I ve been thinking about this alot these past few days and would like some form of dev responce on it. At pre-launch and launch everything was pinned on the wonders of the Random content generator of Genesis created by Crpytic. All manor of promisses were made about huge amounts of content and whole solar systems created in seconds. Please see bellow links for just some of these. Where has this gone? If content can be made this easily!?? Why is it we are waiting months for Fleet actions and not one more mission since launch? Is the Genesis system simply a random map gerator for the Expolration pod now? If this is the case they are hardly dynamic missions. The same 4 types of missions kill 5 this, pick up 5 that.
http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/Awenyddionhttp://thallians.blogspot.com/2009/12/star-trek-online-info-genesis-system.htmlhttp://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=231272
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I imagine the exploration star clusters are their first step towards the original goals that were made in reports like the ones you've given, but right now, they're just trying to make the rest of the game work before they try something as bold.
The Genesis System is used as development tool for Exploration content - and I'd ask dstahl any questions concerning it. He's quite familiar with it (as game's producer).
Increasing the variety of missions will be essential (and something that may tied to the Prime Directive System stated as in development).
In fact, the community want to amp up the scale of Exploration Content by having entire star systems available with many missions on a larger map (i.e. 4+ sets of objectives in space; more on the planets, moons, asteroid bases, etc.)
The link is in my signature and dstahl commented on it for a while - lots of great ideas to bring more mission variety as well as graphic variety.
The last topic dstahl had us consider was implementing randomized content for teams. Several community members posed their solutions and I compiled it in a second PDF to support the first.
They're adding more - I swear some of the outdoor "kits" are new.
I just did the following:
Encountered HIrogen near a desert oasis (complete with sand dunes).
Defeated Borg in a temperate forest (it looked like Endor from SW:RotJ)
Encountered no less than 3 new races (and the were non-canon as far as I can tell).
We just need to see more variables added to break up the repetition.
Edit: When i say variables i mean mission objectives rather than new environments.
We need more suprises and more complications.
I'd like more quest text and base kits.
Overall, the outdoor planet missions seem to be where all the variety is.
I'd like to see more interesting maps like the True Way base, Hobus, Empok Nor, the Bajoran Firecaves, some of the starbases and ships, etc. retrofitted for the exploration missions.
Memory Alpha in various colors and the Klingon Station are getting old.
I'd also like to see more friendly NPCs or NPCs with situational behavior.
I'd definitely like a lot more varieties of mission text as the Gorgan (who haven't been seen in 140 years -- yeah, right) and the solar flare/pheromone story and the toxic artifacts that need to be deactivated are getting old.
Open Pvp.. Federation fleet A sets up in area 51.. Klingon Fleet B attacks, Romulan Fleet C attacks etc
Plenty of room for fleet bases
Exploration = unlimitaed :O
Mining/Crafting.. could make that a wee bit better
my personal favourite was when i found a beach. looked quite lovely