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Reduce visual effects

Been away a while. The amount of visual affects in combat is way overwhelming in my opinion. Taking the immersion of combat away with all the flashy lights, blinking clouds, etc.

Basically, is there a way to reduce/remove the visual affects of Boff actions in space?
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  • tyriniussstyriniusss Member Posts: 317 Arc User
    This has been asked multiple times. Unfortunately I don't think we ever got a dev response on that. I'm not aware of any way to reduce the spam outside of disabling directional shield FX in the options.

    I totally agree with you. I'd really love to scale it down and see more of the beautiful ship models while in combat.

    I THINK there are ways to disable certain fx when replaying a demorecord, so the game engine at least seems to be capable of that. But this doesn't mean it's possible to implement without spending significant resources for a feature that will generate little to no revenue.
  • hanover2hanover2 Member Posts: 1,053 Arc User
    YES!!! Let me disable the visuals on all the technicolor space vomit! Unburdening my video card would just be a bonus!
  • fovrelfovrel Member Posts: 1,448 Arc User
    It also makes the game extremely laggy. When there are a lot of players on the map and the whole light show goes off, my game turns into a sequence of frozen frames. I had it happen in the Voth ground battle zone, the final T-Rex fight and the Undine space battle zone was unplayable in the final stage.

    BTW the final battle in the Undine zone and the Badlands are horrible. I am in for the marks, but I am going to look for other ways of getting it.
  • alcyoneserenealcyoneserene Member Posts: 2,414 Arc User
    Destabilizing resonance beam is a strobe light covering a large portion of the screen especially when up close to the recipient of this science ability.

    It is clear whoever designed this level of visual spam really truly doesn't play they game.

    The only level up from this is 100% of the screen flashing from solid black to solid white, cause really, that's the extreme we are at right now, despite multiple requests to turn this stuff off as an option.
    Y945Yzx.jpg
  • risian4risian4 Member Posts: 3,711 Arc User
    edited January 2016
    http://www.arcgames.com/en/forums/startrekonline#/discussion/1206711/ground-special-effects-from-new-abilities-is-it-too-much/p1

    We had a majority in favor of toning down visual effects from kit abilities on the ground, at least in this poll.

    Some of the visuals of space based powers, like the Gravity Well's or the Tyken's rift, are useful as they make it possible to quickly find out which enemies are affected by the ability. Most others are not however, and I'd also like to see an option to reduce the visual spam.

    There's nothing you can do to target yet another enemy with KLW, however, you can use a second GW or TR so here it is logical that there's a very visible effect. IMO, only abilities that are really activated by clicking something on the power tray should have these noticable effects. Adding visuals to all other stuff that's chance based doesn't add much since you can't do much with the information that a certain enemy may or may not be affected by that ability.

    (They did change some effects on the ground btw, but those changes only had to do with the enemy vs ally effects and different colours that are now used. It's not enough imo. At times when a solar gateway or elachi module is used in a crowded space or hallway, you may be unable to see allies that need to be saved or enemies that may or may not be somewhere nearby.)

  • risian4risian4 Member Posts: 3,711 Arc User
    Destabilizing resonance beam is a strobe light covering a large portion of the screen especially when up close to the recipient of this science ability.

    It is clear whoever designed this level of visual spam really truly doesn't play they game.

    The only level up from this is 100% of the screen flashing from solid black to solid white, cause really, that's the extreme we are at right now, despite multiple requests to turn this stuff off as an option.

    Really? I use that ability on one character and I've never seen it cover a large portion of the screen. Maybe try zooming out a bit? Of all the abilities I've seen, DRB is one of the least problematic ones I think.
  • davefenestratordavefenestrator Member Posts: 10,689 Arc User
    I like seeing visual effects for things like when a torpedo proc triggers.

