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STFs And You: Don't Be This Team

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    smokeybacon90smokeybacon90 Member Posts: 2,252 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    Please don't give a bad name to TS and BFAW. They are my favourite tac skills, you have just got to know when NOT to use them.
    EnYn9p9.jpg
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    coupaholiccoupaholic Member Posts: 2,188 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    I try not to make such a big deal out of it. Sure I'll curse once under my breath but I stick around to get the job done, better that than leaving everyone in a bad situation. On some days I'm sure every player has a derp moment so I try not to fly off the handle.

    However all in all PUGs are not bad, the vast majority I do are within teams of players who know what they are doing and the optional is achieved. I think the failures stick in everyone's minds because they always seem to fail spectacularly, I never seem to have many close calls. It's either full success or 45 mins+ epic mess.
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    sollvaxsollvax Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    And when someone says "Storm tactics please" or "Avoid left " you presumably ignore them?

    Remember the 10% tactic is not standard (or the only one that works)
    Some people use other (better) methods

    including the ever popular "Cruiser convoy" method (only works with at least 4 cruisers so don't use if you don't have 4 cruisers)
    Live long and Prosper
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    maicake716maicake716 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    themarie wrote: »
    That said I know what works and does not work. All-cruiser teams with blue-novelty-phasers and FAW do not work. Boarding Party is useless. Spamming turrets everywhere helps nothing. Torpedo spread is a hazard.


    Three PUG teams on elite. All cruisers. All with beam FAW, at least one ship with blue phasers per group if not more. Everyone spamming torpedo spread and boarding party shuttles... Not a single crowd-control effort to be seen.


    .

    i thought FAW and torp spread were in and of themselves.... "Crowd control" powers?

    O_o

    i also like how a team of 4 pvp'rs can surprise the heck out of some lucky pug when they go stf'in.
    mancom wrote: »
    Frankly, I think the only sound advice that one can give new players at this time is to stay away from PVP in STO.
    Science pvp at its best-http://www.youtube.com/user/matteo716
    Do you even Science Bro?
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    sollvaxsollvax Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    yep those are crowd control powers
    Live long and Prosper
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    bortjinxbortjinx Member Posts: 397
    edited January 2013
    aelrhiana wrote: »
    You *can* avoid it; it is called a choice. When one person or group of people start thinking that it is okay to publically shame people without having all of the facts, it usually comes back to bite them in the butt. Hard.

    Have you ever exchanged tells with any of those people about whom you complain? I doubt everyone was in the match just to grief.

    It's the high and mighty I-am-better-than-everyone-else types that run people away from the game. You yourself said that you take this game seriously, and I would almost say a little too much, mate. If someone not building their ship to your specifications cannot play with you without the possibility of being pubically humiliated, then perhaps you need to take a step back and get some priorities in order. This is a video game; it is not real life! If you have to take the game that seriously, then do as someone else said: Run with your fleet. You could even join the STF chat channels that are geared specifically towards people who run elites often. Start building a list of friends that you can team with when others' on your fleet seem to be absent. There are loads of possibilities here.

    Don't misunderstand, I, too, get upset when there are idiots in a PuG, but unless the entire team is uselss you can generally save the match easily enough. Do you ever explain the generators or do you assume that people know exactly what to do? Some people may be playing with their chat tab closed, it does happen. Some may not have english as their native language and may not understand you. Some people may also want specific powers for concept or theme, and some powers tend to stay "trigger" happy all on their own, which in itself can be frustrating. Yes, there are griefers out there, but TRIBBLE also happens. We thought we had a griefer on one of our last ISE's, afterwards they sent my husband a tell, they had no idea what they had done wrong. They were having difficulty with their chat, I sometimes do as well... I won't see a single bit of text for the whole match, but my husband might. This person saw a couple lines of text and didn't know about the generator rule, but after the match we actually talked to them instead of running to the forums to scream foul and griefer. Someone actually learned a little something about that STF that day, and it helped them become a better player.

    Long story short: If you cannot put up with less-than-perfect players, then do not join PuG's. Period. If you have to have everything just so, with the best players and the best ships, then form your own groups.

    Well said :)
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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    bortjinxbortjinx Member Posts: 397
    edited January 2013
    gulberat wrote: »
    I don't do STF's because I know very well I'm not up to it yet--and frankly, I do not want to go through the many sessions of getting yelled at from people who think everyone ought to be perfect, that I can see I would get if I tried.

