romulan - with low level ships
delta - end game ships
tos - with low level ships
gamma - end game ships
dscvry - in this order should have low level , well scaling ships makes it easier for the team. less ship design time , fewer console powers balancing ...
This game, be it because of the new EP or just because you're getting greedy, is heading in a downward spiral.
Too many changes from the previous "The account is the player" and bait and switch tactics surrounding stuff like the elite starter pack, is really starting to take it's toll on us.
Go back to the drawing board, but I will give you a helpful hint..... Add at least 4 Fed (5 if you include the KDF) DSC era Fleet level ships, and make the once per account items once per character. Not including keys and boosts, of course.
As it stands, even with the same discount that packs usually get, this is the worst deal in the history of the game's inception.
You know it, we know it, so stop this silly stuff before it goes beyond your control....
sad that the thing I want most is the twok era ship skin and its the one thing locked out of individual purchases. still as I said before given that we're close to 1yr since a rom faction ship, and that was the joke toilet brushes... I'd probably still keep my wallet closed even if I could get that separately and wait for my lifer zen to pile up to get it.
Maybe with this episode coming out in installments, the ships from later installments will be added to this as they come out?
It'd be really nice to see the DaSpu, and maybe the Chargh or Sech for klingons. Engle and Crossfield are in lockboxes but the Cardenas is still available?
Or UFP ships from the show that they can't announce until the show shows them?
As a lifetime sub of nearly 9 years who has sunk nearly $2,000 real dollars into this game over those years, I can say I won't be buying this pack and will likely be leaving the game is this is the direction things are moving. Commenting on the forums for the first time ever because I feel that strongly that this is a gigantic middle finger to a loyal playerbase.
Might as well add my 0.02ec to the pot. Though there is little I can say that wouldn't just be an echo of previous posts.
Yes, I feel this bundle is overpriced for what it contains.
Yes, I agree that the BOFFS/pet should be account unlocks.
And, yes, I also am disappointed that the nicest looking ship in this bundle (which isn't really a ship, just a costume) is restricted to this overpriced/undervalued piece of [insert favored curse here].
I will not be purchasing this bundle as it stands, however, I may consider purchasing that nifty looking battlecruiser should the stats be favorable.
I will be purchasing this bundle, as the ships look beautiful and redesigned, along with the BOFFs, combat pets and uniforms. Decent price even without the discount though it could have been done better.
Though, maybe look into some of the items being only once per account.
I eagerly look forward to what else will be coming done the road with this Age of Discovery. Especially episodes which have been knocking it out of the park.
I am wondering when we get the stats if these ships are all going to end up as scaling ships. May explain some things :shrug:
I do think that if the 4 package ships were scaling, that would add value to the package, especially Cryptic would say so, but then you have that Walker-class skin just there since the Prototype LEC (Light Exploration Cruiser) only scales up to 40 because who wants to own a special awesome unique uber ship skin for a 40 ship which would require owning the T6 version. I'm still not sure IF that was the case with the scaling I'd think the price for this amount, or lack thereof, of content would then be appropriate but it was be better.
The BOFFs & maybe the combat pet being only once per account spits in the face of players & is contradictory of Cryptic's "the account is the player" apparent world-salad meant to maybe placate players. I think the best description I've read in these forums so far about this package is "anemic". I've been saying over the past year Cryptic plans to have us pay the same or more but for less all along adding more gambling mechanics. It's just more of the same & not only them we're seeing, hearing about, or experiencing it from other games too. It can be tough to penetrate an echo chamber sometimes with any dissent & Cryptic's seems to be a strong one.
Maybe with this episode coming out in installments, the ships from later installments will be added to this as they come out?
It'd be really nice to see the DaSpu, and maybe the Chargh or Sech for klingons. Engle and Crossfield are in lockboxes but the Cardenas is still available?
Or UFP ships from the show that they can't announce until the show shows them?
Nothing actually prevents them from offering the Engle still in the C-store. Remember that the Mirror Escort Carrier is a Mirror ship, which is also a lock box ship. It features the trademark dual specialization seats that a lot of lock box ships seem to have. While it does unlock the use of the prime universe Engle skin, I don't feel it should be justified that the Engle should be exempt from a non-lock box version appearing.
As for ships being added in installments, in the past, they have added things to these kind of packs as part of Expansions. However, since Age of Discovery isn't exactly an expansion, there's no prior precedent for this, so we have to see what happens. We don't even have a confirmed release date.
