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I'd Really Like To Run A Bar in STO. Non-Starfleet Professions?

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
Now that's an idea! Maybe you want to be like Quark and run a bar off DS9? Maybe you don't want to be in Starfleet and have some other intergalactic profession? I always loved the profession and crafting system that Star Wars Galaxies had back in the day. It would be great if we has those type of options in STO! Thoughts? :eek:
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Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    There was talk among the community to have a neutral faction where stuff like this would be possible. Nothing has been decided by the devs yet since their next major goal would be a Romulan faction.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    The thing about neutral factions is this: while it could be interesting, there are too many "real" factions people want first; Romulan, Cardassian, Ferengi, Dominion, even Borg. The point is, Cryptic has to prioritize these wants, and it will take several years just to get the main factions people want in the game before they even think about doing some nuetral faction that wasnt even the focus of any of the shows.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    I'm all for non standard professions.
    However they also need a good deal of content to be playable and not just boring hulks.
    I love my SWG entertainer, its extremely fun to play, but i have trouble seeing something like that work in STO,
    the player base is so much different.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    The thing about neutral factions is this: while it could be interesting, there are too many "real" factions people want first; Romulan, Cardassian, Ferengi, Dominion, even Borg. The point is, Cryptic has to prioritize these wants, and it will take several years just to get the main factions people want in the game before they even think about doing some nuetral faction that wasnt even the focus of any of the shows.

    I agree that the Romulan faction should come next, but why couldn't a neutral faction be developed after that to cater to the people who might enjoy running a business, digging for artifacts, etc.? Some of the features of a neutral faction could be incorporated into the current factions as well. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Plus it can include races from every faction since it really is a civilian faction.

    Don't get me wrong, I want to see a Cardassian, Ferengi, Dominion, Borg, heck even a Unidine faction, but I think a neutral faction after the Romulans would provide a nice change of pace.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    Bartender would be an interesting optin for players. All you need is to make bars someplace you want to go frequently. Which right now there is no real need outside of Dabo and Tribble breeding.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    attilio wrote: »
    I agree that the Romulan faction should come next, but why couldn't a neutral faction be developed after that to cater to the people who might enjoy running a business, digging for artifacts, etc.?

    Because there are MORE people that will want to play an official faction than run a bar, and Cryptic is going to do what makes the most money first.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    Joe_Chill wrote:
    Now that's an idea! Maybe you want to be like Quark and run a bar off DS9? Maybe you don't want to be in Starfleet and have some other intergalactic profession? I always loved the profession and crafting system that Star Wars Galaxies had back in the day. It would be great if we has those type of options in STO! Thoughts? :eek:

    How would this work? Definatly interesting. But let's say everyone wanted to have a bar. Best estimate was STO had about 100k subs. Where would you put em all?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    Non star-fleet characters would be awesome.

    And who's talking about new species or factions ? There is no need to go that far, just to create new professions, to allow players to be something else than captains, to be civilians with not ?

    Cause well, believe it or not, but to play space mass murderer tends to become a little boring after a while. (crazy i know)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    Because there are MORE people that will want to play an official faction than run a bar, and Cryptic is going to do what makes the most money first.

    We don't know for certain if there are more leaning towards one direction or another unless an official STO poll was taken. I'm all for Cardassians coming after Romulans, but if they decided to to a neutral faction instead I would be just as pleased because I love the idea. I'm sure there are others who feel the same way.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    Joe_Chill wrote:
    Now that's an idea! Maybe you want to be like Quark and run a bar off DS9? Maybe you don't want to be in Starfleet and have some other intergalactic profession? I always loved the profession and crafting system that Star Wars Galaxies had back in the day. It would be great if we has those type of options in STO! Thoughts? :eek:

    Why not just hop behind the bar in civilian cloths. Isn't that already in the game?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    Pikoy wrote:
    How would this work? Definatly interesting. But let's say everyone wanted to have a bar. Best estimate was STO had about 100k subs. Where would you put em all?

    Well this falls to SWG's mechanics in my mind. Obviously the foundry is going to be built for social zones, and the fact they want to incorporate it into our ships so we can have very unique designs, with that they could add a specific "sub" profession as it were (bartender/club owner whatever) which gave people points to running a bar, entertaining guests etc. The more you go up, the more you could say "craft" drinks, food etc.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    Its called Star Trek, not Bar Trek! :D

    Haha, sorry, just had to say it.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    Because there are MORE people that will want to play an official faction than run a bar, and Cryptic is going to do what makes the most money first.

