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How Season 7 failed

ShardWarriorShardWarrior Member Posts: 290
in Star Trek Online

There has been some discussion here as of late regarding the implementation of "long term systems" , or better known as repetitive (and in some cases time gated) grind content recently added to STO. The debate has been whether or not these were good additions for a content starved game.


I found this very interesting and telling post made over on the official STO forums to share which I believe sums up the issue quite nicely.  The post is from a player who belongs to one of the oldest and (if not the) largest fleets in STO, Jupiter Force.  Those familiar with STO since the beginning will have heard of Jupiter Force as they used to produce the STOked podcast.  Notice the emphasis on used to.   They abandoned the podcast some time ago.


The thread this post appears in deals with a discussion on small fleets suffering under with building their holdings, but I think the post sums up the problem with Season 7 as a whole, as well as the direction STO is going with "long term systems".


To quote the article (Link to original);

As a large fleet we struggle to find the fleet marks to sustain projects in the haul between Tier IV and Tier V, and that is despite having a hundred characters maxed in DOFFs and 30+ people active everyday. With all the various gated systems in the game, not to mention playstyles, it's simply not possible right now to get enough fleet marks to sustain 3 projects a day unless everyone actively farms fleet marks, and fleets simply can't ask members to do this every day for months and months with no end in sight....If it takes a large active fleet like Jupiter Force a month to fill fleet marks on a Starbase upgrade project, I'm sorry but it suggests to me smaller fleets have no shot in hell of filling it in a way that sustains momentum and active engagement with the system by members of small fleets.


I think this part is what hits the nail on the proverbial head.

The way STO has disconnected players from the various currencies required to pace progress to the content systems in the game is the failure of Season 7, and probably the single best thing STO could do to encourage players to try TOR F2P.


So for those touting the "long term systems" as being the salvation of STO and "a good thing", pay close attention to posts like this. This is an active fleet of 30+ players on daily who are telling you "this is too much of a grind and it needs to change." This is the difficulty a larger, active group is facing with just Starbases alone, not including Embassy or Omega rep grinding. Just imagine this from the perspective of the small, casual groups.


I agree with the the author, and IMO this is a good indicator as to what is wrong with STO and Season 7's "content" ... and I use the the word content loosely.

Comments

  • Po_ggPo_gg Member EpicPosts: 5,749
    Originally posted by ShardWarrior

    Those familiar with STO since the beginning will have heard of Jupiter Force as they used to produce the STOked podcast.  Notice the emphasis on used to.   They abandoned the podcast some time ago.

    Damn... :I

    Sorry to take that line out from your post (btw I agree with the rest, I play mostly story and Foundry missions and goofing around with my DOffs, and skipped the Fleet thing entirely because STO became way too grindy for me)

    STOked is gone? True, I didn't followed the casts in the last few months, but I kept directing folks (both ingame and on forums) to the page if they had some questions... That's not good news, it's / was a great stream.

  • ShardWarriorShardWarrior Member Posts: 290
    Yeah STOKed has been gone for almost a year now.  Was indeed a good podcast.
  • ShardWarriorShardWarrior Member Posts: 290

    Excellent follow-up post can be seen here;


