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Extending an Olive Branch... [Dev Attention Desired]
flash525
Member Posts: 5,441 Arc User
I seem to go through phases, some supporting the game and the decisions made, and then (seemingly) more frequently I'm critical - sometimes overly so. I know I have criticized upcoming features that I eventually enjoyed (the removal of star clusters and the new bridge officer training scheme being two of them).
I'm not going to get into the Delta Recruit scheme here, I neither support it, nor will I be against it when it goes live; I'll be focusing on my existing characters as I don't have the time, nor the will to create another, but that's somewhat irrelevant.
There are three questions though that I'd really like to know the answers too, and would appreciate it if they could be answered. I know this is probably a long shot (thus there's no need for anyone to tell me that); but sometimes the Devs do reply to individual posts/questions here, so I can but ask and hope.
I make no demands that these are answered, I'm just asking politely I guess...
What I'd like to know though, is what's happened to it? You've got to have a vast number of players who are Republicans (maybe even more than those that are Warriors of the Empire), yet the Green Team doesn't seem to have advanced at all; unobtainable Data Chips and Contraband (Doff Assignment Officer) are nowhere to be found either within the Command Centre, nor the Flotilla, and that's just two minor concerns.
The biggest limitation (at least one that I'd think to be) is the lack of Species within the Republic. When they went live, there was Dev Talk of adding the Suliban and Acamarian, I can't speak for the latter, but the Suliban are very much refugees, much alike our officers when we start.
The argument claiming they don't fit in with the Republic (which should be Romulan and Reman only) is void, simply because the Orion don't fit in with the Klingon Empire, yet they're there and they're utilized. The same could be argued for the Lethean (and to some extent) the Nausicaan too. I mention this only cause it is one of the stronger (yet irrational) arguments I've heard against their inclusion.
I don't know what you plans are for the Cardassians (if any) but Cardassian Bridge Officers (with unique costumes) would be a perfect item to place into the Cardassian Lock Box; maybe even a Playable Species Token - You know people would use it!
Furthermore, I'm curious to know why a few significant species have been jumped. Half of the Xindi Ships are missing, we're still waiting for the Son'a ships, and the Dominion/Jem'Hadar Battlecruiser has (seemingly) had a missed opportunity. I can't speak for everyone (obviously) but I'd have thought the Son'a and Xindi would be more desired when compared to the Bentham, Hazari, Kazon and Vaudwaar.
And yeah, nobody knows what the Breen look like under their helmets, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't come in all different shapes, sizes, all whilst being able to wear different clothing and different helmets. There is customization to be allowed for.
If it's a case of dev time and cost, then a proposal? Have them reworked and place new variants in the Lobi Store; obtainable by both the original candidate and 50 lobi or something?
There's a whole load of things I could further comment on, but a lot of them are probably trivial and I don't want to write too much more than I already have, else it'll be glanced at and people will start replying without actually reading.
If Taco or someone would humour me, I'd appreciate it, as stated. Otherwise I guess everyone else is free to answer the questions on the Devs behalf, ponder their own questions, or derail the topic with cat videos...
I'm not going to get into the Delta Recruit scheme here, I neither support it, nor will I be against it when it goes live; I'll be focusing on my existing characters as I don't have the time, nor the will to create another, but that's somewhat irrelevant.
There are three questions though that I'd really like to know the answers too, and would appreciate it if they could be answered. I know this is probably a long shot (thus there's no need for anyone to tell me that); but sometimes the Devs do reply to individual posts/questions here, so I can but ask and hope.
I make no demands that these are answered, I'm just asking politely I guess...
The first? The Romulan Republic:
It's no secret that many (if not all) players of the game desired that faction to be independent, and there was quite an uproar when it became apparent this wasn't to be the case. For what it's worth, I understand why you did it.What I'd like to know though, is what's happened to it? You've got to have a vast number of players who are Republicans (maybe even more than those that are Warriors of the Empire), yet the Green Team doesn't seem to have advanced at all; unobtainable Data Chips and Contraband (Doff Assignment Officer) are nowhere to be found either within the Command Centre, nor the Flotilla, and that's just two minor concerns.
