Just remember not everyone is swimming in Dil' or has the time to engage in all the farming antics. So whatever sinks are suggested should not be a "must have" or replace something freely accessible in game.
The whole problem with the dilex is the lack of value to dil. If you have 1mil dilithium, you should be making a choice to either convert it to zen, or to spend it on dil items. That second part is horribly lacking and always has been. They need to add a myriad of items. services, whatever to get via dilithium and make that choice of what to do with dil meaningful. This, if done right, would add a massive value to dilithium, and unfortunately it wouldn't make you happy because suddenly you'll want to spend dil on a lot of things. However that would be immensely good for the long term health of the game and dilex.
What they need to do is add coveted dil only items, so people want to buy dil with zen, and those who earn a lot of dil don't just sell it for zen. Little services like ship mastery is nice, useful, and should probably be done but are unquestionably a terrible long term solution.
Add dilithium ships. Add dilithium traits. Add dilithium B/Doffs. Add dilithium consoles. Add dilithium kit modules. Add dilithium weapons. All of which would only be gotten via dilithium store. And continue to add these things to keep the value for dilithium. I'd say at least ~20% of new release stuff should be going right to the dil store. They shouldn't be the trash that cryptic thinks no one wants, they should be interesting, competitive options. Make dilithium great again.
There is no such thing as an endless Dilithium Sink service. Stop chasing that dragon, go with variety and rarity of events.
Your not wrong, but maybe it's time to make fleet raids, make raid versions of existing TFOs. difficult content, that fleets have to invest Dilithium in to unlock for limited time, that drop powerful consoles/kits and devices needed to progress further and further into new raids. They would also damage ships when killed, remove the repair items and make it cost dilithium to repair without going back to space dock.
I also think you should be able to buy account unlocks for ship traits and consoles, maybe per character just use dilithium to buy a trait or console another alt already has. I would also like to see enhanced versions (add stats and scale their effects to your level) of teir 5 consoles you own for dilithium. So I can play around with saucer separation again with out feeling super nerfed.
Well I would like the ability to upgrade Ships say from T-1 to T-6. There are so many ships I like, but don’t uses anymore due to they are low level ships. The ability to upgrade them and unlock more spaces for weapons, hull, ext. Or even allow the free token you get to pick your next free ship to be used instead to upgrade the ship you have to the next level of ships.
Honestly uniforms, since Space Barbie is the Endgame after all, Q themed costumes might be cool to have along with that chair as well as Nemesis Romulan Uniforms and Andorian Imperial Guard uniforms.
i like the idea of ship traits. but then again, a few runs in a tfo and you have it anyway. ubless i am missing something in this regard.
...
The idea behind Mastery isn't so much for players who don't mind doing 3-4 Patrols; it's those who may have 5, 10, or 15+ Ships on a toon they need Mastery in.
So that could always help some looking for a short cut, as could extra reroll tokens for Endeavors--if the price were the in the right range. Still the more idea's they introduce, that aren't too hard to do, will likely go a long way.
That's why I suggested they consider slowly introduce Fleet Holdings Tier 3 out to Tier 4. As some may only require slight map visual enhancements, or others have the maps already done (mostly) like Reman Caverns seen from Staging area. We just can't get down there, so add a turbo lift in Embassy and put a small tunnel in the concrete wall with a small bridge.
This is pretty slick because it's so simple. Building up, rather than building out. Inevitably you reach an apex for a particular module but some of the holdings could expanded without committing to breaking new ground and the additional work it demand of the devs.
While it require some work, it likely save them a lot of time as well. Meaning they could expand one perhaps every year, and still give a lot of time before they'd have to add another new one.
Also... this may be a crazy idea... but how about a "premium" Phoenix pack which would be sold for, say, 4-8x the standard price, but be guaranteed to not generate the green-level tokens? (Thus resulting in higher odds for the higher level tokens)
Perhaps not a bad idea, as that might certainly appeal to some. It's a lot better than trading in 10 tokens just to get a new reroll chance. Thought they've never said if doing so increased your odds for higher grade tokens! Why I suspect most don't use it...
Or I had an idea for a slight variation on Fleet Holding at Drozana (that might appeal to those in smaller fleets, as well as some in larger ones) on my first post on Page 2 of this thread--also find the alternate thread linked within it shown as Page 10.
I thought it was a creative way to offer something different, possibly with a new Event every now and then...
Using dilithium to buy Skill Specialization Points.