Im interested in this as I love the look of the disco ships...BUT, I bought the disco starter pack and really think this should be discounted from the price of this new pack...fingers crossed I guess.
Probably would pass on this pack too normally, already got two DSC themed characters flying T6 Walker and Nimitz and didn't plan on rolling or reworking more Feds, but one or both of the Klingon ships (depends on stats and if the Qugh's flying in the right direction ) and Tactical/DSC Klingon costumes were always on my wishlist so with the discount I might go for it. We'll see.
Presumably the T'Kuvma costume comes with DSC "Klingorc" head parts like the Kelvin costume ? Can anyone confirm one way or the other ?
Way, way too many "once per account" restrictions on this one especially for the price. Will be passing on this one for sure, interesting as it may look.
The BOff, combat pet, and ship skin for the Walker were my interest. Definitely not worth $120 though. Locking the Walker skin behind this pay wall is truly disappointing.
I have bought every major pack in STO since launch. This is the first time I will pass, Why?
1- This AoY pack is 5 months late. It should have been out when AoY launched back last October. Probably you would have made a ton of money back them instead of offering the dismal starter pack. It really looked as a RUSHED job and now we are supposed to pay up extra for laziness? Sorry but true.
Some of us will be stuck with starter pack as there are no discounts if you got those already and want to buy the new one. Horrible marketing.
2- The bind on character rather than on account is a horrible idea for packs. Please scrap this model. Every year they try to give us less and less for our money. This is the wrong precedent for things to come and not really adjusted to anything of worth if LoR was a baseline for ALL packs. Heck not even Delta Rising packs were this ill conceived. if you want money just sell the ships and put them on the Cstore. Leave packs for Major expansions as it has been done.
I'm tired of being fair. This is almost a year now with nothing for Romulans...like I said, we don't even get a fraking TITLE. Not even the KDF had that level of abandonment. And the Dominion guys have had NOTHING since release and that is not okay either. Not even their vet ship. Which I understand not being there at release...but as a promised perk of LTS after a couple LTS sales...yeah that is also unexcusable.
This is exactly why they gave Romulans and Jem Hadar faction ships at the beginning of ViL. Did anyone not see it coming?
Maybe with this episode coming out in installments, the ships from later installments will be added to this as they come out?
It'd be really nice to see the DaSpu, and maybe the Chargh or Sech for klingons. Engle and Crossfield are in lockboxes but the Cardenas is still available?
Or UFP ships from the show that they can't announce until the show shows them?
Nothing actually prevents them from offering the Engle still in the C-store. Remember that the Mirror Escort Carrier is a Mirror ship, which is also a lock box ship. It features the trademark dual specialization seats that a lot of lock box ships seem to have. While it does unlock the use of the prime universe Engle skin, I don't feel it should be justified that the Engle should be exempt from a non-lock box version appearing.
Other than the fact that, so far as we know at least, there isn't a 25th century skin for the Engle, which seems to be a pre-requisite in this case.
So, you don't think that, considering they are MAKING discovery ships, that they might produce a 25th century skin for it?
I hold optimism that they will make 25th century versions of all the Battle of Binary Stars ships before they make a 25th century skin for the Nova.
Jem'Hadar Lifetime Ships and Honored First Shuttle still to come also.
After they 'allowed' Romulans to fly T5 and T6 Ships of their Allied Faction, my Romulan Characters have the largest Admiralty 'Fleet'. These Romulan Ships, when they come, better be really, really good. (Jem'Hadar as well).
They still have some more T5 Lobi and Lockbox Ships to Upgrade to T6.
Based upon what they pulled with the Elite Starter Pack, changing it to a Character only Services Pack unlock without notice anything is possible about their 'word'.
'But to be logical is not to be right', and 'nothing' on God's earth could ever 'make it' right!'
Judge Dan Haywood
'As l speak now, the words are forming in my head.
l don't know.
l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
2 ships for each faction (assuming we already got the walker) and still 12k zen for the pack?!
sorry but it ain't worth even 6k then.
once per account (char unlocks) are an absolute deal breaker.
sorry folks but come up with a better offer: max. 6k zen with special sale on it AND account unlocks on all items.
Last night, I posted that the sale was generous. And it is, I mean 30% off is a large discount.
However, I was in a rush and looking back on that comment, it may have seemed like I was fine with this pack at 8400 zen if they made the BOff's and combat pet account unlocks instead of once for a single character. That is not the case. The value of this pack is sorely lacking in my eyes.
