I simply can't agree. The content in the game may be easy for you all, but it's NOT for me, and I'm pretty decently equipped. A newer player with more basic gear is going to be completely unable to compete with the likes of the Iconians or the Tzenkethi.
For example, I created a brand new Jem'Hadar back when it was introduced. He started out at max level with a T5U bugship and all the Jem'Hadar gear. With this character, I went into the Dominion story arc against the Hur'q. The first couple of phases were ok, but when I had to engage the larger groups in space, my ship was destroyed over and over and over and over, more or less one shotted a staggering 500 times (approximately). I'd respawn, fly over and blow up as soon as I arrived.
Players with less formidable gear and flying Tier 5 ships are simply going to get slagged over and over with no real hope of competing. The reason is that you more or less HAVE to have the super expensive fancy gear with all the expensive, rare, fancy consoles and arrange your ship and skills for the absolute maximum efficiency... just to have a chance.
I understand what you're saying, but I've experienced it firsthand, so I can't agree.
Older content... the Klingons, the Romulans, the Orions... they're not so bad. By the time you get to the Voth, the Na'Kul and the Tzenkethi, there's no way to fight them unless you're spectacularly equipped... because the newer enemies are all designed to challenge people with massive dps; something newer players or more casual players simply won't be able to produce.
Okay what are you having trouble with then? Every single enemy is killable given proper tactics and a basic cohesive build. These new perks will simply amplify the power of these basic builds beyond what they may be now. Secondly I must ask you to define decently equipped. Show us some examples of your build. I say that because if we know what you are working with we can offer you advice based on where you are currently. By the similar logic you used, just because you personally are having difficulty does not mean other players will have the same experience vs the Iconians or Tzenkethi. In fact we took a fleetmate of mine into a an iconian story mission. All she had was a basic set of mk xii gear we gave her, that was equivalent to mission reward gear. She had been playing for all of 2 months and was rolling Iconians, so it's 100% possible.
As for the Jem'hadar ships, the starting t5u bug ship and gear is meant to be just that, a starting build only. It's not meant to be taken into high end content, but simply giving you a starting point to get your foot in the door so you can start playing. That build is all you need to get through the story missions on Normal mode. If you're dying as much as you claim you were, that tells me your tactics weren't working and you should've used another strategy to fight them. If you're getting one shot, that tells me that either you're having bad luck and are getting crit to death every single time on an elite mode run, or your build is not at the level you think it is. As many times as you say you died, the second one is the most likely scenario.
In regards to your comments involving the t5 or t5u ships getting slagged and not having a prayer, this is where I'm going to call outright shenanigans. I used an old t5u Galor as my tank ship well into the Delta Rising and Agents of Yesterday era. It wasn't until the Keldon itself released towards the tail end of 2016 that I made the jump to using a t6 ship. Routinely that Galor would outfly several other t6 ships others were using, and none of my t6 ships could match that Galor until the Keldon itself released. In fact I used to solo the old starbase 24 queue in a fleet t5u Aquarius using only mission reward gear just for fun. There are also several videos out there of me tanking in an Aqaurius t5u escort, which has the lowest hull of any t5 or t6 Federation ship in game. You do NOT and I repeat do NOT need a t6 ship just to succeed in this game.
In regards to new foes. Higher tiered content is meant to be more challenging than lower tiered content. Advanced is meant to be harder than Normal, and Elite is meant to be even harder than Advanced tier content. If you can't yet survive and deal damage in Advanced tier content, or especially Elite tier content, then you are not ready for those levels and don't need to be in there. Instead you need to take time to learn, adapt, get better gear, and skill up a bit more. Once you have done that, then you should have no issues. If you don't take the time to skill up or acquire better gear, then you're right, you won't be able to do the higher tier content as easily and rightfully so.
As a proof of concept, if you would like, you tell me a ship that you have access to you want to fly, and I will not only provide you with a build template you could use, but also run with you in game and help you master it if that's what it takes. I don't do that with too many people on this forum usually, but that offer will stand should you decide to take me up on it. Heck I will even provide you with a basic t5u infinity box ship to get you started if that's what it takes.
"Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment, because it will never come again." - Jean Luc Picard in Star Trek Generations
Older content... the Klingons, the Romulans, the Orions... they're not so bad. By the time you get to the Voth, the Na'Kul and the Tzenkethi, there's no way to fight them unless you're spectacularly equipped... because the newer enemies are all designed to challenge people with massive dps; something newer players or more casual players simply won't be able to produce.
HAHAAHA.... The main whine with the Voth is that their reflective shield ability is literally designed to kill keyboard macro builds. You know, the "press spacebar to activate 12 tactical buffs simultaneously" type builds. Throwing massive DPS at the reflective shield is just going to kill you and makes spike DPS builds a risky proposition since you often won't have time to react before your own DPS rips you apart.
I don't know if you noticed, but the profusion of skills, limits of the action bars, means that if you don't use keybinds you are running at a massive disadvantage, and can't clear top end content anyway.
Or you've magically found a way to have your mouse cursor in 3 places at once. If so, do share.
I've never used keybinds and I've played all mission content with very few problems.
If you're referring to playing on elite, I only play on normal because I come to STO to have fun, and my fun is normal.
Like I said in another thread, everyone has their preferences and that's okay. It's what makes the game so nice, to be able to play what/how you want without disturbing the game for others.
Now a LTS and loving it.
Just because you spend money on this game, it does not entitle you to be a jerk if things don't go your way.
I have come to the conclusion that I have a memory like Etch-A-Sketch. I shake my head and forget everything.
