It recently came up in an interview w/ DStahl: What is to be done about social zones which are dead? How do we keep them active and so on.
Suggestion #1: Make certain commodities and components only available on certain planets or bases, or else make them cheaper on other planets. This gives players a reason to travel from Cardassia to Vulcan. If you can purchase Cardassian Kanar for cheap and sell it on Vulcan for a profit, you know have a reason to go back and forth between the two. This can be done with worlds throughout the game.
But, wait, won't that result in a surge of Energy Credits? How do we stop that torrential flood? By Suggestion #2.
Suggestion #2: Create a sink for Energy Credits by revamping the concept of "damage". Give all the items slotted on ships 100 hitpoints. The hit points diminish by a small percentage to a random slotted device or item when hull damage is sustained. (Before anyone flips out, the amount of damage sustained to the slotted item is NOT the same as the amount of damage sustained by the hull, it is only a tiny fraction of that damage.) Once those hit points reach a certain amount (<75%) the item no longer functions as effectively as it would at 100%. Once the hitpoints hit <50%, the system's performance becomes noticably bad, and when the hit points hit 0 the system or unit goes offline, until it is repaired. Repairs can be made by one of two ways:
1.) Duty officer missions: (Perform minor repairs) & (Perform major repairs)
Both repair missions would require a certain number of parts. (Isolinear chips, ODN cable, ect ect.) Once the mission is completed, depending on the success and the type of mission selected, the player is rewarded with an item "Repair effort" or some such. When used, this item would restore a certain number of hit points to all the damaged systems. Assuming all the slotted items had 100hp, minor repairs would bring back 10-20hp depending on success, major repairs 30-50hp.
2.) Repair at any shipyard. Dockmasters could offer those same repairs for the cost of some of those commodities or even just good ole energy credits, since parts and labor ain't cheap.
Tying in Target Subsystem X in with this new damage system would allow players to actually damage their opponents impulse engine, or their supply of ship batteries, or their weapons and force them to make repairs, either on the fly or down the raod.
I should also add that blowing up does not reset the damage sustained to your slotted items, nor does it add further damage because you died. You just respawn with the items as damaged as they were before you blew up. You can use the "repair effort" to bring your systems/items back up to optimal operating capacity during combat, but eventually you may run out of repairs, perhaps forcing a retreat or achieving a costly victory. Think of the "repair effort" as the slotted item equivalent of "engineering team".
You get the idea. But this would create a demand for commodities and force people to be more tactical in their engagements as well as create a need to travel to some of these sparsely populated areas. If nobody makes optical data rods like the Cardassians and those are needed to make repairs, people just might venture to Cardassia to get some.
Just a thought.
Foundry missions: "Salvaged" and "Preemption (Federation)" brought to you by the former "Tom_Riker01".
"An artist's growth depends upon accurate feedback." ~Data
So instead of enticing people to go to old place by making it more interesting, entertaining or fun to go there, you want to instead force them to go there?
And on top of that, you want to toss in an inflationary mechanic coupled with a brand new credit sink?
a) Kanar retails for what, 20 EC? There is no profit in transporting it across the universe.
b) So in order to boost player presence in dead zones you're recommending the addition of several new mechanics that will require players to spend even MORE time doing other things than visiting those zones?
c) Item durability has never been a good idea. If you're that desperate for an EC sink add a tax to the game. Its about equally fun, but at least it could be applied automatically and would not detract from game play.
d) If you want people to be somewhere the zone needs to offer either FMs, Dil, Items or fun (apparently in that order)
Great! Only three left. Now all I need is for one of them to leave the room and then there will be only one left...
Wait, where I come from three minus one still leaves two!
Where I come from is a far more interesting place.
My point was to give people a reason to go to these dead zones.
When was the last time you went to Vulcan? Why don't you go there anymore? Perhaps because there is nothing to do there. Can't check your mail, can't access the exchange and as for new missions and content, sure putting that into these zones is all well and good except that once you've played them, well... we're back to the original problem aren't we.
Creating item durabiltiy and an EC sink in the manner I described above gives people a REASON to go to these places long after the "ohh" and "ahhh" factor has worn off.
