How about they actually implement markers instead of pointless emotes? We shouldn't be using the emotes as markers but instead should get markers instead and say "**** the emotes".
Are these markers washable and what brand are they? Are they non toxic? Will they stain my uniform if they leak? I must know!
Since I expect this will happen to the Winter event next year, I'm upset.
I spent extra time this year to gather those items, so I could relax a bit next year.
Why does it matter when we spend the time, as long as we are spending it?
This is the dilithium nerf x10.
Cryptic, we can't play 24/7/365, like you seem to think we can.
I play this for Star Trek, not for an MMO. This is the only MMO I play, and will ever play.
I don't even care about spec points. I just wanted to get what I planned with the tools you provided.
Especially mad that if I'm short one day now, I've just wasted all the previous two weeks worth of effort.
In the words of the Comic Book Guy: "Worst nerf ever!"
While I'm not raging, as it looks like I'll at least be compensated for my current pearls, I do have some concerns...
1 - We need less of ("You weren't around two years ago for ship X, too bad!") going forward. Especially since the event ships seem to have console bonuses or pet unlocks. I have a lot of new toons that I fired up for Delta Recruitment, and some of them could benefit from a Risian ship, etc etc.
2 - This concerns me on a go forward basis. What happens when the winter event rolls around? Will we get compensated for the next currency being retired, or will the attitude be "They should have seen the writing on the wall when we changed the summer event, they get nothing this time."? Where does this mentality stop? The same could easily be done to rep marks, or dilithium, etc.
All in all, I don't think running these to stockpile for next time was that exploitive. It was all time that I (and many others) invested in generating the currencies. If Cryptic wants us to start at 0 each event, I'm fine with spend currencies for spec points or anything like that on a go forward basis.
Also - those ships really should be available to new toons the next time the event runs.
Heh, I hope they do this for Qmendations next year. I'll be laughing all the way to the bank.
I havent read the entire thread, but I'm guessing the Q photos are next: I guess they cant stand the fact that some people save photos and pearls so they didnt have to grind non-frakking stop.
Over 20,000 views and more than 500+. mostly negative. replies in not even one day? I think that tells you Cryptic, that this is a bad idea.
Retiring the 'currency' is not really an issue, I understand and can even accept the decision, an attempt to get more players involved each and every day of these events.
I DO NOT agree with retiring the previous ships however. I would like to see all previous "event" items moved to the Zen/Lobi/GPL stores, so that new players and/or Delta Recruits have an optional way to acquire them.
I'd also like clarification on whether the "Alt Discount" will still be used this year?
Seems they're trying to fix the "save x item from last event, get reward on day one" workaround/trick (exploit?).
Will the periodic Crystalline Entity and Mirror Invasion events also change to use a new item each time?
The interesting thing is, it's NOT aan exploit: the first year, the free ship was the Delta ship, which is and was ****e...so I saved my marks/photos what have you. It's not an exploit, its simply smart consumerism.
The thing is, that's TRIBBLE that they change the rules regularly when there's something the players like. Again, back to "Playing as intended"
Playing As Intended:
Play the missions WE want you to play.
Only level the way WE want you to level.
Log in to achieve x for the amount of time WE want.
Anyone whimpering about the space emotes needs to try actually playing the game for once. Notice all the constant spam stuff when ships fight, it has nothing to do with star trek at all.
I've resigned myself to just learning to live with the obnoxious ability visuals.
The space emotes are a genuinely good idea. Take the thumbs up/thumbs down ones, now we have a way to show our judgment for other ships we see. A simple visual cue like these emotes makes communication a lot easier.
Check your options, almost everything, including the majority of windows and all the combat numbers junk can be disabled.
You can strip it back to a pretty clean looking experience.
Sure there are things, that intelligence targeting thing for example is horrible.
One non-disableable thing that still ticks me off is "Blah@Blahblah has acquired a fancy new ship" flashing across my screen every 2mins.
Fair enough if it was just a couple times an evening, no bother. but the often rapid fire frequency of it is verily irking.
