been away for 2 years

frojoe2000

I've been away for 2 years. I got fed up with the RNG loot boxes being required to complete equipment sets. Are pieces of sets still locked behind RNG loot boxes? I mean, I honestly don't mind gateing behind lobi crystals or the c-store. At least I can buy what I actually want. And I used to drop about $150 a year on the c-store directly buying things. But grinding and then paying real money to unlock limited time RNG loot boxes to complete a set. Spending more money then I should have. And still not coming away with the full set when the loot boxes change just made me rage quit.

I kinda want to come back to this game. Is it still monetized through an ugly RNG loot box gambling scheme? (I bought a lifetime subscription 2 years before release when this was supposed to be a subscription model like I prefered.... but I can get behind F2P premium currency)

seaofsorrows

As far as lockboxes go, nothing has changed since you left.

There are still consoles that are exclusive to Lock Box/Lobi ships that are parts of sets, but they are parts of sets with other Lobi/Lockbox ships. You won't buy a C-Store ship and not be able to complete the set without a Lock Box ship, as far as I know that does not exist at all.

There are still some C-Store sets that require consoles from Event Ships to complete. These consoles so far have all come from free ships that were given way during events like the Timeline Stabilizer that's part of the console set for the Flagships. On the one hand, the 4th console is free, but if you missed the event then you can't complete the set. This is a practice that absolutely needs to stop. This hasn't been done in some time though, so that practice might actually be dead now.

Are these reasons to not play the game? Well, that's up to you.. in my opinion, the answer is no. There are tons of sets that are completely free from missions and Reputation system and they have done a much better job since you have been gone of putting in really valuable rewards from these sources. It's much better in this area then it was when you left. The game still has, by far and away, the most generous free to play model of anything currently on the market.

The only thing I will say in closing is that there is absolutely nothing in this game that is absolutely necessary that is gated behind a lock box. Not one single thing. You can easily make a very powerful and effective ship without ever touching a single lock box.

echatty

Agree with sea. There are some might nice reward sets out there, if you can stand to play a mission three/four times to get them.

rattler2

seaofsorrows wrote: »

There are still some C-Store sets that require consoles from Event Ships to complete. These consoles so far have all come from free ships that were given way during events like the Timeline Stabilizer that's part of the console set for the Flagships. On the one hand, the 4th console is free, but if you missed the event then you can't complete the set. This is a practice that absolutely needs to stop. This hasn't been done in some time though, so that practice might actually be dead now.

Actually... while it is still there... they have started making those event ships available again via Phoenix Box. So its not entirely accurate that you absolutely can't finish the full sets. While getting the event ship during the event is preferable as it is an account unlock, we have a chance to get those ships now, unlike before.

Just takes luck and/or a lot of dilithium though. But on the bright side... Phoenix Tech Upgrades are awesome.

Besides... while having that full 4 piece set is nice... those particular sets are set up in a way that they're still viable with only 3 pieces, and in some cases that 4th piece really doesn't contribute much. It might augment the set itself, but if you elect to use a different combination and leave one part out, like with the Krenim Chroniton Torpedo, then its no big loss whatsoever. I believe the Krenim Chroniton Torp gets augmented with that set's 4 piece, so if you don't have it, its not a big deal.

thegrandnagus1

Anything in a lockbox can be bought on the exchange. If you need EC, it works like this: dil>zen>keys>EC. So you can get anything from a lockbox without gambling.

leemwatson

There's actually very few things that require a player to 'open a lockbox'. Items AND ships from Lockboxes/Lobi just are not required to play the game. There's a plethora of weapon sets available from Reps and Missions that will suffice. Any claim that Lockbox/Lobi items are needed to play the game or progress, just aren't true.

vetteguy904

seaofsorrows wrote: »

As far as lockboxes go, nothing has changed since you left.

There are still consoles that are exclusive to Lock Box/Lobi ships that are parts of sets, but they are parts of sets with other Lobi/Lockbox ships. You won't buy a C-Store ship and not be able to complete the set without a Lock Box ship, as far as I know that does not exist at all.

There are still some C-Store sets that require consoles from Event Ships to complete. These consoles so far have all come from free ships that were given way during events like the Timeline Stabilizer that's part of the console set for the Flagships. On the one hand, the 4th console is free, but if you missed the event then you can't complete the set. This is a practice that absolutely needs to stop. This hasn't been done in some time though, so that practice might actually be dead now.