Older content... the Klingons, the Romulans, the Orions... they're not so bad. By the time you get to the Voth, the Na'Kul and the Tzenkethi, there's no way to fight them unless you're spectacularly equipped... because the newer enemies are all designed to challenge people with massive dps; something newer players or more casual players simply won't be able to produce.
HAHAAHA.... The main whine with the Voth is that their reflective shield ability is literally designed to kill keyboard macro builds. You know, the "press spacebar to activate 12 tactical buffs simultaneously" type builds. Throwing massive DPS at the reflective shield is just going to kill you and makes spike DPS builds a risky proposition since you often won't have time to react before your own DPS rips you apart.
I don't know if you noticed, but the profusion of skills, limits of the action bars, means that if you don't use keybinds you are running at a massive disadvantage, and can't clear top end content anyway.
Or you've magically found a way to have your mouse cursor in 3 places at once. If so, do share.
I've never used keybinds and I've played all mission content with very few problems.
If you're referring to playing on elite, I only play on normal because I come to STO to have fun, and my fun is normal.
Like I said in another thread, everyone has their preferences and that's okay. It's what makes the game so nice, to be able to play what/how you want without disturbing the game for others.
Hehe, Attack runs are about learning what order to hit the buttons in.
I've never used keybinds either. Just gotta know what to hit and when.
Most peeps only include abilities into their key binds that they want to have activated all the time anyway. Others sum up on demand stuff by binding multiple heal abilities to single keys for example cuz it just does not matter which one of the 500 heal abilities you use in the heat of a battle.
While there are certainly rules, preferences and logic behind key binding it would be very healthy for your or anybody else’s attitude to realize, please, that not using key binds does not make you a smarter, more talented or especially more knowledgeable player.
Key binds are only a tool, the outcome is what counts. The decision not to use the tools that are available is of course your (or anybody else’s) prerogative but not using them does not turn you into any form of remarcable artist.
In the 7 years I play now I did not use binds for like 5 because I was just too lazy to look into the whole thing. Stupid me! They can help so much and are easy to set up.
Looking for a fun PvE fleet? Join us at Omega Combat Division today.
Too powerful for what? nobody does pvp, is stuff dying in pve queues to fast?
Yea thats the problem.
People percept teamed PvE as competitive scenarios. The feeling that others in a group clear a map to vast extents leaving only a bit of self-contribution leads to a dissatisfactory gaming experience.
In short players are “jealous” of others. They will bring in whatever chain of argumentation reaching from “DPS is no skill, just gear.” up to “Have you ever through about new players?” to obscure that jealous feeling while trying to change the game rules to thier advantage via crying in forums.
Looking for a fun PvE fleet? Join us at Omega Combat Division today.
I simply can't agree. The content in the game may be easy for you all, but it's NOT for me, and I'm pretty decently equipped. A newer player with more basic gear is going to be completely unable to compete with the likes of the Iconians or the Tzenkethi.
For example, I created a brand new Jem'Hadar back when it was introduced. He started out at max level with a T5U bugship and all the Jem'Hadar gear. With this character, I went into the Dominion story arc against the Hur'q. The first couple of phases were ok, but when I had to engage the larger groups in space, my ship was destroyed over and over and over and over, more or less one shotted a staggering 500 times (approximately). I'd respawn, fly over and blow up as soon as I arrived.
Players with less formidable gear and flying Tier 5 ships are simply going to get slagged over and over with no real hope of competing. The reason is that you more or less HAVE to have the super expensive fancy gear with all the expensive, rare, fancy consoles and arrange your ship and skills for the absolute maximum efficiency... just to have a chance.
I understand what you're saying, but I've experienced it firsthand, so I can't agree.
Older content... the Klingons, the Romulans, the Orions... they're not so bad. By the time you get to the Voth, the Na'Kul and the Tzenkethi, there's no way to fight them unless you're spectacularly equipped... because the newer enemies are all designed to challenge people with massive dps; something newer players or more casual players simply won't be able to produce.
Wow your build must be really really bad. No offense bu the Hur'q are only a real threat if you don't keep moving and at that an annoying pest. Ran that whole arc with the Rare 12's all around on my Jem, sure I died a few times until I learned how they attack and how to counter them but they are not the uber bad guys you make them out to be. If anything they were a major disappointment.
The powercreep is there for everyone so if the new players are "bad" (which comes across as arrogant bs) they are going to remain "bad"
Possibly more so because being new they can't afford the gear or won't have had the time to grind the reps & traits making the endeavour perks slower to gain. And with the system pushing folk into TFO's a new player who meets the unhelpful selfstyled "good" player will potentially work to push them out of the system entirely.
The powercreep is also pointless because the game still hasn't been given content (outside elite difficulty which a new player would likely avoid) that requires upgraded gear so why has it been deemed necessary to boost player power even more. Upgrading is a dil sink disguised just enough to lure people into the mindset that you absolutely need top end epic gear and has let peer pressure do the rest to maintain the system.
Frankly there is ZERO content that cannot be done on normal with level 12 Rare gear. Plus with the crafting system you can easily upgrade by creating upgrade packs, then there is the Romulan Admirality where you get FOUR free ZERO Dilth cost universal upgrades, there is Fleet gear as well maybe not as potent as in the past but still more then enough for end game content, and last there is the REENGINEER thing. If you are having issues it's on you not the game the resources are there and have been for a long time this isn't season 2 anymore.
If you're not performing well, you're a newbie/casual and you can improve.
