I still feel that all Universal Boff positions should be able to handle either Command/Intel or Pilot Boffs.
I also feel that all the starships in the game should have a pilot Boff position. Not allowing this is a tragedy and a show of capitalist greed.
I absolutely concur Comrade! We should all express our disgust by not buying any items on the CStore...
But nay, we should not stop there! We should stop buying mobile phones, expensive electrical goods like LED TV's and high end computers! We should disconnect our cable television and even our internet...
We should all move back into caves because the power companies, water and gas companies and everyone in between are filthy capitalists and we should not stand for it any longer!
In other words... If you don't like it, don't buy them... Cryptic are a business and are in business to make money...
They are no more money grubbing than Apple, Nike or McDonalds - potentially better since their products aren't made in a sweatshop or use underpaid juniors to staff their stores...
They are no more money grubbing than Apple, Nike or McDonalds - potentially better since their products aren't made in a sweatshop or use underpaid juniors to staff their stores...
Funny you should day Apple, read this nice little article about Apple putting pressure on record companies to pull their music from Spotfly, so Apple's soon to be released Boost music sub will have less competition.
imruined is correct, if you do not like the ships, do not want to spend money on them, all you have to do is not buy them. At the same time, you don't have to post about your decision to not buy them.
I personally think that this Pilot Boff thing is something that PWE could add to every starship and not just a special breed of starships.
I also think that the Universal Boff position should be opened for all types of Boffs. If you look at this position, they are usually just Ensign or Lieutenant positions. By allowing the Universal Boff position to use Command/Intel or Pilot Boffs, a whole new game play opens for all players. Even those who cannot afford to purchase those T6 starships.
It wouldn't be a hard thing to accomplish to include this command to the programming codes and since Command, Intel and Pilot abilities can be used by any engineer, science or tactical Boff, I don't think this would unbalance the game that much.
From what I am seeing, Pilot starships has specialized functions that allows for specific interface with the Pilot Space abilities to achieve unique outcomes. When the pilot Boff is used on any other type of non-pilot starship, this function would not be available. When a Command, Intel or Pilot Boff is used in a Universal Boff position, those special functions that are associated with Command and Intel starship will not function either.
I personally think that this Pilot Boff thing is something that PWE could add to every starship and not just a special breed of starships.
I also think that the Universal Boff position should be opened for all types of Boffs. If you look at this position, they are usually just Ensign or Lieutenant positions. By allowing the Universal Boff position to use Command/Intel or Pilot Boffs, a whole new game play opens for all players. Even those who cannot afford to purchase those T6 starships.
It wouldn't be a hard thing to accomplish to include this command to the programming codes and since Command, Intel and Pilot abilities can be used by any engineer, science or tactical Boff, I don't think this would unbalance the game that much.
From what I am seeing, Pilot starships has specialized functions that allows for specific interface with the Pilot Space abilities to achieve unique outcomes. When the pilot Boff is used on any other type of non-pilot starship, this function would not be available. When a Command, Intel or Pilot Boff is used in a Universal Boff position, those special functions that are associated with Command and Intel starship will not function either.
so you're just angry that something new's coming out and you can't get it for free.
all of their income comes from ship and lockboxes. they don't charge for missions, or anything else. they can't give those ships abilities away for free and expect to pay their bills. it just doesn't work that way.
You tell them, Comrade! Surely they will serve the proletariat and give you everything on a golden platter for free! Makes for good business, yes? Server costs? Bah! Surely the server providers shall understand the needs of the many and offer their services for free! What's this? Paying the staff? Bah! They need no payment; they contribute as equally as you and I do! They should be happy they're serving alongside their fellow comrades!
Unique abilities on unique ships? Bah! Bad for the proletariat! Everything must remain the same! No advantages to anyone! Factions? Bah! Bad for the proletariat! Everyone must be in unity! Levels? Bah! Bad for the proletariat! People must remain on the same level!
Now come join our merry band and let's sing songs of our people; of peace, harmony, unity, and equality! And spit on those who dare to separate us from such! Down with Factions! Down with levels! Down with individuality! Down with capitalist dogs! Down with originality!
/sarcasm
Comparing a tiny and insignificant game feature to capitalist greed is stupidly hilarious.
Unlike some games; you can actually earn the Zen to buy the ships via old-fashioned grinding of in-game resources, rather than grinding paywalls and offers that may send you spam, viruses, or no cash currency after 1 hour of work.
Unlike some games, this sort of "class changing" is relatively simple. Just go buy some Pilot Specialization manuals, train your favorite Tac Boff, and then buy the manuals you want to train them in. Can't afford it? Just grind out the EC or spec points.
