if you started with a pawn and king and your opponent had all his pieces upgraded to queens, an extra row of pieces, and to checkmate his king required simultaneous check from five different pieces?
No, probably not. But then again that's a strawman point you're making.
All players have the same access to upgrade their chess pieces. So there wouldn't be the need to play with only a pawn and king unless a person were too stubborn or otherwise unwilling to follow the same guidelines, earn rewards (be they favors directly, EC for favors, Lobi for favors, etc.), and get upgraded.
You can find/contact me in game as @PatricianVetinari. Playing STO since Feb 2010.
No, probably not. But then again that's a strawman point you're making.
All players have the same access to upgrade their chess pieces. So there wouldn't be the need to play with only a pawn and king unless a person were too stubborn or otherwise unwilling to follow the same guidelines, earn rewards (be they favors directly, EC for favors, Lobi for favors, etc.), and get upgraded.
So Mr. Newb has the same access to gear as the T5 Fleet Tycoon with capped EC?
Nothing says equal access like first day of event superior boards.
This is my Risian Corvette. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
I actually got a 1st place on a cheapo board on my 3rd race but only because of the timezone i'm in there is a quite time with not many players online and the race i was in had 3 people including me who all had cheapo boards lol.
Now while that made me laugh and happy to win it really is a contradiction of cryptics "must nerf anything OP and add BALANCE to the game" .
Why else have we had our traits redone and everything else they have messed with to add this so called balance to the game and go make a total mockery of it by adding superfast boards that require a a certain amount of pay to win (even if it is just a matter of how long you have to grind to get the favours) that gives you a huge advantage to get 1st to 3rd place which gives you more tags which then gives you more marks as you can run more of the doff missions while the poor part time players who wanted to have a "fair" race with a equal chance of winning and getting marks for things have even less time now as they have almost zero chance of winning.
wow all i feel like i do these days is complain about how messed up cryptics decisions are in a game i used to really enjoy playing
So Mr. Newb has the same access to gear as the T5 Fleet Tycoon with capped EC?
Sure, if he puts in the time and effort (and/or money) of your Tycoon.
Any gamer that starts an MMO that includes things like levels and skill points and experience and gear would probably expect to not be as good as players who have been playing for years (or even weeks/months).
If they don't expect it, it's something they'll learn soon enough.
Nothing says equal access like first day of event superior boards.
There's no cap to how many favors you can earn (or buy). Put time/effort (and/or money) into it and you can have your Superior Board in a few hours (or less).
You can find/contact me in game as @PatricianVetinari. Playing STO since Feb 2010.
At the basis I see it as a design flaw that gear and or items are mandatory in a PvP competition environment. The great thing about the winter race is the fact for me that you can compete just as you are. Winning is pure skill.
This summer race is different. To win we have to work first to get good stuff. Thrue, to win in PvP we also have to work to get good gear and items first. It is a standard MMO feature. Although Guildwars I, a game that was designed overall with a strong PvP element, didn't have it and that is widely recognized as a great design.
I would like to PvP, but I don't, because I don't like to do all the things to get the gear that will make me competive. People may say that I want it easy, that I am lazy. They are wrong. I do play this game a lot. I like it. But I have a lot of characters. I like to deck them out with nice gear. That means there is not one has top gear. I already collected enough favours for 12 bathing suits.
I know these are all choices I made and I realise that you cannot have it all. Still, in a simple mini game like the surf board race, I wonder if it is necessary to bring in the element of itemization as we have it in the rest of the game.
In a way I think this course is easier than the winter course. I usually win the winter course and finish last in Risa. It's pretty much all about the fast board as it's easy enough to run a clean race.
That said it doesn't bother me. I just have to run it 3x a day. I doubt I'll invest in the good board because there's too much else to buy. I calculated I need some 12000 favors or more and will earn maybe 14000 at the rate I'm going.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: "We think we've come so far. Torture of heretics, burning of witches, it's all ancient history. Then - before you can blink an eye - suddenly it threatens to start all over again."