If you complain about the power creep and you want feature-socialism (Nerfing everyone until everyone is as bad as you are), you're mostly a scrub a dead-weight who isn't willing to improve and wants everyone who improved and worked towards something punished.
I think this concludes this thread. The stupidity of the power creep claim is so strong and ever present. And saying that freaking 1% or 2% bonuses would count as power creep is another proof that you're clueless and lazy.
You can't be a performer unless you start performing.Socialism in gaming doesn't work, comrade.
I've never used keybinds either. Just gotta know what to hit and when.
[..]
In the 7 years I play now I did not use binds for like 5 because I was just too lazy to look into the whole thing. Stupid me! They can help so much and are easy to set up.
No doubt... Every time I looked into it I gave up. I'm not a code monkey and being dyslexic compounds things for me.
One day I'll find someone to help me with the code and to set things up. I lose precious seconds looking for my mouse and trying to click the right icon all the time. I know it hampers my performance and has caused me to die many, many times over the years.
If you are looking for an excellent PvE fleet consider: Omega Combat Division today.
Former member of the Cryptic Family & FriendsTesting Team. Sadly, one day, it simply vanished - without a word or trace...
I've never used keybinds either. Just gotta know what to hit and when.
[..]
In the 7 years I play now I did not use binds for like 5 because I was just too lazy to look into the whole thing. Stupid me! They can help so much and are easy to set up.
No doubt... Every time I looked into it I gave up. I'm not a code monkey and being dyslexic compounds things for me.
One day I'll find someone to help me with the code and to set things up. I lose precious seconds looking for my mouse and trying to click the right icon all the time. I know it hampers my performance and has caused me to die many, many times over the years.
There is a simple tool that you can use to make keybinds so that you don't have to type everything in. It works with a graphical interface and is really quite simple to use.
My current Main is a level 65 ferengi. She uses all Mk 12 VR Ferengi plasma beam arrays except for the Lobi Ferengi set with the missile and mine launcher. She flies a T-5U D'Kora. I don't use keybinds and have to hit everything Manually. I rarely die and do alot of advanced TFO's. I have learned alot of my playstyle reading these forums. While not copycatting builds or tactics, I have incorporated stuff from others and kept the stuff that works for me. I have also never been hit with a Penalty for afk because I don't do enough damage. T-5's and Mk 12's are very doable in advanced content as long as you know how to use them.
It's unfortunate that @darkbladejk's request to "not start throwing names around" has fallen on blind eyes, as have many of my own remarks. It's equally unfortunate that some people think "If you don't have everything I have, then you're a scrub", is a useful commentary on a valid issue.
To be even more clear:
- I am not asking for nerfs to the Endeavour system. I like the PE's, although there are some issues (18 dreadnoughts, things that should count but don't, kill 120 scorpions etc.). Personally I would have capped the system out at +5% CritH and +20% on the damages, CritD and resists, but whatever. It's fine.
- I do not have any problem completing/competing for content/XP/rewards in the game. I can do everything I care to.
- Most replies in the thread range vary across the range:
"Power creep is natural and okay and nothing should be done about it."
"Adding +10% or +20% or +30% to someone's Speed, Damage, CrtD and resists, and up to 7.5% CrtH isn't really a big deal and won't make much difference."
"Newer/less capable players shouldn't be running content if they can't compete with a guy who has 40 ship traits unlocked, MK XV epic gear, knows where everything is and what to do because he's done it 100 times before. Red Alert events are for the big boys, newb, not you!"
"I climbed to the top of the power heap while it was still being created. When 30k DPS was a 'high end DPS' number. The fact that we now have 300K dps and up players is irrelevant. New players can suck it up or GTFO"
"New guys who start with nothing should play solo content until they are at the top end."
"If you are in my Red Alert/TFO/BZ struggling to get kills/XP/rewards/completions, and you can't compete against me, and you think maybe something should be changed because of that... you are just 'jealous' of my uberness. This is all completely fair. Go run solo content or GTFO."
"Cryptic had problems with some things before because people stacked a bunch of things together that, in combination, made people ridiculously powerful. However, stacking +30% Speed, +30% Damage, +30% CrtD, +7.5% CrtH, +30% Resists etc. won't cause problems, because... reasons"
To be even more more clear:
When I say "some forethought should be put into the issue before it becomes a problem", I mean things like:
- A gear score and some sort of matchmaker to put people into content with people who aren't 50x more powerful than them.
- A 'gateway' unlock of some sort. Until you complete the solo gateway check, you can't run Advanced content. After you complete the gateway, you can't run Normal. Events like Red Alerts get split into Normal and Advanced versions.
- If STO continues to put newer/less capable players into the same content as megaDPSers, then some sort of buff/boost could be applied to them so that they aren't quite so ridiculously far behind.
As others have said, it is very hard/next to impossible to balance a game that puts less experienced, less geared, less developed players into the same content that has players who are 100x more powerful and experienced. I am just saying that maybe the attempt should be made, rather than simply having the most powerful players effectively saying "Hey, it's not a problem for me. If it's a problem for you, new guy, you should just go play something else."
So what makes the difference between 600k dps players and 5k dps players? simple, time and management.
It is not skill, it is not elitism, it is nothing more than time spent learning how to build, manage skills, and grinding hours and hours to craft the top gear to take on end game content.
Time spent learning = skill.
Um, no. Time spent learning=being educated, not skilled at gaming.
The thing is, for the uber dps peeps, it is a matter of running the same tfo's over and over to learn what button to push when against an enemy that does the same thing every time. It is nothing more than top gear, large amounts of time spent, and muscle memory against bots.