The biggest limitation (at least one that I'd think to be) is the lack of Species within the Republic. When they went live, there was Dev Talk of adding the Suliban and Acamarian, I can't speak for the latter, but the Suliban are very much refugees, much alike our officers when we start.
The argument claiming they don't fit in with the Republic (which should be Romulan and Reman only) is void, simply because the Orion don't fit in with the Klingon Empire, yet they're there and they're utilized. The same could be argued for the Lethean (and to some extent) the Nausicaan too. I mention this only cause it is one of the stronger (yet irrational) arguments I've heard against their inclusion.
The second? The Lock Boxes:
Alike above, whilst I don't necessarily approve of their method, I fully understand their reason for being. My gripe with them though, is their advance. The newer boxes are rewarding more and more as secondary items, yet the earlier boxes (Cardassian, Ferengi etc) are still basic and boring. Why not upgrade the old boxes to match the content of the newer ones? Doesn't have to be with a T6 Galor or D'Kora (though I'm sure people would happily accept that), but with more traits, consoles and perks.I don't know what you plans are for the Cardassians (if any) but Cardassian Bridge Officers (with unique costumes) would be a perfect item to place into the Cardassian Lock Box; maybe even a Playable Species Token - You know people would use it!
Furthermore, I'm curious to know why a few significant species have been jumped. Half of the Xindi Ships are missing, we're still waiting for the Son'a ships, and the Dominion/Jem'Hadar Battlecruiser has (seemingly) had a missed opportunity. I can't speak for everyone (obviously) but I'd have thought the Son'a and Xindi would be more desired when compared to the Bentham, Hazari, Kazon and Vaudwaar.
The third; Unique Bridge Officers:
This one I've probably mentioned too many times already, but what's with the lack of customization? I've noticed that the more recent ones are customizable; the Kobali and the Xindi Reptilian specifically. Couldn't someone take a look at the other ones? Naturally the Reman from Cloaked Intentions should/would be the first candidate?And yeah, nobody knows what the Breen look like under their helmets, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't come in all different shapes, sizes, all whilst being able to wear different clothing and different helmets. There is customization to be allowed for.
If it's a case of dev time and cost, then a proposal? Have them reworked and place new variants in the Lobi Store; obtainable by both the original candidate and 50 lobi or something?
There's a whole load of things I could further comment on, but a lot of them are probably trivial and I don't want to write too much more than I already have, else it'll be glanced at and people will start replying without actually reading.
If Taco or someone would humour me, I'd appreciate it, as stated. Otherwise I guess everyone else is free to answer the questions on the Devs behalf, ponder their own questions, or derail the topic with cat videos...
Post edited by flash525 on
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Long time players have boatloads of dilithium and zen. No profit in that.
So cryptic doesn't want an olive branch to existing players. They want a way to get new ones who are ignorant.
It is what it is.
They've actually stated that, or you've interpreted something they've said as that? that's the thing with a lot of us (myself included) is that we always interpret things for the worse. If they have god-honestly stated they all they care about is the money, then please, link me to where that's been said. I'd really like to read about it.
And that it may be, but it can't hurt to try, can it?
I know I've seen the proof somewhere on this forum. If I can find it in a reasonable amount of time I will link it. That said, I will admit I might be misremembering something and be interpreting something in the worst possible way.
And it never hurts to try like you said. Maybe one Monday rolls around in the US a Dev might give a reply. Maybe Tacofangs, as he seems to be the most friendly dev that also isn't instantly tarred and feathered on sight.
I will leave you with the words that are painted the walls of a school I attended once. "Nothing tired, nothing failed."
Edit: I figured that since I replied to this thread I ought to also address some of the points that the OP brought up.
3. The Unique Bridge Officers and customization. Oh yes please. Even a lobi token be acceptable. Customization is always good.
