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Carrier pilots unite! We need hard numbers and matching NPC scalebacks.

gulberatgulberat Member Posts: 5,505 Arc User
As mentioned before, I at least think it is better that SOMETHING was said about this instead of dropping it in the patch notes or worse, stealth-nerfing it. That is part of the communications piece that many of us have been asking for.

But there is a key thing Cryptic is missing. Frankly, all Cryptic has been doing is taking things away from the playerbase--endless dilithium sinks, an XP slowdown so severe as to ruin story progression, and then the recent SpecGate debacle. And at the same time, raising the difficulty to levels so extreme that they have decimated the queues and have run players out of the game out of refusal to fork out the insane amounts of cash needed to make significant upgrades.

To be quite honest, I feel like I've been kicked while I'm down. This is absolutely the opposite direction of what Cryptic needs to be doing right now. The NPC scaling that has ruined the queues and numerous other missions is a FAR more pressing issue than some sort of "error" with the carrier pets.

Quite frankly, my Danubes are NOT doing such stellar DPS, and they do get blown up, very often. Perhaps a dev should watch a Vesta pilot play--not clone a toon and choose an elite player to play them, not go to the 50k DPS Club to pick out a sample, but watch a normal player and see exactly what it's like for the little folks.

This is not JUST about carrier pilots--but this points to a serious problem.

As a carrier pilot, though, here is what I want:

1) Hard numbers on exactly what the proposed losses in all categories cited would actually be, and examples of how those numbers are in practice.

2) NPC scaledowns, not just for those of us in carriers, but for everyone so that the queues are no longer completely gutted.

3) OPEN DIALOGUE with the players in which Cryptic can actually find out what this game has become for the average player. Not the whales, not the people who are in the game 24-7, but normal, everyday people.



Take warning from these numbers. If something major, positive, and sustained does not happen soon, Cryptic needs to think very seriously about the fact that for all the presumed dev labor hours, actors' fees and royalties for the use of their voices and likenesses, servers, bandwidth, maintenance, and all other overhead that they are paying for, there is a very serious risk with so many of us having shut our wallets that there will be no recouping of the massive outlay without a complete 180 on Cryptic's part.

http://steamcharts.com/app/9900#All

At this point Cryptic may even need to worry about those who STAY just as much as those who leave--for there are many who were once accused as "freeloaders" who came in as F2P who may well decide to do exactly that in full knowledge of the resource drain that they are causing.



It is still not necessarily irreversible--but I can assure Cryptic that if they decide to stay their current course, of which this latest punishment is yet another example, this is the exact opposite of the goodwill that they desperately needed. The way to save their revenue stream is exactly backwards from their actual course of action.

This is not a personal attack. This is a call to open serious communications now, before the damage becomes uncontainable and nobody wins.

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  • prierinprierin Member Posts: 7 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    As a Rom Scim and a Galaxy X captain, SIGNED +1

    After, you know, 300 seconds....

    I don't think it's an unresonable request. Show us the numbers or take your nerf and stuff it.

    130 seconds.... my balls hurt each time I try to post, I swear....

    34 seconds.... if I could post half of what's flying through my mind right now...
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    You will forever be missed and never forgotten.
  • gulberatgulberat Member Posts: 5,505 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    Seeing the numbers is the best step right now towards forthright communication. If it's severe, better that we know it now and be able to address our comments, criticisms, and attempt to open a dialogue based on those hard numbers.

    If--and sadly I doubt it at this point--we're only looking at a very small "scaling," Cryptic would also do themselves a huge favor by coming forward with that fact instead of letting a crisis build.

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  • zero2362zero2362 Member Posts: 436 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    Numbers please
    343rguu.jpg

  • djhunter4djhunter4 Member Posts: 16 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    I agree it would be great to see the stats. Sometimes i outperform my Stalker Pets for my Atrox and sometimes the outdo me. Open communication is good as well so, in spite of my posts in the other thread, i will support you on this.

    And someone please slap the spammer!
    Vice Admiral Maia Annalise Prower, U.S.S. Raging Caitian-F (Caitian Atrox Carrier)
    Vice Admiral Nova Snow S'Car, U.S.S. Caitian Fury-F (Multi-Vector Advanced Escort)
    Lieutenant R'Maani Hunter, I.K.S. Teng'vek (B'rel Bird of Prey)
  • gulberatgulberat Member Posts: 5,505 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    If we can actually see if there is some sort of severe imbalance, as compared to our main ships, comparisons to pre-DR, and other figures, it might help in devising a real solution.

