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New Foundry UI

captainhunter1captainhunter1 Member Posts: 1,626 Arc User
This is a follow-up post from a thread I started in the User Interface section ( http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=1316921 ). Unfortunately pictures aren't able to be posted there, so I am cross-posting here to show the graphics.

Currently we have a very nice starting point for the Foundry when the 'Content/Hail' button is pressed on the mini-map. Shown here:

1_zps3457d1d2.jpg

Sadly, it becomes a mess after that. You are dumped right onto the "Spotlight" missions list with a small "Browse all" button hidden along the side of the window to get to other missions. If you find this button, you are then taken to a extremely limited list of only the top 50 rated missions out of 1000's that are available.

This is my solution to the problem. After pressing the "More" button in the above window, you would be taken here:

Foundrygateway_zps17238aef.jpg

This would allow a player to easily select any category they wished. Or even do a custom search right from the start (with out the need to find this 'hidden' menu feature).

Cryptic programmers could very simply automate the entire 'category' process for each mission using existing code. 'Spotlight' and 'New' are super easy - they would use what code they have now. 'Story' and 'Combat' would be auto-categorized by simple majority using the existing 'category' system. In the case below, the mission would fall under the 'Story' category (it has more entries in the 'Story' category than in the 'Combat' category).

Combatvstory_zpsad98fe12.jpg

(continued)
Post edited by captainhunter1 on

Comments

  • captainhunter1captainhunter1 Member Posts: 1,626 Arc User
    edited December 2014
    Clicking on the hail buttons would then take you to the mission listings for that category. For example this is the one for the Spotlight missions. NOTE: Notice the prominent "Next 50 missions" button at the bottom (if the lists stay restricted to 50 missions being shown at a time - allowing a player to cycle through as many pages of missions as he/she desires.)

    Spotlightmenu2_zps6b039510.jpg

    Implementing this new "gateway" interface as well as removing the 'weighting' system will really open up the Foundry to a lot more plays.

    Further integrating the Foundry into regular Sector Space play would also be a huge benefit to the game - effectively adding massive amounts of free content throughout the Galaxy for Cryptic. It would be as simple as adding an additional button to the System window, as shown below:

    Systeminterface1copy_zps68c95b11.jpg

    Clicking the "Investigate Other Available Missions" button would open up a list of ALL Foundry missions which used that system as a starting point. (EDIT: the new Top 3 system is nice, but having a complete list would be the cat's meow here.)

    This would also allow for us to get rid of this annoying message at the border to Deep Space areas:

    Deepspace1_zps536fdae2.jpg

    And replace it with the following, opening up Deep Space for exploration by using Foundry missions (although a "Deep Space" starting point tag would have to be added for missions).

    Deepspace2_zpsb81f20ca.jpg

    I think this is a simple and elegant solution to the issues currently crippling the Foundry. It would certainly open up access a great deal and give every mission a chance to see the light of day. : )
  • ashkrik23ashkrik23 Member Posts: 10,809 Arc User
    edited December 2014
    Support, this is the biggest need.
    King of Lions rawr! Protect the wildlife of the world. Check out my foundry series Perfection and Scars of the Pride. arcgames.com/en/forums#/discussion/1138650/ashkrik23s-foundry-missions
    ashkrik_by_lindale_ff-d65zc3i.png
  • psycoticvulcanpsycoticvulcan Member Posts: 4,160 Arc User
    edited December 2014
    Supported before, supporting now. We need this.

    I believe it was mentioned in the old thread that the devs had seen it and passed it on. So it's either been dismissed, or held off for a future update.
    NJ9oXSO.png
    "Critics who say that the optimistic utopia Star Trek depicted is now outmoded forget the cultural context that gave birth to it: Star Trek was not a manifestation of optimism when optimism was easy. Star Trek declared a hope for a future that nobody stuck in the present could believe in. For all our struggles today, we haven’t outgrown the need for stories like Star Trek. We need tales of optimism, of heroes, of courage and goodness now as much as we’ve ever needed them."
    -Thomas Marrone
  • captainhunter1captainhunter1 Member Posts: 1,626 Arc User
    edited December 2014
    Supported before, supporting now. We need this.

    I believe it was mentioned in the old thread that the devs had seen it and passed it on. So it's either been dismissed, or held off for a future update.

    I've posted this new thread for two reasons:

    1) The old thread is a year old and adding to it would be considered 'necroing'. Regardless of how old the idea is...it is still something we really need for the Foundry. (It does surprise me that this has either been pushed to a very back burner or ignored as it is overwhelmingly supported by the community at large AND would be fairly easy (i.e. quick and cheap) to accomplish).

