The Tholians need to be more involved with the encounter than just being cannon fodder to players, or the CE itself when it unleashes it's energy wave. Perhaps a special Tholian ship could deploy a web mesh around the CE to protect it, having players re-position themselves and find openings to fire through.
Also, there were some framerate issues. Not sure if it's from the entity itself or from players.
Overall I enjoyed the encounter, but there needs to be more tweaking to make it more difficult, but not too absurd.
I'm not opposed to some stupidly hard version for people who like a challenge, so if they want to add an elite version then by all means, but it was good for what i want. a nice middle length fight that is not going to be ruined by a few. getting 1 shocking player is bad enough in a 5 man. with a 10 man you are guaranteed a couple.
If it's fun, then I'd consider the re-design a success.
For this limited-time event, we didn't want to set the bar too high. All players should have a chance to succeed. Maybe we erred too far on the side of caution, but I'd much rather have tipped the scales to that end than to the opposite.
When the Crystalline Entity returns in the future, well after this limited-time Event has run its course, we fully intend to offer an Elite version for players that wish to have a greater challenge.
Also: We're currently investigating the bug related to the Matter Conversion Beam. Getting that to reliably deal its intended damage will raise the difficulty of the encounter a bit.
Too much of a challenge makes it frustrating when not everyone has the ummm mental capacity to understand how to play
If it's fun, then I'd consider the re-design a success.
For this limited-time event, we didn't want to set the bar too high. All players should have a chance to succeed. Maybe we erred too far on the side of caution, but I'd much rather have tipped the scales to that end than to the opposite.
When the Crystalline Entity returns in the future, well after this limited-time Event has run its course, we fully intend to offer an Elite version for players that wish to have a greater challenge.
Also: We're currently investigating the bug related to the Matter Conversion Beam. Getting that to reliably deal its intended damage will raise the difficulty of the encounter a bit.
Mission accomplished, I did have fun with it and believe it is fine as is now. Thanks for the additional information.
If it's fun, then I'd consider the re-design a success.
For this limited-time event, we didn't want to set the bar too high. All players should have a chance to succeed. Maybe we erred too far on the side of caution, but I'd much rather have tipped the scales to that end than to the opposite.
When the Crystalline Entity returns in the future, well after this limited-time Event has run its course, we fully intend to offer an Elite version for players that wish to have a greater challenge.
Also: We're currently investigating the bug related to the Matter Conversion Beam. Getting that to reliably deal its intended damage will raise the difficulty of the encounter a bit.
An elite and a super elite please? Because many elite instances don't feel "elite" since most people can do that. If it doesn't take too much time to build.
I love the new one. At least now everyone knows what to do and you can actually play with full game mechanics. Before the revamp you couldn't use Kinetic weapons and such etc.
Now, it is more structured and fun - at least for me.
Seeing the absorption bar increasing and the huge shockwave is a blast
If it's fun, then I'd consider the re-design a success.
For this limited-time event, we didn't want to set the bar too high. All players should have a chance to succeed. Maybe we erred too far on the side of caution, but I'd much rather have tipped the scales to that end than to the opposite.
When the Crystalline Entity returns in the future, well after this limited-time Event has run its course, we fully intend to offer an Elite version for players that wish to have a greater challenge.
Also: We're currently investigating the bug related to the Matter Conversion Beam. Getting that to reliably deal its intended damage will raise the difficulty of the encounter a bit.
if there is really concern about it being too easy, (did not play it just yet), then i would suggest what i would like to see for ALL content across the board -> an optional Elite Mode with higher rewards.
counters power creep and bored oldschool players while still allowing new player to succeed in default difficulty modes. (just please somebody teach the filter in the PvE queue to remember my last selection...)
Super elite modes are just places where people will PUG and tears will flow.
And said people who could have completed the lower difficulties would not learn their lesson and keep queuing for super elites in hope of getting carried.
So lower levels have empty queues (because stupidity is more common than hydrogen), the super elite gets clogged with idiots, and we're back to square one.
"Last Engage! Magical Girl Origami-san" is in print! Now with three times more rainbows.
If it's fun, then I'd consider the re-design a success.
For this limited-time event, we didn't want to set the bar too high. All players should have a chance to succeed. Maybe we erred too far on the side of caution, but I'd much rather have tipped the scales to that end than to the opposite.
When the Crystalline Entity returns in the future, well after this limited-time Event has run its course, we fully intend to offer an Elite version for players that wish to have a greater challenge.