    I would also note that IMO, NPC scaledowns should be considered as well.

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  • cptjhuntercptjhunter Member Posts: 2,288 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    Great the gold sellers are spamming the forums too.
  • gulberatgulberat Member Posts: 5,505 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    Sadly, any time you place severe restrictions on an above-board market, the black market benefits. Consider that one for a while. :(

    I don't like spam, mind you. But I fear the uptick in their advertising cannot be an accident for those in charge of shady sites like that.

    Yet another thing Cryptic could potentially help with by bringing the game back into a better balance: helping to get rid of such an annoyance in the forums, zone, and in-game mail. :mad:



    But anyway...back to carrier pets and hopefully the opportunity for Cryptic to walk us through the actual math.

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  • scififan78scififan78 Member Posts: 1,383 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    cptjhunter wrote: »
    Great the gold sellers are spamming the forums too.

    Which is why we are in need of a report post option.


    Added note: This post time gate is another horrible idea.
  • janus1975janus1975 Member Posts: 739 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    I agree with the OP. I would also like to see these actual figures, even just a series of 'case studies' (low-end/newish player, middle of the road, and elite player).

    And I would also suggest Cryptic think very, very carefully on this question: you've got empty queues, people complaining of resource sinks, heavy payers talking of closing wallets due to the problems you've introduced. We're facing massive HP hulls and ground NPCs (even on normal), poorly implemented Difficulty queues that aren't what was promised, appalling levels of grind matched to XP nerfing... Now the question:

    Is "Player Pets" really the thing that needs to be prioritized, right now, before anything else?
  • gulberatgulberat Member Posts: 5,505 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    Agreed. This would be a bit easier to swallow if it were part of an overall NPC balance pass that lowered the hitpoints down to something saner on the enemies too. It really does seem like a horrible mistake in priorities and in sense, in terms of dealing with a player base that has already been upset and feels betrayed by everything else that has happened.

    Christian Gaming Community Fleets--Faith, Fun, and Fellowship! See the website and PM for more. :-)
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  • omgbamf00omgbamf00 Member Posts: 97 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    janus1975 wrote: »
    Is "Player Pets" really the thing that needs to be prioritized, right now, before anything else?

    I don't think it's fair to assume that this is something they just decided on a whim to do. For all we know, this could have been on the schedule since LoR launched. However, it's most likely a glaring bug with the introduction of DR.
  • josan369josan369 Member Posts: 114 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    cptjhunter wrote: »
    Great the gold sellers are spamming the forums too.

    Yeah, but the good news is we only have to see them every 300 seconds. :D
  • gulberatgulberat Member Posts: 5,505 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    omgbamf00 wrote: »
    I don't think it's fair to assume that this is something they just decided on a whim to do. For all we know, this could have been on the schedule since LoR launched. However, it's most likely a glaring bug with the introduction of DR.

    It would be more clear to the players whether or not this has merit if we could actually see the information that the devs are looking at to make their proposal.
    josan369 wrote: »
    Yeah, but the good news is we only have to see them every 300 seconds. :D

    That's not a decision on Cryptic's part that I particularly want to validate. :(

    The reason we are seeing the spammers is, I suspect, a symptom of the broken game economics. This is the same thing that happens any time supply of a valuable commodity is severely tightened up artificially (dilithium/Zen, in this case).

    Fixing the game economy will give them less of a leg to stand on.

    If Cryptic wants something worthwhile to nerf, it would be the goldsellers. And they can do that by creating a more beneficial environment for the players.

    Everybody wins.

    Think about that one, Cryptic. Please. This is a symptom of something that will only hurt everyone.

    Christian Gaming Community Fleets--Faith, Fun, and Fellowship! See the website and PM for more. :-)
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  • janus1975janus1975 Member Posts: 739 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    omgbamf00 wrote: »
    I don't think it's fair to assume that this is something they just decided on a whim to do. For all we know, this could have been on the schedule since LoR launched. However, it's most likely a glaring bug with the introduction of DR.