    ...But fleets like Jupiter Force, and there may be as many as a dozen in the whole game, are the exceptions, not the rule.
    ...my concern more specific to the unrealistic access to the various currencies needed by a player to be engaged in the numerous (and increasing number) systems in the game. A player is now gated by time horizontally by each individual system that requires a specific time period to complete a project, but is also gated by time vertically by having to spend time accumulating resources for each individual system independently. There is no functional way in the game to play STO at a reasonable pace and be engaged in the multiple systems simultaneously.
    That's a legit problem because it's hard to keep folks motivated when major aspects of what Cryptic advertises as their primary content systems are disconnected from a players gaming experience. What good are Starbases at end game if 99% of the community doesn't have a realistic shot at advancing the system in a way it is even eventually achievable.
    I find it hard to believe Starbase Tier V will ever mean anything in STO if only a tiny number of people are in a fleet with one, meaning once built it won't have value for Cryptic to spend resources building more content options for that tiny dedicated Tier V group.
    So yeah for me, I'll have a Tier V Starbase, and it will mean nothing because not enough others will have one to inspire Cryptic to develop end game content for the Starbase system. That would suck to work so hard for what amounts to no rewards beyond access to a few more item options. I think most people understand a Tier V Starbase could be a great mechanism for content, particularly via the Foundry, but that doesn't happen if the Starbase is a system that can't be realistically completed by the majority of players...
  • RohnRohn Member UncommonPosts: 3,730
    Originally posted by ShardWarrior

    Excellent follow-up post can be seen here;

     


    ...

     

    But fleets like Jupiter Force, and there may be as many as a dozen in the whole game, are the exceptions, not the rule.


    ...my concern more specific to the unrealistic access to the various currencies needed by a player to be engaged in the numerous (and increasing number) systems in the game. A player is now gated by time horizontally by each individual system that requires a specific time period to complete a project, but is also gated by time vertically by having to spend time accumulating resources for each individual system independently. There is no functional way in the game to play STO at a reasonable pace and be engaged in the multiple systems simultaneously.


    That's a legit problem because it's hard to keep folks motivated when major aspects of what Cryptic advertises as their primary content systems are disconnected from a players gaming experience. What good are Starbases at end game if 99% of the community doesn't have a realistic shot at advancing the system in a way it is even eventually achievable.


    I find it hard to believe Starbase Tier V will ever mean anything in STO if only a tiny number of people are in a fleet with one, meaning once built it won't have value for Cryptic to spend resources building more content options for that tiny dedicated Tier V group.


    So yeah for me, I'll have a Tier V Starbase, and it will mean nothing because not enough others will have one to inspire Cryptic to develop end game content for the Starbase system. That would suck to work so hard for what amounts to no rewards beyond access to a few more item options. I think most people understand a Tier V Starbase could be a great mechanism for content, particularly via the Foundry, but that doesn't happen if the Starbase is a system that can't be realistically completed by the majority of players...

     

     

    In the interest of fairness, here's the post being responded to, since both sides are rarely presented or considered here:

     

    "But there is an end in sight, contrary to the part of your rant I highlighted in red. Eventually, your fleet (and mine) will achieve Tier V, which will actually feel like a major accomplishment, which is something that few games allow players to do these days.

    Why?

    Because the "instant gratification" crowd is being catered to in every game.

    Let me ask you a question. Given the size of your fleet, and comparing that to the capabilities of smaller fleets, what if you had attained a T5 Starbase in just two or three weeks? What would you be saying, or more likely, be complaining about then?

    "It's too easy!" "It's too fast!" "No challenge!" And, ultimately, "I don't have anything to work toward or do."
    Why should a small fleet, with perhaps 2 or 3 active players, be able to attain a major achievement in the game quickly?

    Sorry, this is an MMO. I've seen the entire genre turned upside-down because so many casual and solo players expect everything to be easily attained. I'm glad this one system has been different.

    And that's ultimately what I see here. The vast majority of the complaining hasn't been about the desire to have a high tier starbase - indeed, most appear to want one. The complaints center around the fact that they can't get one fast or easily enough. That's the problem with the instant gratification mentality, which has been destroying the MMORPG genre for years."

    http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showpost.php?p=7051431&postcount=74

     

    The last paragraph is the most telling, and contradicts the message of the original post.  Players do appear to enjoy and want the content, they just want it to be easier to attain.

    By the way, as opposed to the misleasing title of this thread, Fleet Advancement was a primary component of Season 6, not Season 7, though Embassies were a part of the FA system added in S7.

    Hell hath no fury like an MMORPG player scorned.

