Set Bonuses
•Overcloaked (2 pc) – Passive ◦Reduces the recharge time on Cloak
•Critical Ambush (2 pc) – Passive ◦Grants a bonus to Critical Hit Chance and Critical Severity for a short time after exiting cloak
that's my beef and i'm sticking to it. This has no real reason to be the set for the Defiant since its a normal cloak, and as mentioned about a dozen other times, quad cannons should be a 3 piece bonus..
it boggles my mind so much to see so many disgusted at the idea some are voicing their opinions about the ship and why we are disgruntled with it, when just a few days ago in the redit forums, the devs listened and changed the photon torpedo console into a quantum console... so yes, if its argued well enough such as my beef above about the set bonus the developers should go back and redo it, they would get a sell from me if the bonus made any sense.
Actually yours is among the more civil disagreements I find with the upcoming defiant. In truth, they could have done better with the Defiant's bonus. It's a big difference between my preference of a battlecloak as a set bonus, and others just wanting it automatic. Some will buy it, others won't. I don't even look at it as a boycott situation regarding those among the latter. I wouldn't go on a boycott of a Gorn/Ha'nom science ship, I simply just wont buy one. I still don't even know that I'm getting this pack myself. There's a difference between wanting a decent ship (as well as different standards of decent ship) and wanting a god-ship. What does God want with a starship anyway?
While I'm completely un-surprised by the Defiants stats, and agree with several that most of the expectations are entirely unrealistic.
I also agree the set bonus is something of a wasted effort for it. The B'rel/Kor has a battle cloak so it can make decent use of the set bonus, for the defiant, the overcloaked part is entirely worthless and you get to use the bonus to ambush at best once per fight.
I think the reasons for not including the quads is because they are not Tactical Escort specific but can be used on any ship that runs DHC, still it could be used in a set, and its not like the B'rel and Defiant needs to have the same set bonuses in the first place, the T'varo doesn't afterall.
Set Bonuses
•Overcloaked (2 pc) – Passive ◦Reduces the recharge time on Cloak
•Critical Ambush (2 pc) – Passive ◦Grants a bonus to Critical Hit Chance and Critical Severity for a short time after exiting cloak
that's my beef and i'm sticking to it. This has no real reason to be the set for the Defiant since its a normal cloak, and as mentioned about a dozen other times, quad cannons should be a 3 piece bonus..
it boggles my mind so much to see so many disgusted at the idea some are voicing their opinions about the ship and why we are disgruntled with it, when just a few days ago in the redit forums, the devs listened and changed the photon torpedo console into a quantum console... so yes, if its argued well enough such as my beef above about the set bonus the developers should go back and redo it, they would get a sell from me if the bonus made any sense.
well for their sake I hope the console isn't affect by set bonuses otherwise that was a questionable request.
oh and cryptic if your paying any attention please keep the kor's console photon.
and less voicing their opinion, more what that opinion is.
if I stop posting it doesn't make you right it. just means I don't have enough rum to continue interacting with you.
Or you don't, because you're morally superior to them and know you can only work your diplomacy magic if people trust you enough.
I, for one, have no interest in dying, or even merely risking death, just to make some jackasses with hardons for poetry and philosophy feel good about their worthless "moral high ground."
Is the enemy dead? If yes, that makes us the good guys. Because who the hell is going to argue?
"So you walk eternally through the shadow realms, standing against evil where all others falter. May your thirst for retribution never quench, may the blood on your sword never dry, and may we never need you again."
-Dedication plaque of the Federation Starship U.S.S. Merkava
Need, not typically. But that said on longer fighters like with say dreadnoughts in Borg Disconnected taking a moment to refresh the cloak ambush can help, particularly when you're turning around for another pass because in a Raider the last thing you want to do is park it. they're fragile enough without sacrificing your defence value.
Point is you can do it on the Kor, the Defiant isn't even able to.
