Let's "get real" for a moment, and discuss the elephant in the room. The 7th fleet, as it stands right now, is carrying a lot of dead weight, to be blunt. Some of this weight has been with the Fleet for a while, and we definitely value their contributions in the past. The unfortunate and glaring truth is that those accomplishments are exactly that - in the past.
Harsh? Yes, absolutely, and I don't apologize for it. We, as a Fleet, need to wake ourselves up and get the fire lit under the collective asses of a lot of folks. Either that, or we need to thank them for their contributions and send them on their way.
How can we hope to attract folks as "an active Fleet" when, in reality, we have a handful of folks sustaining that activity? How can we get folks to be involved? New guys/gals, your input, especially, is important. Old hands, your insight and efforts are needed. This is a Fleet effort; not a Command Staff effort.
Here are the proposed changes that are being looked at:
1) Ventrilo usage mandatory
- before you start protesting that you don't have a mic or headset, let me highlight Mr. Ryo Himura; he doesn't have a mic, but he's in Vent when he can be
- it's been said before and I will say it again, it's been observed that the folks that tend to stick around are the ones that get on Vent and "get to know" the Fleet members
2) In-game participation more closely scrutinized
- basically, if you can't make an effort to participate in some of the regular fleet activities, we'll look at showing you the door
- scheduled events are listed on this site's calendar, as well as in the Fleet window in-game; there's really no excuse to not know what's going on
3) Website login
- speaking of the calendar on this page, it and the posts that are put up are a great way to get information out to our Fleet members; if you can't make an effort and meet us halfway to keep yourself informed, well, that leaves us doing all of the work
- participation in the forums is more than just finding out about events; it's also a way to get to know your Fleetmates and share knowledge and experience
- the absolute minimum standard for website login is once per 30 days, and that is not negotiable, except when you are in Reserve status
4) Reserve Status
- this will be used only for those that have real life (RL) circumstances that prevent them from logging in to the game/website, and have a stated intent to return within a specific timeframe
- this is a significant change from our current policy, and will affect a lot of folks currently on the Reserve Status list
5) Recruiting
- I will be setting a higher bar for applicants; minimal effort on applications will result in disapproval
- applicants referred to us by current members will need to ensure they state who referred them on their application; that reference, alone, will not be enough
- at the risk of coming off as an elitist jerk (or substitute your epithet of choice), we want quality, not quantity
These proposed changes will have a pretty decent impact on the Fleet, so it would behoove everyone to read this, consider it, and provide your input. Posts that are not constructive will be deleted - you're forewarned. Let's keep this civil, mature and productive.
I agree 100% with everything you said in the post. If your not going to get on and play with us, what's the point of being in the fleet? Harsh but true.
I also agree with this...my friend, who is a new player to STO and new fleet member told me himself that the fleet doesn't seem very active. So from a new player point of view it's troubling.
As for highlighting me: I just do what I enjoy doing. That's going on vent to "socialize", even though I have no mic myself i can still type on fleet chat, with the fleet. Because barely anyone is on vent (or in game to tell them TO get on vent) I can honestly see why the new members don't bother...
I don't mean to sound..well mean, since I'm rather new to the fleet myself and don't feel as if I have any right to be this bold, but since I've come to love this fleet and respect its members I just want the best for it, it could be sooo much better if we all work towards it.
To me the first point I made is the worst one...I recommended this fleet very highly to a few of my friends who I've been gaming with for many years now and to see that they don't enjoy themselves as much as I thought they would really troubles me.
I apologize if I put someone off from this post (or if I was wayyy too bold) but it's just that I want this fleet to succeed, I've been in many failed guilds/clans/etc on many games before and I'll be damned if I'll let it happen to the 7th
P.S. Thanks for this post so I could lift some of the weight I've been feeling for quite some time now...Now that I got that off my chest:
As a fleet member for almost a year now and a former fleet staff officer I have seen STO/7th Fleet at its height and where it is today. I applaud the actions taken to clean up the roster and help foster an active STO community. This is something that is very much so needed when the game-play becomes less desirable for many of its members. (because, quite frankly, fleets are the reason STO is alive today, not the other way around).
I once played STO almost everyday, then the content drought came, and it stayed, and it stayed, and it stayed....you get the idea. As a programmer myself, the industry will teach you is that once you loose a customer, they seldom come back. Will STO ever return to the the glory days of 2 years ago? Probably not, let be real about this. However, as long as there are fleet like the 7th to build friendships with (not just play a game) then STO will survive. Honestly, I could really care less about the gameplay..whats more important to me is the friends I have made over the last year and that would not have been possible without this fleet.
My point being...always be proud to be part of something greater than yourself and when you can, from time to time, come say hello and spend some time with the fleet, your fleet. I believe that is the essence of what Fleet Admiral Fortin and his staff are trying to make here.
Although I do not play as much, usually now just the fleet events, I will always be a proud member of the 7th Fleet. I am reminded of one of my favorite Shakespeare quotes...
As a fleet member for almost a year now and a former fleet staff officer I have seen STO/7th Fleet at its height and where it is today. I applaud the actions taken to clean up the roster and help foster an active STO community. This is something that is very much so needed when the game-play becomes less desirable for many of its members. (because, quite frankly, fleets are the reason STO is alive today, not the other way around).
I once played STO almost everyday, then the content drought came, and it stayed, and it stayed, and it stayed....you get the idea. As a programmer myself, the industry will teach you is that once you loose a customer, they seldom come back. Will STO ever return to the the glory days of 2 years ago? Probably not, let be real about this. However, as long as there are fleet like the 7th to build friendships with (not just play a game) then STO will survive. Honestly, I could really care less about the gameplay..whats more important to me is the friends I have made over the last year and that would not have been possible without this fleet.