  • ShardWarriorShardWarrior Member Posts: 290

    First, anyone can read through the entire thread on the official forum as it is linked from the OP.  Second, please show anyone here where someone asked for "instant gratification".    Lastly, you are (again) trying to deflect reality by tossing out the "instant gratification" mantra and dismissing any opinion that differs from your rose colored glasses  view of STO.  Yes, people do want the content.  Anyone who reads the thread can clearly see that.  No, they do not want to spend several years doing the same tedious, boring tasks in order to obtain a single tier in their starbase.  

     

    The tasks involved are boring, tedious and repetitive.  Players in the larger fleets are already having retention issues with members because the game has become too much like work and not enough like entertainment.  Fleets with 25+ members are finding it boring and saying it will take us over a year to achieve the top tier.  What about groups less than 25?  Less than 10?  They are looking at years, if at all, to achieve the same.  The effort involved is boring, punitive, and not rewarding.  

     

    The situation highlighted with Starbases in the attached post is the same as it is with the "content" that was introduced with Season 7.  That is the gist of the thread.

     

     

     

     

  • RohnRohn Member UncommonPosts: 3,730
    Originally posted by ShardWarrior

    First, anyone can read through the entire thread on the official forum as it is linked from the OP.  Second, please show anyone here where someone asked for "instant gratification".    Lastly, you are (again) trying to deflect reality by tossing out the "instant gratification" mantra and dismissing any opinion that differs from your rose colored glasses  view of STO.  Yes, people do want the content.  Anyone who reads the thread can clearly see that.  No, they do not want to spend several years doing the same tedious, boring tasks in order to obtain a single tier in their starbase.  

     

    The tasks involved are boring, tedious and repetitive.  Players in the larger fleets are already having retention issues with members because the game has become too much like work and not enough like entertainment.  Fleets with 25+ members are finding it boring and saying it will take us over a year to achieve the top tier.  What about groups less than 25?  Less than 10?  They are looking at years, if at all, to achieve the same.  The effort involved is boring, punitive, and not rewarding.  

     

    The situation highlighted with Starbases in the attached post is the same as it is with the "content" that was introduced with Season 7.  That is the gist of the thread.

     

     

     

     

     

    From reading the thread, there are many, many people still engaged in working toward the goal of Fleet Advancement, building a starbase, embassy, what have you.  Some may want to attain the goals faster than others, but they like the content.

    That system is almost 6 months old, and it's still got people engaged.

    How much "story" content, how many PvE instances, keep giving people a meaningful reason to play for 6 months?

    Short answer is: none.  Not in any game.  Story content becomes tedious and repetitive after the first time.

    Just my opinion, but long term systems are better at providing meaningful play in a MMO over the long haul, and are much more cost effective than story-based content is to produce.

    I'm not saying that I wouldn't like new Episodes.  Overall, I think the stories in STO were better than what you find in most MMOs.  I also think they could tie them in better with gaining marks and such.

    Then again, I also like playing Foundry stuff, and see that as a great feature of the game.

    Hell hath no fury like an MMORPG player scorned.

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  • ShardWarriorShardWarrior Member Posts: 290

    Originally posted by Rohn

    From reading the thread, there are many, many people still engaged in working toward the goal of Fleet Advancement, building a starbase, embassy, what have you.  Some may want to attain the goals faster than others, but they like the content. That system is almost 6 months old, and it's still got people engaged.


    Yes, it has kept those in the handful of large Fleets engaged. The likely majority who are not in those large fleets however...


    How much "story" content, how many PvE instances, keep giving people a meaningful reason to play for 6 months?Short answer is: none.


    Cryptic has to add episodic content to the game before anyone can say it would not keep people engaged.