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."
Havelock, the problem of your reasoning (which is sound when it comes to regular gameplay, such as normal PvE or PvP queues) is this is supposed to be a FUN time limited event. Yes, it's quite clearly another grind thrown upon us, but that doesn't change the fact it's supposed to be an opportunity for all players (from lvl 11 to 50, no matter if fleeted or not, no matter if with completed reputations or not, ...) to gather together and have fun. That is, more than outside this, or the winter, event. We're brought together regardless of our char or ship gear that no longer matters on that one map.
Now the great distiction coming between standard and superior boards is in my opinion too large a stretch from that philosophy.
The floaters I can understand, yes they favor those capable of getting favors fast and in large quantities, but the rental is still more than capable of all the duties you can expect to use it in. It will take you more time, but you don't specifically lose to someone else.
The hoverboards are a step too far beyond that line and that¨s why I feel they were a bad design decision.
TOIVA, Toi Vaxx, Toia Vix, Toveg, T'vritha, To Vrax: Bring in the Allegiance class. Toi'Va, Ti'vath, Toivia, Ty'Vris, Tia Vex, Toi'Virth: Add Tier 6 KDF Carrier and Raider. Tae'Va, T'Vaya, To'Var, Tevra, T'Vira, To'Vrak: Give us Asylums for Romulans.
I agree with the people that say the boards are unfair cause they are I mean the board I currently use which is a basic board (50 favors) is 10 speeds less then that of the superior boards. if they keep the event for next year then they should make it a Q'd event in where it will have a cool down as to how many times you can do it. also they need to just take out the booster feature cause you got some that it will work for and others that it wont. I guess you could say it depends on how you hit the ramp But ive hit the ramp didn't get the boost and seen ppl completely miss the ramp and get it. it is bugged and you know they are not going to do anything about it cause its not a priority to them on account that its a limited time event. they will turn around and say that well we will take note for next year. WELL HERE IS THAT NOTE PWE. ON BOTH SUBJECTS. im not mad its just I and I will get some tags and some favors which is fine I will continue to play it but they need to really think I through and make it a area where its lvl against lvl for the boards in that only superior boards race superior boards and basic boards race basic boards. and also make it if you go out of bounds (outside the white lights) you get disqualified I have been passed by a lot of players that have found that loop hole in that shortcut area heck some times ppl are on the rental boards which is really funny if you think of it cause you have ppl that are on the basic ones going the correct way and when they get to that spot they get passed by however many ppl are on the rentals cause they go outside the lines and cut off a second or two on the race.
Its your typical PVP game on many MMOs. Your usually tossed into a match where your usually out geared. So that player without good gear is usually "cannon fodder". Then you have people yelling out its not fair. That is how it goes on these PVP.
This is one reason why I don't do PVP anymore. I got tired of being the "cannon fodder" on battle grounds. This was back when I played WoW. Since then I don't do it anymore, cause most MMOs has this. Like on this game. Is it fair I'm doing a ground battle against players with higher level of gear. Is it fair I'm going against players with better gear on their ships. So how is that fun and equal.
The power board race is the same set up. Thus you have this crying about it. Bottom line if you don't like it. Then don't do it. Your not forced to do it. I will do it a couple more times, mainly cause I want to. And I thought it was good for RP. But I won't keep doing them.
In all its a game for fun. That is where it counts.
USS Casinghead NCC 92047 launched 2350
Fleet Admiral Stowe - Dominion War Vet.
I actually dread coming 2nd or 3rd in a close race, as you have to play guess where the winning flag is going to pop up.
Like many have said, put 2nd and 3rd right behind 1st.
Also, to those saying that the game engine would not work with a simple cross the line mechanic for winning, it does detect when you go under the streamers for the rest of the race's legs. Why can that not trip a 1st, 2nd, 3rd scoreboard at the finishing line?
Also those boosters tick me off. I'll be 1st. I won't get a boost, but the guy behind me, following the exact same route will.