Using dilithium to buy the "specialized" weapons like the Advanced Phasers/Disruptors, Andorian Phasers, Dewan Plasma, & Lethean Disruptors already allow, but for the other species' starships that come with "special" weaponry that Cryptic decided not to allow upgrading for example: the Voth Bulwark from the Phoenix. If a player owns it, then they're allowed to use dilithium to outfit it with Voth Antiprotons either from Weapon Packs, Exchange, or Dilithium Store.
I like someone's Starship Mastery tokens idea too.
It's honestly not that hard to get specialization points just by playing through things in the game. Plus, it wouldn't be long lasting considering that you'll eventually max it out.
Well I would like the ability to upgrade Ships say from T-1 to T-6. There are so many ships I like, but don’t uses anymore due to they are low level ships. The ability to upgrade them and unlock more spaces for weapons, hull, ext. Or even allow the free token you get to pick your next free ship to be used instead to upgrade the ship you have to the next level of ships.
Many ships now have a T6 version and you can fly those from low levels, so they're unlikely to do anything like that.
If they're actually serious about having dil sinks work better, they wouldn't sabotage them with all the frequent sales in the zen store. This one barely worked, because of all the sales drek that was going on simultaneously. Yes, I know that there's a "schedule" on sales, but Cryptic is also choosing to roll that sale tsunami on. Because they've got precedent of changing said schedule in the past. But here's a suggestion. Change the Phoenix Pack to allow us to "trade up" on the tokens.
well if the dev's read this, then maybe something like the black market event from world of tanks could be adapted for sto
Pretty sure that's kinda Mudd's Market technically speaking. Might have to elaborate more on this?
Well it's like a blind auction everyone have like 12 hours to bid, but nobody knows what anyone is bidding. and of course they include a few exclusives to make all the collectors go nuts
I still think that uniforms would be a great Dil Sink option, specifically ones that aren't currently in game maybe add in playable races that you can't make in Alien Gen like Fek'Ihri, Vaadwaur and Voths, there's no point in owning their ships if they're not going to become playable and throw in Cardassian ground weapons as a bonus.
If they're actually serious about having dil sinks work better, they wouldn't sabotage them with all the frequent sales in the zen store. This one barely worked, because of all the sales drek that was going on simultaneously. Yes, I know that there's a "schedule" on sales, but Cryptic is also choosing to roll that sale tsunami on. Because they've got precedent of changing said schedule in the past. But here's a suggestion. Change the Phoenix Pack to allow us to "trade up" on the tokens.
I like the potential of trading-up with Phoenix Pack tokens & just add a dilithium surcharge to the option but I'm too confident that the charge would be almost malicious. Then again I think those limited-time dilithium for vanity shields were actually a decent price so maybe Cryptic is turning over a new leaf? Or that was the first step forward & I'm anticipating the two steps back.
I don't believe "repeat" things like ship trait unlocks... or skill points or endeavor points will really play out long term either. I mean so you get your endeavor points to 250+ then what... I guess its over right.
I will suggest the same thing I have before.
I revamp of the Phoenix box. The big advantage to the phoenix box is Cryptic has a point... the upgrades will always be needed. Its why people don't feel bad about gambling on Phoenix tokens. Worse case you end up with a big stack of very useful upgrades. Best case you get the thing you want and you still end up with a big stack of upgrades.
I would do the following to Phoenix.
1 - Go over the RNG drop rates... and make it clear to players you have done that and what the Odds are. I know they don't like to do that. However the perception right or wrong is that the RNG on the UR and Gold tiers is off. I have a stack of gold tokens so I am not sure I buy that... but its said pretty often.
2 - Introduce flash Phoenix includes. Put older Lobi... and perhaps even the odd decent lockbox or even promo ship in the gold tier. For a 1 week or even true 1 weekend promo. My thinking is this their are lots of people like me sitting on a small stack of tokens... I have little reason to open phoenix unless I NEED to upgrade something that day and at this point it will be 1 or 2 items not an entire ship worth of stuff. If a bunch of us burn those on ONE toon ships from Phoenix... well we now have a reason to gamble again. I used to have stacks of Phoenix upgrades in my bank that I was just stockpiling. I was able to stop using them completely and slowly burn through them cause I didn't need anything anymore.
3 - Consider adding other time limited things to the box as well that are not ships. Why not some of the retired cross faction trait packs ect. The supply on those is drying up and plenty of people would buy some boxes to fish for UR tokens for some of the better cross faction traits.