At best, 5 ships if you don't already own the Discovery Starter Pack, one of them not meant for endgame and only 2 for Fed and 2 for KDF, no cross faction ships. Sorry Roms and Jems. Though I guess Roms and Jems should be able to at least fly their Allies ships. But no confirmation on that so far. Let's say they relent and allow the BOff's and combat pet to be account wide. There are also 2 apparently full uniforms, 1 for Fed, 1 for KDF along with a Federation 'head' costume unlock. Lastly are some Upgrade kits, some XP boosts and 10 Master Keys. All for 12k Zen off sale. (There may be a discount for those who already own the Discovery Starter Pack, but none has been mentioned.)
Looking at the other non-Starter packs at their normal price we have the Romulan (15k Zen), Delta (15k Zen), Temporal (13k Zen) and Gamma (13k Zen).
Looking back now, it would seem that the Romulan pack, at least in this age of T6 ships, may be slightly overpriced. But then you see what you get and there are 9 ships (Romulan only), 5 meant for endgame and 4 others not. Also included is a BOff that is account wide (Romulans only), a playable small ship/fighter/shuttle (Romulan only), a species unlock, a pack of 3 Duty Officers that is account wide (Romulans only), 2 Romulan only uniforms and 30 master keys.
Next up is the Delta pack with 9 total endgame ships. No crossfaction ships, so 5 Fed, 2 Romulan and 2 KDF. There are 2 account wide uniform unlocks with no restrictions. We also get 3 BOffs and 3 DOffs that are per character. Last but not least are 3 Ship Upgrade Tokens (takes certain T5 ships to T5-U, allowing them to be endgame worthy) and 3 Upgrade kits.
Moving on to the Temporal pack and here we have 12 total ships, with at least 7 of them being meant for endgame*. There is an account wide EV suit (Fed only) and 6 uniforms (Fed only), plus an account wide BOff (Fed only). There are 6 Temporal Operative Specialization Qualifications and 3 Upgrade kits as well.
Last but not least we have the Gamma pack with 10 cross faction, endgame ready ships along with 2 species unlocks that allow play on either Fed or KDF side. One account wide uniform and an account wide EV suit. Closing out the pack are 3 account wide BOff's, 2 large XP boosts and 3 upgrade kits.
Older packs seem to have much more value to them than this new pack, So, let's only compare the things that will likely matter the most to players; ships, additional personnel, uniforms and additional lower value items. Then see where *I* rank them. Titles hold ZERO value to me, so I won't even acknowledge them.
This one is tough to judge. If we go by total, it would be Temporal wining. But, you have to look at all sides and KDF/Roms/Jems only get access to 3 of the ships. (Unless some of those ships are in the list that Roms and Jems can fly, then that would make it better for them, obviously. But KDF are left out here.) Despite the Romulan pack ships being Rom restricted, there are simply more of them. The 5 endgame ships will require upgrade tokens to make them truly endgame worthy, but even then they get the edge. They also get a small craft so that is always usable, though may not be as useful.
Additional personnel - This will include BOff's, DOff's combat pets and unlocked species.
Tough to call on this one, but I put Gamma first due to the 2 species unlocks. Just barely though. I put Romulan ahead of Temporal in this instance because while both Romulan and Temporal Bundles have a restricted BOff, the Romulan pack also offers the pack of 3 DOff's.
Uniforms - I will include the EV suits in this section as they can be worn as a visual.
Another difficult one to rank this, and this is just my opinion, but with the Delta uniforms being cross faction, they get the nod simply because they are open to everyone. Temporal obviously has more uniforms, but they are restricted to Fed only. It's the sheer number that kept it ahead of the Gamma pack this time, though the EV suit in the Gamma pack is account wide and not faction restricted like the Temporal EV suit. And I'll probably get some hate for it, but while the Discovery Uniforms only really contain 1 uni for Fed (plus a new head detail) and 1 uni for KDF, I think the fact it has broader reach than the 2 Romulan uniforms gives it a slight edge.
Other items - This would be the XP boosts, the upgrade tokens and keys.
With the #4 and #5 spots, this gets kind of confusing, so it's a tie. I'd like to put the Discovery pack at #4 if the player doesn't own the Discovery Starter pack already simply due to the items that would come with the starter pack. An additional XP boost and the extra Inventory slots, that are unfortunately locked to the character who purchases it, are not bad. And then the non-combat pet and scaling weapons are decent for alts who are still leveling. With only keys in the Romulan pack, even though it is 30 keys, there's just not enough 'extra' to give it an edge. But, that's also 20 extra chances at getting a big ticket item, and at the very least 80 Lobi. Hmm... yeah, tie.