Will the Elite Queue R&D Material Reward Package also come with Salvaged Technology? You know, like an actual Elite Queue R&D Material Reward Package does?
Because if not, then its not an "Elite Queue R&D Material Reward Package". Its just a R&D reward box where you can choose what very rare materials you get
.... Well, I mean, its still a nice chunk of R&D mats which is nice. However, without the Salvaged Tech, saying its a Elite Queue R&D Material Reward Package is inaccurate.
Once you have earned the new 2015 starship on a single character, ships for your alt characters can still be earned with a single play through of the Flyin High daily mission.
So they're not removing the discounts.
It's just going to be a case of removing access to previous ships and the ability to carry over the Pearls (and whatever other items they apply this to) from year to year.
* * * * *
Unless you meant the already unlocked discounts and the inability to slot projects on new alts vs. the ability to slot the project at all, which they were supposed to be getting clarification for us on (though it looked like a clear no to me) but haven't gotten that so far...er...that I've seen.
This post has been edited to remove content which violates the Perfect World Entertainment Community Rules and Policies. ~Bluegeek
Nice CYA there Bluegeek, but it doesn't work like that. I neither violated the rules nor the policies, I made a statement on the validity of a dev's ego trip.
Honestly this sounds like an entirely reasonable choice from a game design perspective.
The idea behind shiny new spaceships is to get people excited about playing the game to earn them. This mechanic levels the playing field every time. And for those who just MUST open their Christmas presents a few weeks early, there is the $$$ Lobi option.
And the rewards for pearl stashes are pretty nice, so the folk who planned ahead get something nice, just not what they were expecting.
The recurrent theme in MMOs is that they survive by creating enticements that encourage you to grind the game. I guess I've gotten used to the idea to the point I don't expect to be able to circumvent what is clearly the intended mechanic for acquiring event ships the day they roll out.
If you could max your spec points in a week or get all the new stuff on day 1 there's not a lot of reason to return to play.
As for discontinuing the ships, personally I was never interested in playing them very much (most of my alts have them boxed and unused in the bank, and I don't remember the last time I went back to one). But it does suck for players who like them.
For me what sucks is I started the grind on a few toons and lost interest in the ships. So I have 280 pearls spent on the corvette on one toon for instance, I'd love to have the pearls and buy a spec point. But they are locked up already. That's what sucks, because now I have no choice but to finish the grind or kiss my previous work good bye. There should at least be a refund option for those grinds since they are wasted efforts for a T5U ships that it is now outdated but I could have slowly grinded for.
Check your options, almost everything, including the majority of windows and all the combat numbers junk can be disabled.
You can strip it back to a pretty clean looking experience.
Sure there are things, that intelligence targeting thing for example is horrible.
One non-disableable thing that still ticks me off is "Blah@Blahblah has acquired a fancy new ship" flashing across my screen every 2mins.
Fair enough if it was just a couple times an evening, no bother. but the often rapid fire frequency of it is verily irking.
Check your options.
Those fly-by's can be turned off too.
Click the button in the lower-right of the chat window, click 'Notification settings', then uncheck 'Gameplay Announcements' Fly-in.
Originally Posted by iconians View Post
Games are supposed to feel rewarding. If players did more work than was necessary last year, in anticipation that they would not need to work as much this year, then that says two things to me.
1: The players in question can be reasonably expected to play this game for another year, if for no other reason than to return next year. If players are complaining about this, then this is more than just the usual "Cryptic bad!" echo chamber, because at the very least the people complaining are expecting to stick around the game for at least another year.
This is a good thing.
2: The players in question are smart enough and clever enough to plan ahead. Since this is a positive trait more people should have, then this is something that should be nurtured and planned around -- not planned for.
If Cryptic sees this as a problem, that says two things to me.
1: Cryptic does not care (or care enough) whether or not players can be reasonably expected to stick around for another year. This hurts player morale.
2: Cryptic does not care (or care enough) that players are smart enough or clever enough to plan ahead. This is a bad thing because it punishes the idea that people should think of their own future. In a Star Trek game, I think this sets a bad example ethically, morally, and socially, and in terms of gameplay.
