As you may or may not know, I have other threads on this topic. I am not trying to badger Cryptic... as the other posts have specifically DIFFERENT points to be made. Additionally, I was asked by someone else in this community to post this on their behalf.
I am writing this to make them AWARE... as it seems that they have not yet stated who would be eligible for the Refer a Friend (RAF) perks and who is not.
The RAF Scheme as it is now is illegal in Denmark and other countries
Simply put, the Refer A Friend scheme makes it impossible for some people to get access to the Galaxy X. As quoted by a friend in the community:
Basically using existing customers to get more customers and rewarding them with assets or items of monetary value falls under the pyramid scheme laws here, WoW were not allowed to even do thier own referal program here. Also, since you could be rewarding minors (people under 18) you are effectively, according to the law, taking advantage of minors.
This worked to the exclusion of some members within the WoW community.
Recruit a Friend - Denmark?
The Galaxy X and all other perks for the RAF program are therefore completely unobtainable by some in this community. Anyway Cryptic, I hope this helps you to rethink your RAF program. If on the other hand you choose to go forward with it, please be sure to do all necessary research as to which countries are elligible and which are not. Ideally this should have been done before the program was announced, so as not to get the hopes up of some, only for them to find out later they can not participate. Ouch

For all of you that vehemently support STO and LOVE Cryptic to pieces, please keep the flames to a minimum. I'm not posting this to be
badgered by some of you, I'm just trying to give them information they may not be aware of or have not considered.
Comments
Personally, I say (insert insult here) Denmark.
I like this idea. Gets rid of the C-Store angle that everyone is clamoring for.
Or EVE Online's buddy program?
I understand that you want the Galaxy X.
I just don't see the entire program going away as those two games (however you feel about them) still retain their programs.
As for the Galaxy X, it hasn't been ruled out right that it won't appear by other means.
I also disagree with the Galaxy X being part of the RAF program... but there are other threads for that. Hah. Remember back in the old days before the game's release... we were lead to believe that with the character creator we would have access to all these great races and such within the ST Universe... but at launch we have X number of races, and with whats added we need to pay for. Whats disappointing with regards to the statement you made... is that this is the first canon ship to be added to the game since launch... and low and behold it is made exclusive through an ill-timed raf program.
This is the worst part:
To be honest... I think pretty much everyone wants the Galaxy X to be made available and obtainable IN GAME... but no one wants to say it. Instead, so many people are saying "put it in the C-Store" as a mere concession or compromise... even I have suggested that once, but only because my perception of Cryptic doesn't allow for the possibility of them being so generous as to make it a non-exclusive, non C-store item.
Anyway, I don't mean to hi-jack my own thread, just wanted to reply to your comment.
Dude, you beat me to it. But yes, I agree with you. See my comment above this one.
The OP doesn't blatantly call for the removal of the RAF program, just that they either rethink it, or that they make it clear that some people can not participate. Did you miss that part Darren?
As for your last statement, Dstahl said that the Galaxy X would be exclusive to the RAF program. There will be other Galaxy variants, but it won't have the 3rd nacelle or the super phaser (The Galaxy X).
I'm sure the people of Denmark will thank you one day.
Actually, it was someone from Denmark who asked me to post this thread. So...
Not disagreeing with you. However, personally, I don't think the company should stop a program because one or two countries have a silly law. (Yes, that is my opinion.) I think they should change the RAF because it is the right thing to do, not because of Denmark.
Again, I agree.
I agree. How can Cryptic make money off of micro-transactions if they demand credit cards or paypal as the only forms of payments?
And dstahl's quote doesn't say that it's ruled out in the future. It just says when ti releases the other Galaxy variants might be missing the super-beam (which means it'll look the part but not play it) or that the it'll be missing the nacelle (the opposite). That's how I read it.
It could very well be a purist version of the ship (i.e. not modular and exact details, whereas everyone else will have a 3 nacelle - or Galaxy X that will be slightly off to accommodate the modular ship design).
I'm not saying you're wrong or that I'm right - just that there are possibilties.
Irrelevant. If its a legal complication in a few countries, the offer wont be extended to them. That simple.