I'd have to say the best value pack we've gotten so far is the Gamma Pack. The number of items is just immense, especially compared to the upcoming Discovery pack. For 1k more Zen you get 6 additional ships that also happen to be CROSS FACTION. Just for that alone, it makes it more worth the money.
I'm willing to bet more will be added to the new Discovery pack. Maybe 1 or more ships, hopefully for both factions and not just Fed. I can see them "allowing" the BOff's and combat pet to be unlocked account wide.
Who knows what else they may add, if anything, but even if they add 2 more ships for BOTH Fed and KDF, it's still not worth 12k Zen to me. A price STARTING at 10k Zen with the above listed additions would seem fair, then that 30% sale would put it at 7k Zen, which would be a price I could see myself going for.
With the pack as it stands now though, BUT with the BOff's and combat pet being account unlocks, (this is a deal breaker, no matter the cost) a starting price at 7500 zen would be about right. With 30% off of that at launch (5250 Zen), again, I think I would buy.
I can see them allowing the BOff's/combat pet to be account wide, but not lowering the price. No sale for me.
I can see them adding to the pack but keeping the BOff's/combat pet 1 per account and the price the same. No sale for me.
I can see them adding to the pack, allowing the BOff's/combat pet to be account wide but keeping the price. Unless the added stuff is a huge amount, no sale for me.
tl;dr
Add additional items to the pack to give it a greater value. Allow the BOff's and combat pet to be unlocked account wide. Add at least 1 more ship to both Fed and KDF. Or, at the very least, lower the starting price of the pack.
As it is now, not even with someone else's money would I buy this pack as it will just encourage this type of thing in the future.
*An argument could be made that the Ranger could be meant for endgame, but with it lacking the ability to be upgraded to T5-U, *I* don't consider it as an endgame ship. But that is a different argument for another place and time.
This I think pretty much says it all for this whole thing.
Space is vast, it's wonderful and maddening. Yet in that madness is some of the greatest beauty I have ever seen.
No 23rd Century Romulan ships in Star Trek 2009, Into Darkness, or Star Trek Beyond and that didn't prevent Cryptic in releasing a T'Laru Intel Carrier Warbird in the Kelvin Timeline Lock Box.
As long as the Fed Bridge Officer, Klingon Bridge Officer, and Combat Tardigrade are once per account instead of once per character, then I won't buy it.
Comments
romulan - with low level ships
delta - end game ships
tos - with low level ships
gamma - end game ships
dscvry - in this order should have low level , well scaling ships makes it easier for the team. less ship design time , fewer console powers balancing ...
This game, be it because of the new EP or just because you're getting greedy, is heading in a downward spiral.
Too many changes from the previous "The account is the player" and bait and switch tactics surrounding stuff like the elite starter pack, is really starting to take it's toll on us.
Go back to the drawing board, but I will give you a helpful hint..... Add at least 4 Fed (5 if you include the KDF) DSC era Fleet level ships, and make the once per account items once per character. Not including keys and boosts, of course.
As it stands, even with the same discount that packs usually get, this is the worst deal in the history of the game's inception.
You know it, we know it, so stop this silly stuff before it goes beyond your control....
It'd be really nice to see the DaSpu, and maybe the Chargh or Sech for klingons. Engle and Crossfield are in lockboxes but the Cardenas is still available?
Or UFP ships from the show that they can't announce until the show shows them?
Bring the Enterprise XCV-330 to STO
Yes, I feel this bundle is overpriced for what it contains.
Yes, I agree that the BOFFS/pet should be account unlocks.
And, yes, I also am disappointed that the nicest looking ship in this bundle (which isn't really a ship, just a costume) is restricted to this overpriced/undervalued piece of [insert favored curse here].
I will not be purchasing this bundle as it stands, however, I may consider purchasing that nifty looking battlecruiser should the stats be favorable.
Very disappointed.
Though, maybe look into some of the items being only once per account.
I eagerly look forward to what else will be coming done the road with this Age of Discovery. Especially episodes which have been knocking it out of the park.
