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Dilithium Mining - revamp..or perhaps replace entirely?

onyxheart1onyxheart1 Member Posts: 347 Arc User
I don't know about the rest of the forum, but daily Dilithium mining is probably one of the most boring activities i've ever done on STO

So i was thinking, if anyone else agrees, why not do away with the boring mini-game entirely and make it a short to med length mission?

what i had in mind would be for the same contact to hail you, saying the asteroid is under attack by raiders, intent on stealing the dilithium.

The mission would be two stages

First would be in space, repelling raider ships as they attack freighters, the Nerrak and any facilities in orbit of the asteroid.

The second (and most likely to never be implemented if Cryptic did consider this :P ) is a ground fight on the asteroid itself, in low gee, starting inside a facility on the asteroid , and continuing onto the asteroid surface in EV suits.

The mission could still be a daily mission, and could even get a boost in dilithium, depending on how long the mission takes (currently around 6 to 7 minutes for the mini game on all 5 nodes and 1000 dilithium; maybe up it to 1500 dil for the more engaging mission?)

anyway, enough with my rambling (as much good as it'll do xD ) please, discuss!
KDF for Life! <3 Romulan at Heart <3 Fed cause they made me ~ :P
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Post edited by onyxheart1 on

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    anazondaanazonda Member Posts: 8,399 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    Boring or not... It's one of the few non-com missions out there.

    Sorry mate, but I have to disagree. It should stay, and just the way it is.

    However, I see great potential for an alternate way of doing it... Put your mission in, but keep the mission, and let people decide for themselves.
    Don't look silly... Don't call it the "Z-Store/Zen Store"...
    Let me put the rumors to rest: it's definitely still the C-Store (Cryptic Store) It just takes ZEN.
    Like Duty Officers? Support effords to gather ideas
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    realwildblurealwildblu Member Posts: 75 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    That sounds strikingly similar to a few 15-minute Foundry missions that are available.

    Perhaps you should explore the missions that are available and replace the boring dilithium mining grind with a stable of four or five Foundry missions. Then, you rotate the missions daily to keep the grind fresh.
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    shadowwraith77shadowwraith77 Member Posts: 6,395 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    Unless you are using rich vein claims, than the mine is about useless for dilithium.
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    Praetor of the -RTS- Romulan Tal Shiar fleet!

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    revandarklighterrevandarklighter Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    I dont do the Mining often to be honest.
    But after all it is MINING, that isn't really a suspenseful thing to do. I like having stuff like that in the game.
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    angelus214angelus214 Member Posts: 77 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    the idea is good but i think it would be better as a boost to mining as some of us remember when there were no mini games at all and it was a nice change to the dynamic.

    But i think the two could be merged. You have a space or ground fight before you mine and the better you do or more kills you get you get a boost to mining so instead of 200 per mining site you get 400 or 600.

    That way going to the mine your not thinking "oh mining again" you get to think along the lines of "I gotta do good in the fight to get more dilithium"

    Just my thoughts
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    castsbugccastsbugc Member Posts: 830 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    Sorry, I have to disagree, primarily on the fact that not every single instance of this game needs to be about shooting things.

    Frankly there's just too much shooting as it stands, but thats because Starfleet in general is a boring organization.

    With that said, while it might be repetitive and boring to an end, it is still something that doesnt involve firing a weapon at another being, there are already enough ways to get max daily dilithium on a character that can give you your shoot all the things fix.
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    peetapipmacpeetapipmac Member Posts: 2,131 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    I think it's fine as it is.
    It's not my fault if you feel trolled by my Disco ball... Sorry'boutit.



    R.I.P. Leonard Nimoy
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    ralphgraphiteralphgraphite Member Posts: 628 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    I think it should stay - it isn't mandatory, and it is a quick (approx 7 minute) way to get 1000 dil. We have 3 space battle dilithium dailies in Eta Eridani, 3 dilithium ground missions on Nimbus 3, the Deferi dailies, the Foundry, turning in Contraband, DOFFing, and plenty of other ways to earn dilithium if you've gotten bored with the mine.

    Perhaps a "defend the mine" daily would be OK - but not "replacing" mining, I would say, available "in addition" to mining. If Cryptic is concerned about too many dailies, they could make players choose - defend or use the mine, but not both.

    Untimately, what you're describing sounds to me like 2/3 of Explore Strange New Worlds in any star cluster - those are usually 3 short battles - space or ground, and reward 1440. Takes longer than mining though.

    As others pointed out, doesn't require killing hoards of beings every day to get your dil fix.

    Personally, from a "Federation" point of view, there aren't ENOUGH non-violent ways to get dil. The Academy Event was boring too, but it was non-violent (well, only holographically violent) and a quick way to get dil.
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    shpoksshpoks Member Posts: 6,967 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    I'm not against putting new daily missions in game, but that should be done apart from the mining. Just because you happen to think it's boring doesn't mean that it should be removed or altered into a combat mission.

