Advanced Ground STF's

sqwished · November 2014

With all that's been happening especially surrounding the increase in difficulty of the Special Task Force missions, the Sol/Orion Trade Consortium decided to jump in and see just how much harder Cryptic has made the ground missions. Below are the links to our endeavors.

Whilst we only recorded two of the original three STF's this is because Infected Ground was still bugged at the time of making these. We did run it how ever and managed to get the optional without incident, the only issue was like I mentioned the bug with the shields around the four nodes in the final boss room made it so we couldn't complete the mission.

Khitomer Ground Advanced

The Cure Ground Advanced

From what we've seen first hand from these missions, all thats changed is the overall mission time gates and a large number of Heavy Tactical Drones have simply been replaced with Elite Tactical Drones. A prime example being Khitomer, Pre-DR there used to be four Elites across the entire map, from the video you'll see we encountered a lot more.

Do we think they've made the grounds harder? Not really, the added time gates are pretty much point less after all We've minimal manned all these and finished well within this limit. Adding all the Elites have served only to slow things down a little. The one pet hate from most of the team is the elite's AoE knock back, which form the video's you'll see not only effects the players but also all the NPC's in range (So a bit of an own goal there so to speak)

We are itching to go have a crack at the Elite versions, but there are several issues preventing us from trying at the moment, including but not limited to the team still working towards lvl 60 and the issues that several of the team seem to be missing the majority of the elite ground despite being lvl 60.

tarastheslayer · November 2014

It does go to show though these aren't the equivalent of the old Elites like they claimed to be, which granted they needed tweaking but I do wonder how a new level 50 is going to do in them.

zachariya · November 2014

TR-116b, kills borg dead.

sqwished · November 2014

zachariya wrote: »

TR-116b, kills borg dead.

Yup it does. I'd run a few grounds with people that had used them and to be fair I wasn't that impressed. I still managed to out gun one with a Marco battle rifle. But after getting one myself its more about the player and kit selection that make it such a handy and worth while weapon.

shadowfirefly00 · November 2014

zachariya wrote: »

TR-116b, kills borg dead.

Thanks, now I'm tempted to make up an 'ad poster' for it. Question: does it have a distinct model, or does it share with the other phaser rifles?

sqwished · November 2014

shadowfirefly00 wrote: »

Thanks, now I'm tempted to make up an 'ad poster' for it. Question: does it have a distinct model, or does it share with the other phaser rifles?

Unfortunately it shares the same design as the Phaser sniper rifles. But it does have it own unique animation, as in it ejects the spent shell casing after each shot.

shadowfirefly00 · November 2014

sqwished wrote: »

Unfortunately it shares the same design as the Phaser sniper rifles. But it does have it own unique animation, as in it ejects the spent shell casing after each shot.

Well, that actually makes the job easier... except, according to this post and this image gallery, it has different-colored hologram FX (why there isn't a toggle to turn those off - much like you can the visual components of some ship sets - is beyond me, but a matter for another thread).

jodarkrider · November 2014

It has always been the case, but, ground STF's take having decent level of know-how. If everyone on team knows what to do, these missions are perfectly doable. In my opinion, current Advanced versions are much easier than old Elite too, in terms of enemies - the optionals being turhed into mandatory may pose the real difficulty raise, but again, a non-issue as long as the team knows the tasks. But that may be my subjective opinion, as I've ran them more than I bother count.

sqwished · November 2014

One thing I would point out with regards to cure though is that cryptic seems to have turned Armek into a ***** whipped version of his former self. One comment made by the team member that was tanking him. Was that his orbital strikes aren't nearly as powerful as they were pre Dr. Also from guarding the first transformer cryptic have reduced the number of workers that spawn to try and shut them down. They've essentially removed the two that used to spawn behind you.

wrenfu · November 2014

Now queue for them solo and tell us how it goes (assuming it goes at all)

sqwished · November 2014

wrenfu wrote: »

Now queue for them solo and tell us how it goes (assuming it goes at all)

Looks like we have a comedian on the forums today!

jodarkrider · November 2014

sqwished wrote: »

One thing I would point out with regards to cure though is that cryptic seems to have turned Armek into a ***** whipped version of his former self. One comment made by the team member that was tanking him. Was that his orbital strikes aren't nearly as powerful as they were pre Dr. Also from guarding the first transformer cryptic have reduced the number of workers that spawn to try and shut them down. They've essentially removed the two that used to spawn behind you.

To be fair, Armek was a bit gimmicky, cheap sl*t with those 1-hit kills before & I can tank A LOT of damage normally. But it's true, that he is way too easy now. As for the spawning Worker-Drones at Transformers - given the 15 minutes is now mandatory for the mission success, it's not unreasonable; people fail this mission in pugs a lot, there's no room for mistake as it is. So I'd say that is balanced decently.