I'm definately not opposed to adding content, but damage in this game seriously blows and people who whine about the inconvience of having to make repairs need to stop being whimps and grow up. There are NO CONSEQUENCES in this game what-so-ever, even with the new reputation system. I run through the Romulan chain, Romulans love me and I can get exclusive items, swell... but now what? What about the hundreds of Romulan ships I've blasted to atoms, do the Romulans not care about them? Why doesn't it hurt my standing with the Romulans in some way? Where do you go from "up"?
My point is, unless you create a sink, you're doomed to stagnation. Every Fleet has a starbase, and guess what? Once you've reach a certain point, there is nothing left to do...unless you create the cycle which gives you a REASON to replenish your resources as opposed to letting them sit and rot in your inventory.
Sorry if this ticks people off, but there's no territory control, no real consequences for damage incurred, no reason to go to Andoria, nor Vulcan, nor Risa. Unless you can access the exchange, make repairs, check mail, or have to (yes HAVE to) go there to obtain a necessary commodity, any zone is doomed to sit unoccupied.
My suggestions would solve many of these problems. And besides, you're still forgetting about the player exchange, which allow people to just purchase items without the need to travel if they so desired. "Repair efforts" would be bound on pickup by the way.
As for items being worth more in some places versus others being inflationary, well how's about introducing the concept of real contraband? Where Federation or other faction specific patrols stop you if you're caught carrying illegal items from one place to another and fine you X amount of EC with the fine based on how much of the illegal item you were carrying?
YES it's a sink, but it opens up some great gameplaying possibilities. Otherwise, sit on your ship's bridge and check out your inventory and ask yourself what are you going to use half of those items for. My bet is, you'll be bored within minutes and won't really be able to come up with a good answer.
Foundry missions: "Salvaged" and "Preemption (Federation)" brought to you by the former "Tom_Riker01".
"An artist's growth depends upon accurate feedback." ~Data
I should also point out that the difficulty slider could be used to make the incurred damage far less painful or even noticable to those who want to play easy and far more painful for those who like a little challenge.
Foundry missions: "Salvaged" and "Preemption (Federation)" brought to you by the former "Tom_Riker01".
"An artist's growth depends upon accurate feedback." ~Data
If they truly wish to make social zones more ... sociable, then they need to implement mini-games. It's been said time and time again, social zones are great, if there is something to do when you're there.
Allow Poker (I know there has been arguments both sides of this) but there is nothing wrong with it from any point of view. People claim and moan about it breaching gambling laws etc, that's complete crab. Make Poker Latinium-based (maybe add more items to the Latinium store). Hell, there's no reason it can't be for Energy Credits either.
They can also introduce other games, allow people to fight each other (melee only); especially on Andoria. Allow races (swimming or run) on Risa. There is so much that can be done to further extend social zones, yet (it seems) the guys at cryptic are more concerned with having us grind.
My point was to give people a reason to go to these dead zones.
Yet, like Cryptic, you don't seem to grasp the difference between strong-arming someone into playing as you want them to and creating a situation where they want to play the way you want them to play.
My point is, unless you create a sink, you're doomed to stagnation. Every Fleet has a starbase, and guess what? Once you've reach a certain point, there is nothing left to do...unless you create the cycle which gives you a REASON to replenish your resources as opposed to letting them sit and rot in your inventory.
You seem to be forgetting that Starbases give you more than you had when you started. Your concept simply penalizes players for playing, rather than giving them an incentive to do something in your "forgotten" zones.
My point was to give people a reason to go to these dead zones.
When was the last time you went to Vulcan? Why don't you go there anymore? Perhaps because there is nothing to do there. Can't check your mail, can't access the exchange and as for new missions and content, sure putting that into these zones is all well and good except that once you've played them, well... we're back to the original problem aren't we.
I never went to Vulcan, Risa, or Andoria, or any other social zone (if any). Why ? Is it because it's lacking mail, exchange or whatever ? No. It's simply because I don't care. I'm no RPer, and I have nothing to do in those social zone. Send me there, and I'll be bored once I finish looking the scenery (which should last around 1minute).
If Cryptic start forcing me to go there, I'll whine, because I don't want to.