This makes me less likely to buy: Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Lieutenant Universal, 1 Commander Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Commander Tactical/Pilot, 1 Lieutenant Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Science
No Lt. Cdr universal, no Lt. Cdr Science. I like having grav well 1 to clump targets together for more explodening.
The Kor BoP looks nicer -- enhanced battle cloak, L, 2 x LC, C universal seating, raider flanking. So does the Malem with LC Science and LC uni.
Anyone who thought the Defiant was going to get a Lt Cmdr Sci was fooling themselves, if anything it would of got a Lt Cmdr Eng...I mean seriously...the Defiant...the ship that was tiny and cramped...where do you think they're gonna fit any Science bells and whistles?
If you want a Lt Cmdr Sci there are plenty of T6 options...if you're a Vet or LTS'er you already have one.
T6 versions of T5 ships don't change substantially...the T'varo had a Lt Cmdr Uni and the BoP always have all Uni...
Sorry you were hoping for something unrealistic...but the writing has been on the wall since the first T6 Retrofits came out...there have never been significant changes...just a extra boff slot and hybrid seating.
Can't have a honest conversation because of a white knight with power
Need, not typically. But that said on longer fighters like with say dreadnoughts in Borg Disconnected taking a moment to refresh the cloak ambush can help, particularly when you're turning around for another pass because in a Raider the last thing you want to do is park it. they're fragile enough without sacrificing your defence value.
Point is you can do it on the Kor, the Defiant isn't even able to.
I do it in a kor without really good timing and luck I'm going to respawn. cause it's fragile. and for the feds who forgot cloak and shields don't get along. don't worry saying you failed in any way after all it's not your tech, it's understandable you'ld forget.
if I stop posting it doesn't make you right it. just means I don't have enough rum to continue interacting with you.
I can understand that. Getting full use out of a battle cloak takes knowledge of timing, your slotted skills and just what your ships limitations are. I run a fleet Feaht on the green side with a reman captain, she cloaks every 20 seconds without fail becuase I've got the reman infiltrator trait on her and superior infiltrator from one of the DR boffs, decloak ambush lasts 21 seconds and grants 55% base damage increase. She leveled T1-T4 in C-store Birds of Prey and the Feaht is the closest she can get at T5/T6.
It's kind of funny though, because almost everyone complaining will buy the ship anyway.. even those that say they won't.
We had this same thread when the Hestia came out, people were raging right and left and swearing that Cryptic lost their business. They were all unhappy that, like the Defiant, the ship was 2nd rate to the Pilot Escorts. The Pilot ships are constantly held up as the Gold Standard, but I honestly wonder how well they sold.
For every 1 Pilot Ship I see, I see 5 Hestias.
Pilot Ships are one of the rarest ships in the game, I never see them ever. Yet people complain about new releases and say they're going to buy Pilot ships instead.
Something tells me that once tomorrow rolls around, we'll see Defiants everywhere.
I really don't understand how/why the Defiant doesn't get a 3 piece set bonus for the quad cannons. I mean, I'm like Warmaker I kept my expectations realistic. I wasn't expecting anything other than a standard escort with 4/3 weapons and a bump in stats to make it T6, and +1 boff slot with a hybrid specialisation. But the Defiant's quad cannons should be part of the set bonus. There's no reason not to because the Roms set that precedent with the Ar'kif.
I can understand that. Getting full use out of a battle cloak takes knowledge of timing, your slotted skills and just what your ships limitations are. I run a fleet Feaht on the green side with a reman captain, she cloaks every 20 seconds without fail becuase I've got the reman infiltrator trait on her and superior infiltrator from one of the DR boffs, decloak ambush lasts 21 seconds and grants 55% base damage increase. She leveled T1-T4 in C-store Birds of Prey and the Feaht is the closest she can get at T5/T6.
sadly most people don't have that experience and vastly over estimate cloak/battle cloak.
saw it with delta and seeing it now. I said a week before delta wait week after launch and we'll have threads ask for fed intel ships to get battle cloak... it took two days. hell I'll say it now they give it battle cloak in any form they'll be asking for enhanced battlecloak for it by monday.
if I stop posting it doesn't make you right it. just means I don't have enough rum to continue interacting with you.
