Starbase Fleet Defense 20 player TFO

darpink · February 9

It's been years since I've seen the Fleet Defense TFO actually played. Since the days of having 20+ members in game in the fleet are long gone and our fleet can no longer fill all 20 spots, it's impossible for me to get into an instance of it, if there even is one.

So, Is there a global chat channel that players are using specifically for this TFO or for PVE teaming?
Also, is there any interest in forming a group of dedicated players that enjoy Starbase Fleet Defense TFO and/or have interest in learning it?
It is NOT an easy TFO even on normal difficulty, as I remember it, because things have to be done correctly or you FAIL! With that in mind, players not familiar with it should ask for guidance and follow the given instructions during the TFO closely. Team voice chat is extremely helpful as well if your fleet has discord or teamspeak or whatever.

Any interest?
Thank you!

P.S. I searched and found no other thread about this. So I created one. If in the wrong spot I'm sure it can be moved.

thay8472 · February 9

I haven't seen this one pop in ages either. People probably avoid it as it only rewards fleet marks and you can get them anywhere.

leemwatson · February 9

darpink wrote: »

It's been years since I've seen the Fleet Defense TFO actually played. Since the days of having 20+ members in game in the fleet are long gone and our fleet can no longer fill all 20 spots, it's impossible for me to get into an instance of it, if there even is one.

So, Is there a global chat channel that players are using specifically for this TFO or for PVE teaming?
Also, is there any interest in forming a group of dedicated players that enjoy Starbase Fleet Defense TFO and/or have interest in learning it?
It is NOT an easy TFO even on normal difficulty, as I remember it, because things have to be done correctly or you FAIL! With that in mind, players not familiar with it should ask for guidance and follow the given instructions during the TFO closely. Team voice chat is extremely helpful as well if your fleet has discord or teamspeak or whatever.

Any interest?
Thank you!

P.S. I searched and found no other thread about this. So I created one. If in the wrong spot I'm sure it can be moved.

If they were to reverse even further how they award boxes, this queue would pop, but as long as Fleet Marks are freely available via every TFO, it won't happen. The ONLY chance you have currently is to call out in Beta Quad or ESD chat for folk.

fleetcaptain5 · February 9

I remember playing this with my fleet years ago. We typically don't have enough people online anymore to get it to launch nowadays. Though even back then, we used the public queue. So at least some other people were still playing it back then.

Personally I don't think it would be very enjoyable nowadays. Crystalline Catastrophe can lag like hell, and that's with only 10 players. Imagine having double that number.

I don't think missions like these were designed to have so many players with access to so much stuff (traits, consoles, entire armada's of hangar pets, specialisation passives and so on). You'd probably have to ask people to limit the stuff they're activating and using as passive boosts.

darpink · February 10

Good points made by all that replied so far.

But, forget rewards, doesn't anyone do anything just for the fun of it? As a way of gathering your fleet mates and friends and doing something challenging together? Why does everything have to reward something special?
As some have said, Fleet marks are awarded everywhere, so why play a TFO just for marks? Do it because it is there and for the fun of it. And you can never have too many fleet marks, especially if in an Armada.

I'm looking for a group of players that prefer a challenge over a cake walk. Cake walks are boring and I'd likely have quit playing by now if everything I did in game was easy peasy.

So, if anyone is willing to TRY, not afraid of a challenge and enjoys playing with like minded players, send me mail in game and lets see if we can get something going, just for the fun and challenge of it.

tribbulater · February 10

"But, forget rewards, doesn't anyone do anything just for the fun of it?"

It's a frequency thing. Many players will do something that progresses them towards various goals (ie., rewards) multiple times per day. Since lots of other gamers are looking at repeating the same reward-based content, it happens many times per day.

But something that doesn't move you forward, but is just done for the giggles, you probably only feel like doing a couple times a week. And since every player will pick a different time they feel like doing that one thing, then yeah this stuff never pops because it never has more than a player or two in it at any given time.

For Fleet Defense specifically, it seems like something you'd have the most luck trying to get your fleetmates interested in. For theme if nothing else.

darpink · February 11

(Flaming, trolling comments moderated out. - BMR)

questerius · February 11

As far as i know this TFO can be launched with as few as a single participant from a private queue.
Makes it a lot more interesting as well.

rattler2 · February 12

I think another of the reasons it doesn't pop is the sheer number of people required for it.

The only 20 man I can think of that would pop reliably was the now ancient shuttle variant of Fleet Alert. Instead of 5 starships it was 20 shuttles. It was fun and chaotic seeing shuttles rip full size starships a new one. And all the old shuttle missions gave me a reason to bust out the Star Fox music. lol

thay8472 · February 12

darpink wrote: »

Doesn't anyone do anything just for the fun of it? As a way of gathering your fleet mates and friends and doing something challenging together?

I think I'm the only one left in my fleet. I'm sure the Starbase can defend itself.

darkbladejk · February 13

The problems with why it doesn't pop are several fold now. First is that it requires 20 people to get it moving. In the time it would take to assemble a team of 20 the system can fill multiple 5 man teams. Second is that it doesn't pay nearly enough marks for the time required anymore. Now what slows that mission down is just pure time-gating. Take 5 people with your average modern sci build in there and you're liable to melt the whole map while also pulling the Star Wars galaxy into your grav well in the process. Third is that it's limited to normal mode only.

The 5 man fleet alert also suffers from most of these issues, save for the 20 man team sizing thing. The time vs rewards payout just isn't there compared to other TFOs. Why would I do a 5 man fleet alert for maybe 70 marks when I can do an advanced random and score 125+ marks in a single go and in half the time. Which is a shame because the old Starbase Fleet Defense was an incredibly fun thing way back when. If they gave us an advanced and elite version of the 5 man and 20 man fleet TFOs along with a decent marks payout those queues would stay stocked with players. Kind of like they could give us advanced and elite Starbase 24 if anyone else remembers that old TFO.

Starbase Fleet Defense 20 player TFO

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