Are these reasons to not play the game? Well, that's up to you.. in my opinion, the answer is no. There are tons of sets that are completely free from missions and Reputation system and they have done a much better job since you have been gone of putting in really valuable rewards from these sources. It's much better in this area then it was when you left. The game still has, by far and away, the most generous free to play model of anything currently on the market.

The only thing I will say in closing is that there is absolutely nothing in this game that is absolutely necessary that is gated behind a lock box. Not one single thing. You can easily make a very powerful and effective ship without ever touching a single lock box.

the closest thing i can think of like that is the breen warp core, which was a winter event thingie.. and I think you can get that ship from the phoenix boxes now.

and as said above here is nothing you cannot get/do in this game if you have patience and time to grind it out. and OP.. there are a couple three new shield/core/engine deflector sets out there now that are interesting to play with.
Welcome back

rattler2

vetteguy904 wrote: »

the closest thing i can think of like that is the breen warp core, which was a winter event thingie.. and I think you can get that ship from the phoenix boxes now.

The Breen Warp Core is not attached to a ship. Its in the Winter Event Store for for purchase with winter gubbins.

echatty

rattler2 wrote: »

vetteguy904 wrote: »

the closest thing i can think of like that is the breen warp core, which was a winter event thingie.. and I think you can get that ship from the phoenix boxes now.

The Breen Warp Core is not attached to a ship. Its in the Winter Event Store for for purchase with winter gubbins.

Yeah. I was about to say this. The breen warp core is in the winter event store. It's consoles off the other breen ships that you need for sets. And I missed quite a few of the early ones. My own fault for not trying the slipnslide race sooner.

vetteguy904

I stand corrected I thought it was attached to one of the breen ships. i don't have them because 1. I don't like the looks of them and more inmportantly, 2. I suck at the race to get the vouchers to get the things,

echatty

vetteguy904 wrote: »

I stand corrected I thought it was attached to one of the breen ships. i don't have them because 1. I don't like the looks of them and more inmportantly, 2. I suck at the race to get the vouchers to get the things,

I thought I would suck at it too, and didn't even try for several years. Then I took some advice from someone knowledgeable about it and I tried it. The first few times I had to restart the race, but eventually I figured it out. Can give some pointers if you like.

rattler2

Every year I start up the Tips and Tricks thread where veteran players share their knowledge for all. If you need any advice, feel free to pop into this year's thread when it goes up.
Although I had someone take offense at the title one time and went after me publicly.

echatty

rattler2 wrote: »

Every year I start up the Tips and Tricks thread where veteran players share their knowledge for all. If you need any advice, feel free to pop into this year's thread when it goes up.
Although I had someone take offense at the title one time and went after me publicly.

I don't see any problem with the title. And there are some very good tips/tricks that get posted all the time.

I, for one, appreciate that thread. Thank you, rattler, for keeping it up.

siotaylor

Hopefully lockboxes will be illegal soon and this rip-off nonsense can stop. Until then, we wait.

rattler2

echatty wrote: »

I don't see any problem with the title. And there are some very good tips/tricks that get posted all the time.

I, for one, appreciate that thread. Thank you, rattler, for keeping it up.

You're welcome.

He actually took issue with the fact it was called "Rattler's Tips and Tricks", even though I ALWAYS say in the opening post that its open for all. Kinda like how some restrauants have a person's name in its name, like TRIBBLE's Drive In, which is I guess a rather popular restraunt up in the Seattle area. He came at me for having an ego or something. I was like "Dude... I've been doing this for years. Its open to all. Why you coming after me over a frickin' title?"

echatty

rattler2 wrote: »

echatty wrote: »

I don't see any problem with the title. And there are some very good tips/tricks that get posted all the time.

I, for one, appreciate that thread. Thank you, rattler, for keeping it up.

You're welcome.

He actually took issue with the fact it was called "Rattler's Tips and Tricks", even though I ALWAYS say in the opening post that its open for all. Kinda like how some restrauants have a person's name in its name, like ****'s Drive In, which is I guess a rather popular restraunt up in the Seattle area. He came at me for having an ego or something. I was like "Dude... I've been doing this for years. Its open to all. Why you coming after me over a frickin' title?"

Oh good grief. Does he even read your opening post? I see where you tell people to add in their own tips n tricks. You open the thread, so it should have your name in it.

baddmoonrizin

Ok, I think it's getting a bit off topic.

dracounguis

LTS... 2yrs away... you should have 12,000 Zen ($120) sitting in your 'bank'. Not bad for doing nothing!