I, for one, have no interest in dying, or even merely risking death, just to make some jackasses with hardons for poetry and philosophy feel good about their worthless "moral high ground."
Is the enemy dead? If yes, that makes us the good guys. Because who the hell is going to argue?
I know this is probably written in jest but we're within an IP here, and the Feds are generally meant to be the "do-goodies". Would they do it? I don't know. But there still is some idea behind it.
My mother was an epohh and my father smelled of tulaberries
I think for folks new to the game that don't already have the phantom or the pilot ships will be happy to get into the defiant and know that they have a good ship
Here's the problem though, for 3500 Zen they get their fleet level 'good ship.'
Or for 500 Zen less, they can buy a Pilot ship that's superior in every way and save 500 Zen. For $5 less, they get a better ship that can be claimed at fleet level for all their characters.
Honestly, the purchase makes less sense for new players then it does for Veterans.
Guess which of the 2 estimates types are going to be more prevalent among the playerbase?
On the forums, at least. People with realistic expectations or no expectations probably won't post as much. Unless they are goofing off at work and a forum addict, like me.
Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
Or you don't, because you're morally superior to them and know you can only work your diplomacy magic if people trust you enough.
I, for one, have no interest in dying, or even merely risking death, just to make some jackasses with hardons for poetry and philosophy feel good about their worthless "moral high ground."
Is the enemy dead? If yes, that makes us the good guys. Because who the hell is going to argue?
I, on the other hand, have no interest in having to fight countless of wars with billions of deaths because we couldn't convince other aliens that we really mean them no harm.
Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
I think I know what happened. At some point they confused the sets as in 3p rom was originally intended for the valiant with torp, cloak and quads and a subsequent bonus to these. The stealth bonus was intended for ships with battlecloak I.e. rom/kdf ships.
Now they just want to see what happens ^^
I think for folks new to the game that don't already have the phantom or the pilot ships will be happy to get into the defiant and know that they have a good ship
Here's the problem though, for 3500 Zen they get their fleet level 'good ship.'
Or for 500 Zen less, they can buy a Pilot ship that's superior in every way and save 500 Zen. For $5 less, they get a better ship that can be claimed at fleet level for all their characters.
Honestly, the purchase makes less sense for new players then it does for Veterans.
The thing with the pilot ships is this. For the most part, they´re kinda ugly and the Defiant looks cool. the best pilot escort kitbash looks far worse than the best defiant kitbash. People are willing to suck it up because of looks. That said, the defiant, like all iconics, sells on fanboy dreams rather than any actual utility or gameplay advantage over any other ships of their class. Compared to the Hestia and the Alita the Valiant has nothing going for it other than being a ship of the defiant line. Its a cashgrab for minimal effort that also ensures people will keep buying Cryptic´s other ships. Simple as that.
Now that I´m more calm about it all I too agree that it was simply foolish on our part to expect anything else from Cryptic. I mean, we´re not Cryptic noobs here are we? Should the defiant have gotten a 5/2 layout and pilot maneuvers? I believe so, but Cryptic isn´t in the habit of making the iconics decent ships, nor is it in the habit of even risking curtailing future sales by spreading what little work it does on the specialist ships around to others. Its a shame but it is what it is. If anyone is still upset about it I suggest you show your displeasure by NOT purchasing the Valiant. Heck, I would say don´t buy anything from them until they make you happy with their performance again. It may seem pointless given how apt trek fans are at throwing money at overpriced RL and pixel trinkets so long as it has a starfleet logo on them, but at least you´ll know you´re not contributing to it.
The thing with the pilot ships is this. For the most part, they´re kinda ugly and the Defiant looks cool. the best pilot escort kitbash looks far worse than the best defiant kitbash. People are willing to suck it up because of looks.