If you like those social zone, for some reason, you already want to go there, and don't need anything to push you to do it.
You are not giving a reason for people to go there, you are forcing them.
BTW, we are forced to go to ESD or the academy. Does it make it more lively ? It's full of troll, gorn "jokes", random god almighty/doesn't exist, conspiracy theory, wow>everything else, and USA>the world. So yeah, you may succesfully transport those mor... I mean, players, to Risa. They already moved some of them from DS9, and I wish they stayed there.
You could argue that the main reason nobody goes to Andoria, Risa, and Vulcan is because there are no services there and nothing much in particular to do.
Vulcan at least has the one diplomatic mission. And all three have certain commodities available more cheaply than other places. But that's about it.
On the other hand, Hathor (Bajor) has plenty to do but I don't go there because it's out of my way most of the time and the "stuff to do" is not structured in such a way that I can easily pick and choose which of those activities I want to take part in. Given the choice, I'd rather go to DS9 for services.
New Romulus is in a bit better situation. It's not exactly on the main spacelanes, but if I'm going there anyway... It has a lot to do, there are basic services available, and I can choose which activities I want to do. Yes, it's an "Adventure Zone" but it's also a pretty good model for what Social Zones ought to be like.
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
Bluegeek's got the right of it. "social zones" serve as RP backdrops and little else. There needs to be something, well, social, to do besides sit and text. As has already been said, giving players something to do and something interesting as a reward for participation will lure people in. Make those lures require more than one person to participate in. A dance-off or competitive scavenger hunt in Risa could net you some sun glasses and a bathing suit or a surfboard to put in your captain's quarters, for example. The seasonal events are actually a really good starting point. It doesn't have to be as involved, but you've obviously got the talent on board already to make it happen.
If they truly wish to make social zones more ... sociable, then they need to implement mini-games. It's been said time and time again, social zones are great, if there is something to do when you're there.
Allow Poker (I know there has been arguments both sides of this) but there is nothing wrong with it from any point of view. People claim and moan about it breaching gambling laws etc, that's complete crab. Make Poker Latinium-based (maybe add more items to the Latinium store). Hell, there's no reason it can't be for Energy Credits either.
They can also introduce other games, allow people to fight each other (melee only); especially on Andoria. Allow races (swimming or run) on Risa. There is so much that can be done to further extend social zones, yet (it seems) the guys at cryptic are more concerned with having us grind.
This.
PvP ushaan duels on Andoria, poker games at The Captain's Table... I dunno what can be done for Vulcan. Competitive meditation?
...Oh, baby, you know, I've really got to leave you / Oh, I can hear it callin 'me / I said don't you hear it callin' me the way it used to do?...
- Anne Bredon
Sorry to change the subject, but even though i have been a registered member for over a month, it still wont let me post new threads to the forum, but since we are on the subject of things in the game to make it interesting, I would like to See Purchasable/Accolade type Furnishings for unique customization's to our ships.
I.E. Ships Lounge(FED) has a poker table that isnt Interactable, which is rather depressing considering you cant even sit at the table and pretend, especially after all those eps in startrek playing poker. How about an adjustment to make it intractable with purchase of either Energy Credits or Latinum, and Helmed by a Shipboard Entertainer Duty Officer. Maybe decks of cards/Entertainer duty officers geared for different games like Poker Black Jack Texas Hold'em were players can play with each other in their ships lounge's for Latinum or energy credits like D'abo.
Captains Quarters: Buyable/placeable Furnishings like Weapon racks (For those unique rare gold weapons to sit pretty in your quarters as personal trophies: I.E. The Snowball gun from the Holidays, or the Shard of Khaless in the Klingon captains ship) to further dress up and customize your ships quarters, and so that they are not taking up valuable space in bank accounts, and while were at it, Rock beds for Horta's to stay in, Pet Beds for those Shelat Cubs, Pet Targs, Romulan Ep'ohs, ect, you your not forced to use bank space or inventory for your pets. You got a Ship why cant you place them in their own little slots like trophies? Maybe a Desk Model placeable for your Shuttle, and Fighter pets too.
This game is three years running now and some of these kinds of Customization's for ships should have been done along time ago.
