So like most others I started up STO to try the new difficulty settings and had a bit of fun, it actually feels like I'm playing the game now and not the game playing itself.
However.. what's with the drops? They're all MK IX items which every RA knows are absolutely useless. Comon guys how about rewards that equal the challenge? !
What do you mean, there's blue aka rare drops which don't happen at all during normal or pre-patch game? Significantly increase in loot drop if you do it in a group due to increased number of enemy ships, e.g 5 members in patrol or enemy encounter in exploration map.
Elite though elite, still only take less than 15 mins to complete.
If you want purple X, do STF and try to complete that... it's on normal difficulty for now.
lucky you, I have gotten batteries, crappy whie shield, and some greens thats it. Hardly worth the effort.
And yes I did do multiple missions on elite 3hrs worth, then I got sick of it and logged.:(
Agree with the OP. To date the Elite drops are worthless given the increased difficulty. While I have received a number of blue (rare) drops, they have all been MK IX. aka replicator fodder.
In a lot of cases such as consoles, rare doesn't drop higher than mk IX and is equal to an uncommon mk X
Blues and purples did drop before this patch but the higher difficulties are fun to play and do boost the drop rate significantly. Besides, high level white drops sell for rather a lot of credits, making it easier to buy what you actually want from the exchange
Nice to know that brought back Very Rare drops. It should bring down the high cost in the AH many are just overpiced. May take a while but things should come down. Will ne to regear alll my crew with new gear.
I've gotten so many rare drops that I don't know what to do with them. Some of them have been nice upgrades, though. They've run the gamut from IX to X -- but most of them are IX, and all of the X grade items have been weapons... dual heavy cannons at that.
I've not had any purple drops yet... but in one explore map there was a group of 3 frigate type enemies and two of them dropped rares when killed. Then the two groups immediately after also dropped a rare item. It was outrageous.
Loot rewards have been tested extensively prior to the patch going live. They're working as intended. Hope you all enjoy the added rewards for the added challenge of being elite.
this will all come with minor tweaks eh so no need to worry...last thing they want to do is ramp it up so everyone is getting a purple ever 3 encounters, that would make the Very Rare tag a bit of a farce
better they start with a lower percentage and make minor tweaks to get it just right
i noticed the frequency of greens was up considerably, i got 3 mx X greens in about 7 encounters...thats a step up from the mx IX greens once every, say, 15 encounters on normal (these are just assumed frequency going by memory, but you get the idea)
The loot is still only the same items you can get in other ways, so no it really isn't worth it and I agree with the OP. If the added risk gave you something that you could not get anywhere else, such as purple consoles, then yes it might be worth setting yourself to Elite for that purpose, but as long as the loot is the same as it ever was (albeit just having increased chances), then you're better off farming credits on Normal in order to buy the consoles you need/want.
Of course purple ship weapons and equipment, as well as all ground items, are ridiculously easy to acquire with the daily explore grind, so the only thing remaining is ship consoles. The only real reward of doing Elite right now is your own personal need to conquer an increased difficulty. Give us purple consoles for this and I'll reconsider my opinion.
Agree with the OP. To date the Elite drops are worthless given the increased difficulty. While I have received a number of blue (rare) drops, they have all been MK IX. aka replicator fodder.
lucky you, I have gotten batteries, crappy whie shield, and some greens thats it. Hardly worth the effort.
And yes I did do multiple missions on elite 3hrs worth, then I got sick of it and logged.:(
Same with me, I got lots and lots of batteries, then defeated a Borg cube by the skin of my teeth and got to watch pretty fireworks as it exploded, but nothing else.
I feel that you should get something other than a warm fuzzy after takin out one of those babies (a Cube). ESPECIALLY on an advanced difficulty setting. But that's in my opinion. I think, takin out a Borg Cube on the advanced setting deserves an "elite" reward, something you wouldn't get taking out a frigate on the same setting.
But I get the impression that it's some sort of random reward setting and don't think there is any real thought
put into process. And if this is infact true, It's a little disappointing for me.
Again, that's just my opinion based on MY observations thus far.
So far on elite setting all garbage loot. Just need to get a t-shirt that sais i killed a borg cube and all i got is a battery.
I'm LOVIN that t shirt Idea!!!!!!!!! They could offer it as an off duty outfit for our characters that you can purchase for 160 cryptic points in the C-Store!!!!!