The first part is, of course, matter of opinion, but the second part is right on. I know that personally, I hate the look of the Defiant, and I like the Pilot Escorts so to each their own. But you're right, people will buy it just because it's skin is a Defiant.
If anyone is still upset about it I suggest you show your displeasure by NOT purchasing the Valiant. Heck, I would say don´t buy anything from them until they make you happy with their performance again. It may seem pointless given how apt trek fans are at throwing money at overpriced RL and pixel trinkets so long as it has a starfleet logo on them, but at least you´ll know you´re not contributing to it.
In the end, this is the best course of action. If people are really unhappy with the way Cryptic adapts T5 'Iconic' Ships, then they should express that by not buying the ship. That however, doesn't happen. Look at all the rage that started with the Hestia.. yet I can't throw a rock in Sector Space without hitting a Hestia. People raged up a storm, then bought it anyway, just like they will with the Defiant. As a result, the practice will continue and we'll be right back in this same discussion once the T6 Sovereign releases to everyone's sudden surprise and disappointment.
I'm sorry, but the simple truth is that your proposed solution is far to rational and sensible to ever be actually considered.
I've seen players doing just fine with NX and Oberths. Playing ISE. At this point any talk about "better" or "powerful" is utterly ridiculous. If you're half-decent at builds, it is almost impossible to not get enough DPS to cakewalk everything (non-pvp) that the game has to offer, premium ships or not.
We were buying wholly unnecessary space barbie ship costumes then, and we're still buying wholly unnecessary space barbie ship costumes now. It's about time we reconciled ourselves with that notion.
Still, there is a problem here, but it's not the Valiant/Kor/Malem. They are pretty much what they are supposed to be.
The actual problem is that Pilot Ships are able to be played in the same way as a traditional escort with absolutely no trade-offs whatsoever for their prec(oc)ious toys.
Way I see it, this is a side effect of Cryptic's original pets not having their gameplay implementations done by people who were entirely removed from the design process. Said bias results in these pets (in this case, pilot ships) coming out as self-insert fanfic godship circlejerks, rather than reasonable options in a diverse metagame.
You ever notice how, when an actor is allowed to write/direct an episode of a TV series they star in, it almost always results in them getting to make out with one of their co-stars?
Still, there is a problem here, but it's not the Valiant/Kor/Malem. They are pretty much what they are supposed to be.
The actual problem is that Pilot Ships are able to be played in the same way as a traditional escort with absolutely no trade-offs whatsoever for their prec(oc)ious toys.
it is what it is. If anyone is still upset about it I suggest you show your displeasure by NOT purchasing the Valiant. Heck, I would say don´t buy anything from them until they make you happy with their performance again.
See, I get that you are displeased. I would say that, since you have found a cheaper option which offers a better return, just go for that. I get that you wanted to have a Defiant to have this better performance, because Defiant, but sometimes things don't work that way.
So yes, if you're dissatisfied, do not buy the ship. It's not only a way to show Cryptic that you are unhappy but also just the sensible thing to do. But I think if somebody's whole gripe about the defiant is what makes STO stand or fall then it's time to move on. So: not buying because stuff is overpriced? Valid argument. Not buying because you don't need or want anything? Valid. Not buying because you can't really afford it? Valid. Boycotting a company just because a single product did not live up to your expectations? Not quite as valid, in my eyes. And that is the problem in this discussion: the Defiant, eh, Valiant may have been better, and there can be compelling reasons that it should be improved. But, starting with the OP, quite a few of the complaints are just too reminiscent of any brat in the aisle screaming "Me wanna chocolate now!". There is a difference between "Valiant is a total fail" and "I am unhappy with how the Valiant is set up", especially since the former, which clearly is an opinion, is stated as a fact.
You ever notice how, when an actor is allowed to write/direct an episode of a TV series they star in, it almost always results in them getting to make out with one of their co-stars?