I'm curious how Elites will be, though.

tarastheslayer · November 2014

jodarkrider wrote: »

To be fair, Armek was a bit gimmicky, cheap sl*t with those 1-hit kills before & I can tank A LOT of damage normally. But it's true, that he is way too easy now. As for the spawning Worker-Drones at Transformers - given the 15 minutes is now mandatory for the mission success, it's not unreasonable; people fail this mission in pugs a lot, there's no room for mistake as it is. So I'd say that is balanced decently.

I'm curious how Elites will be, though.

My theory is that they held back on the Elite missions to wait out on how people approached the alterations in the Advanced queues, at least I'd like to think that's what they're doing.

So far I'd say the extra elite drones aren't all that much of an issue, if you have even one team member that is reasonably tough they can go toe-to-toe with them and they become a non-issue. I welcome the mandatory timers as they're pretty much going to be a standard in the top range, but I would like some unique optionals too just for variation in situation.

I'm happy with the changes they make so long as they don't prevent new level 50's getting the gear they need, which I think so long as the team is good shouldn't be a problem, but only time will tell on that one.

jodarkrider · November 2014

tarastheslayer wrote: »

My theory is that they held back on the Elite missions to wait out on how people approached the alterations in the Advanced queues, at least I'd like to think that's what they're doing.

So far I'd say the extra elite drones aren't all that much of an issue, if you have even one team member that is reasonably tough they can go toe-to-toe with them and they become a non-issue. I welcome the mandatory timers as they're pretty much going to be a standard in the top range, but I would like some unique optionals too just for variation in situation.

I'm happy with the changes they make so long as they don't prevent new level 50's getting the gear they need, which I think so long as the team is good shouldn't be a problem, but only time will tell on that one.

Agreed on the Elite Tac Drones. Took me a bit to learn where each one of them is, but I tank them and team is alright even in pugs', people rarely die from what I've seen in my recent pugs'...

What is disappointing, that especially in Cure, many people still don't know the tasks which need to be done, and there's just no time for TRIBBLE up/delaying even once (ie taking too long on the Transformers just costs you the mission).

Not making comments on Manus, as I *hate* the "standard" sniping game, waste of my melee-damage, utterly boring and quite frankly, it can be done in another way, with more "heads on" approach, as long as the team coordinates; which again, is non-existant in pugs, quite often, let alone leavers & AFK'ers - those basicly cost you Cure atm, happened to me more than once, unfortunately...

markhawkman · November 2014

there was one version of Armek that used a no-tell version of orbital strike that could easily 2-shot you.

sennahcherib · November 2014

khitomer in stasis elite is not difficult, but you must have a good team, and players who know what they have to do

some players want to kill all the borgs, but this is just useless. often there is also an ******* who go in room and play with a3, b1 etc without purpose

- clean the levels, destroy the nodes, and go to kill the boss; no need to kill the spawned drones

tarastheslayer · November 2014

sennahcherib wrote: »

khitomer in stasis elite is not difficult, but you must have a good team, and players who know what they have to do

some players want to kill all the borgs, but this is just useless. often there is also an ******* who go in room and play with a3, b1 etc without purpose

- clean the levels, destroy the nodes, and go to kill the boss; no need to kill the spawned drones

Nah but it is amazing how many people manage to find ways to mess up the simplest tasks in the STF's. Thing is though it's a result of not having enough pro's around to train the newer (or just plain unlucky) folks who don't know how this stuff works. Occasionally you get someone who works it out themselves but not often.

Trouble is at the same time you have people in this game who claim to be amazing at it and tell people complete trash, and frankly I don't know whether those people actually know they're bad players or not.

sqwished · November 2014

jodarkrider wrote: »

Not making comments on Manus, as I *hate* the "standard" sniping game, waste of my melee-damage, utterly boring and quite frankly, it can be done in another way

Well then you might like this Makes best use of both Melee and Sniping tactics. Just for the record we did another run afterwards and beat the time in video shortly before they nerf'd the motivation skill

jodarkrider · November 2014

sqwished wrote: »

Well then you might like this Makes best use of both Melee and Sniping tactics. Just for the record we did another run afterwards and beat the time in video shortly before they nerf'd the motivation skill

Well, sadly, I only pug for most part... don't know enough folks to play with, as people avoid ground like it was something dirty & I'm not pugging Manus, as the whine of me not sniping would be hard to deal with & can't be bothered to explain....

PS: You guys use exactly the tactic I had in mind. Also, nice music.

tarastheslayer · November 2014

jodarkrider wrote: »

Well, sadly, I only pug for most part... don't know enough folks to play with, as people avoid ground like it was something dirty & I'm not pugging Manus, as the whine of me not sniping would be hard to deal with & can't be bothered to explain....