My point being...always be proud to be part of something greater than yourself and when you can, from time to time, come say hello and spend some time with the fleet, your fleet. I believe that is the essence of what Fleet Admiral Fortin and his staff are trying to make here.
Although I do not play as much, usually now just the fleet events, I will always be a proud member of the 7th Fleet. I am reminded of one of my favorite Shakespeare quotes...
I agree whole heartedly with everything said in this post. I make it a point to visit the site throughout the day when I get on line. And, I check into Vent whenever I log into the game. Sometimes I don't stay on vent, but I think I will from this point. And, I also do what I can to help the group outside of the game whenever asked. I consider the core group of our fleet friends, who have been patient and tolerant and helpful within the game and outside of it.
Unlike many of of our fleet, this is the only game I play, mainly do to an extremely busy real life. I choose this game because it is what I'm most familiar with, the canon of Star Trek Games: from the arcade Sega game of the 70's to SF Academy to STC series and Legacy. But it is what I stick with - do to the type of people the franchise has always drawn: namely all of the individuals in our core group.
You are all a good bunch to hangout with, and it is you who have made the game more fun play. I just hope that those who had been part of the core in the past return as playing members again. I have been in the game since early January of 2010 and part of the Fleet since the end of that same first month of play, and have seen many in the leadership move on (shall I say it)...to that other game...well I like Star Wars too, but not the same way I like Star Trek. SW always has been the flashier of the two. My hope is that the core remains as long as there is a game to play. Or, I'll see you on that other side, as dark as it may be...
JT
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VADM JT Kerry, USS Astoria, "Lucky" 7th Fleet, Starfleet Command, UFP
Ryo, you can say whatever you want. You've earned the right to, being one of the most active members we got in the fleet. I agree with you, I had one of the new guys PM me in game concerned about himself being active enough, even though many of our senior fleet mates are never are.
New people like you, and even myself, will keep this fleet going strong with support of the Command Staff. Yes I include myself in the "new" section, I have been in the fleet less then A year. I just happen to of climbed the ranks due to, what I consider, the dedication I've shown and the spots left open by those who don't play as much anymore.
With that being said, if you joined the fleet 2 weeks ago, please be bold too and say what u think, this is your home now and we are here for you.
Hey guys, I thought I'd pop in to check on you guys! I'm still at University and loving every minute of it! But I miss you guys :-) I should be around in July!
Hey guys, I thought I'd pop in to check on you guys! I'm still at University and loving every minute of it! But I miss you guys :-) I should be around in July!
While i agree that we need to be more active for the new recruits, i also dont want to see Long Time members left out in the dark, just because they dont play STO anymore. Many people had the same thing happen to them, as did to me:
2+ years ago: "Oh cool, a Star Trek MMO. Gotta Get into Beta. Yay, in beta starting in 2 weeks. Ok, gotta find a guild"
2 years ago: "Ooooh, a sweet guild to join, 7th fleet looks awesome"
Somewhere between that 2 year mark and today, that "awesome guild" becomes more then just another guild in another game, it becomes like family. These people matter to you. Life happens, people connect, and long time friendships are made.
Now we reach the point where STO starts to stagnate for some people (not all, just some) but they want to remain part of this family, so they are forced to continue to play STO. That doesnt seem really fair.
What i would like to propose is a rank set for members of the "Family" that wish to remain part of the group, but dont play STO anymore. Think of it as a Civilian Rank.
Lets say (example) i decide i do not want to play STO anymore, but i want to stay in contact with everyone here. Instead of being dumped in the Reserve, i would be moved to a Civilian. I have retired from Starfleet. These Civies could be tallied, and subtracted from the total, so they do not "count" as active, serving members of the STO Fleet.
If anyone has any ideas they would like to add to this, please feel free. I just dont like the fact that we will lose GOOD Friends from the fleet, just because they dont play STO.
While i agree that we need to be more active for the new recruits, i also dont want to see Long Time members left out in the dark, just because they dont play STO anymore. Many people had the same thing happen to them, as did to me:
2+ years ago: "Oh cool, a Star Trek MMO. Gotta Get into Beta. Yay, in beta starting in 2 weeks. Ok, gotta find a guild"
2 years ago: "Ooooh, a sweet guild to join, 7th fleet looks awesome"
Somewhere between that 2 year mark and today, that "awesome guild" becomes more then just another guild in another game, it becomes like family. These people matter to you. Life happens, people connect, and long time friendships are made.
Now we reach the point where STO starts to stagnate for some people (not all, just some) but they want to remain part of this family, so they are forced to continue to play STO. That doesnt seem really fair.
What i would like to propose is a rank set for members of the "Family" that wish to remain part of the group, but dont play STO anymore. Think of it as a Civilian Rank.
Lets say (example) i decide i do not want to play STO anymore, but i want to stay in contact with everyone here. Instead of being dumped in the Reserve, i would be moved to a Civilian. I have retired from Starfleet. These Civies could be tallied, and subtracted from the total, so they do not "count" as active, serving members of the STO Fleet.
If anyone has any ideas they would like to add to this, please feel free. I just dont like the fact that we will lose GOOD Friends from the fleet, just because they dont play STO.
I love this idea. I know for me, every year, life happens and I get pulled away for a long period of time, but I in no way would ever want to leave the fleet.
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Just messin buddy, hurry back 
