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Skills System Revamp FAQ
pwgegnre
Member Posts: 10 Cryptic Developer
Since announcing the Skill System Revamp last week, we've received tons of questions from the community. Jeremy Randall, Skill System Revamp's designer, took some time to address some of the most frequently asked questions.
Learn more about the Revamp here!!
Learn more about the Revamp here!!
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A: Absolutely! Just as it is true with Skills currently, any character can purchase any of the same skills as any other Captain. This did not used to be true of the Ground Skills, but these have been standardized with the new Skill Revamp so that all characters have access to the same Ground Skills. "
So are you saying you are moving away from a captain having to pick whether they are going to be an Engineer, Tactical, or Science officer when they create their character? And instead let the player decide what they grow up to be based totally on which skills they pick as they level up?
Because that would be really nice! I enjoy my Engineer and his innate tanking abilities, but I many times I have wished I went the DPS route and made him a Tactical officer instead. Too far into the game now to toss everything aside that I have acquired for this engineer toon.
Yup, exactly.
It doesn't matter how much of a special "discount" they make the respec tokens. So long as the tokens cost actual money, people are going to find out what's "optimal", and leave it at that. Just like how it is with the current skill system.
And new players will continue to be punished for miss-clicks and "wrong" choices early one...just like with the current system. Again, unless they use this opportunity to completely remove the monetary cost of the respec tokens, their supposed intended goals of this revamp will completely fall flat. At best, it's just going to look slightly nicer and more streamlined, and perhaps slightly less confusing for newer players.
C'mon Crypic. Could we not try to make a quick buck off of this?
What I've been saying since the revamp was announced and failing to get any answer on, even the answer in the Q&A is suitably vague.
This is crucial to the revamp, get the pricing wrong and it becomes a one time fire and forget system and all that development time will have been wasted on a large proportion of the playerbase who will merely replicate their current builds and never use it again.
To rob a line: [quote: Mariemaia Kushrenada] Forum Posting is much like an endless waltz. The three beats of war, peace and revolution continue on forever. However, opinions will change upon the reading of my post.[/quote]
Member Access Denied Armada!
My forum single-issue of rage: Make the Proton Experimental Weapon go for subsystem targetting!
Sounds like we'll get all our points back... at least to start...
CM
For the low, low price of $5US, per use, if the player decides to experiment after replicating their current build or decide stepping out of their usual comfort zone didn't work for them.
I'm a lifer with several free untouched respecs on each of my characters from leveling and even I see your stated goal and actual implementation of the revised system as being mutually exclusive. If your system goes live as is I will simply recreate my existing character's builds as closely as possible and then never look at their skills ever again. Essentially boiling down to a minor annoyance for myself and wasted time and man power on your end that could have been put to better use working on just about anything else.
From the blog:
Q: I currently have an [Item, Trait, Set Bonus, etc.] which improves one of my Skills. What is happening to that with this Revamp?
A: The vast majority of these are being translated 1:1 over to new Skills with no change in their functionality. For example, if you have an item that currently improves your Graviton Generators skill, that item will be automatically updated to improve Control Expertise, which serves the same purpose(s) in the new Skill System. There are very few bonuses currently available to players that cannot be translated directly, and even in those few cases we will instead translate the bonuses to something that remains relevant under the new system.
Control Expertise?
I'm hoping the new skill system uses words, phrases, and clauses from actual Star Trek.
When I read "Control Expertise" I said to myself, "Shouldn't that be Control OPERATIONS as in the actual Star Trek "military" position of Operations? Like the Chief O'Brians and Datas and Kira Nyreeses of Trek? The Gold Shirts in TNG.
Are ya'll with me?
New content takes forever to arrive and it drip-fed at the rate of one mission a month, but somehow there's more than enough time for the Dev team to work on a total revamp of the one game aspect established players have no real interest in.
Plus I'm still trying to figure out whether I'm genuinely upset that Abandon Ship is being removed, or just trying to convince myself that I am. Hardly ever used the power, but it still feels sad and like a step in the wrong direction (i.e. away from fun references to the franchise) to remove it. So now our ships can project massive smiley face emotes, but can't voluntarily blow up. I don't remember the episode/movie where Spock uninstalled the self destruct so he could install a huge holographic projector...
I will find a build that will allow me to switch between Sci ships, Tac ships and Cruisers without crippling them. They may not be the best but they'll get by, I'm sure.
I have a LOT of C-Store ships and I want to fly them from time to time. And if I decide that my Tac character wants to switch from his Cannon Escort to a Science Grav Well/Tykens thrower & debuffer and then into a BFAW Cruiser, I'll find some middle ground that will allow me to do it without respec'ing.