    That said...I will...um...confess to literally having had my cat run across my keyboard during Borg Red Alerts (which are the only way I will ever see an Omega Mark...at least people in Borg Red Alerts don't generally treat each other like trash even when they're horrible at it and we end up losing). She cannot seem to understand the rule "lap=OK, keyboard=BAD."

    So I would make the following two points: Attitudes like what I am seeing here are the reason I don't even ATTEMPT to learn how to do STFs. And secondly, you DON'T always know what's happening on the other side of the keyboard and who really DOES have kids, crazy cats, or other things happening IRL, so don't be so hasty to judge and ostracize.

    Also well said.

    If you want a hand getting started in STFs, add Jinx@Bort1980 to your friends list and give me a shout sometime in game.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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    bortjinxbortjinx Member Posts: 397
    edited January 2013
    sollvax wrote: »
    And when someone says "Storm tactics please" or "Avoid left " you presumably ignore them?

    Remember the 10% tactic is not standard (or the only one that works)
    Some people use other (better) methods

    including the ever popular "Cruiser convoy" method (only works with at least 4 cruisers so don't use if you don't have 4 cruisers)

    I'm a member of both PublicEliteSTF and EliteSTF, and I've never even heard of 'storm tactics' or 'cruiser convoy' lol. That isn't to say I don't know the tactics, I might for all I know, I just don't associate those specific tactics with the names you give them.

    Like ISE's 10% rule. What if someone learned as part of a fleet that took the generators down to 15 or 20%? They would understand the tactic you refer to, but they would still have no idea what you are going on about if you just say 10% at the start of the match.

    Another one is MRRML for CSE. I had no idea what that meant the first time I heard it, although once the term was explained to me, I realised that those were the tactics I had been following for ages.

    So, it's not just as simple as barking out a single line at the start of the match to make sure that everyone is reading from the same page. Granted, you'll get some people who ignore you, and some who genuinely don't know what they are doing and for some unknown reason refuse to speak up, but a little clarity can go a long way towards preventing these matches from hell.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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    sollvaxsollvax Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    Cruiser convoy relys on the enormous power of a group of four cruisers to kick fifteen kinds of hell out of multiple targets

    The cruisers form up and on mass attack the targets (usually anti clockwise) relying on Massive firepower and well basically spamming mines , plasma and torpedos to take down all the links in the chain
    meanwhile the 5th ship flys guard

    Storm tactics require multiple alpha strikes and usually works best with Three Birds of prey or escorts and a carrier

    But every team has its own methods
    its own terminology
    and its own codes

    for example The team I run with klingon side might have a team chat that looks like

    "Go "
    "5 l"
    "5 R"
    "5 C"
    "Cover"
    "A l"
    "A L"

    that means
    starting
    going left I do not need assistance
    going right I do not need assistance
    going centre I do not need assistance
    Covering kang
    Assistance needed left
    Assisting left

    See simple if you know what it means
    But not if you don't

    (the code numbers go up to 35 at the moment but we normally only need the first 12)
    Live long and Prosper
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    collegepark2151collegepark2151 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    gulberat wrote: »
    I don't do STF's because I know very well I'm not up to it yet--and frankly, I do not want to go through the many sessions of getting yelled at from people who think everyone ought to be perfect, that I can see I would get if I tried...

    ...Attitudes like what I am seeing here are the reason I don't even ATTEMPT to learn how to do STFs.

    I held off on STF's for a long time for the same reason. I finally started doing normals with the chat turned off. I probably make some folks mad, but oh well. I get enough grief in RL. I follow the "rules" and use some common sense and it usually works out ok. Not always, but most of the time.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

    Porthos is not amused.
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    interestedguyinterestedguy Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    I personally would rather have people try out the STFs and do horribly than be afraid to play them because they feel they are not ready.
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    lolimpicardlolimpicard Member Posts: 309
    edited January 2013
    I personally would rather have people try out the STFs and do horribly than be afraid to play them because they feel they are not ready.

    From my experience those who think they're not ready yet are about ready.
    Most of them have understood it's a good idea to use only one damage type etc.

    It's the utterly unthinking players that cause the biggest problems.
    They might be Level 50, but it doesn't mean they have any understanding about how to fit a ship.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    He's dead, Jim.
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    dma1986dma1986 Member Posts: 541 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    Why do people always start these threads with a massive rant, and NOTHING constructive to help any new player that wanders in.

    Is it really so hard to put something like "if you want to avoid being the subject of this kind of thread, read this: http://www.stoacademy.com/walkthrough/stf/ " at the end of the OP???
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    cletusdeadmancletusdeadman Member Posts: 248 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    I go into normal STF's from time to time and show groups how to do it correctly. I do both ground and space.

