STO Ship Charts - Is the interest still there?

starfish1701

For a couple of years I maintained STO ship charts, and regularly kept them updated. However they haven't been updated since Delta Rising, and I was wondering if the interest was still there?

I'd assumed it wasn't as no one except tovia has really asked about them since DR, but someone on Twitter just did, so I thought I would try and gauge interest before making a final decision on whether to end them for good, or pick them up once again.

If you're new and haven't seen them before, the last versions dated September 2014 still reside on my website at the following address:

http://www.starfish1.co.uk/charts.htm

Did you miss them or didn't you know they ever existed?

Do they still have their place?

Would you use them if they were kept up to date again?

mustrumridcully0

Well, I like them, but I must admit, nowadays I often go to the Wiki and check there.

I think the problem with charts is that they are incontinently huge. You can't really use them well on a monitor. Maybe they'd better work as print-outs, but even then, you would probably want something larger than DIN A4 as format to keep it readable.


If there was a way to get all the information in a 16:9 format... Or split the charts further? One per tier (splitting Tier 5 further into Tier 5 Basic, Tier 5 Fleet, Tier 5 Mirror, Tier 5 Upgrade) per faction?

starfish1701

mustrumridcully0 wrote: »

Well, I like them, but I must admit, nowadays I often go to the Wiki and check there.

I think the problem with charts is that they are incontinently huge. You can't really use them well on a monitor. Maybe they'd better work as print-outs, but even then, you would probably want something larger than DIN A4 as format to keep it readable.


If there was a way to get all the information in a 16:9 format... Or split the charts further? One per tier (splitting Tier 5 further into Tier 5 Basic, Tier 5 Fleet, Tier 5 Mirror, Tier 5 Upgrade) per faction?

Thanks for that.

I have a theory that people just get the new shiny nowadays and aren't mulling over "shall I get this ship, or that ship" anymore.

But I could be wrong, hence the reason for this thread and the tweet.

flash525

Personally I think your charts are some of the best ones out there, though they are (as already stated) quite large and bulky(?).

Maybe it would benefit to condense them a little? Have the Lock Box/Lobi Ships in a separate chart for example; same goes for Shuttles. Maybe have (another) chart for anniversary and event ships? I don't think you should give up on them - they're great.

mustrumridcully0

starfish1701 wrote: »

Thanks for that.

I have a theory that people just get the new shiny nowadays and aren't mulling over "shall I get this ship, or that ship" anymore.

But I could be wrong, hence the reason for this thread and the tweet.

Maybe. With Tier 6 ships - the choices are still quite limited, and the choices of lower tier ships becomes less meaningful. Unless you want to spend money on a low tier ship to get a particular console, comparing that closely may not matter anymore? Even if Delta Rising has slowed down level progression, it has only done so for the final 10(+ specs) levels - even if you made a terrible choice for your Tier 4 ships, it's irrelevant.

But I like the charts (and the Wiki) also to get a look at the different ships, too. And for endgame, the differences in mechanics do matter, I think.

shevet

Personally, I liked the charts - OK, they're a little on the big side to be practical, but they're sure as heck impressive.

If you saw your way clear to doing an updated version, I'd certainly appreciate it. I doubt my appreciation would take any practical form, but it'd be there.

starfish1701

Thanks for the comments so far. Very much appreciated in gauging current interest post Delta Rising and getting ideas for moving forward - if people still see a use for them.

shevet wrote: »

Personally, I liked the charts - OK, they're a little on the big side to be practical, but they're sure as heck impressive.

If you saw your way clear to doing an updated version, I'd certainly appreciate it. I doubt my appreciation would take any practical form, but it'd be there.

Just saying you would even appreciate the updates is great.

Some people (most notably tovia) have been practically very helpful in spotting errors and testing official stats, but even if I know you're just downloading the latest versions because they look pretty, it's helpful.

mjarbar

Yes I for one do find the charts very helpful, as mustrumridcully0 said due to the size it may be an idea to split them even if you don't do a tier a chart perhaps T1-T3 and T4-T6!!!

When deciding to get a new ship I often have a look to decide to go for a fleet, lockbox or Cstore before choosing.

markhawkman

yeah, maybe keep the main one but have smaller ones for certain subsets of them?

cmdrscarlet

I've been a fan since I started as they presented a lot of useful information at-a-glance. Sure the file size made navigation a little cumbersome, but getting past that, it's an amazing resource.

starfish1701

Thanks for the continued feedback, it's very much appreciated.