And I have a feeling there are other players that will be doing the same.
Losing faith in humanity, one person at a time.
With such a high monetary cost associated with respec tokens, I'm among those who are going to copy the current build as much as possible, then forget the system even exists. Just like I do with the current one.
Instead, this is actually a chance to implement a much-needed EC sink into the game--charge players EC (scaling with level, so newer players can afford it too) to respec rather than making it a cash grab that preys on inexperienced players who make mistakes. Just FYI, way back when I was new and spent my points poorly, I found it more worthwhile to just delete the character and start over than to spend money on a respec token--that's an indication of a failed system.
- - -
Q: What is this new “Threatening Stance” ability? Where did “Abandon Ship” go?
A: We have abandoned “Abandon Ship” – this ability was never very useful, and primarily only utilized to grief other players. We decided to remove it entirely, and replace it with the new ability: “Threatening Stance”
By toggling on this new ability, the player may choose at any time to begin causing additional Threat to any enemies they are in combat with. Threat is what determines how an NPC foe chooses their target – the more you generate, the more likely they are to attack you.
Good riddance to abandon ship. I always just pull it off my bars anyway. As for Threatening Stance, I do have some concerns though:
1) This should be available for ground as well, so I can better protect the squishy 600 hp tacs that inevitably show up in my ground STFs. ^^
2) I'm uncertain that I like the idea of attaching a defensive effect to this. Doing so encourages people (especially less-experienced players) to use it for the defensive aspect rather than for threat management. That's just sending mixed signals to people. If I switch this on, it should only be because I'm properly equipped to handle the additional damage that will be coming my way.
Please devs, don't remove the crew!! What's a ship without her crew?? Crew is a major concept in a ship.
It had to be at last developped, not being removed.
Is this just going to be a system sabotage skill then (less useful that before, not that it was really useful then).
Or defend crew like Tactical Team?
Are you just removing that functionality and not compensating the skill for removal of that part of its use?
What about DOFFs that abilities like boarding parties?
What about DOFFs like Transporter Officer that gives a chance to remove hotile boarding parties?
From what I've seen, that particular feature has just been removed. No one ever took it into account anyways.
Well based on this
I would guess it's going to be an attack on one or both of those systems.
"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science!" - Agatha Heterodyne
Well at least we'll be given a chance to grab respec tokens a bit cheaper, in case of any initial slip-ups.
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"To boldly go to the stars on the wings of the faithful."
LMAOROFL!!!
If you want to encourage people to play with different builds give us the ability to have more than one build we can switch between! I would be more than happy to buy build slots.
Also I still feel that F2P players should get a 1 free Respec at level 60 this will help the new players who make mistakes.
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I will not let the childish acts of a criminal ruin this game for me.
-The actions of Cryptic, on the other hand......
Just FYI, but players don't buy respec tokens because "maybe I should shave off a bit from hull health and add it to damage resistance" is not a compelling reason to spend five bucks. This revamp won't have a lasting impact on respec token sales because "maybe I should switch hull health to damage resistance" is still not a compelling reason to spend five bucks.
You are expecting players to spend money on a boring mechanic that just shifts some numbers without affecting playstyle.
Not even Rift charges real money for respecs, and a respec in that game can completely change your character's role, stats, and playstyle. A Rift respec costs the equivalent of around 5k EC, and you don't even have to purchase a token and trade it to an NPC. You just open the spec window and hit a button.
The entire text for Starship Weapons Training is as follows:
How much damage does this add to my weapons, and in what way? Base damage? A multiplier? Bonus damage after other calculations? What part of this description is a player supposed to read that will tell them whether it's even worth putting points into this skill?
I congratulate you on your ability to magically know information that is never divulged, and fully support your decision to insult the health, literacy, and mental capacity of literally every other player in the game.
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What happened to my Halon consoles
Poni?
Why is plasma damage prefered again by this skill tree revamp? ( eng space progression skills)
I think, it's time to desertify weapon type usage. There are already enough plasma boosting consoles and skills.
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With this:
I get it that you guys still need to make money but all this idea of making it accessible to new players and making it "EASY" for them is kinda Contradicting the way you're doing things.
Seriously even I that could buy respec tokens and anyone else like me who don't need the dil exchange to buy them or those who are LTS knows this "SALE" is soo... pardon the words... STUPID and entirely MORONIC in every angle. Sorry have to say those words but in all my times here I remained neutral on my opinion about your moves since I had experience with how game development works which makes me understand some of your moves, but this...? this new move of yours is literally putting a Gun on your Head.