Yes, I could put money I've earned into investments and they could turn out toxic and worthless. However, there is a reasonable expectation that what I am investing in would net me gains instead of losses.
If Cryptic is sending a message, it is that they simply are not reliable or dependable on a long-term scale. If the summer/winter events are anything to judge by, it is that Cryptic is saying they do not care if I stick around for another year. That I should not be reasonably expected to believe they are thinking beyond a 6 month timetable.
They are hurting the faith that the players are putting in them. Players want to know the time and effort they put into the game will pay off for them in the end. Since the Lobi Store allows players to bypass the grind for event ships, then clearly it is intended that players are able to get new ships faster than usual.
But since this would hurt Lobi Store sales, this is not a matter of time spent in the game -- it is a matter of monetization.
This is a clear case where monetization is more important than a rewarding gameplay experience. Cryptic, I sincerely believe is deserving of every bit of scrutiny they are getting from this.
I know I know, the space is going to be packed with them the first few months, but thinking long term when the "new toy" weres off, folks will be able to send out a "thumbs up" when a player gets a crit that pops the borg cube, smile when they see a friend
etc, its got a thousand and one uses that are all good
some bad, but I don't think the bad out weighs the good so 100% love the emotes:)
No, there is no good to this. Its a completely stupid, silly thing to do. It destroys immersive effect. It completely goes against all efforts to make a better background, better looking ships..then through stupid, goofy, childish (and non genre) emotes that detract from enjoyment of the game by people who might actually give a darn about star trek.
If they include an option where you can turn off emotes, so you can't see them, that would be fair. Those annoyed by them wouldn't have to see them.
Otherwise, a big middle finger to whatever greedy idiot who decided to cater to the lowest common level of immature, juvenile player at the expense of everyone else.
Well, I can understand changing the currency....curse those of us who thought ahead and stockpile extra pearls. But removing the ships as well??? That is pointless as far as I am concerned.
Otherwise, a big middle finger to whatever greedy idiot who decided to cater to the lowest common level of immature, juvenile player at the expense of everyone else.
You might want to check your blood pressure dude, your taking this game too seriously. Or are you a canon TRIBBLE?
Ok, the pearls are gone. I personally really do not give a damn, but I can see how it would annoy some people. Likewise for the Risian ships.
As far as the ship emotes... Why have some awful little kid styled "smilies"? A better idea would be have ship maneuvers-these would be completely cosmetic, with no game effects. Things like a loop-the-loop, waggling wings, jinking, etc. Makes a lot more sense in my opinion.
As far as the ship? Hoping for a Risian carrier, with a flight deck like an oceangoing aircraft carrier.
Games are supposed to feel rewarding. If players did more work than was necessary last year, in anticipation that they would not need to work as much this year, then that says two things to me.
1: The players in question can be reasonably expected to play this game for another year, if for no other reason than to return next year. If players are complaining about this, then this is more than just the usual "Cryptic bad!" echo chamber, because at the very least the people complaining are expecting to stick around the game for at least another year.
This is a good thing.
2: The players in question are smart enough and clever enough to plan ahead. Since this is a positive trait more people should have, then this is something that should be nurtured and planned around -- not planned for.
If Cryptic sees this as a problem, that says two things to me.
1: Cryptic does not care (or care enough) whether or not players can be reasonably expected to stick around for another year. This hurts player morale.
2: Cryptic does not care (or care enough) that players are smart enough or clever enough to plan ahead. This is a bad thing because it punishes the idea that people should think of their own future. In a Star Trek game, I think this sets a bad example ethically, morally, and socially, and in terms of gameplay.
Yes, I could put money I've earned into investments and they could turn out toxic and worthless. However, there is a reasonable expectation that what I am investing in would net me gains instead of losses.
If Cryptic is sending a message, it is that they simply are not reliable or dependable on a long-term scale. If the summer/winter events are anything to judge by, it is that Cryptic is saying they do not care if I stick around for another year. That I should not be reasonably expected to believe they are thinking beyond a 6 month timetable.