4- Phoenix doesn't have to only include old things. Why not add some brand new universal consoles ect.... one win one console.
IMO that is sustainable and repeatable. They are going to have to pay attention to things and add and do promos as needed. They are looking for an easy SINK done we're done and don't have to pay attention fix. Their isn't one imo.
I would love to have a mission autocomplete option. I have one mission I absolutely can't complete (Tenebris torquent). I'd pay a lot of dilithium to compete that mission. (I die jumping the canyons every time.)
I would also like to complete some accolades like Master Relaxer on Risa. There is no way I cam going to win 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the biathlon. I want that accolade to buy the VR Risa Doffs.
Another thing I will say.... again on the idea that Cryptic can't just one patch their way out this.
We don't really get things to upgrade anymore. Its been awhile since we got a lobi set that needed upgrading. Consoles that come from lockboxes and even events now are coming pre upgraded. That might make people a bit happy but it also gives people zero reason to upgrade anything.
If Cryptic wants to seriously increase the value of Dil. Stop giving us things that don't need upgrading. Also add things worth upgrading. Don't add terrible mines to missions. When you sell ships stop putting white garbage weapons in the slots... put MK 12 purples. Then match the weapon type to the lockbox types.... and perhaps even add unique one per ship weapons to them. Escorts and raiders have this with the experimental weapons... but do it for every ship you sell. Heck even go back and update old ships... add 180 degree torps. Wide arc energy weapons... or hybrid dual proc one per ship weapons to them. The idea being people will actually want to upgrade them. Which will either sell Cryptic magic one shot upgrade tokens... or better burn some dill on upgrades.
Another thought on gear that needs upgrading. When Reputation went to Tier 6 we got a bunch of alternate damage type reputation gear. Well why not add another couple dmg types to each Reputation... but instead of selling them as you have. Sell them for a set Dil price. So as an example if you have Tier 6 unlocked in say Undine rep offer a Antiproton version of the turret for 200k dil. Or if you have Terran unlocked a 200k dill version of the Terran rep beam.
This doesn't only have to be weapons... if you really really want to burn dil. Offer variations of the Reputation sets. Add different versions of shields deflectors engines and cores. If you want to make that less work do the same thing you already did with weapons. Add a engine to say Terran rep with Comp engine stats. Or add a Unimatrix stat shield to the lukari rep. Ect ect ect. This would cause a run on people trying new things... which would cost DIL to upgrade.
I'm sorry but again their is no easy... this is repeatable over and over lets add a dill cost fix to this one. Even upgrades are not ALWAYS needed. If you don't add anything worth upgrading we don't need upgrades either. Just add things that are worth spending upgrades on. If they played with the phoenix store a bit... and gave everyone compelling items to mess around with and upgrade. They profit. IF they are just going to try and add a Dil for X or Y thing that just saves people a bit of time... it won't have the effect they are looking for.
How about a nice dinner date with Michelle Yeoh? I would part with my literal mountains of dilithium (and then some) for that.
A dating system that requires Dil, would be interesting, I heard that relationships can be quite expensive, and I've seen my fair share of Kirk clones running around ESD, Imagine romancing BOFFs and NPCs, sure couples could play this game together and get into steamy ERP sessions on eachother bridges, I'm not saying that the Devs should do this, but the idea itself is intriguing.
How about a weapon type reroll along the lines of the weapon re engineering we have now?
You have a certain weapon ie advanced phaser array. You can reroll randomly to change it from array to another type....dbb, omni, turret, cannon, dhc etc.
Costs Dil for each reroll with low odds of things like an omni. This would let players get access to types of weapons not usually available but make it expensive as you're not guaranteed to get what you want without several rolls.
I would sink a lot of Dil into this just to be able to outfit my ships with all weapons of the same type the way I'd like. It would also have the effect of causing more players to buy less desirable weapon types off of the exchange since they could try to reroll it to the type they need, ie dbb->turret.
There have been plenty of ideas put forward on the forums over the years, they're just a search away and most will still have a reasonable amount of longevity. Longevity being the problem with 24/7 phoenix that was pointed out back when it became a thing
Comments
At the same time it would decrease the exchange demand (and prices) of those ships considerably so more could afford them again.
Same could be done for ship‘s consoles and experimental weapons.
Really nice idea.
