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Why is AFK occuring in First Contact Re-Enactment

auctionman1auctionman1 Member Posts: 25 Arc User
I'm sorry but I have to vent (and it has nothing to do with being stuck at home, due to illness I have been mostly stuck at home for a long time, I hope everyone is okay as well). Why am I getting the really dumb AFK in the First Contact Re-enact TFO. I go out and get parts for all three (Engine, Hull and Stabilizer). I bring them back. As I go out for round 2 of searching, I see players who are standing at their parts assembly desk. They might have all uncommon, or a mix of uncommon, rare and very rare. I come back after 2nd round of looking and if time remains start a 3rd fetch of parts. When they say get back to desk, I click on the response. While at my desk I respond to adjust parts and do as many as I can in the time provided or till parts run out. I then click on the next prompt which takes you to the test pad. I then look up and watch 5 things going into the air and then explosions as the each one can go. Then I get the message choice of thank you, and leave now (can't remember at moment the 2 choices. I thank and look to see the choice of marks and none are shown. Only other choice is to leave map. I go into the TFO selection and look and it says I have been assigned an AFK Penalty of 30 minutes.

So my gosh what else do I have to do to avoid it while others just sit at their desk after they have at least all uncommon parts. It has happened to me twice in the period of this event. Is this just another bug that was never fixed? Is there something I am not doing to avoid it? I know my lag is not an issue (I have checked). I have made sure my files are fine. I have made sure I have plenty of ram memory and virtual memory free. I have made sure I enough temp space on the drive the game is installed to as well C drive. I have obviously signed in properly. SO WHY the afk? I am sorry about all caps but I sign on quickly as I am working on other things (like the update to my disability paperwork) and having to wait 30 minutes ro redo it and as it happened today, I got back to back afk. I respond very quickly to the mission countdown to accept. So someone, anyone tell me what is up. This is not a new mission so why have new bugs crept in and just remind me of every bug so far in this game from day 1 year 1 to year 10 or whatever year, I don't remember anymore, I log in, do the missions, do what my character needs, login to my other toons on the account do what needs to be done and signout. I lost track of the years (yes I know go look it up, well it shouldn't be an issue suffice to say these pesky bugs are really a downer).
Post edited by baddmoonrizin on
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Comments

  • ltminnsltminns Member Posts: 12,569 Arc User
    Did you have a Backpack on? If not, there seems to be a bug that if you don't have that Backpack, regardless of what you do, you will get the AFK Penalty.

    The Penalty was added this year because in the past, people just stood at the table throughout the entire TFO and got the Rewards at the end. Unfortunately, they seemed to have mucked up this change. This change and the one for quality of parts affecting the blast off were not documented in the Patch Notes but in our Community Manager's Twitter Feed. That does not bode well for the implementation.
    'But to be logical is not to be right', and 'nothing' on God's earth could ever 'make it' right!'
    Judge Dan Haywood
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    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.'
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  • kurtronkurtron Member Posts: 190 Arc User
    ltminns wrote: »
    Did you have a Backpack on? If not, there seems to be a bug that if you don't have that Backpack, regardless of what you do, you will get the AFK Penalty.

    I had the backpack on this morning, collected all the parts, was at the adjustment part, at a certain point it glitched and the 'interact' stopped appearing. Was rewarded a lovely AFK for that.

    But seriously, is this "AFK"ing in an event that's designed to just be a bit of fun such a big deal that they had to implement a shiny new system that breaks the content?
  • throkithroki Member Posts: 34 Arc User
    There do seem to be some bugs with the AfK-Penalty. I just finished the Re-Enactment, winning it even, with a mix of 2x Excellent (Engine, Hull) and 1x Rare (Stabilizer) ... and got a nice AfK-Penalty for not participating enough. Yeah, seems legit.

    (Had a backpack too. ;-))
  • chastity1337chastity1337 Member Posts: 1,606 Arc User
    I am not seeing this, but I have a thought on possible cause.
    Normally, AFK penalty is for not doing a sufficient % of total damage inflicted by your team. The only combat in this mission is if spiders pop out of a junkpile. If that happens, chances are only the person who was searching that junkpile participates in the combat, (if one can dignify spider killing with that word).

