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Expanding STO's Breadth

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
One of things that I have noticed that we should consider is expanding the game outside of the military dynamic that currently exists. For example: Civilian Guilds. The Diplomatic Corps would be one of the three guilds I would like to see set aside from Starfleet or the KDF. The other two guilds I would like to see is: Pirate/Raider and Trader/Craftsman. At start up a player can choose either Civilian Guild or Starfleet for Federation for example. In addition I would like to see an option for an existing character to switch classes (resigning commission or enlisting depending on where you start).

Diplomats: These would be Science types of the Civilian Guilds. Diplomats could mediate disputes, conflict resolution, broker treaties and set trade agreements. Trade agreements would be very powerful since they could open up trade with a world for your own Fleet or for all Federation/Klingon players. Their ships could be species specific (like the Vulcan ships), with a lot Science type powers.

Traders/Craftsman: These would be Engineer types of Civilian Guilds. Traders could be Federation Traders, Klingon Traders or Neutral Traders. Federation traders would get a better discount selling between Federation worlds, likewise with Klingon ones. However they would be prohibitively high expensive trading between Factions. Neutral Traders would not get much of a discount but could more easily trade between Factions. Craftsman would be another skill set within the group and would allow them to craft unique items and sell them that other players cannot create. Their ships would be the large freighters that are slow but can take punishment. Traders could setup shop like the NPC traders.

Pirates/Raiders: These would be the Tactical types of the Civilian Guilds. Pirates or Raiders would be wanted by all governments and could be hunted down PvP, like any other critter. However, Pirates could setup their own bases and run a black market on illegal goods. Their ships could include fighters or any ad-hoc collection of ships designed for combat. Pirates may also make use of holograms to fake their appearance or make their numbers look larger then they are.

Concepts to add:
Distress Call / Fake Distress Call: Civilian guild members like Diplomats and Traders could issue a distress call if they are caught in a Deep Space Encounter with pirates or hostile enemy. An icon would be visible on the sector map so others may join and help out. Pirates though could setup a fake distress call and attempt to ambush their unsuspecting prey. Both would appear the same on the sector map.

Legal/Illegal Goods: Some goods may be considered illegal based on their destructive, dangerous or unpredictable, unethical or immoral nature of the item. Civilians who carry weapons over a certain Mark would be considered illegal as well.

Scanning for Illegal Cargo/Boarding Action: Starfleet and KDF may scan another vessel if it is carrying illegal goods. If it is, it will trigger a boarding action whereby a ground PvP of the ship will open up and the Starfleet/KDF will have x time to reach an endpoint and confiscate the illicit cargo. Only one item of the illegal goods can be confiscated per boarding action. Likewise, Pirates may board other ships in the same way to steal cargo

Resigning/Enlisting: A player may resign their commission at any time and become a civilian guild member. They could a few of their BOs with them although everyone's skills would be re-adjusted to the new skill sets in the Civilian Guild. Enlisting would trigger something similar to the Tutorial mission, but they may bring a few of their old civilian BOs with them as well.

Guilds like Fleets could be setup. Diplomats could negotiate for the Federation or the Guild to setup unique relationships.

Also I think the ranks should be re-adjusted so that players work up to LT as they are now, but spend more time in grades at the LCDR, CDR and CAPT levels. They should spend most time in grades at the CAPT level.

This could be good end game for players starting to rank out.
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