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Old Idea, New Reason
icegavel
Member Posts: 991 Arc User
A long time ago, players proposed (in my opinion) one of the best changes to ever be put forth. It's basically died down, Cryptic claiming to have "Back-Burnered" the idea. I post this today to revive the idea... with a new reason behind it, and a theoretical method of implementation.
This idea was, and is, called... "One Sector Block to Rule them All." The idea was simple: Merge all of the sector blocks to create one big galaxy map, allowing players to go back and forth more quickly (more straight lines, no loading screens). This idea is especially relevant today. the reason for this is a little power known as Quantum Slipstream. In order to make best use of this power, you have to be practically all the way on the opposite side of the sector block when you use it, to get the most out of it (and, with the Advanced Slipstreams, even that isn't enough sometimes). The power lasts a while, and has a long-ish cooldown. The problem I find myself with is that I'm only popping it for 5 to 10 seconds at any given time, because either A, my destination is close or B, I hit a sector block border and have to MT and then turn the direction I want to go (Next to impossible with Slipstream on). After that, you have a 2-minute wait before you can do it again. The only time I find myself making full use of the duration is when I'm going from Qo'noS to DS9 without popping a Transwarp. So, the revival of the idea is really for the purpose of making Slipstream relevant again.
So, other than merging all of the sector blocks, a few other changes would have to occur. First, a few new sectors are called for (12, actually). I have here a Paint-edited version of what I think the new Galaxy Map would look like (complete with well-defined borders for new sectors (and galactic superpowers), examples of the new paths compared to current ones, and even a suggestion of what might go in these new sectors). The new areas are:
However, there are a few changes that would need to me made to current locations and powers to accommodate for these changes. They are as follows:
This may all be fine and dandy, but Cryptic has always blamed it on the difficulty of doing such. Thing is, I'm pretty sure the mechanics are in the engine already. What makes me think this?
Millennium City. Take a GOOD look at it. The place is HUGE. A single player compared to that map is smaller than a ship compared to the Galaxy Map. They also have things called "Neighborhoods" (this tech is already in place in STO - there are times, when you cross a Sector Border, it will say, for instance, [System][NeighborhoodEntered]Vulcan Sector in the chat box - the overhead flyby notification just says Vulcan Sector). This "Neighborhood" tech could, in theory, be used to separate the sectors when it comes to DOffing and Red Alerts.
So, other than the obvious, another great boon would be had with this: Warp by Gateway. If you're in Sector Space when you log out, your character would be allowed to warp to another location by giving the order through STO Gateway. Your flight time depends on the range, your max speed, and whether or not you want to Slipstream/Transwarp there (all of which would be options in the plug-in). This would hopefully be implemented with Gateway DOffing, allowing you to go across the galaxy to pick up any DOff mission you want.
Feedback and supplemental suggestions more than welcome.
This idea was, and is, called... "One Sector Block to Rule them All." The idea was simple: Merge all of the sector blocks to create one big galaxy map, allowing players to go back and forth more quickly (more straight lines, no loading screens). This idea is especially relevant today. the reason for this is a little power known as Quantum Slipstream. In order to make best use of this power, you have to be practically all the way on the opposite side of the sector block when you use it, to get the most out of it (and, with the Advanced Slipstreams, even that isn't enough sometimes). The power lasts a while, and has a long-ish cooldown. The problem I find myself with is that I'm only popping it for 5 to 10 seconds at any given time, because either A, my destination is close or B, I hit a sector block border and have to MT and then turn the direction I want to go (Next to impossible with Slipstream on). After that, you have a 2-minute wait before you can do it again. The only time I find myself making full use of the duration is when I'm going from Qo'noS to DS9 without popping a Transwarp. So, the revival of the idea is really for the purpose of making Slipstream relevant again.
So, other than merging all of the sector blocks, a few other changes would have to occur. First, a few new sectors are called for (12, actually). I have here a Paint-edited version of what I think the new Galaxy Map would look like (complete with well-defined borders for new sectors (and galactic superpowers), examples of the new paths compared to current ones, and even a suggestion of what might go in these new sectors). The new areas are:
- Betazed, Tellar, and Organia sectors, between Sirius and Beta Ursae (Organia got popped onto the back of the Eta Eridani block). 3 Sectors. Federation Space.
- Breen Space - I put that there for easier transit between Romulan and Cardassian zones. Placed between Orellius and Alpha Centauri. 6 Sectors. Federation/Breen Confederacy Space.
- Gorn Colonial Space - An area populated by Gorn that have sworn fealty to the Klingon Empire. Primarily placed for a straight line between the end of the Fek'lHri missions and the beginning of the Romulan Arc, but it'd be nice to see some Gorn Rebellion content in there. To the right of Pi Canis, Tau Dewa, and Psi Velorum. 3 Sectors. Klingon Empire Space.
However, there are a few changes that would need to me made to current locations and powers to accommodate for these changes. They are as follows:
- Exploration Entrances: An example of this was done when Tau Dewa was popped in. Arucanis Arm and Hromi Cluster had their entrances turned into system-esque doorways. This would be required of all clusters, save 8 (The Klingon nebulas, the B'Tran Nebula, the Khazan Cluster, the Eridan Belt, and the Betreka Nebula).
- Reworking of Diplomatic Immunity/Raiding Party. Since there are no sector block borders, the current versions of the powers would be useless. This would have to be changed. I propose allowing opposing faction players to enter the home systems (Earth/Qo'noS) and their Academies for special missions (No PvP, no NPC killing, no access to Shipyards until rank 3+ Espionage, when you can try to steal an opposing faction ship [A new thing]).
- Red Alerts and DOff missions are now on a per-Sector basis, instead of per Block.