    You think maybe this is what's happening?
  • evilmark444evilmark444 Member Posts: 6,950 Arc User
    I am not seeing this, but I have a thought on possible cause.
    Normally, AFK penalty is for not doing a sufficient % of total damage inflicted by your team. The only combat in this mission is if spiders pop out of a junkpile. If that happens, chances are only the person who was searching that junkpile participates in the combat, (if one can dignify spider killing with that word).

    You think maybe this is what's happening?

    This sounds like a logical explanation for the issue, though you would think the Devs would anticipate this problem and plan accordingly ...
    Lifetime Subscriber since Beta
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  • trennantrennan Member Posts: 2,839 Arc User
    Because like all newer TFOs, it's part of the No Captain Left Behind program. Show up and get a reward.
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  • rhenvar42rhenvar42 Member Posts: 84 Arc User
    trennan wrote: »
    Because like all newer TFOs, it's part of the No Captain Left Behind program. Show up and get a reward.

    Explains why I like the new Patrol mission so much, you can't AFK that.
  • startrek6000startrek6000 Member Posts: 26 Arc User
    I have gotten this AFK penalty with and without the backpack. It's happened to me a few times.

    Finally, I played it fully trying to make sure I click every couple of seconds, in case the AFK penalty was bugged to need a constant stream of clicks, then I got the AFK penalty. I tried playing it normally by just clicking as I would from normal play, then I got the AFK penalty again. Seriously....

    Yeah, I could just do the ground patrol, which is what I've been resorting to, BUT I like the rocket building. Also on First Contact Day, I played the rocket mission in honor of the holiday, and I got the AFK twice in a row, 30 minutes apart. I was quite unhappy.
  • salazarrazesalazarraze Member Posts: 3,794 Arc User
    I am not seeing this, but I have a thought on possible cause.
    Normally, AFK penalty is for not doing a sufficient % of total damage inflicted by your team. The only combat in this mission is if spiders pop out of a junkpile. If that happens, chances are only the person who was searching that junkpile participates in the combat, (if one can dignify spider killing with that word).

    You think maybe this is what's happening?
    That sounds like a really strong possibility actually.
    When you see "TRIBBLE" in my posts, it's because I manually typed "TRIBBLE" and censored myself.
  • salazarrazesalazarraze Member Posts: 3,794 Arc User
    edited April 2020
    Another possibility is it generally takes a really REALLY long time for the actual prompt to pop up at the end showing your reward. People may be inadvertently beaming out too early thus incurring a leaver penalty. I know I've almost accidentally beamed out too quickly a couple of times.
    When you see "TRIBBLE" in my posts, it's because I manually typed "TRIBBLE" and censored myself.
  • peterconnorfirstpeterconnorfirst Member Posts: 6,225 Arc User
    This one is really funny.

    First day I hard AFKed -> pen
    Second day I soft AFKed -> pen
    Third day I tried-> pen
    Now I play the new patrol directly and avoid the rocket game altogether. -> works!

    It’s a good map which takes about 8 minutes so workaround found. Too bad they wasted that stage to be just a limited time patrol. At least my boffs do a better job than my casual team mates do in PvE (not counting fleet mates and league admins of course). Think they are in for a promotion and some better gear in the foreseeable future. :)
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  • strathkinstrathkin Member Posts: 2,666 Bug Hunter
    I had one AFK on one of my toons doing the Rocket and don't know why either; cause she was active the whole time during the rocket mission. I've only had it happen to me though one time, and when I switched to a different character to run Rocket Mission, the other toon didn't have any problems.

    Still perhaps something they can investigate perhaps for next year?

    @ambassadorkael#6946
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  • casualstocasualsto Member Posts: 672 Arc User
    The new patrol is a great fun source. I'm not even approaching the TFO. This ground patrol is amazing content.
  • trennantrennan Member Posts: 2,839 Arc User
    kurtron wrote: »
    But seriously, is this "AFK"ing in an event that's designed to just be a bit of fun such a big deal that they had to implement a shiny new system that breaks the content?
    The DEVs take AFKing as a personal insult. It's like saying "You're stuff is so boring, I'd rather just stand here". Which to be fair, is true, the rockets are boring AF.