Also: We're currently investigating the bug related to the Matter Conversion Beam. Getting that to reliably deal its intended damage will raise the difficulty of the encounter a bit.
Agreed, this is sure a fun event. Much better then before.
The only thing I think that can be a problem that the shards are hard to see. But that may be an intentional challange.
Let us wear Swimsuits on Foundry maps or bridges please! I would pay zen for that.
Im sure if it was 10000 times harder everyone would bi**ch about how hard it is to play it every day for 14 days to complete that event project in rep system.:rolleyes:
Super elite modes are just places where people will PUG and tears will flow.
And said people who could have completed the lower difficulties would not learn their lesson and keep queuing for super elites in hope of getting carried.
So lower levels have empty queues (because stupidity is more common than hydrogen), the super elite gets clogged with idiots, and we're back to square one.
Then they should change they way some queues work: if you queue there it starts instantly and if you're not with a premade team you're alone. People can't get in if you didn't group with them. That's a mechanic some games use and it's a good "L2P and be social" lesson. Of course it would require to write down the optimal number of players clearly in the queues list.
No thought or even basic strategy required. Just sit in space and shoot a massive shiny bullseye for 10 minutes, then pick up loot and leave. I'm glad it's not like the last grind but it could have at least been a little challenging.
I don't think I'll be flying it again, I can think of far more entertaining ways to earn my dil and marks.
I enjoyed it, if the beam is bugged, that's definitely a problem. I did actually try to keep my carrier under control with the absorption phase [recall pets and that fun stuff], but didn't feel much pain.
But at the same time, I would appreciate an elite difficulty [for when it returns permanently anyway, as an event difficulty, I think it's fine].
Before the revamp you couldn't use Kinetic weapons and such etc.
Wrong you could use Kinetic Weapons (quantum, photon torpedoes), you couldn't use those which were able to shot down by Large fragments like Heavy Plasma Torp, Tricobalt, mines because those create small fragments and heal CE.
Im sure if it was 10000 times harder everyone would bi**ch about how hard it is to play it every day for 14 days to complete that event project in rep system.:rolleyes:
So, or is this easy or 10000 times harder? That's exactly Cryptic mentality.
So, or is this easy or 10000 times harder? That's exactly Cryptic mentality.
Or people on these forums are in a way that will bring me a ban if I name it .:rolleyes:
Im sure you would want a hard 30 minutes version every day ,because when you log in thats the only thing you want to do ....fight 30 minutes against a npc. *facepalm*
Odd enough was that not my tactical toons, but my kdf sci in a kar'fi and my gorn engineer in a negh'var were the ones to get 1st place . but yeah the CE isn't are fear-inducing as it used to be. gota make it harder, perhaps 3 times harder? Make it a challenge for the average player, so that everyone doesn't think of it as a grind, but a challenge. of course with the event going on, people may not see that. perhaps they may tweak it a bit.
I don't think I'll be flying it again, I can think of far more entertaining ways to earn my dil and marks.
I'll play it on the chars i don't play anymore mostly, because it's short, i get 1st most of the times (even with the crappy builds i made like 8 months ago), and 50k dil *4 is really nice and it will auto refine for a week. :P
Yes it's easy and not challenging and hive space elite or winning the no win scenario are 10 times funnier but at some point one should consider ways to alleviate the pain of dil farming.
we fully intend to offer an Elite version for players that wish to have a greater challenge.
I wouldn't bother with that. Look at your own history with the game. STF's used to be challenging, because they were poorly designed, not that much fun, way too time consuming, and buggy.
So the bulk of your players avoided them.
You streamlined them and made them far more accessible to the average player. Now there's a certain group of folks who complain they're too easy. But gosh look at alllllllllll those players doing the rep grind through the STFs that are now being played by player after player after player.
Challenging content is a MYTH in MMOs. Nobody enjoys failing time and time again. The happy medium is what the players actually want. Something they find they have to pay attention to, but then still defeat. And then it goes on "farm mode." And folks move along to the next thing.
CE needs to be fun. And enjoyable. And accessible to the average player. The vocal minority that liked the old CE wasn't helping move the game forward. Your own metrics can tell you that. The encounter desperately needed a revamp. And viola, here it is.
Play to your demographics. You're on the right path by making these things accessible and less buggy and, much to the chagrin of the "elite hardcore" minority ... a bit too easy for their tastes.
Next up should be the Deep Space 9 Fleet Action. Revamp that, make it accessible and fun and get it back in the game!
