Panel Discussion: Pros & Cons of The State of Star Trek Online

In this episode of the Shuttle By Door STOcast the panel of Star Trek Online CC's discussion the current state of the game, updates, Dev team changes, game monetization and more.
#StarTrekOnline #STO #gxa #COGG #MCSTUD
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Panelist
@CasualSAB
/ casualsab
/ casualsab
@TriZander
/ trizander07
/ trizander
@Sarcasm Detector
/ sarcasmdetector
@Gauss STO
/ @gausssto570
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[@gambles5029]

As someone who came back to the game after playing (in 2017ish?) just casually. I decided to actually give figuring out how to build a decent dps build for space. This was not an easy endeavor, especially starting out lol. 1. The information you get about even the most basic things in game is nearly zero. What does what and why, what do these values mean, even right down to the UI. It was straight up hard just figuring out and remembering where things are. TFOs, Admiralty, Reputation, Episodes, Events, Missions, Patrols, Dilithium, Zen, EC, what do I go for, what is valuable, what should I grind, whats a good way to go about doing any of it? All terribly explained, and I had to spend a decent amount of time just googling, which is never good for returning players or attracting new players. 2. The sheer amount of trash you accumulate in your inventory at max level is beyond anything I've ever seen even in F2P mmos. The reps drop boxes that have useless unsalvageable gear that had to be just sold. Pretty much every random drop from enemies is damn near useless gear wise very quickly. I get the need to sell storage slots but I can see this just chasing people off. 3. The price of bundles, ships, pretty much everything in the zen store is just insane. I'm Canadian so my exchange rate isn't the best but there are lots of places that I'm sure get even more royally screwed. But the prices seem excessive to the point that you're probably going to have people seeing it and not even bother jumping in even once. They have prices higher than a AAA mainstream F2P game thats mega popular that can get away with that kind of stuff. Given all that though, I will say the game still hold up well for how old it is. There is a decent amount of busy work to keep grinders going and the space combat is still unique and pretty enough to be fun. Also the community (you guys) is really really amazing for how small of an MMO this is. I've basically figured out everything about the games end game from community youtube videos and sites like stobetter and such. If I were to hazard a guess I'd say you guys are probably no small part in keeping the game alive.

[@jenncook82]

If I could like this a thousand times over I would

[@Trygvar13]

I really miss the good old days when the three different classe really meant something: tactical = DPS engineer = HEALS science = CC You needed all three to run a STF. Nowadays tac and science rule but engineer is pretty useless.

[@Mr_Waffle.]

57:30 every couple of days a new player comes into r/STO and asks how they can fly x hero ship, and every time we have to break their heart explaining the gambling/hundreds of dollars involved, probably driving them away from the game in the process...

[@MCStu]

Yep

[@tdoc718]

I totally agree I play star trek because I love the TV shows and I'm 50 lol but been playing at least 5 years on console...you guys do good work and us console players appreciate your info

[@sr3473]

Nobody really addresses the problem with STO right now. All cryptic wants is for you to buy the next ship. Do you want more ships or more content to use the ships in?

[@UkrainianPaulie]

The game needs a massive overhaul. Graphics, bridges as large as Costco, and interiors. I could go on and on. But I still play it daily none the less.

[@cwiggy34]

My god..... The amount of positive energy here can cut threw butter. After 2 months nothing changes lol.....

[@Godstrumpetman]

If they put more effort into Q & A they could avoid alot of the anger that nerfing stuff causes. And also, they tend to nerf stuff into oblivion (Romulan plasma consoles).

[@ronaldweaver7835]

Unfortunately the whole issue is the cause of going completely free to play and forgoing the monthly subs. There is no steady cash flow to help updates.

[@Mercstar]

So is Sarc a baby Caitian?

[@IanNCC1701]

I wish they’d stop spending money on voice actors, and just focus on more story missions. And bring back the missions they took out.

[@Gentrash]

Yeah. I think everyone agrees about carriers. I play A Hur'q Hive and it's frankly Dumb that I don't have at least cruiser commands. I can see carriers being welcome to any team if they had regular cruiser commands that also applied to all (full team) pets and summons.

[@derekpettis7976]

They could make a battle royal pass that takes on faction related

[@tyneskipper]

my issue with Cryptic staff (touched on) is that they don't give the impression that they care about the game or the players.

[@bossmga]

i seen that new multibroadcast ability, i will be building it into my stream process to incorporate the community participation and highlight the community players, such a innovative mechanic.

[@tenaciousgamer6892]

Secondary deflector on carriers would be terrible, why fly a science ship if you can have a science carrier with two frigates. I'd rather give them the vanguard mechanic and give the jem'hadar carriers a improved vanguard mechanic( stronger abilities).. It also ignores engi carriers and tactical carriers, but this could be applied to all but flight decks. No need for new art either.

[@kragf1802]

STO’s on the way out.

[@salilbhatnagar]

Can’t wait to watch!

[@IanNCC1701]

Really missing the game right now

[@terranadmiral6758]

The teir 6 sovereign is very underpowered but it costs 14000 zen that’s something they need to work on.