It never occurred to me that people had problems with the size, and I'm wondering what people are (or were) using the view the charts?

When I open them they open in Windows Photo Viewer, which allows for responsive zooming with the scroll wheel on the mouse and then I just drag the screen around with the left mouse button. It only takes about three or four seconds to open the file as well, and that's on a four year old laptop.

I'm wondering if people have been viewing it in Office Picture Manager or something else equally horrid.

baddmoonrizin

Well, you know that I'm interested in seeing an update.

Yes, the charts are big, but I haven't had any real issues with that. But if you do decide to split the charts up more might I suggest this:

1) Putting all T1-T4 ships on their own charts. (These charts would most likely never really need updating again, unless we get any new playable smallcraft, and mainly for "historical" purposes)

2) Making 1 Cross-Faction Chart (No duplication of effort needed then)

3) T5 and up on their own charts (All endgame ships at a glance)

Per Faction of course.

rattler2

Starfish, your charts are amazing. I'd even say they were professional level quality. The size is starting to get up there so it is a bit difficult to navigate, but I for one enjoy seeing your charts. And... I've been viewing them in my web browser...

baddmoon's idea might help. Means a few more charts, but it will make them more managable in terms of size.

flash525

baddmoonrizin wrote: »

1) Putting all T1-T4 ships on their own charts. (These charts would most likely never really need updating again, unless we get any new playable smallcraft, and mainly for "historical" purposes)

3) T5 and up on their own charts (All endgame ships at a glance)

I would be half tempted to suggest T1 - T5 ships on the same chart, and then T5R, T5U and T6 on a separate chart; I guess it all depends upon what you consider to be T5. Are the level-rewarded Assault Cruiser, Star Cruiser, Patrol Cruiser (etc) T4, or T5? If not that, then simply retain all tiers, though you may have to do something fancy for ships that come in retrofit or upgrade form.

* Alien (Lobi/Lock Box) ships on one chart
* Shuttles on a second chart (inc Lobi ones)
* Event (Breen/Risian/Dyson) on another
* Faction-specific on another

hfmudd

I remember them fondly, still have copies on my HDD, and would love to see further updates.

lilchibiclari

I do find the charts to be a handy reference for comparing the ships, and would be sad to see them abandoned.

That said, earlier posters in this thread are right that the files themselves are getting a bit bulky and hard to navigate, so breaking them down into multiple files each, or converting them into a .pdf format that could be paged through, would be very helpful.

tehbubbaloo

i have always dug the charts. but the size is indeed the defining factor. but imo the solution isnt to separate them further. the solution is vertical scrolling.

starkaos

Might be a good idea to create an app based on your charts. So selecting a particular ship from the menu would show the info for that ship.

centurion47

starfish1701 wrote: »

For a couple of years I maintained STO ship charts, and regularly kept them updated. However they haven't been updated since Delta Rising, and I was wondering if the interest was still there?

I'd assumed it wasn't as no one except tovia has really asked about them since DR, but someone on Twitter just did, so I thought I would try and gauge interest before making a final decision on whether to end them for good, or pick them up once again.

If you're new and haven't seen them before, the last versions dated September 2014 still reside on my website at the following address:

http://www.starfish1.co.uk/charts.htm

Did you miss them or didn't you know they ever existed?

Do they still have their place?

Would you use them if they were kept up to date again?

YES!

If you enjoy making them - I like to have them - even if only as "collector items" or "Art assets"...

So, if you have the time and the will to updated them, then I would definitely like to have them!

EDIT:
One suggestion:
I would suggest offering and additional "crop-down" version, including Endgame ships only - and by Endgame I mean all Tier 5 and above vessels INCLUDING the Level 40 T5 ("Free") ships.
(For those of us who'd want to print your awesome charts to hang on the wall, as "reference" material... The original chart is simply to big, and the frames come too small on a "decent sized" poster... )

baddmoonrizin

Wait. Are people actually printing these out as posters??

lindaleff

I'm going to be completely honest. I simply use the Wiki.

mustrumridcully0

starfish1701 wrote: »

Thanks for the continued feedback, it's very much appreciated.