This is the right path to be on. Making things stupid hard due to bad combat mechanics and gameplay bugs is not the right path to be on.
I wouldn't bother with that. Look at your own history with the game. STF's used to be challenging, because they were poorly designed, not that much fun, way too time consuming, and buggy.
So the bulk of your players avoided them.
You streamlined them and made them far more accessible to the average player. Now there's a certain group of folks who complain they're too easy. But gosh look at alllllllllll those players doing the rep grind through the STFs that are now being played by player after player after player.
Challenging content is a MYTH in MMOs. Nobody enjoys failing time and time again. The happy medium is what the players actually want. Something they find they have to pay attention to, but then still defeat. And then it goes on "farm mode." And folks move along to the next thing.
CE needs to be fun. And enjoyable. And accessible to the average player. The vocal minority that liked the old CE wasn't helping move the game forward. Your own metrics can tell you that. The encounter desperately needed a revamp. And viola, here it is.
Play to your demographics. You're on the right path by making these things accessible and less buggy and, much to the chagrin of the "elite hardcore" minority ... a bit too easy for their tastes.
Next up should be the Deep Space 9 Fleet Action. Revamp that, make it accessible and fun and get it back in the game!
This is the right path to be on. Making things stupid hard due to bad combat mechanics and gameplay bugs is not the right path to be on.
I could have never put it in words this well, but yeah. I never did the too hard old one, but this is fun and it helps the dil grind.
Let us wear Swimsuits on Foundry maps or bridges please! I would pay zen for that.
I wouldn't bother with that. Look at your own history with the game. STF's used to be challenging, because they were poorly designed, not that much fun, way too time consuming, and buggy.
So the bulk of your players avoided them.
You streamlined them and made them far more accessible to the average player. Now there's a certain group of folks who complain they're too easy. But gosh look at alllllllllll those players doing the rep grind through the STFs that are now being played by player after player after player.
Challenging content is a MYTH in MMOs. Nobody enjoys failing time and time again. The happy medium is what the players actually want. Something they find they have to pay attention to, but then still defeat. And then it goes on "farm mode." And folks move along to the next thing.
CE needs to be fun. And enjoyable. And accessible to the average player. The vocal minority that liked the old CE wasn't helping move the game forward. Your own metrics can tell you that. The encounter desperately needed a revamp. And viola, here it is.
Play to your demographics. You're on the right path by making these things accessible and less buggy and, much to the chagrin of the "elite hardcore" minority ... a bit too easy for their tastes.
Next up should be the Deep Space 9 Fleet Action. Revamp that, make it accessible and fun and get it back in the game!
This is the right path to be on. Making things stupid hard due to bad combat mechanics and gameplay bugs is not the right path to be on.
I couldn't have said it better myself. The old CE was just frustrating and annoying, because all it took to ruin it was 1 or 2 people who either had no clue what they were doing and wouldn't listen, or a couple trolls who just joined it for the sole purpose of griefing everyone else.
Though one thing I would say, change the 1st place accolade and make it so you get it for being in a team that finishes it on the elite difficulty. Stuff like that where only one single person in a match can get it really has no place in a game that's supposed to be designed around teamwork. Especially when the only thing that matters is damage output.
If it's fun, then I'd consider the re-design a success.
For this limited-time event, we didn't want to set the bar too high. All players should have a chance to succeed. Maybe we erred too far on the side of caution, but I'd much rather have tipped the scales to that end than to the opposite.
When the Crystalline Entity returns in the future, well after this limited-time Event has run its course, we fully intend to offer an Elite version for players that wish to have a greater challenge.
Also: We're currently investigating the bug related to the Matter Conversion Beam. Getting that to reliably deal its intended damage will raise the difficulty of the encounter a bit.
If it's fun, then I'd consider the re-design a success.
For this limited-time event, we didn't want to set the bar too high. All players should have a chance to succeed. Maybe we erred too far on the side of caution, but I'd much rather have tipped the scales to that end than to the opposite.
When the Crystalline Entity returns in the future, well after this limited-time Event has run its course, we fully intend to offer an Elite version for players that wish to have a greater challenge.
Does the definition of fun these days = Easy to beat?
Why is it ok to make content for people that don't like or can't handle a challenge but not make any for people that want to play an MMO that makes you MMO as a team, a group, a FLEET!
Notice how no Fleets brag in this game about ANY PvE content. Because this MMO at this time has nothing PvE to feel accomplished about. I truly hope this changes.