    If I had my choice I'd want to be able to disable some (not all) of other peoples' visuals while keeping my own.
  • thunderfoot#5163 thunderfoot Member Posts: 4,545 Arc User
    It wouldn't hurt to tone them down a bit, I think. I get that the Devs want each and every new ability to be uniquely identifiable from the graphic displays it uses. However, some of this stuff has gotten waaaay outta hand.

    Maybe turn down the intensity of the effects? Maybe increase the transparency of them? Maybe both at the same time?
    A six year old boy and his starship. Living the dream.
  • artan42artan42 Member Posts: 10,450 Bug Hunter
    Add an option to turn them off as with the shield icons. Make sure it defaults to 'on'.
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  • nyxadrillnyxadrill Member Posts: 1,242 Arc User
    artan42 wrote: »
    Add an option to turn them off as with the shield icons. Make sure it defaults to 'on'.

    Very much this. I find all the GFX spam in both space and ground maps almost painful to watch sometimes. Especially when the framerate drops to 'frames per hour'! >.<
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  • shadowwraith77shadowwraith77 Member Posts: 6,395 Arc User
    A disable for individuals I can go for, as for myself, I highly enjoy the visual display!
    tumblr_nq9ec3BSAy1qj6sk2o2_500_zpspkqw0mmk.gif


    Praetor of the -RTS- Romulan Tal Shiar fleet!

  • admrenlarreckadmrenlarreck Member Posts: 2,041 Arc User
    Check the wiki for "console commands" there are commands there for bloom quality lens flare fx quality some of those might help.
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  • alcyoneserenealcyoneserene Member Posts: 2,414 Arc User
    risian4 wrote: »
    Destabilizing resonance beam is a strobe light covering a large portion of the screen especially when up close to the recipient of this science ability.

    It is clear whoever designed this level of visual spam really truly doesn't play they game.

    The only level up from this is 100% of the screen flashing from solid black to solid white, cause really, that's the extreme we are at right now, despite multiple requests to turn this stuff off as an option.

    Really? I use that ability on one character and I've never seen it cover a large portion of the screen. Maybe try zooming out a bit? Of all the abilities I've seen, DRB is one of the least problematic ones I think.

    If you fly a Bird of Prey, or other compact ships like a Defiant, to see your ship properly as well as what it is doing and which direction it is facing (no thanks to the endless visual overlays) sometimes requires zooming quite close up, nevermind shuttles.

    Here is destabilizing resonance beam in the Rezreth, a dreadnought I think everyone will agree is a large ship which defaults to a fairly zoomed-out view as its minimum.

    One thing to remember is this ability acts similar to a strobe light, flickering on and off with high frequency. I've done what I could to quickly capture some maximum points of its visual effects, but it would take a video to really showcase the times when it covers just about the entire screen in solid white.

    The ability on my Romulan main has a 1 minute cool-down, meaning I'm staring at a large screen flicker once every minute or less.

    http://s7.postimg.org/4yo23k0gq/5551.jpg
    http://s22.postimg.org/qhyk1d5wg/16454.jpg
    http://s11.postimg.org/jrba042wy/97781.jpg
    http://s13.postimg.org/ohhr8kyra/198997.jpg

    The argument from me is not against the designers of these graphic effects that do look impressive at certain times, but about the unwillingness to provide an option to tone some of them down, and even off completely. Keep them all on by default which means the majority will undoubtedly be seeing them, but have a slider or selection menu for the rest to turn them down or off.
    Y945Yzx.jpg
  • chastity1337chastity1337 Member Posts: 1,608 Arc User
    Destabilizing resonance beam is a strobe light covering a large portion of the screen especially when up close to the recipient of this science ability.

    It is clear whoever designed this level of visual spam really truly doesn't play they game.

    The only level up from this is 100% of the screen flashing from solid black to solid white, cause really, that's the extreme we are at right now, despite multiple requests to turn this stuff off as an option.