    2) I added a new pict showing how the system could be automated using existing code (again, that whole 'quick and cheap' thing :P)
  • psycoticvulcanpsycoticvulcan Member Posts: 4,160 Arc User
    edited December 2014
    (It does surprise me that this has either been pushed to a very back burner or ignored as it is overwhelmingly supported by the community at large AND would be fairly easy (i.e. quick and cheap) to accomplish).

    Don't forget, it took 500+ pages for them to "notice" the Galaxy thread. ;)

    In this case, though, I'd be surprised if we didn't see it happen fairly soon. I can't imagine it would take a ton of effort (as you pointed out), and unlike the Galaxy revamp there wouldn't be any concern about unbalancing the game. Hopefully the final form won't be too different from what you proposed.
    NJ9oXSO.png
    "Critics who say that the optimistic utopia Star Trek depicted is now outmoded forget the cultural context that gave birth to it: Star Trek was not a manifestation of optimism when optimism was easy. Star Trek declared a hope for a future that nobody stuck in the present could believe in. For all our struggles today, we haven’t outgrown the need for stories like Star Trek. We need tales of optimism, of heroes, of courage and goodness now as much as we’ve ever needed them."
    -Thomas Marrone
  • tiro100tiro100 Member Posts: 73 Arc User
    edited December 2014
    This, this, THIS!
    Playing STO on and off since January 2nd, 2011!
  • bcwhguderian1941bcwhguderian1941 Member Posts: 804 Arc User
    edited December 2014
    As an absolute fan of the Foundry, and its un-heralded authors, I believe a change such as
    proposed above would be a HUGE benefit to Cryptic/PWE. Unless this somehow conflicts with
    "insider" elements, it seems a "win, win".


    BCW. :)
  • robert359robert359 Member Posts: 355 Arc User
    edited December 2014
    I would love this. I play the Foundry for end game content as I am a story type player as opposed to doing the same Qs over and over.

    but then that may be why they don't do it. can't have amature content more popular then theirs.
    "The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war."
    Douglas MacArthur - Quote on the dedication plaque of the U.S.S. Ranger NCC-97332-A Armitage class Fleet Heavy Strike Wing Escort.
  • vfpfyasko1vfpfyasko1 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited December 2014
    robert359 wrote: »
    I would love this. I play the Foundry for end game content as I am a story type player as opposed to doing the same Qs over and over.

    but then that may be why they don't do it. can't have amature content more popular then theirs.

    I have stated this more times than i wish to admit, but i don't understand why they don't utilize that of the Foundry community, giving them specific details of what Cryptic wants and let them do it. Then make the top 10 all spotlight and vote on them being which one should be submitted into the official game or storyline. Ive always suspected that it had to do with the IP restrictions.
  • captainhunter1captainhunter1 Member Posts: 1,626 Arc User
    edited January 2015
  • lordarathronlordarathron Member Posts: 249 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    Oh please let this happen…
  • rekurzionrekurzion Member Posts: 697 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    Further integrating the Foundry into regular Sector Space play would also be a huge benefit to the game - effectively adding massive amounts of free content throughout the Galaxy for Cryptic. It would be as simple as adding an additional button to the System window, as shown below:

    Everything you said but the above especially. I would LOVE to see this implemented in a way where the game would randomly select Foundry missions and place them at their respective starting systems. The missions would update periodically or when a mission was played all the way through. In this way, with your ideas, there would be a constant rotation of Foundry missions at every system...ENDLESS CONTENT.

    Cryptic could run a method for each door at the start of a session or after a set interval to check for Foundry missions with that starting location, pull the list, pick a mission at random, then attach that mission to the door in game.
  • mightybobcncmightybobcnc Member Posts: 3,354 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    I support dis.

    Joined January 2009
    Finger wrote:
    Nitpicking is a time-honored tradition of science fiction. Asking your readers not to worry about the "little things" is like asking a dog not to sniff at people's crotches. If there's something that appears to violate natural laws, then you can expect someone's going to point it out. That's just the way things are.
  • tjsinclairtjsinclair Member Posts: 53 Arc User
    edited March 2015
    As a player that is constantly looking for new missions to try, I'm all for this.
  • captinjacksparowcaptinjacksparow Member Posts: 114 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Captain Hunter, I completely support this. Hopefully the Devs will someday see this and implement it.
  • mackbolan01mackbolan01 Member Posts: 580 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Shameless bump
  • jokerhuntrjokerhuntr Member Posts: 22 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Support this idea! I like flying the sectors and hitting the starting points at systems for Foundry, but a complete listing of the missions would be just prime :D
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