They are hurting the faith that the players are putting in them. Players want to know the time and effort they put into the game will pay off for them in the end. Since the Lobi Store allows players to bypass the grind for event ships, then clearly it is intended that players are able to get new ships faster than usual.
But since this would hurt Lobi Store sales, this is not a matter of time spent in the game -- it is a matter of monetization.
This is a clear case where monetization is more important than a rewarding gameplay experience. Cryptic, I sincerely believe is deserving of every bit of scrutiny they are getting from this.
it's even worse : the delta recruit event was specifically meant to lure old players back to STO and to attract new ones . To subsequently make this announcement does the exact opposite of the intended purpose ...it's not just a daft idea in its execution but also with regard to timing...
This isn't good change. I could take or leave the "you have to play the event each year to get the ship" part - there's good and bad to that, and I can't really pick whether the good outweighs the bad or not.
But cutting off the older ships? THAT is a problem. I just swapped my main over to my Delta Recruit, and now the ships are apparently going to be unavailable to her. That's even worse on the winter ships... I've been planning on her getting the trait from the Breen carrier.
Well.... that means there won't be any of my characters cruising around in the Pacific Princess. Being a new player last summer, I skipped the summer event on the advice of veteran players who said "oh, the ships will be available next year anyway" and the fact that I was still working out the kinks on my first three toons... and as a result I apparently will never have access to the old Risian ships?
...
They don't say it will be like that.
It is stated just that you will need new project with new items to grind for every year.
The old ships will be (propably) accessible on the new projects too.
But - oh man - this year was first that i "pre-grind" for next Winter Event and they just block me :mad:
No, there is no good to this. Its a completely stupid, silly thing to do. It destroys immersive effect. It completely goes against all efforts to make a better background, better looking ships..then through stupid, goofy, childish (and non genre) emotes that detract from enjoyment of the game by people who might actually give a darn about star trek.
If they include an option where you can turn off emotes, so you can't see them, that would be fair. Those annoyed by them wouldn't have to see them.
Otherwise, a big middle finger to whatever greedy idiot who decided to cater to the lowest common level of immature, juvenile player at the expense of everyone else.
next thing you know there will be cutsey baby dinosaurs following people around
Comments
Are these markers washable and what brand are they? Are they non toxic? Will they stain my uniform if they leak? I must know!
I spent extra time this year to gather those items, so I could relax a bit next year.
Why does it matter when we spend the time, as long as we are spending it?
This is the dilithium nerf x10.
Cryptic, we can't play 24/7/365, like you seem to think we can.
I play this for Star Trek, not for an MMO. This is the only MMO I play, and will ever play.
I don't even care about spec points. I just wanted to get what I planned with the tools you provided.
Especially mad that if I'm short one day now, I've just wasted all the previous two weeks worth of effort.
In the words of the Comic Book Guy: "Worst nerf ever!"
EDIT: This is not my idea of having fun.
My character Tsin'xing
This is really uncool.
Retiring the 'currency' is not really an issue, I understand and can even accept the decision, an attempt to get more players involved each and every day of these events.
I DO NOT agree with retiring the previous ships however. I would like to see all previous "event" items moved to the Zen/Lobi/GPL stores, so that new players and/or Delta Recruits have an optional way to acquire them.
I'd also like clarification on whether the "Alt Discount" will still be used this year?
The interesting thing is, it's NOT aan exploit: the first year, the free ship was the Delta ship, which is and was ****e...so I saved my marks/photos what have you. It's not an exploit, its simply smart consumerism.
The thing is, that's TRIBBLE that they change the rules regularly when there's something the players like. Again, back to "Playing as intended"
Playing As Intended:
Play the missions WE want you to play.
Only level the way WE want you to level.
Log in to achieve x for the amount of time WE want.
Hey Trendy, I don't want to come across as caustic...can you reply to the OTHER questions? Like, the ones people care about?
With much love and respect.
Check your options, almost everything, including the majority of windows and all the combat numbers junk can be disabled.
You can strip it back to a pretty clean looking experience.
Sure there are things, that intelligence targeting thing for example is horrible.
One non-disableable thing that still ticks me off is "Blah@Blahblah has acquired a fancy new ship" flashing across my screen every 2mins.