The Borg Assimilator
Live Long and Prosper.🖖[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
I do think that if the 4 package ships were scaling, that would add value to the package, especially Cryptic would say so, but then you have that Walker-class skin just there since the Prototype LEC (Light Exploration Cruiser) only scales up to 40 because who wants to own a special awesome unique uber ship skin for a 40 ship which would require owning the T6 version. I'm still not sure IF that was the case with the scaling I'd think the price for this amount, or lack thereof, of content would then be appropriate but it was be better.
The BOFFs & maybe the combat pet being only once per account spits in the face of players & is contradictory of Cryptic's "the account is the player" apparent world-salad meant to maybe placate players. I think the best description I've read in these forums so far about this package is "anemic". I've been saying over the past year Cryptic plans to have us pay the same or more but for less all along adding more gambling mechanics. It's just more of the same & not only them we're seeing, hearing about, or experiencing it from other games too. It can be tough to penetrate an echo chamber sometimes with any dissent & Cryptic's seems to be a strong one.
Nothing actually prevents them from offering the Engle still in the C-store. Remember that the Mirror Escort Carrier is a Mirror ship, which is also a lock box ship. It features the trademark dual specialization seats that a lot of lock box ships seem to have. While it does unlock the use of the prime universe Engle skin, I don't feel it should be justified that the Engle should be exempt from a non-lock box version appearing.
As for ships being added in installments, in the past, they have added things to these kind of packs as part of Expansions. However, since Age of Discovery isn't exactly an expansion, there's no prior precedent for this, so we have to see what happens. We don't even have a confirmed release date.
Presumably the T'Kuvma costume comes with DSC "Klingorc" head parts like the Kelvin costume ? Can anyone confirm one way or the other ?
TBF no Romulans in Discovery. Probably ever.
The BOff, combat pet, and ship skin for the Walker were my interest. Definitely not worth $120 though. Locking the Walker skin behind this pay wall is truly disappointing.
1- This AoY pack is 5 months late. It should have been out when AoY launched back last October. Probably you would have made a ton of money back them instead of offering the dismal starter pack. It really looked as a RUSHED job and now we are supposed to pay up extra for laziness? Sorry but true.
Some of us will be stuck with starter pack as there are no discounts if you got those already and want to buy the new one. Horrible marketing.
2- The bind on character rather than on account is a horrible idea for packs. Please scrap this model. Every year they try to give us less and less for our money. This is the wrong precedent for things to come and not really adjusted to anything of worth if LoR was a baseline for ALL packs. Heck not even Delta Rising packs were this ill conceived. if you want money just sell the ships and put them on the Cstore. Leave packs for Major expansions as it has been done.
This is exactly why they gave Romulans and Jem Hadar faction ships at the beginning of ViL. Did anyone not see it coming?
So, you don't think that, considering they are MAKING discovery ships, that they might produce a 25th century skin for it?
I hold optimism that they will make 25th century versions of all the Battle of Binary Stars ships before they make a 25th century skin for the Nova.
Jem'Hadar Lifetime Ships and Honored First Shuttle still to come also.
After they 'allowed' Romulans to fly T5 and T6 Ships of their Allied Faction, my Romulan Characters have the largest Admiralty 'Fleet'. These Romulan Ships, when they come, better be really, really good. (Jem'Hadar as well).
They still have some more T5 Lobi and Lockbox Ships to Upgrade to T6.
Based upon what they pulled with the Elite Starter Pack, changing it to a Character only Services Pack unlock without notice anything is possible about their 'word'.
l don't know.
l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
Though it might have been a good idea for Cryptic to have mentioned that small fact in the original post..**
2 ships for each faction (assuming we already got the walker) and still 12k zen for the pack?!
sorry but it ain't worth even 6k then.
once per account (char unlocks) are an absolute deal breaker.
sorry folks but come up with a better offer: max. 6k zen with special sale on it AND account unlocks on all items.
This I think pretty much says it all for this whole thing.
No 23rd Century Romulan ships in Star Trek 2009, Into Darkness, or Star Trek Beyond and that didn't prevent Cryptic in releasing a T'Laru Intel Carrier Warbird in the Kelvin Timeline Lock Box.
As long as the Fed Bridge Officer, Klingon Bridge Officer, and Combat Tardigrade are once per account instead of once per character, then I won't buy it.
Artwork for Sale:
https://www.deviantart.com/borgking001a/store/
https://www.renderosity.com/?uid=883914
https://www.redbubble.com/people/borgking001a
I see a LOT of similarities with Klingon BoPs, so it looks more like a Klingon ship imho.
remember the bird of prey was originally a romulan design kruge stole