I do love this game though, it is entertaining, fun and pretty decent customization wise for a PVE based game.
I for one am happy for the system, gives me a reason and something to do each day that benefits my entire account. And im all for the average DPS to rise. New players are just bad, they arnt useful in ques, at least if they did more damage, they could at least help the teams.
...thank you for reminding me why I make it a point to a) always have my chat window open and b) hover near what seem to be inexperienced players just in case they need healing/repairs, some tips or a buff. New, ill equipped and inexperienced are all problems that go away with time and help.
- You aren't in direct competition with other players, as such. What you are competing for, at times, is "Kill X targets", "Deal Y-thousand damage", and unless they've changed it, even the minimal damage needed to not get an AFK penalty. I'm not a DPSer, but I generally put together decent builds with OK weapons, and fly reasonably well; until I learned a few tricks how to not get out-DPSed by the meta-builds, I picked up the occasional AFK penalty even while flying my fastest and shooting my hardest. Didn't matter, things would die just as I got in range and poof, "You've received an AFK penalty".
*snip*
As for your examples of the AFK penalty I think a couple of things need to be clarified. To avoid the AFK penalty you only need to deal 1-2% of the total damage in the run. Some TFOs require 2%, some only 1%. Discounting issues beyond the control of the player, if you have a basic cohesive build, a basic understanding of how to use your ship, and rough understanding of the queue, this should be easy enough to do even if you have high DPSers in the run. Assuming a person has learned or been taught some basics about constructing a cohesive build, even a t5u ship should be able to bust 15k no problem using mk xii gear they pick up from missions. If someone has an understanding of their ship, understanding of the queue, and a cohesive build, and they are still getting an AFK penalty, then there is something else at play that is seriously wrong there as that should not be happening. Either the build isn't to the level they thought, they're not doing as much damage with it as they think due to pilot error, or they're just flat out not ready for the content level they're trying to play at. That doesn't mean the person sucks, it just means they need to practice and get better.
I had the exact same experience as Vendood - and it wasn't a question of damage, it was one of speed. I was constantly receiving AFK penalties for the Borg Red Alert (when it was a permanent feature). I had a free T4 ship with inertia below 40, no turn rate worth mentioning, and I don't know what Mk level weapons. Once the huge, big, slow D'Deridex got anywhere even at full throttle ("full impulse"), the cube was done. And - vessels with low inertia also take much longer to stop, so I overshot my mark often enough. "use full impulse" isn't helpful if you're a newbie dealing with low inertia. I usually arrived just in time to get the warp core breach. I stayed out of the Borg Red Alerts and similar high DPS /fast ships maps until I had my T5 ship. And fleet equipment, and my first Reputation set complete. *Then* I went back and found myself my very own single cube while the rest cleared out the map. (That T5 ship is meant to repair other ships and survive on its own - with main power to shields it was clocked at 6k DPS, the only time I was part of a parsed queue).
Sure, if you understand your ship, the queue, your build's strengths and weaknesses, you can definitely do better even in a T4 free D'Deridex. But as a new player, you generally *don't* understand much of anything. Even having done all the missions doesn't prepare you for TFOs. Only TFOs do, and that is the problem.
As contrary as it sounds, if you have trouble with not being fast enough - try the Borg TFOs. People tend to fly a bit slower in there to avoid drawing too much aggro to soon, and everyone has to stay out of range of the Unimatrix killer beams.
Regarding the perks - of course the difference between new players and veteran players will increase. But, to quote what a friend said during a D&D session: "It doesn't matter whether I die with -10 or -350 hitpoints." The difference is already so large, that whatever benefits come the way of veteran players, they will not matter. What does matter, I think, is the willingness of people to play with those who are just starting the game and don't yet have the knowledge, gear etc. If veteran players have more experience, more gear, better skills - these can all be used to the advantage of everyone on the team, and that includes new players.
I would agree with the op. The game has far too many sources of creep. The worst thing about the infinity system its it penalizes returning or casual players. The rewards are very good.... as an example more crith then people have been chasing from expensive boffs and consoles for 9 years. More everything I don't need to detail all of them. Sure it will take months of continued daily box ticking to max all of it. But that is the point.... this game is 9 years old there are always players returning from year(s) long breaks. In a few months this will be one more power creep thing they have to catch up on via a time gate. There are already enough of those. If a player that perhaps has 2-3 years in this game comes back after being away for an extended period. They are currently looking at likely 2-3 reps to level from zero. The rest to tier 6. Possibly another level of gear to upgrade... spec points... endeavor. At least the last few event ships haven't included any must have consoles or ship traits thankfully.
For a game that is 9 years in... Cryptic makes it harder and harder for old players to come back and not feel like they are starting over. I have been here for 9 years and have taken a few breaks... for most of the people on my friends list though. They come back and its great to see them and do STO stuffs with them again... and 2 weeks later they decide you know what I don't want to treat STO as a job for 3 months catching up, and there back off. Even worse for Cryptic more then a few times when they head back out a few other STO players head with them to some other time waste where at least they are all starting from zero.
I would have very much preferred if Cryptic has simply upped the old rewards. Same system with 3 personal... even the same XP gain. But instead of giving us perk points. Give us an even better box. Heck they could even have introduced endeavor events. Add a second event endeavor event XP bar and give us the week(end) to fill it up for reward boxes. For the regular and event endeavor reward they could have included useful things to people actually playing and grinding the game. Perhaps 1-5 random phoenix boxes, or 1-5 completed omega upgrades, perhaps a super rare pull of an ultimate upgrade, or a fleet ship module, BIG rep mark boxes why not have a XP bar box reward 500 marks.