    Oh god yes, I fully agree. That's not just obnoxious, it's an epileptic seizure waiting to happen
  • thunderfoot#5163 thunderfoot Member Posts: 4,545 Arc User
    edited January 2016
    There is an area of concern I have for this. What if you elect to turn off the displays and the rest of your team does not?
    Won't this still affect your frame rate? Since the game still has to display the effects for the rest of the team? Wouldn't this cause your own frame rate to stutter anyways?
    A six year old boy and his starship. Living the dream.
  • theraven2378theraven2378 Member Posts: 6,016 Arc User
    Destabilizing resonance beam is a strobe light covering a large portion of the screen especially when up close to the recipient of this science ability.

    It is clear whoever designed this level of visual spam really truly doesn't play they game.

    The only level up from this is 100% of the screen flashing from solid black to solid white, cause really, that's the extreme we are at right now, despite multiple requests to turn this stuff off as an option.

    This, I physically have to look away from the screen when it activates. I refuse to use the epilepsy beam out of respect for other players, it really needs toning down
    NMXb2ph.png
      "The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
      -Lord Commander Solar Macharius
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    • meimeitoomeimeitoo Member Posts: 12,594 Arc User
      rayduhz wrote: »
      Been away a while. The amount of visual affects in combat is way overwhelming in my opinion. Taking the immersion of combat away with all the flashy lights, blinking clouds, etc.

      Basically, is there a way to reduce/remove the visual affects of Boff actions in space?

      Personally, I hope they *increase* the visuals. :) Seriously, ppl with crappy video cards should not try and ruin it for everyone else.

      If ppl are looking for a personal client slider to reduce graphics, I'm fine with that, of course.
      3lsZz0w.jpg
    • lostyuslostyus Member Posts: 208 Arc User
      risian4 wrote: »
      Destabilizing resonance beam is a strobe light covering a large portion of the screen especially when up close to the recipient of this science ability.

      It is clear whoever designed this level of visual spam really truly doesn't play they game.

      The only level up from this is 100% of the screen flashing from solid black to solid white, cause really, that's the extreme we are at right now, despite multiple requests to turn this stuff off as an option.

      Really? I use that ability on one character and I've never seen it cover a large portion of the screen. Maybe try zooming out a bit? Of all the abilities I've seen, DRB is one of the least problematic ones I think.

      If you fly a Bird of Prey, or other compact ships like a Defiant, to see your ship properly as well as what it is doing and which direction it is facing (no thanks to the endless visual overlays) sometimes requires zooming quite close up, nevermind shuttles.

      Here is destabilizing resonance beam in the Rezreth, a dreadnought I think everyone will agree is a large ship which defaults to a fairly zoomed-out view as its minimum.

      One thing to remember is this ability acts similar to a strobe light, flickering on and off with high frequency. I've done what I could to quickly capture some maximum points of its visual effects, but it would take a video to really showcase the times when it covers just about the entire screen in solid white.

      The ability on my Romulan main has a 1 minute cool-down, meaning I'm staring at a large screen flicker once every minute or less.

      http://s7.postimg.org/4yo23k0gq/5551.jpg
      http://s22.postimg.org/qhyk1d5wg/16454.jpg
      http://s11.postimg.org/jrba042wy/97781.jpg
      http://s13.postimg.org/ohhr8kyra/198997.jpg

      The argument from me is not against the designers of these graphic effects that do look impressive at certain times, but about the unwillingness to provide an option to tone some of them down, and even off completely. Keep them all on by default which means the majority will undoubtedly be seeing them, but have a slider or selection menu for the rest to turn them down or off.

      I agree with you. I fly a Malem or sometimes a Defiant and with these ships you do need to be zoomed in quite close especially for the Malem which slides a lot, so I like/need to see what my ship is doing. When Destabilizing resonance beam goes off it is quite a strain on the eyes (if it is the one that flashes multiple times). Maybe Risian4 doesn't appreciate this as he's the one firing it, so it won't be close to him, and having to play zoomed out just in case someone uses that ability just isn't an option.
    • lostyuslostyus Member Posts: 208 Arc User
      Destabilizing resonance beam is a strobe light covering a large portion of the screen especially when up close to the recipient of this science ability.

