test content
Logo
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc
Should Retrain Tokens be retired permanently from the game? [Yes.]
gannadene
Member Posts: 81 Arc User
In some recent interviews, it's been stated that the developers want players to access the skill tree more often. You know what? I'd like to, as well. I remember playing Guild Wars 1 and rerolling my attributes and entire skillbar every few days, just to try new things. Great game due to its freedom and horizontal progression. STO could learn a lot from it.
Unfortunately, we can't freely explore the skill tree. The only culprit: retrain tokens. This is an archaic MMO mechanic meant to nickle and dime players every time they want to try something new, or just to do so when they accidentally double clicked the wrong skill. It doesn't matter how many free retrains are thrown the players' way; they will always be a limited resource, meaning you're punished for not heavily researching your build beforehand. Experimentation is not allowed, and funneling players into a security net of overall meta sameness occurs as a result. It also necessitates giving players another free token any time there's a change at all to the skill tree.
Normally I'd present something like this as a "What's your opinion" topic. But I'll take a safe, hard stance on this and say this system needs to be removed from the game, entirely and forever. I understand the desire to monetize where you can, but the skill tree is the core to every build. And the fact that players cannot change this easily (hear me out on this Cryptic) also means that players cannot begin the process of trying new builds and ships. If they could, that leads to a much wider issue for the player to complete their build, which leads to more monetization opportunities as the amount of gear they foresee themselves requiring widens. Not fewer. You're actually costing yourself money by retaining this outdated mechanic, in addition to defeating your own internal goals, along with outright attacking every player's experience with your system.
Give the player more of a chance to explore every aspect of your system, and it will lead to a wider variety of potential paths - both gameplay and monetized - for both parties.
Unfortunately, we can't freely explore the skill tree. The only culprit: retrain tokens. This is an archaic MMO mechanic meant to nickle and dime players every time they want to try something new, or just to do so when they accidentally double clicked the wrong skill. It doesn't matter how many free retrains are thrown the players' way; they will always be a limited resource, meaning you're punished for not heavily researching your build beforehand. Experimentation is not allowed, and funneling players into a security net of overall meta sameness occurs as a result. It also necessitates giving players another free token any time there's a change at all to the skill tree.
Normally I'd present something like this as a "What's your opinion" topic. But I'll take a safe, hard stance on this and say this system needs to be removed from the game, entirely and forever. I understand the desire to monetize where you can, but the skill tree is the core to every build. And the fact that players cannot change this easily (hear me out on this Cryptic) also means that players cannot begin the process of trying new builds and ships. If they could, that leads to a much wider issue for the player to complete their build, which leads to more monetization opportunities as the amount of gear they foresee themselves requiring widens. Not fewer. You're actually costing yourself money by retaining this outdated mechanic, in addition to defeating your own internal goals, along with outright attacking every player's experience with your system.
Give the player more of a chance to explore every aspect of your system, and it will lead to a wider variety of potential paths - both gameplay and monetized - for both parties.
0
Comments
They just get less sober.
P.S, Did a respec today, as Cryptic made my 'skills invalid' the other day. Turns out I still had 10 tokens left somehow. So, i fine-tuned stuff today. Then the system asked me 'Do you want to use free respec token?' or 'Use respec token?' Duh. Guess which one I chose!?
Assumes they're being used in the first place. I don't have any numbers--nor do I know where to get them. Do you have anything to show how much revenue comes from them? That would make it easier to evaluate and respond, 'cause right now, I got nothin'.
Commit at end and Skill Tree Loadouts is all that is needed. PERIOD.
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.'
For one, I don't think they'll be losing much of any revenue at all. How many tokens do you buy a year? Most players find a single build to commit to, lock it down and just work around it, then never use the skill tree ever again, unless they absolutely have to.
I also pointed out that allowing people to explore the build system will in itself lead to more monetization options, as people need to buy C-Store consoles and the like to widen the total of their build options.
you could buy more demos every 3 weeks for EC
Awoken Dead
Now shaddup about the queues, it's a BUG
This! make it cost like 1 million EC to re-train, and make all existing re-train tokens redeemable for 2 million EC and then retire the retrain tokens.
Kinda like how you can buy loadout slots for your ships.
You can only edit a skill tree slot that is not currently in use.
Example Setup:
Skill Tree Loadout:
- Science based Space, Kit Based Ground
- engineering based space, Weapon Kill Ground
- Tact based apace, defense based ground
So if you are playing and you switch ships to a Sc cruiser you may want to use your 1st loadout, then later you switch tot he tact loud out for tact vessel.
Add in a expiring penalty for changeing it, something like a 30 min penalty "buff" that restricts you from changing it until the goes away.
Trade in your respect tokens for extra slots and charge Zen for each additional slots.
give each player 2 default slots.
They would make a killing on the extra Zen sales for this. and everyone would be able to esily fine tune to their play style and easily try new things.
Ooo, I missed that memo.
I actually think they will gain from other revenue sources by sacrificing this one. I for example passed on a lot of ships because I am heavily invested on science and torpedoes for my skill tree. The same goes for lockbox items and traits.
If not make retrains cost EC instead of Zen, then at least add skill loadouts we can purchase.
| USS Curiosity - Pathfinder | USS Rift - Eternal |
The Science Ship Build Thread - Share your Sci Ship builds here!
Fleet leader Nova Elite
Fleet Leader House of Nova elite
@ren_larreck