2. Lock boxes. I'm with you on this as well. The older boxes could be updated. That said, not updating the boxes and specifically the ships within might be a good thing. It at least would allow for T6 versions of certain ships that people are clamoring for to be made available via a micro faction. Dominion I'm looking at you. T6 Galor would be great. In the same breathe though, T6 Bug sort of killed that dream again.
1. The Green Team, as you call then, I have mixed feelings on. On the whole I support your premise that they could use some more content but I think they run into the issue that the Klinks do as well. That vicious cycle of not enough players to justify new content, and since there is no new content there aren't any new players. The Delta Rising Delta Recruit thing or DR2 might pad the numbers but I'm willing to be the percentages won't change much.
That being said, I've always felt that the RR in game is a poor attempt by Cryptic to rebrand the RSE. I know I was hoping to make a few RSE toons back when the world was young and there was hope still in my heart. Okay, "no one wants to play the bad guy" is what I remember being told was the reason for the RR existing. Sure the RSE is in a state of crisis and rather weakened and I will even accept a break away group of Romulans wanting to get out of the RSE makes sense.
Where I think the RR fails is in understanding their place in the galaxy. A united RSE was 1 of 3 super powers left standing after the Dominion War. A group of refugees who were gifted a planet by the KDF (if I'm remembering the lore right) to settle on are not a super power. And they won't be made into a super power in less then a year. Even if the two remaining super powers (Feds and KDF) are being played against each other diplomatically.
In my mind at least, the RR are Vietnam, and the Feds and KDF are the USSR and Chinese. Vietnam played both against each other to get aid. Okay, that is smart diplomacy. But Vietnam doesn't get to sit down at the table as an equal when it's getting hand outs from bigger stronger political entities. Honestly, where does the RR get the resources to take command of the Dyson Sphere? They certainly don't have the technical knowledge, that would squarely belong to the Feds. And the RR isn't going to out muscle the KDF in a million years.
So while I would like to see new content for the RR and the KDF, joint cross faction endgame content is the future and it really ought to be that way. Cryptic could barely handle 1.5 factions. 1.75 isn't much better.
TL:DR: 1. I agree. 2. I agree. 3. I agree in spirit but not in practice.
They may have not said it directly but actions do speak louder than words.
Remember when they said something 'bout the JHAS would have T6 capabilites? Yeah, no it's gotten T5u and not too long ago they released the T6 JHSS....
Remember when they said there will be not T6 versions of T5s? Then the pathfinder happened...
Intel stuff only starts to get "balanced" (nerfed) after they put out some newer specialized ships...
Aside from implementing more and more dil sinks while keeping the daily limit where it was and locking all endgame ships behind paywalls there isn't much room left for "interpretation". it's become pretty clear what exactly their intentions are even without them spilling the beans.
Nonsense. The new Delta Recruitment event targets new players as much as long time players. It offers rewards to everyone.
I think it was more that Cryptic didn't want to create an evil faction. Whether that was their call, or a decision made by PWE/CBS remains to be known, but that's probably the sole reason we're never going to see a playable Dominion faction. As far as the RSE goes, for the most part, they weren't evil, no more than TMP Klingons. They isolated themselves and were a little cautious around other species/powers, but at the end of ST:Nemesis, there was at least some dialogue between the RSE and the Federation. I suppose they should (past tense) have been looked at in the same way as the Klingons; more the antihero role.
A good analogy.
What actions though? The fact that they haven't necesserily done something that you or I wanted? That's not proof of them not caring, it's proof of them possibly providing to the wider audience.
They said something about the JHAS having T6 capabilities? You've kind of answered your own question there; unless they actually came out and said the JHAS will have [insert object here] and will be T6 then they haven't actually said anything at all, have they?
Open to interpretation. No T5 ship has had a direct upgrade. The Pathfinder is similar to the Intrepid, but not identical. The fact that it has a different Boff Seating is proof enough of that. They choose their words with precision, and people jump to conclusions.
Well that comes as a surprise actually. I thought more people would be Republicans than Imperials. Still, a low percentage indeed. I suppose it's catch 22 here, in order to have more people play KDF/ROM there needs to be more, but they're seemingly reluctant to produce more until the numbers rise.