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The whole problem with the dilex is the lack of value to dil. If you have 1mil dilithium, you should be making a choice to either convert it to zen, or to spend it on dil items. That second part is horribly lacking and always has been. They need to add a myriad of items. services, whatever to get via dilithium and make that choice of what to do with dil meaningful. This, if done right, would add a massive value to dilithium, and unfortunately it wouldn't make you happy because suddenly you'll want to spend dil on a lot of things. However that would be immensely good for the long term health of the game and dilex.
What they need to do is add coveted dil only items, so people want to buy dil with zen, and those who earn a lot of dil don't just sell it for zen. Little services like ship mastery is nice, useful, and should probably be done but are unquestionably a terrible long term solution.
Add dilithium ships. Add dilithium traits. Add dilithium B/Doffs. Add dilithium consoles. Add dilithium kit modules. Add dilithium weapons. All of which would only be gotten via dilithium store. And continue to add these things to keep the value for dilithium. I'd say at least ~20% of new release stuff should be going right to the dil store. They shouldn't be the trash that cryptic thinks no one wants, they should be interesting, competitive options. Make dilithium great again.
Your not wrong, but maybe it's time to make fleet raids, make raid versions of existing TFOs. difficult content, that fleets have to invest Dilithium in to unlock for limited time, that drop powerful consoles/kits and devices needed to progress further and further into new raids. They would also damage ships when killed, remove the repair items and make it cost dilithium to repair without going back to space dock.
I also think you should be able to buy account unlocks for ship traits and consoles, maybe per character just use dilithium to buy a trait or console another alt already has. I would also like to see enhanced versions (add stats and scale their effects to your level) of teir 5 consoles you own for dilithium. So I can play around with saucer separation again with out feeling super nerfed.
Let us re-roll DOFFs for some off the unique/rare active duty traits.
The idea behind Mastery isn't so much for players who don't mind doing 3-4 Patrols; it's those who may have 5, 10, or 15+ Ships on a toon they need Mastery in.
So that could always help some looking for a short cut, as could extra reroll tokens for Endeavors--if the price were the in the right range. Still the more idea's they introduce, that aren't too hard to do, will likely go a long way.
That's why I suggested they consider slowly introduce Fleet Holdings Tier 3 out to Tier 4. As some may only require slight map visual enhancements, or others have the maps already done (mostly) like Reman Caverns seen from Staging area. We just can't get down there, so add a turbo lift in Embassy and put a small tunnel in the concrete wall with a small bridge.
While it require some work, it likely save them a lot of time as well. Meaning they could expand one perhaps every year, and still give a lot of time before they'd have to add another new one.
Perhaps not a bad idea, as that might certainly appeal to some. It's a lot better than trading in 10 tokens just to get a new reroll chance. Thought they've never said if doing so increased your odds for higher grade tokens! Why I suspect most don't use it...
Or I had an idea for a slight variation on Fleet Holding at Drozana (that might appeal to those in smaller fleets, as well as some in larger ones) on my first post on Page 2 of this thread--also find the alternate thread linked within it shown as Page 10.
I thought it was a creative way to offer something different, possibly with a new Event every now and then...
It's honestly not that hard to get specialization points just by playing through things in the game. Plus, it wouldn't be long lasting considering that you'll eventually max it out.
Pretty sure that's kinda Mudd's Market technically speaking. Might have to elaborate more on this?
Many ships now have a T6 version and you can fly those from low levels, so they're unlikely to do anything like that.
Well it's like a blind auction everyone have like 12 hours to bid, but nobody knows what anyone is bidding. and of course they include a few exclusives to make all the collectors go nuts
I like the potential of trading-up with Phoenix Pack tokens & just add a dilithium surcharge to the option but I'm too confident that the charge would be almost malicious. Then again I think those limited-time dilithium for vanity shields were actually a decent price so maybe Cryptic is turning over a new leaf? Or that was the first step forward & I'm anticipating the two steps back.
Oh, I like this one, I must say!
I agree, I think the idea has merit. I'm sure the cost would be astronomical but I like it the premise until any details are revealed.
I will suggest the same thing I have before.
I revamp of the Phoenix box. The big advantage to the phoenix box is Cryptic has a point... the upgrades will always be needed. Its why people don't feel bad about gambling on Phoenix tokens. Worse case you end up with a big stack of very useful upgrades. Best case you get the thing you want and you still end up with a big stack of upgrades.
I would do the following to Phoenix.
1 - Go over the RNG drop rates... and make it clear to players you have done that and what the Odds are. I know they don't like to do that. However the perception right or wrong is that the RNG on the UR and Gold tiers is off. I have a stack of gold tokens so I am not sure I buy that... but its said pretty often.