And this shouldnt be done as a ZEN priced thing. we're already zenned out with all the good stuff costing a fortune. EC or Dialithium would be fine, and understandable if there was a furnishings cap for weapon racks, and pet beds. i know sprites cause lag.
This would be a nice touch for players and would give incentive to visit each others ships for the decor in special rooms like captains ready room and Personal quarters. the Standard trophy thing is nice but not really cutting it cause it's so generic, and in the same place on everyones Ship.
I sometimes go to Bajor instead of DS9 when I'm in a hurry and the space around DS9 is crowded. Of course, since the introduction of New Romulus, that doesn't seem to happen as often. If they added a security officer to turn in contraband to on Bajor, I might go there more often instead of DS9.
It might be at least a start to put all necessary services (bank, exchange, mail, security officer, etc.) on Vulcan, Andoria and Risa, but then again that's a long way to go just to get basic services. You'd still need to have a reason to go there.
Maybe... add some Foundry doors at all these locations for Foundry missions to start. I don't know.
Comments
And on top of that, you want to toss in an inflationary mechanic coupled with a brand new credit sink?
Yeah that'll go over well...
b) So in order to boost player presence in dead zones you're recommending the addition of several new mechanics that will require players to spend even MORE time doing other things than visiting those zones?
c) Item durability has never been a good idea. If you're that desperate for an EC sink add a tax to the game. Its about equally fun, but at least it could be applied automatically and would not detract from game play.
d) If you want people to be somewhere the zone needs to offer either FMs, Dil, Items or fun (apparently in that order)
Wait, where I come from three minus one still leaves two!
Where I come from is a far more interesting place.
When was the last time you went to Vulcan? Why don't you go there anymore? Perhaps because there is nothing to do there. Can't check your mail, can't access the exchange and as for new missions and content, sure putting that into these zones is all well and good except that once you've played them, well... we're back to the original problem aren't we.
Creating item durabiltiy and an EC sink in the manner I described above gives people a REASON to go to these places long after the "ohh" and "ahhh" factor has worn off.
I'm definately not opposed to adding content, but damage in this game seriously blows and people who whine about the inconvience of having to make repairs need to stop being whimps and grow up. There are NO CONSEQUENCES in this game what-so-ever, even with the new reputation system. I run through the Romulan chain, Romulans love me and I can get exclusive items, swell... but now what? What about the hundreds of Romulan ships I've blasted to atoms, do the Romulans not care about them? Why doesn't it hurt my standing with the Romulans in some way? Where do you go from "up"?
My point is, unless you create a sink, you're doomed to stagnation. Every Fleet has a starbase, and guess what? Once you've reach a certain point, there is nothing left to do...unless you create the cycle which gives you a REASON to replenish your resources as opposed to letting them sit and rot in your inventory.
Sorry if this ticks people off, but there's no territory control, no real consequences for damage incurred, no reason to go to Andoria, nor Vulcan, nor Risa. Unless you can access the exchange, make repairs, check mail, or have to (yes HAVE to) go there to obtain a necessary commodity, any zone is doomed to sit unoccupied.
My suggestions would solve many of these problems. And besides, you're still forgetting about the player exchange, which allow people to just purchase items without the need to travel if they so desired. "Repair efforts" would be bound on pickup by the way.
As for items being worth more in some places versus others being inflationary, well how's about introducing the concept of real contraband? Where Federation or other faction specific patrols stop you if you're caught carrying illegal items from one place to another and fine you X amount of EC with the fine based on how much of the illegal item you were carrying?
YES it's a sink, but it opens up some great gameplaying possibilities. Otherwise, sit on your ship's bridge and check out your inventory and ask yourself what are you going to use half of those items for. My bet is, you'll be bored within minutes and won't really be able to come up with a good answer.
"An artist's growth depends upon accurate feedback." ~Data
"An artist's growth depends upon accurate feedback." ~Data
Allow Poker (I know there has been arguments both sides of this) but there is nothing wrong with it from any point of view. People claim and moan about it breaching gambling laws etc, that's complete crab. Make Poker Latinium-based (maybe add more items to the Latinium store). Hell, there's no reason it can't be for Energy Credits either.