Let me state it to you guys why I think and god knows 90% of the player database think this "SALE" is Moronic and highly stupid:
1. How can anyone actually enjoy the new system if it's still under the same paywall as before? No matter what people would feel ripped-off of this because and this "SALE" Proves it.
2. You guys are going to kill New players who is trying to learn to play this game most specially the F2P's. Seriously. No matter how much claim you have that this is an easy way to learn the game and to add versatility it wont work AT ALL if people can't experiment with builds since they are locked on a paywall.
No you won't encourage them to build and explore this new skill system but rather you would just encourage those who could tolerate this to just copy other people's builds and resulting to a generic elitists community that is found in today's version of DPS ruled STO society.
3. The reset on skill holds no candle on the fact that NEW SKILL SYSTEM->NEW LEARNING CURVES->NEEDS TIME TO LEARN->BOUND T HAVE LOTS OF FAILURES->NEED LOTS OF SKILL RESETS. This will HIT EVERY F2P's REALLY HARD. This game became F2P because you guys need players and since I know how a company would work in employing this F2P's to make money since I you know... previously worked under a gaming company who also uses micro transactions and is spinning F2P's in the palm of their hands although treating them much better than this hence I know how things work and no matter how much you say it maybe different the core is still the same.
You need to generate money, hence you need more players. F2P's the more there are attracts more players. More players means more chances of people actually playing content and is actually a FREE Advertisement for the Game. Yes for those of you who don't know this is one of the greatest reasons why this game is allowing F2P's. which is connected to other several reason which Cryptic and PWE may have also encountered. Simply put F2P's are like cattle being fat-up to be harvested later. That's the dark side of F2P games. Because in reality nothing is really Free.
4. You guys never thought of the repercussion of this or just simply ignored the fact that the only way most F2P's can actually afford a Respec Token is the Dil Exchange. But the Dil Exchange is so inflated right now that it will only discourage players who are already on high enough level yet not yet on the end level.
You guys know how your "SALE EVENTS" work right? You make an Important sale->Dil exchange goes up. And when that happens people starts to realized that even if they sell their Zen at high price someone would still buy them. And I assure you it's not the F2P's who are buying out those Zens but rather those who have about 5 or more alts. Because seriously F2P's and most specially if they are casual players don't actually make many alts but rather focus on one or 2 toons.
Hence the only redeeming system you guys got is now something that is becoming more of a hindrance now.
God I do not know if you guys even do proper consumer research. I always thought you guys did but the ones doing it are just lacking. But now I'm leaning to the side where I think you guys don't even know squat on how your players really are doing.
The need to generate income is and will always be the driving force to keep this game alive and keep all of your jobs. That is something tied with how much entertainment and happy. You guys are one of the only few games left that know who still doesn't offer a free skill reset. Sure I will let it slide on the premise that you guys need to make money but this move? With the respec token would only garner you guys Un"Respec"ful attention.
Don't be the a Goddamn STKoR. Bioware killed their F2P's and many of us who actually bought subs got bored of the game out of the lessening players. Heck I have people who once played F2P there at first but started to pay some content there eventually give-up on that game because that game became more and more greedy.
I told them to switch to STO because I've said you guys are much better. Now you guys are proving me wrong or any other person who said you guys are much better than other gaming companies.
Look. Whoever it is that is thinking of these ideas, instead of making another Sale that will inflate more of the Dil Exchange and infuriate majority of the players, I suggest an alternative.
Give everyone free Respec Tokens instead not just the free reset. This will gain you more respect instead of spite from players since people would know that you guys actually care and would not cause another inflation on the Dill Exchange. I would suggest giving at least 4 pcs. This is because I am also suggesting to give fresh started toon to actually gain Respec tokens as they level as a reward for level 15, 30, 50 and 60. Since these levels are the most crucial.
The new system you're implementing has lots of potential so a 4 token isn't much of a loss for you guys since people would still buy them later if they want to try something new. I know you guys need to earn but damn it Cryptic not like this. The way you're doing it is making you guys look like you're ripping-off all the people. I know you guys are better than this.
Please rethink everything I said here. Good day and have a nice day.
OR, the Devs could just explain it better.
An official publication on what/how Skills interact with each other would solve that problem.
Do you know what would be infinitely better, though?
Having 3 buttons on top of the current Skills tab that reads "SciMagic", "Tank" and "DPS" with presets for each.
Then, it would be up to the Player to tweak these settings if they feel it's needed.
That would make both the n00bs and "vet" Players happy.
But I've just been playing this game for years, so wtf do I know.
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Exactly. A skill no one liked anyway, even more useless. Since they are in the process of revamping, would be nice for this Engineering skill to be redesigned or replaced.