It never occurred to me that people had problems with the size, and I'm wondering what people are (or were) using the view the charts?

When I open them they open in Windows Photo Viewer, which allows for responsive zooming with the scroll wheel on the mouse and then I just drag the screen around with the left mouse button. It only takes about three or four seconds to open the file as well, and that's on a four year old laptop.

I'm wondering if people have been viewing it in Office Picture Manager or something else equally horrid.

Web Browser. That way I always get the most current version - and I use multiple PCs and would never keep straight where I downloaded them to anyway.

Maybe what you actually need is a kind of "viewer side" that does the scaling and zooming better than the standard browser does it? But of course ,that requires quite a different kind of work and setup than making the charts.

korfi2go

I still love those charts and would greatly appreciate, if you'd continue working on them. In fact, the reason I came to these forums today, was because I noticed there wasn't an update on your page for a while and wanted to know, if there was going to be an update for the charts.

Yes the charts are quite big and viewing them envolves a bit of zooming in and out. For me personally, that's really not a problem. I still prefer it to having to switch pages or tabs on the wiki.

baddmoonrizin

murphysgesetz wrote: »

I still love those charts and would greatly appreciate, if you'd continue working on them. In fact, the reason I came to these forums today, was because I noticed there wasn't an update on your page for a while and wanted to know, if there was going to be an update for the charts.

Yes the charts are quite big and viewing them envolves a bit of zooming in and out. For me personally, that's really not a problem. I still prefer it to having to switch pages or tabs on the wiki.

^This exactly. While I will go to the Wiki if I'm looking to read up on some of the ships, comparing them seems much easier in the chart than clicking through multiple pages.

daveyny

I just like the look of them.
I use to use the original version as my wallpaper.

:cool:

starfish1701

Thank you for the continued feedback. It's all valuable and very much appreciated.

I don't think there are many people who used them, but those that did appreciated them.

I now realise that there is not one format or method of delivery that would ever have catered to everyone. I think whatever I decide to do going forward, these charts are going to be my very own Kobayashi Maru test.

artan42

starfish1701 wrote: »

Did you miss them or didn't you know they ever existed?

Do they still have their place?

Would you use them if they were kept up to date again?

I really liked them.

But I agree they could do with splitting up, maybe.

• Fed T1-T4 (+Shuttles)
• Rom T1-T4 (+Shuttles)
• KDF T1-T4 (+Shuttles)
• Cross faction T1-T6 (+Shuttles)
• Fed T5, T5U, T5Fleet, T6, T6Fleet
• Rom T5, T5U, T5Fleet, T6, T6Fleet
• KDF T5, T5U, T5Fleet, T6, T6Fleet

I do remember using them to chose between two mirror ships for my Rom .

antonine3258

starfish1701 wrote: »

For a couple of years I maintained STO ship charts, and regularly kept them updated. However they haven't been updated since Delta Rising, and I was wondering if the interest was still there?

Interest is still there, I used those to pick my first heavy cruiser - it may be worth splitting into 1-4/shuttles and endgame ships - they zoom out pretty spectacularly (and it would save having to edit the sections or images where ships aren't being added as quickly).

worffan101

Is the interest still here?

Yes.

Period.

baddmoonrizin

Well, good news then, folks! Starfish1 is continuing the ship charts and is in the process of updating them to reflect recent changes and additions. I had the privilege of getting a sneak peek of how the updates will work and other work that is being done. Very impressive. I'm to understand Starfish1 will be putting out a blog soon detailing all that is to come.

seannewboy

starfish1701 wrote: »

For a couple of years I maintained STO ship charts, and regularly kept them updated. However they haven't been updated since Delta Rising, and I was wondering if the interest was still there?

I'd assumed it wasn't as no one except tovia has really asked about them since DR, but someone on Twitter just did, so I thought I would try and gauge interest before making a final decision on whether to end them for good, or pick them up once again.

If you're new and haven't seen them before, the last versions dated September 2014 still reside on my website at the following address:

http://www.starfish1.co.uk/charts.htm

Did you miss them or didn't you know they ever existed?

Do they still have their place?

Would you use them if they were kept up to date again?

I loved them, but the ships just keep coming, i wont fault you for not wanting to try and keep up with all of them. Especially since i think at least 3 more will be in the game by the start of next month.