Had they choose to do that... it wouldn't have penalized returning and casual players. It wouldn't have been yet one more power creep... and they could still have rewarded it enough to have people chasing endeavors around. Especially week long event endeavors that rewarded a couple ultimate upgrades, or a handful of omega ups or P boxes guaranteed.
I've never used keybinds either. Just gotta know what to hit and when.
Most peeps only include abilities into their key binds that they want to have activated all the time anyway. Others sum up on demand stuff by binding multiple heal abilities to single keys for example cuz it just does not matter which one of the 500 heal abilities you use in the heat of a battle.
While there are certainly rules, preferences and logic behind key binding it would be very healthy for your or anybody else’s attitude to realize, please, that not using key binds does not make you a smarter, more talented or especially more knowledgeable player.
Key binds are only a tool, the outcome is what counts. The decision not to use the tools that are available is of course your (or anybody else’s) prerogative but not using them does not turn you into any form of remarcable artist.
In the 7 years I play now I did not use binds for like 5 because I was just too lazy to look into the whole thing. Stupid me! They can help so much and are easy to set up.
I don't recall saying that not using keybinds made me smarter or better than anyone. I simply said I don't use them in response to someone who said if you don't use them you won't get far. Then I said I'd played just about all mission content, at least on one character.
On the contrary, I consider you and many others to be better than I am simply because I'm a casual player who has no interest in even entering advanced maps and only did so to get two TFO Endeavors out of my way. I survived and even had fun.
But it will only happen when the normal queues for said Endeavor doesn't pop.
Now a LTS and loving it.
Just because you spend money on this game, it does not entitle you to be a jerk if things don't go your way.
I have come to the conclusion that I have a memory like Etch-A-Sketch. I shake my head and forget everything.
I like the Endeavour system as it is. As someone who has 0 interest in 'builds' and min/maxing, it gives me something extra to log on for and work towards.
The problem is these competitive players who think you have to play only one way and one way only. They max that s*** out of things that break the game, use only what is 'the best' and then say they're too powerful and to nerf everything to make things more difficult for everyone else. And of course some of them also probably have every single item (that no one else can get anymore, sadly.) to give them more options.
No. Thank. You.
On a similar note, we have so many 'traits' and skills that we don't have room for now and get unused. That to me is a problem. So many options, but so little use for them or enough slots. The endeavour is handy because they are passive and there's no restrictions to how many of them you can have, as long as you do the work for it. I say this because I'm not an alt-o-holic. (Only have 2 characters, because I don't have time to sink into more). So I'm not here to play a dozen of them and would still like to experience everything I actually earned.
Basically, feel free to keep the power creep in. And more importantly, let every player have access to (and a way to work for) everything that helps with playing a game, without having to be a mindless 'fire everything!' drone. Or at the very least some dev keep this in mind when making another Star Trek MMO or multiplayer game (without any PvP focus of course, because co-op is love).
On one account I have more than a dozen. I don't play them all every day. I play whichever one wants to be played and choose who gets to play for the free Event ships the same way. One of them 'tells' me they want to do it, so they get to do it.
This time around my AoY wanted to on that account and on the other my new Delta wanted to, so she got to as well.
Those two are also doing the Endeavors after they finish farming that day's Omegas.
Now a LTS and loving it.
Just because you spend money on this game, it does not entitle you to be a jerk if things don't go your way.
I have come to the conclusion that I have a memory like Etch-A-Sketch. I shake my head and forget everything.
I've never used keybinds either. Just gotta know what to hit and when.
Most peeps only include abilities into their key binds that they want to have activated all the time anyway. Others sum up on demand stuff by binding multiple heal abilities to single keys for example cuz it just does not matter which one of the 500 heal abilities you use in the heat of a battle.
While there are certainly rules, preferences and logic behind key binding it would be very healthy for your or anybody else’s attitude to realize, please, that not using key binds does not make you a smarter, more talented or especially more knowledgeable player.
Key binds are only a tool, the outcome is what counts. The decision not to use the tools that are available is of course your (or anybody else’s) prerogative but not using them does not turn you into any form of remarcable artist.
In the 7 years I play now I did not use binds for like 5 because I was just too lazy to look into the whole thing. Stupid me! They can help so much and are easy to set up.
I don't recall saying that not using keybinds made me smarter or better than anyone. I simply said I don't use them in response to someone who said if you don't use them you won't get far. Then I said I'd played just about all mission content, at least on one character.
Agreed. I personally wish they'd work in the auto-activation feature from the console version because that'd make certain types of binds completely unnecessary and even add flexibility in how skills are activated.
The issue I have with the power creep, which this DOES contribute to, is that it forces the devs to make newer content stronger in order to challenge the people with all the bells and whistles. That puts newer players or those who don't HAVE those bells and whistles at a disadvantage. As it is, I can't fight a Tzenkethi ship one on one, and I've been here since launch (I just haven't had time or opportunity to get the magic goodies some other have). If enemies have to become even STRONGER... well, there just won't be any way to play.
Penalizing those who have had more time and/or funds to apply to the game is never a good idea. What posts like this are essentially asking for is to be rewarded without putting in the commensurate time and effort.
Since he is not asking for penalties to those who put more into the game, or to have more given to him because he has less, it's hard to see why people keep making the assumption that "nerf the powerful!" or "make me uber without effort!" is what people are talking about here.
He is talking about the same thing I am talking about - that the same content does not scale well across people with mega-meta-everything, and people who don't have all those things. It particularly does not scale well when game rewards (such as PE completions, Red Alert XP, V-Rex kills etc) put lower players in direct competition with people who have multiple, massive bonuses.