2 - Introduce flash Phoenix includes. Put older Lobi... and perhaps even the odd decent lockbox or even promo ship in the gold tier. For a 1 week or even true 1 weekend promo. My thinking is this their are lots of people like me sitting on a small stack of tokens... I have little reason to open phoenix unless I NEED to upgrade something that day and at this point it will be 1 or 2 items not an entire ship worth of stuff. If a bunch of us burn those on ONE toon ships from Phoenix... well we now have a reason to gamble again. I used to have stacks of Phoenix upgrades in my bank that I was just stockpiling. I was able to stop using them completely and slowly burn through them cause I didn't need anything anymore.
3 - Consider adding other time limited things to the box as well that are not ships. Why not some of the retired cross faction trait packs ect. The supply on those is drying up and plenty of people would buy some boxes to fish for UR tokens for some of the better cross faction traits.
4- Phoenix doesn't have to only include old things. Why not add some brand new universal consoles ect.... one win one console.
IMO that is sustainable and repeatable. They are going to have to pay attention to things and add and do promos as needed. They are looking for an easy SINK done we're done and don't have to pay attention fix. Their isn't one imo.
I would also like to complete some accolades like Master Relaxer on Risa. There is no way I cam going to win 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the biathlon. I want that accolade to buy the VR Risa Doffs.
We don't really get things to upgrade anymore. Its been awhile since we got a lobi set that needed upgrading. Consoles that come from lockboxes and even events now are coming pre upgraded. That might make people a bit happy but it also gives people zero reason to upgrade anything.
If Cryptic wants to seriously increase the value of Dil. Stop giving us things that don't need upgrading. Also add things worth upgrading. Don't add terrible mines to missions. When you sell ships stop putting white garbage weapons in the slots... put MK 12 purples. Then match the weapon type to the lockbox types.... and perhaps even add unique one per ship weapons to them. Escorts and raiders have this with the experimental weapons... but do it for every ship you sell. Heck even go back and update old ships... add 180 degree torps. Wide arc energy weapons... or hybrid dual proc one per ship weapons to them. The idea being people will actually want to upgrade them. Which will either sell Cryptic magic one shot upgrade tokens... or better burn some dill on upgrades.
Another thought on gear that needs upgrading. When Reputation went to Tier 6 we got a bunch of alternate damage type reputation gear. Well why not add another couple dmg types to each Reputation... but instead of selling them as you have. Sell them for a set Dil price. So as an example if you have Tier 6 unlocked in say Undine rep offer a Antiproton version of the turret for 200k dil. Or if you have Terran unlocked a 200k dill version of the Terran rep beam.
This doesn't only have to be weapons... if you really really want to burn dil. Offer variations of the Reputation sets. Add different versions of shields deflectors engines and cores. If you want to make that less work do the same thing you already did with weapons. Add a engine to say Terran rep with Comp engine stats. Or add a Unimatrix stat shield to the lukari rep. Ect ect ect. This would cause a run on people trying new things... which would cost DIL to upgrade.
I'm sorry but again their is no easy... this is repeatable over and over lets add a dill cost fix to this one. Even upgrades are not ALWAYS needed. If you don't add anything worth upgrading we don't need upgrades either. Just add things that are worth spending upgrades on. If they played with the phoenix store a bit... and gave everyone compelling items to mess around with and upgrade. They profit. IF they are just going to try and add a Dil for X or Y thing that just saves people a bit of time... it won't have the effect they are looking for.
A dating system that requires Dil, would be interesting, I heard that relationships can be quite expensive, and I've seen my fair share of Kirk clones running around ESD, Imagine romancing BOFFs and NPCs, sure couples could play this game together and get into steamy ERP sessions on eachother bridges, I'm not saying that the Devs should do this, but the idea itself is intriguing.
I doubt it, they're already giving away free Lobi with Event Campaign III.
You have a certain weapon ie advanced phaser array. You can reroll randomly to change it from array to another type....dbb, omni, turret, cannon, dhc etc.
Costs Dil for each reroll with low odds of things like an omni. This would let players get access to types of weapons not usually available but make it expensive as you're not guaranteed to get what you want without several rolls.
I would sink a lot of Dil into this just to be able to outfit my ships with all weapons of the same type the way I'd like. It would also have the effect of causing more players to buy less desirable weapon types off of the exchange since they could try to reroll it to the type they need, ie dbb->turret.