This may all be fine and dandy, but Cryptic has always blamed it on the difficulty of doing such. Thing is, I'm pretty sure the mechanics are in the engine already. What makes me think this?
Millennium City. Take a GOOD look at it. The place is HUGE. A single player compared to that map is smaller than a ship compared to the Galaxy Map. They also have things called "Neighborhoods" (this tech is already in place in STO - there are times, when you cross a Sector Border, it will say, for instance, [System][NeighborhoodEntered]Vulcan Sector in the chat box - the overhead flyby notification just says Vulcan Sector). This "Neighborhood" tech could, in theory, be used to separate the sectors when it comes to DOffing and Red Alerts.
So, other than the obvious, another great boon would be had with this: Warp by Gateway. If you're in Sector Space when you log out, your character would be allowed to warp to another location by giving the order through STO Gateway. Your flight time depends on the range, your max speed, and whether or not you want to Slipstream/Transwarp there (all of which would be options in the plug-in). This would hopefully be implemented with Gateway DOffing, allowing you to go across the galaxy to pick up any DOff mission you want.
Feedback and supplemental suggestions more than welcome.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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That said, I dislike the fake and arbitrary layout of the sector blocks we currently have. It's dumb. We should have a more open map, more like a donut shape. We should have the center blocked out and un-travellable because it is a supermassive cluster of megastars and black holes dense enough to keep the galaxy (the ENTIRE galaxy) rotating around it. I think the only barriers we should have are to keep people from flying off into deep space, and to block out diplomatic immunity areas like federation heartland space and Qonos heartland space.
Those would be borders that could be added or changed depending on the need... Say block out romulan space or block out combat zones or hazardous areas that could be used for missions and whatnot.
This has nothing to do with S7, and I personally think S7 isn't that bad. As for your "Donut" idea... that'd be good for a Star WARS MMO, since they do the whole galaxy. This game focuses on the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, and not even all of those. It'd end up being more like a banana.
But, I don't like that third bit. There are missions in those areas already, lots of them. It doesn't make sense to wall them off.
There IS no Neutral Zone. The Romulan one was dissolved when Romulus went boom (collapsing the old Romulan government and voiding all past treaties with them), and the Klingon one is effectively non-existent now that the Federation and the Klingon Empire are at war. Also, you're literally suggestiong that people be forced to grind the DOff system to access entire FRONTS of content that are needed for level-up. Maybe for the Exploration Clusters, but not for the Story missions. For someone that doesn't like S7, you really seem to like grinding for content.
You have to earn your papers into enemy territory, be it with marauder rank or diplo.
Fill out paperwork to lower an invisible wall. No. There's no physical object stopping you from going straight through. If you're skilled enough to fight off the ships that come after you, so be it. You shouldn't need paperwork to fly through space. This isn't EVE. The Enterprise didn't fill out any papers when they went to jailbreak Kirk and McCoy from Rura Penthe.
Really bad idea. There are certain gameplay considerations that must be upheld. Being able to move around without being attacked randomly is one of them.
It SHOULD be an open world. This is STAR TREK. Explore strange new worlds and all that jazz. However, when did I say you could "attack everything"? The only thing that's changing is we're going from 14 tiny maps to one big one with no loading screens. I'm not turning sector space into PvP central. Nothing ABOUT combat changes in this. What gave you the idea of "attack everything"?
I think rodentmaster has a point. Maybe if you enter a sector designated KDF Territory (or Rom when they come out) you can be ?Challenged? by any enemy player within so many Light Years of you and you cannot decline. If you win, no affect, but if you lose, you are respawned back at Earth.
The only way to not be faced with this problem is to have Diplomatic Immunity given to you for an hour, or to be Rank 4 in Diplomacy. Then they can challenge you like it is now and you can accept or decline, and win or lose it doesn?t affect your location in Sector Space.
What do you think?
Noah Bartholomew Jothan,
Member of the "Christian Fleet Alliance"
Proclaimers of The Way, The Truth, and The Life
John 14:6
So why not make it such that in neutral zones you are safe but when you fly across the boarder into enemy space you become fair game for that faction unless you have Diplomatic immunity or Raiding party?
Me too. But I don't think we will ever see either "One Sector Map to Rule Them All", or consensual open world PVP, as much as most of want to see it.
But who knows... later on, they could consider it.
I have the impression they have clear priorities now until next Season(s), and then there will be time to invent and see the bigger revamps.
Not true, this not a map of the entire galaxy just two quadrants and it may not be the complete two quadrants. I think having earth the centre of the map is a little medeval though.
Im all for the OP's idea I hate all the little sector blocks it can get confusing and I hatewarping into unmapped space by accident because I wasnt paying attention.
Parallels: my second mission for Fed aligned Romulans.
If I'm not mistaken. That is exactly the reason cryptic kind of give up the idea. for sure, they could just make a big map and limit the population on a level the server could handle. But they justified that this would make the galaxy feel unpopulated.
My personal opinion: I think less populated galaxy is better. Space is empty. The enterprise didn't find another starfleet vessel while running around. Usually when they found another ship, is because it was emitting a distress call or the captain of the other ship has called or something like this.
And the OP has a point. Slipstream right now is sometimes a wasted ability. The ideal solution would be the map merge. We would not waste it so much and aslo we would face a lot less loading screens. Specially the DOFFers. But to reduce cooldown on the slipstream would already improve things.
Join Date: March 2009
Thanks Cryptic for introducing the Kelvin Timeline. It remembered why I decided to never more put any money on this game.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Proud Member of: Fubar Inc.
That doesn't really fix much. Klinks don't have much space, Fed is huge, and it's still blocking direct Point-A to Point-B warp. I appreciate the feedback, though.