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At long last! EC -> Spec Points!

The Year of Hell is finally over! The new lockbox contains an item called Temporal Research Assignments, which reward a -great deal- of spec xp on success and even more on crit!

Finally an alternative progression for spec points besides grinding!


Comments

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  • lianthelialianthelia Member Posts: 7,921 Arc User
    Update: with good doffs, you get 45k spec xp from critting these bad boys!

    Truly, the year of hell is over. Never grinding again!

    I wouldn't say never :P

    Unless you're actually a Ferengi and you have hundreds of millions to billions of EC hiding somewhere...
  • borticuscrypticborticuscryptic Member Posts: 2,478 Cryptic Developer
    edited July 2015
    They come from the Year of Hell Lock Box. Somebody had to buy a Master Key for them to sell that item to you on the Exchange.

    In other words, this is no more an EC-to-XP exchange, than purchasing a Lobi Ship from another player is an EC-to-Lobi exchange.​​
    Jeremy Randall
    Cryptic - Lead Systems Designer
    "Play smart!"
  • questeriusquesterius Member Posts: 8,708 Arc User
    Why pay for something you get for free while playing the game.​​
    This program, though reasonably normal at times, seems to have a strong affinity to classes belonging to the Cat 2.0 program. Questerius 2.7 will break down on occasion, resulting in garbage and nonsense messages whenever it occurs. Usually a hard reboot or pulling the plug solves the problem when that happens.
  • kirimuffinkirimuffin Member Posts: 695 Arc User
    Yeah, I wouldn't call this "the end of grinding". Rather, you're grinding ZEN/EC instead of grinding spec XP directly.

    (Still, I can deffy see this being a super-useful thing, especially for those of us who periodically open lockboxes anyway.)
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  • legendarylycan#5411 legendarylycan Member Posts: 37,284 Arc User
    They come from the Year of Hell Lock Box. Somebody had to buy a Master Key for them to sell that item to you on the Exchange.

    In other words, this is no more an EC-to-XP exchange, than purchasing a Lobi Ship from another player is an EC-to-Lobi exchange.

    i see that Enhance User title under your developer tag...you can't stand the 'vanilla' vanilla forums any more than the rest of us, huh?​​
    Like special weapons from other Star Trek games? Wondering if they can be replicated in STO even a little bit? Check this out: https://forum.arcgames.com/startrekonline/discussion/1262277/a-mostly-comprehensive-guide-to-star-trek-videogame-special-weapons-and-their-sto-equivalents

    #LegalizeAwoo

    A normie goes "Oh, what's this?"
    An otaku goes "UwU, what's this?"
    A furry goes "OwO, what's this?"
    A werewolf goes "Awoo, what's this?"


    "It's nothing personal, I just don't feel like I've gotten to know a person until I've sniffed their crotch."
    "We said 'no' to Mr. Curiosity. We're not home. Curiosity is not welcome, it is not to be invited in. Curiosity...is bad. It gets you in trouble, it gets you killed, and more importantly...it makes you poor!"
    Passion and Serenity are one.
    I gain power by understanding both.
    In the chaos of their battle, I bring order.
    I am a shadow, darkness born from light.
    The Force is united within me.
  • trekpuppytrekpuppy Member Posts: 446 Arc User
    I smell a Geko scheme to milk all the loyal Accolade hunters out there. This is almost worse than the Khellids...
    ---
    "-Grind is good!" --Gordon Geko
    Accolades checklist: https://bit.ly/FLUFFYS
  • edited July 2015
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  • legendarylycan#5411 legendarylycan Member Posts: 37,284 Arc User
    and ironically enough, the salvation came in the box named after the Year of Hell​​
    Like special weapons from other Star Trek games? Wondering if they can be replicated in STO even a little bit? Check this out: https://forum.arcgames.com/startrekonline/discussion/1262277/a-mostly-comprehensive-guide-to-star-trek-videogame-special-weapons-and-their-sto-equivalents

    #LegalizeAwoo

    A normie goes "Oh, what's this?"
    An otaku goes "UwU, what's this?"
    A furry goes "OwO, what's this?"
    A werewolf goes "Awoo, what's this?"