Unlike some games, the ships are not essential to any specific zone, unlike their near-equivalents (armor) in other games, where certain armor types is required and sometimes mandatory to have any hope of survival or victory.
Unlike some games, you are free to play the game from start to finish, if you're just willing to put in the work.
Please tell me where exactly MUST you use a Pilot ship or not be permitted to play at all (outside of arbitrary group-specific gatherings)? Or an Intel ship? Or a Command ship? Where are the locations that is so hard, ONLY Pilot ships will work? Where even DPS'ers can't enter because they don't have one?
TL;DR - You are not being denied anything other than putting some effort to attain what you want. Conversely, you are not being forced to work for things you really don't need.
Okay since no one is apparently getting what I am saying by:
Allow a Command/Intell or Pilot Boff to function in a Universal Boff position, but not have the function of a Command/Intel or Pilot starship.
Command Functions
Turn the Tide
Against all Odds
Battle Preparations
These function only on a Command starship. Even though a Command Doff isn't used, you don't get these starship abilities. So on a Pilot Starship you can double tap the "D" key on your key board and the starship will perform a barrel roll with or without a Pilot Boff
Boff Abilities
Command - Ambush Piont Marker
Intel - Torpedo: Transport Warhead
Pilot - Attack Pattern Lambda
Well, why can't PWE make it possible that you can use a Command/Intel or Pilot Boff in a Universal Boff position and you obtain the use of Command/Intel or Pilot Boff abilities?
Answer me that one!
Sure I might end up going and putting $120.00 US to get the 9 pack ship bundle, just so I can obtain Mastery level in those starships also like I have in ALL the other T6 starships.
But maybe I would just like to be able to gain Attack Pattern Lambda in my Diaenos Warbird. The Universal is a Universal Boff position. SO why can't you use any type of Boff in the position? Afterall, all starships has a command department, and starships as an Intel department and all starships must have a pilot and a navigator. So, why can't you obtain the use of these new Boff Abilities unless you use a ship of that type with the required Boff position?
I say, allow the Universal Boff position to have any type of Boff. Engineering, Science, Tactical, Command, Intel or Pilot.
Because ships with universal BOFF stations would be insanely OP. Bird of Preys would rule the game with an iron fist.
True
Oh yeah, you could mix and match from three extremely powerful specialties in the EXACT SAME bridge officer seat!
Pilot team 1, suppressing fire, OSS111
Thankfully this isn't quite accurate, you're on the right track though, lucky for us the system only allows a bridge officer to have 1 specialisation at a time.
Also, to my knowledge the bridge officer and spec systems as they are don't allow for universal stations to carry universal specs from what I gather it is a technical issue, not a design one. On the other hand, for reasons of balance, it is just as well that it is as it is.
I personally think that this Pilot Boff thing is something that PWE could add to every starship and not just a special breed of starships.
I also think that the Universal Boff position should be opened for all types of Boffs.
THIS! For the love of Trek, THIS!
Devs, STOP making more ships that don't exist in the Star Trek universe. This is STAR TREK Online and not Some Random Sci-Fi Online. If you want to add unique Pilot/Command/Intel officers then put them in the UNIVERSAL stations on ALL ships.
Any T5 or greater ship that doesn't currently have a universal BOFF station should be updated to at least have one universal station ... which can take ANYTHING.
Problem solved.
In the immortal words of Captain Sisko: "It may not be what you believe, but that doesn't make it wrong."
Don't believe the lies in this forum. I am NOT an ARC user. I play STO on Steam or not at all.
why should they hurl free stuff at you (upgrading all ships to have access to new special speccs) if they can realease it step by step, while we buy every step by step.
its basically this way: they either sell a whole upgrade system ONCE. or they sell 20 ships.
as a company, the latter makes sense. if everyone would get their fav ships with fav seat special - the game would be empty in 2 weeks. cause everyone is pleased fuully - and has NO NEED to be pleased again. dead end.
then they would have to adapt into selling missions via store.
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also: not ALL ships qualify as pilot ships. cause pilot doesnt mean "anything that makes a move" it means "has a specialty in moving". as like command means "has a specialty in commanding"
clearly every ship could fit an intel officer, or be a command ship in fleets. heck sisko commanded from aboard the defiant ... we could do that. but this would vastly devalue those specials.
part of "special" also means "no widely available".
while i agree, that all t5+u ships should get acess to an ensign/lt special by upgrading it, im not for "all universal".
all universal should be reserved for a brel, if its ever released.
i already find mixing intel/command very dangerous and implausible.
