I loved the chaos of the End of Beta event, although I know it was hell with spawn camping for the Klingons.
I do believe however that it should be brought back as a one day recurring event every so often (eg once a fortnight).
Here are my suggestions for how the event could work:
Enable Klingon access to Federation space!
The scenario could involve a Klingon raid to Federation Starbases, like 114 or Earth Starbase. Loot can be given for destroying Federation NPC's that are usually orbiting the bases, as well as for those who come to the base's defense. Similarly loot can be given to Feds that destroy incoming Klingon vessels.
In addition, if Klingons enter other systems (eg. Risa or Wolf 359) they should be able to, but at their own risk!
Enable Federation access to Klingon space!
In a similar scenario to the above, Starfleet could attempt to attack the Klingon home world. Loot can be given in a similar fashion as described above.
To avoid the End of Beta event chaos:
- Leave the Borg out of this one.
- Give Klingon ships random / separate spawn points to Federation ships
- When beaming down (eg. at the Earth Starbase or Qo'noS) give Klingon and Starfleet officers random / separate spawn points again
- Skill points / loot can be awarded for area control within a base
- Participation in the event could be optional, i.e. when reaching Sol or a system with a starbase, or Qo'noS, you could have the option of joining the event by choosing it, like for the current DS9 missions.
- The numbers of NPC's should be influenced by the number of players attacking / defending to avoid excessive mismatch.
- Player level mismatch should also be avoided as it is done in PvP (i.e. Lieutenants shouldn't be fighting Brigadier Generals)
General Scenario Mechanics:Option A: Winnable Maps
To make sure the event does not get boring, invading a base could be a winnable task. It could work like this:
- Klingons spawn in a specific area of the station and have managed to erect force fields at the bulkheads or entry points. These force fields can allow Klingons to pass through them but not Starfleet Officers; however neither can shoot through them.
- The force fields can be sabotaged, but only when in direct contact with the emitters of the bulkhead, or a nearby console
- The force fields of each sector can be erected / sabotaged by both factions, as a means of protecting the area under control.
- If all areas fall under the control of a faction, that faction wins and loot can be awarded in the classic PvP manner.
- Other loot could be dropped by NPC's or when a player is disabled and respawns (not revived)
Option B: Continuous Skirmish Maps
In this case, a way to limit boredom due to repetition the following could apply:
- Predetermined but randomly assigned spawn points on a timer.
-In keeping with canon, one should have the ability to scan the goings on and beam to a safe location.
-In keeping with game mechanics this could work by changing the spawn points of each faction every 2-3 minutes to ensure that the battle dynamics change constantly and it doesn't get boring.
This would probably work best in larger bases
- Loot could be dropped by NPC's or when a player is disabled and respawns (not revived)
Space Battles
- In the case of Starbases, NPC ships should remain as they are to reflect the fact that a Starbase would normally be defended, but number of said NPC's should depend on the number of players currently defending as well.
- In the case of other systems (like Wolf 359 or Risa) it can be free for all and battle dynamics can change depending on how many players will participate in the battle - this could work well for fleet face-offs
- Loot could be rewarded in the same way it is now, regardless if an NPC or player ship gets destroyed.
- Spawn points in any map should be separate and random (perhaps changing on a timer, or depending where the closest enemy players are) to limit spawn camping.
I look forward to more ideas and constructive criticism.
Comments
I agree in part with what you are saying, my only concern was that the Gamma Orionis sector that has been added with the new raidisode and the ones coming up have already laid the foundation for a storyline where the Federation and the Klingon Empire are making a stand against the Borg.
What I am proposing has been based on existing game mechanics, although I'm sure there is a lot of amending / fine tuning necessary.
Also, my proposal to leave the Borg out of this one was based on what happened during the event itself, where there was great imbalance and quite a few foul-ups in mechanics.
Namely, the Borg were too strong so everyone was pinned at the spawn point; Klingon faction players showed up as enemies so even when they were trying to help against the Borg, they were mistakenly auto-targeted and could not be revived by Feds when they were killed etc.
