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Proposal for STO: an Exploration Server
tiatryx
Member Posts: 6 Arc User
Proposal: Star Trek Online - Exploration Server
We’re all used to or have heard of the 3 servers available in STO (Live, Tribble, Redshirt). Though there are some who have no experience outside of the live I’ve always been a fan to testing (and sandboxing) offered by the tribble server. But this proposal is more of an idea for something more radical. A revitalization of the game for those of us who’ve been here since beta and something meaty and fun for those just joining the ranks that I’ve lovingly dubbed “The Exploration Server”
What is The Exploration Server:
When logging into your account via your prefered launcher there would appear a fourth option. The Exploration Server would provide expanded real time entertainment as well as a background simulation to fuel further game play. The core of the Expo server is the map. A massive recreation of the Milky way galaxy with all of the standard STO hot spots but the addition of billions, I know its alot drink your koolaid and strap in.. trust me, BILLIONS of procedurally generated planets, stars, asteroids, nebula and moons. For those of you who’ve gamed in other realms of scifi you know that this task is already feasible (Elite Dangerous). The vast majority of this RNGesus pantheon will be unexplored giving the player an opportunity to scan, map, mine, beam down to new procedurally and maybe bespoke in later iterations, locations to map, mine, gather intel. In known space small cities locations will be visitable via beam down. Trade hubs, mining spots, and mission givers.
How will these areas work?:
A com panel or local trade hub panel will list all commodities available for trade? Need tula berries? Burn your credits and fill your cargo bay to haul them off to Bajor from little known spot. Small rng missions like “Investigate borg activity: Scan the asteroids of (location).” Run intelligence packets from far reaching outposts to your factions core systems for “profit”. All faction specific. This is the key.
The missions generated and how and when they are completed can affect the background simulation. The power structures of the areas will always be in flux thanks to what each faction is currently doing. This gives us a reason to log in everyday for a grind that's less… grindy and more choose your own adventure. The server would include changes to certain minigames as they stand. Mining would require a beam down, using an actual mining laser much like the weapons we equip now and some actual scanning to find a good source. Scanning star systems would be overhauled to not only be more interactive but include some enjoyable if not time sinking mechanics as well. .
The TLDR:
STO is a great game but imo could benefit from systems of other space games to create something even better.
We’re all used to or have heard of the 3 servers available in STO (Live, Tribble, Redshirt). Though there are some who have no experience outside of the live I’ve always been a fan to testing (and sandboxing) offered by the tribble server. But this proposal is more of an idea for something more radical. A revitalization of the game for those of us who’ve been here since beta and something meaty and fun for those just joining the ranks that I’ve lovingly dubbed “The Exploration Server”
What is The Exploration Server:
When logging into your account via your prefered launcher there would appear a fourth option. The Exploration Server would provide expanded real time entertainment as well as a background simulation to fuel further game play. The core of the Expo server is the map. A massive recreation of the Milky way galaxy with all of the standard STO hot spots but the addition of billions, I know its alot drink your koolaid and strap in.. trust me, BILLIONS of procedurally generated planets, stars, asteroids, nebula and moons. For those of you who’ve gamed in other realms of scifi you know that this task is already feasible (Elite Dangerous). The vast majority of this RNGesus pantheon will be unexplored giving the player an opportunity to scan, map, mine, beam down to new procedurally and maybe bespoke in later iterations, locations to map, mine, gather intel. In known space small cities locations will be visitable via beam down. Trade hubs, mining spots, and mission givers.
How will these areas work?:
A com panel or local trade hub panel will list all commodities available for trade? Need tula berries? Burn your credits and fill your cargo bay to haul them off to Bajor from little known spot. Small rng missions like “Investigate borg activity: Scan the asteroids of (location).” Run intelligence packets from far reaching outposts to your factions core systems for “profit”. All faction specific. This is the key.
The missions generated and how and when they are completed can affect the background simulation. The power structures of the areas will always be in flux thanks to what each faction is currently doing. This gives us a reason to log in everyday for a grind that's less… grindy and more choose your own adventure. The server would include changes to certain minigames as they stand. Mining would require a beam down, using an actual mining laser much like the weapons we equip now and some actual scanning to find a good source. Scanning star systems would be overhauled to not only be more interactive but include some enjoyable if not time sinking mechanics as well. .
The TLDR:
STO is a great game but imo could benefit from systems of other space games to create something even better.
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Comments
normal text = me speaking as fellow formite
colored text = mod mode
Tribble and Redshirt work since they're essentially Holodeck when it comes to the core programming, what's proposed here however has little if anything in common with current STO when it comes to the core programming, being in essence a totally new program using the same assets as STO.
Developer resources don't grow on trees, and that isn't the game many STO players would to pay money to support, so the chances of it happening are approximately zero.
If Cryptic was going to develop a new Trek game of that scale it probably makes more sense to build a STO 2.0 engine with modern graphics first.
of, course, the first part is the problem- if they could pull it off. Considering that no one really pulled it off well so far, I see no reason why Cryptic should be the one to do it. Especially if they have clearly alternatives that work well for them, too, like providing story missions and STFs.
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