Make the Gateway a bigger part of STO
(this is a long read… and I’m sorry. No TL;DR’s here)
For the betterment of the STO community, I propose that the STO gateway be expanded. I believe this expansion will be a great resource to the community and the game by providing information that will serve as a motivation for purchases (first, it will.. second, I need to include it), a variety of examples on how to build a good ship, an easy way for the best to share ideas, and a way to develop new communities in STO that may offer tournaments, situational game play/scenarios, and training that will enhance the community, and will make members more apt to develop their play in a positive manner.
(Holy TRIBBLE!!! That was just the exposition! Run!!! Run now!!!)
1.a-Currently, the Beta gateway is optional. Remove it. I understand why folks keep it hidden, but that’s no benefit to the game, or to the community. If players roll with it, it goes up in the gateway. If it’s not an option, it quickly becomes a non-issue. Most great players are happy to share their builds anyway. This makes it a lot easier for them to share info.
1.b-Currently, the Beta gateway offers a quick glimpse at a ship, its armaments, its BO stations and its consoles (it offers ship stats, too.. but they’re not accurate). This view should include:
--A quick view of each bridge officer’s traits. Don’t make folks have to dig through personnel files to figure it out. Make this way easier.
--Duty officers on duty and their abilities (there is a warfare specialist that offers a 10% damage bonus against the Borg in space?!?).
--Ship traits, personal traits, reputation traits… all of it.. and what each does. Easily accessible.
--Encourage the Gateway. Make it easier for folks to access another guy’s build. I run an ISA and parse 12K, another guy in the same ship posts a 30k, I can quickly access that info and learn what he ran vs what I ran. Then I can determine whether he has a better build I should aspire to (#$$$$$$) or I need to develop my skill more. Some of this game is stuff, and some of this game is skill. There is a point where stuff won’t help you anymore, but for most folks, I think it will help them a lot.
--This is of massive value to both the community and to the game. Players who are very successful share their ideas with the masses and make them better. Items that are overly propagated will be easier to identify and bring in line with balance (which is a good thing).
--A super easy way to reference a build. You fly the same ship that I have, but my results are way better than yours? Look here.
--There are a lot of items in this game that common players don’t know about. Exposure to great use of these items will undoubtedly lead to more purchases and greater experimentation. There are SO MANY THINGS IN THIS GAME. But the game does a pretty horrible job of advertising them. This is a terrific way to gain exposure for the products that work. If you don’t know, you won’t try.
2.a-At this point in this game’s career, it could use a better ability to create community events in a controlled environment. This game has a habit of releasing a lot of borked abilities (plasma consoles+bfaw I’m looking at you) that I will positively assume have not received dev attention because they are busy doing other things. No worries. My community can host a tournament or event that can set rules and maintain them through the gateway. This opens up so many opportunities of exploration into how this game is played. For example:
--Speed runs without plasma explosion consoles, ship traits, SRO’s, or universal consoles (to level the playing field between factions).
--Full Engineer speed runs with no doffs.
--Vanilla pvp communities that exclude traits, doffs, specialization, and reputation (which this game needs… badly. Communities are willing to build this up if devs give them the tools to do it. So many opportunities for growth here, and a bunch for money).
--Tiered level pvp’s that develop the community from the bottom up in regard to basic mechanics, modifiers, doff usage, and shield redistribution.
I realize this will cost development time and money. If this is marketed well, I believe there will be an increase in revenue based simply in knowledge. The more the players know, the more they will be invested in playing and spending. This is the easiest way to disseminate game knowledge among the player base as they can view in-game what is successful, then attempt to emulate it.
I think the game is running out of things to monetize, besides power creep (which will eventually shut it down). There is so much already available here that a huge portion of the player base has yet to explore. Give us a chance to play with it, and it might surprise the devs what we can create to be successful.
0
Comments
i get that. totally do. You worked for it. You spent time learning it. You tested it. but if it's a free-for-all, it no longer matters. Furthermore, you're inspiring guys that know less than you. If you did the real work, your skill will still surpass those that are riding on the backs of giants.
I share my knowledge with my fleetmates, I don't need what I have learned poached by some random guy to place into a "sto guidebook for dummies" for example and claim he came up with it.
How is this harming you in any way other than some prestige among your pals? You are still the one that can teach them how to run it properly, and to coach them through their experience should you choose. You're a teacher. Why not use your knowledge to help the community?
Finally, it's highly doubtful that anything you have discovered in this game has not already been uncovered (and more than likely been uncovered by a lot of folks). Take it easy. Share and enjoy that folks look up to you. Help push the game forward. You don't need a footnote to be a positive contribution.
Get the Forums Enhancement Extension!
sadly, geko mentioned in a recent podcast that there would be no more development on the gateway.
free jkname
Get the Forums Enhancement Extension!
I (try to) use it to check people's builds but it's been (even more) broken since sometime between upgrading and BOff manuals hit. Can't see equipment mods, proper rank, or slotted BOff skills.
Can we get some more (canon) KDF outfits, an assortment of respectable skirts/dresses, a long jacket (and more clothes in general) that does plain white well, melee weapon and Mk 15 drops, a T6 Nova, and account-wide lockbox/lobi/promo ships & consoles? Oh, and...
The option to "classify" your character should stay IMO.
Which is why I just think it should be wide-open. It's better for the whole community. Yes, your competition can see what you're doing, but you get to see, too (and besides dps... where do we have competition? Not much pvp atm). This ability would be the main motivation in developing it. If folks are still allowed to classify their builds, the effort may be for naught. The needs of the many, right?
I never understood why they didn't take this all the way up to doffing, using the exchange, reputation and the like. Games like this thrive on habits. Greater access=greater investment of time/money=greater involvement from the player base. Why not have the community spend their tablet/phone time playing your game? There is so much maintenance that could be done by a tablet ui. When you pop back to your computer, you are ready to fly and play with other folks. This would be a wonderful resource.
Like oh so many things...SQUIRREL!!!
You can turn off that feature under in game settings somewhere.
Looking for a fun PvE fleet? Join us at Omega Combat Division today.
And those who have some weird paranoia about someone stealing their builds (because it's so original and no one has ever built anything remotely similar and strong, right?), they should retain the option to hide their stuff in Gateway.
U.S.S. Buteo Regalis - Brigid Multi-Mission Surveillance Explorer build
R.R.W. Ri Maajon - Khopesh Tactical Dreadnought Warbird build
My Youtube channel containing STO videos.