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"Happy" Missions

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
Are we ever gonna get any "happy" missions that are just good ole fashion fun.

I get that we're at war but even DS9 had fun missions in war time.

Between the books having a depressing story line and the game having a depressing story, when are we gonna see Happy Trek again?
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    We made mixed drinks to make a woman happy. :/

    Not exactly the most compelling gameplay or drama right there.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    We made mixed drinks to make a woman happy. :/

    Not exactly the most compelling gameplay or drama right there.
    Yeah, that kind of stuff doesn't work out too well in STO.

    One thing to keep in mind is that the more light-hearted Trek episodes tended to be heavy on talking and light on action. Take "In the Cards," for example. Jake and Nog running around, doing favors for everyone on the station so that they can get a baseball card for Sisko from a nut is pretty fun to watch, but it would be hard to translate that into STO. Really, would you want your captain doing inventory or stealing a teddy bear for the sake of completing a long chain of favors? Those would be trivial and boring tasks if we had to do them.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    Yeah, that kind of stuff doesn't work out too well in STO.

    One thing to keep in mind is that the more light-hearted Trek episodes tended to be heavy on talking and light on action. Take "In the Cards," for example. Jake and Nog running around, doing favors for everyone on the station so that they can get a baseball card for Sisko from a nut is pretty fun to watch, but it would be hard to translate that into STO. Really, would you want your captain doing inventory or stealing a teddy bear for the sake of completing a long chain of favors? Those would be trivial and boring tasks if we had to do them.

    I liked in the cards but without voicework, it might be difficult to translate. People already complained about the fetching in the last Weekly Series episode even if the story made it more worthwhile.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    I have to agree. At the end of the day, this is a video game. That means killin and blowing stuff up for the most part. Though I do wish we had more diplomatic missions.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    Uber1250 wrote: »
    I have to agree. At the end of the day, this is a video game. That means killin and blowing stuff up for the most part. Though I do wish we had more diplomatic missions.

    Diplomatic missions can be sad-faced too. From plots to kill off ambassadors to Cardassian trials, etc.

    I generally associate happy missions with fetching a lollipop... I mean Jumja stick, for a commissioned officer on Memory Alpha - and by happy I mean quest drop.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    Almost all Trek episodes are about overcoming some kind of adversity. It takes a really good writer to pen an episode where there is also a light happy atmosphere while the crew is busy rising to the latest challenge or threat.

    Anyone remember the Next Generation's "happy" episodes? Like "The Outrageous Okona"?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    Almost all Trek episodes are about overcoming some kind of adversity. It takes a really good writer to pen an episode where there is also a light happy atmosphere while the crew is busy rising to the latest challenge or threat.

    Anyone remember the Next Generation's "happy" episodes? Like "The Outrageous Okona"?

    I actually liked Okana but there was sad-faced conflict in that one too (i.e. the warring families and Okana basically shacking with one of their daughters, hence being on the run).
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    We made mixed drinks to make a woman happy. :/

    Not exactly the most compelling gameplay or drama right there.

    The problem with that episode was how jarringly incongruous it was with the rest of the episode, and even then it might have fit if events were ordered and framed differently. If the looming threat had been less known to the station occupants - say, we actually came back in time before the prior ep - that puzzle might have made sense as a way to try and subtly get the widget without causing ripples.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    The problem with that episode was how jarringly incongruous it was with the rest of the episode, and even then it might have fit if events were ordered and framed differently. If the looming threat had been less known to the station occupants - say, we actually came back in time before the prior ep - that puzzle might have made sense as a way to try and subtly get the widget without causing ripples.
    The puzzle could work but both it's placement in the plot and the motivations seemed odd.

    "I need a drink to calm my nerves" = alcoholism my CMO should've chewed her out over.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    I actually liked Okana but there was sad-faced conflict in that one too (i.e. the warring families and Okana basically shacking with one of their daughters, hence being on the run).

    Hey, not true, she just said it was him. It was the son of the other leader.

    Doing "fun" missions would be complicated. But they could try it.:D
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    i think some of the diplomatic missions could work as fun, happy missions but its a fine line between having something fun and making a total mess that makes people facepalm. im content enough that they leave it alone for the time being.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    K-Tar wrote:
    Hey, not true, she just said it was him. It was the son of the other leader.

    Doing "fun" missions would be complicated. But they could try it.:D

    I know she only said it was him but they wouldn't be there if they didn't think it was him. :p
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    There's always the foundry. You can make your own.

    Personally I liked the DS9 episode when they used the Bajoran ship that sailed space using solar winds.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    Yeah, that kind of stuff doesn't work out too well in STO.

    One thing to keep in mind is that the more light-hearted Trek episodes tended to be heavy on talking and light on action. Take "In the Cards," for example. Jake and Nog running around, doing favors for everyone on the station so that they can get a baseball card for Sisko from a nut is pretty fun to watch, but it would be hard to translate that into STO. Really, would you want your captain doing inventory or stealing a teddy bear for the sake of completing a long chain of favors? Those would be trivial and boring tasks if we had to do them.

    Two words. Temple Offerings.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    I have to say, a "happy" episode doesn't mean no fighting

    But I want it to have a happy ending. You have to bring together two people in marriage and overcome Klingon intervention for example (Elaan of Troyius).
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    david26th wrote: »
    Two words. Temple Offerings.
    Ah yes, I forgot about that one, which says something about that mission. It's nothing but a string of favors that is boring and entirely forgettable.