  • RohnRohn Member UncommonPosts: 3,730
    Originally posted by grounnn
    Originally posted by Rohn

    In the interest of fairness, here's the post being responded to, since both sides are rarely presented or considered here:

     

    "But there is an end in sight, contrary to the part of your rant I highlighted in red. Eventually, your fleet (and mine) will achieve Tier V, which will actually feel like a major accomplishment, which is something that few games allow players to do these days.

    Why?

    Because the "instant gratification" crowd is being catered to in every game.

    Let me ask you a question. Given the size of your fleet, and comparing that to the capabilities of smaller fleets, what if you had attained a T5 Starbase in just two or three weeks? What would you be saying, or more likely, be complaining about then?

    "It's too easy!" "It's too fast!" "No challenge!" And, ultimately, "I don't have anything to work toward or do."
    Why should a small fleet, with perhaps 2 or 3 active players, be able to attain a major achievement in the game quickly?

    Sorry, this is an MMO. I've seen the entire genre turned upside-down because so many casual and solo players expect everything to be easily attained. I'm glad this one system has been different.

    And that's ultimately what I see here. The vast majority of the complaining hasn't been about the desire to have a high tier starbase - indeed, most appear to want one. The complaints center around the fact that they can't get one fast or easily enough. That's the problem with the instant gratification mentality, which has been destroying the MMORPG genre for years."

    http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showpost.php?p=7051431&postcount=74

     

    The last paragraph is the most telling, and contradicts the message of the original post.  Players do appear to enjoy and want the content, they just want it to be easier to attain.

    By the way, as opposed to the misleasing title of this thread, Fleet Advancement was a primary component of Season 6, not Season 7, though Embassies were a part of the FA system added in S7.

    GOD I LOVE THAT POST! It's the casual gamers and the people who want instant gratification that's the issue. Thank god some people in the industry still understand this! I feel like going back to STO just because of that statement. I love grind, and I love working towards a very long goal, if their team is willing enough to put grind back into their game they're on the right track.

     

    I agree with you 100%.

    It's easy to label something - anything - a "grind" simply because it doesn't give out a shiny after an hour or two.

    One player's "grind" is another player's "meaningful system".

    Systems that took time, effort, and some knowledge are the ones that make an achievement seem meaningful once attained.  That's especially if it was a group effort.

    STO's not perfect, but it did get this part right, in my opinion.  Given the obvious interest, it's far from a failure.

    By the way, here's another appropriate quote from that thread, from a level-headed CMDRScarlet:

    "Ground to a halt? No. 

    In a fleet of about 5 players since before S7 our development was already slow. S7 has not increased or decreased our progression at all. My Fleet is in it for the long run as a group. We contribute when we can and if a task is complete then it is. This is what we agreed to in the social contract we made as a group by virtue of making the Fleet and not actively increasing the membership.

    From my point of view anybody in a small fleet could (should?) accept that the starbase will not grow at a rate that is noticable from week-to-week. If that is too long then there are really two choices available: 1) stick with it, 2) drop the group and join a bigger Fleet. It's that simple.

    The OP has started asking (paraphrased), "Is the Starbase worth it?" That is a question relevant to each person, I think. They are worth it if you feel that way. Nobody has to build a base. No one."

    Hell hath no fury like an MMORPG player scorned.

  • RohnRohn Member UncommonPosts: 3,730
    Originally posted by ShardWarrior

    Cryptic has to add episodic content to the game before anyone can say it would not keep people engaged.

     

    But, thanks to this thread, we now know for a FACT that the long term systems like Fleet Advancement and Personal Advancement keep people engaged.

    For 6 months and counting.

    Hardly a failure.  Actually, a success.

    Hell hath no fury like an MMORPG player scorned.

  • ShardWarriorShardWarrior Member Posts: 290

    [quote]

    Originally posted by grounnn

    GOD I LOVE THAT POST! It's the casual gamers and the people who want instant gratification that's the issue. Thank god some people in the industry still understand this! I feel like going back to STO just because of that statement. I love grind, and I love working towards a very long goal, if their team is willing enough to put grind back into their game they're on the right track.
     