PS: You guys use exactly the tactic I had in mind. Also, nice music.

We just run as a fleet mostly, though we can pug with half a team and do fine. We just find it hard to teach pugs anything because most of them don't listen to anything you say, which is a shame really.

I mean you're always welcome to message me in-game if you want to, @name is same as it is here.

jodarkrider · November 2014

tarastheslayer wrote: »

We just run as a fleet mostly, though we can pug with half a team and do fine. We just find it hard to teach pugs anything because most of them don't listen to anything you say, which is a shame really.

I mean you're always welcome to message me in-game if you want to, @name is same as it is here.

Unfortunately, my fleet mostly died & it's just me and other guy, with who I pug.

And it's just as you say - people refuse to listen. They think they are the "hot sh*t", or they just don't care. Manus is something I refuse to pug, as I did it like twice, and when I tried to explain them there are other ways than glitching the "trigger lines" by pure sniping bullsh*t, I got called names...

Even in the easiest STF like Kithomer, there's often someone who goes to fiddle with the room-controls, unless I nag my fleetie to do the "roomservice" and tell it straight before the STF starts. And even then, we have tools/griefers, who enter the room anyways.... I could go on, but I'm preaching to incorrect crowd here, as we all had our share of bad pugs...

tarastheslayer · November 2014

jodarkrider wrote: »

Unfortunately, my fleet mostly died & it's just me and other guy, with who I pug.

And it's just as you say - people refuse to listen. They think they are the "hot sh*t", or they just don't care. Manus is something I refuse to pug, as I did it like twice, and when I tried to explain them there are other ways than glitching the "trigger lines" by pure sniping bullsh*t, I got called names...

Even in the easiest STF like Kithomer, there's often someone who goes to fiddle with the room-controls, unless I nag my fleetie to do the "roomservice" and tell it straight before the STF starts. And even then, we have tools/griefers, who enter the room anyways.... I could go on, but I'm preaching to incorrect crowd here, as we all had our share of bad pugs...

Well Manus is broken at the moment anyway, the shields keep coming back up around the nodes in the boss room so it's not possible to complete. As for them calling you names, well it just shows they haven't realised what's possible on ground when you know what you're doing.

Still, like I say you want to join us for some runs you're more than welcome. We don't mind if people want to come and have a bit of fun

jodarkrider · November 2014

tarastheslayer wrote: »

We just run as a fleet mostly, though we can pug with half a team and do fine. We just find it hard to teach pugs anything because most of them don't listen to anything you say, which is a shame really.

I mean you're always welcome to message me in-game if you want to, @name is same as it is here.

Well, after pugging for quite a while, I was thinking I really need Elites. After running with you guys.. we *definitelly* need Elites. Thanks for the runs, catch you later for more.

betayuya · November 2014

I have noticed, if your into ground, your specs should reflect your play type, my main is all ground.

And I spec the specializations to fit, so it is not that bad, take one with space stuff in there, and ouch! ... lol

It is a like like it used to be before the talent rebuild.

Level your ground up and these will get easier, much, easier.

markhawkman · November 2014

Yeah, I never do full spec ground or space, but I tend to be a bit heavy on ground.

I also love stabby death.

jodarkrider · November 2014

betayuya wrote: »

I have noticed, if your into ground, your specs should reflect your play type, my main is all ground.

And I spec the specializations to fit, so it is not that bad, take one with space stuff in there, and ouch! ... lol

It is a like like it used to be before the talent rebuild.

Level your ground up and these will get easier, much, easier.

Yeah, I asked a friend to queue for Cure ground the other day... and bam, we ended up in space. The headdesk moment I had, with all ground spec... poor guys lost the mission because of this fumble. I felt really guilty, heh. Don't like to mess up people's missions. As I play basicly pure ground, especially since DR - my full ground spec & space-know how is just not good enough anymore.

silverrain79 · November 2014

I recorded a fleet mate solo'ing Armek in CGA in 40seconds, with Armek going untargetable twice. He almost oneshotted him. This game is fubar, our fleet is already trying out other games. If anyone wants to see that video I can upload it, it needs to be edited down though b/c I forgot to stop recording. lol

tarastheslayer · November 2014

silverrain79 wrote: »

I recorded a fleet mate solo'ing Armek in CGA in 40seconds, with Armek going untargetable twice. He almost oneshotted him. This game is fubar, our fleet is already trying out other games. If anyone wants to see that video I can upload it, it needs to be edited down though b/c I forgot to stop recording. lol

You can solo most bosses in this game now, though you have to remember at the moment we don't have the new Elite, so we'll have to see how that goes, but until then soloing bosses is something you flip a coin on to see who gets to do it next.

Edit: Kinda hoping the new Elites will make the bosses more interesting and not just higher HP and what not.

Advanced Ground STF's

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