      It is clear whoever designed this level of visual spam really truly doesn't play they game.

      The only level up from this is 100% of the screen flashing from solid black to solid white, cause really, that's the extreme we are at right now, despite multiple requests to turn this stuff off as an option.

      This, I physically have to look away from the screen when it activates. I refuse to use the epilepsy beam out of respect for other players, it really needs toning down

      I do the same (have to look away), which really isn't helpful when flying an escort (which I have specced to be quite fast)
    • risian4risian4 Member Posts: 3,711 Arc User
      lostyus wrote: »
      risian4 wrote: »
      Destabilizing resonance beam is a strobe light covering a large portion of the screen especially when up close to the recipient of this science ability.

      It is clear whoever designed this level of visual spam really truly doesn't play they game.

      The only level up from this is 100% of the screen flashing from solid black to solid white, cause really, that's the extreme we are at right now, despite multiple requests to turn this stuff off as an option.

      Really? I use that ability on one character and I've never seen it cover a large portion of the screen. Maybe try zooming out a bit? Of all the abilities I've seen, DRB is one of the least problematic ones I think.

      If you fly a Bird of Prey, or other compact ships like a Defiant, to see your ship properly as well as what it is doing and which direction it is facing (no thanks to the endless visual overlays) sometimes requires zooming quite close up, nevermind shuttles.

      Here is destabilizing resonance beam in the Rezreth, a dreadnought I think everyone will agree is a large ship which defaults to a fairly zoomed-out view as its minimum.

      One thing to remember is this ability acts similar to a strobe light, flickering on and off with high frequency. I've done what I could to quickly capture some maximum points of its visual effects, but it would take a video to really showcase the times when it covers just about the entire screen in solid white.

      The ability on my Romulan main has a 1 minute cool-down, meaning I'm staring at a large screen flicker once every minute or less.

      http://s7.postimg.org/4yo23k0gq/5551.jpg
      http://s22.postimg.org/qhyk1d5wg/16454.jpg
      http://s11.postimg.org/jrba042wy/97781.jpg
      http://s13.postimg.org/ohhr8kyra/198997.jpg

      The argument from me is not against the designers of these graphic effects that do look impressive at certain times, but about the unwillingness to provide an option to tone some of them down, and even off completely. Keep them all on by default which means the majority will undoubtedly be seeing them, but have a slider or selection menu for the rest to turn them down or off.

      I agree with you. I fly a Malem or sometimes a Defiant and with these ships you do need to be zoomed in quite close especially for the Malem which slides a lot, so I like/need to see what my ship is doing. When Destabilizing resonance beam goes off it is quite a strain on the eyes (if it is the one that flashes multiple times). Maybe Risian4 doesn't appreciate this as he's the one firing it, so it won't be close to him, and having to play zoomed out just in case someone uses that ability just isn't an option.

      Actually I don't mind if they change it, just saying that in my experience (and of course others can have different experiences) DRB isn't really problematic. But that may be then because I usually fly larger ships which don't require the player to zoom in too much. That, and the fact that I mostly play ground missions where the maps tend to feel more crowded and the visuals thus tend to reduce vision even more, are why I said DRB isn't of that much concern to me.

      Anyway, my earlier comment was just my experience with the visuals from this power vs the visuals spam produced by other powers. Going back to that main topic, reducing the visuals (especially those that aren't functional) has my support. And if needed, DRB should be included then too.
    • scrooge69scrooge69 Member Posts: 1,108 Arc User
      indeed an option to turn off some chosen/all disco effects would really help bringing some more STAR TREK feeling back into the game


      also that "new" beta visual is jsut disturbing

      . . . the healing visual of the kobali cruiser console DISTURBING
      [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    • thunderfoot#5163 thunderfoot Member Posts: 4,545 Arc User
      meimeitoo wrote: »
      Personally, I hope they *increase* the visuals. :) Seriously, ppl with crappy video cards should not try and ruin it for everyone else.