Plus, I liked the idea of Klingons being able to risk invading Federation space and vice-versa which made their presence more prominent, instead of them existing in the corner of the sector map.
Anyway, I welcome your idea and I would appreciate a more detailed version of what you are proposing.
After all of the Borg TF content on the table is developed, make a final longer TF that must be completed a number of times within a set span of time. If that TF is not completed then the Borg invade an "outpost station" in RA only space. That outpost station represents a "last bastion" situation. All raid content shuts down until the station is retaken. Fedies and Klingers can cooperate in retaking the station (perhaps something like a faction cooperative Fleet Action format). Set this "FA" up so that there is only ever one instance. Increase the zone population from around 50 to around 200 (if the technology would allow it).
With that in mind, every now and again, have an event where the Borg spill over from that station into The NZ and faction specific space, temporally drop the faction boarders and allow Fedies and Klingers to go to the other side's space and help eradicate the "Borg invasion". Perhaps set it up to be the opening to new content release.
Set up a merit system for success and or kill rate. That merit system allows for the acquisition or purchase through one of the alternative currencies of titles (or) simply earn badges and clothing attachments to display success (perhaps a replacement for rank insignia or the addition of medals on uniforms). Also set up "leader boards" that track records of success (killing X number of Borg on ground, killing X number of Borg in space, Killing X number of particular types of Borg, ect.)
An ancillary aspect of such a system would be that "last bastion" station function as true neutral ground where Fedies and Klingers could meet face to face on the ground when it is free of Borg to add incentive to keep it clear.
This is a rough-shod outline of a potentual and was thought of right off the cuff so it is undeveloped.
What I'm proposing is a much simpler, free-for all scenario and can utilise the same PvP system already in place. As this event has already occured we know it is within the capabilities of the current design and shouldn't be that difficult to implement.
The only drawback that I can see for the time being is the large imbalance between the number of players with a primary Fed character vs the number of players with a primary Klingon character.
However, if and when other playable factions come into effect, they can be added as part of the free for all scenario.
I continue to believe that player controlled Klingons (and other factions when they become available) in Federation space would create a lot of excitement, just as it did during the end of beta.
Some great ideas OP.
Honestly if you want to have some Open PvP Area then take Systems/Sectors that arent involved and populated with Lt0-RA5/BG5 because this will make it for those that dont want your open pvp ,even if its only a day in a week/month ,very unpleasant ...and you should think they still pay for the game too so there's no "Then dont log in to the game that day" because they payed for that day to play too.
Another thing about the end of OB event ...this was just TRIBBLE ...i never said i wanted to go to Sol ,i was just transfered there ...noone asked ...just a loading screen and ...poof. Hopefully "events" of that like wont show up once more.
It will make the game more exciting, when one day, the klingon invade and we're surrounded.
It'll make the game seem more MMOish
I would suggest along these ideas, random spontaneous attacks on Earth and Qo'nos. Imagine, you're sitting outside spacedock...or perhaps scrolling through the exchange....BAM....fleet of enemies show up(all levels) and just begin an attack. Now that's fun!
This is why I said that for open systems (like Qu'onos, Sol, Risa etc) one should be able to choose to join the action; just like when you visit DS9 with a mission, where you get a choice of entering the DS9 map via normal approach, or for the mission itself.
I believe however, that even those who don't want to be forced to fight would be tempted if they saw Klingon ships in sector space entering Sol, or Federation ships entering Qu'onos.
The event had quite a few 'holes' with the spawn camping and the overbuffed Borg, and a number of people were annoyed. But I think most people enjoyed the anarchy, or the parties at Risa, and it is this chaos that I'd like to experience again, in a manner consistent with the current storyline and Star Trek IP.
My feelings exactly!
I agree, but like Arizhel said, some people may be so annoyed that they won't even log in for the event if they are likely to be forced to join. That's why I think we should have a more "organised chaos" this time instead of complete chaos like during the OB event.
Thank you for your replies, I look forward to more suggestions!
EDIT: I think this video sums up the fun of that event well... More of that please!