[@ryans756]

Get the Terran version. Great ship!

[@VHM13]

maybe instead of a new game sto 2 they could put out a DLC like that cost like a full game and it overhauls everything adds a bunch of new stuff or upgraded stuff and maximise there graphics on the game engine fixes a bunch of issues there will still be free to play but the FULL GAME UNLOCK youd need to buy to access more etc they could also add lockbox key for lifetime sub people 1 a monthly lol or if you complete achievements they could add achievements to the full game version this is my thought that would be best as STO 2 and you cant transfer all what i brought i doubt id pay or play but who knows

[@ModeKaioken]

I was going to mention the only people that really tried to overhaul a gotcha ish game was phantasy star online2 and well. It went about as bad as you can imagine lol or maybe not but it wasn't good. They did bring all cosmetics forward into the 3.0 but I think this hurt them more in the long run since people didn't feel as much need to buy the new stuff. The main issue is they couldn't pump out content fast enough after going to 3.0 so they had to go back and lean on events in 2.0. I think the cosmetics moving forward was a problem in 2 fold. 1st it took a lot of dev time on cosmetics that actually weren't making any new money and 2nd they lost revenue of people not feeling the need to buy new stuff really held back the funds available to put into new content production. PSO2 was really the only game to try this and it killed there community so bad its barely starting to recover now and honestly it might be to late for them with next gen versions of there game coming out ie Tower of Phantasy or Blue Protocol. Trying to 3.0 the game might have killed what momentum they had to the point they are now crushed by competition.

[@ModeKaioken]

If they made a new game it wouldn't be trek mmo nor should it be. This game waste to much money on licensing trying to make money and make new content and pay rights is like shooting yourself in the foot not to mention the crossing between gamers and trek fans really isn't all that big. They should make a new trek game or an mmo but not a trek mmo. The main issue is the money needed for balancing the game goes to pay license fees instead lol. I don't think any mmo that uses license fees does well in the long term ie SWTOR, DCUO, Champions Online. I can't think of any mmo that uses movie / tv licenses and stuff has funds to make new content at a good pace.

[@tyneskipper]

this is probably a stupid question - i've never seen why mines work the way they do

[@Trygvar13]

I don't care about min-maixng. I never have and never will. And I have been a gamer for ages (late 70's). The playstyle and storyline is what I'm after. I really hate it when I'm in an Elite STF (TFO) that is over in 30 seconds because one or two players are vaporizing everything. That's not what I see when I watch Star Trek so that's not what I want to see when I play the game.

[@MCStu]

I can understand that.

[@pricelessentertainment2359]

I think Cryptic would consider STO in maintenance mode. All strategies to grow your game are ignored. Ads, content, large system shake ups, etc; are done with the long term expectation, that the labor involved will be returned and then some. However, if believe there is no future to your game, you would do the minimum to equalize leaving and returning/new players to maintain cash flow while you work on a new game. Unfortunately I think this is the reality.

[@likeaboss1104]

Space combat I feel these days just isn't fun anymore, PVP is dead (died a long time ago) you get into a STF and there is always that one guys who rushes in and wipes everything out before you even have a chance to fire a single shot, Borg cubes should be very difficult and requires a fleet to take out after awhile with better rewards, Bridges are useless, Advantage zones are way way to easy and isn't rewarding enough, there are some cannon items / ships that still hasn't made their way into STO, TNG Type 2 hand phaser and KDF disrupters / d'k tahg, the K'vort class battle cruiser still isn't in the game, we just barely got the T6 nova which one of you mentioned, Crafting system is a laughing stock of mmo's, you still can't change out Boff's traits and racial traits should be improved on and made more meaningful for all race. I can go on forever but in conclusion Cryptic really drop the ball for the past 10 years and I pray to god they don't get another chance in STO 2.

[@captrams]

41 Minutes in Gauss just nailed me

[@nunyabusiness9013]

Protip: It's hard for the audience to take your anger seriously when you're using a digital furry "fursona"... The deep voice makes him sound like the guy who brought all the drugs to Rainfurrest...

[@KellMG96]

jesus christ, they aint making STO2, stop sayin it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Drekkag]

board of the game complainers. just like every other mmo. got to find any issues to whine about. wow! i never get that bad on a game. if it is that bad then QUIT playing. i have no issues with playing and don't let my life get ruined by a stupid game. have fun whining all the time. IT IS JUST A GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Mr_Waffle.]

There is nothing wrong with providing feedback on a game that you love. They love this game enough to want to talk about it and create content about it, not just troll and spread negativity and hostility like you.

[@Drekkag]

@@Mr_Waffle. so I'm a troll for saying the truth? It's not negativity just calling it as I see it. I play the game without issue. Reread what I put and you see no negativity to the game. Just those who nit pick at any mmo and I have played almost all of them with no issues. And where is the hostility?

[@hyperhydra376]

100% agree. First 20 seconds is some guy complaining about something and declaring he's not going to play anymore. I don't care, man.