    You are right. These "systems" are so popular, that is why most all MMO developers moved away from them. Yep. Must be a very popular feature.


    Originally posted by Rohn

    But, thanks to this thread, we now know for a FACT that the long term systems like Fleet Advancement and Personal Advancement keep people engaged. For 6 months and counting. Hardly a failure.  Actually, a success.

     


    Actually, the contrary. Folks in larger fleets are saying it is hurting their population, morale, retention and activity in the game. Perhaps in your rose colored fantasy view of what STO is as of late it is a "success", but that is far from reality. These may keep people engaged only because there is nothing else to do in the game.

  • RohnRohn Member UncommonPosts: 3,730

    Just to reiterate, most players appear to agree that they like the content added with Season 6 and 7, they just want it to come faster and easier.

    On a side note, balancing also continues to occur, with some changes being made by the patch today.  And there was much rejoicing....

    Hell hath no fury like an MMORPG player scorned.

  • ShardWarriorShardWarrior Member Posts: 290

    Originally posted by Rohn
    Just to reiterate, most players appear to agree that they like the content added with Season 6 and 7, they just want it to come faster and easier.

    Still waiting for you to link to a post where anyone expressly said "give it to us for free and for no work at all".

    Yup. This poster specifically mentions "I want it faster and easier for my small group when they said;

    No, I don't think they should pay less. What I do believe is the costs in both in-game currencies and time need to be looked at to make them more realistic for the majority of the customers.


    On a side note, balancing also continues to occur, with some changes being made by the patch today.  And there was much rejoicing....
     


    Yes, they are balancing by making it easier to get Fleet Marks and Dilithium because most of the customers were perfectly happy with how things were and did not want it changed. Yup. That is what happened. ::rolleyes::

  • RohnRohn Member UncommonPosts: 3,730
    Originally posted by ShardWarrior

     

    Yes, they are balancing by making it easier to get Fleet Marks and Dilithium because most of the customers were perfectly happy with how things were and did not want it changed. Yup. That is what happened. ::rolleyes::

     

    There's a huge difference between systems in a game that are being balanced, and proclaiming them a "failure".  LOL

    Again, players like the system.  It's been a success.

    Hell hath no fury like an MMORPG player scorned.

  • Joseph_KerrJoseph_Kerr Member RarePosts: 1,113
    Originally posted by ShardWarrior

    There has been some discussion here as of late regarding the implementation of "long term systems" , or better known as repetitive (and in some cases time gated) grind content recently added to STO. The debate has been whether or not these were good additions for a content starved game.


    I found this very interesting and telling post made over on the official STO forums to share which I believe sums up the issue quite nicely.  The post is from a player who belongs to one of the oldest and (if not the) largest fleets in STO, Jupiter Force.  Those familiar with STO since the beginning will have heard of Jupiter Force as they used to produce the STOked podcast.  Notice the emphasis on used to.   They abandoned the podcast some time ago.


    The thread this post appears in deals with a discussion on small fleets suffering under with building their holdings, but I think the post sums up the problem with Season 7 as a whole, as well as the direction STO is going with "long term systems".


    To quote the article (Link to original);

     

    As a large fleet we struggle to find the fleet marks to sustain projects in the haul between Tier IV and Tier V, and that is despite having a hundred characters maxed in DOFFs and 30+ people active everyday. With all the various gated systems in the game, not to mention playstyles, it's simply not possible right now to get enough fleet marks to sustain 3 projects a day unless everyone actively farms fleet marks, and fleets simply can't ask members to do this every day for months and months with no end in sight.

     

    ...

    If it takes a large active fleet like Jupiter Force a month to fill fleet marks on a Starbase upgrade project, I'm sorry but it suggests to me smaller fleets have no shot in hell of filling it in a way that sustains momentum and active engagement with the system by members of small fleets.