    As others have already stated - the 'Vlugta Dilithium Mining' must remain in it's current form, one of the reasons certainly being that it's one of very few instances where someone can get some dilithium without having to do combat, especially after the 'Academy Event' nerf. So, it's fine to stay as it is - if you happen to be in the neighbourhood you can grab 1000 dil. in 5 mins.

    What you're suggesting could be done as a separate new daily mission (and should if for nothing more, than for diversity), maybe involving a raid on our fleets' dilithium mines we need to protect.
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    forvrsnoopyforvrsnoopy Member Posts: 15 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    I agree it's boring, but there's enough combat in the game.

    If the mining was done Minecraft style, then I would be hooked.

    I got hooked on that game for two reasons : exploring endless underground caves for shiny minerals and building trains.

    If Cryptic makes me explore caves for minerals in STO, then I will forget I have a life outside the cave and mine like crazy. Borg attack in Sirius Sector ? What's a Borg ?

    Give me a 25th century equivalent of a pick axe and endless tunnels please.
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    szerontzurszerontzur Member Posts: 2,724 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    Pew Pew for space rocks!

    I hear what you're saying about it being a dull button-pushing minigame though. I suppose my idea for how to improve it would be to turn it into a minesweeper kind of game where you're trying to identify the best places to tap into without destroying all the ore.

    The Q shell-game is still at the top of my list for painfully brain-numbing 'gameplay'. Dilithium mining is only mildly painful when the position shift timing gets ornery and constantly screws you out of almost-completed mining cycles. Isolinear Chip and Frequency puzzles are.. okay.
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    onyxheart1onyxheart1 Member Posts: 347 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    I think it should stay - it isn't mandatory, and it is a quick (approx 7 minute) way to get 1000 dil. We have 3 space battle dilithium dailies in Eta Eridani, 3 dilithium ground missions on Nimbus 3, the Deferi dailies, the Foundry, turning in Contraband, DOFFing, and plenty of other ways to earn dilithium if you've gotten bored with the mine.

    Perhaps a "defend the mine" daily would be OK - but not "replacing" mining, I would say, available "in addition" to mining. If Cryptic is concerned about too many dailies, they could make players choose - defend or use the mine, but not both.

    Untimately, what you're describing sounds to me like 2/3 of Explore Strange New Worlds in any star cluster - those are usually 3 short battles - space or ground, and reward 1440. Takes longer than mining though.

    As others pointed out, doesn't require killing hoards of beings every day to get your dil fix.

    Personally, from a "Federation" point of view, there aren't ENOUGH non-violent ways to get dil. The Academy Event was boring too, but it was non-violent (well, only holographically violent) and a quick way to get dil.

    I like your stance on having the missions be in addition too. I concede that while i might find it boring, others may enjoy mining, so an alternate mission for those who DO find the mining minigame mindnumbing (oooh i alliterated yay me :D ) would be a good step
    I agree it's boring, but there's enough combat in the game.

    If the mining was done Minecraft style, then I would be hooked.

    I got hooked on this game for two reasons : exploring endless underground caves for shiny minerals and building trains.

    If Cryptic makes me explore caves for minerals in STO, then I will forget I have a life outside the cave and mine like crazy. Borg attack in Sirius Sector ? What's a Borg ?

    Give me a 25th century equivalent of a pick axe and endless tunnels please.

    oh gods, i'm there with you, i'm a Terraria vet, mining n STO made to be like any of those games would consume my life xD. I've seen a friend stream the Everquest Next Landmark alpha, and it seems similar, would be interesting to have such tech in STO (of course with the aging engine we have, that will never happen :P )
    KDF for Life! <3 Romulan at Heart <3 Fed cause they made me ~ :P
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    ralphgraphiteralphgraphite Member Posts: 628 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    I'll grant that it is pretty boring as well - that being said, sometimes I'm OK with some mindnumbing repetition if I don't WANT to solve anything, but feel like I'm making some progress. I think no one would ever object to MORE ways to make Dil :D - with the Academy Event gone, I have found it much harder to hit my cap.

    Personally I think a daily to defend the fleet mine or something would be an amazing idea - I think the Fleet properties are underused in terms of gameplay at the moment.
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    timelord79timelord79 Member Posts: 1,852 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    Yeah, don't replace.

    Though, the idea of low grav combat in EV suits sounds interesting, too.
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    rinksterrinkster Member Posts: 3,549 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    onyxheart1 wrote: »
    I don't know about the rest of the forum, but daily Dilithium mining is probably one of the most boring activities i've ever done on STO

    So i was thinking, if anyone else agrees, why not do away with the boring mini-game entirely and make it a short to med length mission?

    Why stop there?

    Setting ships up is boring.

    What if, whenever you wanted to swap out a warp core, ESd is attacked by Nausicaan pirates?

    Perhaps we could look at the meta game.

    Character creation is boring.

    Thus why not, whenever we roll a character, have Smirk comes round our house and throw eggs at our windows?


    Walking around social hubs is boring.

    Why not, whenever we want to just find a commodity dealer and get the hell out of there, you get attacked by a small pack of rabid tribbles with designs on the half eaten candy bar you forgor about in your pocket?

