I'm not sure why they went after EC so hard. With the crafting the prices were always going to drop like a rock. There was no need to nerf the vendor trash. This only hurts the poor and new players.
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."
I'm not sure why they went after EC so hard. With the crafting the prices were always going to drop like a rock. There was no need to nerf the vendor trash. This only hurts the poor and new players.
Of course.. dude, are you new? lol. You still dont know thats the whole goal of cryptic? this game is focused to rich people and NON casual players. So, there is your answer. Poor people will need 10 years to adquire anything and casual players the same.
Doff upgrinder
Nuked STF drops and dil
Tour the galaxy
Console fabrication
Foundry
Vendor trash
Cluster assignments
They pretty much spent the last 2 years consistently going after everything that would generate a profit right down to being pitiful enough to go after vendor trash.
Yup - pretty much it has been TAKE TAKE TAKE...and they give us things to distract us like a free starship or something. That's it.
Cryptic needs to make money, that much cannot be denied.
However, they may well end up killing the Golden goose by milking it too hard.
From what I have gleaned from in game chat (and on this thread) is that quite a few people who currently make frequent C-store purchases along with grinding in order to kit out their Alts, will be (or have already) given up on their alts due to the recent and ongoing changes Cryptic is making (cutting EC, halving dilithium rewards ect).
I hope I am wrong, but I also hope Cryptic cuts back on this 'austerity' type behavior, its bad enough in the real world, and as others have pointed out below, it is an ongoing, and unpleasant pattern.
Doff upgrinder
Nuked STF drops and dil
Tour the galaxy
Console fabrication
Foundry
Vendor trash
Cluster assignments
I'm not sure why they went after EC so hard. With the crafting the prices were always going to drop like a rock. There was no need to nerf the vendor trash. This only hurts the poor and new players.
The main reason I think of is they expected people to craft and vendor the crafted items or sell it on the exchange. I think it backfired because most people run the 6k/day mission for the most part or only craft high end items. So like the above poster said, poor players and new characters can't get started.
I think they want to balance the economy but they went about it the wrong. Like an earlier poster said...retiring old lock boxes and putting the items on the Lobi store would be huge in balancing the economy and reducing inflation. They could still do the Doff series with the JHAS and Bulwark to keep that uber rare item, but everything else should be on the consortium.
That's the problem with crafting-upgrading-t5u. All of that is recycled content that didn't require any work - they haven't created anything.
You could even go as far as to say some of the weapons animations you are paying 100,000s of dil for under the upgrading regime they might not even have made themselves, that's how old that is.
So if cryptic was selling a crate of bananas you'd have a point. But they're not, they're making a game and more specifically an MMO RPG. You remember what you've been doing up to this point? Playing to acquire more and better gear. Within the game playtime is a commodity which results in better stats. What would happen if they started giving us better stats across the board for free? They'd undermine the core mechanic of MMO's.
Simple as that. They'd ruin their own game by removing its primary functional mechanism. There may still be other stuff to play/grind for but it would be depreciated by free gear and ship upgrades (and before you start, lobi/lock box ships are a special case that we've damn well covered by now.)
You used to get dil for wasting time on reputations, why aren't you getting dil for the new reputation timegates aka upgrading and crafting by any other name?
Yes, because reputations offer dilithium as a REWARD. I really don't think you need to have explained to you what you get from crafting...
Plus now cutting the dil reward for STF maps in half?
Dilithium rewards are being 1. standardized and 2. adjusted for changing difficulty. An "elite" run isn't going to mean the same thing it once in a few weeks. The rewards need to be adjusted accordingly, or else cryptic is going to run into some inflation problems.
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Yup - pretty much it has been TAKE TAKE TAKE...and they give us things to distract us like a free starship or something. That's it.
In any case, a constant pattern of nerf.
Constant pattern of nerf? This is typical highly selective reasoning. What about repeatable daily reputation assignments? Daily mark bonuses? Dilithum add-ons to adventure zones? Crafting materials (need EC, there you ****ing go. Its basically a system that funnels cash (via a generally accessible resource that the top end of the player base in particular needs in abundance) from whales to minows if the latter can bother to log a few PVE's in.)
Nah, none of that counts. It contradicts your supposition!
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
So if cryptic was selling a crate of bananas you'd have a point. But they're not, they're making a game and more specifically an MMO RPG. You remember what you've been doing up to this point? Playing to acquire more and better gear. Within the game playtime is a commodity which results in better stats. What would happen if they started giving us better stats across the board for free? They'd undermine the core mechanic of MMO's.
Simple as that. They'd ruin their own game by removing its primary functional mechanism. There may still be other stuff to play/grind for but it would be depreciated by free gear and ship upgrades (and before you start, lobi/lock box ships are a special case that we've damn well covered by now.)