    I find the pewfest tfos boring, but I still participate in those. IF the devs hated afking, they wouldn't give you rewards for doing nothing.
    Another possibility is it generally takes a really REALLY long time for the actual prompt to pop up at the end showing your reward. People may be inadvertently beaming out too early thus incurring a leaver penalty. I know I've almost accidentally beamed out too quickly a couple of times.

    I've waited for half the leave timer to run out, still no popup on the badge box. Nor reward indicator in chat. It just appears in my inventory. The Patrol get a popup as soon as the mark reward window pops up.
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  • ussvaliant#6064 ussvaliant Member Posts: 1,006 Arc User
    I've been bugged in that TFO a few times. One where I was hit with an electric shock but it didn't register until the very end of the TFO thus preventing me from acquiring parts to drop off and adjust in the 2nd phase. I've also been hit with interact failing to work after picking up my 1st part and then not being able to drop it off and being locked out of doing anything but move around, 3 times now been hit by a AFK penalty because the TFO has OMG SHOCK HORROR bugs.
    maR4zDV.jpg

    Hello rubber banding my old friend, time to bounce around the battlezone again, where are all my bug reports going?, out of love with this game I am falling, As Cryptic fail to acknowledge a problem exists, Shakes an angry fist, And from Support all I'm hearing are the sounds of silence.
  • ltminnsltminns Member Posts: 12,569 Arc User
    I've been shocked a few times picking up better quality pieces than I had already installed. I still got the part and was able to slot it over the lower quality one.
    '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.'
    Lt. Philip J. Minns
  • leemwatsonleemwatson Member Posts: 5,342 Arc User
    trennan wrote: »
    kurtron wrote: »
    But seriously, is this "AFK"ing in an event that's designed to just be a bit of fun such a big deal that they had to implement a shiny new system that breaks the content?
    The DEVs take AFKing as a personal insult. It's like saying "You're stuff is so boring, I'd rather just stand here". Which to be fair, is true, the rockets are boring AF.

    I find the pewfest tfos boring, but I still participate in those. IF the devs hated afking, they wouldn't give you rewards for doing nothing.
    Another possibility is it generally takes a really REALLY long time for the actual prompt to pop up at the end showing your reward. People may be inadvertently beaming out too early thus incurring a leaver penalty. I know I've almost accidentally beamed out too quickly a couple of times.

    I've waited for half the leave timer to run out, still no popup on the badge box. Nor reward indicator in chat. It just appears in my inventory. The Patrol get a popup as soon as the mark reward window pops up.

    I agree with you. Folk shouldn't get rewarded for AFK'ing, but at least they've actually done something about AFK'ing this time, even if it appears somewhat broken.
    "You don't want to patrol!? You don't want to escort!? You don't want to defend the Federation's Starbases!? Then why are you flying my Starships!? If you were a Klingon you'd be killed on the spot, but lucky for you.....you WERE in Starfleet. Let's see how New Zealand Penal Colony suits you." Adm A. Necheyev.
  • crm14916crm14916 Member Posts: 1,516 Arc User
    I've only not had the backpack when on my Lib Borg toon. She's got the new outfit, so I figured it was something to do with that. I've never gotten the AFK pen, but I do get frustrated at the quality of parts, since I actually try in this event...
    "Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure science." - Edwin Hubble
  • meimeitoomeimeitoo Member Posts: 12,594 Arc User
    As I said, bugs aside, I deem AFK-penalties in an Event TFO rather questionable. Event TFO's are meant to be lighthearted, friendly dailies (basically just so you'll show up in-game for at least 14 days). They're not meant to be truly taken all that seriously (only after the Event is over, re-introducing possible fail-comditions again). I urge Cryptic to reconsider.
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  • postagepaidpostagepaid Member Posts: 2,899 Arc User
    The penalty is there because each year there's a slew of complaints about afkers despite it being a solo affair and others being afk has zero impact on your run.

    I've had the no backpack bug almost every day of the event so far on one of my two accounts, only gets annoying when you opt for the borg slaughtering while it cools down only to get hit by the bug it that which prevents you from neuralising the campers.