    Anybody else trying that?


    The only thing I can't stand is someone who AFK's. Beyond that, whatever happens, happens.

    I am not going to be an elitest to the point where I tell others what is wrong with their builds.
    I am not going to be an elitest to the point where I tell others what I think they should be doing when they are still close enough to right.

    And from what I have read in chat from my fellow elitest, you shouldn't be doing it either.
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    stirling191stirling191 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    Ah the joys of being done with Omega rep.

    Failing the optional doesn't actually matter anymore.

    Still, OP I feel your pain. Ever dropped into an STF with two people flying Connies? That's infuriating.
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    macrilenmacrilen Member Posts: 58 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    Lol, after reading this thread and answering to it, the team and i failed the optional on infected conduit XD
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    zahinderzahinder Member Posts: 2,382 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    If you are nervous about doing STFs, start with Normal. Start with Cure-Normal, particularly.

    Say 'hey, I'm new, what do I do?' and listen. (Cure normal is pretty easy -- I've been in groups where two people disconnected for most of the match and we still got the thing done)

    In Elite, go look up the general approaches to doing it. Ideally, go in with a Fleet or channel PUG the first time or two, until you get the hang of it.

    Again, tell people 'hey, I'm new, what do I do?'

    Communication counts for a lot.
    Campaign: The Fenwick Cycle NWS-DKR9GB7KH

    Wicks and Things: NW-DI4FMZRR4 : The Fenwick merchant family has lost a caravan! Can you help?

    Beggar's Hollow: NW-DR6YG4J2L : Someone, or something, has stolen away many of the Fenwicks' children! Can you find out what happened to them?

    Into the Fen Wood: NW-DL89DRG7B : Enter the heart of the forest. Can you discover the secret of the Fen Wood?
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    pokersmith1pokersmith1 Member Posts: 2 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    I have an answer to your problem. Join a channel designed specifically to the need of people who want to do Elite STFs. PublicEliteSTF is one such channel. Like the name suggests, it's a public channel and you do not need an invite. Simply type B]/channel_join PublicEliteSTF[/B (without the brackets) to join it.

    We are a laid back channel, however we do have a few rules, which are there to make sure that everybody has a pleasant experience doing STFs as well as ways to deal with a griefer.
    <Click here for channel rules>

    Happy huntings :D
    Elite Defense Starfleet
    Elite Defense Stovokor
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    milner62milner62 Member Posts: 129 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    I started out with regular STF`s. I died and I had some troubles but it was decent. Once I got to the point that I was handling and taking down the borg easily I desided to move to Elite. Elite is a whole different ball game and even being very good at regular STF`s doesnt mean youll be great at elite.

    It took me a couple months working on my build and respecing my captain not once but twice to get a setup that I could run Elites with, without popping like a party popper every chance. If I go into regular STF`s now, its a bore for me as my shields dont even shudder.

    In the end the point is though even in elites people TRIBBLE up that know whats going on and even in elites you can still die. I still die to this day in elite from time to time at the hands of very lucky one shot kills. I dont know how many times ive been taken out by one shot weapons from 100% shields and hull.
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    thunderfoot#5163 thunderfoot Member Posts: 4,540 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    I will speak my mind and damn the torpedoes. Earns me a warning or some such, then so be it.

    Okay. This post has been edited to remove content which violates the Perfect World Entertainment Community Rules and Policies . ~Bluegeek


    Others posted about communications. Again, Well Said, Sir or Madam. We had a saying when I was in the Cav - 'No commo equals no combat.' And no, I am most definitely not speaking about TS, Vent or the Chat Window here. Good communication about with newer players about any STF occurs prior to the Engage button being pushed. Not during the mission and most certainly not after they've made a rookie mistake (Either actual or just in the eye of the beholder). It is also not expressed in negative or disparaging terms.

    Good communication on the part of the New Guy does not mean their eyes should be glued to the Chat window either. They'll miss the Sphere which is about to hammer them flat. Ooops. During the STF, watch what the other players are doing. Do not try to be the Hero. Heroes only get the rest of the team killed off. After watching, try to make what you're doing help what the team is doing. If they stopped firing on a target or they are moving away from Donatra's Scimitar, there's a reason for it. Follow their lead here. After the STF is over then you can ask why they did things the way they did. And what they did may not follow 'Conventional Wisdom'. My Fleet tries for the 10% Rule but we're not zealots about it. There are other ways to score the Optional.