Somewhat...the problem is is that PWE can't decide if they want Sand Box Elements or Linear elements. As far as ships go I think you'd be better off with making the comparsion of a 2012 to a 2013 F-150 being how Cryptic views T5-T5U but most of the masses wanting the 2015 instead. Intel ships would be the new model . Why pay money for the
Not every game requires new gear with each expansion. SWG never needed it. You only needed new gear if you changed your profession. New gear came out weapons and what not for crafters to craft.
Yes, because reputations offer dilithium as a REWARD. I really don't think you need to have explained to you what you get from crafting...
Another problem is that this is the only MMO in history that does not give a credit reward upon completion of the mission. Only vendor trash or stuff sold on exchange.
Dilithium rewards are being 1. standardized and 2. adjusted for changing difficulty. An "elite" run isn't going to mean the same thing it once in a few weeks. The rewards need to be adjusted accordingly, or else cryptic is going to run into some inflation problems.
1. Old elites used to be 1440. A better course of action would have been to give the new elite 1440, leave old elite at 960, and 240 or 480 for normal. Especially if failure means no rewards, make the risk worth it.
Constant pattern of nerf? This is typical highly selective reasoning. What about repeatable daily reputation assignments? Daily mark bonuses? Dilithum add-ons to adventure zones? Crafting materials (need EC, there you ****ing go. Its basically a system that funnels cash (via a generally accessible resource that the top end of the player base in particular needs in abundance) from whales to minows if the latter can bother to log a few PVE's in.)
Nah, none of that counts. It contradicts your supposition!
Repeatable daily rep missions max at 3 per 20 hours AND you can only do a total of 3/d no matter what not 3 per rep/day.
It's simple, they drive the dil allocation down, add more sinks, causing the dil/zen ratio to swing in their favor (meaning less dil per zen so people buy more to get more dil they need for sinks) means they think more profit for them.
The only thing they hurt are the casuals who use their limited time to get stuff efficiently. The hard core players may get slowed down a little, but it'll be a minor hindrance. They are hoping the casuals either play more or pay more..in which case a good portion will walk away from the game and find something else that supports their schedule.
all of your points are invalid, you just choose to not adapt to new rules. your propositions dose not affect any one else but you (how much are you willing to pay for all that you accounted for? 20$, more?).
game is absolutely free, have no problems whit EC, dili. and zen (have enough zen to buy the DR pack), and i got it in reasonable time of game play, for free offcores.
basically you just wont everything handed over to you for a 1h gameplay of pvp.
you can feel free to go to another game and see how much "greener" is on there side.
You my friend must have an issue with reading comprehension. Saying my points are invalid doesn't make them so. How are they invalid? You've refuted nothing and give no logical argument against them. In no way did I say that I want everything handed to me. Re-read my post 2-3 times, let it sink in, think about it some more.....then get back to me on that.
Anyway, way to keep the discussion going guys. Lets keep it going but please don't turn this into a Cryptic bashing thread. Lets discuss constructive ideas to improve the game and to balance against all the EC and Dil changes that have been implemented in the last several months and that are coming with DR.
My main point of the OP is to offer a solution, that earns Cryptic money, that will help casual players still be able to get the cool stuff in game that they'd want in a reasonable amount of time. That solution is to offer subs and lifers a significant increase to the rewards they receive from completing stfs, doff missions and anything that awards EC or Dil upon completion.
I honestly don't mind spending money on a game, but IMO all of the prices are ridiculously high and things that should be a no-brainer as free for Gold or Lifers are not (Re-specs).
I agree; this is the reason why i'm not Gold or Lifers. PWE should put their efforts on the subscriptions, instead of destroy the pleasure of playing.
I can't spend a lot of money/month in this game, but if the subscriptions were better, for sure i would take one.
but IMO all of the prices are ridiculously high
this is also my point of view. reasonable prices = more sales = more profits.
Some items which can be upgraded, should have been in the c-store since a long time (phasers retrofit, ground weapons from other eras -disruptor etc; the disruptive torpedo etc). items bought in c-store should have a free update.
It's strange to see a Chinese company, be a capitalist company aggressively; lesson well learnt :P
the pleasure of the players is not taken into account. I think this possibly be a bad decision and the cause of the loss of a number of players. We play a game for fun. if this fun disappears from this game, then there is no more interest in playing it. Even if it is a Star Trek game.
btw, cryptic is not responsible; this is only the creative part of this game; this studio doesn't take the economic decisions; PWE is the economic side of STO; they bought cryptic for over $50 million and they want a profitable company
Comments
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."
Of course.. dude, are you new? lol.
Yup - pretty much it has been TAKE TAKE TAKE...and they give us things to distract us like a free starship or something. That's it.
In any case, a constant pattern of nerf.
However, they may well end up killing the Golden goose by milking it too hard.
From what I have gleaned from in game chat (and on this thread) is that quite a few people who currently make frequent C-store purchases along with grinding in order to kit out their Alts, will be (or have already) given up on their alts due to the recent and ongoing changes Cryptic is making (cutting EC, halving dilithium rewards ect).
I hope I am wrong, but I also hope Cryptic cuts back on this 'austerity' type behavior, its bad enough in the real world, and as others have pointed out below, it is an ongoing, and unpleasant pattern.
