(re-posted for the masses from http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?t=101091 )
Several things, I understand that it was not the intent to allow power-hue open to the players, however it was done. Moreover, this was a good thing. Why? Because more customization is good, however I do not think it should be on done on the fly, nor should it be cheap.
Why leave color changing.
Distinction, during game play I have noticed an issue. When two groups converge whether it is PVP or PVE the abundance of weapons fire and all of it being the same color sometimes makes it difficult to tell who is shooting whom. Now a few PVP players have been using to gain victory, and they do not want others to see who is firing at whom. In addition, some of us Role-play different racial factions, such as Romulans. Moreover, we have gone to great lengths to achieve a distinct look. If you saw my escort, you would think it was a Romulan Bird of prey, and I have colored all my weapons to match.
However the handful of Canon purists dont like the idea of weapons not following the TNG patterns, and ignoring that TOS the NCC-1701 Enterprise had more than three colors of weapons fire, and all of them where the Phasers, I counted 4 different colors, Red, Blue, Violet, and Orange.
Therefore, what is the compromise what would be the gesture of good faith, take the slash command out of the game. Then add a vendor on Memory Alpha and on Qo'noS. This vendor for a slight fee and some resources would color a single weapon a single color based on the Hue scale. Since the powers are tied to the Weapons and the BOs this could be done rather easy and it would keep the customization ability and keep it with in lore. This would also keep the few basic powers the intended color, and we would not see blue explosions, even though it is pleasant to see.
I think this would be a good way to show that Cryptic had listened to both points of view and did something positive.


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from deep in the thread:
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this way it is a form of weapon upgrade and not just a simple hue swap. it should even put a new name or description on the weapon
(basic weapon before color upgrade)
Basic weapon MK??
Statline- DPS
(Basic weapon after color upgrade)
Pink Basic weapon MK??
Bound
Statline- DPS
Weapon has been upgraded with pink emitters
By using my idea they can limit the hues to weapons so as to not brake immersion as well
example:
Federation Phasers in canon have been Red, Blue, Purple, yellow, and Orange
with the Vendor they could set the Hue options to several distinct versions of these colors your Phasers would be individual and still the right color.
ie. 5 different yellows, 5 different reds, ect.
same with Disruptors
ie. 10 different greens
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I think if Cryptic did this it could be in in less than a week and would make everyone Happy.
Comments
I agree that the ability to type a slash command should go, however I think a vendor in game should be added to do the same, however some colors can be limited. if they feel only the players with the special order should have blue they could keep blue out of the list with this vendor. however the players who had that special order should always be able to get blue.
as for colors like pink they could make them special mission unlocks, and it could all be through the vendor.
but i want my connie to have the blue phasers when i upgrade away from the defults to type 1 or 2
As has been stated elsewhere, the Connie phasers are unique and can't be replicated with a /powerhue color...it loses it's effect.
I understand though if those with a connie disagree and would never want to infringe on that specialness. In the long run color selection is something I adore (especially the RPer side of me that has a borg with teal weapons), but I wouldn't want to take away from the connie. She is a special girl indeed.
My connie will be using /powerhue because I want to keep my phasers blue
Maybe they could add some textures to different beams, like spirals or fuzzyness that adds to distinction of type, then that would open up color for player purchased, or earned customizations.
I also like the idea of the Connie blue color being unique, it was sold as a feature that is special and it seems fair that it should be unique for that reason. Although I don't got a Connie, it seems fair.
If you want your weapons to stay the default color... fine... mission accomplished. Nobody is holding a gun to your head and making you change it.
If you don't want this option included then help the dev's out and your fellow players out by giving specific reasons why you feel it isn't "fair" or why it breaks canon (in a game where Klingon warriors drop Feline Supplement 24) instead of just talking about your intention to use or not use the feature.
Personally I like it... Because space combat is currently a little messed up and enemy ships often fly into places I cannot shoot them but they can shoot me, I like to know if my weapons are going off. My current UI settings (and having "fire all weapons" mapped to a mouse button) don't allow me to see the weapons cooldown happen and often my only cue is seeing my unique blue shots amid a sea of green and red.
I don't PvP so for me the only thing I get out of this current "feature" is the ability to get around a coding problem inherent in space combat.
I wouldn't mind it being something I have to purchase as an upgrade.
It should be noted that beam weapons are already textured by weapon type.
that is why I am saying take the slash command out and give a vendor, this way it is a form of weapon upgrade and not just a simple hue swap. it should even put a new name or description on the weapon
(basic weapon before color upgrade)
(Basic weapon after color upgrade)
Statline- DPS
Weapon has been upgraded with pink emitters
A person could buy a colored phasor color only to find that every client viewing his shots, has an option, use original colors for weapons.
Different clients doing different things for different users is not a new idea, and can add to player customization, although it can also be abused if not in the open.
Problem solved. Everyone goes home happy.
Some of the community are able to derive more enjoyment from the customization of weapon colors than the non adherence to canon detracts; a net positive result.
However, for some of the community, the detraction from canon takes away more enjoyment than the inclusion of customization adds back; a net negative result.