    "It's nothing personal, I just don't feel like I've gotten to know a person until I've sniffed their crotch."
    "We said 'no' to Mr. Curiosity. We're not home. Curiosity is not welcome, it is not to be invited in. Curiosity...is bad. It gets you in trouble, it gets you killed, and more importantly...it makes you poor!"
    Passion and Serenity are one.
    I gain power by understanding both.
    In the chaos of their battle, I bring order.
    I am a shadow, darkness born from light.
    The Force is united within me.
  • thatcursedwolfthatcursedwolf Member Posts: 1,617 Arc User
    and ironically enough, the salvation came in the box named after the Year of Hell​​

    At least they're being honest about how Delta Rising has been viewed.
    This is my Risian Corvette. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
  • grayfoxjamesgrayfoxjames Member Posts: 1,516 Arc User
    Just another option for players, and options in an MMO is a GOOD thing. I had three of them running and they crit and I don't know if it was all of them at once or just one cause I was clicking accept complete very quick (always do that) lol but the system read you have gained 100,000 XP and Spock came on congratulating me on my extra spec point :smiley:
    Fleet Admiral Thomas Winston James a.k.a. The Grayfox
    Fleet Leader of:
    Liberty Task Force/Liberty Honor Guard
    Pride of the Federation/Pride of the Empire
    Liberty Guardians
    U.S.S. Liberty, NX-42813-L, T-6 Legendary Odyssey Class

    Game Handle: Grayfox@GrayfoxJames
    Website: https://www.libertytaskforce.com
    Armada (STOFA Member Fleet): https://www.libertytaskforce.com/stofa
    Discord: https://discord.gg/bGp9N7z
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    Email: CSDynamix@Hotmail.com
  • woodwhitywoodwhity Member Posts: 2,636 Arc User
    They come from the Year of Hell Lock Box. Somebody had to buy a Master Key for them to sell that item to you on the Exchange.

    In other words, this is no more an EC-to-XP exchange, than purchasing a Lobi Ship from another player is an EC-to-Lobi exchange.​​

    Since you already pointed out that you get Money from it: When will you nerf it? And will you announce it or just stealthnerf it like you changed Bughunt (at least it upped the difficulty) and Nukara Selfdestructing Tendencies (wgere the rewards were set to a third of the marks it rewarded before)?

    Just asking.
  • mustrumridcully0mustrumridcully0 Member Posts: 12,963 Arc User
    edited July 2015
    They come from the Year of Hell Lock Box. Somebody had to buy a Master Key for them to sell that item to you on the Exchange.

    In other words, this is no more an EC-to-XP exchange, than purchasing a Lobi Ship from another player is an EC-to-Lobi exchange.
    That is probably all a matter of perspective - by the same argument, is any lockbox item on the Exchange, or any C-Store item "free" or "available for EC"? In the end, someone is always paying the bill with real money.


    But a less philosophical question is: Who in his right mind would still buy XP Boosters in the C-Store?

    Before Delta Rising, the were pointless because you levelled fast anyway. After Delta Rising, their low skill point maximum means they help you almost nothing and it would be way too expensive - and you'd only level 20 % faster - - that's one level out of 5. It's doubtful that this would be even felt by a player.


    It seems speculating on a decent lockbox item is still more useful than buying the skill point booster. I'd argue even if you only get 4 Lobi and a +10 R&D Boost.

    ​​
    Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
  • woodwhitywoodwhity Member Posts: 2,636 Arc User
    ss philosophical question is: Who in his right mind would still buy XP Boosters in the C-Store?