Let's be fair, if I were in that position, there is a chance I'd take the opportunity, too, viewers be damned
My mother was an epohh and my father smelled of tulaberries
I've seen players doing just fine with NX and Oberths. Playing ISE. At this point any talk about "better" or "powerful" is utterly ridiculous. If you're half-decent at builds, it is almost impossible to not get enough DPS to cakewalk everything (non-pvp) that the game has to offer, premium ships or not.
We were buying wholly unnecessary space barbie ship costumes then, and we're still buying wholly unnecessary space barbie ship costumes now. It's about time we reconciled ourselves with that notion.
Still, there is a problem here, but it's not the Valiant/Kor/Malem. They are pretty much what they are supposed to be.
The actual problem is that Pilot Ships are able to be played in the same way as a traditional escort with absolutely no trade-offs whatsoever for their prec(oc)ious toys.
The truth is however, that the Command and Intel ships are exactly the same. There isn't really anything in the ship stats that make you think they payed for their specialization abilities. If so, it's in the minor stuff most people aren't looking at anyway (like tiny differences in shield or hull).
The Pilot ships just have the most flashy abilities here. Maybe even the most powerful.
I'd love the Pilot maneuvers even if they didn't grant damage immunity. It's just fun to make a roll to the side. And it's already very useful to be able to get a short speed burst or a quick jump back to lengthen your attack run.
But if they end up nerfing them, you know the anger this will cause. (There isn't any indication that they are even remotely planning that. I guess they would need to see something like a notable loss in sales of new escort-type ships. Or a Pilot ship notably outperforming other types of ships in some elite missions or something like that.)
Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
Were I an academic, this thread and the pilot escort announcement thread I've read out of curiosity would've been excellent starting points for an essay "Anti-consumerism as the most sophisticated way of saying GIMME NAU!"
But since I'm not, I'd just point out that although I understand very well the idea that my 20 quid could've bought me a compete second-hand videogame, (or some other entertainment) and spending them on just a pretty collection of polygons and textures that "does the job" (so do freebie lvl 40 ships,) infused with the mystique of ships from the show or not, is suboptimal, and I do wish to get something more...
Actually making that mystique being reflected in uber-stats is the surest way to destroy what little game balance there is in a typical raiding-focused MMO with microtransactions. It's not some sinister plot or shoddy work by Cryptic, it's them trying to keep things reasonably fair.
I've seen players doing just fine with NX and Oberths. Playing ISE. At this point any talk about "better" or "powerful" is utterly ridiculous. If you're half-decent at builds, it is almost impossible to not get enough DPS to cakewalk everything (non-pvp) that the game has to offer, premium ships or not.
We were buying wholly unnecessary space barbie ship costumes then, and we're still buying wholly unnecessary space barbie ship costumes now. It's about time we reconciled ourselves with that notion.
Still, there is a problem here, but it's not the Valiant/Kor/Malem. They are pretty much what they are supposed to be.
The actual problem is that Pilot Ships are able to be played in the same way as a traditional escort with absolutely no trade-offs whatsoever for their prec(oc)ious toys.
Way I see it, this is a side effect of Cryptic's original pets not having their gameplay implementations done by people who were entirely removed from the design process. Said bias results in these pets (in this case, pilot ships) coming out as self-insert fanfic godship circlejerks, rather than reasonable options in a diverse metagame.
You ever notice how, when an actor is allowed to write/direct an episode of a TV series they star in, it almost always results in them getting to make out with one of their co-stars?
I do agree that the defiant should of had something in the 3 set bonus like the Intrepids were. The quad cannons, cloak(if in the set should of been maybe battle, or hit harder coming out?) and then the new torp console.
But is what is, still plan to buy the 3 set.
Star Trek Battles member. Want to roll with a good group of people regardless of fleets and not have to worry about DPS while doing STFs? Come join the channel and join in the fun!
Or you don't, because you're morally superior to them and know you can only work your diplomacy magic if people trust you enough.