    [/sarcasm]
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    onyxheart1onyxheart1 Member Posts: 347 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    rinkster wrote: »
    Why stop there?

    Setting ships up is boring.

    What if, whenever you wanted to swap out a warp core, ESd is attacked by Nausicaan pirates?

    Perhaps we could look at the meta game.

    Character creation is boring.

    Thus why not, whenever we roll a character, have Smirk comes round our house and throw eggs at our windows?


    Walking around social hubs is boring.

    Why not, whenever we want to just find a commodity dealer and get the hell out of there, you get attacked by a small pack of rabid tribbles with designs on the half eaten candy bar you forgor about in your pocket?

    [/sarcasm]

    Obvious Troll is Obvious :P

    Get back under that bridge! :D
    KDF for Life! <3 Romulan at Heart <3 Fed cause they made me ~ :P
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    ursusmorologusursusmorologus Member Posts: 5,328 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    My position is that it should not be touched until they have a full-scale revamp of resource gathering and trading put together.Additional kinds of resource mining, sell points, buy points, etc. Right now dil mining is just a way to farm zen in-game. Leave it alone.
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    rinksterrinkster Member Posts: 3,549 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    onyxheart1 wrote: »
    Obvious Troll is Obvious :P

    Get back under that bridge! :D

    (wanders back under bridge, alternately grumbling and laughing)
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    mightybobcncmightybobcnc Member Posts: 3,354 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    Well, we already have several 'defend your fleet starbase for marks' missions, so sure why not add a 'defend your fleet dilithium mine for dilithium' mission? Keep the original though.

    Joined January 2009
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    bobbydazlersbobbydazlers Member Posts: 4,534 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    I would have to go with the naysayers here, even though I am not very good at doing the mini game it is far better then what you have proposed, sorry.

    When I think about everything we've been through together,

    maybe it's not the destination that matters, maybe it's the journey,

     and if that journey takes a little longer,

    so we can do something we all believe in,

     I can't think of any place I'd rather be or any people I'd rather be with.

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    forvrsnoopyforvrsnoopy Member Posts: 15 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    onyxheart1 wrote: »

    oh gods, i'm there with you, i'm a Terraria vet, mining n STO made to be like any of those games would consume my life xD. I've seen a friend stream the Everquest Next Landmark alpha, and it seems similar, would be interesting to have such tech in STO (of course with the aging engine we have, that will never happen :P )

    Are the exploration missions (where you land on an uncharted planet) randomly generated ?
    If yes then they already have the tech, no need for terrain destruction like in those games. Pick axes on the other hand are not negotiable ! (no gun-like mecanism please)

    If they dont have the tech, and were to work on a procedural content generator (random terrain generator), they could reuse this tech to make better random explorable planets.

    Thus making the game feel more like Star Trek, like many have asked.

    See, I'm making a reasonable business-minded request :) Reuse tech. Profit from earlier investments. What's not to like ?
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    swamarianswamarian Member Posts: 1,506 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    Are the exploration missions (where you land on an uncharted planet) randomly generated ?
    If yes then they already have the tech, no need for terrain destruction like in those games.

    They are randomly generated, and they can be pretty buggy.
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    groomofweirdgroomofweird Member Posts: 1,045 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    I think dilithium mining is good and well as it is in general, most players have some vip mining claims handy so given the time its actually quite lucrative. If you don't have any of these consider them among the more popular "booby" prizes from some lockboxes. Personally I shoot for dominion if I need them as maybe ill drop that jem escort one day.
    The one thing I would change however is the fleet "rich claim" daily mining mission, I think we were all dissapointed in my fleet when we did those for the first time expecting the same as we got from vip mining claims, or even something... A little more than we get now (at the fleet mine). I just think a little nudge for this would be representative of the time and effort put into getting it unlocked.
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    "If this will be our end, then I will have them make SUCH an end as to be worthy of rememberance! Out of torpedos you say?! Find me the ferengi!".
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    jeffel82jeffel82 Member Posts: 2,075 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    Unless you are using rich vein claims, than the mine is about useless for dilithium.

    1000 dilithium in just over 5 minutes isn't what I'd call "useless."

    Visit your fleet mine at the same time and you get 2000 in 15-20 minutes.

    I don't use it as a primary source of dilithium, but I visit from time to time. It's fine as-is.
    You're right. The work here is very important.
    tacofangs wrote: »
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    edgecrysgeredgecrysger Member Posts: 2,740 Arc User
    edited March 2014
    The only thing mining could be revamped will be to re-vamps the rewarded dilithium. If you make in the mini game more than 800 points, you get more dilithium. If you make 900, even more. And so on. That way, mining will be more intersting, of course, but people will have more reasons to do mining. Other thing , the thrusters of the ev suits should have more range, because one of the things i hate as well is the need to waste 5 minutes walking through mining points.

    But this will never happen, since if cryptic do something like this they will need to revamp as well the fleet mine missions and other things. Too much work i guess.
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