Most lobi sets are under-powered so no real loss unless you just love the theme of something. But with 12000 Zen, getting a piece or 2 shouldn't be an issue, if you HAVE to have something. Wait for key sales, buy some, open boxes, get lobi. Or wait for key sales, buy some, sell on Exchange for 4.5M then buy lobi ship off Exchange. (this is a more economically way to get a ship than trying your luck opening boxes)

Or buy some C-store ships, account wide unlocked unlike lobi stuff. No gambling at all needed.

But the No.1 rule of Zen... wait for a sale. We just had a 30% off Flash Sale of 'bundles'. That really makes your Zen last longer. Black Friday should have the annual 25% off everything sale.

If you do go for lobi... you can transfer your toon to Tribble over and over till you have enough to test drive ships, consoles, ground gear, etc. You just log into Tribble, toss the lobi in the Account Bank and repeat. I've done that enough times I've tried every lobi ship and gear there is. And yes, a couple times a year there is a lobi sale, usually about 20% off.

seaofsorrows

siotaylor wrote: »

Hopefully lockboxes will be illegal soon and this rip-off nonsense can stop. Until then, we wait.

I hate to say it, but that would be the worst thing for STO.

The game depends on that money from lock boxes, if they become illegal then STO either has to put everything behind a pay wall or shut down completely.

Lock Boxes are a necessary evil if you like the current F2P model.

rattler2

seaofsorrows wrote: »

Lock Boxes are a necessary evil if you like the current F2P model.

And STO's actually got one of the best on the market right now. Extremely generous, nothing locked behind a paywall. Only thing you cannot get via in game means is a lifer sub. At least that's true for PC. Don't know about console.

jrdobbsjr

On Xbox LTS is in the C-Store so you can turn dilithium into zen and buy it if you're dedicated enough

emt27

Back after 3+ year hiatus... many changes, most striking is the map, all the new addons to fleets, and all the different marks.. Will take some time and effort to catch-up

charon83

Keep in mind that it is also NOT necessary to buy KEYS from the C-Store - You can buy them on the Exchange if you know how to make money. Everything in this game CAN be free if you are willing to wait or put a lot of extra effort into it. Like others pointed out, this f2p model is preferable to pretty much any other f2p model on the marked, it's a shame the rest of the industry has to exploit the model - and as touched upon earlier, once the EU starts banning boxes all together, the US will have to follow suit very soon after (which is a good thing everywhere else, but a bad thing for sto really.)

Unknown

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rattler2

azrael605 wrote: »

We do have players who have ground out the big expansion packs.

I have been summoned?

talonxv

> @rattler2 said:
> azrael605 wrote: »
>
> We do have players who have ground out the big expansion packs.
>
>
>
>
> I have been summoned?

That is just creepy.

rattler2

I'm dyin' over here thanks to you man! I needed a good laugh.

dracounguis

Creepy? How about x2...

talonxv

> @rattler2 said:
> I'm dyin' over here thanks to you man! I needed a good laugh.

Ok that one is slightly funny.

odinforever20000

seaofsorrows wrote: »

As far as lockboxes go, nothing has changed since you left.

There are still some C-Store sets that require consoles from Event Ships to complete. These consoles so far have all come from free ships that were given way during events like the Timeline Stabilizer that's part of the console set for the Flagships. On the one hand, the 4th console is free, but if you missed the event then you can't complete the set. This is a practice that absolutely needs to stop. This hasn't been done in some time though, so that practice might actually be dead now.

Uh..Still happening...All of the Anniversary ships are tied to a Cstore set.

Kobali Samsar Cruiser has the 4th console Command Platforms
The Lukari Ship has the 4th console for the Alliance Multimission Set.
Denorios-class Bajoran Interceptor has the 4th console Allied Dogfighters Set

You get the picture.

seaofsorrows

odinforever20000 wrote: »

seaofsorrows wrote: »

As far as lockboxes go, nothing has changed since you left.

There are still some C-Store sets that require consoles from Event Ships to complete. These consoles so far have all come from free ships that were given way during events like the Timeline Stabilizer that's part of the console set for the Flagships. On the one hand, the 4th console is free, but if you missed the event then you can't complete the set. This is a practice that absolutely needs to stop. This hasn't been done in some time though, so that practice might actually be dead now.

Uh..Still happening...All of the Anniversary ships are tied to a Cstore set.

Kobali Samsar Cruiser has the 4th console Command Platforms
The Lukari Ship has the 4th console for the Alliance Multimission Set.
Denorios-class Bajoran Interceptor has the 4th console Allied Dogfighters Set

You get the picture.

Totally forgot about the Denorios.. I thought the Ho'kuun was the last time. Thanks for the painful reminder.