Old content sells too, else people wouldn't still be making C-Store purchases. If the old boxes were updated, don't you think more people would buy keys to unlock them?
But surely a customizable Jem Hadar, Breen or Reman (etc) is by definition, new content.
If an old reward suddenly becomes customizable, then there's something new about it. No?
precision? lol
they were so crystal clear and precise on the jhas promo blog they went back and edited it when they launched the jhss...
free jkname
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This is true
Cryptics entire economy is geared to new players and the I want it all at any cost players
That's why we don't have any real end game content in STO
repeating the same missions over and over that you used to level up is not end game content
Saphire.. Science ground......Ko'el Romulan space Tac
Leva........Tactical ground.....Koj Romulan space Eng
JJ-Verse will never be Canon or considered Lore...It will always be JJ-Verse
It isn't just sto.
Most Mmo's have to create it this way: grind or pay, but we would rather you pay.
Agreed but it does not mean you cant make profitable end game content as well
such as
colonization with territory control
Base and city building
Npc training ,Aquiring for the bases ships ect
The list is much longer
Saphire.. Science ground......Ko'el Romulan space Tac
Leva........Tactical ground.....Koj Romulan space Eng
JJ-Verse will never be Canon or considered Lore...It will always be JJ-Verse
Cryptic a response is "yeah that sounds hard and unprofitable".
our starbases was supposed to be used for territory control and be functional. It has been like 2 1/2 years since it was last updated so I am not holding out hope.
I think the bottom line here is that we've just been focused elsewhere (DQ) for now. I think adding the Suliban to the mix would be pretty cool, but I'll tell you that I wouldn't expect that to just happen on it's own. I think if we added the Suliban as a playable species (tied with the Republic or not), it would be introduced through some content that centered on the Suliban people/helix/etc.
This is probably a good question for Bort or Geko. I don't think there's any particular reason they haven't been updated, except that they haven't. i.e. We're busy making new stuff (including new lockboxes), and I think the old lockboxes (Cardassian, etc.) are only available during the "All boxes" drop event, yes? So there's no particular thought being given to those older boxes. The drop event happens periodically, but it's just a switch that gets flipped somewhere. It's not something devs are actually involved with.
To my knowledge, I haven't seen this issue brought up before, so I do think it's a good question to ask the Systems guys if/when they pop up. I agree the old boxes could use a sprucing up.
Probably similar to the above. Old stuff that is kind of "Out of sight, Out of mind," while we're busy churning away at whatever new tasks we have. I don't know specifically what controls the customizability of a boff. I would guess that something like the Breen, we likely wouldn't allow to be customized beyond Breen related costume parts, simply due to licensing with CBS. I imagine that the Reman and others could be more customizable. Again, that's just a matter of setting aside the time to set that up.
Thank you for not making this a super giant wall of text, which, admittedly, I would likely have just passed over.
+1
Oh and cryptic cares not for such olive branches. Now now, not before, and probably not in the future. They know what they want to do, and apparently there are still plenty of people out there donating to their cause.
*looks at taco answering flash's questions as best he could*
*looks at jjdez's post*
Yeah totally don't care about olive branches :P
Former Community Moderator, Former SSR DJ, Now Full time father to two kids, Husband, Retail Worker.
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This time, I actually did. Laugh out loud, that is.
Just to be clear, laughed at jjdez's expense, not askray's. Am happy to see Taco's prompt response, too!
That attitude would be contrary to the truth.
Getting a new customer is more expensive than maintaining existing ones. Existing ones are already knee deep into the game and are more likely to spend money if they see something they like.
Now, I do see them trying to fix some aspects of the game, but, for players like me, they killed it with DR and the death of people's enjoyment of play loads of alts and PvP with all of them.