    Before Delta Rising, the were pointless because you levelled fast anyway. After Delta Rising, their low skill point maximum means they help you almost nothing and it would be way too expensive - and you'd only level 20 % faster - - that's one level out of 5. It's doubtful that this would be even felt by a player.
    ​​

    Thats why they put time-limited XP-Bonus (1h,8h) in (some of the previous) lockboxes, to profit from gambling. Though I would fathom putting them in the Store would yield more profit for them.
  • zobovorzobovor Member Posts: 198 Arc User
    I believe the full story goes like this :

    a) Nerf a bunch of Doff missions that gave XP .

    b) Implement the thingy that the OP was talking about .

    c) Come to the forums and blow some smoke up our posterior .
  • ltminnsltminns Member Posts: 12,573 Arc User
    zobovor wrote: »
    I believe the full story goes like this :

    a) Nerf a bunch of Doff missions that gave XP .

    Yep, those Bribe/Blackmail/Aquitted Orion/Delta Trade Doff missions are pretty well worthless now after the nerf. The CXP is relatively low as well so not much to redeem them at this stage.

    Early yesterday the six Temporal Investigation missions I had running completed (only one critted and all had all VR Doffs assigned). I did not really have much of an idea of the XP that they awarded, the XP meter seemed to have not really moved at near about 40 some odd percent through the level.

    I slotted three others to replace the six. Those completed later in the evening (no crits). This time I watched their results as I collected rewards. The XP meter moved quite a bit for each so it dawned on me that I should check my Spec points. Well it seems those six earlier missions must have given me a whole level to the point I was practically back to the same spot at the next level. These three new ones got me into the 90s.

    So yeah, they do provide a great source to get spec points. It is going to be a rough road getting each of all those missions to crit for the extra rewards.
    'But to be logical is not to be right', and 'nothing' on God's earth could ever 'make it' right!'
    Judge Dan Haywood
    'As l speak now, the words are forming in my head.
    l don't know.
    l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
    That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
    Lt. Philip J. Minns
  • kittyflofykittyflofy Member Posts: 1,004 Arc User
    edited July 2015
    And finally it is here. Another way to make people waste money to open boxes to get specialization boosts. Nice. :). Some things never change eh? ^-
  • questeriusquesterius Member Posts: 8,708 Arc User
    I still don't get the fuzz about specialization points.
    Never did grind for them and i currently have 3 out of 4 characters with full specialization and the 4th only 10 or so to go.

    Just keep your doff assignments going and play what you want. Those points will come your way.​​
    This program, though reasonably normal at times, seems to have a strong affinity to classes belonging to the Cat 2.0 program. Questerius 2.7 will break down on occasion, resulting in garbage and nonsense messages whenever it occurs. Usually a hard reboot or pulling the plug solves the problem when that happens.
  • kittyflofykittyflofy Member Posts: 1,004 Arc User
    edited July 2015
    questerius wrote: »
    I still don't get the fuzz about specialization points.
    Never did grind for them and i currently have 3 out of 4 characters with full specialization and the 4th only 10 or so to go.

    Just keep your doff assignments going and play what you want. Those points will come your way.​​

    People just dont play for fun, so they need every single spec point asap. Or they get bored. I mean, im sorry for em xD (they should probably find another game), but i dont have problems with the rate i gain my spec points. People will never understand that the time it takes is all part of the end-game content that is specialization points. They keep asking for faster and faster ways to get em. Why?? who knows. There are weird people everywhere ^^ :)

    Now, they should ask emselves what are they going to do when they have all trees completed and all spec point filled. Because now with these boosts, they are going to get bored in 2 days lol.
  • ltminnsltminns Member Posts: 12,573 Arc User
    edited July 2015
    Not advocating anything, just by normal play (I always keep Doff assignments up and try to pick the ones that give the most XP/Dilithium or when trying to level up a specialty area - the CXP) and taking the Spec Point for the Special FE Reward I get about three Spec Points a week. I don't go out of my way to grind for them (I do not grind Patrol missions). In fact for the Delta Patrols my current character, who was created as a Delta Recruit, has only run each Patrol once as given by the Patrol Wrapper missions.