    When I first started playing STFs, I tried to use the 'wingman' concept. I would pick another ship or player and follow them. When they shot, I shot at the same target. When they moved, I moved to cover them so if they were engaging something I had little chance of doing any damage to, they didn't have to watch their backs. I would heal someone if I got the chance. Even if it appeared they didn't need it. And if someone got abusive or rude, I bugged out. Not going to change their opinion of me anyways. The Leaver Penalty was, and still is, worth it to avoid someone unpleasant. They are not going to stop being unpleasant or rude or abusive. There are zero consequences for their bad manners. So why should anyone put up with someone else calling them names?

    I mentor newer players for my fleet. We chalk talk the mission prior to ever going in and I try to make sure they understand how things should be done and ought to proceed. This is how I was brought along when I first started playing STO and I've yet to see any reason not to continue doing things this way. No plan survives contact with the Enemy however. Part of being a good mentor is expecting people to make mistakes and then patiently explaining, again if need be, how to correct the mistake. I suppose we'll just have to wait until next time to score the Optional. Oh well. Guess what? This works! Further, it allows the newer players to enjoy the game as much as us old sweats do. It also means the young 'uns are far less likely to do something incorrectly and lower the success chances of the group.

    @Sollvax: I wonder if you could please let me take a look at those codes you spoke of. Looks like an excellent idea and I'm always up for seeing how someone else does it right. Either PM me here please or visit the Team Judge website. Thank you in advance for your time and attention.
    A six year old boy and his starship. Living the dream.
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    lolimpicardlolimpicard Member Posts: 309
    edited January 2013
    This post has been edited to remove content which violates the Perfect World Entertainment Community Rules and Policies . ~Bluegeek

    At this point I was hoping your whole wall-of-text would continue just like that.
    Bam, Bam, Bam. It would have been grand. It got me kinda excited.

    I wasn't really disappointed, tho, what you said should be an example to all the "elitists" out there...
    altho I can't quite grasp what's so great about the codes?
    Maybe it's because I've not been in the military. ;)

    Many things you said reflect my own experiences.

    This post has been edited to remove content which violates the Perfect World Entertainment Community Rules and Policies . ~Bluegeek
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    He's dead, Jim.
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    bluegeekbluegeek Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    Off-topic...

    I'm noticing some violations of PWE Community Rules and Policies in this thread.

    Let's keep the conversation civil. There's no need for further hostility here.

    Please show some respect for other people's opinions, even if you don't agree with them.

    Stick with the facts -- Please don't speculate about other people's motivations.

    When referring to other forum users, please leave off any personal references to beliefs, feelings, behavior, intelligence, character, skills, etc.

    Any post that's been crafted to provoke an angry reaction is trolling and is subject to moderation, warnings, and infractions. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO TROLL POSTS! Report them.

    Read the rules (see above)

    Thanks in advance for your cooperation!

    Live Long and Prosper,
    Bluegeek
    My views may not represent those of Cryptic Studios or Perfect World Entertainment. You can file a "forums and website" support ticket here
    Link: How to PM - Twitter @STOMod_Bluegeek
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    bareelbareel Member Posts: 3 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    There are two types of players in this game that annoy me. Elitists and Baddies.

    Elitist: Thinks they are in some way superior to others when infact they are not. Typically lack game mastery knowledge, skilled play, and/or social skills. They are the ones to scream and shout when someone messes up their 'plan'. I love calling these people out when I'm in a grumpy mood.

    Baddies: Not to be confused with Rookies. Baddies are bad when they should not be. They simple do not put the tiny amount of effort into learning the game or what they are doing. Ironically most Elitists are Baddies as well.

    As for myself, I am just an average skilled player with solid game knowledge that cares enough to put in a good effort for myself and my team. I also do my best to carry teams when they are lacking. I refuse to communicate unless someone asks for advice simply because I have done these missions more times than I care to count and they are not that difficult. Nor do I have any desire to create a social connection with those I pug with. I'm kinda like the Hulk of avengers I do my part just leave me alone while I do it. Although he does beat me in DPS and tanking ability.
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    lolimpicardlolimpicard Member Posts: 309
    edited January 2013
    bluegeek wrote: »
    Off-topic...

    Did you.. change anything in my post? I.. just wonder because I see no difference.
    The changes are in the quote?