You can't expect to get purple with every kill. The more difficult settings only up your chance to get rare loot, it's doesn't guarantee it. I'm still getting a ton of TRIBBLE but I've also gotten 3 purples now when before I hadn't gotten a single one, even in beta.
I don't expect purple drops every kill but I do expect to not see MK IX drops period. White mark X> Any MK IX. Why should the B'tran Elite missions drop worse loot than DSE +2s on easy? I got a bunch of blue MK IX drops but these are pretty much replicator fodder, would rather have a white MK X of the same item.
I don't expect purple drops every kill but I do expect to not see MK IX drops period. White mark X> Any MK IX. Why should the B'tran Elite missions drop worse loot than DSE +2s on easy? I got a bunch of blue MK IX drops but these are pretty much replicator fodder, would rather have a white MK X of the same item.
You will continue to get these and I doubt Cryptic will "fix" this. The drop system is certainly based on your current level, and Mark X is equipment for the upper tier of Read Admiral rank. If the skipp cap is ever raised, you will probably find a lot more Mark X equipment and no more Mark IX stuff once you got there, but at this moment, you'll in the middle of the rank and get both types.
Drop rate seem the the same. The chance of getting rare and very rare items is a lot higher. Cost more run in Elite but the drops have been making up for it. I am sure it will get tweaked.
Easier to keep it low than give away the bank and have to take it back.
Honestly though it is a random system. Your going to get the same amount of drops as normal, you just have a higher chance to get a bit better equipment. If the equipment wasn't great before with a certain group or seemed low it will still be low just with a bit better chance for the higher end of that low type of gear.
It's fine. You don't need epic loot every other kill. The main reason people wanted this was a challenge. I would worry more that the it isn't difficult enough before we start handing out the goodie bag.
Comments
Elite though elite, still only take less than 15 mins to complete.
If you want purple X, do STF and try to complete that... it's on normal difficulty for now.
And yes I did do multiple missions on elite 3hrs worth, then I got sick of it and logged.:(
Blues and purples did drop before this patch but the higher difficulties are fun to play and do boost the drop rate significantly. Besides, high level white drops sell for rather a lot of credits, making it easier to buy what you actually want from the exchange
I've not had any purple drops yet... but in one explore map there was a group of 3 frigate type enemies and two of them dropped rares when killed. Then the two groups immediately after also dropped a rare item. It was outrageous.
better they start with a lower percentage and make minor tweaks to get it just right
i noticed the frequency of greens was up considerably, i got 3 mx X greens in about 7 encounters...thats a step up from the mx IX greens once every, say, 15 encounters on normal (these are just assumed frequency going by memory, but you get the idea)
Of course purple ship weapons and equipment, as well as all ground items, are ridiculously easy to acquire with the daily explore grind, so the only thing remaining is ship consoles. The only real reward of doing Elite right now is your own personal need to conquer an increased difficulty. Give us purple consoles for this and I'll reconsider my opinion.
But I'll be honest, uncommon drops are the new common drops, while common drops are the rare ones.
Diddo - so far
Same with me, I got lots and lots of batteries, then defeated a Borg cube by the skin of my teeth and got to watch pretty fireworks as it exploded, but nothing else.
I feel that you should get something other than a warm fuzzy after takin out one of those babies (a Cube). ESPECIALLY on an advanced difficulty setting. But that's in my opinion. I think, takin out a Borg Cube on the advanced setting deserves an "elite" reward, something you wouldn't get taking out a frigate on the same setting.
But I get the impression that it's some sort of random reward setting and don't think there is any real thought
put into process. And if this is infact true, It's a little disappointing for me.
Again, that's just my opinion based on MY observations thus far.
I'm LOVIN that t shirt Idea!!!!!!!!! They could offer it as an off duty outfit for our characters that you can purchase for 160 cryptic points in the C-Store!!!!!
Honestly though it is a random system. Your going to get the same amount of drops as normal, you just have a higher chance to get a bit better equipment. If the equipment wasn't great before with a certain group or seemed low it will still be low just with a bit better chance for the higher end of that low type of gear.
It's fine. You don't need epic loot every other kill. The main reason people wanted this was a challenge. I would worry more that the it isn't difficult enough before we start handing out the goodie bag.
I mean, coffee for a drop on elite, really?????