Most people that had 3-5 alts and rotated them all the time have stopped playing the game. To be fair, they did give it a shot once DR and the upgrade scheme hit, but the spec trees combined with the extreme slowness of gaining each extra point pretty much ruined everything. The only time the pace seems reasonable is during XP bonus weekends. Still slow, but at least you notice you're gaining something. This slow gain is also what made R&D so unpopular for a lot of people because, unless you were willing sit there all day every hour crafting stuff that is pure garbage, it went really slow. At least now, you can get to level 15 in one school in a month without having to give up enjoying the game due to crafting. Note that the while Delta recruit scheme of getting R&D to level 5 in all schools is just a ploy to try and improve their R&D metrics. They'd get a much better response by allowing people to slot 5 projects from the same school at one time like in the beginning.
The upgrading to epic scheme is also a big problem, except for weapons and consoles, and even then, the dilithium sink is ridiculous. Combine that with making NPCs pure DPS sponges and you took out all the fun in PvE content and reduced it to having the best DPS to get through stuff. This all came about because of videos showing ISE runs in super short times. They couldn't be bothered to make better AI so they took a bad shortcut to difficulty and ruined all the fun.
It's great they want to add more abilities, but that introduces more problems into the mix. They already had problems when the game first came out with over-the-top abilities, and slowly adjusted them (some way below usefulness), but the game was playable, and fun. Now global cooldowns without needing doffs are the order of the day, and they somehow manage to release at least one or two over the top abilites that had to be reigned in later.
Finally, the bugs. I must admit, they've gotten just a bit better in this department, although it just might be their yearly push to fix bugs in Feb/March like last year. Between their sector revamp and having to deal with the Summer stuff, the're probably going to be ignoring bugs again for a while.
The best move they've done lately was putting Salami at the helm. I have noticed improvement since he came on. The other guy sucked, and I still can't believe they named him CTO. Seems any idiot can be an executive these days.
*I know this is a bit long. Being called an old timer in Ker'rat last night might have something to do with it.
As for the community manager, and sorry Trendy, it's nothing against you personally, you just fell into the role by default since they fired smirk. The community manager should:
1) Show off the new ships more effectively. Flying around in a poorly geared ship with bad boff abilities and taking 3 times the amount of time to do something as most players watching the stream sucks. It was sad when people had to donate gold gear in Tribble to Smirk in order to improve his ship. It's not about DPS, but if the stream is about the ship (and not new abilities), it's better not to waste time by using the ones players consider pure garbage (I.E. Photonic shockwave, charged particle burst, aceton beam).
2) Log in from time to time and play the game with the regular folk. Players loved it when Branflakes would go into PvP matches. Yeah, he'd get beaten, but people liked that anyway.
In general, they need to work to bring back the fun in playing the game. Fix the bugs! Fixing the endless grind the game has become. Not having to build a DPS spewing ship to be able to play some of the PvE content. Not having to fill the spec tree up to a certain level to be able to PvP effectively and not fill as if you're missing something. Check out and fix mechanics people abuse for cheap kills as soon as they're reported.
*Ok, I'm done. Too much typing.
Short term gains trump long term profit and growth...
Is it possible they lied? Yeah, it's possible, but then if every question was answered truthfully, most of their secrets would be out by now and there'd be no suspense or surprise.
If you're bored of their missions, then you should try those within the Foundry.
You'll have to excuse my lack of knowledge, but what is your area of specialty? You're a lead designer right? Just clarifying I know who is who, and who's involved in what.
That all makes perfect sense, and I can only hope that there is something that brings the Suliban into the fold. Maybe (with all this talk of the temporal accords) we'll have some connection to the events of ST:Enterprise and the Suliban Kabal etc.
Given the opportunity, could I trouble you to pass along the question for me? It would just be nice to know whether this is something that has ever been considered internally, and whether or not it's viable.
Oh, I get that, it's just with the all box events, I figure (rightly or wrongly) that more people would be tempted by the earlier boxes if the secondary rewards were more beneficial than say, a doff pack.
I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Well I look forward to when/if the time comes for this.
You're welcome!
This. I guess jjdez jumped the gun a bit.
Either way, I guess I wasn't too far away from his specialty; he designs the environment.
I think a good time to spruce them up would be when a promo event involving them pops up; It could have been done with the Dominion one with the release of the new JHAS, for example. It would have better encouraged people to buy keys as well as the promo packs if the lockbox had been upgraded as well as the set for the ships. If you release a Tholian ship next you could update the box, for example.