    Sorry, yes, this post is kinda off-topic. But it's your fault really. :D [FIXED]
    I just want to know if I actually did anything wrong myself because it's not quite clear.
    bareel wrote: »
    Elitist: Thinks they are in some way superior to others when infact they are not. Typically lack game mastery knowledge, skilled play, and/or social skills. They are the ones to scream and shout when someone messes up their 'plan'. I love calling these people out when I'm in a grumpy mood.

    You should put that "elitists" into quotes like I did, because what you're talking about (and I was referring to) isn't actually what an elitist is.
    Actual elitism is based on (perceived) merit combined with an "exclusive" attitude.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    He's dead, Jim.
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    crypticarmsmancrypticarmsman Member Posts: 4,113 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    gulberat wrote: »
    I don't do STF's because I know very well I'm not up to it yet--and frankly, I do not want to go through the many sessions of getting yelled at from people who think everyone ought to be perfect, that I can see I would get if I tried.

    That said...I will...um...confess to literally having had my cat run across my keyboard during Borg Red Alerts (which are the only way I will ever see an Omega Mark...at least people in Borg Red Alerts don't generally treat each other like trash even when they're horrible at it and we end up losing). She cannot seem to understand the rule "lap=OK, keyboard=BAD."

    So I would make the following two points: Attitudes like what I am seeing here are the reason I don't even ATTEMPT to learn how to do STFs. And secondly, you DON'T always know what's happening on the other side of the keyboard and who really DOES have kids, crazy cats, or other things happening IRL, so don't be so hasty to judge and ostracize.

    My advice (if you do want to try STFs) - Do a few of Normal just to get the hang of them and see what's required. Then (once you feel comfortable) try the Elite STFs (and if you don't know something - go ahead and ask. I'd rather see that then someone trying to 'wing it' on an Elite.

    That said - When I decide to PUG an Elite STF, I go in knowing that (even on 'The Conduuit' <-- which overall is the easiest and most straightforward) most likely, the team will NOT get the optional. I also don't go nuts/get nasty if someone makes a mistake/AFKs/Whatever; I just do what I can to make sure we at least get 60 OM for successfully completing the thing. If you go into an Elite PUG EXPECTING to always get the optional, you're going to be in for a LOT of dissopointment.
    Formerly known as Armsman from June 2008 to June 20, 2012
    TOS_Connie_Sig_final9550Pop.jpg
    PWE ARC Drone says: "Your STO forum community as you have known it is ended...Display names are irrelevant...Any further sense of community is irrelevant...Resistance is futile...You will be assimilated..."
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    hereticknight085hereticknight085 Member Posts: 3,783 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    I used to use those ToS phasers. Ran a 6/2 build on my sovy, and did quite well in pugs. Even with mk X green phaser consoles. I wasn't holding my team back (much), and still had enough DPS to knock down probes in KASE, kill BoPs in CSE, demolish gens and hurt probes in ISE.

    Don't be hatin on those ToS PoS weapons. They are great weapons (minus that annoying as ballz sound effects they have).
    It is said the best weapon is one that is never fired. I disagree. The best weapon is one you only have to fire... once. B)
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    markhawkmanmarkhawkman Member Posts: 35,231 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    Torp Spread and Fire At will are good useful skills even in STFs. You just have to use them right. A carefully aimed tricobalt spread can waste a group of probes and heavily damage spheres.
    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    My character Tsin'xing
    Costume_marhawkman_Tsin%27xing_CC_Comic_Page_Blue_488916968.jpg
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    lolimpicardlolimpicard Member Posts: 309
    edited January 2013
    Torp Spread and Fire At will are good useful skills even in STFs. You just have to use them right. A carefully aimed tricobalt spread can waste a group of probes and heavily damage spheres.

    What I see sometimes is people starting to attack the same Nanite Generator I do - even after I shot a Breen Transphasic Cluster Torp at it and while my Bio-Neural Warhead is quite clearly on its way.
    I just sigh and switch targets at this point, knowing full well that the generator will go boom soon - worst case I position myself to slow down the soon-to-appear Nanite Spheres.
    So far always had teams that were good enough to not fail the optional because of this - but it's hilarious if people attempt to tell you off because of it, especially the one who ostensibly fought "your" Generator and inadvertently caused its destruction by the Bio-Neural Warhead.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    He's dead, Jim.
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    markhawkmanmarkhawkman Member Posts: 35,231 Arc User
    edited January 2013
    That is a clear case of a bad usage. But it doesn't make the skill bad.
    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    My character Tsin'xing
    Costume_marhawkman_Tsin%27xing_CC_Comic_Page_Blue_488916968.jpg
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