__
basically we have this:
all special speccs are related to a special shipclass thats designed for pulling it out the most.
and then we have those iconic ship refits, that partly go into that, in the best fitting area.* galaxys became command, defiant and sovereign will become pilot, and yeah somehow because no other option was there, the intrepid became intel *rolleyes*
*attention: i think they made just one mistake: they wanted to release all speccs after another, but they wanted to implement delta quadrant - that forced them to make the intrepid INTEL which is completely OFF THE SHOW, cause the intrepid, tom paris waving, was a part-PILOT ship. they never did anything that had to do with intel at all.
___
so while i understand the general money grab uproar, i still think the special speccs are handled correctly.
otherwise we'd have all universal universal ships all over. and the ships would come with "benefits" for "certain boff careers". (so you could seat any bo type anywhere, but your ship would give you "30% output for intel skills" or sth)
- that would have been one possible solution, but it would have made the game so "pleasing" that after 2 weeks everyone would have found their best ship with favorit seating, and then get bored and leave.
thats may sound weird but in the market you cannot risk pleasing the customer 100%. cause that would give you exactly ONE PURCHASE from that customer - and then hes pleased forever.
its like the time, when they built cars that lasted 30years ... it nice for the customer, but soon everyone will have a car thats basically indestructible and he will never need another one ...
__
donno but everything speaks for the way pwe does it.
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i think the basic displeasement derives from the fact that we never know which possible better ship will be released 2 weeks later.
but: with a bit of brain-usage you can forecast the releases.
if you want a defiant pilot, then heck dont buy that ship, the defiant pilot WILL COME.
Devs, STOP making more ships that don't exist in the Star Trek universe. This is STAR TREK Online and not Some Random Sci-Fi Online
Out of curiosity, what do you think the ST script writers did when they needed a new type of ship for whatever reason?
I was of the impression they made a new ship that didn't exist in the ST universe, the Galaxy class didn't exist until TNG, nor the Defiant until DS9 or the Intrepid until VOY...
Out of curiosity, what do you think the ST script writers did when they needed a new type of ship for whatever reason?
I was of the impression they made a new ship that didn't exist in the ST universe, the Galaxy class didn't exist until TNG, nor the Defiant until DS9 or the Intrepid until VOY...
Very much this. Star Trek did not end with 3 seasons of TOS. It kept growing and evolving and out popped an upgraded Connie, a Miranda, an Excelsior, an Oberth, etc - none of which would have existed if they were unwilling to invent new things.
Unfortunately some people do not want anything to evolve past their childhood memories. Everything has to stop with whatever their favorite Trek memories are. It is sad.
STO is about my Liberated Borg Federation Captain with his Breen 1st Officer, Jem'Hadar Tactical Officer, Liberated Borg Engineering Officer, Android Ops Officer, Photonic Science Officer, Gorn Science Officer, and Reman Medical Officer jumping into their Jem'Hadar Carrier and flying off to do missions for the new Romulan Empire. But for some players allowing a T5 Connie to be used breaks the canon in the game.
Thankfully this isn't quite accurate, you're on the right track though, lucky for us the system only allows a bridge officer to have 1 specialisation at a time.
Also, to my knowledge the bridge officer and spec systems as they are don't allow for universal stations to carry universal specs from what I gather it is a technical issue, not a design one. On the other hand, for reasons of balance, it is just as well that it is as it is.
so you're just angry that something new's coming out and you can't get it for free.
all of their income comes from ship and lockboxes. they don't charge for missions, or anything else. they can't give those ships abilities away for free and expect to pay their bills. it just doesn't work that way.
It's not that you can't get things for free, it's the fact that new paid gear makes old paid gear obsolete.
If Cryptic were skilled game makers they'd find a way to make new paid gear different but not superior. Instead of the only relevant ships and gear being the newest stuff, they'd make it so that every new release would increase and diversify the current relevant builds. That way you could actually be wowed at seeing something you'd not thought of or seen before, not be "ho-hum, that's the billionth TBR ship I've seen today".
It's not that you can't get things for free, it's the fact that new paid gear makes old paid gear obsolete.
If Cryptic were skilled game makers they'd find a way to make new paid gear different but not superior. Instead of the only relevant ships and gear being the newest stuff, they'd make it so that every new release would increase and diversify the current relevant builds. That way you could actually be wowed at seeing something you'd not thought of or seen before, not be "ho-hum, that's the billionth TBR ship I've seen today".
Something having a different ability does not make something else "obsolete." Cruisers are not obsolete because they have different abilities then an Escort, etc. Tactical Captains are not obsolete because they have different abilities then an Engineering Captain, etc. Intel ships and Command ships are not obsolete because they have different abilities then Pilot ships. They are all just different.