    For those Temporal Investigation Missions, I was expecting and was running them for what I thought would be a Rare or Very Rare Doff. What you get is an Advanced Queue Crafting Pack for Success or Elite Queue Crafting Pack for a Crit.
    'But to be logical is not to be right', and 'nothing' on God's earth could ever 'make it' right!'
    Judge Dan Haywood
    'As l speak now, the words are forming in my head.
    l don't know.
    l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
    That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
    Lt. Philip J. Minns
  • questeriusquesterius Member Posts: 8,708 Arc User
    ltminns wrote: »
    Not advocating anything, just by normal play and taking the Spec Point for the Special FE Reward I get about three Spec Points a week. I don't go out of my way to grind for them (I do not grind Patrol missions). In fact for the Delta Patrols my current character, who was created as a Delta Recruit, has only run each Patrol once as given by the Patrol Wrapper missions.

    For those Temporal Investigation Missions, I was expecting and was running them for what I thought would be a Rare or Very Rare Doff. What you get is an Advanced Queue Crafting Pack for Success or Elite Queue Crafting Pack for a Crit.

    I think i skipped them for my Delta recruit. Maybe i'll give them a go this weekend. First there's a couple of foundry missions which were recommended to me.

    ​​
    This program, though reasonably normal at times, seems to have a strong affinity to classes belonging to the Cat 2.0 program. Questerius 2.7 will break down on occasion, resulting in garbage and nonsense messages whenever it occurs. Usually a hard reboot or pulling the plug solves the problem when that happens.
  • ltminnsltminns Member Posts: 12,573 Arc User
    Yeah, that's a good idea. I haven't run Foundry missions in a while, and never on this Delta Recruit.
    'But to be logical is not to be right', and 'nothing' on God's earth could ever 'make it' right!'
    Judge Dan Haywood
    'As l speak now, the words are forming in my head.
    l don't know.
    l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
    That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
    Lt. Philip J. Minns
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  • majortiraomegamajortiraomega Member Posts: 2,214 Arc User
    shazia9191 wrote: »
    They come from the Year of Hell Lock Box. Somebody had to buy a Master Key for them to sell that item to you on the Exchange.

    In other words, this is no more an EC-to-XP exchange, than purchasing a Lobi Ship from another player is an EC-to-Lobi exchange.

    Wow nerf xp and make it a lockbox item. This doesn't make you look desperate for cash at all. Good work borticus.

    It was actually quite a good move for Cryptic to put such an item in the lockbox. It gives players not interested in a ship another reason to open the boxes. This is a free to play game and master keys are cheap. Said keys also make very good money for Cryptic and allows us to continue playing this great game. If you think STO's model is bad for having lockboxes, then you should take a look at SWTOR. That game is so bad to their non-subscribers and subscribers alike. They charge you to unlock the ability to sprint, access bank, and change your character's appearance/title. In SWTOR, they charge 12 dollars PER TRIP to the tailor if you aren't a subscriber! They also charge 20 dollars per expansion and one must pay to have access to the higher level cap or play new missions. Also, imagine if one had to grind a reputation system to get the best gear and THEN open lockboxes to obtain the item needed to actually purchase said gear. Guess what? SWTOR has such a "feature" and it sucks!

    Over here in STO we have it good and the devs are much more reasonable. The content is free, expansions are free, customization is free (minus a few C-store/Lobi items), and everything that is paid can be obtained by trading dilithium to another player for their zen. All of the best gear in the game can be obtained with time and patience...or rapidly obtained by trading zen to others for dilithium. Lockboxes are perfectly fine and the latest one is the best yet because it has removed most of the worthless stuff (if only the tiny crafting XP boost went away). An item that makes leveling faster in a lockbox is no big deal; there are plenty of ways to level without a lockbox item and all it requires is time. So stop whining about how "greedy" Cryptic is for adding a way to monetizing the game. They are a business after all and they need money to keep this game's production running.​​
    --->Ground PvP Concerns Directory 4.0
    --->Ground Combat General Bugs Directory
    Real join date: March 2012 / PvP Veteran since May 2012 (Ground and Space)
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