    Maybe... but the first thing normal people do in a crisis is to move "fix crisis!" to the top of the "To Do" list :P
  • djhunter4djhunter4 Member Posts: 16 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    janus1975 wrote: »
    Maybe... but the first thing normal people do in a crisis is to move "fix crisis!" to the top of the "To Do" list :P

    i would say that depends on if we are taking the sanity of all parties into account as well. some of the things they do simply don't make any sense.
    Vice Admiral Maia Annalise Prower, U.S.S. Raging Caitian-F (Caitian Atrox Carrier)
    Vice Admiral Nova Snow S'Car, U.S.S. Caitian Fury-F (Multi-Vector Advanced Escort)
    Lieutenant R'Maani Hunter, I.K.S. Teng'vek (B'rel Bird of Prey)
  • gulberatgulberat Member Posts: 5,505 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    Exactly, "fix crisis" first. Not "fan flames." :(

    I want to hope that maybe, MAYBE we can get some data tomorrow that could keep this one spiraling out of control. But if we hear nothing more, it could very well do that instead. :-/

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  • djhunter4djhunter4 Member Posts: 16 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    i agree with you 100% gulberat
    Vice Admiral Maia Annalise Prower, U.S.S. Raging Caitian-F (Caitian Atrox Carrier)
    Vice Admiral Nova Snow S'Car, U.S.S. Caitian Fury-F (Multi-Vector Advanced Escort)
    Lieutenant R'Maani Hunter, I.K.S. Teng'vek (B'rel Bird of Prey)
  • alaerickalaerick Member Posts: 166 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    I would love to see the actual numbers but let's be honest. I'd love evn more for them to you know.. fix pets to be more resilient vs AOE abilities, FAW, CSV, TS and all of those AOE Sci/Engineer abilities that just decimate them. I mean maybe if theyh were smart enough to even TRY to get out of the way of it but well that's not gonna happen. I mean they won't even avoid a warp core breach.. You killl a target while your pets are flying around it.. oh then the warp core kills your pets.. rock on now I get to wait to spawn all of them again because maybe 1 was lucky enough to not go boom instantly.

    Another thing is the stupid long timer on a command you give a pet actually you know altering the tactics of the pet.. Pet Recalll should be instant! We can communicate from the delta quadrant to the alpha quadrant more quickly, easily and efficiently than a carrier sending orders to a fighter pilot... in what year? 2409? Are you sure I'm not launching P-51 Mustangs with a ham radio?
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  • calaminthacalamintha Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    alaerick wrote: »
    I would love to see the actual numbers but let's be honest. I'd love evn more for them to you know.. fix pets to be more resilient vs AOE abilities, FAW, CSV, TS and all of those AOE Sci/Engineer abilities that just decimate them.

    Non-frigate pets are completely useless against the Voth. I guess they want frigates to be as well.
  • dreadcalldreadcall Member Posts: 45 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    janus1975 wrote: »
    I agree with the OP. I would also like to see these actual figures, even just a series of 'case studies' (low-end/newish player, middle of the road, and elite player).

    Just checked, on the last ISA run (solo queuing) my drone ships did 9k. They could probably pass 10k in a premade with some more dubuffs. They did around 4k pre DR IIRC. Their damage went up by less than enemy HP, so i do not support a nerf.

    Maybe Cryptic should make a bit more effort to teach players how to play the game (did they at least include power settings in the new tutorials? i don't remember them in the old ones, may be wrong though) so they can do more damage than pets?
  • wilbor2wilbor2 Member Posts: 1,684 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    Not this guy again blaming F2P for sto problems instead of the company that owns cryptic.
    Im F2P and ohh look ive a forum title ive spent more in 6mths then most Gold players pay in in a year.

    Get over you self importent ****
    gs9kwcxytstg.jpg
  • equinox976equinox976 Member Posts: 2,305 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    wilbor2 wrote: »
    Not this guy again blaming F2P for sto problems instead of the company that owns cryptic.
    Im F2P and ohh look ive a forum title ive spent more in 6mths then most Gold players pay in in a year.

    Get over you self importent ****

    ...That did not make much sense to me.
  • meimeitoomeimeitoo Member Posts: 12,594 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    Actually, I do NOT want numbers. I simply want the truth. I want a Dev to come online and say: "We're nerfing your pets, because all y'all are going to fast." Or "We have upoming carriers in store, so your current pets need to be devaluated." i do not want to hear my pets allegedly having used 'incorrect data' all this time, cuz that is BS. And don't tell me, with a straight face, that you didn't know the numbers on my pets since the last 6 months.