The main reason I think of is they expected people to craft and vendor the crafted items or sell it on the exchange. I think it backfired because most people run the 6k/day mission for the most part or only craft high end items. So like the above poster said, poor players and new characters can't get started.
I think they want to balance the economy but they went about it the wrong. Like an earlier poster said...retiring old lock boxes and putting the items on the Lobi store would be huge in balancing the economy and reducing inflation. They could still do the Doff series with the JHAS and Bulwark to keep that uber rare item, but everything else should be on the consortium.
So if cryptic was selling a crate of bananas you'd have a point. But they're not, they're making a game and more specifically an MMO RPG. You remember what you've been doing up to this point? Playing to acquire more and better gear. Within the game playtime is a commodity which results in better stats. What would happen if they started giving us better stats across the board for free? They'd undermine the core mechanic of MMO's.
Simple as that. They'd ruin their own game by removing its primary functional mechanism. There may still be other stuff to play/grind for but it would be depreciated by free gear and ship upgrades (and before you start, lobi/lock box ships are a special case that we've damn well covered by now.)
Yes, because reputations offer dilithium as a REWARD. I really don't think you need to have explained to you what you get from crafting...
Dilithium rewards are being 1. standardized and 2. adjusted for changing difficulty. An "elite" run isn't going to mean the same thing it once in a few weeks. The rewards need to be adjusted accordingly, or else cryptic is going to run into some inflation problems.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Constant pattern of nerf? This is typical highly selective reasoning. What about repeatable daily reputation assignments? Daily mark bonuses? Dilithum add-ons to adventure zones? Crafting materials (need EC, there you ****ing go. Its basically a system that funnels cash (via a generally accessible resource that the top end of the player base in particular needs in abundance) from whales to minows if the latter can bother to log a few PVE's in.)
Nah, none of that counts. It contradicts your supposition!
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Somewhat...the problem is is that PWE can't decide if they want Sand Box Elements or Linear elements. As far as ships go I think you'd be better off with making the comparsion of a 2012 to a 2013 F-150 being how Cryptic views T5-T5U but most of the masses wanting the 2015 instead. Intel ships would be the new model . Why pay money for the
Not every game requires new gear with each expansion. SWG never needed it. You only needed new gear if you changed your profession. New gear came out weapons and what not for crafters to craft.
Another problem is that this is the only MMO in history that does not give a credit reward upon completion of the mission. Only vendor trash or stuff sold on exchange.
1. Old elites used to be 1440. A better course of action would have been to give the new elite 1440, leave old elite at 960, and 240 or 480 for normal. Especially if failure means no rewards, make the risk worth it.
Repeatable daily rep missions max at 3 per 20 hours AND you can only do a total of 3/d no matter what not 3 per rep/day.
It's simple, they drive the dil allocation down, add more sinks, causing the dil/zen ratio to swing in their favor (meaning less dil per zen so people buy more to get more dil they need for sinks) means they think more profit for them.
The only thing they hurt are the casuals who use their limited time to get stuff efficiently. The hard core players may get slowed down a little, but it'll be a minor hindrance. They are hoping the casuals either play more or pay more..in which case a good portion will walk away from the game and find something else that supports their schedule.
You my friend must have an issue with reading comprehension. Saying my points are invalid doesn't make them so. How are they invalid? You've refuted nothing and give no logical argument against them. In no way did I say that I want everything handed to me. Re-read my post 2-3 times, let it sink in, think about it some more.....then get back to me on that.
Anyway, way to keep the discussion going guys. Lets keep it going but please don't turn this into a Cryptic bashing thread. Lets discuss constructive ideas to improve the game and to balance against all the EC and Dil changes that have been implemented in the last several months and that are coming with DR.
My main point of the OP is to offer a solution, that earns Cryptic money, that will help casual players still be able to get the cool stuff in game that they'd want in a reasonable amount of time. That solution is to offer subs and lifers a significant increase to the rewards they receive from completing stfs, doff missions and anything that awards EC or Dil upon completion.
I agree; this is the reason why i'm not Gold or Lifers. PWE should put their efforts on the subscriptions, instead of destroy the pleasure of playing.
I can't spend a lot of money/month in this game, but if the subscriptions were better, for sure i would take one.
this is also my point of view. reasonable prices = more sales = more profits.
Some items which can be upgraded, should have been in the c-store since a long time (phasers retrofit, ground weapons from other eras -disruptor etc; the disruptive torpedo etc). items bought in c-store should have a free update.
It's strange to see a Chinese company, be a capitalist company aggressively; lesson well learnt :P
the pleasure of the players is not taken into account. I think this possibly be a bad decision and the cause of the loss of a number of players. We play a game for fun. if this fun disappears from this game, then there is no more interest in playing it. Even if it is a Star Trek game.
btw, cryptic is not responsible; this is only the creative part of this game; this studio doesn't take the economic decisions; PWE is the economic side of STO; they bought cryptic for over $50 million and they want a profitable company