I, for one, have no interest in dying, or even merely risking death, just to make some jackasses with hardons for poetry and philosophy feel good about their worthless "moral high ground."
Is the enemy dead? If yes, that makes us the good guys. Because who the hell is going to argue?
I, on the other hand, have no interest in having to fight countless of wars with billions of deaths because we couldn't convince other aliens that we really mean them no harm.
On that, I'm actually in agreement. War is bad m'kay? On the other had, the Federation intentionally hobbling it's fighting ability in the name of some high ideal that means absolutely nothing once the shooting starts just gets more good people killed on the line, which leads to more death among the people they're supposed to be defending. Which is absolutely and completely inexcusable. It's part of why I absolutely hate Star Trek: Destiny.
Along that line, I very much doubt there's any race in the galaxy that would hold having stealth capable ships and powerful, dedicated warships against the Federation. Military preparedness is simply prudent, and the faster you end an armed struggle or encounter on your terms, the faster is is over for everyone. If anything, it's the Federation's stupidly naive and often just plain stupid Diplomatic Corps that's the problem, not the hard chargers and combat vessels.
"So you walk eternally through the shadow realms, standing against evil where all others falter. May your thirst for retribution never quench, may the blood on your sword never dry, and may we never need you again."
-Dedication plaque of the Federation Starship U.S.S. Merkava
Comments
Actually yours is among the more civil disagreements I find with the upcoming defiant. In truth, they could have done better with the Defiant's bonus. It's a big difference between my preference of a battlecloak as a set bonus, and others just wanting it automatic. Some will buy it, others won't. I don't even look at it as a boycott situation regarding those among the latter. I wouldn't go on a boycott of a Gorn/Ha'nom science ship, I simply just wont buy one. I still don't even know that I'm getting this pack myself. There's a difference between wanting a decent ship (as well as different standards of decent ship) and wanting a god-ship. What does God want with a starship anyway?
wait... your going to need it more then once?
well for their sake I hope the console isn't affect by set bonuses otherwise that was a questionable request.
oh and cryptic if your paying any attention please keep the kor's console photon.
and less voicing their opinion, more what that opinion is.
if I stop posting it doesn't make you right it. just means I don't have enough rum to continue interacting with you.
I, for one, have no interest in dying, or even merely risking death, just to make some jackasses with hardons for poetry and philosophy feel good about their worthless "moral high ground."
Is the enemy dead? If yes, that makes us the good guys. Because who the hell is going to argue?
-Dedication plaque of the Federation Starship U.S.S. Merkava
Need, not typically. But that said on longer fighters like with say dreadnoughts in Borg Disconnected taking a moment to refresh the cloak ambush can help, particularly when you're turning around for another pass because in a Raider the last thing you want to do is park it. they're fragile enough without sacrificing your defence value.
Point is you can do it on the Kor, the Defiant isn't even able to.
Anyone who thought the Defiant was going to get a Lt Cmdr Sci was fooling themselves, if anything it would of got a Lt Cmdr Eng...I mean seriously...the Defiant...the ship that was tiny and cramped...where do you think they're gonna fit any Science bells and whistles?
If you want a Lt Cmdr Sci there are plenty of T6 options...if you're a Vet or LTS'er you already have one.
T6 versions of T5 ships don't change substantially...the T'varo had a Lt Cmdr Uni and the BoP always have all Uni...
Sorry you were hoping for something unrealistic...but the writing has been on the wall since the first T6 Retrofits came out...there have never been significant changes...just a extra boff slot and hybrid seating.
I do it in a kor without really good timing and luck I'm going to respawn. cause it's fragile. and for the feds who forgot cloak and shields don't get along. don't worry saying you failed in any way after all it's not your tech, it's understandable you'ld forget.
if I stop posting it doesn't make you right it. just means I don't have enough rum to continue interacting with you.