    I also don't wanna be confuzzled with numbers. I just, for once, since DR, would like a straightforward answer, as to where you Cryptic guys want to take this game. Then I can decide, upfront, whether I still want to be a part of it.
    3lsZz0w.jpg
  • j0hn41j0hn41 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    meimeitoo wrote: »
    Actually, I do NOT want numbers. I simply want the truth. I want a Dev to come online and say: "We're nerfing your pets, because all y'all are going to fast." Or "We have upoming carriers in store, so your current pets need to be devaluated." i do not want to hear my pets allegedly having used 'incorrect data' all this time, cuz that is BS. And don't tell me, with a straight face, that you didn't know the numbers on my pets since the last 6 months.

    I also don't wanna be confuzzled with numbers. I just, for once, since DR, would like a straightforward answer, as to where you Cryptic guys want to take this game. Then I can decide, upfront, whether I still want to be a part of it.


    I thought they were nerfing the pets because they applied that ludicrous hp scaling npcs have to carrier pets.

    I'm all for more resilient pets, just not ones that have more hp then the ship that launched them.
  • sheldonlcoopersheldonlcooper Member Posts: 4,042 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    j0hn41 wrote: »
    I thought they were nerfing the pets because they applied that ludicrous hp scaling npcs have to carrier pets.

    I'm all for more resilient pets, just not ones that have more hp then the ship that launched them.

    No they are not that strong. They seem exactly the same as before delta. My scorpions die on launch - boom. The Xindi frigates are much tougher of course. But exactly the same as they were October 13. It's just another poke in the eye. My main complaint is that this is NOT something that needs to be worked on first, even if it is an issue. Maybe work on it sometime next February. Fix the GD queues first while there's still a game to fix.
    Captain Jean-Luc Picard: "We think we've come so far. Torture of heretics, burning of witches, it's all ancient history. Then - before you can blink an eye - suddenly it threatens to start all over again."

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  • meimeitoomeimeitoo Member Posts: 12,594 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    No they are not that strong. They seem exactly the same as before delta. My scorpions die on launch - boom. The Xindi frigates are much tougher of course. But exactly the same as they were October 13. It's just another poke in the eye. My main complaint is that this is NOT something that needs to be worked on first, even if it is an issue. Maybe work on it sometime next February. Fix the GD queues first while there's still a game to fix.

    ^^ Yes, listen to this man! He's not crazy. His mother had him tested. :P
    3lsZz0w.jpg
  • chalpenchalpen Member Posts: 2,207 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    I have all the carriers that I can get.
    Both voq, Karfi, jem, recluse, xindi. And all flight deck ships as well.

    Love those ships. IMHO, they all need updating.
    The AI.
    The fact that frigates are bound to specific ships.
    The fact that the kdf hasn't seen a new carrier in 4 years.

    Pet dps wasn't the problem. It seems like cryptic is looking at the wrong thing again. But I bet it was the easiest thing to look at.
    Should I start posting again after all this time?
  • gulberatgulberat Member Posts: 5,505 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    Asking for the numbers means that Cryptic has to substantiate its story or, if there is a flimsy reason for this move being considered, that fact will be shown up as well. And frankly, at this point, trust is so low that without any sort of hard, quantifiable data, I doubt much weight would be given to any stated rationale for this proposed move.

    Christian Gaming Community Fleets--Faith, Fun, and Fellowship! See the website and PM for more. :-)
    Proudly F2P.  Signature image by gulberat. Avatar image by balsavor.deviantart.com.
  • lordkhoraklordkhorak Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    My pets using NPC scaling really helped drive home the ludicrous uselessness of player launched torpedoes. I took them off all my carriers, because it was depressing watching mine do nothing against bare hull while my dinky Peregrines mash stuff up with theirs.

    The less said about the B'Rolth and it's High Yield quantum torpedo salvoes compared to mine the better....
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • adorenkoadorenko Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited November 2014
    I made a video discussing the most egregious bugs/mechanics of the week in STO, perhaps this new Nerf will make the grade for my next "Bugs of the Week."

    I'm taking a page from the NFL's no more campaign. No More it's none of my business, No More they said they were sorry, No More it only happened once, No More why don't we just leave, No more they didn't mean it, No More by-standing, No More. No More ignoring bugs/broken mechanics Cryptic.

    http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=1285761

    http://youtu.be/0CnIXVNezyA
    Looking for more info on Dilithium Rising? Click on the link below:

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