    Cept the thing with a neutral faction is that it will ultimately enrich the other established factions, b/c it create content the established factions can dip into. By creating a third party it also opens up cracks in the factions--prefect for spy stuff--I can't fly my cruiser to the klingon homeworld, but if there's a third party, perhaps I can borrow a ship from them--and thus owe them a favor. Perhaps the klingons would like to know that a federation officer _must_ get to the klingon homeworld and is willing to pay big to do it.

    It would be interesting if you had to start paying your crew, and said payment influenced their effective skill ranks.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    jennjahn wrote: »
    Cept the thing with a neutral faction is that it will ultimately enrich the other established factions, b/c it create content the established factions can dip into. By creating a third party it also opens up cracks in the factions--prefect for spy stuff--I can't fly my cruiser to the klingon homeworld, but if there's a third party, perhaps I can borrow a ship from them--and thus owe them a favor. Perhaps the klingons would like to know that a federation officer _must_ get to the klingon homeworld and is willing to pay big to do it.

    It would be interesting if you had to start paying your crew, and said payment influenced their effective skill ranks.

    That's true. A neutral faction basically will have some different mechanics than the other factions and most likely would be allowed to travel anywhere. That might be appealing to a lot of people. A neutral faction isn't just running a bar, or any business. It can incorporate many things.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    Not only that the neutral factions could work together.

    For instance Barkeeps need traders to come in and resupply them when players consume the supplies. And the traders go from world to world collecting the goods.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    jennjahn wrote: »
    Cept the thing with a neutral faction is that it will ultimately enrich the other established factions, b/c it create content the established factions can dip into. By creating a third party it also opens up cracks in the factions--prefect for spy stuff--I can't fly my cruiser to the klingon homeworld, but if there's a third party, perhaps I can borrow a ship from them--and thus owe them a favor. Perhaps the klingons would like to know that a federation officer _must_ get to the klingon homeworld and is willing to pay big to do it.

    It would be interesting if you had to start paying your crew, and said payment influenced their effective skill ranks.

    Yes, thats all well and good. But what you arent realizing is unless the Devs create missions for you to do(that makes sense for a neutral faction), then your going to get bored really fast. The thing is, creating missions takes time. So which official faction does this neutral faction and the time it would take to make enough content to keep people interested in it take priority over in development time?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    Pikoy wrote:
    How would this work? Definatly interesting. But let's say everyone wanted to have a bar. Best estimate was STO had about 100k subs. Where would you put em all?

    Actually, I think the opposite problem would apply. Since they'd have to be instanced (and they would have to be), and this game has only 100k subscrubers (or less) then you'd as likely as not go days without seeing another human player inside your virtual business.

    Indeed, while the idea sounds "nice" in a vague sort of way, just what would you actually do as a bartender, taiilor etc.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    It's fairly simple really.....tending bar and waiting tables in real life sucks. Why spend your 'fun' fantasy' time re-living the same dull thing. If I wanted to 'experience' the life of a small time merchant....i'd do it in the real world. As with most players....we don't play to live a 'second life'.....we play to experience something a little bit more interesting and different than our own. If you are so financially well off that the idea of tending a bar is 'adventurous' to you...then might I suggest you donate your fortunes to those of us who would appreciate the liberty.

    Anyways, sarcasm aside, what you ask for seem s appealing at first glance...but at the end of the day you'd spend most of your time bored out of your wits. The rare customer who came along would probably just laugh at your wares and scream 'more L33TZ L00t hereZ!) Meanvwhile, you'd stand around a few hours waiting for the same thing to heppen again. Trust me. it would not be as fun as you think.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    The thing about neutral factions is this: while it could be interesting, there are too many "real" factions people want first; Romulan, Cardassian, Ferengi, Dominion, even Borg. The point is, Cryptic has to prioritize these wants, and it will take several years just to get the main factions people want in the game before they even think about doing some nuetral faction that wasnt even the focus of any of the shows.

    Ferengi faction could probably be incorporated into a neutral faction, since they are traders and businessmen and such anyway. And i can't see a borg faction ever coming into being, i mean, they are all part of a collective, not gallavanting around doing their own thing. I have my doubts about a Dominion faction too. Though that would be interesting to see a Dominion faction and a new gamma quadrant to play around in.

    Pikoy wrote:
    How would this work? Definatly interesting. But let's say everyone wanted to have a bar. Best estimate was STO had about 100k subs. Where would you put em all?