    The afk penatly seems to be a coin toss though as I've been given it from building and launching a rocket with backpack, no backpack but applying parts to someone elses bench while at the same time doing those have resulted in getting it. Typical QA from cryptic so not something they can blame on a certain pandemic.
  • trennantrennan Member Posts: 2,839 Arc User
    The penalty is there because each year there's a slew of complaints about afkers despite it being a solo affair and others being afk has zero impact on your run.

    I've had the no backpack bug almost every day of the event so far on one of my two accounts, only gets annoying when you opt for the borg slaughtering while it cools down only to get hit by the bug it that which prevents you from neuralising the campers.

    The afk penatly seems to be a coin toss though as I've been given it from building and launching a rocket with backpack, no backpack but applying parts to someone elses bench while at the same time doing those have resulted in getting it. Typical QA from cryptic so not something they can blame on a certain pandemic.

    I've ran int to hat bug before. What I found to alleviate that is to approach from as far west as possible, usually at jog speed so all the talking can happen. You're pretty good to go once you here "What do you want?"
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  • tigerariestigeraries Member Posts: 3,492 Arc User
    i am out getting mats and all of a sudden I loose my back pack. or I get to the final stage after adjustments and wham... back pack gone. this is bugged as heck.
  • tigerariestigeraries Member Posts: 3,492 Arc User
    they should of just made it so, when you get to the final launch stage and you have not completed all 3 parts... fail and you get nothing. bug if they at least ran out and got 3 green parts (1 from each area) then they are ok. what ever method they are using is borked.
  • trennantrennan Member Posts: 2,839 Arc User
    tigeraries wrote: »
    they should of just made it so, when you get to the final launch stage and you have not completed all 3 parts... fail and you get nothing. bug if they at least ran out and got 3 green parts (1 from each area) then they are ok. what ever method they are using is borked.

    I've had the side meter thing bug out and not show up, so kept having to guess on what pieces I needed to try and improve. IT didn't show up until the rocket launch, then it was the distance one.
    Mm5NeXy.gif
  • grendelthewise#0990 grendelthewise Member Posts: 640 Arc User
    ltminns wrote: »
    Did you have a Backpack on? If not, there seems to be a bug that if you don't have that Backpack, regardless of what you do, you will get the AFK Penalty.

    Unfortunately, they seemed to have mucked up this change.

    Cryptic is good at this
    Fleet Admiral of the U.S.S. ATTILA KHAN-CDA (NX-921911).
  • tigerariestigeraries Member Posts: 3,492 Arc User
    ok this afk bug also kicks in even IF you have your backpack and event buff on screen. I just launched my rocket and event ended... backpack still on... no reward and got a afk slap on my que.
  • tilartatilarta Member Posts: 1,798 Arc User
    For expedience sake, I decided to do the rocket mission, even though it's the queue I resent most in the game.
    Worst decision I've ever made today, because:
    5FBC1B2D5F8BEDEB538CB995BBFC43C304D51C7F
    Last time this happened due to DPS whackers, I gained an extra days worth of event progression because AFK queues don't count for the daily.
    And I've probably gotten an extra day added due to this!!!! :#

    Honestly, the reason I revile this mission so much is shown above, the mechanics are so flawed, the other 4 players are disabling all the parts piles repetively.
    In a mission that grants a penalty due to inactivity, having outside interference could trigger the AFK software alert.
    And I can personally assure you, I was doing something the entire time, even if it was just running around in circles because all the pools were disabled.
    I figured I had to do something to avoid the AFK penalty, even though it didn't work, obviously!

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  • boldlygoing01boldlygoing01 Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    Hit a new low for me with this today.

    No sign of backpack bugs, or anyone else fighting the spiders, no problems with the adjustment stage, launched with purple parts for all 3 sections, and STILL got an AFK penalty - what can you do :(
  • trennantrennan Member Posts: 2,839 Arc User
    Hit a new low for me with this today.

    No sign of backpack bugs, or anyone else fighting the spiders, no problems with the adjustment stage, launched with purple parts for all 3 sections, and STILL got an AFK penalty - what can you do :(

    The spiders will go away if you're close enough to the bench area. Just kite them in and poof. Further out, not sure if they actually have an aggro reset range. But they generally take very little to kill them.
    Mm5NeXy.gif
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