Havelock, the problem of your reasoning (which is sound when it comes to regular gameplay, such as normal PvE or PvP queues) is this is supposed to be a FUN time limited event. Yes, it's quite clearly another grind thrown upon us, but that doesn't change the fact it's supposed to be an opportunity for all players... to gather together and have fun. That is, more than outside this, or the winter, event. We're brought together regardless of our char or ship gear that no longer matters on that one map.
Toiva, I see your point. It's a nice idea that these Winter/Summer Events are only Fun Zones, unrelated to the rest of the game.
But I wonder who said it was suppose to be as you described? Where is it written that Risa is supposed to only be this equal playing field wonderland? Because it seems to me by execution, certain elements of it, like the PvP race, are QUITE CLEARLY INTENDED to be a grind-driven "arms-race" between characters.
Sure, most of the map and its features appear to be solo-playable fluffy-"fun"-grindy stuff. But this one feature - The powerboard race, is specifically set up as a "competitive" exercise between players.
My take on it is that most of the Risian Event's features are designed for the "casual" player, or otherwise for the people who want the "get away" wonderland you describe. However, I like to think that in an effort to cater to those of us who want something a little more "challenging" (where gear, and the effort it takes to get it, does matter) they put in this race.
It's my opinion they're just trying to please more people. You have to remember that not everyone wants things just handed to them, or wants light effort, that some people find satisfaction in working for something even during "play-time" events like Risa.
Now the great distiction coming between standard and superior boards is in my opinion too large a stretch from that philosophy. The floaters I can understand, yes they favor those capable of getting favors fast and in large quantities, but the rental is still more than capable of all the duties you can expect to use it in. It will take you more time, but you don't specifically lose to someone else...
That's because in the floater minigames you aren't playing against other competitors. Somebody is going to lose in PvP, that's just how the cookie crumbles. So here's where our argument comes to a agree-to-disagree moment. Because your opinion is that it's a bad cookie, and my opinion is that it tastes just as good crumbled up. :cool:
However, your argument wants to take away from those of us who enjoy working for equipment and being able to brag that we bought the special Fed or KDF (and where the H is the Romulan board?) 1,500-Favor power board (even though it's no better than the other 1,000-Favor Superior), but we can blow away all the slower boards and look cool doing it.
Whereas I think Cryptic did a fine job catering to as many people as possible, here they cater back to the "takin' it easy crowd" - There are participation rewards, such that with time/effort there really is no loser. EVERYTHING that a winner can get, the Favors, the Monkeys, even the 1st Place Ripper accolade, can be acquired by "losers", if they replay the game.
So your choices are to grind a little more upfront and get a Superior board, or pay little/nothing upfront, and race a few extra times a day to get your tags, monkeys, and eventually even the accolade.
You can find/contact me in game as @PatricianVetinari. Playing STO since Feb 2010.
The flags at the finish line don't bother me so much, as it's the responsibility of each player to grab their flag. If you blow it, it's your own fault- we're all on equal footing.
My problem with this race is with these stupid speed boosts along the way. They don't work consistently. Either every player should get the boosts when they cross the threshold, or no players should get the boost. I'd like to see them done away with entirely.
Comments
I agree it mostly has to deal with their attitude. I got like 2-3 tags from it for a monkey. So I do it again, I should able to get a monkey.
Most players comes either a positive or negative attitude. Mine is positive as I see the more fun factor out of the game.
Other attitude when it mostly comes to PVP (race included) is a spirit of competition. Which can leads to boasting and lot of hurt feelings. Or the feeling you thought it wasn't being fair.
In all its a game, have fun. If not then don't do it. As its not for you.
USS Casinghead NCC 92047 launched 2350
Fleet Admiral Stowe - Dominion War Vet.
However, got to say, I wish the grab flag mechanic went the way of the dodo.
It distorts the actual race part of it, is open to abuse and is just plain annoying.
If an anti-bot click was necessary then put one at the end of the race to claim the prize, not determine which one you get.