     


    I think this part is what hits the nail on the proverbial head.

     

    The way STO has disconnected players from the various currencies required to pace progress to the content systems in the game is the failure of Season 7, and probably the single best thing STO could do to encourage players to try TOR F2P.

     


    So for those touting the "long term systems" as being the salvation of STO and "a good thing", pay close attention to posts like this. This is an active fleet of 30+ players on daily who are telling you "this is too much of a grind and it needs to change." This is the difficulty a larger, active group is facing with just Starbases alone, not including Embassy or Omega rep grinding. Just imagine this from the perspective of the small, casual groups.


    I agree with the the author, and IMO this is a good indicator as to what is wrong with STO and Season 7's "content" ... and I use the the word content loosely.

    I agree 100% two thumbs up.

  • vonryan123vonryan123 Member UncommonPosts: 418
    Originally posted by LilFreezy
    Originally posted by Rohn
    Originally posted by ShardWarrior

     

    Yes, they are balancing by making it easier to get Fleet Marks and Dilithium because most of the customers were perfectly happy with how things were and did not want it changed. Yup. That is what happened. ::rolleyes::

     

    There's a huge difference between systems in a game that are being balanced, and proclaiming them a "failure".  LOL

    Again, players like the system.  It's been a success.

    [mod edit]

    [mod edit]

    Its not that hard to get fleet marks its not that hard to get dili its not even hard to get the new stuff added. There is a ton of content in this game Story/pve/groups/rep/fleets etc, (notice I didnt mention pvp cause it is fail and to be fair the ONE man team on the pvp stuff I feel sorry for being left solo on such a task).

     

    Ok so the game is not the Perfect Star treckie game. so? 

    side note: To anyone who thinks 30 people is a huge active fleet makes me sad sad panda (man that phase sucks after mop thats wow yet again cloning shit). Our fleet is so big atm we have off shoot fleets(4 of them) to hold the less active members.

    image
  • vonryan123vonryan123 Member UncommonPosts: 418

    [mod edit]

    There is 7 sets of story's with more then  15+ missions in each that can last an hour or more each thats more the 100 hours of just straight story. Thats not even counting any of the off story missions. Thats more content then most at this point. Not to mention STF's or player made or daily's.

    just because you rushed to the end does not mean the game is devoid of content

     

    NOTE:funny the guy I quoted deleted his post

    image
  • ValoreahValoreah Member Posts: 75

    Originally posted by Rohn

    Again, players like the system.  It's been a success.

     

    I think it a bit of a stretch to call the starbase and rep grinding a "success". I wouldn't call it a complete failure, but it certainly isn't a ringing success by any definition. The only reason most seem to be continuing with the rep grind is to satiate the Pokeman mentality and a lack of any other content in the game. Some of the gear you can get is ok, but to be honest there is no content in the game that really calls for it so it's basically pointless to get.

  • itgrowlsitgrowls Member Posts: 2,951
    Originally posted by Valoreah

     

     

    Originally posted by Rohn

    Again, players like the system.  It's been a success.

     

     

    I think it a bit of a stretch to call the starbase and rep grinding a "success". I wouldn't call it a complete failure, but it certainly isn't a ringing success by any definition. The only reason most seem to be continuing with the rep grind is to satiate the Pokeman mentality and a lack of any other content in the game. Some of the gear you can get is ok, but to be honest there is no content in the game that really calls for it so it's basically pointless to get.

     

    Rep grinds when expanded at the end are always bad. They are bad for players and bad for fleets. Why couldn't they have adopted the GW2 experience bar mentality where the same amount of work for 1-3 would get 4-5? or the LOTRO mentality of dropping fleet marks from other gameplay ventures like foundry missions, pve/pvp maps or the dili gathering missions?