People who have worked hard, learned well, and built well at STO should have, and should keep, everything they have earned. People who have not yet done those things should still have to strive (and grind) to earn them. STO just shouldn't be putting those people in direct competition for the same rewards.
You don't put little leaguers into major league farm teams to play, then pat them on the head and say "Don't worry kid some day you will be relevant to the game".
I mean, is it really so hard to conceive that "Gear score 1,000 and below, you get the Normal Red Alert", "Gear > 1,000, you get the Advanced version"? A gear score isn't hard to come up with, lots of games do it. Mk IV = 20 points per piece, Mk XV = 60 points. Rarity multiplier for each piece (White = .75, Green = 1, etc). Add some points for equipped ship traits and DOffs. Only has to be calculated once when ship loadout is changed. We're not talking rocket science here.
I love my keybinds... I have one for spacebar (powers that require spamming), one for alt (combat powers, applicable captain powers), a utility one (fun little combos) and one for engine presets... it makes life so much easier considering the clicky clutter ships have now (11 boff powers, 5 rep powers, up to 20 or so clickies from set bonus, consoles and so on), gimmick buttons, captain powers...)
Comments
Okay what are you having trouble with then? Every single enemy is killable given proper tactics and a basic cohesive build. These new perks will simply amplify the power of these basic builds beyond what they may be now. Secondly I must ask you to define decently equipped. Show us some examples of your build. I say that because if we know what you are working with we can offer you advice based on where you are currently. By the similar logic you used, just because you personally are having difficulty does not mean other players will have the same experience vs the Iconians or Tzenkethi. In fact we took a fleetmate of mine into a an iconian story mission. All she had was a basic set of mk xii gear we gave her, that was equivalent to mission reward gear. She had been playing for all of 2 months and was rolling Iconians, so it's 100% possible.
As for the Jem'hadar ships, the starting t5u bug ship and gear is meant to be just that, a starting build only. It's not meant to be taken into high end content, but simply giving you a starting point to get your foot in the door so you can start playing. That build is all you need to get through the story missions on Normal mode. If you're dying as much as you claim you were, that tells me your tactics weren't working and you should've used another strategy to fight them. If you're getting one shot, that tells me that either you're having bad luck and are getting crit to death every single time on an elite mode run, or your build is not at the level you think it is. As many times as you say you died, the second one is the most likely scenario.
In regards to your comments involving the t5 or t5u ships getting slagged and not having a prayer, this is where I'm going to call outright shenanigans. I used an old t5u Galor as my tank ship well into the Delta Rising and Agents of Yesterday era. It wasn't until the Keldon itself released towards the tail end of 2016 that I made the jump to using a t6 ship. Routinely that Galor would outfly several other t6 ships others were using, and none of my t6 ships could match that Galor until the Keldon itself released. In fact I used to solo the old starbase 24 queue in a fleet t5u Aquarius using only mission reward gear just for fun. There are also several videos out there of me tanking in an Aqaurius t5u escort, which has the lowest hull of any t5 or t6 Federation ship in game. You do NOT and I repeat do NOT need a t6 ship just to succeed in this game.
In regards to new foes. Higher tiered content is meant to be more challenging than lower tiered content. Advanced is meant to be harder than Normal, and Elite is meant to be even harder than Advanced tier content. If you can't yet survive and deal damage in Advanced tier content, or especially Elite tier content, then you are not ready for those levels and don't need to be in there. Instead you need to take time to learn, adapt, get better gear, and skill up a bit more. Once you have done that, then you should have no issues. If you don't take the time to skill up or acquire better gear, then you're right, you won't be able to do the higher tier content as easily and rightfully so.
As a proof of concept, if you would like, you tell me a ship that you have access to you want to fly, and I will not only provide you with a build template you could use, but also run with you in game and help you master it if that's what it takes. I don't do that with too many people on this forum usually, but that offer will stand should you decide to take me up on it. Heck I will even provide you with a basic t5u infinity box ship to get you started if that's what it takes.
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I've never used keybinds and I've played all mission content with very few problems.
If you're referring to playing on elite, I only play on normal because I come to STO to have fun, and my fun is normal.
Like I said in another thread, everyone has their preferences and that's okay. It's what makes the game so nice, to be able to play what/how you want without disturbing the game for others.
My character Tsin'xing
Most peeps only include abilities into their key binds that they want to have activated all the time anyway. Others sum up on demand stuff by binding multiple heal abilities to single keys for example cuz it just does not matter which one of the 500 heal abilities you use in the heat of a battle.
While there are certainly rules, preferences and logic behind key binding it would be very healthy for your or anybody else’s attitude to realize, please, that not using key binds does not make you a smarter, more talented or especially more knowledgeable player.
Key binds are only a tool, the outcome is what counts. The decision not to use the tools that are available is of course your (or anybody else’s) prerogative but not using them does not turn you into any form of remarcable artist.
In the 7 years I play now I did not use binds for like 5 because I was just too lazy to look into the whole thing. Stupid me! They can help so much and are easy to set up.
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Yea thats the problem.
People percept teamed PvE as competitive scenarios. The feeling that others in a group clear a map to vast extents leaving only a bit of self-contribution leads to a dissatisfactory gaming experience.
In short players are “jealous” of others. They will bring in whatever chain of argumentation reaching from “DPS is no skill, just gear.” up to “Have you ever through about new players?” to obscure that jealous feeling while trying to change the game rules to thier advantage via crying in forums.