It really is nothing more then something new coming out and someone wanting it. The same whining happened with Intel ships and with Command ships. And I am certain it will happen again with whatever type of ship comes out after Pilot.
STO is about my Liberated Borg Federation Captain with his Breen 1st Officer, Jem'Hadar Tactical Officer, Liberated Borg Engineering Officer, Android Ops Officer, Photonic Science Officer, Gorn Science Officer, and Reman Medical Officer jumping into their Jem'Hadar Carrier and flying off to do missions for the new Romulan Empire. But for some players allowing a T5 Connie to be used breaks the canon in the game.
Something having a different ability does not make something else "obsolete." Cruisers are not obsolete because they have different abilities then an Escort, etc. Tactical Captains are not obsolete because they have different abilities then an Engineering Captain, etc. Intel ships and Command ships are not obsolete because they have different abilities then Pilot ships. They are all just different.
It really is nothing more then something new coming out and someone wanting it. The same whining happened with Intel ships and with Command ships. And I am certain it will happen again with whatever type of ship comes out after Pilot.
I see your point, but look at old paid ships, like the D'Kyr and MVAM, etc. They're completely obsolete.
If Cryptic had real skill those ships, and others of their ilk would still be relevant. But they're not.
I see your point, but look at old paid ships, like the D'Kyr and MVAM, etc. They're completely obsolete.
If Cryptic had real skill those ships, and others of their ilk would still be relevant. But they're not.
They are T5 ships. They will be slightly obsolete versus a T6 no matter what - or at least until Cryptic offers a T6 version in the upgraded Fleet Store.
STO is about my Liberated Borg Federation Captain with his Breen 1st Officer, Jem'Hadar Tactical Officer, Liberated Borg Engineering Officer, Android Ops Officer, Photonic Science Officer, Gorn Science Officer, and Reman Medical Officer jumping into their Jem'Hadar Carrier and flying off to do missions for the new Romulan Empire. But for some players allowing a T5 Connie to be used breaks the canon in the game.
If Cryptic had real skill those ships, and others of their ilk would still be relevant. But they're not.
Not so much actually, with all the universal consoles out there now there seems to be a minimum standard that can be met with virtually anything, which in itself mitigates obsolescence. But at the same time, those ships are so old, they pre-date the current conventions of ship creation which allow for lots of ships to be made at the same level with very slight differences, back then ship archetypes were much more defined.
I'm sure that should the first generation of VA ships be remade at T6 that change in ship design will show very clearly.
They are T5 ships. They will be slightly obsolete versus a T6 no matter what - or at least until Cryptic offers a T6 version in the upgraded Fleet Store.
Even before T6 ships were released they were obsolete. Now, even more so.
Not so much actually, with all the universal consoles out there now there seems to be a minimum standard that can be met with virtually anything, which in itself mitigates obsolescence. But at the same time, those ships are so old, they pre-date the current conventions of ship creation which allow for lots of ships to be made at the same level with very slight differences, back then ship archetypes were much more defined.
I'm sure that should the first generation of VA ships be remade at T6 that change in ship design will show very clearly.
The power creep in this game will always ensure obsolescence. It's been like that forever. No reason for it to change now.
Even before T6 ships were released they were obsolete. Now, even more so.
I agree that the D'kyr was an obsolete ship, but T6 did not make that happen - and if there is a Fleet T6 offered one day it might fall out of the realm of obsolescence, but it being obsolete has nothing to do with Intel, Command, or Pilot ships being released.
And there are a lot of T5 ships that function well. I am still using my Fleet Sovereign - which I upgraded to T5U. I can put-out over 15k DPS. I have never failed an Advanced STF, etc. It is not obsolete in any meaningful way compared to a T6. I do not need a Command Cruiser to replace it.
STO is about my Liberated Borg Federation Captain with his Breen 1st Officer, Jem'Hadar Tactical Officer, Liberated Borg Engineering Officer, Android Ops Officer, Photonic Science Officer, Gorn Science Officer, and Reman Medical Officer jumping into their Jem'Hadar Carrier and flying off to do missions for the new Romulan Empire. But for some players allowing a T5 Connie to be used breaks the canon in the game.
The power creep in this game will always ensure obsolescence. It's been like that forever. No reason for it to change now.
I didn't say obsolescence could be stopped, simply that the change in design philosophy and the rise of universal consoles has slowed it to a near crawl in terms of actual ships. Now yes, new ships will inevitably be more powerful than the last, if only slightly and some boff/console layouts synergise better than others even within a ship tier, but when you compare more recent ship designs within a tier the actual potential isn't too much different and from a pvp standpoint the difference (ship console sets not withstanding) is even less.