    This part of season 7 is a failure. I left the game for a while but i contributed alot while there to the first two tiers. When i came back to the game I was astonished that the fleet hadn't gotten past tier 3 (especially since they had such a large number of people that stayed while i took a hiatus). That is disturbing. This means there's something definitely wrong with the system. That many people working towards getting the last two tiers in 4 months time should not have been stuck at tier 3.

  • ValoreahValoreah Member Posts: 75

    Originally posted by itgrowls

    Rep grinds when expanded at the end are always bad. They are bad for players and bad for fleets. Why couldn't they have adopted the GW2 experience bar mentality where the same amount of work for 1-3 would get 4-5? or the LOTRO mentality of dropping fleet marks from other gameplay ventures like foundry missions, pve/pvp maps or the dili gathering missions? This part of season 7 is a failure. I left the game for a while but i contributed alot while there to the first two tiers. When i came back to the game I was astonished that the fleet hadn't gotten past tier 3 (especially since they had such a large number of people that stayed while i took a hiatus). That is disturbing. This means there's something definitely wrong with the system. That many people working towards getting the last two tiers in 4 months time should not have been stuck at tier 3.

     


    I agree. I'd add to your suggestions a system similar to the Supergroup Prestige in CoX. You can earn group currency doing just about any activity in the game and you weren't pigeonholed into doing the same boring tasks repeatedly. Nor were you asked to choose between yourself or your group in terms of shelling out ridiculous sums of currency. The dilithium requirements are much too high IMO.

  • DraemosDraemos Member UncommonPosts: 1,521

    Season 7 is a very solid season and enjoyed by most, especially now that the "omg change is terrible" nonsense that accompanies every season has died down.  

    People are completing their rep and fleet advancement is starting to move forward again.  For some reason a handful of folks flip out if they can't fill every fleet project the same day it goes up.  No idea why, they are suppose to be long term commitments.  

    I'm enjoying that everything is no longer handed to players on a silver plate, it makes getting the gear that much more meaningful.  A the same time, the "grind" involved is very casual friendly due to the way they use time caps.

  • ValoreahValoreah Member Posts: 75
    Originally posted by Draemos

    Season 7 is a very solid season and enjoyed by most, especially now that the "omg change is terrible" nonsense that accompanies every season has died down.  

    People are completing their rep and fleet advancement is starting to move forward again.  For some reason a handful of folks flip out if they can't fill every fleet project the same day it goes up.  No idea why, they are suppose to be long term commitments.  

    I'm enjoying that everything is no longer handed to players on a silver plate, it makes getting the gear that much more meaningful.  A the same time, the "grind" involved is very casual friendly due to the way they use time caps.

     

    I think it speculation to assume that Season 7 is "enjoyed by most" or "disliked by most".  There is no definitive proof either way.  I can't speak for every player, however from personal experience, the Rep and Fleet grinding system is nothing more than a boring grind for gear you don't need.  The Purple MK XI and MK II gear I got long before any Fleet or Rep systems were in place is still more than viable.  At least for me and my fleet mates (those who did stay with the game), the gear from rep grinding simply isn't worth the time.  There is no content in the game that calls for it in my opinion.

     

    IMO there is nothing wrong with a rep system per say.  Personally, I'd like to see more options for obtaining required points/currency/whatever for advancing as the pre-defined tasks get stale after the second or third time.  I also don't care for the having to choose between spending dilithium on my characters and contributing to fleet projects.  Something along the lines of the prestige system from CoX would have been preferable.   

  • AG-VukAG-Vuk Member UncommonPosts: 823

    This arbritrary success , failure is irrelevant. The true basis is has there been a net income flow increase for PWI/Cryptic . If there has or hasn't we'll probably never know until they pull the plug on the game.

     Personnally , anything that increases the grindiness of a game stands as a testement that the Devs are buying time for themselves. Their ability to produce content is obvious hindered and requires more time to produce more content. It also means that the original design of the released content is not hitting it's designed marks for which a player should achieve it. The player base may be moving quicker then expected or planned.

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