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Wow your build must be really really bad. No offense bu the Hur'q are only a real threat if you don't keep moving and at that an annoying pest. Ran that whole arc with the Rare 12's all around on my Jem, sure I died a few times until I learned how they attack and how to counter them but they are not the uber bad guys you make them out to be. If anything they were a major disappointment.
Frankly there is ZERO content that cannot be done on normal with level 12 Rare gear. Plus with the crafting system you can easily upgrade by creating upgrade packs, then there is the Romulan Admirality where you get FOUR free ZERO Dilth cost universal upgrades, there is Fleet gear as well maybe not as potent as in the past but still more then enough for end game content, and last there is the REENGINEER thing. If you are having issues it's on you not the game the resources are there and have been for a long time this isn't season 2 anymore.
If you're not performing well, you're a newbie/casual and you can improve.
If you complain about the power creep and you want feature-socialism (Nerfing everyone until everyone is as bad as you are), you're mostly a scrub a dead-weight who isn't willing to improve and wants everyone who improved and worked towards something punished.
I think this concludes this thread. The stupidity of the power creep claim is so strong and ever present. And saying that freaking 1% or 2% bonuses would count as power creep is another proof that you're clueless and lazy.
You can't be a performer unless you start performing. Socialism in gaming doesn't work, comrade.
One day I'll find someone to help me with the code and to set things up. I lose precious seconds looking for my mouse and trying to click the right icon all the time. I know it hampers my performance and has caused me to die many, many times over the years.
ingame: @.Spartan
Original Cryptic Forum Name: Spartan (member #124)
The Glorious, Kirk’s Protegè
There is a simple tool that you can use to make keybinds so that you don't have to type everything in. It works with a graphical interface and is really quite simple to use.
You can find the tool download here.
The site even has an instructional video, but if that's not enough.. feel free to ask. I hope this helps you.
To be even more clear:
- I am not asking for nerfs to the Endeavour system. I like the PE's, although there are some issues (18 dreadnoughts, things that should count but don't, kill 120 scorpions etc.). Personally I would have capped the system out at +5% CritH and +20% on the damages, CritD and resists, but whatever. It's fine.
- I do not have any problem completing/competing for content/XP/rewards in the game. I can do everything I care to.
- Most replies in the thread range vary across the range:
"Power creep is natural and okay and nothing should be done about it."
"Adding +10% or +20% or +30% to someone's Speed, Damage, CrtD and resists, and up to 7.5% CrtH isn't really a big deal and won't make much difference."
"Newer/less capable players shouldn't be running content if they can't compete with a guy who has 40 ship traits unlocked, MK XV epic gear, knows where everything is and what to do because he's done it 100 times before. Red Alert events are for the big boys, newb, not you!"
"I climbed to the top of the power heap while it was still being created. When 30k DPS was a 'high end DPS' number. The fact that we now have 300K dps and up players is irrelevant. New players can suck it up or GTFO"
"New guys who start with nothing should play solo content until they are at the top end."
"If you are in my Red Alert/TFO/BZ struggling to get kills/XP/rewards/completions, and you can't compete against me, and you think maybe something should be changed because of that... you are just 'jealous' of my uberness. This is all completely fair. Go run solo content or GTFO."
"Cryptic had problems with some things before because people stacked a bunch of things together that, in combination, made people ridiculously powerful. However, stacking +30% Speed, +30% Damage, +30% CrtD, +7.5% CrtH, +30% Resists etc. won't cause problems, because... reasons"
To be even more more clear:
When I say "some forethought should be put into the issue before it becomes a problem", I mean things like:
- A gear score and some sort of matchmaker to put people into content with people who aren't 50x more powerful than them.
- A 'gateway' unlock of some sort. Until you complete the solo gateway check, you can't run Advanced content. After you complete the gateway, you can't run Normal. Events like Red Alerts get split into Normal and Advanced versions.
- If STO continues to put newer/less capable players into the same content as megaDPSers, then some sort of buff/boost could be applied to them so that they aren't quite so ridiculously far behind.
As others have said, it is very hard/next to impossible to balance a game that puts less experienced, less geared, less developed players into the same content that has players who are 100x more powerful and experienced. I am just saying that maybe the attempt should be made, rather than simply having the most powerful players effectively saying "Hey, it's not a problem for me. If it's a problem for you, new guy, you should just go play something else."
Um, no. Time spent learning=being educated, not skilled at gaming.
The thing is, for the uber dps peeps, it is a matter of running the same tfo's over and over to learn what button to push when against an enemy that does the same thing every time. It is nothing more than top gear, large amounts of time spent, and muscle memory against bots.
I do love this game though, it is entertaining, fun and pretty decent customization wise for a PVE based game.
...thank you for reminding me why I make it a point to a) always have my chat window open and b) hover near what seem to be inexperienced players just in case they need healing/repairs, some tips or a buff. New, ill equipped and inexperienced are all problems that go away with time and help.
I had the exact same experience as Vendood - and it wasn't a question of damage, it was one of speed. I was constantly receiving AFK penalties for the Borg Red Alert (when it was a permanent feature). I had a free T4 ship with inertia below 40, no turn rate worth mentioning, and I don't know what Mk level weapons. Once the huge, big, slow D'Deridex got anywhere even at full throttle ("full impulse"), the cube was done. And - vessels with low inertia also take much longer to stop, so I overshot my mark often enough. "use full impulse" isn't helpful if you're a newbie dealing with low inertia. I usually arrived just in time to get the warp core breach. I stayed out of the Borg Red Alerts and similar high DPS /fast ships maps until I had my T5 ship. And fleet equipment, and my first Reputation set complete. *Then* I went back and found myself my very own single cube while the rest cleared out the map. (That T5 ship is meant to repair other ships and survive on its own - with main power to shields it was clocked at 6k DPS, the only time I was part of a parsed queue).