I'm not talking about FREE stuff!
I'm talking about opening the Universal Boff position so it can hold Boffs who are Command, Intel or Pilot Boffs. Since the special capabilities of these starships are not from the Boff positions, giving starships the capability of putting an Intel, Command of Pilot Boff in the Universal Boff position will not have a big affect on the game, except for allowing these Boff abilities on any starship.
The BoP already has anywhere from two to four Universal Boff positions.
Yes, this might be an issue if you are doing PvP combat, as if it isn't already. Rarely can someone survive and Alpha strike by a well balanced BoP in PvP combat, but not everyone does PvP. PvP doesn't earn you Reputation Marks, and if you aren't using Reputation Traits, you are missing out on game changing abilities.
Only the Z store ships, Fleet ships, special event ships and lockbox ships have Universal Boff positions.
It's not that you can't get things for free, it's the fact that new paid gear makes old paid gear obsolete.
If Cryptic were skilled game makers they'd find a way to make new paid gear different but not superior. Instead of the only relevant ships and gear being the newest stuff, they'd make it so that every new release would increase and diversify the current relevant builds. That way you could actually be wowed at seeing something you'd not thought of or seen before, not be "ho-hum, that's the billionth TBR ship I've seen today".
Hmmm... Different but not superior? Now what does that remind me of? Oh yes! Captain Specializations. :rolleyes:
I'm talking about opening the Universal Boff position so it can hold Boffs who are Command, Intel or Pilot Boffs.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!!
As others have stated, doing that would decrease the value of the ships offering those abilities. Why spend $30.00 on a new T6 Defiant when my FT5U Defiant can use a Pilot Boff in a Universal Seat for free? Do you not see how that might dissuade some people from buying a T6 Defiant when it comes out?
The new Boff abilities are the incentive to buy the items. If you give others those Boff abilities for free you decrease potential sales.
STO is about my Liberated Borg Federation Captain with his Breen 1st Officer, Jem'Hadar Tactical Officer, Liberated Borg Engineering Officer, Android Ops Officer, Photonic Science Officer, Gorn Science Officer, and Reman Medical Officer jumping into their Jem'Hadar Carrier and flying off to do missions for the new Romulan Empire. But for some players allowing a T5 Connie to be used breaks the canon in the game.
I'm not talking about FREE stuff!
I'm talking about opening the Universal Boff position so it can hold Boffs who are Command, Intel or Pilot Boffs. Since the special capabilities of these starships are not from the Boff positions, giving starships the capability of putting an Intel, Command of Pilot Boff in the Universal Boff position will not have a big affect on the game, except for allowing these Boff abilities on any starship.
And as multiple people have told you that is A: A bad idea in terms of both balance and sales and B: Due to system restraints, probably not possible.
I'm not talking about FREE stuff!
I'm talking about opening the Universal Boff position so it can hold Boffs who are Command, Intel or Pilot Boffs. Since the special capabilities of these starships are not from the Boff positions, giving starships the capability of putting an Intel, Command of Pilot Boff in the Universal Boff position will not have a big affect on the game, except for allowing these Boff abilities on any starship.
Only the Z store ships, Fleet ships, special event ships and lockbox ships have Universal Boff positions.
But you practically are asking for free stuff. On ships you probably own just because you cannot wait for a T6 version or don't want to invest into an eventual T6 version. Almost like the JHAS/JHSS fiasco.
And the results of making it so is likely to result in Cryptic going back and changing every Universal to a specific class type and restrict Universals to T6 (and we'll get to watch the forums, Twitter, and even STO ally Reddit burn, flaming the minority insisting on it). Since they explicitly said that Specialist Boff abilities are exclusive to T6 use.
More realistically is that Cryptic will add Universal Specialist seats, or UniSpec seats, at some point in the future (probably by token; an extra $5 USD to either turn an existing Hybrid into a UniSpec seat, or add another Specialization to an existing Hybrid seat), once they've sufficiently saturated the market. One of the Devs themselves did mention it to be a distinct possibility after they get "enough" Specializations out for players to pick their favorites and work with, to accommodate flexible Specialist Boff choices without completely walling them off to specific ships (but that will only benefit the new players in the far future). As well, this allows the to keep Universal seats untouched, and instead add the second Specialist layer over them if needed.
I'm not talking about FREE stuff!
I'm talking about opening the Universal Boff position so it can hold Boffs who are Command, Intel or Pilot Boffs.
Thus removing the "special" part from the world specializations.
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Comments
I absolutely concur Comrade! We should all express our disgust by not buying any items on the CStore...