Fair enough if it was just a couple times an evening, no bother. but the often rapid fire frequency of it is verily irking.
Will the Elite Queue R&D Material Reward Package also come with Salvaged Technology? You know, like an actual Elite Queue R&D Material Reward Package does?
Because if not, then its not an "Elite Queue R&D Material Reward Package". Its just a R&D reward box where you can choose what very rare materials you get
.... Well, I mean, its still a nice chunk of R&D mats which is nice. However, without the Salvaged Tech, saying its a Elite Queue R&D Material Reward Package is inaccurate.
Could we please get some clarification on this?
http://www.arcgames.com/en/games/star-trek-online/news/detail/9232203-star-trek-online%3A-retiring-lohlunat-pearls
Second to last question in the FAQ.
So they're not removing the discounts.
It's just going to be a case of removing access to previous ships and the ability to carry over the Pearls (and whatever other items they apply this to) from year to year.
* * * * *
Unless you meant the already unlocked discounts and the inability to slot projects on new alts vs. the ability to slot the project at all, which they were supposed to be getting clarification for us on (though it looked like a clear no to me) but haven't gotten that so far...er...that I've seen.
@Desdecardo since 2008.
Nice CYA there Bluegeek, but it doesn't work like that. I neither violated the rules nor the policies, I made a statement on the validity of a dev's ego trip.
For me what sucks is I started the grind on a few toons and lost interest in the ships. So I have 280 pearls spent on the corvette on one toon for instance, I'd love to have the pearls and buy a spec point. But they are locked up already. That's what sucks, because now I have no choice but to finish the grind or kiss my previous work good bye. There should at least be a refund option for those grinds since they are wasted efforts for a T5U ships that it is now outdated but I could have slowly grinded for.
Check your options.
Those fly-by's can be turned off too.
Click the button in the lower-right of the chat window, click 'Notification settings', then uncheck 'Gameplay Announcements' Fly-in.
TBH, personally I don't have a problem jumpin through whatever flamin hoops they throw at me to get the ship, provided it's a real good one..
Oh and how I do hope the new ship is a real good one !
I'm glad they are offering SOMETHING at least, in exchange for the pearls.
No, there is no good to this. Its a completely stupid, silly thing to do. It destroys immersive effect. It completely goes against all efforts to make a better background, better looking ships..then through stupid, goofy, childish (and non genre) emotes that detract from enjoyment of the game by people who might actually give a darn about star trek.
If they include an option where you can turn off emotes, so you can't see them, that would be fair. Those annoyed by them wouldn't have to see them.
Otherwise, a big middle finger to whatever greedy idiot who decided to cater to the lowest common level of immature, juvenile player at the expense of everyone else.
You might want to check your blood pressure dude, your taking this game too seriously. Or are you a canon TRIBBLE?
:rolleyes:
Risa really does have that hawaii feel now...
Ok, the pearls are gone. I personally really do not give a damn, but I can see how it would annoy some people. Likewise for the Risian ships.
As far as the ship emotes... Why have some awful little kid styled "smilies"? A better idea would be have ship maneuvers-these would be completely cosmetic, with no game effects. Things like a loop-the-loop, waggling wings, jinking, etc. Makes a lot more sense in my opinion.
As far as the ship? Hoping for a Risian carrier, with a flight deck like an oceangoing aircraft carrier.
it's even worse : the delta recruit event was specifically meant to lure old players back to STO and to attract new ones . To subsequently make this announcement does the exact opposite of the intended purpose ...it's not just a daft idea in its execution but also with regard to timing...
But cutting off the older ships? THAT is a problem. I just swapped my main over to my Delta Recruit, and now the ships are apparently going to be unavailable to her. That's even worse on the winter ships... I've been planning on her getting the trait from the Breen carrier.
They don't say it will be like that.
It is stated just that you will need new project with new items to grind for every year.
The old ships will be (propably) accessible on the new projects too.
But - oh man - this year was first that i "pre-grind" for next Winter Event and they just block me :mad:
next thing you know there will be cutsey baby dinosaurs following people around