And to the inevitable "get a superior board nub!" responses if I don't feel they are fair in competition why would I get one?
Give them better handling and a touch more speed, not full impulse while standards are stuck in a nebula.
Sure, one of the Superiors came in first, by far, but I beat the other Superior with a Standard board. I'll further give you the fact that it was likely a "Perfect Storm" situation where my bad-assery skills met with his utter-incompetence, but I'm just saying, there's your slim chance. Skill Matters.
:cool:
I've asked this before in this thread, but never got a reply from that player (or anyone else):
I'm curious of anyone complaining about fast-vs-slow boards, how do you feel about PvP ship-to-ship combat? Should all players be playing with the same Common Mk XII weapons and gear, in the same ships?
Getting an advantage through a better board is no different than how players put effort into improving their Levels, Skills, Reps, DOffs, Traits, Weapons, Gear, etc. to be competitive in other PvP.
It's not a matter of unfair, it's a matter of willingness to put effort into being better.
Agreed, and very well said.
You can find/contact me in game as @PatricianVetinari. Playing STO since Feb 2010.
I don't PvP in games where you don't do it with the same gear and by same gear I don't mean gear that is only acquired after slamming your head into the raid wall with 79 of your closest friends.
Not that skill matters, it's the utter lack of skill that matters. Between a basic and superior board, it's the utter LACK of skill of the player on a superior that will be the only reason for the basic to win. There's nothing the player on a basic can do himself (above not TRIBBLE up himself) in order to win with it against a superior unless that one screws up.
I actually came in second today among a good number of the 500 favor boards (advanced, or what they're called?). There was curiously not a single superior and of course, one of the 'advanced' was the winner by a huge margin. Despite the fact that I managed a really nice run, I certainly didn't come up with anything that would guarantee competitivness with better boards (as that first placed one clearly shows). Clearly the other ones must have stopped for a long time or get downright disqualified (at least some definitely got to the finish later).
I still think creating such inegalities in a Summer event minigame (that is the unique source of one item) was a very bad idea.
But let's say my anger's dissipated and I don't really participate with the basic boards for wins or tags anymore, mainly just to get the 20 runs for the accolade.
Toi'Va, Ti'vath, Toivia, Ty'Vris, Tia Vex, Toi'Virth: Add Tier 6 KDF Carrier and Raider.
Tae'Va, T'Vaya, To'Var, Tevra, T'Vira, To'Vrak: Give us Asylums for Romulans.
Don't make ARC mandatory! Keep it optional only!
Blue Shells
:P
I'm not entirely joking though. Mario Kart has a mechanic by which players further back are granted more powerful weapons to use against those ahead of them. This creates an element of chaos that gives a beginner at least a fighting chance against a veteran. Maybe some sort of items to use against the other players would give more people a decent chance to win their 6 tags?
More like to spite or to deliberately TRIBBLE them off, because the only one who has fun is the winners and those who laugh at those who go from first place or second to last place, because they suck so bad they can't grab the flag. Yeah, who cares about handicapped players who are mechanically incapable.
That flag mechanic is one of the worst things that has ever been put into STO, and whomever thought of it should be xxxxx.
And on top of it all, I have no idea why they ignore the requests for ways to earn Monkey tags that doesn't involve this stupid race.
My character Tsin'xing
Bragging rights.
Just a guess, but maybe their arbitrary intention is simply that Monkeys be a PvP-only reward? I remember in the pre-F2P days, STO had some particular items that could only be purchased with Medals of Honor (PvP-currency). It's existed before, it could be happening again.
And besides, you don't have to Win (or even Place) to get Monkey tags. You just have to participate. You get two tags just from finishing, which is pretty easy to do. I showed my 64-year-old dad how to run the race for the first time last night (he ran it, I just stood over his shoulder and provided suggestions on how to steer his way). He came in near last on his 50-Favor board, got his two tags and really enjoyed himself. An hour and a half later he called me up all happy that his first Monkey DOff assignment was in-progress.