They can also introduce other games, allow people to fight each other (melee only); especially on Andoria. Allow races (swimming or run) on Risa. There is so much that can be done to further extend social zones, yet (it seems) the guys at cryptic are more concerned with having us grind.
Yet, like Cryptic, you don't seem to grasp the difference between strong-arming someone into playing as you want them to and creating a situation where they want to play the way you want them to play.
You seem to be forgetting that Starbases give you more than you had when you started. Your concept simply penalizes players for playing, rather than giving them an incentive to do something in your "forgotten" zones.
The problems created by your suggestions would far outweigh any benefit those solutions might produce.
If Cryptic start forcing me to go there, I'll whine, because I don't want to.
If you like those social zone, for some reason, you already want to go there, and don't need anything to push you to do it.
You are not giving a reason for people to go there, you are forcing them.
BTW, we are forced to go to ESD or the academy. Does it make it more lively ? It's full of troll, gorn "jokes", random god almighty/doesn't exist, conspiracy theory, wow>everything else, and USA>the world. So yeah, you may succesfully transport those mor... I mean, players, to Risa. They already moved some of them from DS9, and I wish they stayed there.
Vulcan at least has the one diplomatic mission. And all three have certain commodities available more cheaply than other places. But that's about it.
On the other hand, Hathor (Bajor) has plenty to do but I don't go there because it's out of my way most of the time and the "stuff to do" is not structured in such a way that I can easily pick and choose which of those activities I want to take part in. Given the choice, I'd rather go to DS9 for services.
New Romulus is in a bit better situation. It's not exactly on the main spacelanes, but if I'm going there anyway... It has a lot to do, there are basic services available, and I can choose which activities I want to do. Yes, it's an "Adventure Zone" but it's also a pretty good model for what Social Zones ought to be like.
Link: How to PM - Twitter @STOMod_Bluegeek
This.
PvP ushaan duels on Andoria, poker games at The Captain's Table... I dunno what can be done for Vulcan. Competitive meditation?
...Oh, baby, you know, I've really got to leave you / Oh, I can hear it callin 'me / I said don't you hear it callin' me the way it used to do?...
- Anne Bredon
I.E. Ships Lounge(FED) has a poker table that isnt Interactable, which is rather depressing considering you cant even sit at the table and pretend, especially after all those eps in startrek playing poker. How about an adjustment to make it intractable with purchase of either Energy Credits or Latinum, and Helmed by a Shipboard Entertainer Duty Officer. Maybe decks of cards/Entertainer duty officers geared for different games like Poker Black Jack Texas Hold'em were players can play with each other in their ships lounge's for Latinum or energy credits like D'abo.
Captains Quarters: Buyable/placeable Furnishings like Weapon racks (For those unique rare gold weapons to sit pretty in your quarters as personal trophies: I.E. The Snowball gun from the Holidays, or the Shard of Khaless in the Klingon captains ship) to further dress up and customize your ships quarters, and so that they are not taking up valuable space in bank accounts, and while were at it, Rock beds for Horta's to stay in, Pet Beds for those Shelat Cubs, Pet Targs, Romulan Ep'ohs, ect, you your not forced to use bank space or inventory for your pets. You got a Ship why cant you place them in their own little slots like trophies? Maybe a Desk Model placeable for your Shuttle, and Fighter pets too.
This game is three years running now and some of these kinds of Customization's for ships should have been done along time ago.
And this shouldnt be done as a ZEN priced thing. we're already zenned out with all the good stuff costing a fortune. EC or Dialithium would be fine, and understandable if there was a furnishings cap for weapon racks, and pet beds. i know sprites cause lag.
This would be a nice touch for players and would give incentive to visit each others ships for the decor in special rooms like captains ready room and Personal quarters. the Standard trophy thing is nice but not really cutting it cause it's so generic, and in the same place on everyones Ship.
It might be at least a start to put all necessary services (bank, exchange, mail, security officer, etc.) on Vulcan, Andoria and Risa, but then again that's a long way to go just to get basic services. You'd still need to have a reason to go there.
Maybe... add some Foundry doors at all these locations for Foundry missions to start. I don't know.