We had this same thread when the Hestia came out, people were raging right and left and swearing that Cryptic lost their business. They were all unhappy that, like the Defiant, the ship was 2nd rate to the Pilot Escorts. The Pilot ships are constantly held up as the Gold Standard, but I honestly wonder how well they sold.
For every 1 Pilot Ship I see, I see 5 Hestias.
Pilot Ships are one of the rarest ships in the game, I never see them ever. Yet people complain about new releases and say they're going to buy Pilot ships instead.
Something tells me that once tomorrow rolls around, we'll see Defiants everywhere.
That's my gripe.
sadly most people don't have that experience and vastly over estimate cloak/battle cloak.
saw it with delta and seeing it now. I said a week before delta wait week after launch and we'll have threads ask for fed intel ships to get battle cloak... it took two days. hell I'll say it now they give it battle cloak in any form they'll be asking for enhanced battlecloak for it by monday.
if I stop posting it doesn't make you right it. just means I don't have enough rum to continue interacting with you.
I know this is probably written in jest but we're within an IP here, and the Feds are generally meant to be the "do-goodies". Would they do it? I don't know. But there still is some idea behind it.
Here's the problem though, for 3500 Zen they get their fleet level 'good ship.'
Or for 500 Zen less, they can buy a Pilot ship that's superior in every way and save 500 Zen. For $5 less, they get a better ship that can be claimed at fleet level for all their characters.
Honestly, the purchase makes less sense for new players then it does for Veterans.
I, on the other hand, have no interest in having to fight countless of wars with billions of deaths because we couldn't convince other aliens that we really mean them no harm.
Now they just want to see what happens ^^
The thing with the pilot ships is this. For the most part, they´re kinda ugly and the Defiant looks cool. the best pilot escort kitbash looks far worse than the best defiant kitbash. People are willing to suck it up because of looks. That said, the defiant, like all iconics, sells on fanboy dreams rather than any actual utility or gameplay advantage over any other ships of their class. Compared to the Hestia and the Alita the Valiant has nothing going for it other than being a ship of the defiant line. Its a cashgrab for minimal effort that also ensures people will keep buying Cryptic´s other ships. Simple as that.
Now that I´m more calm about it all I too agree that it was simply foolish on our part to expect anything else from Cryptic. I mean, we´re not Cryptic noobs here are we? Should the defiant have gotten a 5/2 layout and pilot maneuvers? I believe so, but Cryptic isn´t in the habit of making the iconics decent ships, nor is it in the habit of even risking curtailing future sales by spreading what little work it does on the specialist ships around to others. Its a shame but it is what it is. If anyone is still upset about it I suggest you show your displeasure by NOT purchasing the Valiant. Heck, I would say don´t buy anything from them until they make you happy with their performance again. It may seem pointless given how apt trek fans are at throwing money at overpriced RL and pixel trinkets so long as it has a starfleet logo on them, but at least you´ll know you´re not contributing to it.
The first part is, of course, matter of opinion, but the second part is right on. I know that personally, I hate the look of the Defiant, and I like the Pilot Escorts so to each their own. But you're right, people will buy it just because it's skin is a Defiant.
In the end, this is the best course of action. If people are really unhappy with the way Cryptic adapts T5 'Iconic' Ships, then they should express that by not buying the ship. That however, doesn't happen. Look at all the rage that started with the Hestia.. yet I can't throw a rock in Sector Space without hitting a Hestia. People raged up a storm, then bought it anyway, just like they will with the Defiant. As a result, the practice will continue and we'll be right back in this same discussion once the T6 Sovereign releases to everyone's sudden surprise and disappointment.
I'm sorry, but the simple truth is that your proposed solution is far to rational and sensible to ever be actually considered.
We were buying wholly unnecessary space barbie ship costumes then, and we're still buying wholly unnecessary space barbie ship costumes now. It's about time we reconciled ourselves with that notion.
Still, there is a problem here, but it's not the Valiant/Kor/Malem. They are pretty much what they are supposed to be.