      If ppl are looking for a personal client slider to reduce graphics, I'm fine with that, of course.

      Most of us do not have wealthy Daddies and Mommies who can purchase the latest toys to keep Junior happy.

      A six year old boy and his starship. Living the dream.
    • alcyoneserenealcyoneserene Member Posts: 2,414 Arc User
      edited January 2016
      meimeitoo wrote: »
      Seriously, ppl with crappy video cards should not try and ruin it for everyone else.

      Something increasingly inefficient (game engine code limitation) is not resolved by ever increasing resources to try to compensate (hardware), but the big companies will count on us not finding out about such things, and artificially limiting access to them so they can squeeze every bit of profit out of us.

      I'll dare say perhaps the engine code for STO has already surpassed what it is capable of producing. Evidence: delta rising missions with a lot of polygons; UI-generated FPS lag.


      Here are 2 examples of what efficiency at the extremes is capable of, each of which of course come with their own limitations (decompression; motion rendering):

      panic room by Fairlight
      Unlimited Detail Real-Time Rendering Technology

      Resolution and graphics options has been part of the gaming industry for a long time now. It does not ruin it for anybody that we're able to buy games (like C-Store items for STO to keep STO alive) and be able to play them on lower graphics because more people can actually run them at acceptable frame rates and show support for the designers, be entertained, and when possible buy better hardware.

      The alternative you seem to be suggesting is to have no options, make everything full detail (no options to turn down the visual effects, which is how it is now), meaning those with lower end computers not as fortunate as you will simply be unable to play, so by default unable to support STO.
      Y945Yzx.jpg
    • lostyuslostyus Member Posts: 208 Arc User
      risian4 wrote: »
      lostyus wrote: »
      risian4 wrote: »
      Destabilizing resonance beam is a strobe light covering a large portion of the screen especially when up close to the recipient of this science ability.

      It is clear whoever designed this level of visual spam really truly doesn't play they game.

      The only level up from this is 100% of the screen flashing from solid black to solid white, cause really, that's the extreme we are at right now, despite multiple requests to turn this stuff off as an option.

      Really? I use that ability on one character and I've never seen it cover a large portion of the screen. Maybe try zooming out a bit? Of all the abilities I've seen, DRB is one of the least problematic ones I think.

      If you fly a Bird of Prey, or other compact ships like a Defiant, to see your ship properly as well as what it is doing and which direction it is facing (no thanks to the endless visual overlays) sometimes requires zooming quite close up, nevermind shuttles.

      Here is destabilizing resonance beam in the Rezreth, a dreadnought I think everyone will agree is a large ship which defaults to a fairly zoomed-out view as its minimum.

      One thing to remember is this ability acts similar to a strobe light, flickering on and off with high frequency. I've done what I could to quickly capture some maximum points of its visual effects, but it would take a video to really showcase the times when it covers just about the entire screen in solid white.

      The ability on my Romulan main has a 1 minute cool-down, meaning I'm staring at a large screen flicker once every minute or less.

      http://s7.postimg.org/4yo23k0gq/5551.jpg
      http://s22.postimg.org/qhyk1d5wg/16454.jpg
      http://s11.postimg.org/jrba042wy/97781.jpg
      http://s13.postimg.org/ohhr8kyra/198997.jpg

      The argument from me is not against the designers of these graphic effects that do look impressive at certain times, but about the unwillingness to provide an option to tone some of them down, and even off completely. Keep them all on by default which means the majority will undoubtedly be seeing them, but have a slider or selection menu for the rest to turn them down or off.

      I agree with you. I fly a Malem or sometimes a Defiant and with these ships you do need to be zoomed in quite close especially for the Malem which slides a lot, so I like/need to see what my ship is doing. When Destabilizing resonance beam goes off it is quite a strain on the eyes (if it is the one that flashes multiple times). Maybe Risian4 doesn't appreciate this as he's the one firing it, so it won't be close to him, and having to play zoomed out just in case someone uses that ability just isn't an option.