This trade of between giving additional enjoyment to some and removing it from others is at the heart of all "wishlists" on the "it's a game and should be fun" category.
It would be the same for Federation cloaks, federation carriers, Joined Trill for the Klingon faction, and any number of similar aspects which might be fun, but would detract from what is reasonable in the Star Trek Universe.
When you add up the positive from those who want it and the negative from those who don't... there's either balance or not. When there is balance you err on the side of canon, when it's not you look for solutions to add that enjoyment without blatantly ignoring canon.
Ensigns don't command ships. But cryptic felt the community as a whole was at a net negative in terms of working your way up to commanding a ship... so in favor of making the game "fun" they invented a story to get around canon without blatantly ignoring it: ie all senior officers dead, you step up to the plate and impress an Admiral so you get a field promotion.
Those who don't like the idea of picking the color of your weapon REALLY don't like it... and those who do like the idea would certainly not walk away from the game if it went away. Being humble, I'd say that the net positive is equivalent to the net negative; the community is at the very least split on this.
Canon is the tie breaker. I'm sorry, but in the 25th Century, phasers are orange and disruptors are green and when I see someone firing at me and I see green I want to know what type of weapon is being used.
Cryptic goal was not JUST to make a good space game, it was to make a good Star Trek game. If the "Star Trek" part wasn't important they could have ignored the IP and had all kinds of unique customization options as a result; that's not an invalid approach. They however, chose to make a Star Trek game, which means that Ferengi have big ears, the Klingons like to stab you with bat'leths and phasers are orange.
They gave up the option to have infinite customization options as a means of enjoyment, but they gained the option to immerse the player in the atmosphere of Trek instead. Might as well have Federation flying in Birds of Prey... cause it's fun... if that's how you all feel.
2) It has already been stated that this bug will be squashed, and that powerhue is going away. Please move on to the acceptance stage.
3) No amount of whining is likely to change this. I suspect that it has been mandated by the owners of the intellectual property.
4) No, you really don't need purple phasers.
Again, I don't know this for a fact, or have any evidence at all to support this, but it makes sense. It's only a theory, which happens to fit the facts.
getting part starter equipment makes the Connie phasers pointless.
Agreed. Lets leave something intact and appropriate to the IP... the folks that wanted to play Star Trek Super Heroes already won their color war for unforms (thankfully controlled to a degree), please leave the weapon colors to canon standards.
I've got a connie, and I could care less about what color the phasers are.
Tuntz..Tuntz..Tuntz..TunTunTuntz..Tuntz..Tuntz..Tuntz..TunTunTuntz..Tuntz..Tuntz..Tuntz..TunTunTuntz..
ummm compare my ship to a Romulan Bird of Prey..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/gothicshark/Star%20Trek/screenshot_2010-01-31-04-16-34.jpg
http://technologizer.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/romulan_bird-of-prey_ent-aft_cloaking.jpg
What I am Suggesting is a Compromise that would work. I have noticed it is only the PVP players who are upset, since they are the only ones really effected, and why are they upset? because some folks have different shields and boffs aimed at specific weapon systems and when they see a random color they don't know what it is, personally giving in to PVP players is what killed CO, I hope they don't do it here.
1. Actually the Other post has turned into a Flame war and I am making a reasonable suggestion for a good compromise.
2. yes but the cat has been let out of the bag, and there is a lot of folks who like it.
3. sadly you sound like you are Whining I am submitting a reasonable and logical approach.
4. Actually yes we do, also green, yellow, pink and 360 different hues, well maybe not that many but as I have stated if you run disruptors and you are in pve with a full team it is rather difficult sometimes to tell who you are firing at, and who your team is firing at adding color options would fix this and it is already there no need for a big change.
Actually it effects two things, having color options messes with some PVP players who swap weapons and powers based on who is shooting what, and as far as I can tell they are the most upset group, even if they hide behind "its not lore". and second in a team enviroment in space and everyone has the same weapon type including the NPCs it is easy to get lost as to who has what, and where is my target.
I think the fact the can be used to disquish ships is a great reason to keep the colors in. Howeve, it should be via UI. But there is presidennt for changing them during battle.
More reasons to find a way to have a color change option ....
You obviously didn't read anything but the title, please read and think before jumping to conclusions.
If a player should be able to look at a ship and know in a glance what class it is, then they should also be able to look at weapon fire and know in a glance know what type it is.
I think Cracked1701 is right on track, though, just as all cryptic ship designs had to be approved by CBS, I'd bet that the weapon colors are right in there too.
No, I read your entire post. That is my well thought out response.
Please don't use the term nerf to describe something that is not being nerfed.
I have already stated for the record that I don't care if people wish to change their own colors as long as when I see them, it is the default colors. I care less what happens on your screen, but I care much more about what I'm subjected to on mine.
To do this requires more coding than disabling the bug. The next patch will most likely kill this bug, If they wish to re-enable the ability with the above feature, that's fine, but make it low priority as the development time could be used to squash more bugs.
My original response was enough. There's already numerous threads on this topic.