The actual problem is that Pilot Ships are able to be played in the same way as a traditional escort with absolutely no trade-offs whatsoever for their prec(oc)ious toys.
Way I see it, this is a side effect of Cryptic's original pets not having their gameplay implementations done by people who were entirely removed from the design process. Said bias results in these pets (in this case, pilot ships) coming out as self-insert fanfic godship circlejerks, rather than reasonable options in a diverse metagame.
You ever notice how, when an actor is allowed to write/direct an episode of a TV series they star in, it almost always results in them getting to make out with one of their co-stars?
....yeah.
Head? Check.
... Swing away!
See, I get that you are displeased. I would say that, since you have found a cheaper option which offers a better return, just go for that. I get that you wanted to have a Defiant to have this better performance, because Defiant, but sometimes things don't work that way.
So yes, if you're dissatisfied, do not buy the ship. It's not only a way to show Cryptic that you are unhappy but also just the sensible thing to do. But I think if somebody's whole gripe about the defiant is what makes STO stand or fall then it's time to move on. So: not buying because stuff is overpriced? Valid argument. Not buying because you don't need or want anything? Valid. Not buying because you can't really afford it? Valid. Boycotting a company just because a single product did not live up to your expectations? Not quite as valid, in my eyes. And that is the problem in this discussion: the Defiant, eh, Valiant may have been better, and there can be compelling reasons that it should be improved. But, starting with the OP, quite a few of the complaints are just too reminiscent of any brat in the aisle screaming "Me wanna chocolate now!". There is a difference between "Valiant is a total fail" and "I am unhappy with how the Valiant is set up", especially since the former, which clearly is an opinion, is stated as a fact.
Let's be fair, if I were in that position, there is a chance I'd take the opportunity, too, viewers be damned
The Pilot ships just have the most flashy abilities here. Maybe even the most powerful.
I'd love the Pilot maneuvers even if they didn't grant damage immunity. It's just fun to make a roll to the side. And it's already very useful to be able to get a short speed burst or a quick jump back to lengthen your attack run.
But if they end up nerfing them, you know the anger this will cause. (There isn't any indication that they are even remotely planning that. I guess they would need to see something like a notable loss in sales of new escort-type ships. Or a Pilot ship notably outperforming other types of ships in some elite missions or something like that.)
But since I'm not, I'd just point out that although I understand very well the idea that my 20 quid could've bought me a compete second-hand videogame, (or some other entertainment) and spending them on just a pretty collection of polygons and textures that "does the job" (so do freebie lvl 40 ships,) infused with the mystique of ships from the show or not, is suboptimal, and I do wish to get something more...
Actually making that mystique being reflected in uber-stats is the surest way to destroy what little game balance there is in a typical raiding-focused MMO with microtransactions. It's not some sinister plot or shoddy work by Cryptic, it's them trying to keep things reasonably fair.
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But is what is, still plan to buy the 3 set.
Star Trek Battles member. Want to roll with a good group of people regardless of fleets and not have to worry about DPS while doing STFs? Come join the channel and join in the fun!
http://forum.arcgames.com/startrekonline/discussion/1145998/star-trek-battles-channel-got-canon/p1
On that, I'm actually in agreement. War is bad m'kay? On the other had, the Federation intentionally hobbling it's fighting ability in the name of some high ideal that means absolutely nothing once the shooting starts just gets more good people killed on the line, which leads to more death among the people they're supposed to be defending. Which is absolutely and completely inexcusable. It's part of why I absolutely hate Star Trek: Destiny.
Along that line, I very much doubt there's any race in the galaxy that would hold having stealth capable ships and powerful, dedicated warships against the Federation. Military preparedness is simply prudent, and the faster you end an armed struggle or encounter on your terms, the faster is is over for everyone. If anything, it's the Federation's stupidly naive and often just plain stupid Diplomatic Corps that's the problem, not the hard chargers and combat vessels.
-Dedication plaque of the Federation Starship U.S.S. Merkava