I'm not suggesting all the content needs to be hard because you will have the people that just want to spam spacebar and win crying about it BUT there are us that want challenging content. Please also cater to us as well Cryptic.
If you want to have more challenge in game use weaker ships. Use lower grade gear. Don't have any duty officers on active duty. You will probably need to do stuff like that to have the challenge you want because I don't think they will make missions be very hard because not everyone has the best gear and stuff to make missions easier. Also a lot of people who play are not hard core gamers. A lot of people who play also use public queues and if things are made to be very hard most people wont be able to finish the missions with random people.
I'm not saying your wrong but this is a very sad statement. Have most of us been spoon fed so much of our lives that this is what is wanted?
I wouldn't bother with that. Look at your own history with the game. STF's used to be challenging, because they were poorly designed, not that much fun, way too time consuming, and buggy.
So the bulk of your players avoided them.
You streamlined them and made them far more accessible to the average player. Now there's a certain group of folks who complain they're too easy. But gosh look at alllllllllll those players doing the rep grind through the STFs that are now being played by player after player after player.
Challenging content is a MYTH in MMOs. Nobody enjoys failing time and time again. The happy medium is what the players actually want. Something they find they have to pay attention to, but then still defeat. And then it goes on "farm mode." And folks move along to the next thing.
CE needs to be fun. And enjoyable. And accessible to the average player. The vocal minority that liked the old CE wasn't helping move the game forward. Your own metrics can tell you that. The encounter desperately needed a revamp. And viola, here it is.
Play to your demographics. You're on the right path by making these things accessible and less buggy and, much to the chagrin of the "elite hardcore" minority ... a bit too easy for their tastes.
Next up should be the Deep Space 9 Fleet Action. Revamp that, make it accessible and fun and get it back in the game!
This is the right path to be on. Making things stupid hard due to bad combat mechanics and gameplay bugs is not the right path to be on.
so what if there only small hand of people still paying customers and they should add a elite mode for them doesn't hurt anyone and if you think you need to pay attention in the new crystal you got to be joking all i did was sit there press space-bar got first place won watching a movie at the same time lol. If you want face palm content go play single player game
Ran it 5 times today. It was so easy my ADD kicked in, and I almost fell asleep at the keyboard.
I understand nerfing it for the event, and am glad there are plans for a harder version.
__________________________________
STO Forum member since before February 2010. STO Academy's excellent skill planner here: Link I actually avoid success entirely. It doesn't get me what I want, and the consequences for failure are slim. -- markhawman
Comments
and a great reward enough dilithium for space set piece
Also, there were some framerate issues. Not sure if it's from the entity itself or from players.
Overall I enjoyed the encounter, but there needs to be more tweaking to make it more difficult, but not too absurd.
If only you could put people who are useless into the Web.
This. I like the new version.
Too much of a challenge makes it frustrating when not everyone has the ummm mental capacity to understand how to play
Mission accomplished, I did have fun with it and believe it is fine as is now. Thanks for the additional information.
An elite and a super elite please? Because many elite instances don't feel "elite" since most people can do that. If it doesn't take too much time to build.
God, lvl 60 CW. 17k.
Now, it is more structured and fun - at least for me.
Seeing the absorption bar increasing and the huge shockwave is a blast
if there is really concern about it being too easy, (did not play it just yet), then i would suggest what i would like to see for ALL content across the board -> an optional Elite Mode with higher rewards.
counters power creep and bored oldschool players while still allowing new player to succeed in default difficulty modes. (just please somebody teach the filter in the PvE queue to remember my last selection...)
And said people who could have completed the lower difficulties would not learn their lesson and keep queuing for super elites in hope of getting carried.
So lower levels have empty queues (because stupidity is more common than hydrogen), the super elite gets clogged with idiots, and we're back to square one.
"Last Engage! Magical Girl Origami-san" is in print! Now with three times more rainbows.
Support the "Armored Unicorn" vehicle initiative today!
Thanks for Harajuku. Now let's get a real "Magical Girl" costume!
Agreed, this is sure a fun event. Much better then before.
The only thing I think that can be a problem that the shards are hard to see. But that may be an intentional challange.
Then they should change they way some queues work: if you queue there it starts instantly and if you're not with a premade team you're alone. People can't get in if you didn't group with them. That's a mechanic some games use and it's a good "L2P and be social" lesson. Of course it would require to write down the optimal number of players clearly in the queues list.
