Open Letter to Cryptic Vol. 1 (Agenda)

[Ezreq Blodvaerd]

As discussed I will be drafting a letter to Cryptic Studios and the follwoing items will be the general topics that will be raised:

1. Fleet Only Instances (This is already being worked on)

2. Fleet Formations (Similar to ralley points) but more complex than
just the follow function. Multivector follow (Dress-right-Dress;
Skirmish Lines, Diamond, 3D Formations)

3. Preset Attack Pattern manuevers (allows for 360 degree looping,
cork screws, etc.)

4. Ground Combat Combined Arms bonuses. When using various
Tactial, Engineering and Science skills in a specific sequence, we
could create special attacks (Expose / Exploit or AOE attacks).

[Lt Col Miv]

i Think you on to something Sir i like your ideas alot, it will make the game more fun if we can do all that. i hope they listen to you Sir i will vote for it if it comes up.

[Jakkyl]

Oh to be able to fly my ship in any direction without restriction that would be awesome!!

[Deputy Commander Turner]

Can anyone think of some of the more general issues that effect the gameplay. Cryptic seems to be addressing them pretty well, the Fleet Instance, the Ship Interiors, etc, what about sitting in chairs , but really, what are some of the basics that are missing?

[Ezreq Blodvaerd]

Deputy Commander Turner wrote:

Can anyone think of some of the more general issues that effect the gameplay. Cryptic seems to be addressing them pretty well, the Fleet Instance, the Ship Interiors, etc, what about sitting in chairs , but really, what are some of the basics that are missing?

Well the only real missing component is the lack of 3 dimensional space.

On the STO forums, players call this "Multi-vector Space". A developer awhile back said they have the capability (it was in open beta) but they felt the average player would get disorientated and not know which way was up or down.

I forget if you could fly inverted or do a 360 loop in EVE or not?? But, I'm certain there has to be other space based games out there where they have it. Every flight simulator certainly does.

[Deputy Commander Turner]

I would be lost without the grid.

[J. St. Peter]

Fleet Bases and Ship Interiors need to be added.

I made a post about this on the STO forums, but I can add it here and even expand upon it if you want to add it to the letter.

Basically, they need to stop trying to go for incredible new shit and use stuff they have already made that already works WELL.

City of Heroes/Villains have Supergroup bases that are nearly COMPLETELY customizable. This was THE crown jewel of this game company. They have the technology and the idea already; they can adapt it to STO. They aren't because they think they can do it differently, better, and more in canon when, in truth, the only way it'll be better is if you allow the players to do it themselves. Give us a layout that grows as the ship grows. Allow us to place rooms and corridors. Give us a set list of items that can be placed in certain rooms. Give us a quick "basic" button even to apply a set look to it. But, in the end, you'll make EVERYONE happy because it will BE THEIRS.

They have the technology. It can save this game. They need to USE it.

[Steile]

Ezreq Blodvaerd wrote:

Well the only real missing component is the lack of 3 dimensional space. On the STO forums, players call this "Multi-vector Space". A developer awhile back said they have the capability (it was in open beta) but they felt the average player would get disorientated and not know which way was up or down.

...but up and down is meaningless in 3d space. As Spock said of Khan in The Wrath of Khan, "...he is intelligent but not experienced. His pattern indicates 2 dimensional thinking."

One would gain an orientation from the leader of ones own formation or from a reciprocal orientation from an enemy formation to take best advantage of a weakness in that formation.

[J. St. Peter]

On another note; we need preset attack patterns. People who have played EVE will know what this is.

I want to be able to click a target, and then click one of a few pre-set attack patterns. Then, the ship will fly itself, and I can focus on speed and weapons. Have us orbit the enemy ship; or do a "jousting" pattern that allows you to attack a ship head-on; or do a "keep-at-range" pattern that keeps your ship at a pre-set range from the enemy. You can incorporate ACTUAL attack patterns with this and even EVASIVE patterns! It will allow for increased ship manuverability, and people won't get as disoriented because they won't have to worry about flying it themselves unless they want to. The moment you do your own movement, the pattern is interrupted and you have to restart it. It works. Why not use it?