Wednesday, 1 September 2021

Star Trek Online....


In the past I could have drawn distinct lines between in game content but events; Events have become an always on 'feature'. At least it seems that way more and more. No breathing room. The more I complain comment about it the more I repeat myself, droning on into unimportance, somewhat like the 'events'. They can't be special if they're always there. Campaign, non campaign, weekends, seasonal..... It's now all one big melting pot, bleeding into each other and with no real breaks, no anticipation, it can be tiring at times. I know it's an MMO. Always on is part of the game/name and they need to cater to an audience 24/7/365 for all time zones around the world. Casual to hardcore it's a fine line to balance on. Pleasing some of the people some of the time. While the events are not compulsory, I like a lot of gamers feel like I'm missed something if an event is skipped. The fear of missing out is a strong compulsion. Especially if you look at the cost of the rewards in the cash shop post event. 

I've only compounded my feelings by also pottering away on the Xbox version with two characters there(admiralty/dil and event dailies)! 

Not that the events are 'hard'. Like the current Kobayashi Maru event. Two days into the event it seems to have been nerfed so that you cannot fail the event. My wife got to see the old version and as a new player agreed that it was better with failure possible. Needing to heal the Maru added urgency and a team-working spirit to the TFO. I used to enjoy being DPS and putting down healing to help the Maru. It's still possible to heal it but now it's pointless. Since it's lack of failure was implemented I've seen so many afk players and that's off-putting. Doubly so when the event is instant-repeatable for mark grinding. Why should I work twice as hard to 'complete it'; Why act to complete it at all, maybe I should be afk as well and 'just' reap the rewards. Fly in a circle and let hanger pets keep me from going afk..... It's a joke! 

Events no longer seem eventful and if they can be passed by being AFK.... Whats the point(don't say rep marks!).

I may not like the latest iterations of the franchise or the in game interpretations of such...I do love the game; It's my main MMO. It's got some flaws and quirks but it works. They are making it better bit by bit. Like the new ability to buy reroll tokens for both endeavours and admiralty has been put in game. My interest is more for the endeavour reroll than the admiralty one. A useful dilithium sink!

I'm still having fun on my Gorn KDF recruit. His existence of late has been down to doing events and endeavours.




A few days ago the 'Unforgettable' transponder goal was reached. I can't help but feel a little underwhelmed by the reward. +10% Bonus endeavour XP on all characters.....  I'd have preferred at least one perk point after getting 50 to complete the thing. 


If I'd looked up the reward online I'd have found the process more grindy. With the account unlock the fate of this KDF character after his next and last transponder goal will be sealed as a Dil farmer.

The 150 random queue's are all that remain. So on that score I'm just over half way to that goal.


If you see a crying gorn at the start of your ground TFO..... It's probably me.


That's not to say I've not been having fun.... But it has been a grind. I've tried to add in and maximize a lot to make the most of the time on the character; All in it's been a grind and tiring because of it. So much so that I've been lax with logging into and doing daily admin on other characters. Feeling like it's been getting messy.

However a few day's into the event I got to claim the overall campaign reward. I've still not chosen which option  but I'm leaning towards the Lobi.


As a by the by, TheXPGamers has been doing an edit of his Twitch stream on the ol'UhTube's and it's entertaining. Lots of players do the same. Enjoyment and fun. Community as well as roleplay.

Speaking of fun... Players are creative in their characters looks. I'm still intrigued by some, lots of effort put in. 


Kudos


But space Elvis stole the show this week....




The Jem'Hadar at the bank above when Elvis visited is my second Jem'Hadar. An engineer that can make use of the Jem'Hadar ship I bought to gain access to the hanger pets. I'm thematic if nothing else.....For no real reason other than it can be done....As far as 'comedy' goes naming ships is as good as I get.


Who am I kidding, I've no idea how to fly that ship. It's HUGE! Too big to turn. I was doing a Borg Red Alert and by the time I've banked to face the first group the rest of the TFO were already on the Boss. By the time I turned to face them it was over. Who flies these things! So a lot of work to understand and use this on that character..... In time maybe I'll learn to do so. For now he's a Dil farmer with a fancy ship.


As for my main, I'm still having way more fun with him in T5's. I really do like getting and setting up ad-hoc fits on what are considered underpowered obsolescent ships. I've had my main in TFO's in a T5-U(-X) and out lasted and out DPS'd players in 'fancy' ships that would have cost a pretty penny. That makes me giggle(in a do more with less way, not a superior thing).


There are players that do that better than me. There were players in lesser ships(starter) etc that still get massive DPS. I don't know how they do it even after they explain how. Never mind the magic of EPG fits(interesting to see everything but weapons fits).

I've said before I'm no meta genius I see and copy and keep what works for me. Playing this game isn't as simple as some make it out to be. Meta flavour of the month can be complex.You can buy a fancy ship but flying it well is a different story. I do raise a Spock eyebrow when a massive/rare/meta ship charges in and gets vaporized. It's hard to not be bemused by such actions.... The amount of theory crafting I've tried before even flying some ships..... Each to their own.

My last meta build is still not done(some more re-engineering needed); It kicks ass but isn't as exciting to fly as an underdog build. Right now I'm really liking the Nicor Undine ship with a slapdash fit from the best in inventory!





I've noticed a lot more 'leet'ness on Xbox than on PC but that's because the voice comms is more integrated(easier to use). An increase since the last time I mentioned such activities. It can be annoying to hear a person with a chip on their shoulder looking down their nose and commentating on what they see. As if they can't be heard by the PUG they joined....If only they could impart their greatness on others without the attitude or superiority complex.

After watching one or two videos I've done a 180 turn on device use. Not just for slapping turrets on to fill space. I never knew about some of the devices. Ignorance was not bliss and has increased my knowledge and usefulness in game now. Extra torp damage and survivability..... 

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