Sure, if you understand your ship, the queue, your build's strengths and weaknesses, you can definitely do better even in a T4 free D'Deridex. But as a new player, you generally *don't* understand much of anything. Even having done all the missions doesn't prepare you for TFOs. Only TFOs do, and that is the problem.
As contrary as it sounds, if you have trouble with not being fast enough - try the Borg TFOs. People tend to fly a bit slower in there to avoid drawing too much aggro to soon, and everyone has to stay out of range of the Unimatrix killer beams.
Regarding the perks - of course the difference between new players and veteran players will increase. But, to quote what a friend said during a D&D session: "It doesn't matter whether I die with -10 or -350 hitpoints." The difference is already so large, that whatever benefits come the way of veteran players, they will not matter. What does matter, I think, is the willingness of people to play with those who are just starting the game and don't yet have the knowledge, gear etc. If veteran players have more experience, more gear, better skills - these can all be used to the advantage of everyone on the team, and that includes new players.
TLDR; It's not the perks, it's the people.
For a game that is 9 years in... Cryptic makes it harder and harder for old players to come back and not feel like they are starting over. I have been here for 9 years and have taken a few breaks... for most of the people on my friends list though. They come back and its great to see them and do STO stuffs with them again... and 2 weeks later they decide you know what I don't want to treat STO as a job for 3 months catching up, and there back off. Even worse for Cryptic more then a few times when they head back out a few other STO players head with them to some other time waste where at least they are all starting from zero.
I would have very much preferred if Cryptic has simply upped the old rewards. Same system with 3 personal... even the same XP gain. But instead of giving us perk points. Give us an even better box. Heck they could even have introduced endeavor events. Add a second event endeavor event XP bar and give us the week(end) to fill it up for reward boxes. For the regular and event endeavor reward they could have included useful things to people actually playing and grinding the game. Perhaps 1-5 random phoenix boxes, or 1-5 completed omega upgrades, perhaps a super rare pull of an ultimate upgrade, or a fleet ship module, BIG rep mark boxes why not have a XP bar box reward 500 marks.
Had they choose to do that... it wouldn't have penalized returning and casual players. It wouldn't have been yet one more power creep... and they could still have rewarded it enough to have people chasing endeavors around. Especially week long event endeavors that rewarded a couple ultimate upgrades, or a handful of omega ups or P boxes guaranteed.
I don't recall saying that not using keybinds made me smarter or better than anyone. I simply said I don't use them in response to someone who said if you don't use them you won't get far. Then I said I'd played just about all mission content, at least on one character.
On the contrary, I consider you and many others to be better than I am simply because I'm a casual player who has no interest in even entering advanced maps and only did so to get two TFO Endeavors out of my way. I survived and even had fun.
But it will only happen when the normal queues for said Endeavor doesn't pop.
The problem is these competitive players who think you have to play only one way and one way only. They max that s*** out of things that break the game, use only what is 'the best' and then say they're too powerful and to nerf everything to make things more difficult for everyone else. And of course some of them also probably have every single item (that no one else can get anymore, sadly.) to give them more options.
No. Thank. You.
On a similar note, we have so many 'traits' and skills that we don't have room for now and get unused. That to me is a problem. So many options, but so little use for them or enough slots. The endeavour is handy because they are passive and there's no restrictions to how many of them you can have, as long as you do the work for it. I say this because I'm not an alt-o-holic. (Only have 2 characters, because I don't have time to sink into more). So I'm not here to play a dozen of them and would still like to experience everything I actually earned.
Basically, feel free to keep the power creep in. And more importantly, let every player have access to (and a way to work for) everything that helps with playing a game, without having to be a mindless 'fire everything!' drone. Or at the very least some dev keep this in mind when making another Star Trek MMO or multiplayer game (without any PvP focus of course, because co-op is love).
This time around my AoY wanted to on that account and on the other my new Delta wanted to, so she got to as well.
Those two are also doing the Endeavors after they finish farming that day's Omegas.
My character Tsin'xing
Since he is not asking for penalties to those who put more into the game, or to have more given to him because he has less, it's hard to see why people keep making the assumption that "nerf the powerful!" or "make me uber without effort!" is what people are talking about here.
He is talking about the same thing I am talking about - that the same content does not scale well across people with mega-meta-everything, and people who don't have all those things. It particularly does not scale well when game rewards (such as PE completions, Red Alert XP, V-Rex kills etc) put lower players in direct competition with people who have multiple, massive bonuses.
People who have worked hard, learned well, and built well at STO should have, and should keep, everything they have earned. People who have not yet done those things should still have to strive (and grind) to earn them. STO just shouldn't be putting those people in direct competition for the same rewards.
You don't put little leaguers into major league farm teams to play, then pat them on the head and say "Don't worry kid some day you will be relevant to the game".
I mean, is it really so hard to conceive that "Gear score 1,000 and below, you get the Normal Red Alert", "Gear > 1,000, you get the Advanced version"? A gear score isn't hard to come up with, lots of games do it. Mk IV = 20 points per piece, Mk XV = 60 points. Rarity multiplier for each piece (White = .75, Green = 1, etc). Add some points for equipped ship traits and DOffs. Only has to be calculated once when ship loadout is changed. We're not talking rocket science here.
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