    I have to say, a "happy" episode doesn't mean no fighting

    But I want it to have a happy ending. You have to bring together two people in marriage and overcome Klingon intervention for example (Elaan of Troyius).
    Well, there's Saturday's Child. You're not helping anyone to get married, but you're preventing Klingons from kidnapping the daughter of the leader of a planet with important resources. And there's also clearing the name of Gul Antos in the Standoff diplomacy mission. You rescue a ship and its crew that were lost for years in Rapier and rescue another ship from the Hirogen in Trapped. You stop a plague in Quarantine, rescue diplomats in Hunting the Hunters, stop an illegal arms deal in War is Good for Business, and play a part in curing the Augment virus afflicting the Klingons in City on the Edge of Never/Past Imperfect. There are plenty of happy endings already out there.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    I want a shuttle race episode.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    Series 3 Finale had a happy ending: Obisek establishes a base in the Vault where all are welcome and gives you a trophy. :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    The Foundry will test the limits of what is acceptable gameplay from the playerbase and we'll be watching and playing episodes to see where we can learn from the stories that get made.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    dstahl wrote: »
    The Foundry will test the limits of what is acceptable gameplay from the playerbase and we'll be watching and playing episodes to see where we can learn from the stories that get made.
    Slashfiction?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    dstahl wrote: »
    The Foundry will test the limits of what is acceptable gameplay from the playerbase and we'll be watching and playing episodes to see where we can learn from the stories that get made.

    I think this is smart.

    My personal goal is to make things feel like a Trek movie or episode but I do what to push a few boundaries here and there. But I think the drink mixing showed us what one of the boundaries is for a lot of players.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    I will be the least liked foundry writer cause I want to do exploration and "happy" missions. >.>
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    dstahl wrote: »
    The Foundry will test the limits of what is acceptable gameplay from the playerbase and we'll be watching and playing episodes to see where we can learn from the stories that get made.

    Cool.

    I'd like to clarify what I mean by "happy" episode.

    Many of the carefree, happy episodes of Trek did involve action and danger. (ST IV, Trouble with Tribbles), but they ended on a really happy note.

    Like the recent weekly series kinda did, you've gained an important ally when most missions end with "yay, you didn't die, move on to next life or death scenario"

    And another thing that makes a mission "happy" is funny dialog from your crew.
    Like in "Frozen" i think it was, one of your Boffs makes a joke.

    That's what I think makes an episode "happy"


    Ah yes, I forgot about that one, which says something about that mission. It's nothing but a string of favors that is boring and entirely forgettable.



    Well, there's Saturday's Child. You're not helping anyone to get married, but you're preventing Klingons from kidnapping the daughter of the leader of a planet with important resources. And there's also clearing the name of Gul Antos in the Standoff diplomacy mission. You rescue a ship and its crew that were lost for years in Rapier and rescue another ship from the Hirogen in Trapped. You stop a plague in Quarantine, rescue diplomats in Hunting the Hunters, stop an illegal arms deal in War is Good for Business, and play a part in curing the Augment virus afflicting the Klingons in City on the Edge of Never/Past Imperfect. There are plenty of happy endings already out there.

    But there isn't any light hearted moments or funny stuff. Its very serious and then at the end "thank heaven its over", go to next mission.

    Series 3 Finale had a happy ending: Obisek establishes a base in the Vault where all are welcome and gives you a trophy. :)

    I was very happy about that. I thought it was a good start. :)

    Nykee wrote:
    I want a shuttle race episode.

    That is a cool idea. I'd love to have one and maybe have some cool interaction with the other races (could reward some DXP at the edn).
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    Cool.

    I'd like to clarify what I mean by "happy" episode.

    Many of the carefree, happy episodes of Trek did involve action and danger. (ST IV, Trouble with Tribbles), but they ended on a really happy note.

    Like the recent weekly series kinda did, you've gained an important ally when most missions end with "yay, you didn't die, move on to next life or death scenario"

    And another thing that makes a mission "happy" is funny dialog from your crew.
    Like in "Frozen" i think it was, one of your Boffs makes a joke.

    That's what I think makes an episode "happy"

    I have an inkling to do some Ferengi episodes in The Foundry and my mission has a pretty happy ending. There's a dance segment and it ends with your new ally hovering outside the window of DS9 in a shuttle, where you wave goodbye.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    I have an inkling to do some Ferengi episodes in The Foundry and my mission has a pretty happy ending. There's a dance segment and it ends with your new ally hovering outside the window of DS9 in a shuttle, where you wave goodbye.

    I definitely want to play that! It sounds very "Trek" to me.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    "One Little Ship" is light-hearted as well, would require new and amusing sets, and has actual combat to boot. A whole different level of actual combat on a ship. hehehe.

    I wouldn't mind something like that. :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    Hmmm... I want the foundry bit to become live so I can start constructing my mission to find out what it is that God wants with a starship!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    In the grim darkness of the future, there is only.... Oh, wrong IP. Sorry!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    AuroraKet wrote: »
    "One Little Ship" is light-hearted as well, would require new and amusing sets, and has actual combat to boot. A whole different level of actual combat on a ship. hehehe.

    I wouldn't mind something like that. :)

    That is so true. Nice, happy episode that had some drama and darkness to it. :D
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