But nay, we should not stop there! We should stop buying mobile phones, expensive electrical goods like LED TV's and high end computers! We should disconnect our cable television and even our internet...
We should all move back into caves because the power companies, water and gas companies and everyone in between are filthy capitalists and we should not stand for it any longer!
In other words... If you don't like it, don't buy them... Cryptic are a business and are in business to make money...
They are no more money grubbing than Apple, Nike or McDonalds - potentially better since their products aren't made in a sweatshop or use underpaid juniors to staff their stores...
Funny you should day Apple, read this nice little article about Apple putting pressure on record companies to pull their music from Spotfly, so Apple's soon to be released Boost music sub will have less competition.
http://www.macrumors.com/2015/05/04/apple-urging-music-labels-ditch-free-spotify/
imruined is correct, if you do not like the ships, do not want to spend money on them, all you have to do is not buy them. At the same time, you don't have to post about your decision to not buy them.
via Imgflip Meme Generator
I also think that the Universal Boff position should be opened for all types of Boffs. If you look at this position, they are usually just Ensign or Lieutenant positions. By allowing the Universal Boff position to use Command/Intel or Pilot Boffs, a whole new game play opens for all players. Even those who cannot afford to purchase those T6 starships.
It wouldn't be a hard thing to accomplish to include this command to the programming codes and since Command, Intel and Pilot abilities can be used by any engineer, science or tactical Boff, I don't think this would unbalance the game that much.
From what I am seeing, Pilot starships has specialized functions that allows for specific interface with the Pilot Space abilities to achieve unique outcomes. When the pilot Boff is used on any other type of non-pilot starship, this function would not be available. When a Command, Intel or Pilot Boff is used in a Universal Boff position, those special functions that are associated with Command and Intel starship will not function either.
all of their income comes from ship and lockboxes. they don't charge for missions, or anything else. they can't give those ships abilities away for free and expect to pay their bills. it just doesn't work that way.
Unique abilities on unique ships? Bah! Bad for the proletariat! Everything must remain the same! No advantages to anyone! Factions? Bah! Bad for the proletariat! Everyone must be in unity! Levels? Bah! Bad for the proletariat! People must remain on the same level!
Now come join our merry band and let's sing songs of our people; of peace, harmony, unity, and equality! And spit on those who dare to separate us from such! Down with Factions! Down with levels! Down with individuality! Down with capitalist dogs! Down with originality!
/sarcasm
Comparing a tiny and insignificant game feature to capitalist greed is stupidly hilarious.
Unlike some games; you can actually earn the Zen to buy the ships via old-fashioned grinding of in-game resources, rather than grinding paywalls and offers that may send you spam, viruses, or no cash currency after 1 hour of work.
Unlike some games, this sort of "class changing" is relatively simple. Just go buy some Pilot Specialization manuals, train your favorite Tac Boff, and then buy the manuals you want to train them in. Can't afford it? Just grind out the EC or spec points.
Unlike some games, the ships are not essential to any specific zone, unlike their near-equivalents (armor) in other games, where certain armor types is required and sometimes mandatory to have any hope of survival or victory.
Unlike some games, you are free to play the game from start to finish, if you're just willing to put in the work.
Please tell me where exactly MUST you use a Pilot ship or not be permitted to play at all (outside of arbitrary group-specific gatherings)? Or an Intel ship? Or a Command ship? Where are the locations that is so hard, ONLY Pilot ships will work? Where even DPS'ers can't enter because they don't have one?
TL;DR - You are not being denied anything other than putting some effort to attain what you want. Conversely, you are not being forced to work for things you really don't need.
Allow a Command/Intell or Pilot Boff to function in a Universal Boff position, but not have the function of a Command/Intel or Pilot starship.
Command Functions
Turn the Tide
Against all Odds
Battle Preparations
These function only on a Command starship. Even though a Command Doff isn't used, you don't get these starship abilities. So on a Pilot Starship you can double tap the "D" key on your key board and the starship will perform a barrel roll with or without a Pilot Boff
Boff Abilities
Command - Ambush Piont Marker
Intel - Torpedo: Transport Warhead
Pilot - Attack Pattern Lambda
Well, why can't PWE make it possible that you can use a Command/Intel or Pilot Boff in a Universal Boff position and you obtain the use of Command/Intel or Pilot Boff abilities?
Answer me that one!
Sure I might end up going and putting $120.00 US to get the 9 pack ship bundle, just so I can obtain Mastery level in those starships also like I have in ALL the other T6 starships.