But, I suppose, if you think it's stupid, you're welcome to that opinion, and no one's forcing you to do it. >shrug<
The boosts are inconsistent. I've been right behind, in front of, and several behind ...virtually every possible position and most times (90%+) the boost is supplied regardless of where I'm at and how many people have or have not already gone over it. That being said, there are times I'm the first to go over and get nothing.
You can find/contact me in game as @PatricianVetinari. Playing STO since Feb 2010.
I've been observing very much the same. At this point I'd even dare say it's random. Or maybe random whenever several racers are close to each other. When racing far from other racers, typically the boosts are applied (though I encountered the oposite cases as well).
I pretty much gave up on getting better than 2 tags out of this. At least as long as there are so many people racing. Any better than that should then be a nice surprise...
Toi'Va, Ti'vath, Toivia, Ty'Vris, Tia Vex, Toi'Virth: Add Tier 6 KDF Carrier and Raider.
Tae'Va, T'Vaya, To'Var, Tevra, T'Vira, To'Vrak: Give us Asylums for Romulans.
Don't make ARC mandatory! Keep it optional only!
My character Tsin'xing
Would chess be fun if you started with a pawn and king and your opponent had all his pieces upgraded to queens, an extra row of pieces, and to checkmate his king required simultaneous check from five different pieces?
All players have the same access to upgrade their chess pieces. So there wouldn't be the need to play with only a pawn and king unless a person were too stubborn or otherwise unwilling to follow the same guidelines, earn rewards (be they favors directly, EC for favors, Lobi for favors, etc.), and get upgraded.
You can find/contact me in game as @PatricianVetinari. Playing STO since Feb 2010.
So Mr. Newb has the same access to gear as the T5 Fleet Tycoon with capped EC?
Nothing says equal access like first day of event superior boards.
Now while that made me laugh and happy to win it really is a contradiction of cryptics "must nerf anything OP and add BALANCE to the game" .
Why else have we had our traits redone and everything else they have messed with to add this so called balance to the game and go make a total mockery of it by adding superfast boards that require a a certain amount of pay to win (even if it is just a matter of how long you have to grind to get the favours) that gives you a huge advantage to get 1st to 3rd place which gives you more tags which then gives you more marks as you can run more of the doff missions while the poor part time players who wanted to have a "fair" race with a equal chance of winning and getting marks for things have even less time now as they have almost zero chance of winning.
wow all i feel like i do these days is complain about how messed up cryptics decisions are in a game i used to really enjoy playing
Any gamer that starts an MMO that includes things like levels and skill points and experience and gear would probably expect to not be as good as players who have been playing for years (or even weeks/months).
If they don't expect it, it's something they'll learn soon enough.
There's no cap to how many favors you can earn (or buy). Put time/effort (and/or money) into it and you can have your Superior Board in a few hours (or less).
You can find/contact me in game as @PatricianVetinari. Playing STO since Feb 2010.
This summer race is different. To win we have to work first to get good stuff. Thrue, to win in PvP we also have to work to get good gear and items first. It is a standard MMO feature. Although Guildwars I, a game that was designed overall with a strong PvP element, didn't have it and that is widely recognized as a great design.
I would like to PvP, but I don't, because I don't like to do all the things to get the gear that will make me competive. People may say that I want it easy, that I am lazy. They are wrong. I do play this game a lot. I like it. But I have a lot of characters. I like to deck them out with nice gear. That means there is not one has top gear. I already collected enough favours for 12 bathing suits.
I know these are all choices I made and I realise that you cannot have it all. Still, in a simple mini game like the surf board race, I wonder if it is necessary to bring in the element of itemization as we have it in the rest of the game.
That said it doesn't bother me. I just have to run it 3x a day. I doubt I'll invest in the good board because there's too much else to buy. I calculated I need some 12000 favors or more and will earn maybe 14000 at the rate I'm going.
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."
Now the great distiction coming between standard and superior boards is in my opinion too large a stretch from that philosophy.