It would be an excuse to spend time and money on them that could keep on giving after the promo event ends, as people might be more inclined to hunt down and open those first three boxes - which at this point there's almost no reason why anyone would.
Translation = sounds cool, don't have the time, thanks though.
Translation = sounds cool, don't have the time, thanks though.
Translation = sounds cool, don't have the time, thanks though.
"Thank you for calling customer service, how may I direct your call?"
"Yes, I would like to speak with someone about my cable service and the difficulties I've been experiencing."
"I'm sorry, no one in that department is available. Please feel free to speak to one of our charming marketing personnel though!"
In other words, when you call a company with a concern or issue, do you feel accomplished if you get routed to someone who can’t actually help you and all they can provide is words of comfort and their personal opinion? No offense to Tacofangs, but he did say himself this isn't is area. Cryptic accepting any olive branch would involve comments/suggestions/ideas/concerns (etc etc etc) actually being somehow implemented. Taking a players "olive branch" and simply throwing it on the heap of olive branches already next to the dumpster is not progress, or any sort of acceptance of it.
What's not amusing, and actually sad, is how some individuals see this "not my area of specialty, but I want to be friendly" as progress leading towards something (or anything at all) greater. Even in Tacofang's response he tells you why these changes/ideas haven't happened and more than likely will never happen. Feel free to read my original comment again, while remembering all that has happened in this game over the last few years.
Also good to know you feel bordering on breaking the ToS is okay, so long as you're clear that it's directed towards another user, not a moderator, and you pledge support to a dev immediately following.
Maybe if I had made this comment three or four years ago.
Well, now I know who to thank for the fact that I sometimes spend more time in STO flying around and getting just the right angle and framing for a screenshot than actually finishing the mission. XD
Seriously though, Taco--was Tephrei your work? Because it's gorgeous--I could've easily spent an hour in that system taking shots. I love it when systems have different contrasting elements and lighting that can be framed to combine in different ways depending on the angle from which you take the shot. More than just a planet + star, in other words. http://s3.mmoguildsites.com/s3/gallery_images/809456/original.png
Eclipse Class Intel Cruiser U.S.S. Dioscuria NX-91121-A - Interactive Crew Roster
The reality is that human beings have a finite amount of time available in the day in which effective work can be done. In software development, one approach to quantifying the amount of time a task is projected to take is in terms of hours of "effort". That is to say: if a bug is expected to take a single person 2 and a half hours of coding to isolate, fix, and verify the fix, then that bug is said to have an effort of 2.5.
Each person on the team is considered to have a certain amount of effort that they can expend in a workday. Tasks are entered in TFS, a kanban board, or some other method of tracking the work, and team members claim or are assigned tasks based on their areas of expertise and their current workload based on the sum effort of all the work items on their plate.
"Don't have the time" is, while an unfair oversimplification of Taco's responses, in fact an entirely legitimate reason not to take on a particular work item, especially if it involves cross-functional effort (i.e. requires more than one person's expertise to complete). The alternative is to either backlog something else, or to knowingly take on more work than you can complete in the current sprint/project.
I suppose you would prefer that he ignored the thread entirely?
Eclipse Class Intel Cruiser U.S.S. Dioscuria NX-91121-A - Interactive Crew Roster
Thanks.
void? and mars has wings and dances with jupiter in a carpet of asteroids like some lovers who need to get a room...
the orions wanted to ally with the empire and as such the klingons accepted it. so you opinion that its void that they didnt fit and yet they are full integrated into the kdf would say otherwise.
the suliban didnt fit because they have their own concerns to worry about and besides to the suliban its purely a romulan affair, the romulan republic is about the romulan and reman struggle to be freed from the chains of the past and their imperialist past which has dogged them as a sterotype of being treacherous. the Acamarians have the collectors to worry about and their own world, so them being in the republic is not on the cards, never was.
Been around since Dec 2010 on STO and bought LTS in Apr 2013 for STO.