But maybe I would just like to be able to gain Attack Pattern Lambda in my Diaenos Warbird. The Universal is a Universal Boff position. SO why can't you use any type of Boff in the position? Afterall, all starships has a command department, and starships as an Intel department and all starships must have a pilot and a navigator. So, why can't you obtain the use of these new Boff Abilities unless you use a ship of that type with the required Boff position?
I say, allow the Universal Boff position to have any type of Boff. Engineering, Science, Tactical, Command, Intel or Pilot.
Anything with less than a universal LTCMD would suck.
Oh yeah, you could mix and match from three extremely powerful specialties in the EXACT SAME bridge officer seat!
Pilot team 1, suppressing fire, OSS111
Would not end well for anyone not flying universal loaded ships. Everything else would be totally obsolete, even specialization specific ships.
True
Thankfully this isn't quite accurate, you're on the right track though, lucky for us the system only allows a bridge officer to have 1 specialisation at a time.
Also, to my knowledge the bridge officer and spec systems as they are don't allow for universal stations to carry universal specs from what I gather it is a technical issue, not a design one. On the other hand, for reasons of balance, it is just as well that it is as it is.
THIS! For the love of Trek, THIS!
Devs, STOP making more ships that don't exist in the Star Trek universe. This is STAR TREK Online and not Some Random Sci-Fi Online. If you want to add unique Pilot/Command/Intel officers then put them in the UNIVERSAL stations on ALL ships.
Any T5 or greater ship that doesn't currently have a universal BOFF station should be updated to at least have one universal station ... which can take ANYTHING.
Problem solved.
Don't believe the lies in this forum. I am NOT an ARC user. I play STO on Steam or not at all.
why should they hurl free stuff at you (upgrading all ships to have access to new special speccs) if they can realease it step by step, while we buy every step by step.
its basically this way: they either sell a whole upgrade system ONCE. or they sell 20 ships.
as a company, the latter makes sense. if everyone would get their fav ships with fav seat special - the game would be empty in 2 weeks. cause everyone is pleased fuully - and has NO NEED to be pleased again. dead end.
then they would have to adapt into selling missions via store.
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also: not ALL ships qualify as pilot ships. cause pilot doesnt mean "anything that makes a move" it means "has a specialty in moving". as like command means "has a specialty in commanding"
clearly every ship could fit an intel officer, or be a command ship in fleets. heck sisko commanded from aboard the defiant ... we could do that. but this would vastly devalue those specials.
part of "special" also means "no widely available".
while i agree, that all t5+u ships should get acess to an ensign/lt special by upgrading it, im not for "all universal".
all universal should be reserved for a brel, if its ever released.
i already find mixing intel/command very dangerous and implausible.
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basically we have this:
all special speccs are related to a special shipclass thats designed for pulling it out the most.
and then we have those iconic ship refits, that partly go into that, in the best fitting area.* galaxys became command, defiant and sovereign will become pilot, and yeah somehow because no other option was there, the intrepid became intel *rolleyes*
*attention: i think they made just one mistake: they wanted to release all speccs after another, but they wanted to implement delta quadrant - that forced them to make the intrepid INTEL which is completely OFF THE SHOW, cause the intrepid, tom paris waving, was a part-PILOT ship. they never did anything that had to do with intel at all.
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so while i understand the general money grab uproar, i still think the special speccs are handled correctly.
otherwise we'd have all universal universal ships all over. and the ships would come with "benefits" for "certain boff careers". (so you could seat any bo type anywhere, but your ship would give you "30% output for intel skills" or sth)
- that would have been one possible solution, but it would have made the game so "pleasing" that after 2 weeks everyone would have found their best ship with favorit seating, and then get bored and leave.
thats may sound weird but in the market you cannot risk pleasing the customer 100%. cause that would give you exactly ONE PURCHASE from that customer - and then hes pleased forever.
its like the time, when they built cars that lasted 30years ... it nice for the customer, but soon everyone will have a car thats basically indestructible and he will never need another one ...
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donno but everything speaks for the way pwe does it.
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i think the basic displeasement derives from the fact that we never know which possible better ship will be released 2 weeks later.
but: with a bit of brain-usage you can forecast the releases.
if you want a defiant pilot, then heck dont buy that ship, the defiant pilot WILL COME.
Or are we a dream within a dream, and that's why its already unstable?
Out of curiosity, what do you think the ST script writers did when they needed a new type of ship for whatever reason?
I was of the impression they made a new ship that didn't exist in the ST universe, the Galaxy class didn't exist until TNG, nor the Defiant until DS9 or the Intrepid until VOY...
Unfortunately some people do not want anything to evolve past their childhood memories. Everything has to stop with whatever their favorite Trek memories are. It is sad.