    I'm intrigued by the explorable space stations being implemented by Eve Online next summer. From what i understand there will be leasable space players can get to open shops/bars whatever. (i also watched a video of a mini game theyre putting in that game and it looks like it might be more fun than the game itself) They might be able to do something similar in STO but then not everyone would be able to have a space to lease,so that would limit the number of bars and anything done so would have to span all the instances. Personally, i don't see being a bar owner/bartender being all that interesting ingame. But some of the other options for a neutral faction are more intriguing. Like trader, smuggler, bounty hunter, or w.h.y. It would certainly make STO more sandboxy than themepark.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    Look couldn't there be a Ferengi/neutral faction? The Ferengi are neutral anyways:rolleyes:
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    The Foundry is the answer to neutral Faction content and should be embraced for it's ability to fill in gaps that Dev's don't have time for. All we need is the layout and structure...

    Many of us authors would love the chance to move as a neutral faction among the other factions and buy, sell, trade, steal, profiteer, enslave, trick and deceive or help as many times as possible in as many different ways as we can think of.

    Players should be able to retire from Normal faction service and pick up a new career.. whether they get busted out of starfleet for running Romulan Ale into Fed space or discommendated from the Klingon Empire for Eating Gowron's favorite Targ or whatever silliness we desire to move our characters forward beyond the small-minded boundaries we currently have.

    I think it speaks to what motivates players to continue playing... Blasting things to pieces leaves a person dim-witted and damaged over time and Trek has continuously pointed this out in many episodes.

    Often advanced characters must leave their factions to pursue other avenues... Spock seeking Kolinarr in TMP and failing, Kirk behind a desk in operations or just going rogue and doing what he must do to save his friends... Sisko going back to earth to run the Family Eatery, Picard working on raising a new continent.

    Or do we forget Wesley Crusher quiting starfleet and doing spirit quests with space indians?

    Or how many starfleet officers quit and joined the Maqui?

    There are an infinite number of possibilities and we have a tremendous amount of backstories to fill and the foundry is the answer and player/authors are the ones that will step up to the plate if the Dev's will give us the tools to play with.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    Inquizitor wrote: »
    Why not just hop behind the bar in civilian cloths. Isn't that already in the game?

    I've actually seen a few RPers do this in Quarks already, it's quite fun. We don't need an entire faction to run a bar, just a bit of imagination and some friends or even strangers who find it enjoyable to participate.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    On the condition that any neutral faction is required to make its' own content? Sure. Use the Foundry and related tools. I personally think its' a waste of time, but, eh, you are fully entitled to waste your time however you please.

    If you expect content to be Dev generated for this 'faction'? No, thank you. I would rather the development time go to something more in-line with the premise of this game (starship captains).
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    forresto wrote: »
    Look couldn't there be a Ferengi/neutral faction? The Ferengi are neutral anyways:rolleyes:

    According to the Path to 2409, they're allied with the Federation.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    People are getting killed out there by hostile Aliens, the fate of the Galaxy is at stake... and you want to sit arround in a Bar?

    How about you go kill some Borg and in the afternoon you can go to your Ten Forward and play Bartender for your Crew? If anybody don't pay their drinks you can put a red Shirt on them and take them with you to the next away mission.

    sound's fun?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    Nazaca wrote:
    On the condition that any neutral faction is required to make its' own content? Sure. Use the Foundry and related tools. I personally think its' a waste of time, but, eh, you are fully entitled to waste your time however you please.

    If you expect content to be Dev generated for this 'faction'? No, thank you. I would rather the development time go to something more in-line with the premise of this game (starship captains).

    That about sums up my feelings on the matter to. If people want to make neutral faction missions via the Foundry, all power to you, but I'd hate to see Dev-Time wasted on it when so much else the game needs should have a much higher priority.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    Joe_Chill wrote:
    Now that's an idea! Maybe you want to be like Quark and run a bar off DS9? Maybe you don't want to be in Starfleet and have some other intergalactic profession? I always loved the profession and crafting system that Star Wars Galaxies had back in the day. It would be great if we has those type of options in STO! Thoughts? :eek:

    yes yes yes. We need some of the things that made swg great. SWG and STO are the only MMO's i've played, so I'm not an expert in that field. I play because I like the franchise, I'm not a gamer who can not live without a certain MMO in a certain period of his live. SWG offered some very nice options. It wouldn't hurt cryptic to take it's example. Like guild cities, Trade factions, neutral factions, entertainment bussines, crafting of vehicles and starships, traveling with friends in a starship (not visiting the bridge but actually inviting someone to come along to travel). I mentioned guild cities, but it would be nice to see an actual city first, it would add so much to the game's atmosphere
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    Okay for some it might be tending bar, for others it might be running supplies across a sector, for some it might be crafting gear, or other gathering anomalies or even trading on the exchange there are many ways to enjoy a neutral faction. What the "job" you do in the faction isn't as important as that there is a faction to go between the different factions.
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