      Actually I don't mind if they change it, just saying that in my experience (and of course others can have different experiences) DRB isn't really problematic. But that may be then because I usually fly larger ships which don't require the player to zoom in too much. That, and the fact that I mostly play ground missions where the maps tend to feel more crowded and the visuals thus tend to reduce vision even more, are why I said DRB isn't of that much concern to me.

      Anyway, my earlier comment was just my experience with the visuals from this power vs the visuals spam produced by other powers. Going back to that main topic, reducing the visuals (especially those that aren't functional) has my support. And if needed, DRB should be included then too.

      I'm not really in favour of them changing it, I'd rather just have an option to lower 'spells' from other players as other games have, that way instead of nerfing it everyone could get what they want :). DRB looks good from afar it's just a shame that up close it's so jarring. People who fly escorts either park close to the target or do a lot of fly-bys (as I do) so you could say that it's not even a matter of the camera, it's that we are up close to the target a lot of the time and when DRB activates, then it is right in your face lol.
    • cidjackcidjack Member Posts: 2,017 Arc User
      Someone said outdated code?

      Dooommmm
      Armada: Multiplying fleet projects in need of dilithium by 13."
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    • fovrelfovrel Member Posts: 1,448 Arc User
      meimeitoo wrote: »
      rayduhz wrote: »
      Been away a while. The amount of visual affects in combat is way overwhelming in my opinion. Taking the immersion of combat away with all the flashy lights, blinking clouds, etc.

      Basically, is there a way to reduce/remove the visual affects of Boff actions in space?

      Personally, I hope they *increase* the visuals. :) Seriously, ppl with crappy video cards should not try and ruin it for everyone else.

      If ppl are looking for a personal client slider to reduce graphics, I'm fine with that, of course.

      You were also that one that liked the visals of the Iconian missions, I believe. Well, each person has its own taste. I remember the batman series from the sixties. To represent that Batman and Robin were strip comics, you saw on screen during a fight 'WHOOSH' and 'WHAAM'. It is the same kind of creative skill we see now in this game.
    • hanover2hanover2 Member Posts: 1,053 Arc User
      Should just be a toggle at the account level. Let me disable what *I* see, while allowing you to decide for yourself.

      The only possible objection to that would stem from the desire to force other players to watch your animations. If you derive satisfaction from aggravating others, you don't get a vote at the adult's table.



    • meimeitoomeimeitoo Member Posts: 12,594 Arc User
      fovrel wrote: »
      meimeitoo wrote: »
      rayduhz wrote: »
      Been away a while. The amount of visual affects in combat is way overwhelming in my opinion. Taking the immersion of combat away with all the flashy lights, blinking clouds, etc.

      Basically, is there a way to reduce/remove the visual affects of Boff actions in space?

      Personally, I hope they *increase* the visuals. :) Seriously, ppl with crappy video cards should not try and ruin it for everyone else.

      If ppl are looking for a personal client slider to reduce graphics, I'm fine with that, of course.

      You were also that one that liked the visals of the Iconian missions, I believe. Well, each person has its own taste. I remember the batman series from the sixties. To represent that Batman and Robin were strip comics, you saw on screen during a fight 'WHOOSH' and 'WHAAM'. It is the same kind of creative skill we see now in this game.


      The Iconian missions had special visuals? I forgot, but I'm sure I liked them. :) The prettier, the better, far as I'm concerned.

      Way I see it, though, ppl can already reduce graphics visuals to almost zero. If they want to see it 'fixed' even further, they should just get a better card, honestly. I bought a GTX 980 a few months back (I had a GTX 580 earlier), because I like things pretty in STO (and Second Life and such). At any rate, Cryptic shouldn't always cater to the lowest common denominator.
      3lsZz0w.jpg
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