For once I'm glad to be wrong! 😄
It's not that you can't get things for free, it's the fact that new paid gear makes old paid gear obsolete.
If Cryptic were skilled game makers they'd find a way to make new paid gear different but not superior. Instead of the only relevant ships and gear being the newest stuff, they'd make it so that every new release would increase and diversify the current relevant builds. That way you could actually be wowed at seeing something you'd not thought of or seen before, not be "ho-hum, that's the billionth TBR ship I've seen today".
It really is nothing more then something new coming out and someone wanting it. The same whining happened with Intel ships and with Command ships. And I am certain it will happen again with whatever type of ship comes out after Pilot.
I see your point, but look at old paid ships, like the D'Kyr and MVAM, etc. They're completely obsolete.
If Cryptic had real skill those ships, and others of their ilk would still be relevant. But they're not.
Not so much actually, with all the universal consoles out there now there seems to be a minimum standard that can be met with virtually anything, which in itself mitigates obsolescence. But at the same time, those ships are so old, they pre-date the current conventions of ship creation which allow for lots of ships to be made at the same level with very slight differences, back then ship archetypes were much more defined.
I'm sure that should the first generation of VA ships be remade at T6 that change in ship design will show very clearly.
Even before T6 ships were released they were obsolete. Now, even more so.
The power creep in this game will always ensure obsolescence. It's been like that forever. No reason for it to change now.
And there are a lot of T5 ships that function well. I am still using my Fleet Sovereign - which I upgraded to T5U. I can put-out over 15k DPS. I have never failed an Advanced STF, etc. It is not obsolete in any meaningful way compared to a T6. I do not need a Command Cruiser to replace it.
I didn't say obsolescence could be stopped, simply that the change in design philosophy and the rise of universal consoles has slowed it to a near crawl in terms of actual ships. Now yes, new ships will inevitably be more powerful than the last, if only slightly and some boff/console layouts synergise better than others even within a ship tier, but when you compare more recent ship designs within a tier the actual potential isn't too much different and from a pvp standpoint the difference (ship console sets not withstanding) is even less.
I'm not talking about FREE stuff!
I'm talking about opening the Universal Boff position so it can hold Boffs who are Command, Intel or Pilot Boffs. Since the special capabilities of these starships are not from the Boff positions, giving starships the capability of putting an Intel, Command of Pilot Boff in the Universal Boff position will not have a big affect on the game, except for allowing these Boff abilities on any starship.
The BoP already has anywhere from two to four Universal Boff positions.
Yes, this might be an issue if you are doing PvP combat, as if it isn't already. Rarely can someone survive and Alpha strike by a well balanced BoP in PvP combat, but not everyone does PvP. PvP doesn't earn you Reputation Marks, and if you aren't using Reputation Traits, you are missing out on game changing abilities.
Only the Z store ships, Fleet ships, special event ships and lockbox ships have Universal Boff positions.
Hmmm... Different but not superior? Now what does that remind me of? Oh yes! Captain Specializations. :rolleyes:
As others have stated, doing that would decrease the value of the ships offering those abilities. Why spend $30.00 on a new T6 Defiant when my FT5U Defiant can use a Pilot Boff in a Universal Seat for free? Do you not see how that might dissuade some people from buying a T6 Defiant when it comes out?
The new Boff abilities are the incentive to buy the items. If you give others those Boff abilities for free you decrease potential sales.
And as multiple people have told you that is A: A bad idea in terms of both balance and sales and B: Due to system restraints, probably not possible.
But you practically are asking for free stuff. On ships you probably own just because you cannot wait for a T6 version or don't want to invest into an eventual T6 version. Almost like the JHAS/JHSS fiasco.
And the results of making it so is likely to result in Cryptic going back and changing every Universal to a specific class type and restrict Universals to T6 (and we'll get to watch the forums, Twitter, and even STO ally Reddit burn, flaming the minority insisting on it). Since they explicitly said that Specialist Boff abilities are exclusive to T6 use.
More realistically is that Cryptic will add Universal Specialist seats, or UniSpec seats, at some point in the future (probably by token; an extra $5 USD to either turn an existing Hybrid into a UniSpec seat, or add another Specialization to an existing Hybrid seat), once they've sufficiently saturated the market. One of the Devs themselves did mention it to be a distinct possibility after they get "enough" Specializations out for players to pick their favorites and work with, to accommodate flexible Specialist Boff choices without completely walling them off to specific ships (but that will only benefit the new players in the far future). As well, this allows the to keep Universal seats untouched, and instead add the second Specialist layer over them if needed.
What does god need with a starship? how did he get brought up all the sudden?
Thus removing the "special" part from the world specializations.
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