But lets be honest here. No one honestly cares about international law and the RAF program. People just want the Galaxy and don't like what it takes to get it. Any other concern is a distant second to that.
The Super Beam's my favorite bit. I can't wait for them to put that in. Everyone's going to be alllll hyped up! All OOOOH! And AAAAHHHHH!
And then they'll get it.
And realize it's a cannon type weapon.
On a T5 cruiser.
A 90 degree or 45 degree firing arc ability.
On ... a ... T5 ... CRUISER!
I can't wait for the complaint threads! It's going to be so much fun reading them!
I've flown a lot of cruisers between my characters. And the last thing I want is a huge cannon on it.
If it doesn't have the 3rd nacelle, and the super phaser... then it is not the Galaxy X from All Good Things.
And has been mentioned, Denmark law is pretty convoluted on this.
Like I mentioned the second part you quoted:
The RAF version may be non-modular (meaning they can get the costume perfect).
The regular version may be modular (meaning small changes might be made, even if you select all the parts).
It's possible.
And it'll probably have a more limited range like the 'point defense' pre-order turrent too. Again, they've stated they are NOT going tomake an inate ship power 'too good'. Also, they stated they were CONSIDERING puting a non-combat cloaking device; so again read 'non-combat' and 'considering'.
But hey, it wouldn;'t be Star Trek fandom (and I've been a part of that fandom since 1969); if a small subset of fans didn't release unbridled nerdrage over a small bit of minutae (really, the 3 nacelle 1701-D is now 'iconic' afyter beinhg in the final TNG epidsode for about 10 minutes? Hel, that variant onscreen was MORE a homage to the 3 nacelle Federation Dreadnaught shown in the Star Trek Tech manual circa 1975. IMO that Dreadnaught is the 'more iconic' version as TOS fans had been using it in the Starfleet Battles boardgam since 1980
One of the rewards is cryptic points. And they do have an assigned monetary value to them. But, removing them from the deal removes the monetary issue.
I would much rather it be in the C-Store than in-game. I'm still pretty desperately trying to find a group to get through the Queen in "Infected", "The Cure" and "Khitomer Accord" just for the extra Borg BO.
As much as I'd like to see this offered more ways, I'd rather have to recruit 5 people or drop real money than go through a chain of STFs for something like this.
Standard disclaimer in any EULA you'll ever read.
Tangent: The forum labelled "Dev-Tracker" is exactly for these purposes - it links to every post made by Devs/GMs and so on. http://forums.startrekonline.com/forumdisplay.php?f=64
Might take some time to find the quote, but if the topic is recent, good chances you can find it even on the first 1 or 2 pages.
Here's what the developers have told us about the Galaxy X from the RAF promotion (in chronological order):
This first one was from dstahl - it's the quote Jacob and I are debating:
Later quotes:
Now I'm no expert on Danish law (or any law for that matter), but to my knowledge, in game items have no monetary value (regardless of gold spammers, et al) and therefore would not fall under this law. Try to buy groceries with energy credits or try to put that Galaxy-X towards a trade for a new car. I for one have not seen any in game items on Craigslist yet.
If for some reason that it does fall under their law, the the first quote takes effect.
You talk about excluding Denmark. They wouldn't be the first to be excluded from a special offer (Del Taco?)
I was thinking the same thing. according the the quote "Basically using existing customers to get more customers and rewarding them with assets or items of monetary value falls under the pyramid scheme laws here, WoW were not allowed to even do thier own referal program here. Also, since you could be rewarding minors (people under 18) you are effectively, according to the law, taking advantage of minors."
How does the Galaxy X have monetary value if it is an exclusive offer and can never be purchased any other way?
Italic text is the danish text, from a public controled law information site, with the english translation below.
https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=2288#K2
Personally I blame CBS for taking the tightwad approach as it pertains to all canon content in game and out. But as you point out...thats another thread entirly.
Thank you for this. Hopefully this will cool some peoples jets. I guess some research is necessary before people start a crusade. hehe
A note on this: I did not post this without foundation. The law posted is THE actual written law, and the responses are based on a conversation i had with a legal student after reading the first post.