The floaters I can understand, yes they favor those capable of getting favors fast and in large quantities, but the rental is still more than capable of all the duties you can expect to use it in. It will take you more time, but you don't specifically lose to someone else.
The hoverboards are a step too far beyond that line and that¨s why I feel they were a bad design decision.
Toi'Va, Ti'vath, Toivia, Ty'Vris, Tia Vex, Toi'Virth: Add Tier 6 KDF Carrier and Raider.
Tae'Va, T'Vaya, To'Var, Tevra, T'Vira, To'Vrak: Give us Asylums for Romulans.
Don't make ARC mandatory! Keep it optional only!
This is one reason why I don't do PVP anymore. I got tired of being the "cannon fodder" on battle grounds. This was back when I played WoW. Since then I don't do it anymore, cause most MMOs has this. Like on this game. Is it fair I'm doing a ground battle against players with higher level of gear. Is it fair I'm going against players with better gear on their ships. So how is that fun and equal.
The power board race is the same set up. Thus you have this crying about it. Bottom line if you don't like it. Then don't do it. Your not forced to do it. I will do it a couple more times, mainly cause I want to. And I thought it was good for RP. But I won't keep doing them.
In all its a game for fun. That is where it counts.
USS Casinghead NCC 92047 launched 2350
Fleet Admiral Stowe - Dominion War Vet.
Like many have said, put 2nd and 3rd right behind 1st.
Also, to those saying that the game engine would not work with a simple cross the line mechanic for winning, it does detect when you go under the streamers for the rest of the race's legs. Why can that not trip a 1st, 2nd, 3rd scoreboard at the finishing line?
Also those boosters tick me off. I'll be 1st. I won't get a boost, but the guy behind me, following the exact same route will.
But I wonder who said it was suppose to be as you described? Where is it written that Risa is supposed to only be this equal playing field wonderland? Because it seems to me by execution, certain elements of it, like the PvP race, are QUITE CLEARLY INTENDED to be a grind-driven "arms-race" between characters.
Sure, most of the map and its features appear to be solo-playable fluffy-"fun"-grindy stuff. But this one feature - The powerboard race, is specifically set up as a "competitive" exercise between players.
My take on it is that most of the Risian Event's features are designed for the "casual" player, or otherwise for the people who want the "get away" wonderland you describe. However, I like to think that in an effort to cater to those of us who want something a little more "challenging" (where gear, and the effort it takes to get it, does matter) they put in this race.
It's my opinion they're just trying to please more people. You have to remember that not everyone wants things just handed to them, or wants light effort, that some people find satisfaction in working for something even during "play-time" events like Risa.
That's because in the floater minigames you aren't playing against other competitors. Somebody is going to lose in PvP, that's just how the cookie crumbles. So here's where our argument comes to a agree-to-disagree moment. Because your opinion is that it's a bad cookie, and my opinion is that it tastes just as good crumbled up. :cool:
However, your argument wants to take away from those of us who enjoy working for equipment and being able to brag that we bought the special Fed or KDF (and where the H is the Romulan board?) 1,500-Favor power board (even though it's no better than the other 1,000-Favor Superior), but we can blow away all the slower boards and look cool doing it.
Whereas I think Cryptic did a fine job catering to as many people as possible, here they cater back to the "takin' it easy crowd" - There are participation rewards, such that with time/effort there really is no loser. EVERYTHING that a winner can get, the Favors, the Monkeys, even the 1st Place Ripper accolade, can be acquired by "losers", if they replay the game.
So your choices are to grind a little more upfront and get a Superior board, or pay little/nothing upfront, and race a few extra times a day to get your tags, monkeys, and eventually even the accolade.
You can find/contact me in game as @PatricianVetinari. Playing STO since Feb 2010.
My problem with this race is with these stupid speed boosts along the way. They don't work consistently. Either every player should get the boosts when they cross the threshold, or no players should get the boost. I'd like to see them done away with entirely.