God, lvl 60 CW. 17k.
No thought or even basic strategy required. Just sit in space and shoot a massive shiny bullseye for 10 minutes, then pick up loot and leave. I'm glad it's not like the last grind but it could have at least been a little challenging.
I don't think I'll be flying it again, I can think of far more entertaining ways to earn my dil and marks.
But at the same time, I would appreciate an elite difficulty [for when it returns permanently anyway, as an event difficulty, I think it's fine].
Wrong you could use Kinetic Weapons (quantum, photon torpedoes), you couldn't use those which were able to shot down by Large fragments like Heavy Plasma Torp, Tricobalt, mines because those create small fragments and heal CE.
So, or is this easy or 10000 times harder? That's exactly Cryptic mentality.
Or people on these forums are in a way that will bring me a ban if I name it .:rolleyes:
Im sure you would want a hard 30 minutes version every day ,because when you log in thats the only thing you want to do ....fight 30 minutes against a npc. *facepalm*
Odd enough was that not my tactical toons, but my kdf sci in a kar'fi and my gorn engineer in a negh'var were the ones to get 1st place
I'll play it on the chars i don't play anymore mostly, because it's short, i get 1st most of the times (even with the crappy builds i made like 8 months ago), and 50k dil *4 is really nice and it will auto refine for a week. :P
Yes it's easy and not challenging and hive space elite or winning the no win scenario are 10 times funnier but at some point one should consider ways to alleviate the pain of dil farming.
God, lvl 60 CW. 17k.
I wouldn't bother with that. Look at your own history with the game. STF's used to be challenging, because they were poorly designed, not that much fun, way too time consuming, and buggy.
So the bulk of your players avoided them.
You streamlined them and made them far more accessible to the average player. Now there's a certain group of folks who complain they're too easy. But gosh look at alllllllllll those players doing the rep grind through the STFs that are now being played by player after player after player.
Challenging content is a MYTH in MMOs. Nobody enjoys failing time and time again. The happy medium is what the players actually want. Something they find they have to pay attention to, but then still defeat. And then it goes on "farm mode." And folks move along to the next thing.
CE needs to be fun. And enjoyable. And accessible to the average player. The vocal minority that liked the old CE wasn't helping move the game forward. Your own metrics can tell you that. The encounter desperately needed a revamp. And viola, here it is.
Play to your demographics. You're on the right path by making these things accessible and less buggy and, much to the chagrin of the "elite hardcore" minority ... a bit too easy for their tastes.
Next up should be the Deep Space 9 Fleet Action. Revamp that, make it accessible and fun and get it back in the game!
This is the right path to be on. Making things stupid hard due to bad combat mechanics and gameplay bugs is not the right path to be on.
I could have never put it in words this well, but yeah. I never did the too hard old one, but this is fun and it helps the dil grind.
I couldn't have said it better myself. The old CE was just frustrating and annoying, because all it took to ruin it was 1 or 2 people who either had no clue what they were doing and wouldn't listen, or a couple trolls who just joined it for the sole purpose of griefing everyone else.
Though one thing I would say, change the 1st place accolade and make it so you get it for being in a team that finishes it on the elite difficulty. Stuff like that where only one single person in a match can get it really has no place in a game that's supposed to be designed around teamwork. Especially when the only thing that matters is damage output.
Pug friendly is a good thing, thank you
Does the definition of fun these days = Easy to beat?
Why is it ok to make content for people that don't like or can't handle a challenge but not make any for people that want to play an MMO that makes you MMO as a team, a group, a FLEET!
Notice how no Fleets brag in this game about ANY PvE content. Because this MMO at this time has nothing PvE to feel accomplished about.
I'm not suggesting all the content needs to be hard because you will have the people that just want to spam spacebar and win crying about it BUT there are us that want challenging content. Please also cater to us as well Cryptic.
I'm not saying your wrong but this is a very sad statement. Have most of us been spoon fed so much of our lives that this is what is wanted?
so what if there only small hand of people still paying customers and they should add a elite mode for them doesn't hurt anyone and if you think you need to pay attention in the new crystal you got to be joking all i did was sit there press space-bar got first place won watching a movie at the same time lol. If you want face palm content go play single player game
I understand nerfing it for the event, and am glad there are plans for a harder version.
STO Forum member since before February 2010.
STO Academy's excellent skill planner here: Link
I actually avoid success entirely. It doesn't get me what I want, and the consequences for failure are slim. -- markhawman